One month later

At a coffee shop down town Tokyo

"I am sorry Aya but I don't agree with you."

Aya looked at Oshitari in surprise. She was seated at a coffee shop for more than two hours with him and Saeki discussing her decision on following a music carrier. From all her friends, she was grateful that he and Saeki were civil and good friends towards each other. It had been over a month since she had told Fay about her decision but now she found herself cornered by these two friends telling her that she should follow her dream.

"He's right," Saeki agreed. "Your music is terrific babe, but I would never push you into showbiz. They will tear you apart."

"Plus…" Oshitari added, "You sing out of love, doing it for fame will only make it commercial and then you're just a cash cow to a lot of companies."

Aya stared at Oshitari speechless. "Did you just insult me?" she asked with a small grin appearing her face.

Oshitari and Saeki both laughed before the first nodded removing his glasses. "Well, I was only half joking Aya. Saeki can tell you how 'wonderful' the showbiz world is." He finished cleaning his glasses and wore them again.

"True." Saeki smiled munching on a biscuit from his side plate. "I don't want you to do this. If you don't like your job why don't you look for something else? Keep your singing as a hobby."

"Fine!" Aya exhaled as leaned forward and rested her forehead on the table. "You guys win," she said and straightened herself brushing her hair with her hands.

"How are things between you and Fay these days?" Oshitari coughed staring at his phone.

"She won't call Yuushi," Aya said with a giggle. "I told her we were meeting for a coffee."

"I see," he said and placed the phone on the table. "You still didn't answer my question Aya."

"You distracted me." Aya winked. "Things are okay, but I think she is hiding something from me," she said thoughtfully looking at both men waiting for her to continue. "Don't you guys give me that look; it's just a hunch, that's all."

Oshitari picked his cup and drank a bit of his coffee. "Aya I am not satisfied with that answer and you know it. I also think that even Saeki here isn't happy with it." He looked at the man next to him for reassurance.

Saeki didn't disappoint him as he nodded without saying a single word.

Aya puffed her cheeks and exhaled. "You two are soooo… ooh… I can't find the right word to describe you!" she said and continued with a slower tone in her voice. "I have a feeling that Fay is seeing someone, and its neither Gen-chan nor Haru." She leaned back in her chair. "So, there you have it, satisfied?"

Seeing someone huh? Oshitari thought tapping his finger on the cups handle as he remembered something he saw a couple of days earlier. "Did she say anything about it?" he asked suddenly startling both Aya and Saeki who were talking about something totally different.

"Umm… no, she denied the whole thing when I asked her, but I know Fay better than anyone; she is definitely hiding something." Aya concluded. "Do you know something I don't Yuushi?"

Oshitari brushed a hand through his hair. "Of course not Aya-chan, I would tell you if I knew!" he grinned mischievously.

"Yeah right!" she rolled her eyes. "You always have that creepy smile on your face when you know something that others don't." she narrowed her eyes. "And as tempting as it is to beat the information out of you I will not do it this time." She grinned back at him, "Now, please excuse me, nature is calling!" she go up and left the table.

"How subtle of her," Oshitari commented while Saeki laughed.

At the girls apartment

Fay was sprawled on her tummy reading the newspaper in the bed. She had her feet up in the air as she read a business article. She had for once left work on time and decided to just spend it at home reading.

She flipped back onto her back and closed her eyes, lifting her knees up. It's nice to be home and relax, but I'm officially bored, she thought, stretching her arms. "Maybe I should call Aya and see if she's free for me?" she said out loud and reached for her phone. Nah… She said something about meetings friends today; I'll wait for her call. She closed her eyes and drifted in her most recent memories.

[Flashback]

Fay returned his kiss, which lasted for quite some time. Finally, when they both needed air, they pulled away. "Atobe…"

"Shouldn't you be calling me, Keigo?" he asked, loosening his tie.

"No," she answered, turning around. She began washing the dishes and glanced at him. "The last thing I'd want to do is to accidentally call you Keigo in a meeting."

He hugged her waist and placed his chin on her shoulder. "Yes, you're right."

