Love's Labours Lost Chapter 4 (page 1)by Stella and Rose

[blackrose]

?Relena, will you join me for dinner this evening quietly, or do I have to kidnap you?? He asked, casting a sidelong glance at the very attractive young woman beside him.

Title: Love's Labours Lost
Author: Stella and the Black Rose
Category: AU. Romance. Comedy. Crossover (w/Esca, Trigun, and Weiss Kreuz)
Rating: PG-13 for now.
Warnings: Heero and Van say the "F" word. *gasp*
Spoilers: It's AU. No spoilers.

(If you haven't read them yet, you can find the Prologue, Chapter 1, Chapter 2, and Chapter 3 here)
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AN: Ta-dah! Yay, another chapter!!! As for the other fics, we?re still working on Across Enemy Lines and Missing by a Mile, and we don?t cave to threatening letters, phone calls, insults or assertions that we?re ?late?. We appreciate very very much everyone that is still following our other fics, but right now, LLL wants to be written and the other ones are living anonymously in warmer clients sending us taunting letters and hanging out on the beach with Lady Saffir?s Heero clones. As soon as we can get another chapter written of either Enemy or Missing, we will post them without delay. We promise that we?ll finish all our fics. Thank you ever so much for your patience ? grudging and otherwise. Love, Rose and Stella



Disclaimer: We own nothing, not even the computers we?re using. :razz:



Chapter 4



The shrill scream of the phone, was it? Sliced through the peace and quiet of the condo and pleasantness of Vash?s dream? ?Mmmmmmmm, Tinnnnnna.?

RRRRRRRRRRRRING!

?Damn!? Vash grumbled as the saucy red head disappeared from his mind, and his eyes opened to take in the foreign surroundings. ?Where am I? Oh. Yeah. How could I forget??

RRRRRRRRRRRRING!

?The phone? Oh hell. I?m coming?? He shuffled out of bed, jolted to instant alertness as the freezing cold tile connected with the bottom of his bare feet. ?YEEEEOW!? He danced on tiptoe across the floor to the phone hanging on the opposite wall of the kitchen. ?Brr, brr, brrrrrr! AAAck!? He dove for the phone, then leapt away to stand on the tiny rug located in front of the sink.

?Hello?? He gasped out at the unknown caller, heaving from exertion.

A familiar voice, as cold as the tile, sounded in his ear. ?Vash, what the hell??

?And good morning to you, too, boss.?

?You?re supposed to be registering for classes with the rest of us. Get your butt down here or else.?

Uh-oh? ?Why didn?t you wake me up?? the blond asked, desperately searching for a heat source. His eyes rested on the toaster and he lunged towards the counter, hitting the on button and holding his hands over the slats.

?We tried. Several times,? Heero hissed. ?You said you?d be up in a second, and meet us at the school.?

Ahhh?. Warmth! ?I did??

?Yes.?

The small appliance clicked off, once again baring Vash?s skin to the frigid air. ?Oh man... I?m on my way. Save me a place in line, k??

?Just get down here. Now.?

?Damn, day two of this stupid bet and it still sucks.? Vash pouted, hanging up the phone and mentally preparing himself to race back across the room and down the hall to the shower. ?I wonder how long the others will make it before they fall.?

He took a deep breath and launched himself towards the bathroom.

The answer isn?t where they?re looking; I just hope they aren?t too stubborn to admit it when the time comes. Who am I kidding? Van and Heero are the two most stubborn men in the world. Please, for their own good, they need to lose this bet. And for my sake, I hope it?s soon?

******

Still shivering, Vash grabbed his coat and headed out into the hallway. ?I?m so sure there was no hot water left ? some friends I have? Oh, hello there!? He smiled, greeting a portly man in a blue uniform. Vash moved towards the elevator, finger poised to press the down button, but his gloved hand froze in mid-air when he noticed the large sign the stranger was placing over the doors.

?Out of order??

??Fraid so, pal,? the repairman confirmed, huffing as he kneeled by the dimmed control panel. ?I should have it fixed in about an hour.?

?An hour? I?m in a great big hurry, sir. I can?t wait that long!? Vash groaned, biting his lip and shuddering as his gaze drifted towards the stairwell.

?Ya looks like a young guy. I?m sure ya can take the stairs.?

Vash pointed to the end of the hallway, his voice taking on a higher pitch. ?But mister! Listen to me, you have nooooo idea what lives in there! It?s a giant??

?Hey buddy, if you keep yappin? at me it?s gonna take me that much longer to get this thing workin?. Didn?t you say you was in a hurry??

?Ehhhh?? Vash stole a quick glance at the clock in the hall. Heero was going to kill him for sure. There was only one thing left to do?

?Be strong. It?s only a furry little critter. He just surprised you last time, he can?t be all that big and mean.? Taking a deep breath, Vash tugged on the cold metal handle, warily sticking his head into the musty and forbidding darkness of the seemingly deserted set of steps.

?Hellooo?? He listened carefully. No scurrying or scratching sounds ? no squeaks? ?Hey, maybe he?s hanging out somewhere else, or taking a nap after ingesting a small child. I think the coast is clear,? the blond grinned, stepping gingerly into the darkness.

?Don?t worry, be happy?dooooo doo doo doo da doo da doo da doo da doo, don?t worry,? Vash sang, listening to his voice echo as he moved through the stairwell. He had trudged down a mere two flights when two golden sparks ignited from a remote and dismal corner, carrying with them an angry scrape of a long rodent tail being dragged over the dusty wooden blanks.

?What the-?? Vash could hear his heart drumming hard within the confines of his chest. A clammy coat of moisture covered his palms, and he squinted into the murky air.

?Oh? hey there, General.? He laughed, his eyes fixed on the shadowy outline of the animal. Yes, the dang rat really was that big. ?Uhhhh??

The glowing embers halted, staring up at the man, as if daring him to speak. ?Hmmm - You don?t like my song, is that it? They say music soothes the savage beast, lemme think? Oh!?

Vash cleared his throat, belting out the only rodent-related tune he could think of: ?Come along and sing the song and join the jamboree. M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E.

The creature advanced, scuttling as fast as its stubby legs would allow, corralling the tall intruder to the other side of the landing.

?Not a Disney fan, I see! Uh? nice rat. I come in peace! Oh my God! AHHHHHHHH?..?

******

PCC Office tower, downtown NYC



Hitomi raised her hands in a helpless gesture. ?I don?t know, Rel, it just wasn?t working out. What?s wrong with me that I can?t stay interested in a guy for more than a week??

?There?s nothing wrong with you, Hitomi. It?s the guys you?re choosing, trust me. Amano was nice enough, but??

