Chapter 5: Dinner Proposal (2,006 Words)

The front doors to Kaiba Corp's main building opened automatically as Alistair walked through them. It was just another thing about the place that she liked. A smirk graced her lips at the thought and soon turned into a small smile upon seeing Oshcara sitting behind the reception desk. The other two receptionists weren't there yet.

"Good morning, Miss Alistair," Oshcara replied sweetly. Positive energy seemed to be beaming from the girl this morning, and Alistair would be lying if she said she wasn't curious.

"And to you, Oshcara. What's got you in such a good mood today?" she replied, coming to a stop in front of the desk. She still had a good six minutes until she had to meet with Kaiba at seven.

Oshcara hummed at the question as if the mere thought of the answer gave her immense joy. "Well, I saw a certain someone last night and…" She trailed off softly, and Alistair figured she was reliving the moment in her head. "He's so handsome," she said after an awkward moment on Alistair's part.

She didn't bother asking who Oshcara was talking about and said instead, "I wish you luck with him." Then, she quickly walked to the elevator just as it open, not wanting to be late. Oshcara gave a slight wave before going back to her thoughts. A smile was plastered onto the girl's face. Alistair chuckled and shook her head at the girl's antics. She would have to find out the boy's name. Oshcara was obviously infatuated with whoever it was.

The doors closed, and Alistair noticed that the elevator didn't play that dreadful music most were known for. She silently added it to her list of 'why I like this building more than my own' before pressing the button for the top floor. Floor after floor past until she finally reached the one she wanted. Stepping off the elevator, she glanced around the well furnished room.

A pair of glass top metal framed desks sat across from each other before a large door that she suspected was Kaiba's office. Behind each desk sat two men who could've passed for twins. The one to the right was obviously shorter than the other with paler skin and innocent, lavender eyes. His hair was nearly the same except for the odd lightning-shaped bangs that hung in his face.

The one to the left wasn't as pale at the other and had to be a few years older. His dark violet eyes were more squared and the eyeliner, or guyliner as she liked to call it, looked exceptionally good on him. His bangs shot upward with his star-shaped hair. He didn't look up from the book he was reading as she approached. However, his twin looked up from the computer he was slowly typing on.

"Hello," he said. "I'm Yuugi Motou. You must be Alistair Dernier, right? Kaiba is expecting you."

Alistair glanced at her watch and grimaced when she realized that she was two minutes late. She shouldn't have stopped and talked with Oshcara. Returning her attention back to Yuugi, whose name she recognized from Oshcara's introductions of the staff yesterday, she smiled softly. She figured that the other man must have been Yami Motou based off his similar appearance to Yuugi. "Yes, I'll have to apologize for being late."

"Oh, please don't bother with it," Yuugi replied sweetly with a dismissive wave of his hand. "You were put off yesterday with our meeting, so feel free to rub it in his face should he mention your lateness."

"Sure thing," she replied. She was silently glad that he was so casual with Kaiba's name but also found it strange. She figured Kaiba would flip out if he heard how Yuugi was talking now. They must know each other really well, she thought.

"Well, I'm not going to keep you any longer." He pressed a button and a voice sounded from the other end. Kaiba's voice.

"What?" he snapped harshly, obviously in a bad mood. Alistair could only wonder if the man ever stopped frowning.

Yuugi simply chuckled, not at all offended by his tone. "Miss Dernier is here," he replied smoothly.

A second passed. "Send her in."

Yuugi released the button and gave her another smile. "Try not to push his temper too much until the caffeine kicks in at nine."

"Noted," she stated gratefully and walked forward to open the door. She didn't feel Yami's dark violet eyes on her back as she stepped through the door and closed it.

The office was dim. The only light source was the light streaming in through the curtained windows. It resembled her old one back in her old building. An elegant wood desk sat before two leather chairs. Kaiba himself sat in a rather comfy looking black chair behind the desk. Papers and three computers were scattered haphazardly across the surface. A leather couch sat before an entertainment center that consisted of a flat screen TV and the latest gaming consoles. She thought it was curious he would have those in here. She didn't think Kaiba would play at work. He didn't seem to be the type.

"Morning," she offered softly, for once taking the advice of not pressing his patience.

"You're late," he stated simply. He didn't even look up from the computer he was typing on as he spoke. His fingers skillfully flew over the keyboard, and she silently wondered what he was doing.

"I got caught up at the front desk. I promise it won't become a habit." She had to hold back the remarks that came into her head and settled for a nearly unnoticeable smirk. He didn't respond but switched to another computer, continuing to type. "Y'know," she began slowly. "You really should organize your desk more."

"Have a seat," he growled, effectively ignoring her comment on his tidiness. She did and crossed her legs, feining patience.

