Chapter Twenty:
Heartbreak & Sunshine
Ocean View Hotel
Tea's Room
Sunday 6:30pm
Tea stared at herself in the mirror, her mind in utter and complete disarray.
After an hour of getting herself ready, she had finally managed to throw everything together in the best way she knew how.
She bit her lip nervously as she adjusted her skirt.
For some reason she felt a great deal more confident about her outfit a few hours ago when she was back at the Blue Ritzy. Now, though, she wasn't so sure.
Would Kaiba approve of the way she was dressed?
This was literally their first official date, on a highly publicised night; an occasion to be remembered if anything else.
And as Kiki had made so charismatically clear, she needed to look the part.
She twisted her body to the side so that she could inspect every aspect of the dress.
All in all, everything seemed to have come together quite nicely.
She had chosen a short thin strapped black & white bandage dress with a round low neckline. The fabric seemed to hug her body exceptionally well, but not so much to cut off her circulation.
The dress was sexy and it was obviously made for the sole purpose of seduction.
For some reason the fact that it was made her anxious. The idea of seducing Seto Kaiba was a terrifying concept.
She made sure her hair was in place, having spent the last twenty minutes ironing it straight. She ran her fingers through it, satisfied with the way it swept past her shoulders.
She looked down at her shoes.
For her feet she had chosen a pair of black strap heels with suede rhinestone links that were surprisingly comfortable despite their complicated design.
In her opinion, they complimented the dress rather fittingly.
She stared at herself a bit longer, before finally granting the approval she was hoping for.
She managed a smile.
She walked across the bedroom, feeling eager to add the finishing touches.
The black velvet jewellery box was laid open atop the dresser in the corner.
She approached the necklace, slowly lifting it out of the velveteen cushioning.
Feeling a bout of excitement she clasped it around her neck.
Returning to the mirror she inspected her reflection again, another pleasing smile spreading across her lips as she adjusted the pendant in place.
Now her look was complete.
She looked at the clock on the wall, feeling her pulse quicken a bit. It was almost seven o'clock.
Time had flown by before she even knew what was happening.
Kaiba would be at her door any minute!
For some reason she felt a mini panic attack creeping up at the thought of facing him.
Just then, as if by some cruel coincidence, there was a prominent knock on her door.
She felt the rush of butterflies in her stomach as she tried to gather her courage.
There was no getting around this anymore. It was time to face the music!
Taking a deep calming breath she snatched her purse from the bed, gave herself a quick once over in the mirror and headed out into the living room.
Grabbing the keys from the table, she approached the door, willing herself to take control of her over-exaggerated emotions.
She paused, taking another deep breath.
Turning the knob slowly, she shyly pulled the door open.
To her surprise however, instead of a menacing Seto Kaiba standing before her, there was a beaming Mokuba standing in his place.
She peeked from behind the door, feeling self aware.
Mokuba smiled at her oblivious to her insecurities.
"Hey Tea."
"Um, Hi..."
She instinctively searched the hallway with her eyes.
"If you're looking for my brother, he told me to tell you to meet him downstairs."
"Oh."
She averted her attention back to Mokuba.
"He had to go collect the V-VIP tickets from the manager at the front desk. Apparently you two are on the special reserved listing; which basically means, you'll be treated like you own the place."
She smiled, amused at his choice of words.
She decided that stalling any further wasn't exactly fruitful. She braced herself for his reaction as she stepped out into the hallway.
Mokuba's eyes seem to pop out of their sockets as he saw her.
She stood in front of him with a nervous look on her face.
"Well...what do you think?"
Mokuba seemed speechless for a few seconds until finally finding his voice again.
"Um, if you're looking to give my brother a heart attack then, I think you made the right decision."
Tea couldn't help laughing.
"Really?"
She looked down at her outfit biting her lip nervously.
"..Um...But, that wasn't exactly my intention."
Mokuba smiled at her.
"Well all I can say is, that you've got nothing to worry about, besides, you don't have to do anything much to impress my brother anyway, he likes you too much already."
Tea couldn't help blushing.
"...I'll...keep that in mind."
Mokuba continued.
"Well you better not keep him waiting, he's downstairs."
Tea nodded feeling nervous again.
"Right."
With that said she closed the door behind her, gave Mokuba a warm good bye and started toward the elevator.
Ocean View Special Reserved Parking Lot
7:05pm
Kaiba was leaning against the limo, his arms folded, his expression sombre. No one would've been able to presume the thoughts filtering through his mind at that precise moment. For some reason he wasn't as calm and collected as he normally would be in a situation like this one. Then again, he'd never exactly been in a situation like this one, one major difference being the fact that this time he actually cared. He wanted his night with Tea to be an occasion she would remember or least not want to forget about any time soon. Unfortunately, he was no expert on the science of successful dates but he was nevertheless determined to do whatever it takes to make her forget about her troubles, even if only for one night.
The salty ocean air was surprisingly welcomed, and he allowed his mind to brood as the wind whipped through his hair.
He noticed that a few guests were staring at him as they passed by; mostly giggly females.
He assumed it was because they weren't used to seeing him dressed in such casual attire.
He had decided that going simple would prove to be the better choice. He opted on a black short sleeved D&G Armani T-shirt with a pair of slightly faded blue jeans, a silver buckled leather belt and brown Nike air force ones.
For some reason when it came to fashion, he always managed to hit the nail on the head every time with little to no effort at all, compliments being CEO of Kaiba Corp for the better half of his life.
He ignored the unwelcomed stares with ease; giving into aggravation would only prove to be useless.
He continued waiting patiently, anticipation practically driving him insane.
Just then, he felt his cell phone go off inside his pocket.
He irritable reached for it, knowing exactly who it was.
"This better be important!"
He listened half-heartedly to his subordinate prattle on about the details of his meeting that morning.
As he was about to respond however, he felt his voice catch in his throat as his eyes fell on something his mind could only decipher as stunning..
Suddenly everything else seemed insignificant and the only thing he could focus on was Tea as she emerged out of the hotel.
Tea spotted Kaiba waiting for her at the limo. She approached him feeling her heart pounding heavily in her chest.
He had his cell phone to his ear, but his eyes were focused on her indefinitely.
She couldn't help the sharp notion of inevitable doom building up inside her stomach.
Despite that however, her emotional meltdown didn't seem to prevent her from noticing how gorgeous he looked.
