Disclaimer: I do not own Yugioh.
"Talk"
'Thoughts'
Flashback/dream
...
...
What had happened?
And how?
What did it mean if it meant anything at all?
For three days, Tea had been pondering over these same questions, trying to find an answer that would let her sleep peacefully at night, but never once did she succeed. And so her nights were spent in thoughts and fear, occasionally accompanied by a tear or two. The only blessing was that the scene had not made it into a gossip magazine or entertainment show. Had that happened, she did not know what she would have done. Even now, she trembled at the thought of anyone finding out. Was Stan ever to know, or Steven and Joshua, or Valon… she would never be able to look at them in the eye again. She did not even dare to think about Alistair. Whenever his name came in her mind, panic clouded her mind to the point that she couldn't breathe. Her heart thundered, her blood pulsed, and her limbs shook when she imagined his hurt face. She had betrayed him, whether he found out about it or not, though she would prefer he never learn about her shameful act.
It would have been more preferable to never had committed such an act, she thought bitterly. She should never have fallen for Seto's tricks. She should have known he would do something as low and despicable as playing with her emotions. He was a pro at that. He had done it in the past and continued to do so, and this proved to her that he was the same person, despite what he might want her to think.
She sighed, closing her tired eyes. But she knew sleep would not come. And if by some rare miracle it did greet her, it would be accompanied by nightmares filled with accusing fingers and disappointed eyes.
"Would you stop moping so openly like that?" Joshua said, plopping on the bed besides her, causing her to open her eyes and raise a questioning eyebrow at him. "You make me feel guilty about trying to ignore you." He complained. Tea huffed loudly and turned her face away from him.
"Well sorry your highness. I did not think I was bothering you. I shall remove my sore presence from your sight." She angrily got up, ready to march out of her room when Joshua grabbed her hand and yanked her back on the bed.
"Did I offend you again my lord?" She mocked.
"Tea, I was kidding." He said. "But I am sorry if you got offended." She sighed, her anger disappearing.
"I am not in the mood for jokes." She said honestly.
"You haven't been for a few days now. What's up?" She looked away, not wanting to give anything away through her eyes. Joshua may not be as perceptive as Steven, but he had his moments.
"Tea, did something happen involving your old friends… or Kaiba?" She did not answer immediately, knowing it might clue him to her predicament.
"Not really." She said slowly.
"If you don't want to talk to me about it, I understand. But talk to someone else." Joshua said gently. "You know you are not good at keeping emotions bottled up inside or hiding them. And don't even try to act like nothing is bothering you." Joshua said as she opened her mouth to object. "It's written all over your face." Tea sighed in defeat and looked away.
"I'll think about it." She finally said to appease him. He wasn't satisfied with the answer but he accepted it for the moment.
"Stan called while you were moping. When you are in a better mood, talk to him. He has a new project he is interested in and wants to talk to you about it." She nodded her head. "And come down stairs. Let Stephen and I entertain you. We are 2/3 of the three stooges." She smiled at him efforts to cheer her up.
"Who is the third member of your esteemed comedic group?"
"Come down stairs and find out." He teased. The smile faded from her face but she forced it back on and nodded.
"Sure. I'll be down soon. You better not disappoint me." Joshua eyed her for a few more seconds before getting up to leave when she grabbed his arm, halting him.
"Thanks." She said with a grateful look. He smiled in return and gave her a gentle hug before leaving, closing the door of her room after him.
Tea sighed depressingly and fell back on the bed. She wasn't surprised that Joshua had noticed her off mood. He wasn't completely right in saying that she wasn't good at hiding her emotions. But she knew she couldn't hide them from the people who knew her too well. Joshua was one of them, along with Steven, Stan, Valon, and Alistair.
Again the thought of Alistair brought feelings of panic. What if he found out what had happened? He would leave her. He wouldn't stand for her making a fool of him. He would leave her and... and... she couldn't breathe. Dark spots appeared before her eyes and gasping loudly, she sat up in bed.
No.
No. That couldn't be. That just couldn't be. Alistair was her world. He was her everything, just as she was his.
Flashback
She laid comfortably on a king sized bed, silk sheets draped over her naked body partially covering an equally naked Alistair. They had just enjoyed a long and passionate session of love making after being apart for a little over two months, the longest time apart since they had seriously started dating. She had been shooting her latest movie and as soon as production had wrapped up, she had bolted from USA to France where Alistair was currently residing.
She let out a sigh of absolute relaxation and content as Alistair lovingly stroked her hair. He hadn't completely removed himself from her after they had finished, choosing instead to shift her over him so he wasn't crushing her small body under his heavier one.
"I missed you." He whispered, his hand making abstract patterns on her exposed back. She suppressed a smile at his confession and planted an affectionate kiss on his chest where her head lay.
"I didn't think I would, not to this extent, but I did." He continued in a soft voice. "I had work piled up to distract me from your absence but somehow it wasn't effective." She tilted her head so she could look at him. He was staring straight ahead, a soft, faraway look in his eyes.