"I'm always right," Fay murmured, feeling him move his lips towards her neck. "And umm… shouldn't you stop now and go back inside?" She was trying to dry the dishes, but he wasn't helping. 'S… St… Stop,' she said giggling as he held her waist tighter.

"Turn around."

"No."

He tickled her making her screech. "Turn around, woman."

Fay laughed, trying to escape his hands, but she knew the only way for her to do it was to turn around. The minute she did, he cupped her face and kissed her. Fay allowed the tender feeling and smiled against his lips. She extended her arms and put them around his neck, returning his kiss sensually.

They were so into it that they only separated when they heard a [crash].

Fay and Atobe pulled away from each other, but she still had her arms around his neck. Uh-oh… Fay thought, moving her head and burying herself in Atobe's chest.

"Do I need to know?" Oshitari asked the look of shock still on his face.

Fay moved away, but Atobe caught her wrists. "There's nothing here that's weird," Atobe answered.

Oshitari raised his eyebrow. He picked up the broken bits of the glass that he dropped and looked at them seriously. "Are you two seeing each other?"

"No," they both answered automatically.

Oshitari stood still. "Care to enlighten me because the only rational reason I see is mistletoe, but none is hanging."

Fay grinned, turning around. "I was curious." She giggled.

Oshitari frowned. "Was she the one taking care of you when you were sick?!" he demanded.

Fay stiffened when she heard that. She hesitated and looked at Atobe.

Atobe put an arm around Fay and squeezed it. "So what if she was?"

Oshitari glared at him, but then his face went back to being emotionless. He let out a sigh and looked away. "Never mind."

Fay looked at Atobe, but he just moved away from her with a wink and walked out of the kitchen holding a glass full of wine.

"What do you think you're doing, Fay?" Oshitari asked once Atobe was gone. He eyed his friend carefully as she continued to wash the dishes completely ignoring him. "Do you want to get hurt?"

Fay whipped her hands on the apron she was wearing and walked past Oshitari who turned around to look at her.

"Fine. You want to be like that? Go ahead," he said, irritation hindering in his tone. "You think this is a game?" Fay glared at him annoyed at his outburst. "It's not. You better think of what you're doing Fay. I thought you broke up with Niou because you wanted a real relationship that he couldn't provide you with." He sighed disappointed. "Sleeping around with Atobe won't give you that satisfaction. Don't you care at all about what's happening?" He pushed his glasses up his nose after finishing his small monologue and walked out of the kitchen leaving Fay to brood alone in her annoyance.

Fay glared at the door that shut close after Oshitari had left. She took off the apron and poured some orange juice for her in a glass. Her mind was thinking about everything that he had said.

Her phone rang and startled her making her jolt from the bed. She answered it without checking the caller's ID thinking it was Aya. "Hey babe… How was your outing?"

"Whom are you talking to?"

Fay chuckled. "Oops… I mistook my lover with my best friend," she teased rolling on her stomach again. "What do you want?"

"To kiss you," Atobe answered.

"Seriously Atobe, what do you want? Weren't you supposed to be at a social event?" she asked, flipping onto her side and trying to find a comfortable position to lie on. She froze when her eyes fell on Atobe who was standing by the door grinning like a fool. "You idiot!" she whispered with a smile after closing her phone.

Fay sat up; crossing her legs while Atobe walked over to her and sat on the bed next to her. "I've been watching you for a while and you seem bored."

"I miss Aya," she admitted, hugging her knees.

He bent forward and kissed her cheek slightly, "more than me?"

"Of course!"

Atobe smirked and stood up. "Fine, say whatever you want, but it's me who keeps your bed warm at nights." He removed his suit jacket and loosened his tie.

"Aya does too." Fay chuckled, standing up. Atobe grinned, but Fay smacked him on the head, "don't get ideas."

"Already did," he said, walking out and she followed him.

Fay sat on the sofa as he unbuttoned the first few buttons of his shirt. "Seriously though, weren't you supposed to be somewhere?"

"Yes, and I met quite a few interesting people," he replied, taking off his shirt. He picked a towel that was folded on the table and put it around his neck. "I met your mother." He walked to the bathroom.

"Oh? She's in town?" Fay said absent-mindedly flipping through the channels. Met? She thought after a couple of seconds; she got up and followed Atobe. "What do mean you met my mother?"

