Author's Note: Thanks to everyone supporting this story. I enjoy reading your reviews and PMs. I'm sorry if I couldn't drag the story to the part where the characters would kiss and everything in the world is okay. There are a lot of things that need to be resolved first. If you are one for light romantic stories, you would understand the reason for the slow pacing.

If you like violent stories that involves revenge, killing, and elements like Shizuru forcing Natsuki or the other way around, then this is not the right story to read.

17 The Arrow of Cupid

Cupid strikes when you're not looking.

"Shizuru"

"Shizuru!"

"SHIZURU!"

Haruka's booming voice resonated inside the office of The Rising Sun as she tried to catch the attention of Shizuru who was at the moment staring blankly at the glass window while sitting on one of the chairs around the oval table. Shizuru was flabbergasted when she finally noticed that Haruka had to shout just to get her attention. She turned to Haruka's direction with a white face while Yukino heaved a sigh. Editors and lay-out artists who were inside the office covered their ears as they continued with their tasks. The opening of the third week of the month is the day of the release of the June issue of The Rising Sun so everyone is busy working on the final stages.

"What is it Haruka-san?" Shizuru calmly replied. She was wearing reading glasses and her hair was tied in a messy bun.

"You are spicing out Shizuru!" Haruka yelled as she walked toward Shizuru from her office table. The sound of shuffling papers and people discussing over the dummy copies battled with the loudness of Haruka's voice. At the far end of the room, Yukino was watching the work of the nerdy lay-out artists while a mountain of sweets is served around the room to keep everyone's high energy.

"It's "spacing out" boss," everyone in the room yelled. Haruka, as usual, glared at them to save her pride.

"Kanin na, Haruka. I was preoccupied with my thoughts. Is there anything you need?" Shizuru replied while fiddling with the handle of her teacup on the table.

"I said, you went away for two months and you come back here with this article? This?" Haruka slammed the papers on the table in front of Shizuru. "We don't do free advertisements for big companies like that and there are too many executives who are far better than this Kuga Natsuki. Give me one good reason why this person's face should graze the cover of our magazine!"

Shizuru held her thinking pose for a while and then she looked at Haruka. "Ara, it's because she's beautiful."

"What? What? Because she's…What the hell! What kind of seasoning is that?"

"It's "reasoning" boss," everyone said in a tired tone.

"Is there something wrong with my article? I think it's perfect. It's true that there are many executives out there that deserve to be featured in a business magazine but most of them are typically old and uninteresting. Natsuki is young, successful, and beautiful. She's a highly qualified bachelorette with celebrity status. People are attracted to things that they do not have and when they see her face on the cover with the banner story "KMC's Rising Executive", I can assure you that they'd grab a copy." Shizuru explained with a blank face.

Yukino walked toward Shizuru and then she stared at Haruka signaling the latter to leave Shizuru alone. Haruka complied indignantly since she felt that Yukino can be more effective in knocking some sense in Shizuru's currently fuzzy head. She went back to her table to attend to documents that she needs to sign. Yukino lightly touched Shizuru's shoulder and then she pulled a chair close to her friend. Shizuru was puzzled by her behavior and shot her a questioning glance.

"Shizuru-," Yukino said softly, her hand not leaving Shizuru's shoulder, "—we need to talk."

Meanwhile, Natsuki woke up with bloodshot eyes because she slept late after crying a lot. If there is one thing she hated about her pale skin, it's the fact that when she doesn't get enough sleep, the darkness of her eyebags stands in stark contrast to the paleness of her face. She looked in the mirror and called herself a zombie.

Yesterday, before she left the office early, she managed to get a copy of Shizuru's resume and now she has Shizuru's city address. She also went to her father's office but Hayato attended a business conference. To her surprise, there has been a rumor going around the office which seemed to involve her and Shizuru. All in all, she just had the worst Monday of her life. She went home early and called Mai but her best friend went to the same business conference attended by her Dad. In the end, she was surprised that Mikoto actually accepted her invitation to just talk and have a good time in her condo unit.

They ate popcorn while watching Natsuki's racing DVDs. It was their first time to be together without Mai. Mikoto had no problems because she came there to raid Natsuki's fridge. Natsuki didn't disappoint. She fed Mikoto while convincing her that The Rising Sun can do a good coverage for the company's anniversary. Mikoto gave her "yes" to Natsuki's proposal since she respected Natsuki's ability. Mikoto left late in the evening after which Natsuki tried to sleep but in vain. She thought about her unceremonious parting with Shizuru and she curled like a baby on her bed while clutching her chest.

Now, it's past ten o'clock in the morning. She brushed her teeth and washed her face to awaken her senses and then she checked her phone if Sayako has called. There was a message. Sayako said that she'll be arriving in the airport before noon. Natsuki replied and said that she will fetch her. Natsuki quickly did her morning routine and then she rushed to the office meet her father. From afar, she saw someone coming out of his father's office who was no other than the President. She met her halfway and she politely greeted the old man.

"Good morning Grandpa," Natsuki said with a small smile.

"Nat-chan, we need talk about your situation and the things that you've been doing recently?" the President firmly said.

"Sure Grandpa. I actually have a visitation and monitoring report that I want you to see. I'm sure you'd be happy to see the result of my work," Natsuki calmly said.

