Stuck Between A Rock And A Hard Place

"So? What did you tell her?" Gippal waited for Valentina's response. She had to have said something to upset Rikku so much.

"Nothing. She just asked me how I knew you is all…" Valentina said in her soft voice. He could tell she wasn't telling him the whole truth.

"And you said…"

"Well I told her the truth Gipy! That you were staying with me when you had that falling out with your parents. That you could lean on me in a tough time."

"Did you tell her we had separate rooms? That we barely even saw each other? That I stayed for all of four days?"

"Well she didn't ask. I didn't think it was necessary. It's not like she's your girlfriend or anything. So on to the real business. I was told to call you about being promoted to Nhadala's position. I'm sure it's what she would have wanted."

"Yeah except I already offered the position to Rikku." Gippal sighed. This was going to be an extremely long day.

"WHAT?" Valentina screeched. "You promised me before, when Nhadala stepped down her position was mine. Need I remind you who my father is?"

"I know Nhadala, the great Rin. You don't have to remind me, but a promise is a promise."

"And if you want to keep your job, you better honour yours to me." Gippal wanted to smash his face off the wall.

"If Rin has the power to fire me, then why doesn't he have the power to get you a better job within the faction?" Valentina was silent for a moment. Gippal reveled in his moment of victory, thinking he had won the battle.

"That's true. I think I shall talk to Rin about a better job. An inside job. A job near you. Well better talk to him now. Bye." With that she hung up. Gippal felt even worse. Now he had to deal with this. He couldn't tell her no, because her father was a powerful man and her mother was a true friend. But Rikku…

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Rikku let the hot water run down her back and the hot tears run down her face. Stupid, stupid, stupid. She knew Gippal must have been with many women, but she didn't want to have to come face to face with them. Especially when they were a lot more attractive then she was. With her long legs and her big boobs.

Lord she hated stupid Valentina. She picked up the shampoo bottle and hurled against the wall with all her might. The bottle exploded in a loud bang.

"Rikku? Rikku are you ok?" She heard Gippal open the door and run into the bathroom. She groaned inwardly and stuck her head out from around the curtain.

"I'm fine Gippal. You didn't have to…" She stopped mid sentence from the look on Gippal face. "What are you staring at? Is there a spider?!" Her voice raised an octave.

"No, no spider. It's just…well… I can see your fine. I'll be in the kitchen." With that, Gippal rushed outside and shut the door behind him.

Rikku sighed in frustration. She would never understand that man. She grabbed the curtain and looked up and saw her reflection in the mirror. Her mouth fell open. The curtain was all but sheer. She could see the exact silhouette of her body. Darn it! He was probably so embarrassed! Seeing her in such a way must have made him feel so uncomfortable. Like seeing your gangly, preteen sister in the shower. How could this possibly get worse!

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He had almost seen Rikku naked…NAKED! So close… Her perfect body, covered by only a little curtain. What he would give for that curtain to have moved, just a little bit. Just enough to see her nipple. Just one, he wasn't greedy.

Then, like a punch in the face, he remembered Valentina. She was going to complicate his life. Especially when it came to Rikku. He wanted Rikku more then he wanted anything else in his life. He couldn't let Valentina stand in the way of that.v He couldn't.