Chapter 18:

Katara and Mai went to a small café. Mai insisted on getting breakfast because it was such an essential meal that even Katara shouldn't be deprived of. Katara got a chocolate croissant with a French vanilla coffee. Mai ordered a protein smoothie and a small fruit bowl. Geez, Katara needed to change her eating habits. Mai had a kid and was putting her body to shame. The two woman sat at a table, silent as they ate. The silence was anything but peaceful considering Mai was burning a hole into her face with a death glare.

"You know coffee isn't good for your skin, neither are the loads of carbs you're ingesting." Mai said in a calm tone. She rolled her eyes and couldn't decide if that was a low key dig. "Anyway, you're Zuko's new 'employee'?" How long have you been 'working' for him?"

Katara didn't know what burned worse Mai's condescending tone or her hot coffee.

"A few months."

"Really?" Mai made it a point to nearly gag on her flax seed and whey gross concoction. "You have to understand that as a mother and as someone who knows Zuko I am automatically skeptical and untrusting of any woman he brings around my daughter."

"I don't know what you've heard but-"

"Oh no I haven't HEARD anything Katara so don't put words in my mouth. My daughter told me she wants you to be her new mommy and she wants you and Zuko to get married. Unless you think my daughter is a liar I suggest you be honest with me."

"I understand it's natural for you to be protective of your daughter. I promise you nothing is going on between me and Zuko, Mai. Kids can be imaginative that's all. I'm sure she got that from when we were playing together one day."

"Hmm." Mai shot a glare so mean it sent a chill in Katara's direction. "Don't play dumb with me. I saw the way he looked at you at the masquerade. He USED to look at me like that, so I know for a fact he's been in your panties. He may have the intention of making you Maya's new mother but that's NOT going to happen. I'm her mother!"

This wasn't about Katara at all was it? She was still a bitter, jilted lover. She was transferring her anger towards Zuko on her. How does she keep getting into these situations?

"Listen, I respect you as a woman and as a mother. I would never try to replace you. My mother died in a car accident when I was younger so I understand how important it is for daughters to have connections with their mothers. I know you're upset, for whatever reason, but that's between you and Zuko. Please don't take that out on me. Even if I was intimate with Zuko that has nothing to do with you. Believe me when I say I have never and will never have anything other than a friendship with Zuko. My boyfriend is great enough so please don't go around making assumptions about people you don't know."

"Don't test me because I have something against you that can ruin your perfect world. Just stay your tramp ass away from my daughter and we won't have a problem." Mai stormed off indignantly with her purse in hand.

Never mind Mai had just called her out of her name, how exactly was Katara supposed to get back to the Agni Estate? She decided to call Zuko since it was indirectly his fault she had just been called a tramp and got stranded. He had already went to work, but would drive over immediately when he got a free moment. 30 minutes later he pulled up outside. Katara got in the car and didn't know what to say or where to start or how to feel. She had just been put in the most uncomfortable situation.

It was completely silent in the car for almost a few minutes. Katara was absent- mindedly gazing out the window, not paying any attention to Zuko.

"Ms. Sapphire, I'm sorry. I didn't know she was going to attack you. In fact I didn't know she was coming today at all. Please accept my apology for you getting involved in my personal affairs like that. If I had known I wouldn't have let her say as much as one word to you."

"Why does everyone think we're sleeping together Zuko? First Azula, now Mai! Don't tell me you're going around telling people that we're together. How predictable of you?"

"I have a past of being with one or two or five of my employees. People see us together and assume. I never said we were anything other than friends at most. Although I can see how people would assume we are. You're a beautiful a woman, you watch my daughter for me, we sometimes flirt. It's only natural-"

"FLIRT! I do not flirt with you Zuko! That's inappropriate."

"Oh really? The way you swift your hips slightly forward when you sit to purposely highlight the arch of your back. The way you play with your hair all the time whether it's flipping it or twirling it, the way you always have direct eye contact with me even now, the way you make it a point to smile when you greet me every morning, the way you find excuses to touch my hand or wrist, the way you drool when I have my shirt off. None of those things are flirting?"

