Chapter 4: Inevitable
Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma 1/2
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Incoming call... Selfish Tomboy.
His phone has been ringing for a while now, but he was too shocked to pick it up.
"Sir, your phone." His gorgeous secretary called him out of his daze.
"Ah, yes." He's in the middle of an important meeting. "Excuse me." He said and stood up, still not pressing the answer button.
He stepped out of the conference room filled with branch officers, cleared his throat before finally answering his phone.
"Yes, hello?"
"Ranma... It's me, Akane."
"Oh, yes..." he answered, keeping his voice in check. "What's up with the surprise call?"
"Did I call you at the wrong time? Are you busy?" she asked.
"No, not really." he lied, walking away from the conference room. "Why? Can I help you with something?"
"Well, actually, I'm here in front of your office..."
"You do?"
"Hmn... Would it be okay if I ask you out for a cup of coffee?" she asked.
He peered out thru the window blinds as if he could catch a glimpse of Akane across the busy street from the 30th floor. Fool! What are you being excited about? he scowled at himself.
"Are you still there?" she asked. "I promise, I wouldn't take much of your time."
"Yes. Yes, I'll be right there." He said, dropping the call, rushing into the elevator door that just opened.
He pressed the down button.
What am I thinking? Leaving an important meeting without notice. Without thinking twice. Worst, without a solid reason! I'm so dead if Pop found out about this. He thought, ignoring the vibrating phone inside his pocket.
He met Akane across their building entrance.
"What happened?" He asked worriedly, seeing Akane's bloodshot eyes.
"I'm sorry for coming here to meet you without prior notice. I, I..." She looked away as her lower lips quivered.
"Come here." He said as he grabbed her hand, dragging her into the nearest coffee shop.
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"I'm sorry. I know you're a very busy person, but here I am, holding you up," she said as they settled.
"What happened?" he demanded. She looked down. "You know you can tell me anything."
"Will you really be able to help my dad's company if you get yourself married?"
Did he hear that one right? God, forgive me. "Y-yes... I could." His heart started pounding hard against his heart.
She then looked up to meet his eyes and asked him again. "Have you already found yourself a, a bride?"
He blinked, once then twice... Am I hearing this right? "I've got myself another ideal prospect." He answered. Truthfully.
"But she's abroad. She had a career to take care of before she could be here. But what's important is she's willing to leave it all behind though it's gonna take much longer time." he said, emphasizing the "time" part. What's wrong with you, Ranma?!
"How long?" she asked.
"Months or worst, a year. I just hope that dad doesn't donate my inheritance to the charity yet before that time comes."
Her face has fallen. "That long..." she murmured.
"Then does that marriage proposal thing still on?"
"Unfortunately, yes," he answered.
"If I accept that, could you help my father right away?"
He nods. "Yes. Definitely."
"Well, you see..." she sighed heavily. "Nabiki and Kasumi told me about how bad the situation is..." she proceeds with great difficulty.
"They told me how father did everything to save the company that I ignored and how far they tried to help him. They told me that they both tried to pursue you, but it's me who you want to be your bride." She smiled wryly. "They told me that father knew about it but but didn't dare to try and talk me into it," she said in a low voice.
"I really thought it would not affect me at all, but I was wrong when it almost cost my father's life." Akane paused as her voice broke.
Ranma restrained himself from seizing her trembling hands.
"I wanted to help your father, Akane. I really do. Sir Saun's situation has been bugging me." He confessed. "Your old man has been hunting me down since day one of my arrivals, trying to seek out my help about your family business condition. And yes, he has been trying to marry me into one of his daughters but, but I've kept him waiting at the bay with my delaying tactics. I'm sorry, I just couldn't make a deal with your father unless I'm one hundred percent certain that it's you that I will marry. If only the stake weren't that personal." He said sincerely. "And I couldn't help him either unless I'm married. I've got no power over my Pop's company without that goddamn marriage license."
"If you could promise me that you'll protect my father's business no matter what, I think I can agree on being your fake wife."
Fake wife. His inner self repeated mockingly but shrugged it off. "Really?!" He's too grateful to be distracted with nonsense. "You can't take that back, okay?" He had to be sure.
She then closed her eyes, took a long, deep breath before finally nodding vigorously.
He released the breath he's been holding in as his lips broke into a wide grin. "Thanks, Akane... You really save my life this once," he uttered breathlessly.
"Okay then... Let's discuss the details of our agreement later. For now, I need you to go and get ready."
"Get ready for what?" she asked.
"Uhm, there's this event tonight that we could use as an opportunity to announce our engagement," he answered cautiously.
"That fast?!"
"We gotta hurry if we both want to save your father's business and my inheritance."
Her troubled face bothers him. "Please, don't tell me you change your mind," he asked.
"I don't, but... You know that I'm not really in to - you know that I hate crowd," she explained.
"I know, but this one is important. After this one, I promise that I will try my best to keep you out of these needless parties, hmm?"
Silence.
"Okay." she finally said, looking worried and stressed, but still looking pretty though... even with her bare face.
Bare face. Were there any other woman her age, nowadays, who doesn't wear makeup? he wondered.
"And one more thing... Uhm, you'll need to wear makeup and dress up tonight."
Her head then fell down and would hit hard against the table should his hand have missed her forehead.
"Shit, Akane! What's that for?!" he snapped. Thankfully his reflexes are still at its best. He sighed.
She didn't answer. Her warm forehead still pressed against his palm.
"Hey, meet me at the 2nd Tower's lobby tonight at six, okay?" he asked and felt her nod her head.
He exhaled.
God, why does she keep making me hold my breath?