AN: Yeah! I finally found enough inspiration to continue and finish this darn thing. Only two more chapters to go! Sorry about the long wait. Better late than never right? *ducks and dodges a couple of flying pies*
Please enjoy!
-Izumi's POV-
He was running late. It couldn't be helped. His friend, Konno, had stayed overnight again and somehow been preemptively turning off his alarm clock before Izumi could even hear it buzz. He'd meant to talk to Konno about this but once again has forgotten due to his haste to rush to work. He did not want to get another earful from his chief for missing the bank's morning pep talk again as well as bringing up the fact that he took sick leave two days ago, but it will probably be unavoidable since he was already five minutes late.
Izumi quickly slid his key card through the back entrance of the bank and head towards the employee's locker room. There was no time to spare. If he changes fast enough, maybe he can sneak in to the lobby and appear that he was present all along. No one would be the wiser.
The door to the employee's locker room burst open with a bang right when he was donning the bank's requisite grey suit jacket. His chief's frowning face daunting in it's intensity as he stalked towards him.
Izumi yelped in surprise and became resign to the fact that he was about to be fired.
Shit, I'm done for. Forgive me father, I didn't mean to loose this job you got me.
He bow immediately, deciding to placate the chief and plead for his job one last time when his chief beat him to the punch. "Hurry, Sakashita. We have a very important client waiting in the VIP room. You have less than five minutes to gather your things and hurry up to the second floor, room 202."
The young man was flabbergasted. He was expecting to be fired, not be promoted to deal with a VIP client. He's never done that before. Izumi doesn't even know the protocol or what working for a VIP entails. Shouldn't the bank train him first!? He wasn't ready. This must be a mistake, he thought. "B— b— but, I'm not trained for this chief! How am I to create my chart and set up a portfolio!? I'm not even authorized to have a personal laptop."
His chief kept looking at his wristwatch and shook his head in hearing these questions from him. So he was reprimanded harshly, "Stop dawdling! He'd just ask for a multilingual staff. We honestly don't know what he wants, but we want his business you hear me? So get going. There's a remote terminal connected to the bank's network for private use in the VIP room if you need it. Just slide your key card through to gain access to your account. Now hurry."
Izumi bit back a few more questions that were at the tip of his tongue and nod in understanding even though he really didn't mean it. It didn't matter. Whoever the VIP was, he'd just save his job. So he quickly close his locker and stroll to his desk in the lobby. There, he gathered his inkan, company brochures, and stationeries before he walk-run up the stairs and entered the designated VIP room. Per his training, he immediately bows in respect. Then Izumi mustered enough breath to wheeze out, "My apologies sir, for making you wait. How may I be of service?"
He heard some shuffling noise that sounded like a lighter flicking open and raise his head to inform the VIP of the bank's no-smoking policy when he saw a face that he hadn't expected. Aoe Reiji. His old nemesis. The troll demon.
"I'm shocked. What are you doing here, brat?"
The man stole his line minus the brat name calling. Izumi forgot all protocol plus composure and allowed many years of antagonism to take its normal role. "Funny, that was my line. What the hell are you doing here, old man?"
Aoe took a puff and looked at him up and down. "Hn. Is that how Shinsei is training their employee's to handle their clients these days? Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. I see the lack of quality service has degraded tremendously."
Being reminded of his place and duty, Izumi gasp in realization and tried to ring in whatever was left of his professionalism. He should really watch his old habits. Since the final break up with Takamiya, he hadn't thought about how that would affect the relationship with the people they both knew. Of course he was bound to run into them. As far as Aoe Reiji is concern, they really hadn't been friends. So there wasn't much love-lost missing on both their parts. But Izumi would like to stay in contact with Naoya, Aoe's young lover, though it would be entirely up to the other's wishes. They had been good friends and Izumi hopes to remain so regardless of how that friendship came to be.
The part that puzzles him still was the unanswered question he asked earlier. What was the B&B owner doing here? As close as his ex-lover was to Aoe, surely the man before him must have learnt of their demise. Perhaps he came here to gloat. Izumi always knew that deep down, Aoe never liked him and probably was happy about their breakup.
Well, no matter. Izumi was determined to be the adult in this confrontation despite his initial response. He again bow in supplication, took a deep calming breath, and repeated his previous script. "My apologies, Aoe-san. How may I be of service? Here at Shinsei, we offer a vast variety of investment packages or we may customize one for you. Would you like to look at some of our brochures to help you decide, sir?"
