Conditions
"There are some things you need ought to know." Eisuke started. "You belong to me; therefore, I expect you to place my call above all else."
His choice of words was shallow, but they still stimulated feelings of adoration, as I nodded in agreement.
"Remember you're expendable, so if you cherish your life, adhere to my rules."
I watch him as he surveys my reaction. My body tenses under his stare. He has an unwavering glare that evokes an array of emotions. Unable to move, I watch as he stands from his chair, and makes his way over to me. Every movement he makes is purposeful, dignified, and enigmatic. I'm lost in his trance, until he puts a hand on either side of me, inching closer to my face. As he leans in his warm cologne, I find myself closing my eyes, yet again. Curse you Eisuke! I scream angrily to myself.
"I have a job for you." He states, his breath tickling my face.
"Y-Yes." I open my eyes, to see he is still mere inches from my face.
Part of me begs for him to close the space between us, sealing our lips together, while the other, very small, insignificant part of me, hopes he takes a few steps back, allowing me to regain my senses. I must look a fool, as my eyes search his face, trekking from his eyes, to his ears, his lips, returning back to his piercing stare.
"You will be my girlfriend." He states, a smirk tugging at his lips.
Although I was aware this was going to happen, I found that I still had a tremendous sense of shock wafting over me. My eyes reflecting my shock, grew large, as he back away, clearly satisfied with the response he drew from me. I watched as he returned to his desk's chair.
"Be sure you are back in my office by 4 p.m." He said, before turning back to the work on his laptop. "You're dismissed."
Without another word, he returned his focus to the work that presented itself. His fingers dancing along the keyboard. Silence befell the room, causing anxiety to rise in my chest. I feel the tightness grow, as I begin to stand from my chair. Ultimately, I knew why I had to play the part of his girlfriend, but I had no idea it would have this debilitating effect on my body and mind. I felt an uncontrollable urge to demand answers for his reasoning, but a part of me urged that I trust him. I reach deftly for the now empty mug on the corner of the desk before heading toward the office doors.
"Your coffee was good." He said, causing me to stiffen at his sudden remark.
"Would you like another cup." I managed.
"No." He said still typing away at his computer.
Rejected, I excused myself from the office. I hadn't realized I was holding my breath until I started to feel dizzy, and gasped, exiting his bedroom. I was unaware of the devastating impact of the rejection. It's not like he said he hated your coffee. I thought, attempting to lift my spirits. But I made it exactly how I remembered he liked it. I countered, frowning as I entered the kitchen. I proceeded to wash the used coffee mug, drying it, and replacing it back in the cabinet. I glanced at my watch, seeing it was now nearly one in the afternoon, I decided that it was best if I left the penthouse to finish my responsibilities and clean the 42nd floor.
I hurriedly headed down the spiral stairs to the lounge, where I was greeted by the remaining bidders. Their jubilant voices lifted my spirits slightly as I attempted to unnoticeably reach my cart. I tiptoed over to my cart, pushing it gently away from its current position, and headed to the elevator. Much to my surprise, none of the bidders seemed to notice, as I turned around to sneak one last glance. All the bidders had their backs facing me, aside from Soryu, who sat in a chair facing the elevator. He had his legs crossed, much like Eisuke, seemingly focused on the newspaper he was reading. Baba and Ota were facing Soryu, hovering over a body that lay on the sofa, presumably Mamoru. I imagine, whatever they were discussing, did not bode well for Mamoru, who appeared to be sleeping through all the commotion.
Seeing this, I couldn't help but smile. Here, in this faux reality, it was becoming more apparent, these five men were a family. Despite how they all were unique, they all contributed something to this dysfunctional family. Almost as if he could read my thoughts, Soryu looked up from his paper, his eyes meeting mine. As soon as our eyes met, we both looked away, most likely from a mutual embarrassment. Luckily for me, the elevator doors opened, allowing for a reprieve.
Pushing the button for the 42nd floor, I felt a sudden sense of urgency, remembering what Eisuke had asked of me. I would be required to clean an entire floor in less than three hours, change into my day clothes, and make my way back up to the penthouse. I reached back into my apron, pulling my headphones and phone again, searching through the music on my phone.
"What horrendous taste in music." I remarked, scrolling through the various artists.
It's not that I had a strong objection to pop music, I just had preferred more variation. Pressed for time, I was unable to fix the offensive playlist, so I opted for the alternative and opened Pandora.