Atobe chuckled. "You don't want me socializing with your mother?" he asked wiping his face after washing it.

Fay rolled her eyes and leaned on the doorframe. "Hell no! That woman will probably look at you as a fortune cookie!" she said with no expression.

Atobe looked at Fay carefully. "You just sounded like me when I complain about my mother!"

Fay crossed her arms, "They only see potential candidates in front of their faces…" she muttered. "I mean, the woman's already filthy rich, why does she care if her son in law is?!'

"Just forget about it," he said, combing his hair, "you already made your point with your mother a long time ago and moved out."

Fay ignored his comment, "Did you know that she wanted me to marry NIWA?! She worshipped him," Fay exclaimed with a shudder.

"Mother's are blind of what their children want most of the time.'

"Since when were you so wise?" Fay muttered, watching him with her arms crossed.

"Since I learned to ignore my mother, I became wiser," he said with a cheeky grin. 'So, are you in the mood to go out and do something or you wanted to pout in here?"

Fay sat at the edge of the bathtub and looked at him, "and exactly what can we do without looking suspicious to the public eye?" she muttered, it's like we're dating and not dating at the same time…

"How about going to a Ryokan?"

Fay looked up at him, "At Izu? We'll need a weekend for that." he wants to go away for a weekend? But… What the hell am I supposed to tell Aya?!

Atobe watched her thoughtfully, knowing exactly what she was thinking, 'So? I think we're in a position to go away for a weekend, plus, I love the onsen over there. It's exactly what I need right now."

"Umm…"

'Just get ready, we'll leave tonight," when I want to do something, I will do it now…

Sanada's house, Kanagawa

Yosuke hugged his mother the moment the older woman answered the door. 'I missed you." He held her tightly in his arms wanting to feel the warmth that he missed living in the big city of Tokyo alone.

Sanada Akiko took her son's hand in her own when he let go and gave him a smile. "It's nice when you boys get the time to meet your mother," she said looking at both of her sons.

Sanada gave her a light smile while Yosuke grinned. "Anything for the only important lady in my life,' he said, kissing her cheek and walking in the house followed by his younger brother.

Akiko laughed, "I seriously hope that you have someone else to tell that too," she said, closing the door behind them.

"Not really," Yosuke told her seriously. "I'm too busy with my work." He walked to the kitchen and sat on a chair. His mother came in after him and gave both her sons a glass of cold tea.

"That's not good, dear. You're at the age to be having a family now," she said thoughtfully.

Yosuke shrugged, "Let him be the children factory." He pointed at Sanada as he gulped down the refreshing beverage.

Sanada glared at his brother.

Akiko smiled at her older son and looked at her younger one, "I don't have to worry about you, right? Are you still with your girlfriend? You haven't brought her here for me to meet her," she said and filled Yosuke's glass.

Yosuke turned serious and looked at Sanada who looked back at him. Sighing, he shook his head, "No, Aya and I broke up," he answered and drank his own beverage not wanting to continue with explanations.

"It's because you love her best friend instead?"

Sanada's eyes widened, how does this woman know these things?!

"Don't look at me like I've grown horns, honey," Akiko said, opening a pack of rice-cakes. "You love that woman and I saw how you treated her at our home… Even your father, who took more than three years to realize he loves me, knew immediately that the woman you brought home was someone you loved."

Yosuke looked at his mother then his younger brother. He normally would've interfered with a joke, but decided to stay quiet because this was serious.

Sanada looked at his mother, "I'll be fine," he said, taking a rice-cake from the pack. I'll be fine… he reassured himself mentally as he took a bite, I hate rice-cakes!

"Will you, Gen?" she asked with a worried expression on her face.

Yosuke looked at his mother and then at his brother. "Since when you do you eat sweets little brother?" he asked with a teasing tone.

Sanada glared at his brother but gave his mother a tender smile before excusing himself.

Akiko looked at her eldest, "you were supposed to look after of him."

Yosuke looked at her wearily, "well, he is not a child anymore. Besides they're both very stubborn… and… it's complicated."

Akiko poured some tea for herself obviously not happy about what she heard, "Tell me what happened."

At a bar in Ginza area,

"Haru!"

