Thanks for all the great reviews! I'm glad you all are enjoying this, hopefully I'll be able to update this more often now.
Summary: Kaiba is victim to a most unexpected day. Surprises and thrills await this stern CEO, the poor guy. Chapter 2: Ignoring your Gut Instincts. Kaiba tries to be nicer for a change, but he might just regret it.
Part 2:
As Ashabi watched the last trails of the President's white trench coat flitter out the glass doors of Kaiba Corp into the dreary downpour outside, he allowed a broad smile to spread across his face. He rubbed his rather achy arm in annoyance as he watched Seto Kaiba talk to the doorman and enter a cab.
He actually bought it.
The man wiped his sweaty brow with the sleeve of his jacket and cleared his throat. He moved toward the glass doors and saw the cabbie behind the wheel. His smile broadened.
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Kaiba pushed through the revolving glass doors to come upon the pouring rain, the wind was worse than he'd expected and several men and women ran about on the sidewalk, umbrellas turned inside-out, struggling against the torrential storm. Kaiba pushed his way through the thick crowds, eying the streets for a free cab. The roads were slick and glimmering beneath the traffic, and every able body capable was fighting and clamoring for a way to escape the extreme weather. Kaiba sighed, considering whether he wanted to take a cab or not. An empty stomach was far more appealing than an hour drenched in rain. Then he felt a hand at his shoulder, and he pulled away from the contact in reproach.
"Here, Mr. Kaiba, let me get a ride for you." The elderly doorman smiled briefly his eyes lighting up and tiny wrinkles forming at the corners of his open smile. He pushed an umbrella into the young executive's hand, the rain falling upon the black cloth in a thunderous noise. Then the squat old man headed toward the crowded street, braving the rain in search for a free taxi. Seto's mouth hung open in surprise – had he seen the man before? More than likely, Kaiba came in at the same hours each week on Thursday through Saturday because from Monday to Wednesday he was forced to take classes at Domino High. Yet for the life of him, he couldn't remember the man's face. Why had he offered help? If Kaiba had been working here for years without as much of a 'Hello' or 'How are you?' why would the man suddenly take an interest? It was baffling to Kaiba's suspicious mind.
"Mr. Kaiba," the man waved a hand to urge him over, opening a taxi door for the dumbfounded CEO. "Over here, sir!" Kaiba stood in complete shock for a few moments before following the older man's simple request and handing him back the umbrella.
"Thank you, um…" he blinked.
"Portu, sir! Solomon Portu."
"Yes, um… thank you, Portu." Seto slid into the wet cloth seat and allowed Mr. Portu to close the door for him with a nod of thanks. He supposed that it shouldn't have surprised him so much to be shown common courtesy, but he simply hadn't expected it. It was a rare moment indeed when Seto Kaiba was surprised. He sighed and allowed his wet, dripping body to ease into the thin cushioned seats. A slight rapping on the window beside him jolted his reverie.
It was Ashabi. Kaiba sighed and looked up into the pleading caramel eyes. The man's voice came through the glass muffled. "Mr. Kaiba, please! Let me come with you, I need to speak with you!"
The man was positively drenched without the safety of an umbrella, and Seto was reminded of a wet dog or rat as he stared at the forlorn man. He rolled his eyes and took in a deep breath as he moved over in the seat to allow the man room. The Chairman's brown eyes lit up as a smile swept across his face. He opened the door and sat beside the sulking CEO with such vigor that Kaiba could have sworn he was a child.
In a way, it rather pleased Seto that he'd sufficiently soaked the cushion where Ashabi now sat. It was a strange, sardonic amusement that he knew would humor him later; his strange but effective substitute for caffeine. "What do you want, Ashabi?"
"Well, I just wanted to – "
"Hey!" The cabbie called out with gloved fingers idly holding the steering wheel. His brown faux leather cap turned as the orange glow of a cigar came into view. Kaiba nodded, finally identifying the source of the stench which had slowly but insidiously been intensifying the throbbing of his skull. "Where d'you folks wanna go anyway?" Kaiba opened his mouth to respond but the Chairman interrupted him.
"Please, Mr. Kaiba. I was terribly rude to you earlier. Let me use this opportunity to make it up to you." Kaiba sent a sidelong glance at the pleading eyes. "My treat, sir. Just for lunch, sir."
Somewhere deep inside Kaiba's gut, he knew he was going to regret this afternoon. The torrential storm should have served as his warning. He'd been far too nice today, which was highly unusual for him – especially on such a dreary day like this. But Kaiba's long buried yearnings for any semblance of a social life urged him to accept the third kind offer he'd been given, and even though his pride cried out to demand recognition, he nodded in acceptance. Ashabi smiled once again, not an excited sign of happiness as he'd shown on the outside of the cab, but more of a somber appreciation which Kaiba could tolerate. At least he hadn't begun spouting friendship speeches.
"Thank you, sir! Delano's, my good man, and make it snappy!" Ashabi called to the cab driver quickly, ringing out his trench coat on the already sopping floor. He turned his caramel eyes to Kaiba once again, "I have someone there I want you to meet, Mr. Kaiba. It was only supposed to be a meal for two, but since you've been so kind to me I just – "
"Don't confuse my generosity with kindness, Ashabi." Kaiba spat out, "Just because I'm letting you do this doesn't mean I've forgiven you for your rude behavior earlier." In part this was a true statement, but mostly Kaiba just wanted to make the man beg. Well, maybe not beg entirely, but at least give him a chance to prove he was worthy of Kaiba's Corporation. There were plenty Chairmen-to-be awaiting discovery in Japan and overseas; Kaiba was more than certain he could pick and choose whomever he needed with the right amount of cash.
"Oh… of course, sir…" Ashabi bowed his head to Kaiba as a sign of respect. He looked as though he wanted to say something, but he instead vouched for silence. Good boy, Kaiba thought in appreciation, at least he's a fast learner.