Green eyes squinted as an impatient frown overtook Hitomi?s features. ?Amano and I broke up three weeks ago, Relena. I?m talking about Peter.?

The young vice-president shook her head. ?Okay I know I?ve been working too hard, but which one?s Peter again??

?The stock broker.?

Relena wrinkled her nose as she frowned. ?Ummmm?.?

?Bow tie, suspenders, slightly graying. Older??

?Oh!? Her friend grinned, finally able to put the name to a face. ?The Pencil neck??

Hitomi threw back her head and stared at the ceiling. ?That was Dorothy?s name for him, yes.?

?Geez, Hitomi, I can?t believe you went out on more than one date with him. Where do you meet these guys??

?I don?t know?.?

The elevator door shushed open and Relena felt her stomach knot into an iron fist as their favorite, assertive corporate attorney stepped into the upward bound car. ?Dorothy,? Relena greeted her friend with a half-smile. Time for the daily goading.

?So, tell me if the rumor I heard is true.? Dorothy ordered, crossing her arms and leaning against the elevator wall. Her blue eyes glittered mischievously from beneath the pale strands of hair obscuring her face.

?We were having a conversation.? Hitomi interjected, attempting to spare Relena from what had become a morning ritual.

?Blah blah, you broke up with pencil neck. It?s about time.?

Hitomi scowled.

?I want to hear about Miss Relena?s dinner date.?

?It?s not a date.? Relena answered with a shrug, staring up at numbers above the door.

?I?m so glad to hear you care that I?m depressed right now, Dorothy.? Hitomi growled over her shoulder. ?The guy had his warts, but??

?Hitomi, the man had warts the size of elephants. He was dull, boring, and too old to be dating a twenty-three year old, intelligent, vivacious woman who should have better prospects.? The attorney moved from her place along the wall, pacing the length of the elevator car. ?Your problem is you?re too fickle. First you?re in love with this guy, then this other guy. And to tell you the truth, I stopped having sympathy for your boyfriend problems the day you went out with Allen Schezar.?

Hitomi let out an audible gasp and Relena?s head snapped around, watching as a very apparent red crept into her co-worker?s cheeks. ?I didn?t go out with him,? Hitomi stuttered. ?He kissed me one time at that stupid fund raiser thing. And in my defense, I had had a bit too much to drink.?

?You should be glad, then, that Relena and I were sober enough to take away that key to his hotel room. What a jerk.?

?Yeah,? Hitomi sighed. ?A handsome jerk.?

Relena scrunched her nose. ?He reminds me of my brother. I just can?t see him as attractive.?

?Relena, your brother is hot.?

?Hitomi, let?s not have this discussion, please.?

?Okay,? Dorothy smirked. ?Let?s talk about your dinner date. We should take off work now so we can pick out something totally sexy for you to wear.?

?Dorothy, it?s a business meeting,? Relena explained, silently willing the elevator move faster. ?And I have too much work to do. I will probably skip lunch and just go as is.?

?Relena, we?re talking about Heero Yuy, eligible bachelor and very rich man.?

Relena sucked in a breath. Fight fire with fire. ?But I thought he was the new love of your life.? She said in a syrupy voice, her practiced tone dripping sarcasm as thick as caramel from her tongue. ?I?d hate to intrude, but perhaps I can put in a good word for you over dinner.? She put on her best fake grin.

Dorothy flipped her hair over her shoulder. ?Oh please, that was yesterday. Today, I?m in love with the UPS man.?

Hitomi put her hands on her hips. ?Okay, now who?s fickle??

?The UPS man?? Relena?s smile wavered. ?That?s?different.?

?Ah, he?s gorgeous,? Dorothy beamed. ?As soon as I get back to my desk I?m going to place lots of separate orders with Amazon.com just so he can come back and deliver my package over and over again.?

?Deliver your package?? Relena raised a skeptical eyebrow as her mouth twitched up into a smirk. ?I thought that was usually referred to as delivering his package, unless there?s something else about you I?d rather not know.?

The elevator door chimed open, and the blond VP moved forward to exit the car. When she realized the other two weren?t with her, she turned around to see them both staring at her with widened eyes and open mouths. Dorothy blinked.

?What??

Hitomi dissolved into giggles. ?Relena, ohmigosh! I can?t believe you said that.?

Dorothy grinned and stepped into the hallway. ?My my, it?s only taken six months, but I must say, you learn from the best.?

?Oh, so you?ve been coaching me??

?Of course. If you?re going to be CEO you have to be able to put these men in their place.?

Relena froze in her tracks, then turned to face her friend - all the humor had fled from her eyes. ?I never said I wanted to be CEO.?

Her friend nodded, holding her gaze. ?It doesn?t always matter what we want. We do what we must, do we not??

?Yes. We do.? Relena agreed, bowing her head and moving towards her office. ?Which is why Mr. Yuy, eligible bachelor though he may be, is a distraction I cannot afford right now.?

******

Columbia University, Uptown NYC



The gymnasium was crowded with students all awaiting their turn to register for the Spring semester?s classes. Heero stood, hands shoved deep into his pockets, quietly regarding the scene around them. Hundreds of young men and women conversed in small clumps of friends or at the very least, sympathetic companions in frustration over long lines and unavailable classes. Course books clutched tightly in their hands, they poured over the requirement listings and credit counts as reverently as one would a bible, praying that their chosen classes were still open, that their futures would remain in tact. Theirs was a kind of youthful uncertainty that Heero could never recall experiencing. His life always had direction as far back as he could remember? computers, business. There had been no time or even the necessity for anything else?

The annoying blip of a cell phone interrupted his musings and Heero pulled the hands-free earpiece out of his pocket, automatically shoving it into his ear a second before pressing the Talk button to accept the call.

?Yuy.?

?Ah, Heero, it?s been a long time.?

?Zechs??

A short chuckle rumbled over the connection, and a smooth voice confirmed the identity of its owner. ?I haven?t gone by that nickname since high school. Call me Milliardo.?

?All right, Milliardo,? Heero said, speaking the man?s name with deliberate indolence. ?What do you want??

?As I said, it?s been a long time, Yuy. Don?t you think it?s about time we buried the hatchet? We are business associates; we work towards the same goal. We should?try to get along, don?t you think? Life?s too short to spend mired in the past.?

The line lurched again towards the registrar?s desk, and Heero knew he didn?t have much longer to finish the call. ?Agreed.?

Milliardo quietly laughed on the other end. ?Well, enough mushiness. I called for a reason.?

?My secretary gave you the name of the restaurant and what time, what else do you??

Zechs cut him off. ?Yes, she called. But unfortunately, I can?t make it. I?m still in Seattle, something came up, and I won?t be able to fly in until tomorrow at the earliest.?

?I?m going to be busy??