I need something fast-paced, something that will light a fire under my ass. I thought, racking my brain for the best song to start off with. X Ambassadors always make me feel like a total badass. I thought confidently, as I searched for their number one hit, 'Jungle'. As it started to play, I welcomed the familiar sensation as confidence grew deep inside my soul. As the doors opened, I rushed out, Carpe fuckin' diem.
I could feel the sweat, dewy on my neck, as I rushed around cleaning the floor. I was finishing up in my last room, and I still managed to have forty-five minutes, until I was expected in the penthouse. Girl, you're on fire! I complimented myself, smiling. Catching my reflection in the mirror as I rushed out of the door, I noticed the flushed color in my face, You're really on fire! I laughed, closing the door behind me. I grabbed a clean rag from my cart, as I pushed it quickly to the elevator. With forty minutes to go, I could take a quick shower, change into my street clothes, and make it up to the penthouse with time to spare. Take that main character! I exclaimed, proud of myself.
I pressed the button to call for the elevator again. This was the busiest time for the hotel. Many of the guest were either checking-out, checking-in, or departing for dinner or a night on the town. All I could think about was washing the sweat off my body and changing my clothes.
"Come on…" I groaned, growing impatient with the elevator. How long does it take!
I could hear the voices of hotel guests approaching as I stared at my reflection impatiently. The voices belonged to an elderly couple, that had been staying at the hotel since the beginning of the week. They were here, reminiscing about their youth and enjoying a honeymoon they never had the chance to enjoy when they were first married. They had grown on me in the short time I had been here, sharing stories of their past and inviting me in for tea. Albeit, they were elderly, which posed a problem for me at this particular moment. The elevator doors opened, and I could hear the older gentleman shout from down the hall to hold the door.
Turning to face him, I smiled and waved. "Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. Takahoro." I bowed, before moving toward the elevator.
"Good Evening, Harumi!" They said in unison.
I pushed my cart half-way through the elevator doors, before pressing the hold button on the inside. Returning to the hall, I started toward them.
"Please don't rush," I offered, approaching them. "I've temporarily stopped the elevator from being called, so there is no urgency."
From the short time that I spent with them, I had learned of their disabilities, that have prevented them from venturing far from the hotel. Enroute to the hotel, Mrs. Takahoro had taken a fall, because of which, she now is dependent on the use of a cane. She regarded me warmly, as I came up to her left side, offering her my arm.
"You're always kind to us, dear." She said smiling, "You've made this stay very enjoyable."
"Before we go, we must have a word with your supervisor." Mr. Takahoro commented, "We must inform him of the gem he has here as an employee."
I blushed at the honesty in their words as we neared the elevator. As I manager I very rarely received compliments, instead, I was always faced with what one of my employees did incorrectly, or how the customer disliked the changes the business was currently undergoing. The compliments I received, no matter how small, were refreshing.
"Here we are," I said at the elevator doors. "please watch your step!"
As we boarded the elevator, Mr. and Mrs. Takahoro indulged me in their plans for dinner that night, the actual day of their anniversary, which brought a smile to my face. I enjoyed their company on the ride down from the 42nd floor. As the elevator doors opened, I bid my farewell as I headed to the employee areas, and the Takahoros headed off to their reservation. I waited until I turned the corner to steal a view of my watch. 3:30 pm! I still had time to shower, Hallelujah!
I stopped off at the storage room to unload my cart of the supplies I had not used, and tucked away my cart. I hurried down the hall to the changing room where my luck prevailed and I was able to snag a shower before any other of the maids. Slightly out of breath, I wrapped a towel around my body, headed for the lockers. That had to be a record-breaking shower, I thought, reminiscing on the last time I rushed to shower. The only time I could come up with was an occasion in November, during a hurricane, when we had lost power in the apartment for two days. The water heater was large enough that we had hot water the first day, but the second day was horrible. The water was ice cold.
As I got dressed, I contemplated if I had enough time to blow dry my hair. At its current length, it took nearly 30 minutes to dry. I just don't have time, I thought as I regarded my reflection in the mirror. Even though it was towel dried, the moisture that lingered, gave it a disheveled look, that I had to admit, I was feeling. I perked up, feeling slightly sexy with my rushed look, quickly contemplating whether I should waste the time with make-up.
Glancing back down at my watch, I determined it was best I made my way to the penthouse. I grabbed the pager, throwing it in my purse, along with the penthouse key, slipping into my shoes. As I was locking up my locker, I could see Sakiko and Chisato approaching. I ran my fingers through my hair, tossing it to one side, as I approached them.