Niou looked up as he noticed Junko walk towards him in a slutty manner. She wore micro skirt with a tight tank top that didn't hide any of her curves. She reached him and immediately hugged him and leaned her lips forward onto his.

He didn't get the chance to say anything or react because she pulled away, "how are you?" she said putting her arms around his neck.

"I'm good," he answered nonchalantly.

Junko pulled away and sat on the chair beside him. "Just good?" she said and picked his cigarette from the ashtray to pull a smoke. "Want me to help you get better?" she blew her smoke at Niou batting her eyes seductively.

"I'm fine," he answered and lit a new cigarette. "Where is the party that we're supposed to go?" he asked playing with his lighter.

"You're cold. Seriously I don't understand why I stay with you," Junko retorted completely ignoring Niou's question.

Niou sighed and rubbed his jaw. He leaned closer to Junko and placed a kiss on her cheek. "I'm very stressed at work, but I don't want to bring those problems into our relationship," he said caressing her hair.

Junko looked at him with a smirk. "I say we ditch the party and go to my home. You know we can have fun there and you could relax more." She winked and kissed his lips.

"Fine." He nodded and got up. "Let's go have fun!" he said holding her hand as they exited the café.

"Let's get wasted!"

Another part of Tokyo

Yukimura placed his fork and knife slowly on his plate before he glanced to his silent companion. "I wonder what you are thinking about so seriously!" he chuckled lifting his wine glass.

"Masaharu."

Yukimura looked a bit taken aback. "Why would you be thinking of Masaharu?"

"He is being a jerk at the moment and I don't know how to tune him down!"

"Explain yourself," Yukimura said as he lit a cigarette waiting patiently for the other person to continue with the conversation.

The man loosened his tie and crossed his legs as he leaned backwards in the chair tiredly. "I'm worried," he said with a sigh. "He has the worst taste in women. First that Mishima woman he was seeing for 3 months and now this new one, Junko something."

Yukimura looked at Yagyuu in surprise, "Are you referring to Fay?" he asked and continued with his thought.

Yagyuu nodded, "yes, I don't like that woman. I don't like the way she played with his feelings." He cleaned his glasses, "Masaharu says that he doesn't give a damn, but he is wilder and seems to be out of control these days," he continued as he wore his glasses.

"I don't agree with you Hiroshi. Not about Fay anyway," Yukimura interrupted his friend. "I do not approve of the way she handle the whole issue, but she is a very nice person and I don't think she would ever play with anyone's feelings." He sipped from his glass of water.

"I respect your opinion because you know her better than me, but I think that Masaharu wouldn't be hurt like that if she didn't feed him false hopes." Yagyuu coughed covering his mouth with his hand. "And I'm not fond of his latest companion either…"

"He's seeing someone already?" Yukimura asked eyeing his friend carefully. Since my last trip a lot have happened… "Since when do you care?" he asked again, when he got no answer from Yagyuu.

"When you meet her then you'll know." He answered playing with the napkin on the table. I hope you don't do anything stupid, Masaharu, thought before he turned his attention to Yukimura. "Seiichi, will you talk to Masaharu?"

"Are you sure you want me to talk to him Hiroshi?" Yukimura asked not expecting that request. "If I remember correct you're still his best friend."

Yagyuu inhaled and exhaled tiredly. "I am sure Seiichi. The last couple of times I tried talking to him we ended up at each other's throats." He sighed and fixed his tie. "He doesn't listen to me anymore and I think he treats Sanada the same way too."

Yukimura kept quiet for a while thinking about the things that his companion just told him. He knew Niou could be uncontrollable if triggered but he always listen to Yagyuu; His voice of reason as he preferred to call his best friend. "If what you're telling me is true, how can you be sure that he will listen to me?"

Yagyuu looked at his old friend seriously. "Because he respects you Seiichi and fears you."

Damnit… To think I am not even angry about doing this, but you know… I'm not even sure. I really want to talk this through with Fay as well, Aya thought walking into the apartment. "Fay?" she called. "Your husband's home come and greet me."

[Silence]

"Eh?' Aya thought with a frown walking towards Fay room, that's weird. Is she working late again? She thought, finding the room empty. She sighed and walked to her room.