?Yes, your secretary informed me your schedule was pretty tight. Which is why??

Heero rolled his eyes. ?You can just fax a copy of the contract to Millie, and she?ll forward it to me. If I have questions, I?ll call.?

?I?m afraid it?s not that simple. This is of the utmost importance in deciding whether or not we?ll begin offering Z/OS on our newest line of servers debuting at the MO-II event next month. Our VP of Operations is heading up the project and insists that bundling your operating system on our new systems instead of Alliance-ware is the only way to go. However, after Weiss was able to demonstrate so many security holes??

?Version 7.2 fixed those errors,? Heero said, his words hacking through the connection with razor-edged hostility, though his tone stayed even and subdued.

?Yes, so your company claims.? Milliardo replied. ?However, I still have some reservations, and there are a few?changes that need to be made, as well as a licensing agreement drawn up. Since I will be unable to attend our meeting this evening, I will be sending the project manager to go over the specific clauses of our contract with you.?

?That?s fine. What?s his name??

?Our VP of operations is my sister, Yuy.?

?Sister?? Heero croaked, shuffling forward with rest of the line despite the icy gust of shock that threatened to freeze him where he stood. ?I didn?t know you had a sister, Zechs? Milliardo.?

?Yeah, my little sister?s all grown up. Has quite a head on her shoulders. I expect you?ll extend her every courtesy.?

?I?.?

?Good. I?ve already told her she?s meeting you at Vassani?s at 7:30p. Oh, and Yuy. It?s good to be friends.?

?Shit.?

No sooner was the phone disconnected and the earpiece removed when he looked up to see a set sharp brown eyes glaring at him from beneath a wrinkled brow and colorless hair. She held out a gnarled hand, impatiently tapping on the table top with the other. ?Do you have your registration paperwork filled out Mister?Mister???

?Yuy. Heero Yuy.? He handed his registration leaflet over to the shrew and watched as she entered its information lethargically into her antiquated PC. He fought the urge to just pick up the monitor and hurl it across the room as he felt all the blood drain from his face.

He had a dinner meeting, with a woman. This was not good. Not good at all. Get it together, Yuy, just because she?s female doesn?t mean she?ll be a distraction. This is a business meeting, not a date.

An unpleasant grating sensation interrupted the buzzing in his ears, and Heero promptly realized someone was talking to him. ?Check the information and make sure it?s correct,? the elderly woman instructed, turning the screen around while she shuffled through her papers.

His pulse quickened and his breath caught in his throat. All thoughts of his dinner meeting swiftly evaporated as the ghastly realization of what lie before him suddenly set in. Heero?s eyes widened and with a gasp, he stumbled back and away from the repulsive horror on the registrar?s seemingly innocent, if archaic screen.

They were using Alliance-ware.

******

?Well, so much for our budget,? Quatre sighed, staring at the itemized tax receipt from the university.

?Hey, we didn?t blow our budget,? Van assured him, glancing at the paper. ?It was a donation from G.L.L.C. What the company does with its resources has no effect on our budget.?

?Except for the fact that they were generous enough to waive our enrollment fees?? The Financial Officer observed, still looking wide-eyed at his friend.

?It?s the least they can do,? Heero offered, plucking the sheet from Quatre?s hands. ?We just gave them upwards of a million dollars in equipment, not to mention the software.?

?Where?s Vash? Van asked, craning his neck in order to search for the hard-to-miss fourth member of their group. ?He better make it down here, I?m not going to wait around all day just to make sure he registered.?

?He?ll be here,? Heero said, crossing his arms. ?If he knows what?s good for him. Make sure you at least SEE him here. I?d better head home and get ready for that meeting.?

?Lucky you. Tell Zechs we?re sorry to have missed him,? Van snorted.

?There?s been a slight change of plan. Zechs won?t be able to make it. I?m meeting his sister instead.?

?Sister? He has a sister?? Van blinked.

Quatre nodded. ?Yes, she?s the Vice President of Operations and also in charge of their New York office.?

?Quatre, you knew this??

?You didn?t??

Van scratched his head, narrowing his eyes at Heero. ?So, you?re meeting a woman for dinner? Isn?t dating a violation of our pact??

?It?s a business meeting. It?s not a date.?

The marketing director raised an eyebrow. ?So, you?re meeting a woman for a not-a-date??

Heero turned, buttoning up his jacket and searching through the pockets for his gloves. ?If it helps you to think of it that way, Van, then you go right ahead. I?ll see you back at the apartment.?

Van watched the other dark-haired man?s retreat, sighing as he turned to let his eyes rove over the crowd remaining in the room. ?So, he gets to go out to dinner with some girl and we have to wait around here for that crazy??

?Hey guys! Looking cheerful as ever I see.?

?Can it, Vash,? Van growled, spinning around and holding up his class schedule. ?You better get in line and see what?s left.?

?Already done, my friend.? Vash pulled a printed sheet from one of the pockets in his voluminous red coat and dangled it in front of Van?s nose.

?The Works of William Shakespeare? The Art of Human Figure Drawing 101? Figure drawing, Vash??

?Two words, Van: nude models.?

?You?re hopeless.?

?What else did you decide to take?? Quatre asked, glancing down at his own schedule to compare.

Vash smiled and handed the other blond his registration sheet.

?Popular Modern Broadcasting Trends??

?Yeah, I get to watch tv.?

?I have that one, too,? Van nodded. ?It sounded kind of interesting. What else??

?Underwater Basket Weaving?? Quatre read aloud, turning curious eyes on the new arrival.

Vash shrugged. ?Well, what can I say? Advanced Astrophysics and Rocket Science was full up.?

*****

Heero trudged around his room, rifling through half unpacked bags while trying to tuck in his shirt and fasten his belt. He glanced up from the disarray on the bed only to see Van leaning against the doorframe with Quatre right behind him.

?No Vash??

?No, he?s still out,? Van said. ?Ran into that reporter girl again or something, and he got stuck ?distracting? her while we headed home. I think she?s following us.?

?Poor Vash,? Heero mused, still searching. ?She?s probably grilling him.?

Quatre shook his head. ?Poor Miss Stryfe. You know what he can be like.?

?Have either of you seen my gray tie??

?Not lately,? Van offered. ?Oh, and don?t forget some cologne. And you might want to get some hair gel.?

?She?s not going to care what I smell like ? we?re just going over a contract,? Heero seethed, giving up and dumping a suitcase?s entire contents on the floor. ?And what?s wrong with my hair??

Van shrugged. ?Nothing? if you?re in a wind tunnel.? Heero looked up and glowered, but said nothing.

?I can?t believe that Vash isn?t back yet. Maybe he got lost,? Van said, checking his watch.

