Kiss Kiss Go to Hell (OHSCH fanfic)

24 - Keeping Up Appearances

"A party?" I blinked at Mr Ootori, who almost looked bemused at my reaction. "You're hosting a party? Here?"

"I can host parties wherever I want," he watched me over his glasses.

"But you're hosting it in here?"

"A suitable location I'd say," he smirked. Kyoya was so much like him it annoyed the hell out of me.

I nodded, "but isn't that inviting trouble?" I tried to get him to see my anxiety.

"Are you questioning my power of security? Has your guard not helped you significantly?"

"He's been amazing, but-"

"The security at the party will be high. Standards will be high," Mr Ootori told me, "And the Kurosawa's will be there."

That grabbed my attention. It grabbed my attention, smashed it against the wall several times, then threw it on the fire.

"Why?" Was all I could get out of my throat which was closing up at the very mention of that name. The whole room started growing darker and darker, and my ears began ringing.

"We need to keep up appearances, relations. We have to act like everything is fine and show them we won't cheat them out of social occasions, if we do, they may drop our deal."

"That's ridiculous!"

"That's business," he said sternly.

"Do I have to be there?" I pleaded.

"It'll look suspicious if you aren't."

"So you want me to forget all about what they did to me?" I felt my voice getting louder as i stood up from my seat. "You want me to fucking party with the Kurosawa's?!"

"Language, Rin!" He boomed, also standing up, towering over me from the other side of his desk. He put his hands onto it and leaned closer to me. "What happened to you is unfortunate, but this party is big for Kyoya's future, the company's future, even your future! And if all those futures are put at risk due to this incident, it'll hold you back further."

"So you're saying to j-j-just forget about it?"

"I'm saying you should let it make you stronger. You were struck down and now you're back up. That makes you strong." He pointed a finger and jabbed the desk. When he saw in my eyes that I understood, he sat back down. "All you need to do is be in the same room as them. We have to do that in the business world. You've already done it when the media talked you down before, so do it with these people."

"But I really can't be in the same room as-"

"Niko will not be there." I raised my eyebrow. Mr Ootori nodded. "Our agreement with the Kurosawa's was to keep him out of the city."

"Why would they agree to that? They could tear down my father at any moment."

"We have evidence that could damage them as much as they could damage your father, including what happened to you. It would get messy. I said with this only condition, charges will not be pressed and there won't be exchanging of detrimental horrors."

I sighed.

"The party will be next week. I will make sure your friend, Tanaka Kazuna and her family will be invited."

I nodded. "Is that all?"

"Fyumi will contact a designer of your choice for your outfit. Any preference?"

"Yuzuha. I want Hitachiin as my designer." I demanded without hesitation. "Although, I'll be kept out the press so why do designer clothes matter?"