"This will be all for our meeting today. We'll talk more about this tomorrow."
The hall room became suddenly chaotic as comments were exchanged. Kikyo cleared her throat, gaining the attention again.
"The meeting is adjourned. You may leave." She coldly said. The members started to leave, still discussing the meeting. Inuyasha organized his papers and made his way towards the door when Kikyo's voice stopped him.
"Taisho, we need to talk."
He simply nodded and waited till everyone left. He closed the door and sat on his chair, his eyes glued on the table in front of him, waiting for her to speak. Seconds passed until she finally spoke.
"Are you comfortable in our company Taisho?" She asked, her tone friendly, unlike the one she used in meetings. He stared at her, nodding silently.
"My father is still thrilled to having you with us." She replied, smiling. "He doesn't stop talking about how lucky we are of having you."
Inuyasha couldn't help but smile.
"I am honored that you feel this way. I hope my work will satisfy your expectations."
"Of course it will. Forgive me, but I am curious…"
Inuyasha frowned waiting for her to continue.
"I mean, you have your own empire, Taisho. Why would you work in our company? Here, you are an employee, and I am sure that you are not used to taking orders, it must be really hard for you..."
She suddenly stopped talking when she noticed a playful smirk make its way towards the young man's lips. He leaned forward, staring at her, and she found that his stare was a little bit unnerving. She gulped, uncomfortable with staring in his eyes. At first, when she saw him in the company, she thought of him as handsome. However, knowing him for two weeks quickly changed her opinion. He was not handsome, no, he was breathtakingly gorgeous. Every time she would see him, he would give her a look, and this look would make her heart beat as fast as it could. Did he know what he was doing to her? Did he do it on purpose?
"I am flattered…" he said, his voice lowest than usual. Her heart raced and she felt a small blush creep on her cheeks. She felt mortified, hoping that he didn't notice, however, the widening smirk on his lips made her believe that he knew exactly what he was doing to her.
"And why would you be flattered?" she asked as cold as she could master. Was it her or was the room suddenly very, very hot?
"I never thought that a woman like you would have time to think of me. And you don't have to be so formal with me, boss. Just call me Inuyasha." He answered, his golden eyes never leaving hers.
She was about to reply, to say anything just to save her dignity when her father barged in, smiling as widely as he could.
"There you are!" he exclaimed, making his way towards Inuyasha who immediately stood. The two men shook hands before sitting again.
"So, was Kikyo giving you a hard time?" He asked, glancing at his daughter form the corner of his eye. The young woman gasped loudly.
"Father!" She protested. "Why would you say such a thing? We were just talking!"
Her father laughed before turning towards a very amused Inuyasha.
"Today, we will have a very important meeting with Rubin. He has finally decided who will perform with him in the video clip. He just called me and said that she even signed the contract. So, we can finally start with the production of 'princess of my heart'."
Kikyo nodded before turning towards Inuyasha.
"Inuyasha, you will be the manager of this campaign." She started, and he nodded, his face serious. "But I will have to warn you that working with Rubin is not as easy as it seems. Rubin is original and moody. You will have to tolerate him."
"Don't worry." The young man replied. "I know how to deal with him. And I promise that I will be very patient with him."
"Good." The older man said, patting him on the shoulder. "Rubin may be moody as my daughter said but his heart is very kind. When he is in one of those moods, just ignore him. I believe however that he will not cause any problem this year."
"Why?" Kikyo asked, cocking her head to the side. Her father chuckled.
"His manager told me that our prince has a crush on this girl he chose for the video clip. It seems that he was after her for weeks, and since she finally agreed, well, let us say that his house is now in the clouds."
Kikyo lifted a brow, clearly amused while inuyasha ignored the remark. Rubin's love life was certainly not interesting to him.
"Really?" she asked. "Well, this is very interesting. We can pass this little thing to the media."
Inuyasha looked at her, not understanding. She laughed a little.
