The elevator dinged, and Haruhi stepped out, her expression formal and business-like, her body tense.

"Ah, Haruhi-san!" called a surprised voice.

"Konnichiwa, Machi-san," Haruhi replied, smiling slightly.

"Would you like for me to tell Ohtori-sama that you are here?"

"No need," Haruhi insisted. "I'll just head in. He's not in a meeting, is he?"

"No, he should be free right now," Machi assured. "At least as free as Ohtori-sama ever is."

"Arigatou, Machi-san," Haruhi said, walking towards the large pair of oak doors. She opened them without knocking and stepped inside, shutting the door just behind her.

"Haruhi," Kyouya said, and he did not look surprised to see her, despite that she rarely came to visit him at work. He sat at the far end of the massive, well-furnished office, his fingers still resting on the keyboard, watching her.

Haruhi crossed the room and sat on the edge of his desk, looking down at him.

"Kyouya, has it ever occurred to you that it's wrong to blackmail your wife?" she asked evenly.

He blinked at her as though she was from another planet.

"Where are my reports, Kyouya?" she inquired.

"What reports?" he asked innocently, leaning back in his chair.

Haruhi's eyes narrowed. "Kyouya, I don't have time for this. I have to get back to work."

"No, you don't. I consulted your schedule; you have no cases today and no meetings either."

"I could still be filing case reports."

"You'll have plenty of time for that later."

"I would rather do it now."

"Did you read my note?"

"...yes," she answered, stiffening. "But it doesn't mean anything! You can't blackmail me!"

"Do you want your papers back or not?"

"Bastard..." she muttered.

He just smirked, pulling her off of the desk and into his lap. His fingers traced the buttons of her shirt as he said into her ear, "A change of pace is refreshing once in a while, wouldn't you agree?"

"Machi will hear," she murmured.

"These walls are sound-proofed," he replied. "So you are welcome here anytime."

"You mean anytime you blackmail me."

"Precisely."

xXx

Haruhi emerged half-an-hour later looking ruffled, but triumphant. She had her case reports in one hand, and her brief case in the other. Machi took in her shabby appearance and smiled suggestively.

"I take it Ohtori-sama is well?" Machi asked.

Haruhi laughed dryly. "Oh, he's perfectly fine." She saw a mug of steaming coffee on Machi's desk. "Is that for Kyouya?" she asked.

"Hai," Machi answered. "I was just going to take it into him, but I didn't want to interrupt..."

"Do you keep any sugar here?"

Machi nodded and reached into a cabinet behind her desk. Haruhi took the sugar from her and poured a liberal amount of it into the coffee.

"Perfect," she said, handing the sugar back. "Be sure to blame me."

"Um..." Machi said, eyes widening. "Alright."

"Well, it was nice to see you again!" Haruhi said cheerfully, and summoned the elevator once again.