Hot, would be too much of an understatement to be considered fitting.
Somehow, black had a way of accentuating every feature and every outline of his perfectly chiselled, beautifully sculpted body. It was nerve racking simply to look him in the eye.
She slowly approached him nevertheless, trying to hold her butterflies at bay.
Kaiba couldn't seem to take his eyes off of her as she approached him. His conversation had somehow drifted away along with the breeze. He stood frozen for half a second longer until an annoyingly persistent voice yanked him back into reality.
"Um, Mr Kaiba? Are you still there sir?"
He blinked a few times to get the image from his head, turning his eyes the other way.
"...Yea, look, I'm kind of in the middle of something right now, you'll have to take a rain check. I'll call the office tomorrow. Have everything ready by then."
Tea managed to overhear the last part of his conversation as she watched him replace his phone into his pocket.
As he turned his attention back to her, Tea felt her face flush under the strain of his God-like gaze.
She smiled regardless.
"Hi."
She examined his expression as she waited for him to respond, hoping for a favourable reaction.
"Hey...so you made it."
"Yea, barely."
Kaiba could sense that she was nervous, not that he was expecting her not to be.
He wasn't exactly sure what he should say to her next. The fact that he was a cold hearted jerk was working against him in every way possible.
But he was fast on his feet.
"I thought being the centre of attention wasn't you're thing?"
Tea looked at him confused.
"It's...not."
"Then you should have worn a different outfit."
Tea couldn't help the heat spreading through her face. She assumed that was his way of complimenting her without actually saying it.
She blushed visibly, pulling her eyes away, wishing she could sprout wings and fly off to safety.
Unfortunately, she hadn't learned to tap into her mutant abilities just yet so she decided that acting normally would hide the fact that she was mortified.
"So did I disrupt your call just now?"
"No, actually you did me a favour."
She smiled again, silently admiring the way he looked again.
God, he was gorgeous!
She'd never seen him dressed so casual before.
She had to admit, it was something to behold!
She noticed that there were a number of guests, dressed for the occasion as well. She assumed that most of them were heading to the nightclub, shiny and high fashioned.
As usual, there were a number of girls glaring in her direction again. Although it still made her uncomfortable, she had become somewhat of an expert at ignoring the signal flares of hate shooting from their bodies.
"So are you ready?"
Tea nodded
"Yea, I think so."
"Okay, then let's get this date started."
Tea blushed again, wondering how she was going to survive the rest of the night.
Inside the limo was gorgeous, nothing short of expectation. Yet, the only thing she could wrap her mind around at the moment was the incredibly hot CEO sitting right next to her. She sat without saying anything, hoping that he would be the one to break the ice first. She was too much of a coward to be so bold.
Kaiba glanced at her as he yanked the V-Vip tickets from his jeans pocket. He read it aloud, pretending to be impressed.
"So this ticket means we get special treatment tonight...what a shocker."
Tea smiled as he handed her one.
She took it still feeling extremely edgy.
As if he read her mind, Kaiba continued to lead the conversation.
"So are you still nervous?"
She looked up at him for a second before looking away again.
"..Well, can't say that I'm not."
He felt her uncertainty and he wanted to say something to make her feel better. He didn't want her to be uncomfortable; he had to find a way to make her relax.
"So what exactly are you so nervous about? Is it the reporters or...is it me?"
Tea felt his question smack her in the face.
She smiled.
"...I guess...I'd have to say...both."
"Well, I can probably shield you from the fury of the camera but...as for me, you'll have to take your chances."
"...Somehow that's not exactly comforting."
"Well I did warn you that I only drink blood on special occasions ...so consider yourself warned."
Tea couldn't help blushing again.
Ok, she needed to get a hold of herself and remember not to float away. She still needed to be cautious.
This was dangerous ground; she needed to be extra careful before she found herself falling without even realising it.
"By the way, the necklace looks good on you."
His compliment brought heat to her face once again.
She had to clear her throat before she could even respond.
"..Thanks."
She touched the pendant, as if to show him how much she liked it.
Kaiba found himself distracted. Noticing the pendant was making him notice a few other things too. Not that he was complaining or anything but did her dress have to be so damn...revealing?
He swallowed hard as he deliberately looked away.
Now was definitely not the time. He needed to steer his mind in more important directions.
He could feel the tension emanating from her body but he knew this was something they had to overcome. Their transition wouldn't be easy but he was determined to make it happen.
After a few minutes of driving through the city, they finally came to a halt at the small build up of traffic leading to the main entrance of the club.
Tea peered out the window as they slowly inched their way through the pile up of cars. Her heart was pounding as her eyes fell on the large illuminated building straight ahead of them overlooking the beach.
They were still a few car lengths away but she could make out the flashing neon sign with ease.
Club Salsa.
She saw a large group of people gathered at the front door all dressed in their best, dazzling the night away with casual royalty.
Tea gulped feeling the pressure building up again.
Would she be able to blend in? Or would she stand out like a sore thumb?
She clenched the edges of her purse, feeling the unwelcomed wave of anxiety washing over her.
Kaiba's voice broke her concentration on everything going on outside.
"Stop worrying already, I won't let anyone hassle you ok."
She willed herself not to turn pink as she nodded.
"Okay, I'll try."
As the limo finally pulled up to the main entrance there was an immediate unrest within the horde of reporters standing behind the crowd control barriers.
Before Tea even knew what was happening, the driver was already getting out of the limo, walking to the back and opening the door for them to exit.
Despite Kaiba's reassuring gaze she still couldn't help her pulse racing.
"Well, it's now or never."
Tea managed a weak smile as she watched him climb out of the limo.
She reluctantly followed close behind.
As she rose to her feet, she felt the eyes of everyone around them burning into her.
It was extremely bright with cameras flashing, people staring, shouting and exclaiming their astonishment about Kaiba actually showing up.
Apparently the mere fact that he had actually shown his face at an event like this one was a colossal deal, even more so that he didn't show up alone.
"Stay close to me."
Tea complied as she followed Kaiba's lead, staying as close as she could at his side.
She ignored the flashing of the cameras as they made their way toward the bottleneck of guests gathered at the front entrance.
It took every ounce of control in her to avoid making eye contact with anyone; especially since there were quite a few reporters shouting at them, desperately trying to find out who she was.
She nevertheless followed Kaiba's lead, trying to match his indifference; hoping no one saw through her obvious facade.