?Has he heard about?you know what?? Heero asked, finally retrieving his tie.

Vash chose that moment to walk in. ?Hello.? Everyone in the room froze. ?What? What?d I do??

?Nothing,? Heero grumbled and turned around to go back to his room and finish dressing.

?What?s wrong with him??

Van smirked. This was almost too easy.

*****

?I can?t believe you have a dinner date. I can?t believe it, you, you, cheater!?

?Vash, it?s not a date. It?s a meeting.?

The spikey-haired blond threw the GLLC president a venomous scowl. ?Gender of other party that will be present at this so-called meeting??

?Asexual,? Heero commented, knotting his long sought after tie. ?She?s Vice President of a computer company and Zechs?s sister ? technically speaking.?

Vash wrinkled his nose. ?What?s that supposed to mean??

Heero glanced at his friend?s reflection in the mirror. ?You?ve seen the women that are computer literate.?

?How do we know she?s computer literate?? Vash paced around the room like a caged animal. ?You said yourself her brother couldn?t tell a computer from a hole in the ground.?

?Actually, Miss Peacecraft is not only computer literate, she?s very intelligent.? Quatre broke into the conversation.

?OOOh. Which means she?ll have a ?great personality?.? Van rolled his eyes.

?I didn?t even remember Zechs having a sister. Is she older?? Vash looked over at Quatre.

?Younger.? Heero had gathered that much from his conversation with the arrogant, older CEO that despite their earlier conversation, Heero still disliked.

?How much younger??

?She?s a year younger than we are. We never met her because her parents sent her to the Darlian Girls? Academy starting in junior high.? Quatre again ventured information they had no clue he knew.

?Girls Academy? Oh yeah. If she?s not a lesbian, she?s a barking pumpkin.? Van scoffed.

?Or both.? Vash snorted.

?You guys are awful. I?m sure she?s perfectly nice.? Quatre huffed, defending the girl.

?I heard that she?s the one that stopped her brother from pursuing the Alliance-ware revamp by NIS* a while back.?

?How?d you find that out?? Van asked, his usual scowl melting into a pinched brow hovering over upturned eyes at Vash?s info.

?That lady reporter following us around has to be useful for something,? His friend smiled.

?Ah.?

?Yeah, so apparently, she?s a big fan of ours, especially our OS,? Vash continued.

?Who, the reporter??

?No, Miss Peacecraft.?

?I find that hard to believe,? Heero muttered.

?She was quoted in one of the few articles mentioning her name as having said, ?The Zero operating system will revolutionize the PC industry and change the face of reality as we now know it?.?

?Yeah so?? Van crossed his arms, unimpressed.

?She said it four years ago, before we got our first major contract.?

?Wow.? Quatre?s eyebrows shot up. Heero even stopped tying his tie for a second to look over at Vash, who nodded as if to confirm the veracity of his claim.

?Well, Heero, it sounds like you?ll have quite the productive evening ? eating dinner with a fan. Hope you have fun.? Van slapped him on the back, still smirking at the thought of his friend eating dinner in the company of a very homely, probably comfortable-shoe-wearing female who thought he was the best thing since sliced bread.

?This is a meeting of two corporate officials that happen to be of the opposite sex. It?s not a date. It?s not supposed to be fun.?

?Right. Methinks he doth protest too much.? Vash quipped.

?Quit the Shakespearean crap. You know I hate that.?

******

Empire State Building, Downtown NYC



The sun melted into a painted canvas of pastel blue and vivid orange as it continued its rapid descent into the western sky. The Empire State Building glittered in the remnants of light that skimmed across its glassy surface like stones traversing stagnant waters back in the days of Heero?s childhood summers. The thought warmed him for a moment with sunlit memories before the piercing arctic air that filled his lungs brought him back to the present. He opened the door and entered the first floor of the proud building which stood once again as the tallest in the timeless city along the Eastern seaboard.

He stepped into the elevator and silently thanked the heavens it was empty. After another harrowing ride in New York City traffic, he was looking forward to some peace and quiet for a moment. It was a long way to the top, and he felt the need to collect his thoughts before?.

A feminine voice floated through the leisurely closing door.

?Wait! Please!?

He glanced up only to meet beautiful blue eyes and long, golden hair shimmering in the setting sun still pouring in through amber-tinted glass. She was strikingly attractive, gorgeous even - what Vash would refer to as ?a real cutie?? and she would be a total distraction for the whole ten minutes it took to reach the observation deck on the 86th floor. His hand shot over to the controls and pressed the ?Close? button, sealing her outside.

She would have made me late, he reasoned to himself. And it wouldn?t be a very good idea to keep the sister of their largest client?s CEO waiting.



?Yuy, party of two.?

?Yes, of course, Mr. Yuy, we have your reservation,? the young m?itre? D smiled. Heero recognized him from last night, but wondered at the toothy grin the strange young man turned in his direction. ?Would you prefer to wait for your party here or at the table??

?At the table.?

The m?itre? D bowed stiffly. ?Very well, sir. This way. And may we say how delighted we are to see you again so soon, sir??

?Hn. I?m waiting for a Miss Peacecraft.?

Forest green eyes turned to stare at him, his face tilting to allow his glasses to slip down his nose. Heero got the distinct impression he was being measured in some way.

?Ah, yes of course. Very good, sir.? The young man continued forward.

Heero followed him through the soft light of the expansive dining room, stepping very deliberating through a light symphony of musical chatter and the haphazard clinking of expensive glasses and silverware. The m?itre? D finally paused at a secluded table, gesturing for his guest to sit and enjoy the view that only Vassani?s most important customers were able to partake of. ?Would you like me to bring a bottle of wine to the table? Or perhaps some champagne??

?Wine,? Heero said, a twinge of guilt nipping at his mind. But this was business, and sharing a bottle of wine was a customary gesture of good will. ?Something fairly expensive, with a sweet flavor,? he instructed. ?Women seem to like sweet wines.?

?Of course, sir.?



Five minutes went by. The m?itre? D returned with the bottle, submitting it for his approval, and poured out two glasses with a very wide smile on his face. Heero could have sworn the light over his table dimmed to a level not conducive to reading.

?Would you care for me to light some candles, sir? I hope you are pleased with the table.?

?Candles won?t be necessary,? Heero said, straightening his shoulders. ?It seems darker than usual, and the temperature is cool. Women, I think, get cold easily.?

?Ah yes, of COURSE, sir.?

I want her to be comfortable so we can discuss the contract without any distractions, Heero thought to himself, leveling a quick glace at his watch.

Five more minutes went by, and she still hadn?t arrived. Heero noticed there was now a fire burning in the fireplace directly across from his table. The weird m?itre? D came back and asked if he would like to order an appetizer while he waited.