"That's why I moved to France as soon as you left. I couldn't stand to be in the house in London anymore. I couldn't stand the feel of your scent on my bed knowing you weren't there for me to hold. Yet I couldn't leave easily either knowing it was all I had of you for weeks to come." He looked into her eyes, his fingers brushing her cheek. "I don't know when it happened, but you became my everything." Her eyes widened significantly at his confession.
"You don't have to say anything in return." He said comfortingly to ease her racing heart. "But I need to say this. I need you to know." He sighed and looked off into the distance again before continuing. "For as long as I can remember, I've been alone. I have learnt to be alone, to survive by myself, and to thrive in solitude. But I have always searched for an anchor, someone to hold on to, someone to call my own so that I'm not swallowed by my desolate existence. At first, it was my brother. Then it was Dartz. In both cases, I lost the person I depended on, and I swore to myself that I would never again let anyone become a reason for my existence." His eyes met hers again. "I don't know when and how it happened. Somehow, you became my world, the reason for every breath, the echo in every heartbeat. And I'm afraid. I'm afraid that I am becoming too attached to you, that I'm unfairly putting the weight of my weakness, of my dependant existence, on you." He said and then smiled faintly at her expression. "As I said before, you don't need to say anything in response to my rant. I just want you to know my state of mind so you are not scared when I become an obsessive psycho boyfriend." He finished with a teasing tone and a smile. But Tea couldn't find the ability to reciprocate that smile. Instead, she just chose to stare at him through wide eyes, her heart beating faster that the flapping wings of an injured bird.
"Tea, don't worry about-." He started in an assuring tone but she cut him off.
"I love you." She said. It was his turn to be caught off guard at her confession.
"I love you." She repeated with a blossoming smile. "I have known it for a while now, but I was afraid to say it. But I'm not afraid anymore, not with you. I trust you." Very lovingly, she cupped his face with her hands and gazed into his grey eyes. "You have been so patient with me, with my insecurities, my fears, and my doubts. You have been so kind and caring. I thought I would never feel about anyone the way I feel about you. I promised myself to never become so vulnerable before another man, to never give him control over my heart. But you broke through the barriers I set. You claimed my heart for yourself. You made me believe in love again. I am not afraid of being vulnerable before you because I trust you. I love you Alistair." As soon as she had finished, he leaned forward and pressed his lips against her.
"I love you too." He whispered against her lips. "I love you more than my life. I would never hurt you intentionally, this I swear to you." Looking into his eyes, she saw the sincerity and determination to back his claim and she knew she had made the right decision.
"And I swear the same."
End flashback
Recalling that beautiful night brought tears to her eyes. How could she have been so stupid? She had risked her everything to satisfy her curiosity. And now, she was left with nothing but fear, shame, and regret. She had promised Alistair an honest and trusting relationship. She had broken her promise to him. She had betrayed him, she thought miserably. She had allowed herself to be fooled by Seto Kaiba. She had fallen for his trickery and done exactly what he wanted. She had hurt Alistair.
Sobbing softly, she fell back on the bed, face buried in the pillow. He would never trust her again. He would never look at her again. He would walk out of her life and she would have nothing. She would be all alone and heartbroken. She would have nothing.
But what about Seto? Maybe she would have him. As soon as the thought arose in her head, she viciously shook her head, as if to physically throw the idea out. That was out of the question, she reasoned. Seto had no interest in her. He was with Serenity.
But then what about his actions towards her, his words, his eyes... She shuddered as she remembered the emotions she had seen in them. Maybe he really wanted her. Maybe he had finally realized that he had made a mistake of hurting her and now wanted her back. Maybe he was in love with her.
She scoffed at the idea, all the while trying to tame her wildly beating heart. These were not possibilities. These were her imaginations, her wishes. She wanted all that to be true. She wanted Seto to regret his decision of rejecting her. She wanted him to be in love with her, to want her, to come crawling back to her and confess his love so she could reject him and give him a taste of his own medicine. That was what she had wanted. That was what she still wanted... right? To reject Seto because she didn't have feelings for him anymore... right?
She hated the doubt, the hesitancy she felt, even when answering herself. Why? What had changed? Why did she doubt her own resolve?
Because she wasn't completely over him, her heart whispered. That was why she kept going back to him, even when knowing he would play with her emotions. That was why he had such an effect on her, why she was helpless against him. That would explain the strength and the intensity of her response to him at the docks.
She was still in love with Seto Kaiba.
No. Her mind screamed. It couldn't be. She couldn't be in love with him. She hated him. She hated him for what he had done to her, for all he had taken from her. She hated him. She had to. She just had to.
Tears streamed down her face. She felt so alone and confused. She felt as if her world was crumbling around her. Everything she believed in was turning out to be wrong. What was she to do? What was she to think?
Without another thought, she grabbed the phone and speed dialed an international number.
"Hello". The voice came from the other line. As soon as she heard it, sobs overtook her body and she curled up in a fetal position on the bed.
"Tea, Tea what's wrong?" The now panicked voice asked urgently. "Tell me what's wrong? What happened?"
"I..." She struggled to talk between sobs and hiccups.