Well, Alistair thought sarcastically, This isn't awkward at all. She considered walking out of the office right then but quickly shot it down. She'd kill anyone who did that to her and didn't doubt Kaiba would do the same. A thought suddenly occurred to her, and she struggled to hide a grin. She might be able to rile him up indirectly.

"Yesterday morning while Oshcara was helping me and my staff, the two other receptionists were being quite rude." Her lips twitched upward as his fingers faltered slightly. She continued, raising her tone to mock their high voices, effectively sounding very girly, "They were saying things like 'I bet Seto and that Dernier woman are having sex' and 'I don't know what he sees in her. My Seto only loves me'."

He was now staring at her and had stopped typing completely. His stormy blue eyes bore into her gleaming ones, and she felt something flutter within her stomach. Without releasing her gaze, he pressed a button she assumed was for the intercom connected to the desks outside. The door opened a few seconds later, and Yami walked in to stand in front of the desk. She would of thought it was Yuugi if not for his height.

"What is it, Kaiba?" he asked gruffly. He was obviously peeved at being torn away from his book. Alistair almost felt bad for the guy.

"Fire Ashley and Rhonda."

"The two receptionists? What for?"

"Insubordination. No one talks about me like that and gets away with it." There was venom in his voice, and she was glad she could piss him off without taking the heat for it.

"Alright, but you know I'll want to know why later, cousin," Yami replied, almost in a scolding tone, after a moment. Alistair raised an eyebrow when Yami called Kaiba his cousin. That would explain why Yuugi was so familiar with him. He turned and left, prepared to make the long ride down to the ground floor and carry out his task.

Upon the door closing, Kaiba spoke, "Why didn't you tell me this last night when we spoke?"

"It didn't feel right to just drop that on you," she replied sincerely, leaning back into the chair.

"And now was the perfect time?" He scowled at her and resumed typing on one of his computers. His gaze was fixed onto the screen, and she realized that she missed his cold stare. Her eyes narrowed slightly.

"My tact is just as bad as yours." Her reply was simple and unarmed, not meant to anger him further.

"So I've heard." A couple of tense, silent minutes passed before he spoke again. "Mind telling me what your Gaming Department was doing before you fired them all." It wasn't much of a question but more of a command that she hesitantly obliged.

"They were working on the coding for this new virtual game they had come up with a few months back."

"And since they were all fired I presume it was crappy work?"

"You'd presume correct," she said with a nod of her head. "So, when am I going-" She was cut off by a startled yelp that sounded from outside the office door that had just been slammed open.

"Seto!" cried a child's voice from the doorway. Footsteps pounded across the carpet and around the desk. A mass of black hair shot passed her and leapt onto Kaiba who caught, what she assumed was a child, with practiced ease.

"Mokuba," Kaiba began in a scolding manner. "What have I told you about barging in here unannounced when I have company?"

Yuugi suddenly ran into the office. "Oh!" He sounded out of breath. "There you are Mokie. You need to slow down for Uncle Yuuyu, okay?" A smile was spread across his face despite his words, and his lavender eyes shone with excitement.

Yami came up behind his brother and patted his shoulder. "He outrun you again, little one?" he asked, already knowing the answer if his smirk was anything to go by.

Everyone's attention was brought back to Mokuba when he suddenly said to Alistair, "You're pretty." Time seemed to slow as her brain processed what the child, who was now comfortably sitting in a disgruntled Kaiba's lap, said.

"Thanks?" she offered slowly, unsure what to say much less do. Mokuba didn't miss a beat and beamed at her with the cutest smile.

"You're welcome. Say, ya wanna' come to dinner tonight?"

She heard laughter from behind her as both Yuugi and Yami tried to stop laughing. Kaiba's look of shock at what the child said was most likely the cause of it, and she would be laughing too if she herself wasn't just as shocked.

Alistair recovered quickly, and shook her head. "I'm afraid I couldn't be a bother."

"No way," Mokuba continued, "You'll be our welcomed guest tonight, right brother?" All eyes turned towards Kaiba who was currently having a staring contest with the child. Alistair knew the two had to be related somehow, and now she knew in what form. They certainly didn't look like brothers, but she would never question it aloud. A couple seconds later, Kaiba sighed softly in defeat at his brother's pleading eyes.

"Fine," he growled and winced when Mokuba shouted in joy. His ears would be ringing for the rest of the day, and he reluctantly returned the hug Mokuba was giving him nonetheless. He didn't miss the amused look in Alistair's eyes, the way Yami was watching her, or Yuugi's shit-eating grin. If only he could last until dinner without killing someone. He knew today was going to be very long, and it wasn't even nine o'clock yet.