?We?ll order when she gets here.?

?Very good, sir. I?m sure Miss Peacecraft will be here shortly.?

?Hn.?



As the next five minutes dragged on, Heero began to wonder if his meeting had been canceled after all. Perhaps this Miss Peacecraft had called Millie and left a message, but his secretary hadn?t been able to get in touch with him. He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and checked the screen. It was on. There was no voice mail. He sighed and placed a quick call to Van.

?How?s the date??

?It?s a meeting. And she?s not here, yet. Has Millie called, to your knowledge, or has Vash answered the phone at all? He likes to forget to relay messages??

?It?s been quiet. The phone hasn?t rung at all.?

?So she didn?t call and cancel??

?No,? Van said. ?Not a soul?s called all night.?

?Hn. Then she?s late.?

?Or she?s standing you up,? his friend teased. ?Ha. Heero?s being stood up on his not-a-date.?

?Funny. You know how I am about being on-time?? His eyes widened as he saw the girl from the elevator being led by the m?itre? D towards his corner of the restaurant.

?Yeah, I know,? Van continued. ?Seems she?s already on bad terms with you.?

?We?ll see.? He watched the two progress through the restaurant, navigating a similar pattern as the way in which he had come. There were still plenty of parties she could be joining, or perhaps she was the first one to arrive and would be seated at a booth somewhere behind him. He dismissed the building feeling of anxiety in his stomach and continued his conversation with Van. ?I had to rush to make it and she?s not even?.? The maitre? D stopped short as she turned and spoke to the young man. He bowed and pointed to Heero. ?Oh, fuck.? She moved quickly in his direction.

?What? What is it??

He clicked the ?End? button on his phone, and stood up to greet her. She was even more beautiful up close, despite the fact that her blue eyes glittered coldly in deep contrast to the warmth of the flickering firelight. He stared, unable to decide if he should apologize first and grovel second, or just skip the formalities and ask her to marry him. He blinked as she began to speak.

?My apologies for being late, Mr. Yuy,? she said, stiffly offering her hand. He reached and shook it numbly as she continued. ?The elevator is insufferably slow.?

?Your apology is unnecessary. Please, sit down.?

?Thank you.? Her eyes darted about the room, pausing at something lying on the table in front of her. At first, Heero thought she was staring at her napkin. ?Were you planning on meeting someone else?? She asked, arching an eyebrow as she held up the red rose. ?Or do you and my brother often dine in such cozy quarters??

?I think it came with the wine.?

?Oh. Well, no use in wasting any more of your time than I have to, since you are, apparently, a very busy sort of man.? She produced an envelope, unceremoniously dumping it on the plate in front of him.

?Here are the proposed changes Peacecraft Computer Corp. would like to make in its licensing agreement with G.L.L.C. If you have any questions, you can reach me at my office on the card attached to the top.? She stood up from her seat. ?Good evening.?

Heero jumped to his feet as she began to depart. ?You came all the way here to drop this off and leave??

?It is apparent my presence is not welcome.?

?I didn?t mean to give that impression.? Heero argued, feeling as if he were standing on a quickly sinking ship.

?It is more than an impression, and I certainly do not intend to stay and intrude further into your schedule. Good evening.?

He watched her spin on her heel and stride back towards the front of the restaurant. It would be bad for business to let her leave thinking he didn?t want to meet with her. Zechs would certainly call him as soon as he heard the details of their meeting ? an eventuality he wanted to avoid at all costs. Oh hell. The thought served as a mental S.O.S., giving him the nudge he needed, and Heero surged away from the table in order to go after her.



He caught his fleeing dinner companion waiting for the elevator, her arms wrapped tight around a slim, tailored suit-clad body, and inwardly cringed at the hostile expression on her face. He would have to beg. Suck it up, Yuy, this is for the company after all.

?Miss Peacecraft. It isn?t easy to get reservations at this restaurant and I hate eating in public places alone.? He tried to maneuver into her line of vision, but she turned away.

?If that is the case, then I?m sure you can find someone milling about on the observation deck to share your precious reservation.?

?Miss Peacecraft?.? He started again, but the loud ding of the elevator interrupted his sentence. He moved around her left side, between her and the awaiting car. She spun on her heel in the opposite direction, as if the prima donna in a fluid ballet, gliding smoothly into the elevator and leaving him behind.

Heero blinked; he was staring at the restaurant, his back to the elevator and she was nowhere to be seen. He whirled around just in time to stop the doors from closing and leapt inside.

?So you?ll share an elevator with me, now?? Her tone was like acid and stung like a slap to the face. She moved to the opposite side of the car, turning her back on him.

?I apologize for my earlier behavior. I didn?t know who you were, and I was in a hurry for our meeting.? He took a step forward, trying to manipulate his position to where she would have to look at him. She spun away again, facing the rear of elevator. He would have laughed at the ridiculousness of the situation if it hadn?t been so serious as well. ?I didn?t want to be late.?

?A whole minute late?? She mocked, shifting from one toe to the other. He couldn?t help but notice the graceful curve of her neck or the way a few stray strands curled invitingly at its nape. ?That would indeed have been intolerable.? She continued lecturing the back wall of the car. ?You have very bad manners, Mr. Yuy. I would rather think you?d hold an elevator for a woman and be ten minutes late than be selfish and on time.?

He leaned forward over her shoulder, and breathed in her ear. ?Heero.?

?What?? She jumped and reeled around to face him.

Finally, he thought, then realized that her move had put them in very close quarters with one another.

?Call me Heero.? He fought to control his voice as he felt his heartbeat quicken slightly in his chest. He took a step back.

She simply stared at him, her eyes growing wide and then shrinking to a scowl as her brow furrowed. ?Mr. Yuy, considering?.?

A smirk tugged at his lips as he noticed the trace of pink creeping into her complexion. ?I can prevent you from getting off this elevator, if I have to. We?re having dinner tonight as planned.?

?I believe that would be called kidnapping, Mr. Yuy.? Her eyes darted away again.

?Heero. ? He planted his left arm on the metallic wall behind her head and leaned forward. ?And you can call it whatever you want, after dinner.? He shifted back to his heels. ?Will you be returning to the restaurant quietly? Or do I have to threaten to veto the contract completely unless you eat dinner with me??

?You wouldn?t dare.? She tried to step around him, but there wasn?t enough room between him and the side wall of the elevator. She then tried ducking under his arm, but he just slid in front of her again as she turned around - successfully barring her charge towards the doors.

?Bet me.?

Heero watched her take a deep breath, focusing on the perfect shape of her lips as she slowly exhaled. She closed her eyes, long lashes grazing the previously anger-flushed cheeks. Her voice was calm when she spoke, though waves of irritation still peaked within its serenity.

