Fists and Lipsticks 2: The Silver Crescent

CHAPTER 22: Surrender

CHAPTER 22: SURRENDER

You're afraid, aren't you?

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I slammed the folder close and pushed it back towards him. I glared at Kosuke, hoping that my intimidating stare would drive him away. I was confident that this 'look' was going to work, just like in the past where it would take only this much effort to leave him flabbergasted.

Instead of being astounded, however, he flashed a confident smirk as he placed his attaché case on top of my desk, opened it, and pulled out another document. "My credentials," he said as he flaunted to me his impressive résumé. "Graduated from Harvard Law School with the highest honors, owns the prime Yamazaki Law Firm, handled more than 300 cases, 76 of which are business related, and at the same time, I work as the speaker for my father's political party. Now tell me why I don't deserve this job."

I felt a lump forming on my throat in an instant, leaving me speechless. I watched as a self-assured grin formed on his lips, showing utter pleasure with the sight of my stunned face. I clenched my fists in my attempt to conceal the sudden uncontrollable trembling of my fingers. The Yamazaki Kosuke I've known from high school, the guy with an impossible temper, the fool, the good-for-nothing – now there in front of me, this time, trying to outsmart me.

I had to admit that I was left flabbergasted myself. And I had to admit that I was awestricken with how things were seemingly backfiring. I knew that I should be the one smirking, while he should be the one with this frown, with this glare, with these anxiously clenched fists.

I can't believe he's toying with me!

"You don't deserve it because I say so," I answered him, trying my best to look as tough as I could. The more I glared, however, the more that smile persisted. It came to the point of being distracting, and so I immediately shifted my gaze away from those dreamy eyes that stared directly back at me. I motioned towards my desk, sat down of my recliner, and crossed my legs.

"I own this business, Yamazaki-san. I have the right to choose whom and whom not to hire."

"If you aren't Ayane-chan, you wouldn't be acting so uneasily," Kosuke folded his arms on his chest. "It's either you are naturally intimidated by the presence of people you've just met... or we've actually spent time together quite often before... or maybe there's something more. Which one is it, Lady Nu Huang?"

"What is your point?" I raised an eyebrow. "And what makes you so confident that I am the person you are looking for?"

"I knew it the moment I saw you in the Cultural Festival."

"Cultural Festival? What would someone as busy as I am be doing in such a cheap festival?" I laughed mockingly. "Mr. Yamazaki, as you can see, I am a very busy person. I wouldn't waste my time going out to participate in such pointless, childish cosplays."

"And I wouldn't waste my time pretending to be someone else I'm not unless it is for a good reason," Kosuke retorted. "But if that someone has done it in the past, she can do it again, right?"

What?

"I'm sure this time, she has a good reason," he leaned towards me until his face was only inches away from mine and looked me straight in the eye. "I'm dying to know what that reason is."

"W...Why are y-you ... doing this?" I managed to say in a stutter. His face was too distracting. Without the tension of being in a chase, the fear from being suspended meters above the ground, and the raindrops washing his face, I was given that opportunity to study him up-close. His features have become sharper, manlier. His nose was well-shaped; his lips were thin and moist. His skin was vibrant. His mere presence was magnetizing, and as I looked straight to his eyes, I felt as if my energy was being sucked out of my body gradually leaving me weak, leaving me with no choice but to surrender.