Ugh, first summer session was tiring. I was on campus from 9 to 5 everyday so it goes without saying that any free time I did have I wasn't in much of a mood to write. But now that that's over, I'm going to try to get things updated. Hope you enjoy this chapter.
Edit: Also, sorry for the repeating plot with Goku and Chichi. I forgot that I added that to the previous chapter and when I finally realized the site wouldn't let me log in to fix it. Anyway, it's back to normal now.
Vegeta blinked as he tried to understand what had just happened. In a matter of seconds this woman had turned from a shaking mess, timidly trying to flirt her way out of trouble into a confident businesswoman prepared to take down her opponent. To any inferior being she would appear to have no fear at all. Unfortunately for her, he was a Saiyan and his advanced sense of smell could detect her fear as it was so thick in the air that even the heavy cloak she was wearing didn't cover it. No, she was still just as terrified, she just didn't want him to know it.
Confident that he'd figured her ruse, he decided to play her new game. He'd be the victor, after all. Whether it was negotiating or seducing, Vegeta always got what he wanted from women. He should have no problem persuading her to work for him. Everything would work out perfectly: she'd make him some inventions and he'd show them off to Frieza as his own work, rubbing it in their faces about how they were foolish to not believe him. Nothing could go wrong with his plan.
Putting on a charming, though false, smile, he started his proposal, "Very well, Ms. Briefs. I…,"
"Don't call me that," she cut him off without breaking eye contact. "You said that you're not going to hand me over to Frieza so that name means nothing to you."
Vegeta's smile fell and his eyes narrowed as he realized that he had made a crucial mistake. When he'd told her earlier that he wouldn't give her to Frieza he'd been thinking that it was a way of getting her to trust him, so she'd be calm enough to agree to his plan. Now he realized that he'd lost a great bargaining tool since she no longer had to worry about the threat she was originally running from.
"What should I call you then?" he asked bitterly, his anger growing when she held her tongue, refusing to answer. 'Willful woman. I better turn this around before she thinks she can get anywhere with it,' he shrugged nonchalantly, as if he could really go against his earlier words."Very well then, Woman. It's true that I had said that but I could change my mind, that is if I'm given a reason to." 'That should be enough to convince her that I mean business,' but at her bored expression and shrug he added, 'or not.'
"I suppose you could, I'm sure that anyone coming from the red light district lacks the decency to keep their words."
Rage flooded him and he had to hold himself back from killing her. 'How dare this woman speak poorly of my honor? If I didn't want her to work for me I'd blast her for such a comment.'
As if not noticing his rage, she continued, "So let's go then. I'm sure Frieza will want to put me to work straight away. He'll want the modified version of Dad's suppressor right off or perhaps he'd rather have something for training that'll double his men's power in half the time. Yes I'm sure that would be more important right now. After all stealth would only be needed for sneaking in somewhere and with such great power added onto his already devastating level, being noticed is the least of his concerns. I'm sure that within a year's time that his men would easily have surpassed the abilities of you and your men and force you into under his rule; that is if he doesn't just decide to wipe your people out as an example."
Vegeta's tightly clenched fists ached as he forced his arms to stay by his side. 'She's smart. Dangerously smart. But that's what I want. She'd be of no use to me if she was dumb.' Even angry he couldn't help but marvel at the concept she seemed to random throw out as an example; as if it was so easy to do that she wouldn't even have to think about it. 'Seriously, double the power in a year's time? Is that even possible? If so, I'd be able to take down Frieza in less time than I ever imagined. '
He had to have her, there was no way he'd let her slip away. Of course he'd never let her know how desperate he was. Right now, though, he needed to focus on getting her to see things his way. He'd have to tread carefully though as things so far haven't gone as easily as he expected them to.
"You would willingly work for the monster that destroyed your planet and enslaved your race?"
Once again she just held his eye contact with the same bored expression, as if he was just wasting her time. "I wouldn't have much choice, now would I?"
Vegeta let his smile return to his face, "Ah, but what if you did have a choice?"
"That would be your offer, wouldn't it?"
"Precisely. It's very simple really. Instead of working for Frieza, being forced to make things that make him stronger, more than likely forcing you to use your own people as test subjects; you could instead work for me."
