Chapter 5:
It was 10:50 when the powerful rumbling of a Ferrari F12berlinetta rolled up the Kaiba Estate driveway. The sun bounced off the sleek red body, coasting over the beautifully molded craftsmanship of the Italian automobile.
It came to a halt at the bottom of the entrance steps, the engines purring until they too were shut off. The driver side door opened and Olivia stepped out onto the drive. Taking a quick glance around the grounds, she nodded to herself.
"Hmmm, not bad. I could live with this."
Behind her, footsteps approached to lead her inside the Kaiba estate.
"Welcome Ms. Olivia, may I take your keys?" Said the polite older man.
Olivia dropped the keys into his waiting palm and walked in ahead. "Make sure nothing happens to it. The last thing I need is a Ferris Bueller stunt while I'm out. And if it does come back with any blemish, you'll have Mr. Kaiba to answer to. "
The valet swallowed the lump in his throat. Suddenly he became nervous to drive it.
"Don't be afraid on my behalf. I'll be upset, yes. But I know for a fact that Mr. Kaiba would be ballistic should anything happen to that car. He secretly covets it you know?" Olivia said with a grin.
"Nothing between Heaven and Earth will damage this while it's in my care ma'am." The valet swore and went towards the open car door.
Standing at the top of the steps, she turned and watched as the man slipped into the driver's seat and drove off. Once the car was out of sight, Olivia continued inside. A row of butlers and maids lined her when she entered into the foyer.
"Welcome." They all chimed.
Olivia smiled kindly to them. She could be cordial when it called for it. The head butler came forward and swept his arm in the direction of the grand hall.
"Welcome Miss. My name is Alfred. If you will follow me I will take you to wait for Mr. Kaiba."
Alfred led Olivia past the Drawing Room and into the Grand Hall. There were couches and footstools arranged in elegant clusters for intimate seating. Olivia sat on one of the French influenced seats, running her fingers along the polished wooden arm.
"Imported from Paris. 18th century I believe." Seto's haughty voice brought Olivia's eyes up.
She was met with the sight of him dressed in a simple black jacket, pants, and a dark blue button-down shirt. She noticed that the top few buttons were opened, showing the merging of neck and collarbone. Inside, Olivia felt a flow of intrigue; Seto looked…handsome.
"Judging by the intricacy of the carved reliefs in the wood, I'd date it to around 1760. See here, you just don't get this sort of detail in the later years." Olivia pointed to the chair's design attempting to appear unfazed by him.
Seto was impressed, but hid it well. "Shall we go then? The press should be expecting our arrival."
Olivia chuckled and rose, looking back once more at the fine French chair. "Yes. Let's go greet the hounds of hell."
~Outside Éclatant~
Voices and hands rained down upon the limo's tinted windows. Flashes of cameras and phones flickered bindingly trying to catch the first glimpse of the two inside. Sitting on opposite sides of the limo, Olivia knew that she better move over in order to give a much better performance. Gracefully moving to sit beside Seto, she felt the adrenaline rush. Outside were dozens of news reporters and paparazzi, all there to see her. She would be lying if she wasn't a bit excited.
Seto chewed the inside of his lip when the seat cushion sunk with added weight. The CEO's heart beat faster. The familiar spicy perfume she wore wrapped around him like warm arms. From the corner of his eye he saw the lovely shapes of her face, the almond eyes, and bow-shaped mouth. Her dark hair was free and loose down her back.
Next to him, she seemed petite and delicate. But he knew that was not the case. She was a fighter. The limousine stopped and the chauffeur hurried around to open the door. He bravely struggled against the throng of paparazzi, pushing them back. Store security came to his aide and formed a human barrier.
Seto turned to face her, pausing at their close proximity. Her golden pools languidly shifted from the tinted window to him. He felt the heat rising to his face, try as he might to keep it at bay. In an effort to keep from becoming too uncomfortable, he quickly assumed a stony exterior.
"Better ready yourself. We're getting out."
Olivia blinked at the noticeable change in Seto's voice. He was cold and distant all of a sudden. Olivia caught on why and rolled her eyes. Was he so juvenile?
"Seto, acting like you can't stand me will not convince the press that we're a happy couple." Leaning closer to the CEO, she teasingly whispered, "Just for today."
Seto tensed as her breath warmed his neck and ear. Dammnit! He thought, I'm still Seto Kaiba. This woman is crazy if she thinks she's got the better of me.
"Unlike YOU I have a reputation to uphold. Swooning over you would only indicate that I'm some sort of pathetic lovesick puppy. And I'll be damned if that happens." Seto growled.
Olivia laughed quietly. "Relax. I have no desire to ruin your character. Nor do I want to be portrayed as some salacious tramp that won you over with sex. I too have a reputation to keep. I'm not suggesting you hang all over me, which I'm opposed to anyway, just simply holding hands will suffice. Or-if you do not wish to go along with this engagement that YOU put forth, I could tell the media it was all an elaborate lie to get those desperate codgers off your back."