The crowd became denser as they made their way toward the doors.
As they slowly navigated through the multitude of guests, she felt Kaiba slip his arm around her waist pulling her closer to his side.
He looked down at her.
"Still there?"
Tea tried not to blush but failed miserably.
"Yea, I'm still here."
"Good, wouldn't want to lose you in transit."
She smiled.
The feel of his hand on her waist was distracting in the worst way. It was as if everything else had disappeared and the only thing she could set her focus on was the way his fingers felt against her body.
Kaiba kept his eyes on the entrance as they wove their way through. He kept his grip on Tea, his only goal being to get her inside without incident.
He noticed a group of reporters snapping pictures of them like crazy. He sighed inwardly, hoping the two of them didn't end up on the cover of some tabloid magazine somewhere.
After a few minutes of waiting they finally made their way to the front line.
The young man standing beside the two beefy looking bouncers spotted them immediately.
"Welcome, Welcome Mr Kaiba, so honoured to have you attend our grand opening night."
Kaiba simply rewarded his kindness with an impatient scowl.
"Yes, right, well let's not keep Mr Kaiba waiting."
He turned to the bouncers, gesturing for them to unclasp the barrier ropes.
Kaiba casually walked past them, handing over the V-VIP ticket as he did.
Tea timidly followed suit.
When they finally approached the doors, Tea felt a big chunk of her anxiety melt away. She glanced back at the huge crowd behind them. Reporters were still having a field day and there were still quite a number of them taking shots at her and Kaiba heading inside.
She sighed, wondering if this was just a day in the life of Seto Kaiba.
They both stopped at the door, Kaiba pausing to look at her.
"Better get ready, your date with Seto Kaiba begins as soon as we open these doors."
She smiled up at him ignoring the flood of emotions bursting out of her chest.
"Don't worry about me, I can handle myself, especially around guys who constantly refer to themselves in the first person."
Kaiba flashed a sexy crooked smile, sending her pulse into overdrive.
Without delay he pushed the doors open. At last they were able to step foot inside.
Club Salsa
Ground Floor
The first sensation to toggle Tea's senses was the pleasant aroma of fresh citrus that rushed past their faces along with the cool air conditioning.
As they stepped further inside her eyes adjusted to the soft light.
Immediately there was a feeling of elation in the air.
The ground floor was extremely large, surrounded on all sides by elegant walls of glass.
Illuminated artificial palm trees graced the halls with different variations of Caribbean decor tastefully distributed throughout the entire space.
Everything practically screamed exotic, without losing any night club appeal.
Whoever was responsible for the design, knew exactly what they were doing.
Tea marvelled at everything her eyes could make out in the semi lit atmosphere.
Directly ahead of them a handful of guests were beginning to assemble at the bar.
Kaiba surveyed their surroundings quickly.
Being as anti-social as he knew he was, he decided to let Tea decide their next move.
He looked down at her as they walked a little further inside.
"Well, we've got two choices; either we mingle or we don't."
Tea sighed hopelessly.
"And I take it mingling isn't really an option for you."
"Nope...but since it's an official date, I'll be nice just this once and let you decide."
There were still so many sides to Kaiba that she never knew existed.
She appreciated his kind gesture more than he realised.
But being selfish wasn't something she was especially good at.
She knew it wouldn't be right for her to make him uncomfortable.
She opted for something else instead.
"Well, I guess we can go to the VIP section first, there'll be less people there."
Kaiba agreed, not surprised by her decision; still thinking of everyone before herself.
Despite that however, he decided that going to the VIP section was actually just what they needed to settle in.
He scanned the building visually for any sign of their destination.
Finally he spotted the neatly engraved sign on the second floor, highlighting the way.
Tea followed Kaiba's lead through the ground floor passing curious guests lounging at tables and staring at them with obvious questions in their eyes.
She ignored them the best she could.
They made their way up the stairs and started toward the sign.
There was an arrow indicating that they were to turn left through a wide set hallway that seemed off limits to anyone who wasn't privileged enough to be VIP.
There was a security officer standing a few feet away from the sign, nodding at them approvingly as they passed by.
The hallway branched off into opposite directions, each leading to two private rooms on either side.
As they stopped at the intersection they were greeted by a young man who was dressed in a suit that made him look like he had stepped straight out of a mafia movie.
He approached them with a surprisingly wide smile on his face.
"Mr Kaiba, so glad you could make it tonight, Mike Hendrix, nice to meet you at last."
He offered his hand which Kaiba reluctantly shook out of formality.
"Please follow me to your Lounge."
Without delay he led them to the room on the left.
Slipping a pair of keys out of his pocket, he unlocked the door and stepped inside, gesturing for them to follow him.
Tea's eyes widened in astonishment as she stepped in behind them.
"Classy' wouldn't even begin to describe what she saw before her.
In the heart of the room was a miniature fountain bounded on all sides by neon flat lights, causing it to stand out against the dim ambience.
A large black Couch stood a few feet behind it, directly opposite a large HD display.
Various portraits of music legends of all generations adorned the walls and the floor was completely tiled in a lovely shade of sky blue and white coral.
There was even a jukebox and an entire shelf of CDs and A tracks at their disposal.
Everything was simply and utterly inviting.
It wouldn't be so much of a stretch to say nothing at all what she had been expecting.
The wall at the back of the room was made entirely of glass, which she assumed was tinted for privacy on the outside. The design was clever so as to allow the occupants of the room a full range view of the entire ground floor absent any and all obstructions of any kind.
Such intelligent handiwork; No wonder, a place like this was strictly exclusive to the highly privileged.
She smiled to herself, admiring everything around them, until the sound of the young man's voice broke into her dream state.
"This will be your private lounge for the remainder of the night Mr Kaiba."
In keeping with his unpleasant nature, Kaiba simply nodded without so much as a word, his face plastered with boredom and disenchantment.
Mr Hendrix took this as his signal to leave.
He smiled warmly at them, acknowledging Tea with a polite bow of his head.
"If there's anything you need, just buzz me at office one. The number listing is on the table."
Smiling once again he bid them an enjoyable stay and within a few moments he had left the room, leaving Tea with the heavy reality of being completely alone with Seto Kaiba once again.
She watched as he walked further into the room, inspecting their surroundings with unforgiving scrutiny.
"Well it isn't a total loss I guess."
Tea frowned in astonishment.
