A/N: I forgot to properly introduce everything last time. Risa is of my own creation, she and Kyoya are both the same age and on the second year of college. All of the other characters will show up eventually, but for now it's fun to let Kyoya put everything he learned in the Host Club into practice.
I was mortified. Overdressed, underslept and wearing more make-up than I was comfortable with, I stood patiently, with painful effort to keep my head up while Father still failed to realize that I was standing right next to him.
"…naturally this will have to be discussed with the board of directors, Mr. Ootori, I do listen to mine and they advised me to consider how our company could contribute in the pharmaceutical area of your company."
Yoshio Ootori gave a fraction of a smile, "Yes, personally, I think board of directors are a boring group who think strictly about their own pockets and couldn't care less about the risks of a new business deal. I advise you to look over our proposal once again, before consulting your board."
I surpressed a sigh. This is why I had to get married. Because two perfectly grown adults couldn't carry on a conversation without throwing needles at one another. I looked at each of them in turn, and caught Kyoya staring directly at me. It's hard to describe how I felt, it was like, instead of something coarse, like a piece of meat, I was being analyzed like a piece of crystal, he was using care and tact, noting the value but at the same time taking in cracks and imperfections.
Can't say I wasn't doing the same.
Finally, after I carefully and discreetly brushed my fingers on his shoulder, Father realized I was there. "Ah, Risa!" he stood up, the other two men followed, he smiled as if I was the solution to all of his problems. In this aspect, my father wasn't very good in business. "You're finally here!" then he his smile froze a little as he looked me over, and with a guilty pang in the stomach I remembered I had freed myself from the necklace, rings and bracelets he'd forced me to wear.
Oops. Nothing I can do about that now.
"I didn't realize I was late."
"Not at all." It was the first time I heard Kyoya's velvet voice, "We were all early."
I smiled my sweetest smile, while my father needlessly introduced all of us. I already knew who they were, and they knew who I was, the words were being said out of appearances. Everything happening that day was just for show, Kyoya and I could marry today, and the only result that would really matter was that business between the Ootori and the Kotoku would go much smoother.
Everything was a mask, like my girly dress and flashy barrette, but it was not pointless, it was just good business. And I knew exactly what I had to do. Despite what my father thought, I always have the Kotoku family's best interest at heart, and I know how to carry my grandfather's legacy. This is just an opportunity to prove it.
"Are you ready to go, Kotoku-san?" Kyoya asked me.
"Hm…?" What? Where? I kept a smooth sweet smile on my lips to cover my confusion.
"Oh, yes. Risa loves art auctions, It'll be perfect for you two to know one another." Father butt in.
Alarm went through me. What? Are you seriously going to completely shut me out from one of the most important deals our company ever made? And on top of that, I'm going to be BABYSAT?