Quickly, she took off her clothes and went to the bathroom; to her surprise she found a note written on the mirror with lipstick.

Babe, like how you dumped me in High School to go to that concert for a weekend. I'm going away for the weekend. See you on Monday, love you, Fay.

Aya stared dumbfounded at the note, "what freaking love?!" she shrieked pulling the towel and wetting it with water. She looked at the mirror again, "I can't believe she remembered that High School thingy. Ooohhh… she is so dead when she comes back!" she yelled cleaning the mirror. Using lipstick… what an IDIOT! she thought still rubbing the mirror; and who the hell did she go with? She dumps me and then says love?! LOVE? ARGH…

Evening – Izu

Fay was sitting on a bamboo couch outside the room she shared with Atobe looking at the starry sky. "You know…" she said while she was caressing his hair as he laid his head quietly in her lap. "Next time you want to take a weekend to relax, find another place other than Izu!"

Atobe opened his eyes and looked at Fay. "Must I remind you that you brought Izu up," he said, closing his eyes again while enjoying the feeling of Fay's fingers running through his hair.

"I know I did, but I have so many memories haunting me at the moment." She sighed and stretched her hands over her head. "I really could live without them."

"Don't stop," Atobe complained for the loss of enjoyment. "Memories of Sanada?" he asked bluntly. Fay looked down at Atobe who was looking at her smirking. "Obviously I hit a sensitive spot!" he mused.

"You can be such a jerk at times," Fay said annoyed and pushed him off her lap. "I don't want to talk to you anymore." She crossed her hands and looked away.

Atobe rubbed the back of his head frustrated. "You are being obstinate again." He moved closer to Fay and put his arms around her shoulder. "Next time I will spoil you in a 5 star hotel suite on an exotic island," he whispered in her ear and kissed her cheek.

Fay tried to keep a straight face, but failed because of the baby kisses Atobe was giving her. "I'm still mad at you," she said laughing. "Stop that, you're tickling me." She tried to pull away from his arms but he tightened his hold on her. "Atooobe…"

Atobe pulled away laughing. "Why don't you tell me what of this place reminds you of him," he said, brushing away some strands of hair from Fay's face. "Then I will make you forget all about him."

"Hey…" Fay hit his arm playfully still laughing from his previous ministrations. "Well, wearing the yukata's remind me of the one Sanada's mother gave me as a gift for Christmas."

"A gift? From Sanada's mother?"

Fay nodded. "Yes. After my fiasco at your party, Aya suggested that Sanada should take me with him to spend the day away from everyone I knew – that's because she didn't want me at home alone," she sighed and leaned her head on Atobe's shoulder. "There I met his family. A strict father and Grandfather, a gentle and sweet mother," she smiled; "Oh… I forgot the crazy older brother!"

"I see." Atobe whispered and placed a kiss on Fay's forehead, "and the onsen reminds you of that incident on the ski resort." He chuckled lightly. "You are a very confused woman, Mishima Fay."

Fay said nothing; she closed her eyes and got more comfortable in Atobe's arms. It feels like all those memories are of another lifetime; she thought while she drifted to sleep in the warmth of Atobe's presence.

Monday morning at the girl's apartment

Aya was flipping through a newspaper looking at the job columns. "Nothing looks tempting," she sighed and leaned her head on the table.

"What's eating you?" Fay asked walking in the kitchen. She filled a cup of black coffee and sat opposite of Aya. "Babe, are you still mad at me for ditching you this weekend?" she grinned evilly.

"Why would I be mad at you?" Aya straightened herself and looked at her friend. "You obviously ditched me to go spend a romantic weekend, God knows where and with whom. Why would I be mad at you?"

Fay laughed munching on a biscuit. "So you are mad at me!"

Aya rolled her eyes and flip another page. "Where did you go?" she asked marking some ads with a red pen. "And just so you know, I only did one crazy thing in High School unlike who was at the principal's office almost every day!"

"Yeah… yeah… Besides the principal had a cute ass!"

"Faaaayyy…" Aya exclaimed laughing. "You are such a slut! Now don't change the subject. Where did you go?"