"Are you kidding? It's beautiful. I never even knew VIP rooms were this big of a deal."
"Actually, this is the best I've seen."
He walked over to the wall of glass, peering down at the guests below, looking disgusted at the sight of them.
"At least these rooms are sound proof so we don't have to listen to bad music."
Tea couldn't stop herself from noticing how sexy he looked standing there.
She suppressed the urge to blush as she stepped further inside.
For some reason, it had suddenly become a lot more frightening being in his company.
She approached the couch, sitting gently, ploughing through her brain to think of something to say to take away some of the tension she was feeling.
Kaiba could sense how nervous she was and he couldn't exactly blame her. This wasn't like any other time they'd been together, this time was different.
An official date meant so much more than regular acquaintances spending time together.
An official date meant that they were crossing the lines that separated them and this was the first time since the night they kissed that they had to face the reality of what was happening head on.
It would be awkward and difficult for her to deal with, he knew, but, what was done was done.
They had to face this now or never at all.
He pooled his thoughts together before heading over to where she was.
Sitting casually next to her, he paused, waiting for her to come to terms with reality.
Finally he spoke, his voice soft but direct.
"So are you still nervous?"
Tea felt her body going rigid, but she responded anyway.
"...a little."
"Do I make you uncomfortable?"
"No...It's nothing like that..."
She paused
"...It's just that I..."
"You're still trying to come to terms with this?"
He finished for her, knowing exactly what was going on inside her head.
She paused, looking at her hands in her lap.
"..Yea."
Kaiba breathed out heavily.
"Well, you better get used to me, cuz I'm not going anywhere, unless of course you ask me to...but I'm guessing you won't."
She couldn't help the blush this time.
He held her gaze, feeling the urge to kiss her again; unfortunately scaring her half to death wasn't exactly what he had in mind. After all they had only been there for less than ten minutes. The threat of coming on too strong stopped him from acting on impulse.
She spoke through her apprehension.
"Would I be overstepping my boundaries by being honest with you?"
"Not at all."
"Then I guess you're right..."
She had no idea where she was finding the courage but she clung to it desperately so she could go on.
"...I've gotten used to the way you stick your nose into every aspect of my personal life."
She smiled as the words fell from her lips.
He was grateful for her truth s he smiled back at her in amusement.
"Then I guess everything's as it should be, being obnoxious is what I do best."
Tea smiled again feeling her body relax a bit more.
"No arguing there."
They stared at each other, both feeling the deeper meaning in their words.
Deciding to loosen up the moment he reclined onto the couch.
"Alright then, let's see what this VIP room has to offer."
He reached for the remote sitting on the table in front of them.
He switched the display on.
Immediately the sound of R&B music filled the room, the music video already in progress.
As a dancer in the past, she was required to familiarise herself with all types of music, so naturally she recognised the song right away.
Christina Millian ' Whatever you want'.
She reclined alongside him, glad to see a song she was familiar with.
Kaiba of course frowned with repugnance.
"What the hell is this?"
"It's just a music video."
"Yeah, I can see that but don't they have anything good on?"
"Well it is an upscale nightclub; I doubt rock and heavy metal would suit their theme very well."
Once again he was amused at her assumptions about him.
"And who told you I like rock & heavy metal?"
"No one, you just seem like the type."
He scoffed.
"Lucky guess."
Tea smiled feeling smug, glad that her assumption turned out to be right this time.
Sure enough he continued searching through the channels.
They spent the next few minutes glancing at music videos and bad TV.
"So Is it time for your daily dose of alcohol yet?"
"Is that your twisted way of offering to get me a drink?"
"Maybe."
Tea sighed.
"Well I guess I am kinda thirsty, sure."
Kaiba rose from his seat and started toward the mini bar.
He rummaged through bottles of chilled alcoholic drinks, until he found something appropriate.
As he poured some of the contents into a glass of ice, to his surprise Tea had risen from her seat, walking to the large wall of glass overlooking the ground floor.
He stole a glance at her as he continued.
She was touching the glass and peering down at the people below as if lost in endless thought.
After a few moments he approached her, offering her the drink which she took with a smile.
"I can't believe how beautiful this place is."
She was still peering down through the glass.
"It's just a fancy nightclub, nothing to get all dreamy about."
"I know but I was referring to the entire island...it's like everything here is...perfect."
Suddenly her expression changed slightly as she peered through the glass again.
"..It's so different...to my life back in the city."
Kaiba noticed the haunting sadness in her eyes as she spoke to him.
He breathed out heavily as he stared down at the mass of guests alongside her.
"No body's life is perfect Tea."
She smiled.
"Yea? Well some of us are farther from it than others."
He could practically feel the bitterness emanating from her voice. He racked his brain for something that could possibly pry her mind away.
The music downstairs was just now starting to crank up. He could feel the vibrations of the base under his feet.
He couldn't and wouldn't allow her to feel this way...not tonight.
He sighed.
"I guess we've got no choice then."
She looked at him perplexed.
"What do you mean?"
"Let's go downstairs."
"What? Why?"
"You need a change of scenery."
Tea was confused, but she decided not to dispute. Kaiba's will was wielded in hot iron and it was futile to try to bend it, that much she knew.
She sighed in defeat.
"Okay, if that's what you want."
The ground floor was just now starting to fill with people.
Tea noticed that it wasn't as jam packed as a regular night club so following Kaiba through the scattered crowd was fairly easy.
The music was loud but pleasing to the ear and the lavender scent was just starting to blend into the heady smell of cigarette smoke and alcohol.
Kaiba guided them to the bar where astonishingly only a handful of people were gathered.
Tea noticed the complementary 'I want to murder you' glances from female guests as they passed by, all of them cursing her existence for being on the arm of Seto Kaiba.
She was suddenly startled by Kaiba's voice in her ear, instantly stealing her attention away.
"Are you fine with that, or do you want something else?"
His voice was raspy and seductively clear, whispered so closely.
She forced herself to recover.
Over the loud music she had no other choice but to turn to his ear as well.
"No I'm fine."
She had almost forgotten the glass in her hand which she had taken with her from upstairs.
She watched as Kaiba ordered a non-alcoholic beverage for himself.
After he had collected his drink, Tea followed his lead again, as they started toward a cozy corner where there were less people. They made themselves comfortable, sitting close enough to hear each other over the booming music.
"So is this any better?"
