Once more this is dedicated to ari dark princess!

I do not own Beyblade! Or the plot! So nothing is mine here!!

It was well after 10:00 pm and Kai was still in his office working, recently there had been a lot of uncertainty in the stock market and the global credit crunch was starting to affect his business. The last thing Kai wanted was to lay people off but there was something else preying on his mind that was making it even harder to work. Kai couldn't stop thinking about the girl that had entered the office the other day, she had seemed so different. She had been a breath of fresh air and considering how dull and constant his days had become recently he felt the need to have her come back. Enquiring casually around the office had elicited absolutely no information about the mysterious girl, of course it didn't help that he knew practically nothing about her. But then there were people he could hire to do that for him.

He sat back carefully considering the situation, he had not seen the girl around the office but he knew that they didn't have any temps working with them recently.

"Kai?"

"Tala" Kai looked up surprised, he hadn't even noticed his friend enter the office he had been so lost in thought. "Hi"

"Hi?" Tala stared at the normally aware man behind his desk "That's all I get after knocking on the door for like five minutes and getting no response?"

"Sorry" Kai shook his head "I've got a lot on my mind"

"Like what?"

For a split second Kai considered telling Tala about the mysterious girl but then he remembered how he had goaded Tala when he was crazy about the unknown Mariah and decided against it. The last thing Tala needed was more ammo to have a go at Kai!

"Nothing, it's late, what are you doing here at this hour?"

"I was passing by and noticed that your office was still lit up, I thought I'd just came to see if you're ok and if you're coming to the opera with Mariah and I next week" Tala gave him a hopeful grin, he wasn't a big fan of the opera but Mariah was and Tala would drag Kai along so that he had some sensible conversation during the intermission, Mariah seemed to know everyone at the opera and often left Tala at the bar as she ran off to see an old friend.

"Why are you even going? You hate the opera"

"Mariah loves it" Tala spoke as though it was as simple as that, if Mariah loved it he would go to it. It had been over a month since Tala and Mariah had their first date but they were still a very devoted couple and Tala would do pretty much anything that Mariah asked him to. "And if you want you can join us for dinner before I'm making pasta"

"You're so whipped" Kai told him sounding very amused, in truth he was actually pleased for his friend. It was nice that at least one of them was on the road to happiness!

"Yeah and I love it!" Tala grinned being entirely truthful

Kai sighed, he didn't really feel like going but it was obvious that Tala wanted him to come so he nodded "Sure I'll be there"

"Great, oh by the way Mariah has an extra ticket so if you want to bring a date you can, bring her to dinner as well!"

"Gee thanks" Kai murmured sarcastically. There was only one person he could imagine taking, in fact he really could imagine her, all dressed up in a beautiful dress. God he was losing it!

The sarcastic tonewas not lost on Tala and he gave Kai an odd look "Come to think of it you haven't had many dates recently. Is everything ok?"

"Aw, are you getting concerned about my love life?" Kai spoke mockingly but Tala wasn't fooled, he paused before leaving.

"Something's up..." he stared intently at his friend for a moment and then suddenly realising something he broke into a grin "I know what it is...you like someone."

"No I don't"

"Oh my god you do, you actually like a girl and I mean really like her...I'm guessing it's a girl right?!"

Itching to punch his friend Kai muttered through gritted teeth "Get the hellout Tala!"

Laughing Tala walked over to the door "Ok I'm going…lover boy" still laughing the redhead exited the room and closed the door behind him.

Annoyed at this development Kai frowned down at his papers, he didn't like this girl he was attracted to her that's all. It was a simple case of lust and fascination there was no love or like involved. Left alone in his deserted offices Kai sighed, he was beginning to feel tired and hungry, thinking about Chinese food he muttered under his breath "God I wish I had something to eat"

He was just packing up his papers when there was a timid knock on his office door, unsure as to who would be in the office this late Kai was careful to move close to his security alarm before calling "Come in"

The door opened and there she was, the slim brunette that had been in his mind ever since she had first arrived at his door just over a week ago.

"You" He stared at her in complete amazement, then a thought occurred to him "what are you doing here?"

"I've brought you something to eat" was the simple reply and that was when Kai noticed the bag hanging from her arm "Are you not hungry?"

"I'm very hungry" he replied and was rewarded with a wide smile.

He watched as the girl walked towards the coffee table in his office, she wore a dark pinstriped tailored jacket and trousers, once again she was in normal office wear but once again she also stood out. Under the dark jacket was a bright yellow shirt that matched her vibrant yellow sandals. Her hair was hanging around her face making it harder for him to see the jewellery she wore but on close inspection he noticed that it was silver and black this time.

She seemed aware of his scrutiny and blushed a little, she had set out an arrangement of Chinese take away dishes and he watched amused as she finished setting out the meal and moved away as though awaiting instructions.