Fay laughed too. "Fine… I went to Izu! And don't ask with whom cause you aren't getting an answer." She drank a bit of her coffee waiting for Aya's next question; I bet it will be "Who did you go with?"…

Aya leaned forward and took a cookie from the jar on the table. "Who did you go with?" she asked before popping it in her mouth.

Thought so… Fay giggled. "Not telling."

"Umm… since you don't want to tell me it means I know that person. It wasn't Haru because I saw him yesterday… hmm…" Aya said thoughtfully with a finger on her lips. "I hope it's not Yuushi that would be gross!" she teased.

"Eeeeewwwwwww…" Fay exclaimed shuddering. "Arisa would kill you for only thinking about it!"

Aya laughed. "I think I will survive since it wasn't him," she said still laughing. "Is it that Yukimura guy? You know, Gen-chan's friend?" she asked staring at Fay intensely to see her reaction. "No?"

Fay just smiled drinking the rest of her coffee looking right into Aya's eyes.

"How about Gen-chan's brother, Yosuke?" she asked again. "Did you go to Izu with him?"

She will not be satisfied if I don't answer… Fay thought still holding her gaze on Aya calculating her options. Let's see if I can dodge her by leaving. "Babe, as much I would like to stay and play the 20 question game, I have to go to work!" she got up from her chair and walked to the sink.

"Was it Yagyuu?"

Fay sighed as she washed her cup. "He is engaged remember." She turned around and wiped her hands on a cloth and then walked to the door. "I'll see you tonight."

"Atobe?"

What? Fay froze for a split second. "Nope," she said with a smile leaving Aya still seated at the table. Damn her… she got me where she wanted!

Aya lifted her mug and drank her cold by now chocolate. "So… it was Atobe!" she whispered to herself. I bet that is what Yuushi knows, she smiled mischievously. I wonder if we should also look for a new apartment. That will keep her occupied for a while! She flipped the pages to the apartment ads.

If she is distracted from Atobe then I can have Gen-chan make a move… Heh! I am brilliant, she thought content with her new idea and looked through the apartment offers to see if there was anything worth looking for.

Atobe Industry Corporation

"Mishima-san, the first candidate is here for his interview."

Fay looked up from her desk and nodded, "please have him wait for me, I just need to finish one thing," she said, resuming to typing her e-mail. I'm so tired that I can't even type an e-mail, she thought rubbing her temples. Well, you can't blame me for being worn-out, we returned very late at night… And… Selfish bastard refused to give me the day off. She sighed typing away on the keyboard. Having Aya give me the third degree didn't help either.

She finished typing her e-mail and stood up, stretching her arms. She picked up a folder from her desk and scanned through the person's resume. Hmm… Not bad, he doesn't have much experience, but he's well trained for a junior, she thought, flipping through the workshop details he had completed.

Fay walked out of her office and looked at her secretary, "where is he?"

"He's waiting in meeting room 1," she answered.

Fay sighed and walked out. My office is big enough to greet ten guests, why do they send them all the way to the meeting room, she complained as she walked through the hallways until she reached the meeting room. She knocked on the door and walked in. "'Morning.'

A young man stood up and shook her hand. "Good morning, Mishima-san," he said politely with a light bow.

Fay smiled at him and then looked at the resume in her hand, "Fuji Yuuta?"

"Yes," he answered with a slight bow.

"Please, sit down, Fuji-san," she said, taking a seat across him.

"Where's Fay?"

Sai, Mishima Fay's secretary looked up at Atobe and answered, "She has an interview in meeting room 1, Atobe-san."

"Thanks," The woman's is working? After the earful she gave me this morning, she's working? He thought, walking towards the meeting room. Just as he reached the door, he saw Fay walking out of it, "so?"

"Shh... He's behind me," she whispered, "I told him to wait because Sai just told me the second candidate is here."

Atobe raised his eyebrow, "should you keep him waiting if you're not sure you're hiring him?"

"Let me do my job, Atobe-san," she teased, walking towards the next meeting room.

He smirked and continued his walk. As a CEO, even though he was busy, he still preferred to do the usual rounds in the building. He liked to be on top of things and talk to his employees', my father always told me that your people are your assets, get to know them.