Here face got extremely hot. She squirmed a little against the seat belt.

"Face it Katara, maybe Mai and everyone else have reason to believe what they do."

"I—I'm still with Aang!" Katara blurted out. Zuko hit the break on the car and caused Katara to lunge forward against the seatbelt. There were a few angry cars behind them honking their horns. "Are you okay?"

He pulled into the Agni driveway as he pushed his foot down heavy on the gas. Zuko gripped the steering like he wanted to snap it in half, "I'm just fine Ms. Sapphire."

She definitely needed to clear the air and change the subject. "Listen, I know we're friends and all so I have a favor to ask. My brother and his fiancé are having a baby and I want to plan a nice shower for them. Think you can point me in the direction of a nice decorator?"

"Whatever. I'll fax you information." Zuko was cold and lifeless once again. He parked the car in one swift motion. "What did SHE say to you? Besides accusing you of being with me?"

"She told me to stay away from Maya and that I'm not Maya's mother and never will be. The woman is literally insane. She said she had some big secret about me or something."

"Whatever it is I'll handle it. Now get out of my car." Zuko demanded. Katara was quick to listen to the man who looked like he could snap a neck with her bare hands.

~/~

Zuko walked into his office when his assistant, Ty Lee swarmed him. Today she was wearing a pink body con dress with her breasts hanging out.

"Mr. Agni so glad you're back. Mai Stone called. You have a meeting with Aang Zephyr about negotiating the deal in a few minutes. At 3 you have to meet with the president of Fire Corp. The board wants to see the quarterly estimates today by 4. You have a Skype call with Mr. Lee also and you're supposed to have lunch with your sister." Ty Lee spat out. She was definitely used to saying his long, complicated schedules daily.

"Put Mai on line 1. Zephyr can wait a few moments."

"Yes, Mr. Agni!"

"And Ty Lee?"

"Yes sir?"

"Learn how to put a decent shirt on. You're here to be my assistant, not find a boyfriend. Understand?" Ty Lee only could nodded as Zuko slammed the door in her face.

Zuko sunk down into his desk chair and took a few deep breaths. He was only 25 and probably had a grey hair coming in by now.

"Ms. Stone, on line one for you." Zuko heard Ty Lee's cheerily voice through the intercom and cringed. No one was THAT happy all the time, especially when they had to deal with crazy baby mother's all the time. Zuko hit number one on the phone receiver.

"STOP harassing my employee Mai. If I have to tell you again there will be consequences. I thought we were starting over but here you are stalking an innocent girl and threatening her like a maniac."

"Please. You and I both know she's more than your damn employee. You have Maya thinking that's her new mother Zuko. I don't want her around anymore."

"Well contrary to what you think in that self-centered head of yours, you can't dictate who is and isn't on my payroll nor can you tell me who to bring around our daughter. I'll talk to Maya but I don't know why you're so bothered. Maya knows you're her only mother and that will never change."

"You think this a game! I have some dirt on that girl."

A knock came at his office door, "Mr. Zephyr is quite impatient. He would like to see you now."

"Mai, if I catch you making half assed threats to her or me again I won't just be giving you JUST a phone call. Good bye. Kiss Maya for me." Zuko was swift hanging up the phone when Aang came in.

Just seeing the way his nose was wrapped up satisfied Zuko. Maybe he would show him a little bit of respect today. Aang plopped down in the chair on the opposite side of the desk with his legs with open, slouched down, and his hands gripping the arms of the chairs. Okay, maybe today just happened to be piss off Zuko day. Tomorrow HAD to be better because there was no way Aang was sitting in front of him right now at a business meeting, acting like it's a nice spring picnic. His eyes looked a little cloudy. He was obviously on pain medication. That had to be the reason, no way that he was THIS blatantly disrespectful. Then again it was Aang.

"I hope your morning has been pleasant so far." Unlike Zuko's. "I would like to apologize for my actions at the event and offer my full financial compensation for your injury at my hand." Zuko even smiled at the young man. He was trying hard not to be completely rude. Obviously karma had a thing for him today.

