Original Sin (MewGulf AU)

🌻Chapter 15

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"Okay, so we're going with the first design for the phone cards?"

Everyone attending the meeting nodded at Makihara. They had already decided to give out calling cards as gifts for the company's fifteenth anniversary, but they hadn't yet picked a design.

Emergence was still going strong. It had sold 400,000 copies, so Makihara and the sales department were constantly flattering Gulf. But the depression lingering in his heart never dissipated. Though it had been nearly a week since that night in the hotel, Gulf hadn't felt like seeing Mew and Mew hadn't called him either.

Gulf didn't like the idea that by yielding to Mew in exchange for pleasure, he had let the man give him orders about how to do his job. If Mew had something to say about their relationship, that was different. But it seemed to be breaking some unspoken rule for Mew to mention Bright when Bright had nothing to do with them. Since Mew had never before interfered in his job, Gulf felt even more depressed.

That night had been terrible. Gulf has gotten his underwear dirty, of course, but even his suit are ruined, so Gulf couldn't leave the next day until Mew bought him some new clothes. After that, Mew had been extremely nice to him---maybe even chivalrous. They had ordered breakfast from room service, and when Gulf said he wasn't hungry, Mew had fed him with his own hands. But that wasn't enough to make Gulf forgive Mew for his actions. Gulf doubted whether Mew knew the meaning of 'regret'.

Mew never retracted his demand that Gulf avoid Bright as much as possible outside of work and Gulf couldn't understand why Mew was so concerned about Bright. Was Mew jealous? But Gulf was only helping Bright out as an editor. If Mew was jealous of Bright, he would have to be jealous of the other authors Gulf worked with, including Ichikura. Gulf might be acting extra considerate with Bright since he was a new author, but that didn't mean Mew had to act so irrationally. Gulf couldn't believe that a logical man like Mew could be so jealous since Mew possessed such a unique thought process. How could he feel something as pedestrian as jealousy? Gulf felt conceited just thinking about it.

"And how are everyone's project going? Gulf?" Makihara asked, bringing Gulf back to the meeting. He looked up, startled at the sudden turn in the conversation.

"Yes?"

"How's your first project going with Bright?"

"There haven't been any problem so far."

The only problem had been when Mew suddenly showed up at a meeting with Bright and then dragged off Gulf to a hotel. Whenever Gulf remember that, Mew's cold, clear voice ordering him not to spend any more time than necessary with Bright burst back into his mind and depressed him.

"And Takashima?"

"It's been a bit of a battle. The proofs are coming out on wednesday, so I should have something the week after next."

"If it's not ready for publishing next month, there's going to be trouble."

There was an implication that Takashima's novel was a must-have and Gulf's face hardened under the pressure. "Yes, sir."

Gulf realized he couldn't keep obsessing over Mew. If Gulf let the man disturb his way of doing his job, it would disrupt everything.

At last, the meeting ended and Gulf clapped his notebook shut and stood up from his seat. As he was leaving the room, Makihara called him back.

"Is something wrong, Gulf? You're even quieter than usual today."

Gulf tilted his head slightly. "Am I?"

The majority of the editors had already left the room. Only Gulf and Makihara had left. Every Wednesday at five o'clock, they had a departmental meeting. The only time Gulf ever spoke was when he had opinion to express.

"You've looked kind of depressed lately. Is something wrong?"

"You should stop putting so much pressure on me and give me some vacation!"

"Sorry. It's only because I know what you're capable of."

"I'm sorry. Do I really look that bad?"

"You look much more down than usual."

More than likely, some of the other editors had said that Gulf, usually so mild-manner and courteous, was looking down. But there was no ill will in what Makihara said. He was only concerned, so Gulf apologized.

"You don't need to apologize," Makihara said. "I was just making an observation. I can't stand to see you looking so wrapped up in your thoughts. People only do that when there's something bothering them. Don't let it get too bad."

That reminded Gulf that when he had
been sufferring from his infatuation with Mew, Makihara had been the first to notice. Realizing he had to be careful of the man's astuteness, Gulf smiled.

"I'm fine. I feel bad for making you worry over for nothing."

"Well then, sorry I brought it up." Makihara clapped lightly Gulf on the back and Gulf let the momentum of it carry him out of the room.

Maybe he was being selfish by not wanting anyone else to know about Mew. Maybe he was a coward. Trying to keep his work and private life separate, he had been unable to talk anyone about his relationship with the person who drove him so deeply into his own thoughts. The truth was hardest part for Gulf. It trapped him in a downward spiral.

Sitting a his desk again, Gulf took a breath and leaned back in his chair. The steel chair creaked, echoing the pain of his heart which could find no escape.

Gulf turned his computer back on and launched his e-mail program. The e-mail retrieval animation looped and finally announced three new messages. The first was a reply from an author he had been sending cover designs to. The author had asked for something a little more lifeless and described concretely the color scheme he wanted. It would probably be easier to deal with over the phone.

The next message was from Bright. The subject line simultaneously gave Gulf a bad feeling and momentary rush. Bright was asking for advice. Preparing himself for the worst, Gulf double-clicked on the message, but it described an incredibly simple problem that almost disappointed Gulf, 'I need to find something out for a plot point in the book. Would you come with me to do the research?'

Gulf first thought Bright didn't really need to have him go along, but Bright was going to a mountainous area of Nagano prefecture and it looked like he needed to go by car. Looking over the map and other information in the attached files, Gulf realized that it would be difficult to go alone. Figuring that no one else could accompany Bright to such a remote place, Gulf accepted the invitation.

But since Bright had no track record with Sozan Publishing, Gulf didn't think his boss Makihara would give Gulf the go-ahead to accompany him for research. A popular author like Mew would be no problem, but Bright was so new. If it were somewhere close to Tokyo, maybe, but they were going to a mountain village in Nagano where they would have to spend at least one night in a hotel, and possibly two.

If Gulf could convince Makihara that Bright could better evoke the isolated mountain village where his story took place by getting a feel for the real thing, Makihara wouldn't be able to contradict that. And Gulf couldn't deny that he felt a little repelled by Mew after he'd tried to subjugate him with his lust.

"Sir Makihara?" Gulf called out.

Makihara looked up. "Yeah?"

"Could I take a day off next week?"

It would have been ideal to stay one night and two days and do the research over the weekend, but Gulf had proofs to finalize by Monday and had to be at work on Sunday.

"Sure, but why do you want one all of a sudden?"

"I have some personal business to tend to. I thought I'd take a little break before we finalize the proofs on Monday."

"Good idea. If that cheers you up, I'm all for it. Go relax."

Gulf smiled, reassured by his boss's instruction.

TBC