She smiled.
"You mean if I'm any less nervous now that I'm surrounded by more people who happened to be staring at us?"
"That would be a problem, if they were the ones making you nervous, but we both know that's not true is it."
The unwavering confidence in his voice made her want to flinch.
But she stood her ground, stirring the ice in her glass with her fingers.
Kaiba didn't wait for her to respond. Instead he kept his eyes focussed on hers.
"So now that we're here, your attention won't be so focussed on how intimidating I am."
"Hmm, ever heard of modesty? You might want to look that up sometime."
"Why would I? Not being modest is part of my obvious charm."
She couldn't help blushing knowing he was right.
She took a small sip of her drink; thinking maybe a swig of alcohol would cool her raging anxiety.
She could smell his intoxicating cologne even over the smell of everything else and it made her too aware of how close he was.
This was hard, getting used to him was way too difficult. But something inside her was drawn to him and it told her to hang in there.
"So is it time for us to make out yet?"
His words sliced into her moment of contemplation like a hot knife through butter. Her heart went off into over drive as she blushed again, avoiding his eyes altogether.
"What? But,I...don't..."
Kaiba smirked smugly.
"Knew that would get your attention."
That didn't help her in the least.
"Relax, I was only kidding."
She forced a smile, taking another fast sip and replacing the glass a little harder on the table than she intended.
"...I knew that."
Kaiba took a first sip as well.
"Sure you did."
Despite his relentless attack on her ability to stay calm, for some reason his 'kidding around' made her feel a whole lot better; although the prospect of making out with him wasn't exactly what you'd call unappealing.
Forcing herself to get a grip, she decided to dispose of some of the tension in her body. She wanted to enjoy her time with him and she couldn't do that if she was mortified.
She smiled, warming up to his company.
They sat together, drinking and talking, slowly slipping into a brand new comfort zone of their own creation. They soon forgot about the peering eyes all around them, letting their conversation drive everything else away as the night drifted by.
"Oh my God, outside looks so beautiful."
She gestured beyond the glass walls, toward the deck outside, overlooking the beach. Even from where they sat they could catch a glimpse of the ocean in the distance, with the moon shimmering above it.
The effect was surprisingly pleasing to the eye, even to someone as unyielding as him.
She stared at the view with dreamy clouds swimming through her eyes.
Kaiba acted on his chance, wanting nothing more than to keep her smiling the way she was at that moment for as long as he could.
"You know, if you wanna go outside, you could just ask me."
He rose from his seat.
She followed his lead gladly.
The wind outside was cold, yet comforting.
The sound of the waves crashing against the sand below them and the smell of the salty ocean air was a welcomed change of pace.
They could still hear the faint music, booming behind them, back inside and it made them appreciate the contrasting peacefulness.
A few couples and people simply taking in the fresh air were scattered throughout the large veranda, also enjoying the magnificent view laid out before them like a painting.
Tea wrapped her fingers around the smooth teak barrier, marvelling at how beautiful everything was.
Kaiba stood beside her, more engrossed in other things.
When she was happy, somehow it lifted his otherwise lacklustre spirits.
She still hadn't given him an official 'yes' or 'no' yet but patience was on his side.
Pressuring her into a decision wasn't something he wanted to do. He needed her to make up her own mind about him. After that he would take it from there.
Tea felt a sort of freedom swelling in her chest as she let the wind caress her face.
She turned to Kaiba who was staring out at the ocean as though he was thinking about something important. He was as beautiful and heavenly as ever.
"What are you thinking about?"
"How I'm going to take over the world."
She smiled.
"Why would you want to do that? You already have everything you'll ever want."
"Not everything."
They stayed locked in stares for a few seconds longer until Tea pried her eyes away.
"You know...you're...nothing like what I pictured you to be a few years ago."
"Yeah, I think we already established that you thought I was the devil incarnate."
She laughed.
"No, I'm serious, you really surprised me...you're like, the nicest jerk I've ever met...if that even makes sense."
He couldn't hide his amusement.
"Well you're the most miserable cheerleader I ever met so I guess it does."
She laughed again, trying with all her might not to blush in embarrassment.
Before either of them could say anything else however, a light buzzing noise stole into the moment.
Kaiba watched as she slipped her cellphone out of her purse.
She glanced at the screen, before meeting Kaiba's gaze.
She didn't say anything, looking at him expectantly for a reaction.
"You gonna answer him this time?"
She let her hand drop to her side, sighing as she pushed the cancel button with her thumb. She replaced the phone, a weary expression on her face.
"No, I'm not."
" You don't need my permission to talk to him you know."
"I know, but I just...don't want to hear his voice."
Kaiba paused before going on.
"Is it okay if I ask you something?"
Tea saw the inquisition in his eyes, the seriousness in his expression more than a little intimidating.
"...Are you still in love with him?"
His question was nerve racking but expected.
She looked at the black ocean, the wind gently rustling through her hair.
"...I...honestly, don't even know anymore..."
She paused, pondering her own words.
"But I know that, no matter how much I try to hate him...I can't."
Kaiba listened intently, feeling the heaviness of her confession weighing down on him.
He shoved his hands into his pockets as he peered out at the starry sky.
"Well I guess that's to be expected, it would be hard to let go of your feelings so easily."
"I wonder what that says about me. Even after all this time...I actually still...care about him."
"I guess it just means that you're capable of loving someone unconditionally."
His words touched something inside her and for some reason she felt a pang of guilt in her heart for telling him the truth about how she felt.
Her words lay heavy on him but he had prepared himself for it. He nevertheless said what was on his mind, disregarding his own feelings.
"But you have to find a way to move on, you can't keep letting his memory hurt you like this...you deserve better."
Tea knew he was right and she hated that she hadn't been able to muster the courage to do what she needed to.
"...And I think you already know what my intentions are."
Her pulse sped up.
She knew exactly what they were and the thought was over whelming.
"Are you really okay with this? I mean, it's like we belong to two entirely different worlds."
"Is that what you think? That I'm the Prince and you're the commoner?"
Somehow him saying it like that made her feel silly.
"Well something like that."
He couldn't help smiling to himself.
"You really are hopeless."
She smiled too.
"Yeah I am aren't I, but I can't help it...we are what we are."
Just then the volume of the music behind them decreased; A dj's voice filling the void.
"...and now it's time to slow the pace guys, so grab that special somebody and hold on tight..."
