Chapter 7

I couldn't believe that he was kissing me! It was unexpected, I felt my knees start to go weak but luckily Eisuke was holding me up.

I felt him pull back first, he sighed and then pretended to only notice the Buccis.

"Oh, Mr Bucci! Carolina! I'm so embarrassed, I didn't realise you were here!"

"Caroline, things are just fine between these two!" Mr Bucci said angrily.

"But! I'm telling you, Freya was with that man over there! You saw them too, right Soryu?!"

"Yeah.." Soryu said hesitantly.

"Like I tried to tell you when you ambushed me outside my apartment. I had lost my white cane and my phone was also flat so I couldn't find my way home. I was lost and somehow ended up on the beach. Takahiro found me and brought me home. I even lost my special glasses, the lights in here are so bright I can't even open my eyes without being in pain." I said and tried to sound tearful.

I then took hold of Eisuke's arm for support.

"What? That's what happened?" Carolina asked sounding shocked.

"Please forgive us for the commotion, Mr Bucci." Eisuke said.

He moved his arm and placed it around my waist, holding me close to him.

"No, I'm sorry Carolina jumped to conclusions. Let's go Carolina." Mr Bucci said.

"Wait Daddy!" Carolina said and I heard her run after him.

"Let's go back to our room Freya." Eisuke said.

"Okay." I said.

He took hold of my hand and pulled me into the elevator. The minute I heard the door close, I got out my sunglasses and cane.

I sighed when I put my sunglasses on. I could finally open my eyes without being in pain.

"Phew. That was close, good thinking about the kiss." I said.

"I had to do what was necessary in order to convince Bucci. And who's fault do you think that was?"

"What? I'm sorry ok but besides, they bought it. Being blind does have its advantages." I said.

He sneered "I wouldn't even call that a kiss."

"Excuse me?"

I felt him then put his hand on my shoulder and he pushed me up against the wall of the elevator.

"This is a real kiss."

He grabbed my chin and before I could resist, his lips were on mine. He pressed down hard, his tongue reached into my mouth and I found myself copying his movement.

This kiss was completely different to the one just now. What was going on? Why was he doing this?

Just then, the elevator reached the penthouse with a 'ding'.

"Go back to your own room today." He said as he pushed me away and left the elevator.

I stood there frozen, unsure of what to do. The elevator door then closed. I pressed my fingers against my mouth and sunk to the floor, completely stunned. I could still the warmth of his lips over mine, his scent covered me. I could still smell him even though he wasn't here anymore.

Next day,

"Eisuke, I can't believe we have to say goodbye." Carolina said, almost crying. "And this time I have to be apart from Soryu too, it's so sad."

Me, Eisuke and Soryu had come to see off Mr Bucci and his daughter at the airport.

"I think we can make a very profitable deal. I'm looking forward to it." Mr Bucci said.

"Likewise. Thank you very much." Eisuke said.

"But I'm sure there will be those who aren't thrilled with us joining forces. But I'm sure you'll be fine. Just don't let your guard down." Mr Bucci said.

"Thank you for your concern." Eisuke said.

I was stood next to Eisuke, I was holding onto his arm like always. Things seemed to be going well, neither Carolina or Mr Bucci seemed to suspect a thing. We just needed them to leave and then this whole thing would be done.

"See you later Eisuke, Soryu!" Carolina said. "I'm really sad we have to be apart, but I'll be back soon!"

"See you. Next time you come, you'll have to go on a vacation with Soryu." Eisuke said and chuckled to himself.

"Eisuke, shut up!" Soryu whispered.

Out of all of us, I think Soryu was the most desperate one of us to get rid of her. She hadn't left his side, not once.

"That's right Eisuke, I can't wait!" Carolina said. "Freya I know you'll never be as good as me, but at least try to work on it. Ok?"

"Sure." I said not really listening to her.

The Bucci's finally left.

"Are they gone?" I asked.

"Yes, finally." Soryu answered.

I heard them both sigh with relief.

"Good." I said and removed my arm from Eisuke.

I got out my white cane from my purse and turned around to walk off.

That night, Eisuke hosted a party, celebrating his success with the business deal.

"Gaining Buccis trust is a huge coup. Congrats." Soryu said.