"I don't want your stupid money. When is my product going to go on shelves?"

Okay, he barely had one strike to begin with but that one statement he ripped every nice bone from his body.

"Let me explain something to you Mr. Zephyr, when you walk into my office you will treat me with respect. Sit up and look me in my eyes when I'm talking to you. When you walk through those doors there is only business. I don't care how much you don't like me because guess what I'm the one who's signing you checks. Now let's start over: Good Morning Mr. Zephyr, I understand you're here to discuss the logistics of your deal, which my lawyer has sent you accordingly. Are there any amendments you'd like to make?"

"Well just one."

"What is it? The 40% is not high enough for you I'm guessing. We can negotiate a new amount in which you'd receive from the proceeds of every glider sold."

"I want you to stop trying to break me and my girlfriend up. It didn't work."

Zuko rubbed his forehead in annoyance, "For God's sake can we just broker this deal without your ego being involved. Now I'll ask again is the 40% pleasing to you?"

"I deserve 100% of the proceeds after what you did!"

Zuko let out an annoyed sigh, "I already told you I will pay for medical expenses. I'm asking you one more time Mr. Zephyr to be more compliant so we can settle the logistics." He was so close to losing it and he wanted to remain as professional as possible. Aang was still a client after all.

"I don't think its fair you get to sit there and pretend to be this great business man. You're hardly anything special. You weren't good enough for Katara but yes, Mr. Agni I'll take the 40%."

Something about that statement reminded Zuko of his father. To hell with the deal and to hell with him!

"One: I am the youngest CEO of any company in this country. I have been on the Forbes list since I was 21 and Agni Incorporated is an international, multi-billion dollar investment. You should try building at least a multi-hundred dollar company before you talk any shit about the company that's investing in YOUR product. Two: You don't deserve 40%. You don't deserve the crust on the bottom of my shoe and you definitely don't deserve Katara. Three: The reason you almost got dumped had absolutely nothing to do with me. You lied to your girlfriend, not me. You're not man enough to admit the truth that I intimidate you, but I'm sure she'll realize she's unhappy when she wakes up next to a little boy instead of a grown man. Four: The only reason you have this deal in the first place IS and only is because of Katara. Your product is dangerous, has no practical merit, and could only be marketed to children at best. I'd steer clear of taking anymore digs because you're not even sitting in front of me right now based on your own achievements. Five: You have succeeded in successfully pissing me off and because I'm a business man and not a child, I know when to cut my losses on a bad investment. You are absolutely the most evident waste of my time that doesn't even deserve to breathe my same air. Consider your contract with Agni Incorporated terminated effective immediately. There are obvious reasons why the contract can't be completed: one of them being your failure to even make working with you something possible. Before you decide to sue me or my company my all-star team of lawyers will roast whatever lawyer you can afford before you even file a claim. We're done here." Zuko ranted. It felt good to get that off his chest.

"You, you can't do that." Aang spoke.

"Oh I absolutely can. You fail to realize I have a hell of a lot more power and influence than you. You can whine to Katara all you want about how I dropped you but my decision remains the same. Your relationship with Agni Incorporated has ceased, is finished, is null and void, and is completely and irrevocably OVER. You honestly thought you could come in here and call the shots because you happen to be with Katara. Even your barely existing relationship doesn't matter to me, that doesn't stop her from wanting me. Get out of my office and I hope to God I never see your face again. My lawyer will contact you regarding the termination of the contract due to impossibility. Consider your 30 days of notification beginning right now. I hope you don't decide to sue because I will take EVERYTHING you have, including Katara. Now get out!"

Aang stomped his way out of this office without so much as a rebuttal.

Zuko hit the bottom on the intercom, "Ty Lee, please tell my sister I'm ready for an early lunch and put Mr. Zephyr on the do not enter list immediately. Anyone catches him here it's trespassing. Please move all of my appointments up, I'd like to be able to pick up my daughter from school today. That's all."

Things were looking slightly better for Zuko today.

Author's Note: What are your thoughts? See you guys in the next chapter!