A couple of weeks later, Mr. Kaiza has work to do at some nightclubs in Sovereign City this week. I would like to go with him, but he strongly denied my request at first. His explanation was 'dangerous,' but his task was only business discussion. I insisted on going with him, and Mr. Saya supported my back. Mr. Saya is like my pal right now, hahaha. I respect him, but he's my closest pal who always has my back.
"This dress…"
I mumble to myself.
I step out of the gate door, but the long dress is too tight around my butt and my hips. It's quite uncomfortable when I lift my leg. The cut-through side of the dress is up all over my hip area.
"..."
I manage to get down and walk properly on the path, and I notice Mr. Kaiza is watching me without blinking.
"Good evening."
I greet him.
"..."
"Hm?"
I tilt my head at him because he doesn't respond to me.
"Good evening, Zephyra. Let's get inside."
"I just got out?"
"I mean, let's get inside.. the car."
And then he opens the car door for me.
"Where's Jodai?"
I ask for him.
"I'm here, Master."
He comes to us and waits for me to say something.
"You go with me, right?"
I ask.
"Yes, I.."
"He can go with others."
Mr. Kaiza interrupts him.
"What about the shotgun?"
I offer the front seat near the driver.
"Yes, Master."
He hurriedly answers me and is about to help me get into the car.
"..."
But then Mr. Kaiza stops him.
"...No worries."
I say.
"..."
"I can get in myself."
I mumble to myself.
And while I put my butt on the seat, the cut side of the dress is falling, and both of them look at me. Mr. Kaiza quickly blocks the view.
"Get in the car."
He orders Jodai.
"And what are you guys looking at?"
And he tells his men standing facing us, waiting for our departure.
"No, sir!"
What is going on?
"Mr. Kaiza."
I call him and pull his suit from behind. He glances back at me and bites his bottom lip. And then he finally gets into the car and sits next to me.
The Ferdi Club
We're at the Ferdi Club. Mr. Kaiza has a business date with the club's owner, Hendric Ferdi. We leave the car, and several security guards stand at the entrance. The man in a suit walks toward us.
"Good evening, Mr. Kaiza, please come in. My boss is waiting for you inside."
"..."
He says nothing and lifts his right hand a bit for me, and I put my hand on his forearm. And he leads and takes me inside.
While walking in our direction, we pass the bar section where most common people gather and have fun with the beverages, music, and shows. The second section is the casino section, where people are most crowded, merry, and depressed in the same place. We pass another entertainment section, but it's quiet and private in a seductive way. I notice each separate seat has a curtain to blind the view. But the light inside can clearly show their shadow of what they are doing. Flirting, making out, admiring each other, touching in the open. I quickly turn my face back to un-see the erotic scene.
Mr. Kaiza notices my behavior and gently touches my hand. I don't want to look at his face at this moment, but I wonder what expression he's making right now. I squeeze his arm a bit and look straight behind the red, black door.
The man in the suit opens the door and announces our arrival to his boss.
Mr. Kaiza bends his body and whispers to me before we're about to step inside,
"Tell me if you feel uncomfortable."
His breath touches my ears.
I look at him.
"Or just squeeze me like that before."
He continues whispering.
"..."
I'm staring at him and nodding to answer, and I think my cheeks are blushing right now.
He pauses his following action. Instead of getting inside, he puts down his arm and puts his hand inside my hand.
We are holding hands while his eyes aren't moving away from me. Meanwhile, other people are waiting for us and watching us. Jay, Mr. Kaiza's bodyguard, and Jodai are waiting behind us.
"Mr. Kaiza?"
The man in the suit calls him to return to Earth.
Mr. Kaiza takes me with him by holding my hands inside that room.
"Good evening, Kaiza… sit, sit."
The big man is sitting on the sofa.
"..."
He glances at me.
"Ooh, and don't tell me she's your fiancé?"
He asks while we're sitting on another sofa across from him. Jay and Jodai walk past us and stand behind the sofa.