"Everything went according to plan, that's all." Eisuke said but seemed to be in a very good mood.

"Freya, pour my drink." He ordered.

I was sat on the sofa, furthest away from the group.

"What's the magic word?" I asked.

"Please."

I nodded and stood up.

The wine and the glasses were all stood on a table in the middle of the room. I took hold of a glass and slowly poured his glass. It smelt very rich and fruity, it tickled my nostrils.

I held up his glass and he took it from my hand. I then poured Soryu a glass as well and held it up to him, he took it as well.

"Anyone else?" I asked.

"I'll have one." Baba said.

"Me to." Ota said.

"And me." Kisaki said.

I poured everyone a glass, I wasn't sure if I wanted one. I never really liked the taste of wine.

"Tonight is a celebration, everyone drink up. You too Freya." Eisuke said.

He pushed a glass into my hand and poured me a drink.

I really wasn't much of a wine drinker, I held the glass up to my nose and smelt it again. It smelt so nice though. I took a sip and it tasted just as good as it smelt, I ended up downing the whole glass.

"Mmmm." I said and poured myself another one.

It had been so long since I had actually drank any alcohol.

"At first I had no idea what would happen, but Freya and boss make a good team." Baba said.

"Admit it, she's growing on you." Soryu said.

"But now the deal with Bucci is completed. Hasn't Freya finished her job?" Ota asked.

That was a good point, my job was done here and he promised to set me free if the deal was a success.

"It's not good to be irresponsible." Kishi said.

"That's hilarious coming for you, Kishi." Ota laughed.

"It sounds convincing when I say it, doesn't it?" Kishi asked.

I waited for his answer.

"I'll decide what to do with her from now on. So until then, let's celebrate." He said.

So he isn't going to set me free after all? All I had been telling myself was that soon I'd be free and everything was going to be back too normal.

He lied, that bastard!

I downed my second glass and snatched the bottle from Eisuke and poured a third. If was going to party, I was going to do it right.

I started to stir when I realised that I was lying on a bed.

Where was I? How did I get here?

This wasn't my room, it was too cold for one and the bed was bigger than mine. That's when I realised, the bed was covered in Eisuke's scent.

Oh god! I was in Eisuke's room?!

I sat up and ran my hands down my body to make sure I was still fully clothed. Thankfully I was.

"You awake?" Eisuke asked.

I looked up and saw a blurry figure sat in front of me opposite the bed, I heard the typing of keys so I assumed that he was on his laptop.

"Um... why am I in your room?" I asked.

"You drank too much and passed out downstairs, so I brought you up here." He said.

"Oh god, I passed out? I didn't do anything embarrassing did I?" I asked.

He sniggered.

"What? What did I do?" I demanded.

I couldn't remember anything, the last thing I remembered was just drinking.

"You made a move on Soryu." He laughed.

"What?! Oh no I didn't did I? Your lying."

"No, it was quite funny actually. And I'm surprised Soryu allowed you to do it, he normally hates women."

"Why didn't you stop me?!"

"Why? It was funny." He said and laughed again.

It wasn't funny! How was I going to face Soryu now? I needed to apologise him but in the morning when I still wasn't drunk. My head still spun and my stomach turned, for a brief moment I thought I was going to be sick but thankfully I didn't.

"Anyway, moving on. Why am I in your room? You could have just taken me to my room." I said.

I heard a chair scrape along the floor as he stood up, he then moved towards the bed.

I instantly moved backwards till I hit the headboard.

"You don't have to be scared, I'm not that desperate for a woman." He said with a chuckle.

I felt the bed move as he sat down.

So if he wasn't interested in that then why was I here? Was he worried about me so he wanted me here instead of in my room?

A sudden thought popped into my mind, when we first met he practically attacked me but never tried anything after that. It made no sense.

"I'm curious, the first night we met, why did you ask me to strip?" I asked.

"Huh? Oh that, you mean when I let you go after seeing your chest?"

"Yeah." I said.

"I'm searching for a woman who has burn scars on her chest."

"Who's the woman?"

"My sister. We've been separated ever since we were young."

"Separated? Did something happen?" I asked.

