AN: A very long chapter this time. I had to stop here, otherwise it would have another 2 pages. Once again, thanks for reading and leaving those extremely encouraging comments!
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Chapter 4 – A Second Meeting
"How's that cute new personal assistant of yours working out?" Soujirou asked Tsukasa casually as they walked towards the lifts. "I heard that you are terrorising her beyond your usual week."
"She's ok, not too many mistakes, but just extremely stubborn and needs to be disciplined … …" His voice trailed off suddenly and took on a completely different tone, "did I hear you say that she's cute?"
Soujirou dismissed the sharp suspicion in his friend's voice and his heated stare, "no, she's not my type. I prefer beautiful and sexy women." He raised a quizzical eyebrow in the direction of his friend and business partner, "why are you so defensive, Tsukasa? Are you falling for that innocent wide-eyed chit? Turning into a paedophile now eh?"
"Of course not! I don't have such bad taste in women," Tsukasa retorted angrily. "I merely do not want the efficiency of my employees to be affected when you break their hearts. I dread to imagine what mistakes she will make." Soujirou raised his other eyebrow with an air of disbelief and decided to probe further.
"Then why did you ask for her?"
"For the record, I did not request for her by name. I simply stated my requirements for a personal assistant … …"
"And by coincidence she fitted the bill perfectly?" Soujirou smirked. "I know you better than that. You must have had somehow laid your hands on her CV before making your request." Tsukasa remained silent, neither acknowledging nor refuting Soujirou's accusations.
"By the way, remember Walker's ball tomorrow?" Soujirou asked Tsukasa as the lift arrived. "Bring a date."
"Yeah, you would jump at any opportunity to date a hot chick." Tsukasa grumbled.
"And you wouldn't? You've never been one to let an opportunity pass." The lift doors closed upon Soujirou's cryptic comment, leaving Tsukasa pondering over what his friend said. An idea formed in his head when he caught sight of Tsukushi who was getting ready to leave the office. The sound of approaching footsteps made Tsukushi look up from the process of shutting down her computer. A look of dismay passed over her expressive face when she saw her boss from hell looking at her contemplatively.
"It's six-thirty pm already," she pointed out, instantly defensive. "I'm suppose to knock off at six pm and I've finished all the work for today."
"Did you hear me complaining?" Tsukasa looked irritated.
"No, but that is a first," Tsukushi muttered under her breath.
"What did you say?"
"Nothing," she quickly changed the subject. "What can I do for you?" Was the high and mighty Doumyouji Tsukasa actually looking uncomfortable? Her imagination was probably working overtime.
"Are you free tomorrow night?" He finally said.
"WHAT?" Tsukushi could not believe her ears. "What did you say?" This man had tormented her consistently over the past two weeks, driven her up the wall, almost giving her a heart attack on several occasions, and was now asking her out? And there he was standing as cool as a cumber with his arms crossed over his chest as he waited expectantly for her reply. The nerve of that man! Did he really think that she would weep for joy and fall at his feet because of this "honour" bestowed upon her?
"I asked if you were free tomorrow night," he repeated impatiently.
"Of all the … …" she spluttered.
For a moment, he looked genuinely puzzled her reaction, then his lips twisted into a mocking smile, "in case you are mistaken, this is business and not a date. Tomorrow, our company is hoping to sign a contract with a friendly competitor to end our rivalry. I'll need someone to be there to take notes, and I happen to need a companion for the ball as well. You could function as both."
A deep flush coloured Tsukushi's cheeks as a hot wave of embarrassment flooded her entire being. Of course it was for work purposes. She should have known better than to think that the heir to the Doumyouji empire would be interested in a nobody like her. Was that a small pang of disappointment that she felt? Wounded pride would probably be closer to the mark.
Tsukasa frowned at her long silence, "this is not a request. If you have something on, cancel it. You'll be paid overtime. And I'll allow you to leave early tomorrow to buy whatever is necessary for the ball. Charge it to the company's account." Stunned by his high-handedness, Tsukushi stared after him as he returned to his office and shut the door behind him with an air of finality.
