Nine Years

Chapter Five: The business party

Serenity's Pov:

"Kari!" I called out to her as she came down the airplane ramp with Shaila. "Over here!"

Shaila saw me waving and waved back. She and Kari headed towards my direction. Shaila was my best friend ever since we were in kinder. It's hard to believe that our friendship survived that long. She helped me take care of Kari when Joey and Mai couldn't. She had dark brown hair that was straight. Her height was about 5'9" now. Ever since school, she was taller than others were. She was slim and wore black mostly.

"How was your flight?" I asked them.

"Long and boring" Kari replied.

"Yeah..." Shaila said agreeing with her.

"And it was cold" Kari added.

"True..." Shaila said.

"Let's get your luggage.

Back at the hotel...

Serenity's Pov:

I got them both checked in now. Kari shared a room with me, while Shaila had her own room.

"You want to see sights or stay in here?"

"I want to stay" Shaila said. "But I want to go" Kari whined.

"Let's go then. I rented a car so it shouldn't take to long to see some" I said.

"Mom, my birthday's coming up you know..." Kari said walking down the hallways a little while later.

"I know"

"So we're celebrating here?"

"Yeah..."

"Cool..."

"Where are we going?"

"I saw a carnival, when I came to pick you guy's up"

"Oh...hey mom?"

"Hmm..."

"Am I gonna see dad?"

Well that stopped me in my tracks, figuratively. Is she gonna meet him? I don't want her too and I don't want him to meet her. But something tells me that it's going to happen. I can't stop fate, but I can try. Though it's going to be hard because I feel he'd always somewhere around me. Man... I'm getting to many instincts!

"We'll see..." I said. I looked down at her and she had a disappointed look. I know I'm not being fair to her but I'm trying to save her from getting hurt. For an eight-year-old, she could make someone feel guilty. So throughout the car ride we stayed silent- her staring beyond the window and me feeling guilty.

Next morning...

Serenity's Pov:

This time I made sure I woke up early instead of Cherie waking me up. I didn't want her waking up Kari who was still sleeping. It was another day for negotiating with Takahashi. I wore a black/white suit with a skirt today with thin stripes going it and black high heels. I closed the door quietly behind me and headed towards Shaila's room, which was one door down and told her to go to my room and sleep there. I know I'm overprotective but I have to be. Plus, I didn't really trust the cleaning maids or anyone else who worked at the hotel.

Then I headed towards Cherie's room and knocked. She too was ready and was surprised by me waking up early. We headed towards Takahashi industries and I sat down where I was sitting down last time. Everyone got here and we started the meeting. It was long, boring, and irritating. Takahashi kept going over the same deals we were going to give him. I guess he's scared that there might be something he doesn't want in the deals. And Josh, one of the people who worked in our department, looked irritated. I can tell he was trying really hard not to lose his temper. Who wouldn't be? He was the one explaining and going over the deals, explaining slowly and in more details.

When he finished, Takahashi agreed to them-finally, and said he make a contract the next meeting. Now it was my turn to present to him. I just explained the benefits he was getting. Wasn't much. The meeting was over after two long hours and he passed out the invites.

"You may bring one guest if you choose too, that be if you have any here" he said.

I could bring Shaila because someone has to take care of Kari and I don't really think that she wants to come. The last one she came to was boredom for her and me. Some of them have good opportunities and you find good people, but there's always a downside. I'll just tag along with Cherie.

"Hey Serenity!" Josh called out. Josh was 5'10" and had dark brown hair. He was handsome, and tried to get some dates from me and other women in the company numerous times. I came up with excuses -I didn't want to date him because, well as they say in America, he was a 'player.' Don't think he's a person who does commitment. He was making his way towards me now. He caught up and asked "be my guest at the party?"

"Um...I'm invited, too, you know."

"I know, but you need an escort, right?"

"I can go alone"

I saw his expression change a little, but he maintained himself. He was a nice guy, really nice and I didn't want to hurt him so I added quickly "but an escort would be nice. Why not?" I can think of reasons for why not.

"Great, I'll be by your door half an hour earlier" he replied.

Two Weeks Later...A.K.A. Business party night

Serenity's Pov:

I gave out a small sigh as I got ready for the party tonight. I had the party planned out...well how people would act towards me. Employee's from companies telling me about what they do. Maybe that will take and hour -each person. Josh...maybe fifteen minutes before running off to another lady or less. Dealing/discussing with other companies...half an hour or more. The last one is ok. I just try to keep interested.

I did my makeup and hair first then put on my dress. I decided to straighten my hair and put it down. It looked better down...for me. I wore a small black pendant. It was the shape of a circle with many designs embarked in the middle and around it. It also had matching earrings. Joey gave it to me on my last birthday. I wore pearly black bracelets to match that I bought while shopping with Cherie. Finally I wore black heels - also bought when I went shopping with Cherie. And a small black purse to carry. Inside was my cell phone -it was my answer to escape boredom and some makeup. Kari went to eat someplace with Shaila. A little while later Josh knocked.

"Hey..." I said. He was wearing a black tux with a nicely done bow tie.

"You ready?"

"Yeah..."

"Let's go then" he said. He linked his arm with my arm and we went down to the car he rented.

Kaiba Mansion...

"Seto! What's taking you so long?!" Mokuba called out, while he was waiting down at the bottom of the stairs.

"Give me a sec..." he replied. A passing maid rolled her eyes at this kind of dialogue from the two brothers.