"I wasn't born a Ichinomiya. I belong to a very old and prestigious family, even for Japan. But when I was seven, my father was tricked by someone from his rival company and his company went bankrupt."

It was interesting hearing about his past, that's when I realised that I actually knew nothing about him.

"And that's why you and your sister were separated? What happened to your parents?"

"After the bankruptcy, my mother's health failed and she died, my father disappeared."

"I'm sorry."

"So because of that, my sister and I were taken by two different families. I was adopted by my father's benefactor, Akira Ichinomiya. So that's how I joined the Ichinomiya zaibatsu."

"Wow." I said and nodded.

I wondered if the others knew, they must. He wouldn't tell me something like that if they didn't.

"I never would have imagined that you weren't a Ichinomiya."

"Akira loved me like I was his own grandson and I've re-paid every cent he ever spent on me. I earned all the money that built this hotel by myself." He said.

I had no idea his past was like that, it was kind of sad.

"Soryu told me that you had a reason for starting the auctions? And he said once I found out the reason, I'd understand you better."

"I see Soryu is running his mouth off again." He said with a sigh. "I started the auctions because they are fun, I hate being bored. And I thought that whilst I was doing them, I might as well search for the man who bankrupted my father's company. I've made underground connections thanks to the auctions."

"Have you found anything?"

"No." He said. "This was a long a time ago, it's not like I have an urgent need for revenge. I just want to know the truth is all."

"Have you found anything about your sister?" I asked.

"I know that she's living happily somewhere and that's all I need to know." He said. "After I was adopted by Akira, I lived in England. And by the time I came back to Japan, it was too late to search for clues here. But like I said, as long as she's safe. I'm happy."

I couldn't help but smile "When I first met you, I thought you were such a jerk but you're not too bad. I'm sorry for at least.. Half the bad things I said about you."

He sighed again "What am I doing, telling you all of this?" He asked suddenly sounding annoyed.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

The bed moved again as he led down next me.

"I'm going to sleep. You'd better do the same." He said.

Sleep here next to him? There was no way I could do that, it would just be too weird.

"I'll go back to my room then. Night." I said.

I turned to spin my legs out of the bed when he gently took hold of my wrist to stop me from standing up.

"Sleep here." He said.

"You want me to sleep here? Next to you?" I asked.

"Just go to sleep."

He started to pull me towards the bed, I was tempted to resist and pull free but I was tired and I was still drunk. If I tried to walk, I'd probably end up falling over.

I led down next to him and pulled the duvet over me, I snuggled my head into the pillow. It was covered in Eisuke's scent, he smelt so nice. I inhaled his scent deeply, being surrounded by his smell like this it almost felt like he was hugging me.

It wasn't long till I could hear Eisuke's deep even breaths as he fell asleep. I never thought that I would be here, sleeping next to him. I had seen a completely different side to him tonight, it was so strange.

A few days later, I was sat in the staff canteen enjoying my lunch with Chisato.

"Hey Freya, you seem happier lately." She noted.

"Do I?" I asked and couldn't help but think of Eisuke.

Things have been a lot calmer between us, we weren't arguing as much and I wasn't verbally attacking him as much. We were actually getting along, it was really nice. I didn't even mind when he paged me to go and see him. And if I was in a really good mood, I would actually try to make it within 5 minutes. But only if I was in a good mood.

"Hey guys." Sakiko said as she walked into the canteen.

Her steps were so delicate, it was almost like she was walking on air.

"Freya, guess what? I heard a guest talking about you in the casino." She said.

"Really? Who was it?"

"A very well-dressed middle aged man. President of some company."

I tried to think about, did I know him? Eisuke introduced me to so many people I couldn't remember.

"What did he say?" I asked.

"Well.."

Just as she spoke, the pager went off in pocket.

Not now! He really had the worst timing ever.

I sighed "Sorry I have to go. Tell me later ok?"

"Ok but-"

"Bye." I said.

I stood up and left the canteen, I headed up to the penthouse.

I entered the living room, I stopped my tracks when I smelt a new perfume. I knew Eisuke's was here, I could smell him and I could hear his soft breathing. But who was the second person? It smelt like a ladies perfume.

"You called?" I asked.

"I'm done with you." Eisuke said coldly.

"Excuse me?" I asked shocked.