"Wouldn't it be a bit suspicious that your new scientist suddenly made technology similar to what Frieza was looking for?"
Vegeta thought carefully about how to explain himself. He knew that he couldn't avoid telling her about the bet with Zarbon but wasn't about to tell her that it was his pride that got him stuck in this situation. "Earlier today, Frieza misheard me thinking that I said that I was capable of making inventions more advanced than your Father's. Lucky for me, I ran into you."
"Wouldn't Frieza have the resources to find out that you took someone home with you shortly after being told about Father's inventions? Surely he'd be able to put two and two together."
'She's obviously skeptical but at least she's paying attention despite her nonchalant act.' "I told you that the Saiyans are sometimes hired to work for Frieza, didn't it? Well Frieza decided that I should be compensated for the last job I did for him by letting me pick any of the women he'd picked up on Earth as a personal concubine. I could take you back with me and he'd think that you're nothing more than pleasure slave. That means that you would be able to prevent your talents from being misused by him and I would take credit for all your work therefore keeping Frieza unaware of your true identity. You'd be safe from Frieza's clutches and I would be able to use your inventions to eventually surpass him, freeing the universe from his grasp. We both win."
He was shocked when instead of taking comfort in his assurance of her safety she seemed to be enraged by it.
Vegeta's shock showed on his face as she then walked past him towards the end of the alley leading to the Stockyard. "Where are you going?" She just pointed forward, as if verbally answering him was a further waste of time. "Don't be foolish, Woman. Your mind and body wouldn't last a year of torment as a slave," he yelled out but knew that she was well aware of the danger, if her growing scent of fear was any indication.
She looked over her shoulder at him, her voice and expression making her seem as if she wasn't afraid of the horrors ahead of her. "It's better than having I have my work misused by the monster that destroyed my world or by a pampered prince who can't back up his own skills and wants to make me a cheap whore? No thanks, slavery is the better choice. At least this way I'll only be raped and no one will use my work in ways I don't approve of." And then she turned back and continued on her way.
'Unbelievable,' was the only word that Vegeta could think of to describe what he had just seen. Before this conversation had started he had been convinced that he could easily convince this woman, as terrified and desperate to flee Frieza as she was, to come with him. Never in his life had he met a woman brave enough to casually look him in the eye and defy him at every turn. Even Saiyan women, just as fierce and strong as the male warriors of his race, were submissive face to face with him. Not to mention that he'd never met a woman that wouldn't die for a chance to be his constant bed companion. It was a great blow to his pride that this woman not only had the gall to say no to his quite generous offer but to also act as if he couldn't find a willing woman and had to resort to force. It was too much for him to accept. 'I will win this.'
Steps away from walking into the red lit street, he moved over to her, faster than she could probably see and pushed her against the wall. Panic filled her eyes and he quickly saw her brave face disappear, quickly replaced by the shaking mess he had met earlier. Vegeta grit his teeth as he realized that she was afraid that he was going to force himself on her. Taking in a deep breath, he calmed himself and made eye contact with her again.
"I'm a very prideful man, Woman, and I won't let you believe that you can say anything you want about me and get away with it."
"Please let me go," she said, seemingly close to hyperventilating.
"I'm not letting you go until you listen to reason," Vegeta calmly answered her hoping that it would calm down enough to reconsider everything. After a few seconds, her shaking only seemed to increase and he couldn't understand why it bothered him so much. 'Her bravery was an act just like her flirtatious behavior before that so it's pointless to wait for it to come back before moving on.'
Pushing aside the unfamiliar feeling of unease, he began, "I did not want to get a concubine. I think that those that purchase women do so because they don't have the ability to seduce one into their bed. I've never reduced myself to such vulgar acts and I refuse to start anytime soon. However something that is well known in this universe is that when Frieza gives you a 'gift' you do not refuse it. And I use the term 'gift' lightly. Frieza knows about my distaste for concubines and he feels that this will be a large blow to my pride. Now with that little fact throw into the mix," he leaned in closer, making sure that she could see the sincerity in his eyes, "how do you feel about my offer now?"