Mokuba rolled his eyes, too. He didn't understand what was taking him so long. Usually it was him waiting down at the bottom of the stairs waiting for Mokuba. He sighed and sat down on a nearby sofa. After ten minutes or so, Kaiba came down the stairs his tux's tail billowing behind him. He was wearing a black tux-of course, with a silver vest inside along with a white shirt and a black bow tie.

"About time..." Mokuba said getting up from the sofa.

"Let's go" was all Kaiba said.

They took their black limo and arrived at the Takahashi mansion within minutes. He got out of the car followed by Mokuba.

"We are very glad that you and your brother have come Mr. Kaiba" one of Takahashi's hostess said.

"Whatever..." was all Kaiba said the hostess however got a little annoyed with him.

She bowed her head quickly and greeted the other guests.

Mokuba walked around while Kaiba stared at the group of people talking including Takahashi himself but he wasn't paying attention to him but rather a lady.

"Serenity..." he thought to himself. If you're thinking if he still loves her, well it's kind of obvious. He regretted the day he blew her off. If only he could take back what he said. But he knew she wouldn't forgive her just like that. It would take time and a lot of talking and convincing.

"I want to talk to her..." he thought emotionlessly while leaning against a wall. Mokuba saw his brother looking at her and knew what he was thinking.

"Poor Seto..." he thought.

Serenity's Pov:

"So he said..." said some man who was telling a stupid joke.

I forgot to add something in planning about what people were gonna talk about with me about. Well lets see, it goes before talking to people about what they do in this or that company. So now it starts off with stupid company jokes. I sighed mentally in my mind. I wasn't really in the conversation. My cell phone rang in my bag, but it was muffled up. Everyone heard this and turned to me. My cheeks turned pink for a minute.

"Um...excuse me please" I said and bowed my head down and went to a place where it was private. They resumed in their conversation. I went to the garden and sat down on a bench, my back to the party, and silently thanked who ever was calling me.

"Hello..."

"Hey, how's the party?" Cherie said on the other line.

"Boring...hopefully there isn't anymore of these stupid parties. Thanks for calling. It's as if you knew."

She laughed for a minute before saying "You're welcome"

"Let me talk to Kari" I said.

"Ok hold on..."

"Hi mom!" She said excitedly.

"Hey sweetie...why are you so happy?" I said with a weird look on my face.

"I'm eating all the cotton candy I can eat! We're at the same carnival we went to two weeks ago!"

"T-that's great, hey can I talk to Shaila?"

"Yeah ok..."

"She wants to talk you Shaila"

"Kari, you and your big mouth" Shaila muttered.

"H-hello"

"What...have...you...been...feeding...her?" I said tightly almost crushing the small black Motorola phone in my hands.

"Cotton Candy?"

"How many has she had?" I asked counting to ten backwards in my head. So far it's working.

"Um...three?"

"What! Why?!" I said, standing up now.

"Huh?..." I said suddenly than I didn't even think to say it. It just came out.

"What's wrong..."

"Thought I heard something" I said looking around but no one was there but me.

"So why did you?" I said returning to the conversation.

"I gave her one at first then she wanted another one and I said no, but she started all whining for more and was causing attention and so I bought one more but then she wanted another one and same thing happened" she said really fast but I heard her.

"I don't care if the president was there! I told you, no Cotton Candy! She gets hyper if she eats a bite!"

"I felt sorry for the girl, I thought one wouldn't hurt"

"Argh!...let me talk to her"

"For you..."

"You and your big mouth..." Kari muttered.

"Respect your elders" Shaila said frowning.

"I don't see any old people here..." Kari replied.

"Here..." Shaila said handing the phone to her.

"Hello?..." Kari said.

"Kari, you're smart for a little girl"

"Thanks but I'm not a little girl" she replied while I just rolled my eyes.

"The point is, how dare you take advantage of her and embarrass her in public?!"

"Not my fault...I got hyper"

"Ugh...you're grounded!"

"What! That's not fair!"

"Who said life would be fair?"

"How long?"

"Shaila will decide-"

"A-hem..." a voice cleared behind me.

Kaiba's Pov:

I kept watching her like a hawk, my arms folded. Her back was turned back on me, but I knew that was her. Her auburn hair going down her slim waist. I closed my eyes for a minute. When I opened them, she was gone. I stood straight now, my eyes darting off people looking for her. I found her taking out something from her purse, a cell phone. She was going out the garden, alone. Perfect. I followed her but went out the other way, didn't want to cause attention. There was no one there at the moment accept her and of course me. I kept my distance from her and leaned on a nearby tree, and waited until she finished talking. This took forever. I was amazed at how much she could talk.

"What! Why?!"

She stood up from the bench she was sitting apparently amazed at what the other speaker was saying or said. Moonlight was now on her face. She looked like an angel. All she needed was white. I chuckled softly at myself.

"Huh?"

She looked around her surroundings but I quickly hid behind the tree I was leaning at. I didn't want her to see me yet. I guess that's how I am, surprising.

"Thought I heard something"

I rolled my eyes. She was taking way to long. I decided to put her conversation on hold for a moment. I went over to her slowly, not wanting to scare her.

"A-hem" I cleared my throat to get her attention.

(a/n: man... this is the longest ch. I ever wrote. A total of 2,176 words. Cliffhanger... I decided to end it there. Keep you guessing. I said in my other story that maybe I would post it up in Monday or Tuesday, but my mom, dad, or brother aren't here to nag me -especially mom, about getting of the computer so I thought why not finish it? Yeah... so please review.)