?I don?t really see the point of this, Mr. Yuy. I?ve given you the documents; I have nothing to add, unless you have questions about something. It?s all pretty straightforward, and?.?

?Good,? he said, his face set in a blank expression. She still wasn?t calling him by his first name, but at least she had stopped avoiding him altogether. He told himself again that what he was about to do had no bearing on his personal life - it was not about the fact that she was strikingly beautiful and also smart enough to hold her own in a battle of wits with him. Not at all. This was simply the best thing he could do for G.L.L.C.?s relationship with their client.

He resumed his position with his left arm resting on the wall over her shoulder, using his physical presence to pin her into a proverbial corner. ?Then we can discuss other matters.? He ducked his head to meet her gaze.

Miss Peacecraft blinked and stared at him a moment. She had the most expressive eyes he had ever seen. Heero was used to dealing with people that knew better than to reveal all that they were thinking at any given point in time, but she was different. Everything she was feeling was right there. And it was enough to draw him in and make him want to? She glanced away.

?What other matters? Is there something that your company?.?

?Non business related matters.?

Her gaze seemed to be firmly fixed on the panel of numbers just beyond him. ?Mr. Yuy, Heero, that sounds suspiciously like you?re asking me on a date.?

He leaned in for the kill, catching the faintest flavor of jasmine from her skin. ?I can?t ask you on a date if I don?t know your first name, Miss Peacecraft.? He whispered close to her ear.

She hesitated, but he saw her peek up at him out of the corner of one eye. ?Relena.?

Heero smirked and stood up from the wall. He turned around to face the front of the elevator again. ?Relena, will you join me for dinner this evening quietly, or do I have to kidnap you?? He asked, casting a sidelong glance at the very attractive young woman beside him; his finger hovered over the button that would take them back up to the 86th floor.

?That?s not much of a choice,? Relena commented.

?Never said it was.?

?Good.? She turned to face him, fighting to keep the amusement from leaking into her expression. ?Then I don?t have to add ?liar? to your list of faults.?

He arched an eyebrow as he pushed the button. They continued downward for a pace, but then the gears noisily clicked in and reversed their direction. ?Hn. Well, when you finish typing up that list, please send me a copy. It may come in handy.? He watched a small smile form on her lips at his reply and could barely contain one himself. She met his gaze head on, her light blue eyes unwavering in the face of his steely glare.

?I will.?

******

Lion?s Gate Apartments, Uptown NYC



Van greeted Heero at the door of the apartment, eager for any reason to escape Vash?s enthusiastic ?research? for their new class. His lanky friend was reclined on the sofa fully engrossed in the seventh episode of ?The Dukes of Hazard.? And Van had been subjected to it all night.

?So, how did your not-a-date go??

?Hn.?

?That good, huh? Why did you hang up??

?Sorry.?

Van shook his head. ?What??

?Hm??

?Is something wrong, Heero? You seem distracted. And you just apologized??

?No, uh, just this contract from Peacecraft Corp. It?s, it needs some going over, I think. I?m supposed to call if I have questions.? Heero handed the packet of papers to Van.

?We should have legal take a look.?

Heero took off his jacket, searching the crowded coat rack for a free hook. ?No, I?ll have Quatre do it.?

?So, what was she like?? Van asked. ?Homely, like you thought??

?Not really. Difficult. Has a temper like her brother?s.?

?Really? What else does she have in common with her brother? Pale skin, long blond hair, perhaps? Blue eyes?? Van questioned, following Heero into the kitchen, grabbing a carton of orange juice from the fridge.

?Actually, yes.?

?So, she?s gorgeous, isn?t she?? He grabbed one of Vash?s ?programmer-ware? glasses out of the cupboard and started pouring, apparently unmindful of the marking ?#include<beer.h>?.

?She?s the Vice President of one of our largest clients. I really didn?t notice.?

?Didn?t notice my foot!? His friend seethed, sloshing the sticky liquid all over the countertop. ?We made a pact!?

?And I have every intention of honoring it? Heero insisted. ?If you doubt me, I suggest you come to the next meeting. I could use your input on the cost analysis of their proposed changes, and Quatre?s on the legal details. In turn, we?re supposed to meet with Relena, their marketing rep, and their chief legal advisor.?

?Ha, so it?s Relena, is it?? Van smirked.

?Less formality is better for negotiations like these. Ask Vash about that some time.?

?Humph. He?d think you were cheating, too.?

?Here?s your copy of the contract. Meeting?s Friday.? Heero called out, heading to his room.

?OOOh, perfect night for another non-a-date. Friday night.? Van called out after his friend as he disappeared down the hallway.

The software exec peeked his head back into the room. ?It?s Friday afternoon. Three o?clock. I need your report by then.? He closed the door without a backwards glance.

******

PCC Tower



Relena tightly clutched her cup of hot coffee, tiptoeing as soundlessly as possible through the nearly deserted early morning corridors of the PCC building. Her tired eyes surveyed a dimly lit stretch of hallway just beyond the two main elevators, and she nearly broke into a run, dashing the final distance to the safety of her Hitomi-and-Dorothy-free corner office. She loved her friends, but at the moment, had no desire to be forced to offer up the details of her meeting with GLLC?s President for a certain blond attorney?s analysis? and as eventual consumption as fuel for ?the daily goading.?

She slipped between the tall paneled doors, heading mechanically through the darkened space in order to deposit an armful of paperwork onto her desk. Suddenly, a sharp click resonated through the room, casting a wave of blinding illumination over the woman at its center. The stack of files flew from her grasp, the folders hitting the floor and spewing their contents around her feet like an erupting volcano. Her pulse raced as a shrill cry escaped her lips, and she whirled around to face the intruder only to find Hitomi?s familiar face greeting her with a look of equal surprise.

?Oh my goodness, Relena, I?m so sorry! I didn?t mean to scare you!?

?Hitomi?? Relena gasped, her gaze turning from the person at the light switch and fixing helplessly on the chaos at her feet. ?What on earth were you doing in here ? and this early in the morning??

Her friend started across the room, kneeling down to help her collect the unruly remains of a once well-organized status report.

?Getting my product analysis ready to fax over to Weiss. Yohji Kaduo asked to have it before nine o?clock and I needed one of your files? And I know you?re here trying to avoid our little morning chat! Not to mention that you didn?t call me back last night. So, how was it?? The marketing rep asked, heaving a clump of papers onto the desk?s polished surface. ?Did you have a nice dinner with Heero Yuy??

?It was fine?? Relena replied, absently grinning before returning to the task at hand. ?He?s having his officers look over??