They both turned to look in the direction of the dance floor which was clearly visible through the glass wall behind them.
The guests were falling into place, everyone pairing off, as an entirely different mood started to fill room.
A new song replaced the silence, slow and beautiful.
'Connect the Dots' by The Spill Canvas.
She didn't dare look at Kaiba. Instead she nervously turned to look at the ocean again.
Kaiba saw her reaction and knew exactly what was running through her mind.
"You don't believe that my feelings for you are real? Then let me prove it."
He held his hand out to her, waiting for her to accept his offer.
She gazed up at him, her eyes glistening in the moonlight.
Her body felt frozen but she managed to smile.
She didn't say a word; she knew she didn't have to.
She put her hand in his.
He smiled back, glad that she understood.
Tea kept her head bent so as to avoid eye contact with anyone.
She followed Kaiba's lead to the middle of the dance floor, where everyone instinctively moved aside, clearing a spot for them.
She felt the weight of everyone's gaze and her face burned with heat.
When Kaiba turned to look at her, she was flushed.
He stared into her eyes as he placed her both hands around his neck and both of his around her waist.
Her eyes were glistening with apprehension and uncertainty. She spoke softly so only he could hear her.
"Everyone's staring at us."
"Good, let them to see, I want everyone to see what you are to me."
Her heart felt like it would burst with all the emotion swelling inside it. She gazed into his beautiful deep blue eyes, trying to remember how to breathe.
"I know I don't need to ask you if you know how to slow dance."
She managed a smile.
"No"
"Then dance with me."
His voice was a raspy whisper, sending shivers through her entire body.
She closed her eyes, letting the music take control the way she did before when dancing was her light.
They glided with the song, forgetting everything and everyone around them each supporting the other..
Their movements were as one and their advanced choreography dazzled the other guests, so much so that they were the centre of attention.
Every turn, twirl and embrace was smooth and graceful as if they'd danced together a thousand times before.
Tea felt her heart soaring as if she had been given the chance to spread her wings again.
Kaiba had unknowingly given something back to her, something that was so precious and irreplaceable.
She stared up into his eyes as they slowed down again, infatuated with him, ignoring the swirl of people around them.
He saw her emotion and it resonated into him.
She felt his broad hand splayed against her back
He leaned closer so that his lips were nearly brushing her ear, whispering to her.
"Don't say no to me Tea."
Without needing another word, she knew exactly what he wanted.
She closed her eyes, surrendering everything.
Her willingness ignited a new fire in his chest and he needed her more than air itself.
He slowly lowered his mouth to hers, his lips laced with unmatched desire.
His kiss was overpowering and she felt giddy enough to loose her footing. But his iron grip held her to him, keeping her grounded in his strong embrace.
Her heart hammered in her chest and she was vaguely aware of where they were, but at that moment she didn't care.
She kissed him back, meeting his irresistible passion.
Every fibre in Kaiba's body yearned for her and he found himself unable to stop.
They kissed each other as the music played, everyone around them staring in astonishment.
The moment was intense and beautiful lingering on for what seemed like eternity.
Everything else was far away, shrinking into non existence, all that remained being the way they felt.
Warm and fulfilled by each other's touch.
Finally, reluctantly, Kaiba found the strength inside him to let her go, releasing her from his kiss.
Tea gazed up at him, her heart still racing.
She was being overwhelmed. How was he capable of making her feel this way? When he touched her, when he kissed her...when she was in his arms she couldn't contain herself.
It scared her.
What was happening? It was so beautiful, but it was all so fast. She couldn't think straight anymore.
She slowly let go of him, her eyes intent on his.
Kaiba sensed the panic in her body. He stayed silent, assessing her and giving her space to recover.
But before he could do anything else, she was stepping away.
"I...I'm sorry."
She whispered, stepping back further then turning away from him. She started walking swiftly off the dance floor.
Kaiba stared after her, taken by surprise.
He caught up to her when he realised what was happening, gently gabbing her by her arm.
"What's wrong?"
She looked up at him, her eyes glassy.
"I'm sorry; I just need some time to think."
When he didn't let go of her, she tried again.
"Please."
Her expression was laced with worry and doubt.
Despite his reluctance he let go of her arm, knowing it wouldn't be fair for him to stop her.
He watched as she made her way toward the hallway ahead of them, leading to the women's bathroom.
He swallowed hard as he watched her disappear around the corner.
A few people were still staring, but he couldn't care less. All he could think about was Tea.
If she needed space to think, then he would give it to her without hesitation.
Tea stared at her reflection in the mirror.
Surprisingly, the bathroom was empty and the only person she could focus on was herself.
Why did she runaway from him just now?
Was it really that hard to move on with her life?
She ran her fingers over the butterfly pendant resting against her chest.
Kaiba was serious about her and here she was being a coward.
She had to come to terms with this.
She had to come to terms with the fact that what they both were feeling was real.
It was finally time to let go and make a decision.
Just then before she could have a chance to ponder the matter any further, the bathroom door flung open behind her.
Tea looked up, only to see the reflection of the last person in the world she expected or wanted to see.
She stood frozen.
It was Kaiba's ex girlfriend. Her name rang through her memory like sand paper, rough and painful.
Krista.
She remembered the way she looked at her back at the restaurant that morning and the hate hadn't disappeared from her eyes, in fact it was considerably worse.
This time she wasn't alone, she was accompanied by three other girls, who were glaring at her with equal disdain.
She needed to get out of there, and fast.
She pretended to wash her hands, hoping that they would leave her be and not say anything.
Her hopes were quickly diminished however as Krista, who seemed to be the leader of the pack, pounced first.
"Just who the hell do you think you are?"
Tea turned to look at them.
She responded in a small voice, not wanting to aggravate them any further. She didn't need any unwanted trouble.
"Excuse me?"
They approached her, their eyes bolted to hers.
"Don't try to act all innocent! We all saw your disgusting attempt to seduce Seto Kaiba on the dance floor, how pathetic!"
She folded her arms glaring at Tea.
Back at the restaurant, Tea hadn't gotten a chance to see her as plainly as she did now.
She was gorgeous, almost to the point of being intimidating; Kaiba's match in every form of the word.
The other girls spread out around her on all sides.
Tea felt their heavy hate filled eyes digging into her flesh.
They were like birds of prey circling their victim, ready to rip her to shreds.