In a courthouse

"Masaharu, do you have all the evidence we need to proceed with this case?" Sanada asked his partner looking at his watch. "We need to finish with this case today," he sighed tiredly.

"We will," Niou reply as bored as ever while he sat on the bench waiting to be called in the judge's office. "With all this evidence we have there is no way the judge won't go in favor of the mother."

Sanada sat on the bench beside his partner. "I hope you're right, because this case has drained me. Her husband's lawyer is a piece of work; I can't believe how she manages to get a renewal date every time we push her to a corner."

"Someone is in a very talkative mood today," Niou commented lighting a cigarette. "Are you that bored?"

Sanada said nothing to defend himself because he believed he didn't have too but instead he commented, "I see you picked up on that old hobby of yours." He looked at his watch again. "When did you start smoking again?"

Niou exhaled looking at the smoke spread, "while dating Fay!" he leaned his head on the wall behind him. "That woman seriously screwed me over."

"The judge is here Masaharu," Sanada said getting up from the bench and greeted the judge. "Good afternoon Ogata-sama." He bowed politely and glared at Niou who was still sitting on the bench with the cigarette in his hand.

"Good afternoon Sanada-san, hopefully we will get to close this case today!" the judge said stopping to talk with him.

Niou threw the cigarette in the pot beside him and got up to talk to the judge along with Sanada. "Hello Ogata-sama, you look lovely as always," he smiled.

The middle aged woman turned her attention towards Niou. "I see you are as flirty as usual Niou-san," she said with a smile. "Let's go to my office now and make sure we close this case."

"After you madam," Niou said politely with a hint of tease making a gesture with his hand for the judge to pass. "I told you today would be the last day of this freaky case," he whispered at Sanada who followed silently behind him and the judge.

Atobe Industry Corporation – Atobe's office

"You're kidding."

Fay smiled sweetly at him, "Nope."

Atobe looked up from his desk and glared at her, "Are you trying to use me for every little thing you want?!' he demanded.

Fay placed the resumes on his desk, "they're both good and I want to hire them. Plus, they're young and energetic."

"I told you that you can have one," he argued, "what part of one means two?!"

Fay looked at him, "I can build my team this way, come on. We can manage! You're just saying no because I'm asking for it, but I'm alone here dealing with three agencies. I don't care if you have to split their salaries, I want them both.'

"Che…"

Fay smiled triumphantly, "oh my! Is that a yes?!"

Atobe stood up and fixed his tie, "let me see them."

Fay's smile dropped. "You're interfering with my work again."

"And you're not playing by the rules."

Fay looked left and right to make sure no one was around and stood in front of him. She held his tie and pulled his face towards her. "You're doing this on purpose," she hissed. "I'm not taking advantage but I really really really need you to say yes. Hell, you can cut half of my salary, I don't care."

"You don't need the money."

"Whatever. Give me something."

He smirked and looked at her. "Begging really doesn't suit you in the office, Mishima, you keep that in the bedroom," he said with a chuckle, making Fay gasp. "Frankly, I stopped caring what you do, so hire them, but make sure their grades and paycheck fit in with your department structure with human resources." And there's no way in hell I'm going to tell her now that her department is getting good ratings and boosting since she joined.

Fay looked at him dumbfounded, I won?! Did he just say…

"My dear, they're waiting for you."

She glared at him and walked out, muttering thanks.

Hours Later

Fay walked into her office and found Fuji Yuuta there. She pressed her intercom and asked Sai to send the other candidate in. "I'm surprised that you accepted the position this fast," Fay said tiredly. Truth was that she had been with HR (human recourses) all day processing the contract she was going to give the candidates. She didn't want them to go home without anything. She desperately needed members on her team.

The door opened and another young man walked in. The minute he walked in, he blinked.

Fay looked at him, "Kirihara Akaya, hi and…"

"Oh my god! You!" Fuji Yuuta exclaimed.

"Damn, you?!" Kirihara snapped.

"What are you doing here?!" they both asked.

Fay looked at them both and bit her lips, "Umm… You're both the candidates that I want to hire for my team."

"Us?"

"Work together?!"

Fay put her hand on her hip, "and you better lower your voices if you still want me to consider you," she said firmly.