?The terms of the contract, yes, we know,? Hitomi huffed, bending over to pick up more of the scattered folios. ?You already told us that AND about the meeting on Friday, Relena in the email you sent late last night. Did you forget already or has he managed to distract you that much??

?What do you mean?? The VP asked, gathering the mess of typed pages that she?d been able to retrieve and sitting down to start re-organizing them.

?It?s just that you seem?rather happier today than yesterday,? her friend observed, rising once again to her feet. ?Did something happen between you two??

?It was a meeting between two colleagues. Nothing more.?

?Uh-huh.? The marketing rep all but laughed out, collapsing in a nearby chair and resting an elbow on the edge of her boss?s desk. ?So, is he as handsome as they say??

?Hmmm?? The VP peeked up from the documents in front of her. She hadn?t really been reading them anyway. ?Uh, I didn?t even notice. I was busy?working.?

Hitomi shot her friend a skeptical glance.

?Ok. Fine,? Relena muttered, going back to her paperwork. ?He?s not bad looking.?

Hitomi put a hand on her hip and tucked her mouth into an ?out with it, now, Relena? type smirk.

The VP looked up. ?What do you want, Hitomi? I said he was attractive.?

?Well, that?s a step up from the previous ?not bad.? So, that?s it? Just attractive??

?What am I supposed to say?? Relena huffed, throwing her hands up in defeat. ?That he?s the smartest, most gorgeous, and sexiest man I?ve ever met and I want to have his children??

?I?m going to pretend I didn?t hear that and come in again,? A deep voice called out, followed by a familiar face peering around her open office door. Relena blushed a violent red, and shot up from her chair.

?Milliardo! I didn?t expect to see you until tomorrow! And? I?I wasn?t saying that. I was being sarcastic.?

?So, Heero Yuy ISN?T the sexiest, most gorgeous man you?ve ever met?? Dorothy chimed in, entering the room behind the CEO.

?Yuy?? Milliardo mumbled, making his way slowly towards his sister?s desk and easing himself into the chair previously occupied by Hitomi. ?I was just coming in here to see how your meeting went last night. I?m afraid to ask, now.?

?I?The meeting went fine. We have another one scheduled with some of his corporate officers this Friday, and I?ve asked Hitomi and Dorothy to accompany me and give presentations. There is nothing else going on between Heero and myself.?

?Oooh, well, she?s calling him Heero today, yesterday it was Mr. Yuy,? Dorothy observed.

Milliardo rose shakily to his feet, turning back to the doorway. ?I think I?m going to come back later, Relena, when you girls are done gossiping.? He gave his sister a quick peck on the cheek, then began his retreat. ?And there?s no way that Yuy could possibly be smarter than ME!?

?There?s nothing to gossip about,? Relena protested, taking his arm. ?I gave him the contract and we had a pleasant dinner that was all.?

?What did he say about it??

?About what, brother??

?The contract,? Milliardo continued, his blue eyes now lusterless and set against pallid skin. ?Did he read over it??

?Well, not exactly. He said he was going to go over it this week.?

?So what did you talk about if not the contract, Relena?? Dorothy smirked at her friend.

?Just stuff.?

?Business stuff or personal stuff?? Hitomi inquired.

?I?m leaving,? Milliardo announced, seeming to have gained a burst of energy as he made for the exit. ?I?m trusting you to handle this, Relena.?

?I?ll handle it, brother.?

?And don?t get involved with Yuy. It?s bad for business.?

Relena?s hands fisted at her sides, and for a moment, the picture reminded him of how she looked at three years old before she launched into a temper tantrum. ?Brother! What I do on my own time?.?

?Huh. And here I thought that Relena sleeping with the President of G.L.L.C. would help our business.?

Relena spun around. ?DOROTHY!?

?Hey, the guy?s a software mogul,? the blond shrugged. ?Read COMPUTER GEEK. He?s gotta be hard up.?

?Well, it?s true he?s never dated much,? Milliardo admitted. ?But I?m the head of a computer company?.?

?Different,? Dorothy asserted. ?You were a businessman who created an enterprise. He?s a programmer with a product that put him into business. A wunderkind, a prodigy ? a billionaire at twenty, a multi-billionaire at twenty-four.?

?Fine, whatever. I?m leaving,? Milliardo announced with a final wave of his hand. ?Relena, send me an email..or better yet, I?ll send Yuy an email and ask for the details. He?ll be more to the point.?

?Great. Now everyone get out of my office. I need to get some work done.?

?Yes ma?am,? Her brother teased.

When Hitomi and Dorothy had left, Relena locked the door and went back to her desk. She clicked on her mail program and brought up Heero?s email, a small smile playing on her lips as she read over it again.



"Relena,



I begin to wonder about your company?s reliability since I haven?t received your promised report yet this morning. I suggest you send it ASAP, unless you have changed your opinion of me.



Heero



PS- Caf? Cipriani has great Italian food, reservations for two at 7:30p, and no elevator."



She folded her arms over her chest and thought back to their date the night before.



?So, why the table near the fireplace and the wine??

He reached for his glass, swirling the dark red liquid but never bringing it to his lips. ?I think the m?itre? D is trying to set us up.?

?Ahhhh. But you?re not protesting.?

?Should I??

?Why shouldn?t you??

?Protest?? he asked, glancing upwards and holding her gaze.

?Yes,? She had replied, once again studying the same blue eyes that had stared up at her from a magazine cover just a few days ago. She couldn?t help but think that at this moment, they seemed different somehow.

He cleared his throat, causing their conversation to pause, and then raised a hand to push the hair away from his face. ?I?ll send you my list after you send me yours.?

?Hmmm..Sounds fair.?

?So, unjust shouldn?t be on my list of faults, then??

?Doubtful. My brother always said you were a fair man.?

?Hn.?

?You?ve been friends for awhile ? since high school??

?Yes,? Heero answered, reaching for his napkin which he unfolded and placed in his lap. ?We?ve known each other. I wouldn?t necessarily call us friends. We?re not enemies, and we do business together. That?s the extent of it.?

?I see. That explains why he never invited you over for dinner.?

?Pretty much, I guess,? he answered. ?How long have you been Vice President of Operations??

?Only about six months, now. Brother made me work my way up, of course. But I wouldn?t have it any other way.?

?That doesn?t surprise me.?

?What does surprise you, Mr. Yuy, I mean, Heero??

?Nothing,? he smirked with a slight shake of his head. ?Nothing at all??

******
Lion's Gate Apartments


"Heero,

I apologize for the tardiness of my report, but the length of the list grew exponentially while at dinner last night, so it?s taken me longer to type up than expected. If I can finish it in time, I?ll bring it to the restaurant by 7:30p. If you?d like, I can stay and answer any questions you might have.