"Go on." The voice encouraged gently. "You know you can tell me anything. What happened?"
"I kissed Seto." She wailed. "I kissed Kaiba."
There was silence on the other line.
"Stan?" She hesitantly asked.
"I'm here." He sighed. "Tell me exactly what happened." And she did, everything from her thoughts before his arrival to her body's reaction to him.
"I betrayed Alistair. I cheated on him." She cried.
"Let's not go that far." He said. "You've kissed plenty of guys before in your movies. Hell, you've even imitated passionate sex with a few of them, and don't tell me your body didn't react in some way during those scenes." Stan said. "Does that mean you somehow betrayed Alistair, because you were turned on by someone else?"
"This is different." She argued. "Those were movies. This is real."
"Tell me what's upsetting you the most, the kiss or your reaction to it." He asked, changing topic.
"Both." Tea said after a short pause. Stan didn't reply. "Actually, I think it was my reaction to it, how I felt." Tea finally admitted.
"Why?"
"Because... because it means I still love him, that I still have very strong feelings for him." Tea replied in a cracked voice.
"What about your reaction indicates feeling of love or passion?" Stan asked and Tea sighed impatiently.
"Stan, I am not in the mood or state of mind to be taught a lesson like a child."
"I am honestly trying to understand your mindset so I can offer advice." Stan said sincerely. "I am confused about your interpretation of your reaction because had I been in your position, I wouldn't have come with the same conclusion."
"What do you mean? Am I wrong?" Tea asked urgently.
"I don't know if you are wrong." Stan replied after a small pause. "You think that your reactions are synonymous with passion. I disagree with your belief but that doesn't make you wrong."
"Stan, please." Tea nearly begged. "I am so confused already. Don't play games with me. Don't beat around the bush. Just tell me what you think."
"Fine." Stan gave in. "I'll tell you what I think but by no means am I saying that I am right. Besides, you're too stubborn to take someone else's advice. Your bull-head will believe what you have already decided on."
"Yes, yes. I get it." Tea said impatiently.
"You said that when he was approaching you, your heartbeat increased dramatically. You felt like you couldn't breathe and your vision started to become blurry with black spots appearing at the corners of your vision. You felt like you were going to faint. To me, these are textbook symptoms of a panic attack, not passion or love." There was silence from Tea as she pondered over what Stan had said.
"But... but... he..." She didn't know what to say. There were too many thoughts, too many questions racing through her mind.
"Passion doesn't mean mind-numbing loss of control. Passion is compelling. It's a driving force that stimulates actions. It gives us strength and motivation towards the thing, act, or person we are passionate about, not render us helpless." He explained gently.
"Emily was the love of my life." He continued in a soft voice. "I loved her since high school and love her still. But she never once caused me to experience any shortness of breath or dizziness during the time we spent together. I did feel those conditions when I learnt about her cancer diagnosis, and I felt them every time I thought about her pain and eventual death." Tea listened with hushed breath. Stan didn't talk about his late wife a lot as it always brought him pain. But she knew if he was talking about her now, it was to tell her something important so she listened with rapt attention.
"Her death was... beyond painful for me. I was lost and for a time-being, suicidal." Tea could not help the gasp that escaped her lips. "I know you can relate to that because you felt like that not too long ago." Stan said with a bitter smile, even though she couldn't see it. "That was why I wouldn't give up on you. I saw myself in you and I refused to let you fail." He paused there and Tea kept silent, knowing he wasn't done yet. "Emily's loss to cancer induced the passion in me to fund cancer research. That is why half of every single one of my paycheques is donated to a cancer research organization. Emily's memory fuels my passion and reaffirms my commitment to this cause every day. It is the reason I am still alive today, the reason why I work hard to earn lots of money so I can donate lots of money to the cause close to my heart." Again, Stan paused as if to let the information sink in.
"When I met you, you were lost and had essentially given up hope. But I saw myself in you. You were me but without the resources. I refused to let you fall. I tried to motivate you and ended up encouraging you to use your rejection as motivation." She remembered that conversation.
Flashback
She sat on a large leather couch, feeling completely out of place in the large mansion's grand sitting room. She had arrived here with Stan over a week ago, yet she still wasn't comfortable. Stan had saved her life and had brought her from New York to Los Angeles on his private jet. He had been the definition of a good Samaritan, wanting nothing in return for his generosity... well, nothing so far, her cautious mind supplied. In fact, after bringing her to LA, he hadn't done anything more than making sure she was eating and resting properly and that she was comfortable and not hurting herself. He had given her space and freedom, and time to think. But she didn't know what to think. So far, she had spent her days sitting in some random spot for hours, staring into space, or crying hysterically while hiding in a corner. She had no direction in life, no purpose, no desire, no motivation. She had nothing. She was nothing.
"How are you this morning?" Stan's cheerful voice brought her out of her miserable train of thoughts.
"I..." She tried to formulate a response but ended up just staring at his approaching figure. He kept his smile in place and took a seat on the same couch she was sitting on, a foot away from her. Unconsciously, she leaned away from him, wanting to put more space between them. He wasn't invading her personal space, no far from it. He was on the other end of the couch but still, she wanted more space. She wanted to move away from him, to leave the room, to leave the house, the city, and she didn't know why.