"Taisho, you're still young in the world of media." She answered, smiling. "I will show you how things work. Someone in our company will leak the word that Rubin has a crush on this girl. The journalists will be immediately interested, wanting to catch the couple in an awkward position, acing the perfect scoop of the year. Rubin is really reserved on his love life, which makes him an even better target. All the attention will divert to the couple and the video clip will be a success, even before any campaign is made. "
Once she finished, both males were staring at her incredulously. Inuyasha was the first to recover.
"Wow, I certainly don't want you as my enemy."
She smiled a little, and then turned to her father who stood up.
"Well, I'll leave now. I have a lunch meeting. I want you two to sort out all the details before the meeting."
Once he was outside, Inuyasha stood up and looked at the girl in front of him. She had started working on some papers. He cleared his throat, making her look at him questionably.
"Aren't you going to have lunch, Kikyo?"
She stared at him before replying.
"What's in it to you?"
"Well, I don't like to eat alone." He answered, smiling again. "Maybe we could eat together."
"No, thank you." She coldly replied, trying to hide her sudden blush by letting a few strands of hair fall on her cheeks. She didn't understand herself. She never blushed, so why was she acting like a teenager in front of him? And then, she really wanted to have lunch with him but she refused it nevertheless? Why was he making her act so irrationally?
"I see. I am sorry for intruding." He apologized, making his way towards the door. And then she knew, she knew that he felt rejected, she knew that if he crossed this door, he would not initiate any kind of informal relationship between them anymore. This idea alone made her feel so helpless. She was attracted to him. How could she not! For God's Sacks she was only a woman and he was perfect, simply perfect! His voice alone would make her feel all bothered!
"Wait!" she nearly yelled, making him stop and look at her. "I would love to."
Her only answer was a smile, a smile that made her insides feel funny.
Mercedes was sitting in the living room, reading a magazine when Chris entered, clearly searching for someone. As soon as he saw her, he smiled and made his way towards her. She looked at him curiously as he sat down next to her.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" she finally asked.
"Like what?" He innocently answered, his smile never faltering.
"Like that!" She yelled, pointing her finger at him. "You're making me nervous!"
He laughed, still looking at her. When he finally collected himself, he was serious again.
"It's just that I saw something rather amusing and I was wondering whether I should tell you or not. But you know, I think it was really funny so you have to know."
"Know what?" Mercedes asked, interested.
Chris smiled again.
"Guess who was having lunch today with the heir of Solaris companies?"
Mercedes frowned.
"Solaris? Where have I heard that name before?"
Chris shifted closer.
"Solaris are a series of companies of production. Their owner is a very wealthy man, who happens to have a unique daughter, which makes her the heir of Solaris. I was told that she was cold and uncaring. However, today, a few minutes earlier, she was having lunch. A romantic lunch if I may add."
Mercedes looked at her magazine again, flipping the pages.
"Chris, I swear that you are weird. What would make you think that I would enjoy gossiping about this girl? Just go away, you're giving me a headache."
"Come on Mercy." He insisted. "Take a guess."
She sighed loudly, her eyes never leaving the magazine.
"Chris, I am not interested! I can't take a guess! I don't even know her! I don't know any men that she would be with! And I don't care! Just leave me alone! I am so not in the mood! Mon Dieu!" she yelled, tossing the magazine aside. Her headache was terrible and she couldn't stop thinking about how much her life sucked!
"Fine, I won't tell you." Chris answered, looking away. Silence stretched between the two before Naraku entered. As soon as he spotted Chris, he frowned.
"Chris, did you do what I told you to do?"
"Yes. You don't have to worry. She will be here in no time, begging on her knees."
Naraku smirked and sat down while Kagome stared at both men.
"Please tell me that this thing you were talking about is legal!" she exclaimed, sitting next to Naraku. They didn't answer and she didn't ask again.
Silence stretched between the three, interrupted by Naraku.
"So Chris…" he started, looking at the man in front of him."I overheard your conversation with Mercedes. Were you talking about kikyo?"
Chris nodded, a smile coming to his lips.
"Yes."
"I see. I heard that the girl was cold. Who is the man she is going out with? He is very lucky I may add. Not only she is beautiful, but holds the future of Solaris in her hands."