Relena

PS ? Remind me to add mediocre correspondent to the list, if I forget."


He couldn?t help but grin at her reply. It was funny how well they had gotten along after such a rocky start. She was challenging and open; she wasn?t afraid of him, like so many others, not intimidated by his intelligence?and so beautiful. The only thing wrong with her is her timing. He thought, his expression and heart sobering with the memory of the pact he had made with his friends. They had vowed not to date any women for three years, and he hadn?t made it even three days. And this is exactly why we swore not to date, because women are a distraction! He chided himself. Yet, somehow, he couldn?t make his heart regret its interest.



?What does surprise you, Mr. Yuy, I mean Heero?? The gentle yellow light from the fixture above the table threaded through her hair, causing the golden strands to glow as they framed her face. He realized that he?d been staring at her, and willed himself to look away, but only succeeded for a brief moment.

?Nothing. Nothing at all.?

?Ah, I forgot, the genius knows everything. Remind me to add arrogance to your list, too.? She smiled, just a small smile ? pulling lightly at the corners of her mouth. Could it have been meant for him?

?Hmph. I?m hardly a genius.?

He could tell she was doing her best to look stern. ??Tis too late for false modesty, now.?

?You?re a hard woman.?

?You?re the one who insisted I stay for dinner,? she reminded him.

She had a response for EVERYTHING. ?You can leave any time.?

?You?d like that, wouldn?t you? Then you could call me cruel.?

Heero was unable to stop the words before they escaped, listening to his voice make a reply without the consent of his brain. ?No. I wouldn?t like it. And I think you?re anything but cruel. You?ve given me more chances than I deserve.?

She leaned back in her seat fixing her clear blue eyes on his face. ?Who said I was giving you a chance at all??

?A man can hope.? My God I sound like Vash.

She smiled again. ?I?ll have to add delusional to that report.?



?So, breaking the pact already?? Vash buzzed around Heero?s desk, munching on his seemingly endless supply of salmon sandwiches and reading the e-mail messages over his shoulder. ?Hmmm, I guess I?ll have to take over the president position, since you?ll soon be forfeiting your share of the company. Should I have the papers drawn up now, or wait until after your date??

?What ? did you get up early just to bother me? And it?s not a date.?

?Caf? Cipriani has great Italian food, reservations for two, and no elevator. Sounds suspiciously like a date to me,? Vash surmised, downing the last of his snack. ?Although elevators can be quite cozy after dinner on the way home??

?She?s bringing me a report I asked for. Nothing more.?

?Great. Then I?m sure you won?t mind changing the reservation to accommodate the rest of us. I?m starved and have been dying for some good Italian food.?

?You?re not invited,? Heero barked.

?Why not?? Vash pouted. ?So you can be alone with Miss Peacecraft and her ?report???

?No,? he answered, ignoring his friend and turning his attention to the keyboard. ?It?s because this doesn?t require your presence and it?s too much of a chore to take you out in public.?

Vash was unfazed. ?I don?t suppose her ?report? has anything to do with what she wears under her business suits, does it??

?It?s a report as in papers with writing on them that have to do with business?things.?

?Business things, huh?? Vash plopped himself on Heero?s desk, noting with renewed interest what appeared on the screen of his friend?s small computer. ?So what exactly is this report supposed to contain besides business things? Sounds like an awfully vague report to me.?

?Some further clarification on some specific items in the proposed contract. Have you read over it yet?? Heero asked, giving up and rising to his feet.

Vash shook his head. ?Nope. Didn?t get the chance. I?ve been busy beating ghoulies in Silent Hill.?

?You weren?t supposed to bring the Playstation.?

?Oh well, you aren?t supposed to be eating dinner with beautiful women, either.?

?It?s a business meeting, for the ten-millionth time.?

?Then I say we all go. We can each of us ask our own questions of Miss Peacecraft, I mean, Relena. About the contract, of course.?

?Fine.? Heero stood up and stalked out of the room.

Vash grinned as Heero left and then sat down in front of his friend?s computer, his long fingers coming to rest on the just the right keys. ?Dear Relena?.?

******
PCC Tower

Relena grabbed the latest letter off the printer and read over it again with a shy smile tugging on her lips. She wasn?t sure, but figured she was probably blushing at its contents, as she had done with the many others she?d received throughout the day. A short knock sounded at her door an instant before it swung open and revealed her two friends waiting patiently outside.

?Relena, come on. Let?s go eat,? Hitomi suggested, shrugging into her heavy coat.

?Oh, I?m sorry, I can?t. I?m?I have another business meeting.?

?OOOh. With Heero?? Hitomi grinned.

?Yes,? Relena admitted, stashing the most recent printout under a stack of papers. ?He?s asking for a report??

?Oh well, sounds like you?ll need our help then,? Dorothy said. ?We should go along.?

?What?? Relena blinked. ?I mean, no, I?m sure?you two don?t have to do that. I can handle it. You guys take the night off. You?ve been working way too hard as it is.?

?Uh-huh. Oh, please, Relena. Who do you think you?re fooling? You?re falling for this guy, and we?re not sure we approve. We?re going with you tonight and that?s final,? Hitomi said with a nod.

?But?.?

?No buts, Relena, it?s for your own good and the good of the company,? the attorney stated, fetching her friend?s coat from the opposite side of the office.

?I don?t need you to tell me what to do, Dorothy. I?m perfectly capable of handling?.?

?Miss Relena. You know that Hitomi and I hold you in the highest respect. You?re more than capable of bringing the lot of those men crumbling to their knees. But considering the importance of these negotiations for the future of our company, it can?t hurt to have reinforcements there to answer any and all questions Mr. Yuy may have.?

?He?s ruthless, Relena,? Hitomi chimed in, wagging a finger in the VP?s direction. ?You know the stories. He may be trying to toy with your emotions in the hopes of distracting you. We?ll be able to serve the dual purpose of business allies and neutral observers.?

?I highly doubt it.?

?Hey, you never know!? the marketing rep announced.

?You won?t give up will you??

Hitomi shook her head. ?Nope. If you try to ditch us, we?ll just follow you to the restaurant and make a further nuisance of ourselves.?

?Fine, you can come.?

Dorothy beamed.

?I wonder if the other partners are as good looking as Heero Yuy?? Hitomi wondered aloud.

Dorothy made a face. ?Ugh, did you see the freak that he was pictured with on the cover of Bernadelli Weekly??

?He wasn?t that bad, Dorothy,? Hitomi said. ?Just?freakish?.What a contrast.?

?I think that was the point of the cover,? Relena offered. ?There are two other partners that are probably perfectly normal. They just picked the two extremes.?

******
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<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: blackrose on 2002-05-23 11:22 ]</font>