King's Prize (Kissed By The Baddest Bidder)

Chapter 27: Compromise

"Satine, I'll just go down to the market, get us some food. Do you want anything?"

I coughed as dust flew to my face and I heard Dad bark out a laugh. We've been cleaning the house for more than three weeks now and I still don't understand how it could so easily get dusty like this. I mean, I've been cleaning it like crazy since we arrived, stopping only to eat and sleep. 

"Nothing dad, I'm good."

"Okay, see you in a bit."

"Yeah."

I heard his fading footsteps, and only then did I sit down.

The house was impossibly huge for the two of us alone, significantly smaller than the chateaux I've seen only in French movies, of course, but no less beautiful. Ten guest rooms, three living rooms and one massive dining room, aside from the master's bedroom which took up most of the third floor, to say nothing of the bathrooms. There was a balcony, a garden surrounding it, and I imagined how it must've looked like years ago, when people still tend to it; it must've looked pretty with all the flowers. 

Dad said the Delacroixes were not a particularly wealthy family but looking at all the furniture and stuff, I could believe otherwise.

And being the only son of an only son, Dad inherited the house, which was sadly neglected for decades, my dad having stayed in Japan for so long. He was too poor and unemployed most of the time that he couldn't save enough for a plane ticket, and since coming back, the first thing we did was sell a few paintings and furniture.

Surprisingly, they were sold at quite a reasonable sum, enough to get us by for months.

Yet I feared the house repairs would bankrupt us before the month is over. 

I might agree to his suggestion after all, that we lease the house and just rent a smaller apartment in the city.

I jumped up from the seat and taking the broom with me, started walking to the direction of my room. 

It was the biggest on the second floor, Dad taking up the master's bedroom upstairs which took  three days to finally become habitable. Mine however, simpler and more feminine than the other rooms, took me less than an hour, though cleaning the entire second floor was another matter.

I removed the apron and hanged it by the bathroom. One thing I was grateful of, though, was that we're not so far outside the city that there wouldn't be a decent internet connection.

It was the first thing Dad had applied for and set up, reasoning how he needed to find a job, but I knew he was more concerned that I'd be bored up here.

But I wasn't bored. There was so much to do I never had the time to think, and it suited me fine.

Getting myself busy and tired like this, I would be asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow.

I stared at my phone.

I never bothered contacting anyone at Tres Spades. I have no reason to, and thinking about them hurts me anyway.

I tried my best not to think about him during the day; the nights, however, are different.

I shook my head as if to clear it. I was almost done cleaning the entire house and Dad was merely waiting for my decision. We had bonded over these last several days; I have forgiven him for abandoning me and mother, and things were relaxed between us now as if all those years that he was gone had never happened.

We might have to post an advertisement on the internet, I thought sadly. We really couldn't afford the house and I know that now. Taking out my phone, I started taking pictures of various parts of the house.

***

"Still nothing on Xindy Lee?" 

Soryu ignored the insult in Eisuke's tone and muttered, "We are looking hard enough, but she seemed to have fled the country." After a pause he asked, "How long do you plan on delaying the auctions, Eisuke?"

"You know my answer to that, Sor. No auctions until Xindy Lee is found." With nothing more to say, Eisuke hang up. 

The others already knew what went on without Soryu having to say anything.

"He didn't say when he'll be back," Honey whispered as she paced the length of the lounge. "He's been in Dubai since Satine left."

"Man, he's more stubborn than I thought." Mamo lit up a cigarette and to his astonishment, Ota snatched it from his hand. "Hey!"

He was about to take a puff when Honey took it from him. "Ota, that's not funny."

"Mamo said it helps clear his mind off of things," he teased, hoping to dispel the gloomy mood. 

Honey smiled and shook her head. "No, it doesn't."

Mamoru scowled at them and Honey tapped his arm. "Sorry, Mamo. Here, have a chocolate instead." She held out a chocolate and Mamo snatched it from her hand.

"He did take Baba along, though," Ota said with a pout, ignoring Mamoru's glare. "I can never understand him. He sent my model away. He's not talking to us. He was more brokenhearted than he was letting on, and he didn't know that."

"Eisuke has his reasons," Soryu said, pouring himself a drink, wondering what those reasons could possibly be. 

"I wonder how she is," Honey said all too suddenly, her face clouding over.

"I'm worried too, my pet," Ota said sadly.

***

Russo Delacroix cringed at the blank expression of the man before him.

Cold and calculating, a dangerous combination for someone so young, he thought to himself, and knowing his part in this young man's life, Russo knew he had no choice but to take what Eisuke Ichinomiya would demand of him.

"I don't need your apology, and I won't have no for an answer."

Russo's fingers trembled on the cup of coffee and he set it down on the table.

"If you wanted me to leave my daughter, why did you send her away with me in the first place?"

The young man's gaze didn't waver. "She would have wanted the chance to be with you. I cannot deny her that."

Russo knew better, and he smiled bitterly. "I'm guessing you thought you could do without her, and just now realized you couldn't." Eisuke Ichinomiya said nothing to that, and Russo continued, "I'm right, then."

"It doesn't matter now."

Russo took a deep breath and exhaled. "But she is all I have left."

"She has me." He pushed a blank check infront of him and Russo winced. "You will leave her and may call from time to time, but you will not show yourself to her again."

Russo straightened and pushed the check back to Eisuke. "I don't need it, Mr. Ichinomiya. I cannot take back what I did to you and your family, and I know you will never forgive me, but Satine... my daughter means everything to me now. Ask for anything instead, just not her."

The young man smirked. "You do realize you have no choice? I have evidence from all those years ago that can get you to jail, and Satine will be truly devastated."

Faced by the cold stare that wouldn't back down, Russo's shoulders slumped, defeated.