Seto Kaiba sat at his desk, his eyes flicking to the clock on the wall every few minutes. The office was quiet, the only sound the faint hum of the city outside. He had been waiting for Kisara all evening, but she hadn't shown up. His irritation grew with each passing minute.
His phone buzzed, and he quickly picked it up. It was a text message from her.
Seto, I'm so sorry. I'm stuck at a party and can't leave yet. I'll make it up to you, I promise.
Kaiba's jaw tightened as he read the message.
He tossed his phone onto the desk, his anger simmering just below the surface. He stood up, pacing the room, trying to focus on anything but the frustration gnawing at him. How could she let him down like this, especially after their earlier conversation?
His phone buzzed again, and he snatched it up, expecting another excuse. Instead, it was a photo from the party—a glamorous event with celebrities and flashing cameras. Kisara stood in the center, smiling brightly, looking every bit the star she was.
Kaiba felt a pang of something deeper than anger. He couldn't deny that he was proud of her success, but it stung that her career constantly pulled her away from him. He sat back down, staring at the photo.
Despite his anger, he couldn't stop worrying about her. All that attention, all that popularity she had gained made it difficult for him to look after her and prevent similar incidents with Alex from happening. Was she safe?
His phone buzzed again.
Seto, please understand. This was a last-minute thing. I really am sorry.
Kaiba sighed, his anger slowly giving way to a reluctant understanding. He typed a reply, trying to keep his tone neutral.
Just be careful. Call me when you're done.
He put his phone down, leaning back in his chair. His irritation was still there, but for now, he would wait and hope that Kisara would find her way back to him soon.
The next day, Kaiba's secretary buzzed in his office.
"Mr. Kaiba, your 10 AM meeting with Joanne Black is confirmed. She'll be here shortly."
Kaiba barely looked up. "Understood."
A few minutes later, the doors to his office opened, and Joanne Black walked in, exuding confidence and charm. She was dressed impeccably, her smile bright and engaging.
"Mr. Kaiba, it's a pleasure to finally meet you in person," she said sleekly.
Kaiba glanced up, his expression as cold as ever. "Miss Black. Let's get started."
Throughout the meeting, Joanne subtly flirted, trying to draw Kaiba into conversation beyond business. She laughed at his curt responses, leaned in closer than necessary, and complimented him on his business acumen.
"You must be under so much pressure, running a company like this. It's impressive how well you handle everything."
Kaiba didn't even blink. "It's my job. Shall we continue with the agenda?"
Joanne's smile faltered slightly, but she pressed on. Over the next few meetings, she tried various tactics to get closer to him, but each time she was met with Kaiba's unwavering professionalism and cold demeanor.
In one particularly frustrating meeting, Joanne tried to compliment Kaiba on his recent success in the latest Duel Monsters tournament.
"I must say, Mr. Kaiba, your strategic mind is as attractive as your... other qualities."
Kaiba's gaze sharpened, his voice ice-cold. "Miss Black, if you're not here to discuss business, this meeting is over."
Joanne flushed, her attempt at charm blatantly rejected. She realized then that Kaiba's heart was not easily swayed and that he was clearly in love with someone else.
On another occasion, as Joanne was leaving Kaiba's office, Mokuba entered. He paused, his eyes widening slightly at the sight of Joanne. She noticed the younger Kaiba's reaction and saw an opportunity.
"Oh, hi! I didn't know you were meeting with my brother."
"Hello, Mokuba." Joanne said, smiling warmly. "Yes, we were just finishing up. It's nice to see you again."
Mokuba blushed slightly. "Nice to see you too, Miss Black."
As Joanne walked away, she glanced back at Mokuba, a new plan forming in her mind. If she couldn't get to Seto Kaiba directly, perhaps she could use his brother to gain the access and information she needed.
Joanne began arranging casual encounters with Mokuba, making sure to be friendly and approachable. She found it easy to engage him in conversation, noticing his growing interest in her. One day, she spotted Mokuba sitting alone at a table in the KaibaCorp cafeteria, absorbed in his meal. She picked up her tray and walked over, flashing a bright smile.
"Mind if I join you, Mokuba?"
Mokuba looked up, startled for a moment, then smiled back, a hint of a blush on his cheeks. "Uh, sure, Miss Black. Please, have a seat."
She sat down gracefully, placing her tray in front of her. "Call me Joanne. No need for formalities."
Mokuba nodded, still a bit shy. "Okay, Joanne. How's your day going?"
"Better now that I have some good company. How about you? Keeping busy with KaibaCorp matters?"
"Yeah, there's always something going on. But I like it. Keeps me on my toes."
Joanne leaned in slightly, her eyes twinkling. "I bet you're really good at what you do. Your brother must be so proud of you."
Mokuba blushed deeper, looking down at his food. "I try my best. Seto expects a lot, you know?"
"I can imagine. You're doing a fantastic job, Mokuba. It must be exciting, working in such an important role."
"Thanks, Joanne. That means a lot."
Joanne reached out and lightly touched his arm. "It's true. And so polite and kind, too."
Mokuba's heart raced at her touch, and he struggled to maintain his composure. "Uh, thank you. You're really nice too."
Joanne smiled back, leaning in closer. "You know, Mokuba, I really enjoy our little chats. You're a breath of fresh air in this busy world."
Mokuba's blush deepened, and he looked up, meeting her gaze. "I enjoy talking to you too, Joanne."
"I'm glad. How about we have lunch together more often? It would be nice to get to know each other better."
Mokuba nodded eagerly. "I'd like that a lot."
"Great! It's a date then." Joanne greened.
Mokuba's eyes widened slightly at the word "date," but he quickly smiled. "Yeah, it's a date."
Joanne leaned back, satisfied with the progress she was making. She could see that Mokuba was smitten with her, and she planned to use that to her advantage. But for now, she enjoyed the genuine conversation, knowing that it was just a small step in her larger plan.