Corporate Prince

Chapter 17: Equals

     Ana made her way back to her house and paused at the door. She took a deep breath before she entered the front door. Her mother stood inside the entrance hall waiting for her with her "fiancé".

Ren turned to her when she entered, he'd been holding a bag of ice to his nose. He pulled it down, and she saw his nostrils were red and swollen. He was blushing fiercely while frowning, Ana assumed from a mixture of anger and embarrassment. "Ana-chan, I understand that you're nervous about marrying me, but really? That's the trash you fool around with?"

"Pardon?" Ana's shoulders tightened as she looked to her mother. Her mother's eyes narrowed a little at his statement.

"I understand you're nervous, who wouldn't be? Don't worry though you'll be properly trained as a bride before the wedding, so you can stand next to me. I understand you're still young, and need to get it out of your system before the wedding, so I won't say anything about who you fool around with before the wedding. Just remember that none of the things you mess around with can stand up to my credentials." Ren shook his head then looked down at her condescendingly. "However, I think it best if you end your association with that one. Really, what were you thinking?"

Ana's mouth tightened as she listened to his backhanded insults to both her and Seto. This man is the worst piece of shit. Why did Grandpa pick him? When he'd first shown up, he'd introduced himself as Kinoshita Ren. After that it was all downhill. Everything that came out of his mouth had been about him and only him. He'd bragged about his wealth, his hobby, and he'd even fished for compliments about his own looks. The only two people he'd listened to during dinner had been her grandpa and her father. At one point her mother commented on a part of the conversation, but instead of answering her, he'd looked at Ana's father and continued the conversation with him. Even Amin-chan talks about other things and listens when I speak.

Ren pointed to her. "Also, burn that."

"What?" Ana looked down and realized she was still wearing Seto's coat.

"I say we should burn you." Hikari appeared in the hallway.

"Hikari!" Her mother snapped at him, but Ren held up his hand to her.

Ren smirked at Hikari. "A person who can't even inherit their own family's title doesn't have the right to say that to me."

Hikari's cheeks turned cherry red and his hands curled into fists as he glared openly at the man. The hate visible on his face. Even with Seto, she'd never seen so much rage from her big brother before. A door slid open from the dining room and her father popped his head into the hallway.

"Ana, your grandfather wants to speak with you."

Ana clutched Seto's coat around her and quickly sidestepped around the people blocking the hall. She went out to the dojo and knocked. A loud "Enter" from her grandpa made her flinch. She slid open the door and found him sitting in front of the shrine with her grandmother's photo.

"Sit." He didn't even look at her.

Her heart beat loudly and she shivered as she approached. Removing Seto's coat, she sat down and neatly folded it before placing it next to her. Placing her hands in her lap, she kept her head bowed and waited for the judgment. A heavy sigh caught her attention, and she peaked up. Her grandpa was frowning, his eyes crinkled with sorrow. She'd never seen her grandpa looking so tired and worn.

"Today was a mess," he mumbled.

Ana bowed her head again and held her breath as she waited for the scolding to follow. There was only silence. After a while she looked up and found her grandpa looking at her almost guiltily.