"Has your stay here been comfortable?" He asked kindly. She only stared mutely.
"Tea, I need you to tell me what is on your mind." She hesitated and it showed on her face.
"Don't be afraid of me. I know that while here, in my house, you feel intimidated by me but I promise you that no matter what you say or do, I won't be offended. I give you my word." He assured her and she wondered if she should believe him. He hadn't done anything inappropriate to her since he had found her. On the contrary, he had been nicer than anyone else in her life. Then why was she so afraid of him?
"Go ahead. You won't get anywhere if you keep your thoughts and emotions bottled up." He said. "I know you have questions. Ask them."
"Why?" She said as soon as he had finished talking.
"Why what?" He asked. "Why did I save you from those gang rapists? Why did I refuse to let you commit suicide? Why did I bring you with me to my house? Why did I give you freedom to do whatever you want here? Why did I not approach you all these days you have been here? Why did I come now? Why am I here talking to you at all?" He finished with a smile. Even though it was warm and encouraging, she could not reciprocate.
"Why all of it." She finally said. Stan sighed and leaned back into the comfortable leather couch.
"Hmm, so many questions. Which one do you want me to answer first? Or should I choose?" He was trying to get her to talk more but she only stared. Sighing in defeat, he began speaking.
"No decent human being would let a helpless girl be gang raped and left to die. Even animals defend their young and weak and I would like to think I am better than some wild beast. I refuse to let you die because you have too much to offer the world and the world has too much to offer you. I brought you here to make sure you didn't get into trouble and die, like you were planning. In order to keep an eye on you and allow you to come back to your senses, I brought you to my house. Besides, I didn't know where else to take you. I left you alone because I wanted to give you time to come to terms with this new development in your life. I wanted you to think on your actions and hopefully, be deterred from such rash thoughts in the future. I wanted you to think about your future, or what you might want to do next. And that is also why I am here now. I want to talk to you. I want to know what you plan on doing next, or what you want to do." She looked away, eyes staring at her hands folded in her lap.
"I... I don't know."
"That's fine." He said kindly. "Can I ask you a few questions? If you don't want to answer any of them, it's fine. But I would like to talk to you to maybe find something to help you. Can I go ahead?" She hesitantly nodded her head.
"Let's start with introductions. I don't know anything about you except that your name is Tea Gardner and you are from Domino, Japan. And that I learnt from your passport." He said with a smile. "Can you tell me a little bit more about yourself? You said you have no family, no one who cares about you. Did something happen to your family?" Tears sprang to her eyes as she thought about her supposed 'family'. People she had loved as family.
"Did you come to New York with someone or alone?"
"I came alone." She said with a shaking voice. "I... I had to leave. I couldn't stay there anymore."
"Do you..." Stan hesitated for the first time. "Do you want to talk about it, about why you had to leave? What caused you to move so far away from Domino and then become a shell of a person?" Her reply was sobs that shook her body. "I want to help you Tea."
"You... you can't." She lamented.
"You won't know until you try me." He said. She hesitantly looked into his warm eyes and felt her resolve crumble. Pulling her legs up to her chest, she curled into a fetal position and sobbed hysterically. He slowly moved closer and enveloped her rocking body into a hug, waiting to let her adjust to his touch and to move closer to him for comfort. He didn't have to wait long. After only a moment of hesitation, she leaned into his chest, letting him fully wrap his arms around her small frame. She didn't know what suddenly compelled her to spill her guts. Maybe it was his soothing voice telling her it was going to be okay and he would take care of her. Maybe it was the fact that since the day of the "incident", this was the first time she had felt any comfort. Whatever the reason, she gave in to the warmth he exuded and told him everything, from her childhood friendship with Yugi, to the dueling tournaments, to her relationship with Seto and its demise, to her trip to New York and its conclusion with her attempt at suicide and his entrance into her life. Throughout all this, Stan just held her pitiful form, rubbing her back soothingly, saying nothing, the tightening and loosening of his hold on her the only indications of his emotions. When she finally finished, he motioned to a maid to bring water for Tea. Despite her protests, he had her drink some so she would calm down a bit before he spoke.
"What do you want to do now?" She blankly stared at the carpet under her feet.
"I don't know. I don't know what I can do. I don't want to do anything." She admitted in a low voice.
"You have to do something or you will just waste your life away." He said. "As I said before, you have potential. You have something to offer this world just as this world has something to offer you. You can't give up, not when you are so young. You have your entire life ahead of you to make something of yourself."
"What good am I?" She asked bitterly. "Despite all my efforts, I never amounted to anything. That's why it was so easy for them to replace me and reject me."
"A rose only blooms when it is time for it to do so. Prying the petals of bud open only damages it beyond repair." Stan said wisely. "Your time will come. From what you have told me, I know you are strong and motivated. These are the qualities needed for success, and with the right resources and guidance, you'll achieve it. You have to be willing to try."