"Yes."
Mr. Kaiza asnwers.
"You're so brave to take her out in public."
"..."
What is that supposed to mean?
"She's very pretty.. too beautiful for men's eyes, don't you think?"
His glance is still on me.
"..."
The man across from me makes a mischievous face to us. But Mr. Kaiza says nothing, just glares back at him.
"Hehe, don't worry. I keep my eyes at a distance but for someone else. I can't help you."
"Let's talk about what we discussed before."
Mr. Kaiza changes the subject.
"Heh? Shall we lose up a bit? You're too intense…Boys, bring up the good things for this man and beautiful lady right here and.. some specialty for Kaiza as well."
Specialty?
"Yes, sir."
They answer.
"..."
I glance at Mr. Kaiza. His reaction has remained the same since we got here, and his hand is still holding mine.
During the wait, he is observing us, mostly me, and the behavior of Mr. Kaiza, who doesn't let my hand go.
His men come in with beverages and several sexy, beautiful women inside.
So, is this the specialty for him?
"Come, come, girls. Do whatever you usually do."
The big fat man tells the girls with his smile, and they do what the man tells them, they all look happy in my opinion.
"..."
One of the girls comes to sit next to Mr. Kaiza.
Is this man trying to provoke Mr. Kaiza or me?
"Let me pour a drink for you, Mr. Takaki."
The woman says to him, but Mr. Kaiza sits still. I glance at him to see his reaction, but he looks straight at the big man.
"it's your favorite"
The big man.
"You always ask for it when you are here. Do you know Miss Zephyra? He used to come here very often, but after the engagement, he's gone."
He used to come here?
"Really?"
I speak my first word.
"Heh, yes."
The big man answered with a smile.
"..."
Mr. Kaiza turns to look at me.
"Just for work."
He explains.
"Hm."
I make a sound.
"..."
The fat man chuckles in his throat and signals a sign for the woman to offer a drink to Mr. Kaiza. He stares at Mr. Kaiza until he takes the drink from that woman.
This woman smiles too wide for her face.
"I want you to resign the business in the outland area."
Mr. Kaiza says.
"..Why?"
"Like I said."
"Why don't you remind me."
".. It's off limit."
"Did you ask Charon?"
Charon? my father?
"Yes."
"But he denied?"
"..."
No answer for Mr. Kaiza, and the big man shifts his eyes to me.
Maybe he knows that I was one of the Stygians.
"If you resign, it will be only him left."
Mr. Kaiza explains.
"You don't allow us to do business across the Dirtline because it's not your territory or because of your personal reasons?"
The big man asks.
While they're talking with each other, the woman who is sitting next to Mr. Kaiza moves her hand on his thigh. And she glances at me with a smile.
Hmpt.
Then I take my hand off Mr. Kaiza's hand.
"I will not explain my reason twice if you don't resign. I handle it another way."
"Calm down, boy. There's no need to rush, and no threats need it.. I'll think about it."
"You said it before."
"..."
This bitch still puts her hand all over Mr. Kaiza. I glance at him, but it seems like he ignores everything.
She started to get on my nerves.
I pick up my glass and drink it.
Wow… tense.
"Do you like it?"
The big man asks me.
"Not much."
I answer directly.
"Hahaha."
Then I drink it again while I'm crossing my legs. I need to calm myself before I snap. Mr. Kaiza's working, so I need to behave.
Mr. Kaiza seems hot. There's sweat on his side cheek.
"Can you stop?"
Mr. Kaiza talks to the woman who is touching him.
"You never mind when I do this."
She answers.
"!!"
I raise my right eyebrow.
*Sigh
My eyes are not that bright anymore. My eyelid is getting down, not because of the alcohol or the environment here but because of the man who is sitting next to me. Let the girl touch him non-stop. He used to come here and let the girls touch wherever they liked. Serving him the drink and maybe more.
Hmm, I'm not pleased at all.