He watched her eyes as she considered this new development. "I won't… I won't be safe if Frieza is forcing your hand."
"He's not forcing anything. I'm not much of one for public shows so the minimal amount of interacting we would have to do would only be when outside of my chambers. Once inside them, Frieza's power means nothing. My personal area is larger than you're thinking, taking up half of an entire floor of the palace. You'd have your own bedroom that is accessed through the living area and I'll have my study converted into a lab so you'd be able to work without distractions. The only other person allowed on the same level as me without permission is my second in command who would rather 'make friends' than take advantage of someone. Trust me when I say that you'll be safer with me than anywhere else in the universe."
She closed her eyes and his own were unwillingly drawn to her lips as she gently bit them. Shaking his head he forced his eyes back up. 'You can't even tell what she looks like without this hideous cloak covering her. Concentrate, damn it.' It didn't help that being this close allowed his senses to pick up an altogether more pleasing odor than her overwhelming fear. 'She probably sprayed her cloak with perfume,' he logically decided. After all, it was hard to believe that she would have brought one from her planet so she must have gotten one of the handouts the planet offers.
"Chichi."
Her statement broke through his thoughts and brought his attention back to the matter. "What?"
"Chichi. She's my friend and my lab assistant. She's probably back at my ship in the forest outside of the general district. I can't leave without her."
'Seems I've finally broken through her stubbornness,' he thought with a smirk. "Kakarot, my second, was also 'gifted' a concubine by Frieza. That means that we can also take her and no one will suspect anything. She can stay in his quarters and come over at any time."
"How can I know that she'll be safe?"
"I honestly don't think Kakarot knows what sex is," he said bluntly. "She'll be just as safe as you are."
Hearing the voices of her pursuers coming nearer, the woman looked towards the far end of the alley. Knowing that a decision had to be made soon he stepped back and let her go. She looked back at him surprised so he made his final point. "You're free to go either way, Woman, but you'll likely never see your friend again unless you come with me."
She looked back as if expecting the men to pop around the corner at any second before closing her eyes and taking in a steadying breath. When she looked back at him she once again had the hard look of determination and professionalism emanating from her which once again made Vegeta wonder which personality was her real one. "I'll have to act affectionate in public with you?"
"It's no different than that little stunt you pulled earlier so you're capable of it." 'Yes,' he thought bitterly. 'Quite capable though any Saiyan would be able to see through her act as she hadn't portrayed any actual arousal towards me,' another blow to his pride for him. 'It shouldn't be too hard to remedy that though,' he decided, determined to regain his record at being able to make any woman want him whether he returned the feeling or not.
"And you promise that Chichi and I won't be touched?" she asked clearly making sure that all of her fears were addressed.
His first thought was to tell her what she wanted and get it over with but remembering her scent and how her flirting had unwillingly affected him earlier made him think twice about it. 'What if that wasn't perfume? What if it is her natural scent? Not to mention that I haven't seen more than her shadowed face.' Vegeta wasn't a fool. He didn't know if he'd be attracted to her or not when she wasn't covered but he didn't want to be honor bound to not touch her if she was.
"You have my word that neither of you will be forced to do anything that you're not willing to do." 'Yes, that set him up nicely for some breathing room,' he thought to himself. "You will have to be able to act your part in public and you will be required to work when you're in my chambers but no one other than me or Kakarot will come in contact with either of you."
She closed her eyes, arms once again crossed comfortably and she carefully weighed her options. 'Sorry, Woman, but I'm not letting you walk away from this again,' he thought with a smirk. "Hurry up, they'll be here any second." That comment made her jump and look down the alley. "Do we have a deal?"
She moved her eyes back and forth a few times before finally locking her eyes onto his. "Deal." She extended her hand and he took it to confirm their agreement. "So what do we do know?" Her composure was once again lost as he used their locked hands to pull her towards him.
There wasn't enough time to explain. The three idiots had finally decided to see if the woman had run towards the stockyard instead of away from it and were about to round the corner. Vegeta quickly pulled the woman against him and placed his lips flush against hers.
A/N: Yes, I know the cliffhanger is bad. I've been scolded on my bad habit before. In any case, please read and review, I love to get feedback from you guys.