"I... I don't... know." She sounded so unsure. Stan knew her self-esteem had taken a huge hit from the "incident".
"Tea, you can't give in to the negativity. You think your ex-friends didn't think highly of you. Prove them wrong. Be someone strong and successful. Show them that they made the mistake of underestimating you and judging you before your time." He watched as a small flicker appeared in her eyes. "Show Kaiba that he made the wrong decision. Show him what you are worth. Make him regret the mistake he made of rejecting you. Prove to him that you are better than him, that you are stronger than him, that you are superior to him. Show them all."
"How?" She asked, facing him with urgent eyes. "How can I do all that?"
"I'll help you." Stan said in a determined voice. "I have connections in Hollywood. I can get you opportunities that many dream of. The rest will be up to you. Work hard and you will get to the top. In this industry, fame and money are just one TV spot away. I'll get you auditions in music videos that require dance. Since you are highly trained, it will work best if you start with that. Then later on, if you are interested and you show potential, we can move on to bigger projects like commercials or small TV roles. Again, it will depend on you. If you show talent, you'll go far." She looked afraid and unsure again. He gently held her cheek and his thumb wiped the tear streaks away.
"Use your pain, your disappointment, your anger to fuel you. Don't let them break you. They have knowingly caused you pain and suffering. Don't let them continue to do so when you are so far away from their grasp."
"I'm afraid." She admitted.
"I'll be with you every step of the way." He assured her.
"Do you... can you promise that?" She asked with fearful eyes.
"I swear it on my late wife." Stan said seriously.
End flashback
"I had hoped that with time, you would move on and let go of the anger you harbored towards Kaiba and your ex-friends." Stan said in a tired voice. "But I was wrong. You didn't just dwell on it every day and night but at every milestone in your career. Your anger towards Kaiba was meant to be a motivation but it became the foundation on which you re-built yourself. As such, Kaiba became an essential part of you." Stan finished.
"That's not true." She vehemently denied. "Not at all. He is nothing to me."
"That's a lie and you know it." Stan said flatly. "Don't tell me he isn't the first person you think of when you get a new project or award or when you accomplish something, or even when you experience happiness. He is always there in your mind. I know that your thoughts are of anger towards him and every time you think about him, it is to reiterate in your mind that he was wrong about you, that you are worth more than what he gave you credit for. But the bottom line is that he is an integral part of you." She wanted to argue but she couldn't. Because she knew what Stan was saying was true. She had always thought of Seto at every step of her career. She had always pictured his shocked face but nonetheless, she had kept him alive in her mind and memory.
"You never really let go of him and that is why he continues to have a strong effect on you."
"What should I do?" She asked in a small voice.
"You'll never be free of his influence until you let him go, until you let your past go." Stan said. "Focus on your future. Focus on Alistair. Forget Kaiba and the others. Come back to LA. Come home."
Mai patiently sipped a glass of wine, waiting for Serenity. She was sitting in Kaiba mansion's living room, after having arrived unannounced but not uninformed or ill-prepared. She knew Seto Kaiba was in a meeting at this very moment and would be unavailable. This was the perfect time for her to talk to Serenity without his interference.
"Hi Mai." Serenity's voice came from behind her and she turned to greet her friend with a smile. "I wasn't expecting you. You should have called and I would have had the maids prepare something for you." Serenity said as she hugged the older female.
"Oh no problem hun. I was just thinking about you and I realized we hadn't seen each other in a while, so I decided to just drop by and visit." Mai replied. Both took a seat on a comfortable leather couch.
"So how have you been?" Mai asked casually.
"Great." Serenity replied. "Seto and I have been talking and he has been so loving. Look, he recently bought me this bracelet." Serenity said excitedly, showing the shiny trinket on her arm to Mai who inspected it.
"It is beautiful. Lucky you."
"I know I'm so lucky. Seto said his business had been back on track and it was all thanks to my help." Serenity practically glowed with pride. Mai inwardly frowned. It looked like Kaiba had Serenity well trapped in his lies.
"I'm glad to know he is doing well. Joey has been struggling a lot lately to get the business back up and running but no luck." A look of guilt crossed Serenity's face at Mai's words.
"I'm so worried about him. But I can't do anything to help." She said miserably. Seto had told her that her association with Joey was bad for his reputation and business, so for the moment, Serenity couldn't show her outward support for her only brother. She didn't want to upset Seto even though she really wanted to help Joey. But she agreed with Seto that Joey had to swallow his pride before he could be helped.
"I understand." Mai said sympathetically, surprising Serenity. She had assumed that Mai had come to shame her on abandoning her brother.
"Thanks Mai. It means a lot to me that you understand my position." Serenity said gratefully. Joey hadn't talked to her in what seemed like forever.
"Of course hun." Mai assured her. "You want to support your boyfriend and not outwardly defy him because you are a sweet and caring person. You love him and that's what you do when you love someone. I just wish I could help Joey because I love him."
"Talk to him." Serenity encouraged. "He listens to you. You can make him understand that trying to make amends, at least in the public eye, isn't shameful. It's for his own good. He doesn't have to mean anything he says. Just read a statement and wait until she leaves which should be in less than 2 weeks now."