"Is there anything else you'll be needing?" she asked politely

"N…" Kai stopped himself before he responded negatively, she just stood there awaiting his answer, smirking he decided that he'd find out about her "I'd like some company. There's more than enough here for two, care to join me?"

This seemed to throw the girl, she shook her head "There's only one plate"

"Not a problem" Kai walked over to the cabinet situated on the left hand side of the office, he had a number of everyday things in the cabinet that he had found himself needing when he spent a night in his office. He returned to the table with two bottles of beer, cutlery and the necessary plate.

His actions obviously amused the girl but after regarding him carefully she nodded "Alright"

She sat nervously on the edge of his couch while he lounged back feeling totally at ease as he helped himself to chow mein and spring rolls.

After Kai had taken what he wanted the girl took a small spoonful of the rice and black bean sauce. She was obviously nervous as she took small bite of her food, Kai was quite content to just watch her for a little while but then he remembered the many questions that he had wanted to ask her recently so sitting forward he got her attention.

"What's you name?" It was a basic question but he had to start somewhere

"Um…Hilary" the girl swallowed a mouthful of food "My names Hilary"

"Hilary" Kai nodded "it suits you"

"Thank you"

"I take it you know my name?"

"You're Kai, Kai Hiwatari"

"I am… so Hilary how long have you worked for me?"

"Not long" she was vague, she seemed to want avoid answering his questions "I am…I'm pretty new"

"It's strange that I've never met you…I mean, I haven't seen you around much" Kai told her reaching for some sweet and sour sauce

"You know all your employees by sight? Considering how many people work here I'm very surprised" She had a slight smirk as she said this and Kai smiled

"Good point…but I normally notice the pretty ones"

"How insulting to all those you haven't noticed, and if I had been working here for years and you haven't noticed me before I think I would be very insulted" she laughed a little and turned to face him folding her legs on the sofa and resting her plate on her lap. "Don't worry though I won't tell them you said that"

Watching her closely Kai was surprised at how mature she seemed compared to how young she looked "How old are you?"

"Now that's something you shouldn't really ask a girl, but as you're my boss I'll forgive you. I'm…." she paused

"You don't know?"

"It's hard to keep track sometimes…I'm 21 and a half…." she seemed to be thinking about it as she told him, as though counting off the years in her head

"21?"

"Um….yes" she nodded seemingly relieved that he had interrupted her "is there a problem with that?"

"No you just look so young, I would have said you were still about eighteen"

"Well that's a compliment all girls love to hear" she smiled but he noticed that she looked a little rueful as she said it

"I've offended you?" He cocked his head curiously to one side, there was an odd look in her eyes but she seemed to shake off the look he was giving her. He continued to stare "Are you insulted by what I said?"

"What? No!" she laughed again, that ready laugh that seemed to spring to her lips with real ease "It's just when you look young people don't take you seriously. Especially in my line of work" this last bit was said more to herself than to him and it made him curious

"What do you mean in your line of work?" he frowned as he contemplated "People don't take you seriously in the office?"

She seemed nervous again as she shrugged, this time her laugh was not a natural "Um...well you wouldn't know but when you're the youngest in the office you make a lot of cups of tea"

Kai nodded understandingly but he got the feeling that she wasn't telling him the whole truth. He decided that she didn't like discussing her private life with her boss and so, happy that he had gotten a few answers he turned the discussion onto more easy subjects. He was surprised but pleased to discover that she had real opinions on what was going on around the world, she had a knowledge of economics and it was interesting to discuss things with her. She was also very well-informed on her history and the two of them had a long conversation about past recessions and depressions.

It amazed Kai how willing she was to talk about potentially boring subjects, he was also amazed by how much humour she managed to pour into the discussion. They spent a lot of time laughing and before Kai knew what was happening it was morning and people were coming into work.

"You ought to get home and have some rest" Hilary spoke with real concern as she noticed how tired Kai looked

"So should you" Kai told her but he noticed that she showed no signs of sleep deprivation. In fact she looked wide awake. She looked as thoguh she had just had a goodnights sleep and a shower to wake her up, it was almost magical how good she looked.

"I'm fine" she told him but looking out of the window at the bright sky outside she smiled "but I ought to go. Can't hang around all day with you. I do need some rest" she stood and stretched a little her back was aching from sitting in pretty much the same position all night.

"Are you here everyday?" Kai asked not really wanting to let her go

"Pretty much...I'm...I'm around" she told him with a gentle smile "you just need to say the right words and look in the right place!"

"What the hell does that mean?" Kai furrowed his brow a little annoyed with the vague answer to his question

Laughing she looked back at him "You'll work it out in time. Good morning sir" and bowing she turned and walked out of the office.

Completely bemused Kai watched her go, it wasn't until she had left his office that he realised he hadn't been able to find out her full name or her phone number or anything that he really wanted to know.

Please R&R