"Har-…" Sakiko started.
"Hi ladies!" I interrupted. "Busy girl! In a rush! I'll see you tomorrow!" I said with a smile, waving as we passed.
I felt bad, as I turned back around heading out of the changing area, but I really couldn't waste any more time. I had a pet peeve when it came to tardiness, and I certainly will not be late for Mr. Ichinomiya. Determined, I headed to the elevator, pressing the call button a few times. By the time it arrived, a crowd of guests had formed around the elevators, which in itself presented a problem. Although there were four elevators that were in use, only two ascended to floors above the 40th floor, including the penthouse. As I heard the elevators to floors 1-39 behind me open, I noticed the crowd had diminished significantly, but there were still a few people waiting for the elevator I needed so desperately. I silently prayed that both of the elevators came at the same time, distributing the guests evenly, causing less trouble for myself. Not only that, I was slightly embarrassed to be pressing the penthouse suite button in front of guests.
It felt as if the elevators took forever by the time the elevator doors opened. I rushed in the left elevator, hoping none of the guests would follow, but unfortunately a few did
"What floor?" I asked, as the elevator doors closed.
"45th." One man responded, before resuming talking on his cell phone.
"46th, thank you." A woman said, as she repositioned herself and the puppy she was toting around in a carrier.
"You're welcome." I retorted.
For the most part, the elevator ride was quiet except for the businessman who was talking on the phone in the farther corner of the elevator. I watched as the numbers above the door increased, nearing the floors I was assigned to clean. Hurry, hurry. I thought, looking at my watch.
"You're stop." I mentioned to the businessman, as the elevator doors opened on the 45th floor. He looked up, distracted from his phone call, pulling along his suitcase behind him and out the elevator.
With the businessman gone, the woman and I distanced ourselves, even though the trip to her floor was short-lived.
"Ma'am." I said as the doors opened on her floor, simultaneously pressing the button for the penthouse suite as she passed by.
When the doors shut again, a sea of relief washed over me, feeling the elevator ascend. The elevator was encased in mirrors, the lighting automatically dimming, adding to the aesthetic. I took a quick glance at my reflection in one of the mirrors. I smirked. I looked like a hot mess. My cheeks were slightly flushed, either from the adrenaline that pulsed through me as I ran around, or from the shower. I tugged at my blouse, evening out the sleeves that hung off my shoulders. I hadn't realized it before, but the blouse was just a tad too short, exposing a sliver of skin right above my jeans. Horrified, I tried to pull the shirt down further, but due to the nature of my endowed chest, the shirt kept springing back up.
"Fuck it." I muttered to myself.
I'm already this far up, there's no turning back now. Deciding to embrace the look, I verified the rest of my attire was in order. Just in time, I turned to face the elevator doors as they opened to the penthouse lounge. Cautiously, I stepped out. At least when I was in my maid outfit, I felt like I had somewhat belonged in the suite. Dressed as I was, I started to feel more and more like an intruder.
Much to my relief, the lounge was empty, however I could hear voices coming from the second-floor common area. I snuck a peak at my watch before climbing the stairs to greet the bidders. Right on time… I thought as I reached the top of the stairs.
"You're late." Eisuke said, watching me from his seat on the couch.
I opened my mouth to say something, but thought otherwise, as the other bidders, of whom had their backs to me, glanced over their shoulders.
"Well, hello pretty lady." Baba said, practically jumping from his seat across from Eisuke.
Instinctively I took a half a step back, as he approached rather vigorously. I watched as he observed me from head to toe, surveying my outfit, a smile crossing his lips. For a brief moment, I felt like a gazelle being hunted by a lion in the wild. An uneasy feeling crept its way up from my stomach, settling on my chest as he closed the distance between us.
"You're here seeking my company, I presume." He said cheerfully as he bowed before me.
"I…uh…" I started, as he took my hand, kissing the top. "I'm actually here because of…"
"Baba, stop torturing the poor girl." Ota interrupted from the couch.
In a second, Baba turned around, offering some retort, that slipped my ears, as I attempted to regain my composure. Distracted, Baba walked back over toward Ota and the other bidders. Feeling slightly awkward, just standing by the stairs, I followed suit, walking toward the lounging area. I only stopped, when I saw Eisuke rise from his seat.
"Let's go." He commanded, walking past me.
Speechless, I bowed to the other bidders, as I turned on my heels, in attempts to catch up to Eisuke's large strides.
"Leaving so soon!?" I hear Baba protest, before descending the stairs.
