Chapter 10

The next morning, before I went to work I watched the news on my TV. Nikaido's bankruptcy and business dealings was the main story on the next. Eisuke and his company weren't mentioned at all, I assumed kishi made sure that any information about Eisuke or his company wasn't mentioned.

"Freya, are you alright?" Sakiko asked.

I was stood in the locker room getting ready for work.

"I'm fine, thanks." I said and smiled.

Last night when I got back to the penthouse with the others, Eisuke wasn't there. I wasn't sure if I even wanted to see him again. Everything was so complicated.

I left the locker room and was heading to the spa. I walked into the lobby and heard a commotion, it sounded like a group of women all fawning over some guy.

"Morning Freya." Takahiro beamed.

He was stood behind me, I turned around and smiled at him.

"Hey, good morning." I said.

"Are you busy after work? I was wondering if you wanted to go for a walk after work today? Maybe along the beach?" He asked.

He was asking me out again? We had already been on two dates, I had fun with him but something really bugged me about us. I needed to sort things out in my head, maybe a walk with him would help?

"I would love to." I said.

"Good, I'll meet you here." He said.

I heard him walk away so I headed up to the spa.

I had such a busy day today, so many clients but no matter what I did I couldn't get Eisuke out of head. I couldn't stop thinking about what had happened between us. There was something there, but I just didn't know what it was. But what about Takahiro, I really liked him but what I felt for Eisuke was different. I was so confused.

That night, I met Takahiro in the lobby and we went for a walk along the broad walk. We walked hand in hand, the evening breeze brushed past me and ran through my air. I loved the smell of the ocean, it was so nice. We hadn't spoken since we left the hotel, his hand was warm and firm but I felt nothing as he held it. I couldn't keep this up, I needed to let him down gently. All I wanted to do was see Eisuke.

God what was wrong with me? Here I was with a nice guy who wanted to be with me and all I wanted was a guy like Eisuke?

"Would you like an ice cream?" Takahiro asked.

"Sure." I said.

He let go of my hand and I heard him walked away. As I stood there waiting, my mobile started ring. It rang with it's normal default ringtone so it wasn't anyone saved on my contacts list. Who could be ringing me this time of night?

"Hello?"

"Come here right now."

"Eisuke? How the hell did you get my number?" I asked.

"You belong to me, I know everything about you but that's not important. Come to my room. You've got five minutes."

I sighed annoyed, he was still trying to boss me around. "Even if I was in the hotel, which I'm not, I wouldn't just drop what I'm doing and come running to you."

"Where are you?"

"The boardwalk."

"Alright, I'm on my way." He said and hung up.

I stood stunned, did that really just happen? I wondered what he wanted.

I then heard familiar heavy footsteps approach me and I smelt familiar perfume. It was Eisuke.

That didn't take him long.

"You're the only woman I've ever gone after, you know that right?" He said.

He stopped right in front of me. I could feel the heat coming from his body, I could feel his warmth breath against my head.

"Sorry I took so long Freya!" Takahiro beamed and appeared with our ice creams.

Oh crap! What was I going to now?

He was stood next to me, he must have been surprised to see Eisuke here as he didn't speak.

"I'll let you stay with me." Eisuke said.

"You'll let me stay with you? Who do you think you're talking to?" I asked and folded my arms.

"You're the only woman who's ever stuck with me this long, and you risked your life for me. No woman has ever done that for me. You're the only woman who can satisfy me. Stay with me." He said and took hold of my hands.

He spoke in such a tender voice.

"You've done nothing but make her suffer. There is no way you can make her happy!" Takahiro snapped.

"Freya, I won't ever make you sad. I'll make you happy." He continued.

I was frozen on the spot, this wasn't how I wanted this to go down.

"Freya, make a decision. Me or him, you can choose." Eisuke said.

"Uh.." I said.

I then felt a card and small object be placed in my hand, it was a card key and the penthouse pager. I recognised them instantly.

I then heard Eisuke walk off without saying a word.

"Did he just walk away?" I asked Takahiro.

"Yeah, he's heading back to the hotel. What will you do?" He asked.

I didn't want to hurt Takahiro anymore, I just needed to be honest.

"I'm sorry Takahiro." I said.

He sighed "It looks like I have my answer. If you go out with him again, he'll just keep trying to push you around. Are you ok with that?"

"I won't let him push me around, I've never let anyone push me around. I want to be with him, there is something between us and I need to explore what it is." I said.

"If that's your answer, there's nothing more I can say. I'll be a man and step aside, but only if you come to work with a smile on your face tomorrow. Promise?"

I smiled "Yes!"

"Good!" He beamed. "Would you like me to escort you back to the hotel?"

"No, I'll be fine. Thank you."

I used the key to enter the penthouse. As soon as I entered the living room, I heard move on the sofa.

"You're late." He said.

"Ok first of all-"

Just as I was about to verbally attack him, he grabbed my arm and pulled me into an embrace. His arms were so strong, I could feel his heart pound against my chest. I buried my face into his chest and inhaled his sour scent.

"I want to hear your answer." He whispered in my ear, his warm breath tickled me.