The frown on his face disappeared almost magically, and weariness took over once he was alone. Rubbing his aching temples, he strolled over to the small bar and poured himself a small glass of brandy. It had been a long day and Tsukushi's reaction to his invitation had not made it any better. She was a feisty little thing and as prickly as a hedgehog, but hell, she was starting to grow on him. She had borne his unreasonable demands with fortitude, remained strong under all the pressure, had tackled every single task he gave her head on and performed them to the best of her abilities. In spite of his rudeness, she had remained civil most of the time, although those expressive brown eyes of hers totally gave her away. A small chuckle escaped from his lips as he recalled how her eyes would darken, literally shooting sparks, and how she would grit her teeth to keep her temper in check whenever he made her angry. Those dark brown orbs were the windows to her soul.
Well, she probably thinks I'm the biggest bastard on earth, he thought a little ruefully. Not that he could blame her for that. However, he had to admit (albeit a trifle reluctantly) that the little spitfire was really cute whenever she was enraged. So, he started to find himself deliberately baiting her in order to get a rise out of her. Or perhaps, a small voice in his head added, you are simply trying to cook up a reason to excuse your close to non-existent interpersonal relationship skills, and being a the biggest failure where relationships are concerned. Not liking the direction his thoughts were taking, Tsukasa quickly poured himself another brandy and knocked it down before heading towards his desk where another contract was awaiting his attention. As the cold bitch who spawned him always said, work should always be the top priority and happiness could only be gained via power and success … …
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Tsukushi wobbled a little on her three-inches silver strappy sandals as she got off the chair. The cheerful make-up artist – Lisa – was beaming and nodding in satisfaction at her, "now dearie, you look much better! You just need to know what type of hairstyle and make-up suits you."
"Thank you," Tsukushi said with a faked smile. True, she always knew that she was a plain Jane, but damn did it feel different when someone else voiced the same opinion. Besides she did see why Tsukasa had to hire a make-up artist. She was meant to be going to the ball as a stenographer and not a "debutante". The arrogant bastard probably did not want to be accompanied by a too plain personal assistant who would not make him look good, Tsukushi thought cynically.
When she reached the basement, Tsukasa was already there talking on his handphone. She quickly glanced at her watch and heaved a small sigh of relief when she saw that she was a couple of minutes early. As she walked towards him, she noticed that he was dressed resplendently as usual in a charcoal grey suit and white shirt with a matching dark grey patterned tie, his tall figure exuding an aura of power and confidence. However, his habitual scowl was absence for once, and her heart gave a sudden thump as a genuine smile suddenly curved his lips, transforming his face for an instance. Who on earth was he talking to? She decided feeling a little miffed that it had to be one of his air-headed girlfriends, to make him grin in such an idiotic way. Tsukasa turned when he heard her approaching, and he froze when his eyes fell on her.
After a long pause, he finally said, "… … yes I'm still here, but I have to go. Call you later." He snapped his phone shut and dropped it in his suit pocket, never taking his eyes off her.
She was wearing a simple but elegant silver evening gown with a conservative front, and thin silver straps criss-crossing over her bare back. It did wonders for her slim, girlish figure, accentuating the slight curves. Her shoulder length hair was swept up in a stylish knot and her makeup was subtle but emphasized the best of her features – those large doe-like eyes with the long sweeping eyelashes. Admittedly she wasn't the most beautiful woman or even one of the most beautiful women that he had seen before. Yet, something set her aside from all the other women whom he had known. They were always beautifully made up and extravagantly dressed, whilst Tsukushi obviously had neither the means nor the fashion sense and thus went around in her simple shirts and pants, wearing only lip-gloss on her face. He had thought that it was the different etiquette and materialistic gap between the worlds of the rich and poor that made her unique. However seeing her dressed like them, Tsukasa realised that it was something much deeper, something radiating from her inner core, that drew him to her like a moth to a flame. It brought a strange, almost fluttery feeling to his stomach.
Tsukushi shifted uncomfortably under the scrutiny of those intense, dark eyes. She could almost feel the heat from his smouldering gaze. Finally, unable to take the terse silence anymore, she blurted out, "do I really look that bad?"
The spell was broken and the dark eyes become hooded again. "I see that Lisa did a very good job. Place her on your list of contacts, we could probably use her again." Tsukushi's eyes widened at the backhand compliment before irritation flashed in her eyes. Drat that man! Could he not say something genuinely nice and flattering for once? She was rather surprised when he actually bothered to open the door of the limousine for her before getting in himself. Well, apparently the oaf could display some manners when the fancy took him.
"Okay, now let me brief you about the contract … …" Tsukasa started when the limousine drove away from the office.