"Ah. Then send the report in my office. I have talked with your father and he assured me you have everything in control but I want to hear it from you," the old man replied strictly. "I'll call for you after attending to my prior appointments." The old man left Natsuki dumbfounded. She had no idea what they just talked about. She opened her father's office and the surprise on Hayato's face was apparent.

"Nat-chan, we have a lot to talk about," Hayato said quickly.

"Yeah, we do. But first, what was Grandpa saying? I met him on my way here. What is that all about?" Natsuki asked as she sat down on the couch with her torso leaning forward on her father's direction. Her feet were slightly apart and her forearms were resting on her thighs.

"You haven't heard the rumor going on about you and Shizuru?"

"So everyone knows now that she's really a writer? That's not a rumor Dad. That's the truth, she writes for The Rising Sun and I found that out yesterday," Natsuki replied. "Fuck, Grandpa knows? He's mad at me because of this news?" Hayato was surprised that Natsuki already knew about Shizuru. He then went to his desk and took out Shizuru's resignation letter. She then explained to Natsuki what he and Shizuru have talked about. It became clear to Natsuki that Shizuru convinced Hayato to persuade Natsuki to forgive her for what she did and that she really didn't intend to hurt her. Natsuki just listened to his father's story and she realized that Shizuru considered their trip to the plantation as their last days together.

"What did you tell Grandpa to pacify him?" Hayato fidgeted for a while since Natsuki is clueless about the circulating rumor.

"Natsuki, there are rumors that you are romantically involved with an undercover writer who is none other that Shizuru Fujino Viola of the Rising Sun," Hayato calmly explained. Natsuki blinked and then her eyes widened in surprise.

"WHAT? That's not true but even if it is what the hell do people care?" Natsuki retorted. "By the way, who the hell circulated that information?"

"I don't know where the gossip came from but since it's true that Shizuru is from the Rising Sun, people tend to believe that it's also true that you had a relationship with her since she lasted here for almost two months undiscovered. The idea is she spent a lot of time with you and people have seen you together. Your Grandpa was convinced by the gossip and he was furious when he came to me."

"I see. What did you tell him?"

"The best way out of the problem," Hayato said in a low tone.

"Which is?"

"Nat-chan, I told him that you are indeed in a relationship with Shi-chan," Hayato said almost inaudibly.

"WHAT? How the hell does that pacify Grandpa?" Natsuki said, bewildered. "And you think that's the best way out of the problem? Dad, come on!"

"I told him that Shi-chan is the granddaughter of the Kyoto mogul Fujino Kentaro," Hayato further explained.

"She is?"

"Yes, but she doesn't take part in any of the family business since she really wanted to be a writer."

"How do you know that? And even if what you say is true, I'm totally against lying!" Natsuki retorted. "And think about what Shizuru would say. She might be really embarrassed if she finds out that a rumor of this nature is circulating in our company."

"She wouldn't find out unless somebody tells her and even if she finds out, she would dismiss it as a rumor. If your Grandpa asks me again about your relationship with Shi-chan, I'll just say that you two realized your irreconcilable differences. And that's it." Hayato explained as he brought up his persuasion skills to the fore. Natsuki scrunched her brows she held her temple with her fingers. She looked at her watch and realized that it's almost 11:00 in the morning. She had to pick up Sayako at 12:00 noon in the airport. Natsuki stood up and tried to clear her head.

"Dad, let's have lunch. My treat," Natsuki forcefully said. Hayato has a meeting in the afternoon but since his daughter rarely uses the forceful tone, he called Jenny, his secretary, to cancel his meeting. When the two off them walked out of Hayato's office, Natsuki noticed that the employees would glance at him once and then they would talk in whispers. "This is ridiculous. Don't they even realize that I know what they're talking about?" Natsuki glared at some of them. Those who noticed her deadly glare immediately pretended that they're working on something on their desks.

Unknown to Natsuki, Nao saw her troubled face before she got inside the elevator with her father. Nao excitedly walked to Reito's office to deliver the good news. She was smirking and when Reito saw her approaching, Reito's face gleamed. The people in their office saw how they grinned like idiots and they knew that they were up to something suspicious. Reito and Nao combined means trouble. That's like putting together the Biggest Playboy and Queen Bee.

"My dear Nao, what good news are you bringing? As you can see, the Director is busy and can't take any bad news at the moment," Reito said in a teasing way as he welcomed Nao to sit on the table across his desk. Nao smiled at the gesture.

"I just came to congratulate you my dear," Nao said to stroke Reito's ego. "The entire company is in a buzz. I saw Kuga-sama walking out of the office of her father scowling at everyone. Congratulations for giving her a taste of hell." Reito grinned devilishly as he slouched on his chair caressing his chin.

"This calls for a celebration," Reito declared as he eyed Nao lasciviously. He stood up and took Nao's hand which was willingly offered to him.

Chapter 18 Preview:

Hayato was confused why Natsuki didn't choose a restaurant near the Sky Tower. Instead he is now sitting at a traditional Japanese restaurant near the Tokyo Domestic Airport. "It's quite impractical to drive for 40 minutes just to eat in this restaurant. And since when did she like traditional restaurants?" Hayato was utterly confused about her daughter's behavior. When they reached the restaurant, Natsuki told him that she'll just pick up a friend and will be back soon. Hayato fiddled with the menu given to him by the waitress who stood by the table for his orders.