"I want to be with you Eisuke. I'm not sure how I feel but I want to be with you." I said.

I felt him pull away, he placed his finger under my chin to tilt up my head and pressed his lips against mine.

Oh those warm moist lips! God I had been dying to kiss him for ages.

He hugged me tightly and kissed me deeply.

"Boss, we're coming upstairs." Baba shouted from outside the room.

"Is Freya with you?" Ota called out.

I tried to push away but Eisuke held me tight and continued kissing me. The footsteps got closer till finally Baba and Ota entered the room.

"Oh? Are you busy?" Baba asked chuckling.

"That's why we called out before coming up, but I guess it didn't stop you." Ota said.

Eisuke finally let go of me go. I stepped back to catch my breath.

"Whoa! Check out the sexy look on her face!" Baba teased.

"Freya, your blushing." Ota teased.

"Oh shut up, I am not!" I snapped.

"This face belongs to me." Eisuke stated and took hold of my chin again.

"Actually, my face belongs to me. You simply get the honour of kissing it." I said and pushed his hand away.

I wasn't going to let him treat me like an object.

"You going to talk back to me now?" He asked.

"Well-"

"Tch. I figured Freya was here since it's so loud." Soryu said as he came into the room.

"You're interrupting." Eisuke stated starting to sound annoyed.

"Now is that how you treat people who helped you take down Nikaido?" Ota asked.

"Yeah!" Baba agreed. "I had to wear that disguise and everything."

"And I'm the one made it!" Ota said.

"Soryu and Mamoru were the only ones who did anything. You two were there for the show." Eisuke stated.

"Hey that's not very nice." Ota stated.

"You're gonna hurt my feelings." Baba said but didn't sound that upset.

"Mamoru was enough to get the job done." Eisuke continued.

"Hey, I could've taken care of it without getting the cops involved." Soryu stated firmly.

"That's a crime in Japan, you know." Kishi said.

Kishi's voice came from outside the room.

So they were all here. I missed this but we were going to be here all night at this rate.

"What do you guys want?" I asked.

"We wanted to know what happened between you and Eisuke of course." Ota said.

"Don't just stay in your own little world together. Come downstairs and talk." Baba said.

"Tch, it's too loud here to do anything anyway. But only for a little bit though." Eisuke said.

"Alright!" Ota cheered. "Baba's been planning on asking you how you get all the girls, Eisuke!"

"But isn't it weird? Why do all the girls always fall for boss?" Baba asked.

"Maybe you're not mean enough, Baba." Ota said.

"What? Are you trying to talk back to me?" Baba said in a nice gentle tone.

"That didn't sound real at all." Ota teased. "You're grinning."

I couldn't help but laugh.

"What are you laughing about?" Eisuke asked.

"Aren't I allowed to laugh? I'm just happy to be back." I said.

"You're grateful to me right?" He asked with a cheeky smile.

"Arrogant much?" I asked before I held out my hand for him to take.

He took hold of my hand and we walked downstairs to the lounge.

We all sat together, I sat next to Eisuke. The guys were all stood in front of me, I felt them all staring at me.

"So, what happened to the love triangle?" Baba asked. "The concierge Takahiro Kuroba asked you out, right?"

"How did you know that Baba?" I asked.

"Don't underestimate a thief's ability to get information." He said slyly.

Was he spying on me?

"I'm sure you just heard it from some girl you're screwing who works at the hotel." Ota said.

"That's not very nice Ota. More like a beautiful butterfly drank the nectar of a flower." Baba said.

"That doesn't even make sense." Ota said.

"So? Did you turn him down Freya?" Baba asked.

"That guy's really normal and nice. So why'd you pick Eisuke?" Ota asked.

They certainly were curious weren't they?

"Um.. Well..." I started but I wasn't sure what to say.

"Isn't it obvious? I can give her happiness no other man can give her." He said smugly.

I bet he was grinning at them all as well.

"Wow, you're even cockier than I thought." Ota said.

"Yeah, don't dislocate your shoulder by patting yourself on the back." I said and playfully nudged Eisuke.

"Is this how you get all the girls Boss?" Baba asked.

"Freya, you're going to have your hands full with him." Kishi stated.

"She knows what she's getting into." Soryu said.

"I know but question is, does Eisuke?" I asked.

"Look at the huge smile on your face. Are you a masochist or something Freya?" Ota asked.

"What? No!"

"She's such a good girl and she's fallen into the boss's clutches." Baba chuckled.

"Enough chit chat." Eisuke said and I heard him stand up. "Do whatever you want."

I then felt him place his hands on my hips before he threw me over his shoulder, just like the first night we met.

"What are you doing?!" I shouted and started to struggle.

"Shut up if you don't want me to drop you." He said holding me tightly. "Oh that's right.."

I then felt him slip something small and cold onto my left ring finger. A ring?

"Proof that you're mine. Don't take it off again."

"Don't abandon me again and I won't." I said.

I hear the others talk behind us as Eisuke carried me back up the stairs. He carried me back to the living room and gently set me down on the sofa.