Catching up to Eisuke, as he called for the elevator, I glanced up at his profile. He didn't bother to look at me, but rather focused on the gold elevator doors. I opened my mouth a few times to say something, but with each fleeting thought, my gut convinced me to keep quiet. As the elevator doors opened, Eisuke walked in, pressing the ground level button, causing the elevator doors to almost close on me.
"Mr. Ichinomiya," I started as the elevator descended. "Where are we going?"
After a few seconds of not answering, I grew embarrassed looking up at him, so I focused my attention on the gold elevator doors in front of us.
"We're going to the Boutique." He offered sternly.
Startled, I glance up at him again, only to see him staring at the elevator doors again. He was standing as he normally did, with one hand in his pocket, while the other dangled at his side. It just so happened that the one side that was dangling was closest to me, which somehow made me very aware of how close we were standing.
"If you're going to be my girlfriend, you need to look the part."
"O-Okay." I said, suddenly incredibly aware of how different our appearances and taste in fashion were. I honestly preferred something that was comfortable, over style, but something told me that what I preferred was irrelevant.
As the elevator doors opened, I was startled by the warmth of his hand on my lower back, easing me out of the elevator with him. My eyes grew large, as I grew rigid under his touch.
"As my girlfriend, you ought to get used to me touching you in public." He stated so only I could hear, as he glanced at me sideways. "Also, address me by my first name."
I nodded, taking a deep breath, attempting to regain my composure. I honestly thought that all I would want is Eisuke to touch me, but now, in the moment, it nearly gave me a heart attack. I briefly closed my eyes, attempting to embrace the warmth of his hand on my back. I reopened them, taking a second to regard the profile of my faux boyfriend. His eyes were steadfast on the direction we were headed, as he guided me through the crowd. For a brief moment, it felt like it was only me and Eisuke. That is, until I became immensely aware of the various women whispering around us.
"Eisukeeee!" A taller, slender woman approached us, waving her clutch in the air, clearly under the influence. "Eisuke, did you miss me?" She cooed as she threw herself at Eisuke, completely unaware of my presence.
As soon as she approached I could feel the warmth of Eisuke's guiding hand disappear from my back. I couldn't help but feel as though a second ago I was floating, only to discover that my safety net had been eliminated.
"I'm sorry, Miss." He said firmly, gently prying her arms from around his neck. "I believe you must be mistaken."
"But…" She pouted as he released her arms.
"I think you must have mistaken me for someone else!" He offered a slight smile, one of his hands running through his hair innocently, as the other grabbed my hand. "Excuse us."
He dismissed her as he dragged me alongside him by the hand. Too embarrassed for the poor drunken girl, I kept my mouth shut, rather than give in to any of the various thoughts speeding through my mind. As we turned the corner, we slowed down and he released my hand. There were less people down this corridor of the hotel, despite the fact that the I.V.C. would be starting soon. It wasn't long before we stopped in front of a woman's boutique. As Eisuke entered the boutique, an older and shorter saleswoman hurried out from behind the counter.
"Good Evening Mr. Ichinomiya." She bowed her head, as we approached. "How may I be of assistance tonight?" She questioned as I heard the doors lock behind us.
I turned around, startled by the noise, seeing two other saleswomen approaching us from behind.
"I would appreciate it if you could assemble an ensemble for my girlfriend who will be attending the I.V.C. with me tonight."
"I would be more than happy to oblige." The older woman smiled, unfazed by his request, extending a hand in my direction. "My dear, please follow me."
I nervously glanced at Eisuke, as I followed the older woman deeper into the store. He was following behind us, a smirk tugging at his lips.
"Hurry dear," the woman ushered me into a large white room. "We don't have much time before the I.V.C.!"
The walls were adorned with various paintings and fixtures. The floor was carpeted with the finest looking gunmetal grey oriental rug. The drapestry was a shade grey that only varied slightly from the carpet. The curtains were tied back with sheer grey ribbons, that appeared to shimmer in the light. In the center of the room was a black leather couch, on which Eisuke had already planted himself, immersed in his cellphone. He propped himself up in the corner, facing me, his lithe figure seemingly relaxed.
Torn from my observations, I felt a tug on my arm, turning me around. The three saleswomen surrounded me, suddenly striking fear into my chest. All three had measuring tape out, lifting my arms and measuring my bust, waist and hips. After a moment of taking other measurements, and communicating in sighs, grunts, and thoughtful looks, the three women disappeared. It was only then that my attention was focused on where I current stood.