She gave him the most superior, narrow eyed grin that irked him greatly. She was threatening his reputation after all! Deep in his mind, Seto cursed himself for ever thinking she was a prize to be won. That night at the party, he thought obtaining her would be as easy as al his other conquests. Yet much to his continuing discovery and unease, she was almost his double. To ride the roller-coaster of wanting her and then resenting her, wanting her and resenting her, only made Seto Kaiba realize that he was engaged to the female version of himself.
Gritting his teeth, he snatched her hand. "Fine. Only for the press."
The limo door opened and Seto stepped out. Olivia followed next but that was not what the paparazzi went mad over. It was that Seto held onto Olivia's hand. Flashes and questions mobbed the two as they made way to the shop.
"How did this start?"
"Where did you two meet?"
"How long have you two been together?"
"Are you living together?"
"Mr. Kaiba one question!"
Seto grew more and more agitated with each prying voice. When a news camera was unscrupulously shoved into his face, it took every ounce of strength to not break the lens. Olivia, ever the instigator, maneuvered her hand so that their fingers laced together. She walked closely to Seto's taller form, playing the smaller, gentle type. The CEO, in normal circumstances, would have laughed aloud. She knew how to fire up the crowd that much was true.
Through his cold exterior, his awareness that Olivia was the only one so far to display affection made him remember what he said in the limo.
"Fine. Only for the press."
Resigning himself and hoping to the powers that be this would not come back to haunt him in the future, Seto gave in and went along with the loving fiancé act.
"Mr. Kaiba, Mr. Kaiba, what will you get the lovey young lady?" Shouted one reporter.
Seto stopped and turned to acknowledge the man. Taking matters into his own hands, so to speak, he pulled Olivia close to him, wrapping his free arm about her slim waist. The cameras went wild.
"She can have whatever she wants. Nothing is too much."
He adoringly looked down at her, and she to him.
"This is such a drastic change for you Mr. Kaiba. Is it true that marriage has settled you?" Asked a bold photographer.
"C'mon Mr. Kaiba, can you give us a kiss for the pages?" Asked another reporter.
"I'm afraid no-," Seto began but was interrupted.
"Oh, why not Seto. Let them really fight for the ratings." Olivia said sweetly.
Rising to her toes, Olivia gently kissed Seto-on the cheek. The spot where her lips touched left warm tingles sizzling on his skin.
Disappointed sounds groaned throughout the crowd. Olivia giggled and shrugged to the audience. "Sorry, that's all you get for now."
They went inside to the safety of the shop.
~Inside: Engagement Counter~
Olivia glanced over the many glittering diamonds and precious gem stones. Each stone got larger as the case went along. Clerks hungrily attended to her whim and pulled out whatever she wanted to see. Seto stood a respectable distance away, waiting to leave. The shop owner did not know that the charade for the media was over for the time being and chalked up the CEO's lack of interest to normal manly boredom.
Going over to the wealthy customer, the owner tried to make small talk with the famed corporate president.
"Letting the lady choose for herself huh? Wise decision. Women need wide births when picking a ring." He laughed.
Seto snorted. "I said she could have whatever she wanted."
Knowing her, it'll be ridiculous, he thought.
"That should be no issue for you Mr. Kaiba. Oh Miss! Allow me to show you our latest inventory. Just arrived from an estate auction in Europe."
The owner flitted into the back and returned with a velveteen pad. Resting exquisitely on the cushion, was perfect blue diamond. It was flawless inside, and expertly shaped into an emerald-cut. The stone was 7.5 carats and sold at auction for $ 11 million. Olivia was in love.
"Oh, Seto, you must come see." Her breathless voice filtered into the CEO's ears.
The owner waited with baited breath as he approached the counter. The stone was remarkable. She gingerly picked it up and held it to the light.
"See how it sparkles. It's like the ocean." She wistfully revered.
Seto took the stone from her and inspected it carefully. If he was going to spend $11 million, he wanted to make damn sure that it was perfect.
"Please, Seto, may I have it?" Olivia gently asked, her eyes innocent. "It reminds me of you."
The shop owner knew then that it was a sale. Seto sighed and placed the jewel onto the pad. Reaching inside his jacket, he pulled out a checkbook.
"Will $ 11.5 million cover the setting as well?" He knowingly asked writing the amount in its spot.
The owner was so thrilled he stuttered. "Y…Yes. T…that's wonder…ful."
Signing his signature, Seto tore the check from the book and slid it to the semi-catatonic shop owner.
"I expect to have the ring finished, without damage by next week."
"Y…yes sir."
The moment the two left, the shop owner dropped to the floor.
~Back Outside~
"Mr. Kaiba!"
"Mr. Kaiba!"
"Mr. Kaiba!"
Like the reoccurring tide questions flew. It was only when five all too familiar voices spoke that Seto turned.
There, beyond the crowd, stood Yugi Moto, Joey Wheeler, Tristan Taylor, Tea Gardener, and Ryou Bakura.
"Are out your F***ing mind Kaiba!? You're getting married!?"