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Never thought I'd be at one of these posh balls again after prom night, Tsukushi thought nervously as she gratefully accepted Tsukasa's arm after he helped her out of the limousine. Astonishingly, Tsukasa was actually acting nice for once and not chewing her out every few minutes. However, she knew that he had to put on a polite front at such social and business gatherings.
"Stay close to me," he breathed as they stepped into the hotel's grand ballroom. His warning did not come a second too soon for they were immediately surrounded by a group of women wearing elaborate ball gowns and shimmering with jewellery, all clamouring for Tsukasa's attention.
"Tsukasa, it's been a while, how have you been?" A pretty red head batted her eyelashes.
"I'm good, thank you." He replied with a sardonic smile.
"Tsukasa, you have to promise me the first dance tonight," another girl cut in. Her dress was so low cut that for a moment Tsukushi was worried that she would fall out of her dress.
"No, Tsukasa, you still owe me a dance from the last ball."
"How is your mother doing, Tsukasa?" An elderly woman asked him.
"She's fine, thank you." He said with a tight smile.
"And you haven't met my niece have you? Tsukasa, this is Bella Shimari. Bella, this is Doumyouji Tsukasa."
"A pleasure," he murmured as he bowed over the blushing girl's hand, secretly cursing old women for their meddling ways.
"Who are you?" Tsukushi suddenly found herself the centre of attention or rather became the target of the group of girls once Tsukasa's attention was diverted.
"Makino Tsukushi," Tsukushi answered with forced calm as she gazed steadily at them, suppressing the urge to tell these airheads that it was none of their f business as they looked down their noses at her.
"Never heard of a Makino family business," one of them commented.
"Must be his new squeeze," another said in a loud whisper, obviously meant to reach her ears.
"No," the other answered in an equally loud whisper. "She's too ugly. I wonder which street did he pick her up from?"
"Must be a great lay," the other agreed. Those in earshot either sniggered or burst into loud giggles as Tsukushi flushed to the tips of her ears and a burning feeling behind her eyes started making itself known. How dare these rich snobs insult and humiliate her in such a way?
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"Ray, I need to go to the ladies."
"I'll wait for you near the entrance," he said with a smile as he pressed a kiss on the back of her gloved hand. She smiled seductively at him before sashaying off. A tight smile appeared on his lips as he thought how easy it was to break down the defences of these rich, lonely women. He was reaching out for a glass of champaign when a burst of shrill giggles assaulted his ears. He turned and saw a young girl surrounded by a horde of girls who were looking at her either scornfully or with malice shinning in their eyes. With sinking sensation, he realised at once what was happening. It was a common enough occurrence - a group of people ganging up on one comparatively defenceless individual … … and it sickened him.
There was something strangely familiar about the victim. The vulnerability and pain in those dark brown eyes were apparent to him, in spite of the way the girl held her head proudly as she tried to ignore the scathing remarks. He knew only too well how she was feeling. Almost before he knew what he was doing, the small group was parting before him as he approached her, totally ignoring all the admiring glances that fell his way.
"Would you do me the honour of dancing with me?" Her small mouth fell open and her eyes widened when she saw him. Déjà vu! Immediately, the picture of a young woman with a similar expression, sitting on the ground amidst scattered cupboard boxes came to his mind.
"It's you!"
"It's you!" They both exclaimed at the same time.
He was even more gorgeous than Tsukushi had remembered. In his expensive well-tailored suit, white shirt and silver silk tie, he was the embodiment of every girl's prince charming. Tsukushi heard the gasps around her as she shyly placed her hand in his and saw the envious looks cast in her direction when he led her away.
"I'm sorry but I can't dance," she told him regretfully when they were a safe distance away from the wolves.
"That's fine," she melted when he grinned boyishly at her. "I saw that you were in a spot of trouble and decided to lend you a hand."
"Thank you so much! That's the second time you have rescued me. You must be my guardian angel!" He was slightly taken aback by her expression of gratitude. Him, the guardian angel of a young woman? The irony made the corners of his mouth twitch.
"By the way, I'm Makino Tsukushi."
"My name is Hanazawa Rui, but the allias I adopt for business is Nazuwa Ray." To Ray's surprise, he found himself confiding in her things that only a couple of people knew. There was simply something extremely disarming about her naivety, and the way her emotions were all displayed on her expressive face for the entire world to see.