I was surrounded by three very large and very revealing mirrors. On either side of the mirrors were two large curtains, of which ran on a track attached to the ceiling. I was raised on a platform with contributed to the newfound height that I was experiencing.
In a flash, the women returned with various wardrobe options, that included heels, purses, dresses, shawls and more. One of the younger women approached me, handing me an asymmetric red sequenced strapless dress, silver opened toe heels and a sequenced red clutch. As I removed the articles from her arms, she proceeded to close the curtains around me, allowing me to change. For a second I stood in shock. How did this become Pretty Woman? I thought to myself before placing the clothing on a nearby ottoman. I shook my head in disbelief as I started to undress.
Slipping into the dress, I frowned. There's no way he would like this. I'm putting it on just to hear his rejection and move on to the next dress.
"Um," I start. "Excuse me?" I poke my head out from between the two curtains.
"Yes dear?" the older woman answers.
"I'm sorry, but could I see another dress?" I ask.
"Oh dear, does it not fit properly?" She asks.
Insulted, I frown, "No," I say rather quickly. "I'm just not a fan of the design." I admit.
"I didn't ask your opinion." Eisuke states from behind before the older woman could respond. "Let's see it."
Hesitantly I emerge from behind the curtain, immediately regretting my decision. The look forming on Eisuke's face is sheer disgust, as he looks at me from head to toe.
"Horrid." He exclaims frowning. "Next." He adds before returning his attention back to his phone, completely disinterested in anything else.
The second girl hands me her choice of an ensemble, which appears to be a very safe option. The accessories are all black, while the dress itself is black and has a lace halter. The neck line is low, but the back is even lower. I shake my head, disappointed in the choice of clothing these girls have already presented me. I had to admit, I even had better fashion sense.
The change from dress to dress was easier. As I sat on the ottoman, I slipped on the iconic Louboutin opened toe pumps. I rise to my feet, turning to the mirror to give myself a quick once-over. The dress itself was cute, but incredibly revealing. The halter top was laced, dipping low, meeting a rose gold high-waisted belt. The dress itself didn't extend further than half way down my thighs, revealing far too much skin for my own good. I turned around to view the back, which I have the most reservation about. The lace trailed in two sections down the sides of my back, exposing the center, making me feel rather vulnerable. He's just going to reject this one as well, but here goes nothing. I encourage myself to step outside of the curtain.
"Too slutty." He remarks, not even looking up from his phone.
"My, my…" The older woman says, as she hands me the final ensemble.
Please, God, please let this be the one!
I slip out of the black dress with ease, returning it to the girl who had given it to me, before slipping into the dress the older woman had picked. The dress was snug, as I slipped it on, encouraging me to doubt the fashion sense of the three women. With my back to the mirror I smoothed out the edges, tugging at it gently where I felt it clung to my skin. When I turned to take a quick look in the mirror, a small gasp escaped my lips. The dress was absolutely beautiful. The scarlet red color complemented my skin, giving it a more porcelain finish. The translucent red floral lace was stunning from head to toe. The dress tapered closer to the knees, before fanning out slightly at the end. Although the Louboutin pumps were not visible, they contributed to the height, which lengthened my figure, creating a silhouette that was stunning even to me.
With new found confidence, I pulled back both curtains, placing a hand gently on my hip.
"You look beautiful!" The older woman exclaimed in a hushed tone.
I spun around, slowly, relishing the moment, unware that Eisuke had looked up from his phone and was now watching my little act. When I turned back around, our eyes met, causing my cheeks to flush with embarrassment.
The four of us waited anxiously, as he stood from the couch. He replaced his phone in his pocket, before turning his back on us.
"Sufficient." He said before exiting the room.
I was about to take a step off the platform to hurry after him, but I remembered what I was wearing and went to pull the curtains closed.
"Hurry, dear," the older woman exclaimed, pulling the curtains back open. "He might leave without you."
"But," I hesitated, "We need to pay for these."
"Mr. Ichinomiya has already covered the expenses." She stated, as if this had happened numerous times before.
I nodded, before lifting the dress, enabling me to speed walk in the direction the Eisuke had left. He stood by the door of the boutique, impatiently watching me as I walked toward him. When I finally reached him, he exited the door, leaving just enough space for me to slip through behind him. I remained behind him, as we walked through the hall to the next destination.
"T-thank you." I muttered.