Aoe didn't reply. In fact, the man took a very long time as he stood there before him, across the table holding out the handful of brochures he gathered from his desk. Izumi felt like an idiot as the other stared at him further with that perpetual condescending expression the B&B owner was known for. Obviously the man wasn't serious about investing. Aoe was beyond rich. The man owns several businesses after all. Why would he be interested in opening an investment account for?
If the man was here to rub it in, then so be it. Just hurry up and get it over with.
The other finally spoke.
"So this is what leaving Takamiya has brought you?"
Izumi knew it. His lips press thinly shut as he tried to remain calm. Aoe will say what he wants to say and the man will be off in his arrogant way. The other took another puff of smoke and blew out before he spilled more filth out.
"You left the comfort of an English cottage to work as a lowly broker for this bank?"
Of course Izumi didn't miss the condescending words the other so helpfully enunciated.
"I'm actually proud of you. I didn't think you had it in you."
Say what!? izumi's brows knitted together in confusion.
"Frankly speaking. I was skeptic about Takamiya's choice in you for a long time now. You two actually lasted for seven whole years. That is quite a record for him."
What was Aoe getting at?
The B&B owner sat forward in his chair and lean forward as if to confide in him.
"Takamiya had specifically requested that I keep my mouth shut about his past, but since the relationship is already over, I don't see the point in keeping a lid on it."
Izumi didn't know what the other was getting at. It still sounded like the man was belittling him somehow. Whatever it was, he decided to keep his mouth shut for the time.
"You see, Sakashita: you were an anomaly to him and to me. I never really understood why he was so fascinated with you. After all, you're as plain as the commoners lot can be and your personality matches your status. You're not even gay for that matter. But Takamiya just said to me that your simple life fascinates him. He wanted to know what it felt like to be part of it."
This was surely a test of his patience, Izumi thought as he gritted his teeth to bare the rest.
"You see, I thought it would be over before you know it, like all the hundred of other relationships he had prior to you. I'm actually amaze it took him seven years to wear out the novelty. But no matter, Kuroda Imai seems to be the right person to bring him back on course. I was worried that he might have forgotten how quality and upbringing does matter in a relationship. After all, he was avoiding so much of his social obligations and investment opportunities because of you."
Izumi knew better. Aoe was rubbing salt on a wound that was already closing. There was no need for him to do so. He was the one that ended the relationship. Takamiya is better off with Kuroda. He knows that too. What Aoe said only reminded him of the reclusive behavior he'd perpetuated with the translator.
No matter. He ought to enlighten the B&B owner of his failure to irk him. Yes, there was a big part of him that still hurt and ache for Takamiya, but it was all for the best. Whatever Aoe is trying to do doesn't matter. Seeing through the plot, Izumi shook his head and flash Aoe a wry grin.
Annoyance was obvious on the other's face. Izumi felt glee from that. It was clear to both of them that whatever the other was trying to accomplish wasn't working. Hopefully, the B&B owner will get the hint and leave him be.
"Aoe-san, it would seem our meager fares are not to your liking. Perhaps, if you would like to take these brochures and peruse them at your leisure and return another time when you are more informed, then we may proceed with your selection?"
Take that, you prick. Izumi was proud of maintaining his composure when he witness a tick forming under Aoe's right eye.
"Hn." Was all the other said after the staring contest. Aoe actually opened his briefcase as he was completing the ruse he use to be here. But instead of taking the brochures, the man took out a manila folder instead and handed it to him.
Izumi's brows stitch together once more in confusion.
"I don't understand. What is this?" He took the offered folder, opened it, and pour out the documents.
Aoe merely raise an eyebrow up at Izumi and stated, "I've been recently named the executor of estate by a dear friend and would like a notary public to verify the contents. You do have a notary license and am well verse in English aren't you?"
Realizing that the man does have a legitimate reason to call him here, Izumi blinked away the confusion (even though it is still present) and responded matter-of-factly, "yes, of course."
The man plastered his smirk once more and wave his hand regally towards the documents.
"Well then, please sign and stamp where the yellow flags has been place on the margin."
Izumi nodded in compliance and respond succinctly, "If you don't mind, I am legally obligated to read the documents prior to issue a proof of witness."
Again, the man wave his hand regally in permission. Izumi tried not to let the man's little gestures annoy him as he sat down and began perusing the document. Whatever he had in mind for the contents of the document was definitely not what he was reading. He gasp upon realizing the connection and quickly turn to read page after page before he raise glaring eyes at Aoe.
"You can't possibly allow this!?"