"You know how he is. Once he gets an idea in his head, it's impossible to make him see otherwise." Mai said with a tired sigh. "I've tried, I honestly have, but he's stubborn." Serenity nodded her head sympathetically. She knew Joey was full of pride. He would never apologize. He was as bad as Seto.
"I have given it a lot of thought and there is only one way I see. I have to help him myself." Mai said. "I have to improve my business and my income so we can invest the profit in his. Hopefully that will solve the problem." Serenity shifted on her spot, uncomfortable where the conversation was heading. "I believe that if we put out a new collection and advertise it enough, we can raise the public's interest in our brand again. And like you said, she is leaving soon so she won't be able to do anything to ruin this for us."
"I don't know Mai." Serenity said, not willing to meet the blonde's gaze.
"Come on Serenity." Mai urged. "It's an excellent idea. This way, you can help your brother out. He really needs your support right now. And so does the brand we worked so hard to create. It wouldn't even cost a lot. Just a few hundred thousand dollars, pocket change for Kaiba. He would surely give you the money if you asked for it."
"A few hundred thousand dollars?" Serenity said with wide eyes. "Mai, that is not a small amount. He wouldn't give me that without asking why I needed it. And besides, I don't want to ask him for money, especially not such a huge sum."
"Why not?" Mai snapped, losing her cool.
"Because it is a stupid idea." Serenity glared right back. "This is exactly what Seto warned me about. He told me that your only concern was showing Tea up. You don't care about the brand at all. It's all about your ego."
"What?" Mai yelled indignantly. "How dare you say that?"
"It's true, isn't it?" Serenity accused. "If you were serious about helping Joey and our brand, you would know that waiting this out is the best option. Once she leaves, her "loyal" fans would turn right back to us and we would be back on top of Domino. But your main agenda is to try and humiliate her, and you want to use my boyfriend's money to do it."
"Kaiba has been feeding you these lies, hasn't he?" Mai said, giving Serenity a look of pity. "None of this is true. I have worked my ass off for years to get the brand to where it is today. I sacrificed my ego in the past for it and I will continue to do so in the future as well, despite what your lying boyfriend might say. You used to be like that too. You used to be your own person, an individual able to think for herself, but now you're just a puppet parroting his words. Open your eyes Serenity. Kaiba is using you."
"That's not true." Serenity immediately said.
"Think back to all these past years. Who was it that stood by you and supported you in everything? Who encouraged you to pursue your dreams?" Mai challenged. "And who constantly put you down, insulted your efforts, and mocked your successes?"
"He has changed." Serenity said defensively. "He is not the same person anymore."
"He is fooling you." Mai screamed in frustration. "He is telling you what you want to hear so you won't question him or whatever he does. I bet my entire stake in our company that he is trying to get with Tea behind your back."
"That's enough Mai." Serenity yelled, standing up. "I think we have said enough to each other. It's time for you to leave. I'm sorry I couldn't help you with your request but as an equal partner, I believe we shouldn't make any move to cause tension between us and her while she is still here." With that, Serenity turned to leave.
"You are making a mistake." Mai yelled to her retreating back. "I know Kaiba hasn't changed, despite what you might want to believe. He is fooling you because you are a gullible idiot who will believe the lies he tells if he says them with kindness."
"Security. Escort her out." Serenity screamed in rage, her face puffy and red.
"You'll see soon enough. You'll see when he leaves you for her. Then you will have no one left but me, and when you come crawling back to me, begging me to help you, I will do the same. I'll kick you out of my house." Mai screamed back before angrily stomping out of the Kaiba mansion.
Tea slowly descended down the staircase of her temporary mansion, deep in thought over the conversation she had with Stan. Despite what she might want to believe, she knew Stan was right. She had unknowingly given Seto Kaiba a significant place in her life and the only way to get rid of it would be to get rid of him altogether. She would have to give up her anger and revenge. Her heart still protested against it. She wanted to see Kaiba fall before her, on his knees, begging her for forgiveness, begging for her to take him back. She knew it was wistful thinking. That would never happen. Even if, by some miracle, Kaiba felt any remorse, he would never admit it. His pride and ego would never let him even acknowledge his mistake.
So then why hold on to a fantasy that she knew would never come true? Why not just let it go? It was clearly destroying her relationship with Alistair. Surely Alistair was more important to her than revenge. Of course, she reasoned. Alistair was the most important person in her life. He was her life. He had recently given her another chance. She could not risk hurting him again. She would surely lose him if he were to find out about her foolishness, and she could not even bear the thought of losing him. She would do anything to not lose him. He was her everything and without him, she was nothing but a hollow shell, smiling falsely in her fake world.
She heard quick footsteps and hushed voices as she entered the living room but when she looked around, she only saw Stephen and Joshua sitting quietly, watching TV. She eyed them suspiciously but they didn't even look at her. That should have set her senses off but she was too focused on her thoughts about Alistair. Shrugging, she went to the kitchen to get a snack. She ended up grabbing an apple from the fruit basket and turned to walk back to her room to think some more when she bumped into a solid chest, her nose hitting leather buckles.