Not that I had anticipated a response, but Eisuke just continued walking in front of me, unfazed by my comment. Focused on his back and remaining upright in such high heels, I realized I was now only slightly shorter than he was, which meant we were close to being eye-to-eye. The thought intimidated me slightly, thinking how equal we would actually appear.
Eisuke turned suddenly in front of a beauty parlor, opening the door, and entering. As I entered, a gentleman rushed out from behind the counter, with the same urgency as the older woman who greeted us at the boutique.
"Mr. Ichinomiya," He bowed, "How may I be of service?"
Eisuke stepped aside so that I was in view of the beautician. "Please make her suitable for the I.V.C." he said before disappearing deep into the salon.
"My, my… honey, do we have work to do!" The beautician clapped his hands together, eyeing me from head to toe. He stretched out a hand, pulling me toward an empty chair near a shampoo bowl.
The beautician elaborately draped a cape around my body, lowering the chair so that the back of my hair rested against the shampoo bowl. He began humming, as he gently started washing my hair.
"Please don't cut my hair." I begged.
"Oh honey, we don't have time to do that." He said wrapping a towel around my hair, gently raising me from my leaned back state. "Please follow me to this chair." He pointed with one hand as the other held the towel around my soaked hair.
As I took a seat, he gave the towel a good squeeze before removing it and tossing it in a nearby chair. He turned to his arsenal of products, contemplating for a minute, before picking up a gold bottle that contained a serum. He pumped a few squirts into his hand, before emulsifying it and distributing it through my hair, roots to ends.
He wiped his hand on his apron before picking up the largest round brush I had ever seen and his blow dryer. It had been years since I had taken a trip to the hairdresser's. Working as a manager, distributing beauty supplies, hadn't left much for the imagination. Every day I interacted with hairdressers. At no point had I had any interest in interacting with them during my time off. However, in this moment, I questioned why I hadn't gone sooner. The warmth from the blow dryer felt incredibly good against my skull, as he worked his way around, styling my hair. I closed my eyes relishing the moment, knowing it wouldn't last forever. When I opened my eyes, he was nearly finished and it looked beautiful. He had produced large, beautiful curls that framed my face in the most flattering manner. Finished blow drying, he rummaged through one of his drawers, creating noise from the metal and plastic colliding together.
"Aha!" He exclaimed, pulling a rose gold hair piece from the depths of the drawer.
He turned back around to look at me. Focused on one side of my head, he gently pulled the hair back, slipping the hair piece in, holding it in place.
"Voila!" He said, spinning around behind me allowing me to survey his masterpiece.
"Sufficient." Eisuke said, emerging from the back room.
I stood, after the hairdresser removed the cape from around my body, facing Eisuke.
"Let's go." He said, extending a hand. As I placed my hand in his I noticed in his other hand was the clutch he had purchased. I absentmindedly left it behind in the boutique, along with all my other belongings.
I silently followed behind him as we exited the parlor and emerged into a now crowded hallway. Everyone must be here for the I.V.C., I thought to myself, as I looked around at the attire of the men and women who surrounded us. Eisuke pulled me forward by the hand, as I was unware I was falling behind. He removed his hand from mine, replacing it with the clutch and slipping his arm around my waist, pulling my body closer to his.
Embarrassed, I blushed, unable to look up at him. Just as we were about to reach the doors of the I.V.C. Eisuke pulled through a set of doors. He roughly pushed me up against the hallway wall. He looked around us, before closing the distance between us. His face was mere inches from mine, as he glared at me.
My mind completely blank, all I could do was stand there looking at him.
"Listen to me very carefully." Eisuke started. "There is a very important person at the I.V.C. tonight. His daughter is infatuated with me, but I only have an interest to conduct business with him."
He places a hand on the wall behind my head.
"You are here, so that I can dismiss his daughter, without the potential of ruining the business proposition I have worked to establish."
He placed a second hand on the opposite side of my head, distracting me briefly, causing me to turn my head. I immediately regret it, as his hand comes down on my chin, coaxing me to look at him.
"You need to call me by my first name." He continued, "I've altered your appearance, so now you look like a woman worthy of me." He paused, "Now you must act like a woman worthy of being my girlfriend."
He paused, his eyes holding mine. "Understand?"
"Yes," I nod not breaking eye contact.
He releases my chin, and I feel a pang of disappointment, discovering I was hoping he was going to kiss me. Instead his arm sneaks back around my waist, pulling me even closer to him. I straighten up next to him, my arms falling loosely at my hips in front of me clenching my clutch, as we walk through the doors and into the I.V.C.