Chris nodded in agreement, glancing at Mercedes who was reading her magazine again.
"Well Naraku, who is the man who can make any woman fall head over heels for him in a record time? Of course our dear Inuyasha Taisho."
Silence filled the living room as glances were exchanged. Kagome slowly diverted her eyes from the article she was reading to Chris, then to Naraku who was staring at her, waiting for her reaction. She felt blood rush to her face, her hands becoming strangely cold and stiff. She swallowed hard before forcing a smile on her lips.
"Wow, he sure acts fast." She joked, smiling lightly. The tension seemed to dissipate immediately as Naraku showered Chris with questions. The latter described how good they seemed together, how Inuyasha was holding her hand the entire time; how Kikyo laughed each time he made a joke. He told them that everyone who was present there thought of them as a couple. He even insisted on the fact that the young woman ordered for both of them.
Kagome listened carefully to the details, her heart ripping to little pieces. Maybe he never loved her, maybe she was just a shadow that he finally overcame. Her throat tightened with suppressed tears. He didn't waste any time. There he was, enjoying his time with this classy woman as if he didn't care! He didn't care! He never cared!
"I think that he is trying to be serious with this one. Who knows, maybe he will put his hand on Solaris fortune after all." Chris ended. Naraku simply shrugged, and the conversation ended there. Kagome retired to her room. She looked at the mirror, her reflection betraying her sadness and hurt. She quickly wiped away the tears that were silently falling. If he moved on, then she would move on as well.
She was deep in thoughts when her cell phone rang, startling her. She didn't recognize the number but answered nevertheless.
"Mercedes?" came the voice from the other line. She didn't have to think twice: that voice was too beautiful to be for any other man.
"Rubin?"
"Hey, how are you doing?"
She smiled and sat on her bed.
"I don't think that you called me just to ask me how I am."
He laughed and she could hear the music in his voice.
"Well, I am busted. I need you to come, Mercedes. You see, the company insisted that I must bring you personally to the meeting. They are afraid that I am lying to them. I don't know what gave them this idea, so they told me that you should be with me in the meeting. I am really sorry. I know that you may have other plans or something but I need you."
Kagome blushed a little: the way he told her that he needed her made her oddly uncomfortable.
"But Rubin, I am not ready." She protested, looking at her pathetic form in the mirror. She looked as if she hadn't slept for weeks. Actually, she hadn't slept for weeks.
"Come on Mercedes. I will pick you up in one hour. Don't worry about anything. You're stunning."
"Rubin, that's unfair…I look like a mess, I cannot just go…one hour! But…"
"Please Mercedes." He begged. "Trust me…"
She sighed.
"Okay. I'll be ready. But if I don't look good, it's your entire fault."
Kikyo entered her office, Inuyasha just behind her. He closed the door, and then looked at the young woman standing in front of him.
"Thank you for the lunch." She started, looking at him. "But I should have paid my share."
"I never go out with a woman and let her pay." He quickly replied.
She played with the edge of her shirt, clearly embarrasses with the whole situation.
"Listen." He ordered, making her look at him.
"I think that we are old enough Kikyo. I am attracted to you and I think that you like me too."
Her eyes widened slightly as he continued.
"Let us cut through all this crap, this awkwardness, let us not play around anymore. Am I right? Do you like me?"
She hesitated before nodding. He smiled in relief.
"I like you Kikyo. Since the first day of work, I saw you and there is something in you that attracted me right away. Maybe the way you look at me or maybe that kind of authority you speak with, maybe…I don't know, I just like you and I want to give this a chance. Please be franc with me, if you do not feel the same way, we will continue to be friends, nothing will happen."
Kikyo was taken aback by his sincerity. She never thought that he was feeling the same way. Her heart warmed up as she smiled up at him.
"I…I feel the same way." She replied.
Inuyasha took a deep breath.
"Let us go out tonight. Why don't we go dancing?"
"Dancing sounds good, Inuyaha. I would love to."