"Ow." She said, rubbing her nose in irritation.
"Sorry babe. Didn't expect you to turn so soon." Her eyes widened. That accent. It couldn't be...
"Valon." She almost screamed in surprise and joy. He gave her a flirtatious smirk.
"The one and only." Without another word, she threw her arms around him, the apple falling forgotten on the floor. In her mind, she thanked God again and again. If Valon was here, then everything was okay. Valon wouldn't be here unless Alistair really had forgiven her. This was a blessing and she wouldn't mess it up. No. She would not hurt or disappoint Alistair again.
"Wow babe, control yourself." Valon teased. "Don't wanna give Alistair a complex now, do we?" Tea laughed good-naturedly at his comment.
"What are you doing here? I had no idea you were planning to visit."
"I was in Hong Kong for a meeting so I decided to stop by here to surprise you." Valon said. "Luckily, I found a hangar for my jet. But I gotta leave in two days."
"That's more than enough time." Tea said, hugging him again. His presence and his welcoming embrace was the assurance she needed. Things would turn out okay. She would make sure of it.
"Where are you off to?" Stephen asked Valon as he grabbed his jacket. They had been sitting in the living room for a few hours now, enjoying each other's company. Tea finally seemed relaxed and happy.
"I'm gonna walk around Domino a bit, reminisce." He winked at Tea.
"Why don't you rest today and do it tomorrow?" Tea said, trying to keep concern from her voice.
"I'm fine." Valon waved off her unvoiced concern. "Besides, I'm just going to take a walk. In case you forgot, I studied this city very well. I know it's alleys and passages better than you." Tea huffed at his arrogance but she knew she won't be able to deter him from whatever he wanted to do now. She wondered if it really was just a walk to reminisce as he put it. She hoped it was.
Mai fumed angrily in her office, glaring at various designs spread out in front of her. Had her plan worked, she would now be working to put the designs into production. But she had underestimated Kaiba's influence. That man was on top for a reason.
"Damn him." Mai cursed. "And damn that idiotic girl. After everything I did for her..." Mai wanted to smash something.
"Umm, ma'am, there is someone here to see you. He wants to place an order with you specifically to make sure it is received properly." An assistant said with a sniff, obviously offended by the man's request. Mai sighed. She was not in the mood for a picky customer right now. But a customer was a customer.
"I'll be there in a minute." She said and the assistant left. Mai let out a long breath, adjusted her hair and then stepped out of her office and into the store. She looked around to find the man her assistant was talking about. The store was mostly empty, thanks to Tea and Joey. She found her assistant standing beside a tall, brunette. He had his back to her so she couldn't see his face, but from his designer attire, she knew he was rich. As she neared the pair, she could hear his deeply accented voice commenting on one of the dresses. The accent was hauntingly familiar.
"I'm Mai Valentine, the designer and owner of this boutique. How can I help you?" She said with a hammering heart. Her hearbeat nearly stopped when he turned and she was met with familiar eyes.
"No way." Valon exclaimed in shock as a small smile slowly formed on his face. "This is unbelievable. Mai Valentine. I wasn't expecting to see you here. Then again, I was inexplicably attracted to this store. Now I know the reason why."
"What are you doing here?" Mai blurted out before her brain had a chance to filter it. Valon laughed openly.
"What is up with hot females today? Tea said the same thing when she saw me." Mai quickly looked away before he could notice the irritation on her face.
"I heard about your feud." Valon said. "I can't understand why that would happen. I mean, you are both exactly the same in personality. You are both fiercely independent and determined. Maybe you guys just need to sit together and talk. I know both of you personally and I can't imagine why you can't be friends."
"I know." Mai said quickly. "The media has spun this way out of control and now she won't even see me or talk to me. I only want to make amends. She is an old and dear friend."
"I understand." Valon said sympathetically. "I was here to get her a dress as a gift. Perhaps when she learns that it is your design, she won't be so negative towards you."
"Of course." Mai immediately said. "Which one do you have in mind?" Valon showed her the dress he had selected and after a small conversation with her assistant, Mai had it set aside and ready for transport.
"I still can't believe I am meeting you after such a long time." Valon said. "I gotta say you still look as gorgeous as I last remember." He flirted. Mai let out a chuckle.
"And you are still a rascal."
"Only when I'm with you babe." He winked. "You bring out the dirty boy in me." Mai laughed at his comments again. He was the first one to make her laugh in many stress filled weeks. She liked it.
"This is really impressive." Valon continued, gesturing to the store. "It's unbelievable how you managed to do it all by yourself, but then again, you always were strong. I never had a doubt in your abilities." His eyes softly stared at her and she struggled not to show any emotion, especially since she knew her nosy assistants were nearby, watching.
"Why don't we go to my office so we can talk privately?" Mai suggested. Valon gave her a smirk and motioned for her to lead the way. Once inside the office, Mai took a seat behind her desk in her comfy leather chair. Valon ignored the seat she motioned to and instead, perched himself on her desk, eyeing the clutter of stuff littering her desk.