As unnerving as it was, she nevertheless stood her ground staring up at Krista, who was almost as tall a Kaiba.
She felt the cold sink pressing into her back as she instinctively stepped back.
"Do you honestly think Seto Kaiba gives a damn about you? He doesn't care about anyone but himself! What makes you so special?"
She spat her venom, looking sickened.
Another one of the girls spoke behind her, glaring at her reflection in the mirror.
"I sure as hell can't see why he would even waste his time on someone like her."
They laughed, sardonic and cruel.
Tea swallowed the lump at the back of her throat, trying to summon enough courage to defend herself.
She was outnumbered and out matched but she couldn't surrender without a struggle, it wasn't in her nature.
"...My relationship with Kaiba is none of your business!"
Her eyes were intent upon Krista's.
Tea noticed her expression transform.
"Your relationship?"
She scoffed.
"You really do think you're something special, that's so pathetic I feel like I'm gonna vomit."
She stepped in closer.
"I really hate girls who don't know their place."
Tea felt the intimidation and it made her want to retreat, but once again, her nature would have none of it.
For a while they simply stared at each other, forgetting the others. It was like a battle between the two of them; a personal vendetta.
Then finally Krista stepped back, her eyes dropping to Tea's necklace.
She twisted the tone of her voice so that it sounded pretentiously sweet.
"Oh my God! What a beautiful necklace!"
She reached forward.
"Don't you dare touch it!"
Tea jerked away as if she had been exposed to something rotten.
Krista smiled knowingly as she narrowed her almond shaped green eyes.
"Hmm, girls I think I hit a sensitive spot."
She stepped in even closer, causing Tea to move back, unfortunately she was cornered.
"Was it a gift? A precious gift to show you how much he cares?"
Her voice was cold and piercing, mocking her.
Tea watched as she stepped in even closer, smiling an evil smile.
By now Tea had lost most of her calm.
She clutched the pendant, wishing she could somehow escape their torment.
"What's the matter? Can't I have a look at it? It's so pretty, don't be so selfish."
Tea felt anger mixing in with her desperation.
She responded without even thinking.
"It's not my fault he got rid of you! If you want someone to blame, try looking in the mirror!"
There was a strained silence as each of the girls stared in astonishment, their eyes wide with disbelief.
Krista froze on spot, her eyes glued to Tea's as if she saw something out of this world; the shock in her expression as clear as a cloudless sky.
Tea felt the worry building inside her chest as she tore her eyes away, unable to hold her gaze. She immediately regretted her retaliation.
"What did you just say to me?"
None of the other girls dared say anything as they all turned into spectators, waiting for their leader's reaction.
"How dare you talk to me like that!"
Krista walked over to her, glaring at her angrily.
"I'll teach you to keep your mouth shut you little opportunist!"
Before Tea knew what was happening, she saw Krista reach forward, her hand closing around her own hand that was clutching the pendant.
"No stop!"
There wasn't even time to react. It all happened so sudden.
With her both hands, Krista managed to grab the chain, and with a sharp tug, she ripped it violently off Tea's neck.
Tea saw the necklace falling to pieces as if in slow motion; the Rhine stones falling to floor, scattering like tiny marbles across the tiles.
She felt as if time had somehow stopped. She heard her pulse racing in her ear, feeling helpless.
Tears had begun to sting the backs of her eyes, but she wouldn't let them escape.
She wouldn't give them the satisfaction of seeing her cry.
Her voice seemed to have been lost as she looked up at Krista, who was staring back with a smug triumphant grin on her face.
"Humph, there, now maybe you'll get it. That necklace means nothing, just like your 'relationship' with Seto Kaiba. A girl like you would never be worthy of him! So come back down to earth and scurry on back to your own kind you pathetic slut! You don't belong in our world!"
Tea felt her words drilling a hole in her heart.
She couldn't hold their gazes any longer. She kept her eyes averted, staring instead at the shattered necklace lying in pieces on the floor..
They all giggled mockingly as they made their way back to the door.
"Come on girls, let's go, I think she got the message."
And within moments they were gone, disappearing as suddenly as they came, leaving Tea alone once again.
For a second she couldn't seem to move her body. All she could see was the broken pendant on the floor.
She knelt before it, her eyes welling up with tears.
She gently picked up the pieces, as if they would dissolve in her hands if she wasn't too careful.
Krista's words resonated in her mind, over and over like a horrible song she couldn't forget.
"You don't belong in our world"
Her tears finally overflowed, falling to the ground, reminding her not to forget.
Everything, all of this, everything here was just a delusion, a false notion of a paradise that could never really be hers.
She had lost her grip on reality.
She sobbed on the floor, still clutching the shattered pieces of the necklace tightly between her fingers.
After a few moments she slowly rose to her feet. She stared at her face, wet with tears and over ridden with frustration.
She opened the tap and let the water flow into her hands, washing her face, not caring about her makeup.
How was she going to face Kaiba?
In her current state of mind she didn't feel much like seeing anyone. In fact at that moment she wished she could've simply disappeared altogether.
Kaiba sat alone at the bar, ignoring the unwanted attention he was attracting from everyone around him. He took a lazy sip of his drink, his mind still preoccupied with thoughts of Tea.
He recalled the way she felt when he held her on the dancefloor.
The way the music carried them and the way she gazed into his eyes as she let him guide her.
Everything about it was memorable, but none more so than the way she responded to his kiss.
He had purposely kissed her. He wanted her to realise that he cared for her and he didn't give a damn about anyone else's opinion of them.
But he hadn't anticipated her reaction.
She had acted as though she were scared of him.
It had been a little more than fifteen minutes since she had fled into the bathroom.
By now he was starting to get a bit worried but he decided that he was just being paranoid.
'They don't know' by Jon B filled the room, with couples still dancing to the soothing music.
As he sat taking another sip of his drink he managed to spot Tea emerging from the hallway.
He drained the last of it as he rose from his seat to meet up with her.
As he made his way through the crowd, getting closer, he noticed that her head was bent and she seemed withdrawn and on edge.
His concern grew as he drew even nearer.
He approached her trying to read her expression which was shrouded in shadows casted by the dim coloured lights.
"Hey."
Tea didn't look up. She continued staring at the floor.
By now Kaiba was certain, something was wrong.
"Tea, what's the matter?"
After a short spell of silence she finally looked up at him.