"Magnificent…" Rubin murmured as he looked at the beautiful girl standing in front of him. Her yellow dress was simple but daring, elegant but cocky, beautiful and sexy at the same time. Her eyes, her blue eyes complemented the blue necklace she was wearing and the blue tear-shape earrings she had. Her creamy skin lightly kissed by the sun made her even more attractive to his eyes.
He took one of her delicate hands in his and lightly kissed it, never leaving her gaze. He saw her blush and smiled lightly before taking her hand down to his heart.
"What are you doing to my heart Mercedes?" he whispered.
Her blush intensified and she immediately retracted her hand, placing it against her chest.
"You're just saying this…" she mumbled. He smiled and titled her chin upward so that she could gaze directly at him. Her eyes widened when he sang for her in the middle of the street where he was leaning against his car, just in front of Naraku's apartment.
I saw you eyes
Gazing at me
Daring me to love you
I could feel my heart
Beating so hard
I could almost hear it
And I felt a rush
To kiss to hug
Everything that belongs to you
I could barely think
I could barely breathe
I just stood there
Admiring you
In the light of my heart
I could barely sing
I could barely think
But you
And I feel these things
I have never felt
For you…
Kagome, blushing madly, looked at the little crowd that was gathering around them, awed by Rubin's beautiful voice. She gulped and stared back at his green eyes. She could not deny that having the prince of the music singing just for her in the middle of the crowded street was flattering.
Is it called love
Cause if it is
I want a medicine
Am I ill?
Will I die?
By your hands?
By your love?
Could it really be
As powerful as the sun
Warming my heart…
The crowd was getting bigger and bigger. Kagome shook Rubin and he laughed teasingly.
"Stop it, you're embarrassing me! We're not in a Disney movie!"
He looked at her, still smiling and she felt herself melt to his words.
"But I feel like this."
They stayed silent before loud applause was heard from the crowd. Rubin smiled at them, signed a few autographs, before he left with Mercedes.
Rubin arrived at Solaris Company, Kagome right beside him. She noticed the masculine stares that she was receiving and silently smiled. She knew that she was looking really good. In fact, she had made an extra effort to her choice of clothes. She wanted to look sexy, desirable. She wanted to look at her best. However, as soon as she heard the name of the company, she frowned. Solaris, was it not the company of that woman Inuyasha was dating? She immediately chased him out of her head. She would not think of that man! He was out of her life. He was her only past and she just wanted him to be wiped out.
"I have an appointment." Rubin said to the secretary.
"Of course." The girl giggled and Mercedes secretly smiled. Apparently, that girl was a big fan of the man next to her. "They are waiting for you as we speak."
Rubin nodded and made his way towards the door of the room. He looked back at Mercedes and took her hand in his.
"What if they don't like me?" She asked, suddenly unsure. "What if…."
She was silenced by his hands cupping her face. She looked at him.
"They will love you just as much as I do. And if they don't, they will have to love you because I won't take another one as your substitute."
"But Rubin…"
He didn't answer. Instead, he opened the door and walked inside, practically dragging her along with him. As soon as she entered, she nervously noticed that the room was full of people. At the hand, she noticed a man that was in his fifties, next to him a beautiful girl who was looking at her strangely. She suddenly felt someone piercing her with his gaze. Her eyes went immediately to the opposite direction and clashed with surprised golden orbs. Her eyes widened then flew to Rubin.
Rubin grabbed her hand and made her follow him until they were seated at the back of the table. Mercedes sat, silent, hr blood rushing quickly through her veins, her body and mind still shocked.
"So…" the man at the top of the table started."This is the girl you were talking about Rubin."
"Yes." The star replied confidently, squeezing Kagome's hand in his. "And she is my only choice."
He received a glare from his old manager but he simply ignored it.
"I see. Well, we are positive that our business will be a success, and to ensure that, we have appointed one of the best businessmen in our country, Mr. Taisho, to help you with your campaign. I hope that you will get along."
"I am sure we will." Rubin quickly responded looking at Kagome in worry. She seemed too silent for his liking. How it that he didn't know before that Inuyasha was the director of the campaign?"