"Did you design these?" He said, picking up a few of the dress designs Mai had been staring at before his arrival. She nodded.
"Yes. I planned on creating some of these but because of limited resources, I'm unable to do so at this time. Perhaps in the near future, I can bring my creations to life." Mai replied sadly, eyeing him discretely to gauge his reaction. His only response was a shrug of his shoulders.
"What are you up to these days?" Mai said after a small pause.
"Oh nothing much." He said, putting the designs down and picking up a paperweight shaped liked one of the harpy ladies. "Just roaming around the globe, expanding my business, adding to my millions, you know, boring stuff." Mai chuckled outwardly but a plan was starting to form in her head.
"Boring you say." She teased. "Why don't I relieve you of all those boring millions then?" He placed the paper weight down and leaned towards her, eyes glinting with mischief.
"Babe, you are the only one who can bring me... relief." He finished with a suggestive look. She let out another chuckle. This was good. It would be easier if he still had feelings for her.
"I see you're still with Wheeler." Valon said, eyeing the picture of the couple that Mai had framed and placed on her desk.
"You sound surprised." She observed. He looked away with a careless shrug, picking up her phone to play with.
"I thought you would have gotten bored with him by now. I mean, how many tricks can a dog have?" Mai bit her tongue to hold back a retort and struggled to keep a pleasant smile on her face.
"You can always teach a dog new tricks." He laughed out loud at that.
"So that's what you have been doing? Teaching Wheeler new tricks for your amusement. He must be highly trained by now."
"He's getting there." She smirked.
"I knew you liked to dominate, but you need a man who can match you, move for move. Not a chump like Wheeler who is only trained to follow orders."
"And who do you suppose matches me, move for move?" She asked suggestively.
"You know it already." He whispered, leaning towards her. "You have felt him already, felt the passion he brings out in you. Or have you forgotten what it is like to be fully turned on?"
"Perhaps to me, loyalty is more important than passion. Joey is at least loyal." She said and he smirked.
"All dogs are by nature. But you are evolved Mai. You don't need to roll in the dirt with him. It's because of him you are in this mess in the first place. Now if you were with a man, a real man and not a dog who has learned to stand on his hind legs, you would be at the top of the world. You deserve to be at the top of the world."
"And you are promising me that?" She asked.
"That and much more." He assured her. Her heart beat frantically. This was it. This was working so well. He was ensnared. She had him in her grasp. Oh how sweet it would be if she could steal Tea's friend again. To use his money to bring her down, the idea was making her toes curl in pleasure.
"And if I don't believe you?" She challenged.
"I'll make you believe it. I'll give you something you want. I'll start by giving you the funding to bring your designs to the runway."
"That is a good start." She nodded with a restrained smile. She had to keep her joy and emotions in check to appear in control. He would gain the upper hand if she showed her eagerness.
"In return, you must make me believe you are not playing with me." He said slyly. "After all, I was hurt by you once before, I don't think I can stand to have my heart ripped again." Uh oh. Not good.
"What kind of girl do you take me for Valon? I don't play with hearts." She said, her heart beating wildly against her chest.
"Yet that is the game we are a part of."
"You want me to leave Joey." She said plainly. There was no question in her mind about it. That was what he wanted.
"I want you to be happy and successful." He replied coyly. "It's clear that Wheeler is the log holding you down and drowning you. The question is, are you willing to free yourself?"
"I'm free now too." She said. "I'm not bound to anyone."
"Not even to Wheeler?"
"Not to anyone." She repeated. He smirked fully and got off her desk, placing her phone back down.
"That's what I wanted to hear." Whew. She inwardly sighed in relief. "I'm glad Wheeler got to hear it too. Now you won't have to explain it to him later."
"Wh.. what?" She stuttered in shock. What was he talking about? How did Joey hear? He motioned towards her phone which showed an ongoing call to Joey. The time showed 10 minutes and the seconds were adding on. Mai dumbly stared at it before reaching with shaking fingers and picking it up.
"Joey?" She tentatively whispered. There was an angry growl on the other line followed by dial tone. He had hung up.
"Joey? Joey, listen. Hello? Hello? Joey?" She yelled in panic but the call was finished.
"You should get a phone with a password." He said with a wide smirk and turned to leave.
"Valon... you... you bastard." It was clear to her now that it was a trick. He had tricked her into this. She should have known better than to trust a snake like him. He was from the same pit as Alistair and Tea. They were all the same, venomous snakes.
"Let me know how the talk goes." Valon said with a laugh, not turning around. "I give thousands of dollars to charities. Prepare a better case next time and I'll be generous. I'm sure the next time we meet, you'll be eligible for the... funding." He laughed openly and exited. Mai wanted to yell at him. She wanted to scream at him, to curse him, but she sat frozen in her seat, the phone still clutched in hand.
Oh God.
What had happened?
What had she done?
...
...
Thank you for reading this chapter and still bothering with the story. I really appreciate your support, your amazing and encouraging reviews, and your loyalty to this story. There are only 2 more chapters left. Hopefully, I can be a bit quicker with my updates and end this story soon.
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