"Well, let's just say I'll think about it truly this time. I might love counting the gold, but if there's no one secure for me, then...I might change my mind."
The big man explains.
"..."
Mr. Kaiza bottoms up his drink.
"You don't look like your father."
The big man turns to talk to me and opens up his mind.
"People always say that."
I answer.
"You must look like your mother…"
"..."
I lean my back to the back.
"She must be beautiful."
"Yes, she was."
"Now I see you, I understand why Charon didn't want to introduce you to society all this time."
"How long did you know my father?"
I ask.
"Too long, that man has an eager eye for business. His son, too. But that boy's quite dangerous for me."
Achlys?
"What can I say? They're an ambitious family…but you are one of them, heh."
"..."
"Why did you end up with the Takaki?"
"Hendric, please mind your own business."
Mr. Kaiza warns the older man.
"What? She's here with you, and we're talking about her father. It's still the business."
"..."
Mr. Kaiza tries to put his hand on my waist.
"You married him because of your ambitious father's idea or from you?"
"Hendric."
Mr. Kaiza calls his name once again, and his fist clenches hard.
"Why? Are you jealous?"
I ask back.
"Heh, Hahaha."
"And I'm not married."
I say.
"..."
The man across from me stops smiling for a second, and Mr. Kaiza looks at me in confusion.
"Can I ask you something, Mr. Ferdi?"
"Of course."
"How many girls do you have?"
"Ha?...I mean, I'm old, but I'm not married..."
"Hehe. No, I mean your workers, the girls who work here."
I lean my body in front, away from Mr. Kaiza's hand.
"Oh, I thought you were going to hit on me or something."
The big man answers.
Mr. Kaiza's fist clenches harder than before.
"Hehe. Well, a lot. Why?"
The big man answers.
"Hmm."
I turn my body to the side toward Mr. Kaiza a little and look at him in an unpleasant way. And I think he knows. I move closer to him and raise my left hand to hold his face to be closer to my cheek.
I can feel his face hot and hotter.
"Mr. Kaiza, do you like this girl, the one touching you right now?"
I whisper while holding his face. And move to the back of his neck.
"!!"
His nose and his lips touch my skin on the shoulder.
"No! Zephyra."
He answers strongly.
"I see."
I whisper, and then I move myself back. I see his face is blushing a little bit.
"I am kind of bored. Can I walk around your place, Mr. Ferdi?"
I ask and smile for him.
"Yes, would you like my man to..."
And then I glance back at the woman next to Mr. Kaiza. After she hears me, she moves her hand all over him.
"*Sigh"
"No, it's okay...Jodai."
I answer him and call my man.
"Yes, Master."
He steps forward, and I pull his tie down closer to me.
"Your knife, please."
I say softly to him, and he doesn't hesitate to take out his knife.
I see Mr. Kaiza glares at that woman so awfully, but that hand...
Then, Jodai gives me his knife. I take it, then I move my body and grab that little hand.
"Arg!"
She makes a sound.
"You need to stop touching someone who isn't available."
I tell her.
"Argg!!"
And after I say to her, I stab the knife in her hand into the back of the sofa.
"Oh!"
The big man is shocked.
And also Mr. Kaiza.
"Zephyra..."
He calls me lightly.
"Excuse my manners, Mr. Ferdi. I hope you have plenty of girls to replace that one."
"Er...Well, I have plenty of girls."
He's still shocked at what he saw, but his mouth turns wide again.
"I hope you will think thoughtfully about Mr. Kaiza's offer. Well, excuse me…Jodai."
I say to Mr. Ferdi and tilt my head to call my man.
"Yes, Master."
He answers.
"I'll wait for you outside, Mr. Kaiza."
I tell him. I grab Jodai's wrist and drag him out of the room frustratedly.
Well, at least I tried to calm the fuck down.
"I like her… very much."
Mr. Hendric says it after I leave the room, but his voice leaks before the door shuts.