Even with the lighting he could see that she had been crying.
She opened her mouth to speak but hesitated. He noticed that more tears were starting to well up in her eyes again.
He frowned, deeply concerned.
"What's wrong did something happen to you?"
When she didn't respond he decided to take matters in to his own hands.
He had to get her somewhere where they could be alone.
Taking her back to the VIP room would probably be the best option. He gently took her by the hand and led her upstairs.
Kaiba closed the door behind them.
Tea was reluctant to say anything as they walked further into the room.
"Tell me what happened."
She let go of his hand and started to turn away.
"Nothing ok."
Kaiba would have none of it.
He stopped her, gripping her by her upper arms, forcing her to turn and face him.
"Stop running away from me and tell me what happened."
Tea heard the urgency in his voice and she knew she couldn't lie to him.
She gazed into his intent blue eyes again, her breathing laboured with emotion.
Pushing everything aside she told him everything.
When she was finished she unclenched her fist, showing him the shattered remains of the necklace he had bought for her.
For a moment Kaiba couldn't seem to find the right words to say. All he could focus on was the anger growing in his chest.
But looking at Tea's helpless expression diminished his thoughts of revenge, if only for the time being.
How could he think of anything other than being there to comfort her?
He saw the tears rolling down her flushed cheeks.
He pulled her into his embrace, gently stroking her hair.
"It's okay now, forget about them."
She buried her face into his shirt, sobbing and feeling hateful toward herself, letting the shattered necklace fall to the floor.
How could she have made such a terrible mess of what was supposed to be a memorable night?
Why was she always so vulnerable to feeling this way?
Kaiba felt her body tremble against his, as she cried.
He felt a swell of anger so strong toward Krista that it surprised him.
Tea didn't deserve to be treated this way. Yet sorrow seemed to be the only thing life knew how to throw at her.
He let her cry, hating the fact that he couldn't be there to protect her.
After a short while he felt her pushing away.
"But...she was right wasn't she."
She let go of him, stepping away, keeping her eyes on the floor.
"She was right about me not belonging here."
"Do you honestly believe that? Do you really think my world is so different from yours?"
Kaiba looked at her intently
She seemed too on edge to listen to anything he had to say. She shook her head, still sobbing.
She hugged her arms as if she were cold.
"I don't care anymore, I've only been fooling myself! Stop making me think...that I can be happy."
Kaiba noticed that she was becoming hysterical.
Her words cut through him. He couldn't let her fall away, if she fell too far he might not be able to reach her again. How could he make her see, how could he make her understand how he felt?
"Tea..."
"No, please don't say anything; I don't want to hear you say anything else."
She turned away, as if she didn't want him to see her cry anymore.
She stepped in closer to the glass wall, peering down at the ground floor through watery blurry eyes; seeing everything like a collage of shimmering colour.
She closed her eyes, hating everything.
Why?
Why was she always giving into weakness?
God, she hated this, she hated it so much!
Tears rolled down her cheeks relentlessly.
She wanted to run away, she needed to get away from there.
But before she could give into any more desperation, the feel of Kaiba's powerful arms enveloping her made her breath catch in her throat.
He caged her in his embrace, keeping her back grounded to him, so that they wouldn't have to look each other in the eye.
He stood behind her, strong and reassuring, his arms around her, keeping her grounded and safe.
For some reason, the feel of his warm strong body against hers soothed her, calming her to point of control again.
"Stop Tea"
His voice emanated in her ear and despite her sobbing, she felt it sending thrills rippling through her entire body.
"You're not the only one who had to suffer the loss of a mother and father."
His statement caught her off guard. She sucked in a breath feeling taken by surprise.
"Everyone has to go through hardship, and the only reason I am where I am today is because I never once let this rotten unforgiving world get the better of me."
His words were like a cold dagger, piercing her sub conscious.
"So despite what you think, our worlds are the same."
Her eyes were wide with astonishment. Her heart felt like it was being covered with something overwhelming.
Kaiba felt her body relax slightly, keeping his grip on her as sturdy and supportive as he could; hoping he had somehow gotten through to her.
"...I'm so sorry..."
When she spoke her words were soft and laden with hurt.
"...I didn't mean to make you say those things, I'm so selfish."
He let go of her, gently turning her around to face him.
"You're not..."
Her eyes were damp with tears and she couldn't have looked more beautiful as she stared up at him.
"...You couldn't be, even if you tried."
Tea's heart was pounding, and emotion swept over her like an ocean.
She stared into Kaiba's deep alluring eyes, feeling like she would inevitably drown in them.
"Forget everyone and everything else Tea and tell me what you really want."
His demand for the truth, hit her like a thousand bricks to the gut.
Her voice was trapped inside her fear but she had no other choice but to let it out.
She knew what she wanted, she knew inside her heart and everything inside her willed her to be brave at last.
"I...I'm so tired of running away..."
He could sense her yearning even before she spoke. He leaned in closer, his lips almost touching hers.
"..So tell me."
She was overcome with fear and uncertainty but she couldn't seem to stop her own body.
She touched his face, drawing herself closer him, feeling him wrapping his arms around her holding her tighter,
She whispered ever so sensual.
"...Make me yours Kaiba."
Her words were filled with all that she felt for him and they pierced him deep, awakening all of his hidden desire.
He tightened his grip on her pulling her closer cornering her against the glass wall behind them, whispering against her lips
"You're already mine baby"
The sincerity in his voice made her heart skip a beat, feeling her doubt slipping away.
He brought his mouth down onto hers, kissing her hard forcing her to respond.
He felt her, slip her arms around his neck, their bodies pressed together.
She responded to his kisses with much more fervour than he expected, weaving her fingers through his hair, matching his own desire.
He wanted her, and now she was finally his and no one else's. He would shield her from all her heart ache and protect her whatever the cost.
He revelled in the taste of her, cupping her face and letting his yearning take control.
Tea felt her entire body heating up as she gave in to her longing.
At this moment, she was safe and she was where her heart wanted her to be.
She had finally summoned the strength to start over and she was grateful she had been given the chance.
She let herself be swept away by Kaiba's kiss and his powerful touch, forgetting everything and everyone, ready to trust her heart again.
Their new found feelings for each other would carry them through to wherever they needed to be.
She held onto him, wishing that they could stay like that forever, surrendering herself to him, and knowing that finally after all of her heartache and tears, they belonged to each other at last.