King's Prize (Kissed By The Baddest Bidder)

Chapter 11: The Calm Before The Storm

"When's he getting back, miss?"

Honey smiled teasingly and I blushed, thinking how curious my question must've sounded, but I just couldn't get him out of my mind for days now, and every minute with him gone is driving me crazy. He was in Dubai, the construction of his hotel there had kept him away for two weeks now, and though he had returned to Tokyo a couple of times, he didn't stay long and would leave again before I could even say goodbye.

Not that my 'goodbye' mattered to him. I just hadn't thanked him yet and felt the need to do so.

Outside the hotel restaurant where we were seated and having lunch, I could see the usual guests by the lobby- gorgeous, confident women, some of which were probably waiting for him.

As pathetic as I am.

I was really looking forward to see him again. He had left me flowers the night of the fashion show, and I wondered desperately if he had seen me, for why else would he leave those flowers if he hadn't seen my modeling debut that night? I was more than proud of that, and daily I made sure I thanked Ota for giving me the opportunity. But Eisuke's opinion was what really mattered to me, and I really want to hear from him what he thought of me up there.

Which makes me doubly pathetic than those other girls.

***

"It's not like him to tell anyone what he does," Honey said gently, trying her best not to put the girl down, for Satine's huge crush on Eisuke was almost inevitable after the latter spent an entire night taking care of her. He was unreachable afterwards, called by business no less, but that didn't stop Satine from constantly asking about him, and though Honey was glad that she seemed to be recovering, she couldn't help but feel apprehensive too.

After all, Eisuke was known for his coldness, and his unintentional cruelty might hurt Satine.

The girl couldn't stop gushing about him, though, and Honey dismissed her misgivings.

"You like him."

Satine blushed deep red. "No, of course not."

"Of course you do," Honey said with a chuckle. "Who wouldn't?"

Satine asked hesitantly, "So why didn't you miss?"

Honey smiled. "I've been inlove with Soryu ever since..." She was about to say 'ever since he bought me at the auctions' but immediately checked herself and merely added, "ever since I laid eyes on him."

"But Mr. Ichinomiya.. He's still in love with you, Miss. Baba said so, and I know so. I can never compete with that."

Satine's face fell, looking so adorable that Honey patted her hand. "Hey, I thought you're a brave girl. If you want him to notice you, we'll make him notice you."

Satine's face brightened at that. "You will help me?"

Honey nodded enthusiastically.

Satine giggled, all too suddenly excited at the prospect.

***

"Art lessons? Dance lessons?"

Mamoru looked incredulously to the girl grinning at him.

"I also have modelling lessons every Saturday morning," Satine said proudly, looking sideways at him. "And speech and character development--"

Mamoru snorted from the driver's seat. "Is Honey setting you up to marry a rich guy?"

"No." Yes, her mind screamed. After all, Eisuke is way beyond rich, but she wasn't going to give the slacker any hint of that. "She just believes a girl should excel at least in something."

"Yeah, that's Honey, alright." Mamoru smirked as he drove through the traffic. "Can't believe she made me chaffeur you around. What a waste of my expertise, this is."

***

I giggled at Mr. Kishi's petulant tone.

I had been dutifully attending my classes since, and I planned to repay Honey's generosity by being worthy of every single cent she paid for me. The art classes were mostly basics on painting and sculpture which was obvious from day 1 I had no talent with at all, but my dance lessons were improving.

Ota had taken it upon himself to instruct me on modelling, though, and he was a hard teacher, remembering how knocked out I had been after my first fashion show with him, for he said and I quote, "Your were graceful, my pet, but you have so much more to learn if you want to survive the competition."

I was grateful for everything, though.

My wounds had healed by now, and unbelievably so, I was living in the penthouse, Eisuke designating the guest room as my own, apparently before he left. The twin beds were removed, replaced by a four-poster bed with lace drapes on it the kind of which I had only seen on TV. Honey, and sometimes with the nurse Miss Xindy, would go shopping with me for all the things I might need.

They had literally taken care of everything, and I felt like I was floating in the clouds.

"Well, you might end up with a rich guy after all if you managed to excel in all that," Mamoru said, his voice cutting through my thoughts.

I hope so, I said to myself, sighing.

It had been a month now, and still Eisuke returning to Tokyo isn't happening anytime soon, if Baba's predictions were to be believed. The hotel in Dubai was pushing for a Summer opening, which is in more or less four months.

Eisuke might be gone until then.

And I had until then to at least be noticeable when he comes back.

"Hey kid, where are we going exactly?" Mamoru asked clearly confused.

I really had to stop thinking about him, I thought as I began telling him directions.

They pulled up a small building minutes later, and as I went out of the car, Mamoru leaned over. "Give me a call if you're done and I'll pick you up."

I smiled gratefully and waved.

***

"Took a long while to find the bastard," Soryu intoned, pouring himself a drink.

"I'd still say that was quick," Mamoru grudgingly commented, a little impressed that the mobsters were able to locate the man responsible for Satine's kidnapping.

"He was one of those new yakuza gangs in the north," Soryu added. "I have instructed Samejima to locate the other girls Satine was with that night, we only found a few."

"I'll take them from you then," Mamoru said in a serious tone.

Honey looked enraged in her seat. "Where's the bastard?"

"At the warehouse, sweetie," Baba answered her. "Eisuke specifically said not to touch him until he return. The bastard's going to be a gift to Satine."

Mamoru snickered, turning to Honey. "If she's going to have a gift like that, shouldn't you tell her first you're in the mafia?"

"She doesn't have to know that, Mamo," Honey replied in a whisper. She had grown quite fond of the girl, and Honey wondered how Satine would react if she learned about their 'secrets'.

"Sweetie, she will know sooner or later," Baba said sagely. "She's staying for good."

The others were silent at that, each on their own thoughts.

"Miss..."

Honey turned around sharply in shock. Satine was by the door, and by the look on her face, she had heard everything. They weren't expecting Satine back at the penthouse this early, she was supposed to have her dance lessons until late in the afternoon. Honey visibly paled as she stared at the girl, unable to say anything.

"Are you really in the mafia?" Satine asked, her voice breaking, her body trembling as she stared at the faces now looking back at her, their expressions making her feel as if the world crashed down around her.