"There you are, Ray," a woman in her early forties interrupted their conversation. "I was wondering where you had gone."
"Sorry, Yumi," Ray replied with an automatic smile as the woman kept a possessive hold on his arm. Tsukushi felt a shiver going down her spine when she saw the frosty look that the woman directed at her. Keep your hands off him, he's mine, the glare and aggressive body language communicated eloquently.
"By the way, Ray, I would like you to meet Mr Doumyouji." Tsukushi looked up in surprise to see Tsukuasa standing slightly behind Yumi. However, she flinched involuntarily when she saw the fire blazing in the dark eyes that were focused on her. Tsukasa was furious with her, Tsukushi realised with a sinking heart.
"Nice to meet you," he muttered coolly in Ray's direction without taking his eyes off her. When he finally looked at Ray, his eyes suddenly narrowed and Tsukushi sensed that Ray stiffened in surprise.
"You look familiar … … " Tsukasa paused as he tried hard to recall where he had met this man before. There was a flicker of something like recognition in his eyes, "weren't you also one of the flower four in Eitoku? The one whose name rhymed with flowers or something, and who mysteriously vanished after three months?"
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Nancy: Sorry, it's still more of T&T then R&T. I had thought that I would reach more of the R&T when the chapter simply got too long! Thanks so much for your kind comments and I hope you'll like this chapter as well! I know it's quite a different style from the other two stories – less of romance upfront I guess. So it's really good to know how you all feel.
just a reader: Ah a new reader !!! Really glad to know you enjoy the OCCness of this story! There are times when I feel that this story is so far removed from the plot of HYD that pple may hate it! So thanks so much for the encouragement !! Motivates me to continue with the different storyline ;) !!!
kensingtonkid : Hi hi! Thanks so much for reading and commenting as you always do!!! Sorry about the slow-moving plot at the moment. I'm trying to build up the story, but I do get carried away by details and trivialities at times. I tried to ensure that this chapter wasn't too draggy. Thanks for the constructive criticism and I hope this chapter is more fast moving !!!!
peppermint23: Yay !!! Another new reader! I'm so glad that you like the plot – I was really quite anxious to know how the readers felt about this story because the plot, the style and even the characters are quite different. Thank you thank you!
Pure Innocence: I have to confess I haven't read the manga Rui. However, I totally agree with you on the anime. Rui was only really attractive at the start. After that, Tsukasa was thrown in the spot light instead !!! I hope the meeting of your favourite pple is long enough or have I only wetted your appetite for more ;)? Thanks so much for your kind comment, it is very motivating especially when I'm trying something new !!!!
.:: Stacey ::. ): Hi there! I have to admit that Soujirou and Akira are unlikely to play any major roles in this story. They remain on the sidelines as always (unless of course my muse strikes and the plot completely changes but that doesn't seem to be happening anytime soon). I can see how much you support the R&T pairing !!!! Thanks so much reading and commenting as always !!!!
sadness-reigns: A new reader and fellow writer as well !! Thanks soooo much for your kind and encouraging words!!! Really really enjoyed reading your insight … … It was very interesting! I'm glad that you found Rui convincing because I really think he's the character that I have distorted most. Tsukasa is also going to be a bit OCC. I wrote this trying to think of what they would be like after being exposed to the society under the circumstances as depicted in this story. Thank you again and may I add that I really enjoyed reading Lighthouse by the Ocean as well. It is different from the rest of the stories here !!!
just a teen: Hi hi! Really good to know that you're finding the plot interesting as well! Phew !!!! It's a great relief actually !!! Thanks so much for your kind comments !!!
sweetpeakit: I was so touched by your comment !! Thank you for being so kind and understanding in spite of all the infrequent and delays in my updates, the mistakes that I have subsequently found, and the many more that I have yet to uncover, the times when the story is too slow moving or too boring because my brain simply refuses to cooperate and my practically non-existent creative juices dry up, the times when my writing - in spite of my struggles – completely fails to communicate my thoughts etc etc! Sometimes it's knowing that there are people like all of you out there who are patiently waiting for the next update that keeps us (or at least me) trying !!! I really hope that this story will entertain my readers as well! As for the parings, I haven't really made it concrete as yet. It was just like in Façade where I had all the alternative endings. It wasn't until I wrote the very last chapter that I chose the pairing. It'll be pretty much the same in this story – I'll let it write itself !!! Thanks again!