King's Prize (Kissed By The Baddest Bidder)

Chapter 24 : Trouble In Paradise

Kissing me was probably the fastest way to wake me up, I thought happily.

He was kissing me relentlessly, and to prove I'm awake, I wrap my arms around him and kissed him back.

"I like this. Clears my mind better than your coffee," he murmured before kissing me again.

My coffee. My chest warmed at once that Eisuke could joke about it though he hates it. We woke up sometime in the middle of the night after a furious lovemaking, and I made coffee for both of us, which unfortunately, was left cold and untouched after just one sip, Eisuke deciding it was terrible like always and kissed me instead. I admit I never really got the hang of it, and I self-consciously giggled but my chuckle was lost in his kiss.

"Satine... I have to... work today," he was saying in between kisses. "Meeting... at nine."

"Go ahead... Make us more money," I replied breathlessly.

"Devious girl," he said, smirking. "Just the way I like it, though."

"I know," I said, my eyes straying to the clock beside the bed. Good. We still have plenty of time before his nine o'clock meeting, and pulling him close, I lose myself in the sensation that was Eisuke.

****

"When are you planning to tell him?"

Soryu looked up from all the money on the table, his mind going blank at once. Honey entered the office with a shy smile as the Dragons stopped from their counting and bowed down to her, the gesture never failed to send her into a fit of the giggles.

"They'll never stop doing that, won't they?"

He stood up and bowed down to her, too and she slapped his arm playfully. "No, they won't. As long as I do it, they would too."

Honey shook her head. "Thank you boys, but can I talk to your boss privately for a while?"

The Dragons left the office one by one, and Inui, always ready to impress, was the last to leave, after assuring "princess" that he'd just be outside the door.

Honey thanked him prettily and Inui smiled gratefully.

"You're so sweet to him," Soryu said, jealousy lacing his voice.

She laughed and tiptoed to be able to reach his lips. "I love it when you're so possessive."

He shook his head and pulled her tighter, inhaling the scent of her hair.

Hmm, sweet.

"Why are you here? Didn't you tell me you'll go shopping with Satine?"

"I changed my mind. I'm so bothered I might blurt out what we've learned anyway, and then I'll have a lot of explaining to do." She pulled back from him and sat on his table. He wrapped his arms around her.

"I'll tell him tonight."

Her brows furrowed. "Soryu... It might be too much for them."

Soryu heaved a sigh and laid his head on her shoulder instead. The information on Xindy Lee was suddenly eclipsed by something more unbelievable, and only Samejima's diligent digging were they able to stumble on the secret.

"She might be happy, but I'm afraid for him." Honey reached up and brushed her fingers on his slicked back hair, her touch giving him shivers.

He cleared his throat. "I've known him a long time, but I still can't tell how he'll react."

"Then let's do this. You tell him and I'll tell her," Honey suggested, her eyes sad.

Soryu shook his head. "I admit I still get jealous whenever you get near him, but this time we have to change places, princess. I'll tell her and you tell him. He might take it kindly with you saying it."

Honey looked as if she would protest, but then she nodded, kissing him tenderly, and Soryu felt a calmness almost at once. "Let's do it then."

***

Soryu smiled as Satine placed a cup of coffee infront of him, and she waited with what looked like bated breath as he picked up the coffee and took a sip. He tried hard not to wince. So this was what Eisuke was talking about.

"Thank you," he intoned.

She beamed. "You liked it?"

Soryu was never taught to lie, so instead he asked, "Why are you alone? Where is Eisuke?"

"He said he'll just meet with someone, but we'll go down to the casino later."

That someone was probably Honey, he thought. He nodded at her.

"Satine, may I ask you something?"

"Anything."

"What do you know of your father?"

Her eyes widened at that, and confusion laced her features that he should ask such a thing. "I don't know much about him, just that he left when I was three, or so my mom told me. I couldn't even remember his face."

"Did she tell you why he left you?"

"She just said he did something unforgivable, and staying in Japan would be dangerous for all of us."

"That's all?"

Satine narrowed her eyes. "Why do ask, Mr. Soryu?"

Soryu's expression was cool when he answered. "I have found him, Satine."

***

What?!

I stood up in shock, but as his words sank in my addled brain, my knees went wobbly and I swayed back down in the sofa.

Soryu's expressionless face was enough to make me realize that he was indeed speaking the truth.

"What? How?"

Soryu pushed infront of me a piece of paper, and for a while I looked at it as if it's going to bite me any second, still unsure if I really wanted to know. I used to think he was dead, and now Soryu's implying that my father's alive somewhere.

My fingers trembled a little when I took the paper from the table. It was a printed copy of an old picture, my Mom smiling in the arms of a foreigner, and with heart pounding I flipped it over and tried to make sense of the words at the bottom left.

Ayessa and Russo, 1994

"I found his name on the list of everyone who had been connected one way or another with Samuel Xi, past and present. His surname piqued my interest; after all, there isn't a lot of Delacroix here in Japan."

There were notes at the back of the picture: addresses, names, dates-- probably Samejima's handwriting, I couldn't be sure, but the writing was sure recent.

So his name was Russo Delacroix, and he's in Nagoya right now.

That was all that mattered to me, the other information I was no longer interested in.

He's alive.

And I might see him again.

I dropped the picture on the table and asked. "Can I see him?"

"Yes," Soryu answered after a little hesitation, the expression so fleeting I might have imagined it.

"There's one more thing, Satine."

"What is it, Mr. Soryu?"

He looked at me gravely, and I felt a little trepidation. "He's not exactly in a good condition."