"Very good. Then we will leave you to go and discuss all the details with Mr. Taisho and my daughter since we agree on everything. Is this fine with you Rubin?"
"Of course."
The four of them stood up and made their way out of the office.
"I can't!" Kagome yelled, staring at Rubin. "I cannot go and pretend that everything is okay! I agreed to this job simply because I wanted him out of my head! I don't want him to be my boss, again!"
Rubin grabbed her by her forearms, making her look at him.
"Don't be such a coward Mercedes. You can do this! Don't let him think that he made you back up! Don't let him think that he affects you."
"But he does!" she whimpered pathetically. "I cannot be in the same room with him. I just can't!"
"You don't have to! Just this time and then I promise you won't see him again! I promise!"
"But…are you sure?!"
Rubin sighed.
"Yes, now please, they are waiting for us in the office. Let's do this and then we'll never see him again. Come on."
They entered the office and found Kikyo sitting on the main chair while Inuyasha was gazing out f the window, his back turned to them. Kagome sighed in relief. At least, she won't have to face him. She would just pretend that he was not there.
Rubin sat in front of Kikyo and made her sit next to him.
"So Rubin, there's not much to discuss." Kikyo said monotonously. "The video clip will be in one of the islands that we have chosen. We're leaving tomorrow to shoot it. Since the budget is huge we will take a few days to finish the shooting. It will go smoothly and you will also have time for press conferences and for personal fun or whatever you call it."
"Okay. Then why did you insist that I bring Mercedes with me?"
"So her name is Mercedes? I am Kikyo. It is nice to meet you."
"The feeling is mutual." Kagome responded politely but coldly. That woman, that woman was with Inuyasha and she hated her, absolutely hated her for this.
"Rubin, we need you to define your relationship with Mercedes to the press." Kikyo finally answered, staring at him. She was about to continue when her secretary entered and told her that she was needed in the main office.
"Excuse me; I will be back in a few minutes. Inuyaha, please fill in for me."
And with that, she left the three of them alone.
The young businessman moved to the chair Kikyo was previously occupying and looked at them coldly.
"As she was saying, you two need to define your relationship to the media. Meaning, are you two lovers or are you just shooting the video together? As your manager, I recommend that you go for the lover thing because it will be more attractive. And you should support your claim with evidence. For example, you should kiss, hug and always keep physical contact at least in public."
"So we can do it on private too your highness?" Kagome asked sarcastically, earning a chuckle from Rubin.
Inuyasha looked at her as coldly as she could. She simply smiled innocently. She hated him; she hated him because he just moved on. She hated the fact that he was making such an intimate thing just plane.
"What you do in private does not concern me. You can do whatever you want as long as you keep up with my recommendations when you are in public."
"Oh. Thank you for the clarification." She answered, still smiling sweetly.
Rubin laughed before looking at Inuyasha.
"I can't believe it! You are working for me, for me. The big bad Taisho is working for a singer. I swear that this day will never be repeated again. The apocalypse is close Mercedes."
"So." Inuyasha cut coldly. "What have you decided? Are you going to go for the lover thing?"
Rubin sighed and leaned back in his chair.
"I don't know. What do you think Mercy?"
Inuyasha's eyes burned with jealousy for the nickname but he simply hid it.
"I don't know…We already broke the shyness barrier so why not?"
Inuyasha gripped his pen tighter, nearly breaking it. Did they sleep with each other? Apparently they did. Suppressed anger boiled in his chest and he instantly felt that he could kill them both. Just kill them both.
Rubin noticed the change in Taisho's mood. He was about to tease him further when Kikyo entered the office.
"So, is everything set?"
"Yes." Inuyasha replied, the tension still strong. Kikyo noticed that the ambiance was poisoned so she tried to lighten the mood.
"You two should make your first public appearance here before we leave tomorrow. Inuyasha and I are going to dance tonight. Why don't you come along?"
"Really?" Mercedes asked. "How sweet, you two are together?"
Kikyo blushed and nodded.
"That's really sweet. Of course we'll come along."
She gave a look at Inuyasha.
"We won't miss it for the world."