"...meeting with the Executive VP at 1 pm, via face time. Then at 3..."
Amiri rolled his neck, his hand slipping underneath his blazer, rubbing his shoulder firmly, in hopes of releasing the stress that was building up in
the space between his broad shoulders. His day had only started a couple of hours ago and he was already growing tired of it. There had been a
breakfast with the reps from Time Warner, another attempt at freeing up a floor in the OTW tower as simple "office space" would not do. The very
resistance in the representatives was futile. They would surrender the space, soon enough.
Then, there was the hour long conversation with his mother about completely nothing. About his morning, although he was sure that it was none of her
concern, really. She only called to hear his voice, to know that he was still alive and breathing. To know that he and Madgeline, his younger sister
who he played the clumsy guardian to, were still breathing. Leaning back into the seat of the Guardian, listening to the soft hum of the engine over
his assistant's voice, he thought about his mother. Her face, which had aged so much in the past three years, was there, her eyes as saddened as they
had been since the death of his father. It had surprised Amiri. How much she had sworn to hate his father in life, but loved him in death instead.
Sad. Sad and ironic...that all the time she spent spending his father's money and fucking men that were less than half of the man she had once called
"husband", she should have been loving him instead.
"...and it would be good measure to listen to the suggestions that EMRG has to offer before presenting your own. They are quite skilled in the
services they provide..." With a glance in the the direction of the voice talking at him, Amiri's fell into an unamused smirk. Nijai Lahsini. Moroccan
by blood, but American born. The best assistant that money could buy. Harvard grad. Top of her class. She slept with a blue tooth in her ear and a
iPad in her hands. She also slept in nothing but the three-carat diamond studs Amiri had purchased her for the anniversary of her first year of
service to the Chaâbi Group. Amiri had gladly experienced that, first hand. But she was ignorant of overstepping her boundaries. Amiri, nor his
company were hers to run. She was the assistant and that alone. Her job was to hand him shit, keep his schedule, keep her legs open and keep her mouth
closed.
"I will do what I please, Nijai. Know your place." Amiri spat quickly, watching the buildings slow as they passed, the car arriving at the entrance of
Cipriani's.
Screams from the haters, got a nice ring to it
I guess every superhero needs his theme music...
Ben Hassi. A name she hadn’t heard in years. So you can imagine her surprise as her assistant told her that was whom she would be meeting with for
lunch. She’d given Ruka a dossier with everything she’d need to know about The Chaâbi Group and she was more than ready to wow the client; as per
usual and despite the fact that she was related to her high school nemesis. And this account was just big enough to give her the boost she needed to
get her superiors in New York off of her back and she could finally run this place like she wanted to. This was going to be cake. She’d put together
the most phenomenal event the world had ever seen and then she would have what she needed to branch off on her own. Hell, even that
god-forsaken Royal Wedding would be put to shame.
That was if she ever got to meet with the woman. She was supposed to meeting Nema Ben Hassi apparently. She had made sure it wasn’t Amiri she’d be
meeting and according to her sources he was in South Africa doing whatever he did with his life now. Perfectly fine with her. It would be much easier
for everyone involved that way as he would probably rather not do business with the girl that had stolen and dismantled his precious Bugatti. Ha. Good
times...
Of course she wasn’t that girl anymore. She was a woman now. Mature and not as into social climbing as she once was. She was however just as
manipulative. If this Nema had heard of her...exploits with her little brother she could easily be swayed. She would easily be swayed. About
that, Ruka had no doubts.
And they shall know I am the Lord, when I shall lay my vengeance on them.
Even as the car slowed to a complete stop, Amiri could see the annoyance in Nijai's face. The question was, did he care? No, not at all. As beautiful
and intelligent as she was, she was American, through and through. Quick to form an attachment to Amiri's dick and instead of seeing their "time
together" for what it was, she actually believed that he gave the slightest concern to what she thought. That the occasional visits to her beds meant
that she was now a voice of reason. Absolutely not. Her mind was perfect for organization. Dates, numbers, appointments. But running a company? It was
as beyond her as knowing when to keep her mouth closed and when to speak. Ignoring her stubborn silence, Amiri basked in it instead, pulling his shades from the pocket of his blazer and slipping them over his eyes as he eyed the entrance to the restaurant.
Do not go overboard, brother. The event we are planning is not for grandeur, it is for presentation. Remember that. We are trying to win trust,
not out show. The pleading instructions from his Nema rang in his mind, making his face momentarily frown behind the cover of his shades. Her
incessant urging was unnecessary. All of her talk for nothing, really, as Amiri knew exactly what the event that EMRG would help him plan would mean.
It was an introduction of sorts, letting buyers and potential clients know just who The Chaâbi Group was and how serious they took the business they
orchestrated and directed. This was not a glitzy show of the wealth the company had amassed in the last few years. This was an extended offer of
service. And humility in the presentation of that offer was key.
"By now, I would have expected you to tell me exactly who I am meeting today. If you do not mind..." He muttered sarcastically to his pouting
assistant as he watched the driver get out of the car and make his way around to her side, opening the door as she, moving as slowly as possible,
pulled the iPad to her lap and began to type on the flat screen. "Today, Nijai."
With one look in his direction, her hands quickened, the expression on his face letting her know he was in no mood for one of HER moods. Her posture
returned to the professional stance she took when she knew that Amiri was counting her mistakes, just waiting for the ultimate one that ended her
employment with him. With a roll of his eyes, he continued to wait for her to inform him of his EMRG contact. Even though the shades covered his eyes,
he still squinted as his driver opened his door. Amiri did not hesitate to step out and straighten his suit, his hands running over the fabric as he
began to walk towards the entrance, not even waiting for Nijai to catch up with him.
"I-I have your contact!" She spoke hurriedly as she made her way around the car and arrived beside him, walking twice as fast to keep up with Amiri's
long stride. By the time he reached the door, the greeter opening the entrance, Amiri's stride never slowing, he heard her reading off the name of the
person he was to meet. But he did not need to hear the name to be informed of his contact, as she stood in front of him, in plain view. A bridge of
freckles spread across her keen nose. Porcelain skin that flushed from exposure to the hot, Hawaiian sun. And fiery, red hair. Bright and vibrant
against that milky skin. So familiar that it brought a small, amused smirk to Amiri's lips.
It was Ruka.
Screams from the haters, got a nice ring to it
I guess every superhero needs his theme music...
This wasn’t real. None of this could be real.Ruka’s eyes met the door of the restaurant as an unmistakable mixture of arrogance and pride walked
in. Amiri. Amiri Ben Hassi himself stood in front of her and for the first (and only if she had anything to do with it) time he had her at a
loss for words. Her contact obviously was not Nema as she was told. Lovely. Heads would roll for this miscalculation. As soon as she got back to her
office she was going to fire, kill, and dismantle whomever had not bothered to check their goddamn facts. But for now she would have to deal with the
circumstances she’d been given.
Her lips turned up at the corners, a smirk on them covering the shock she was actually feeling. This could actually go well for her. Amiri was an
old...schoolmate? She couldn’t exactly call him a friend as the games they had played were at one another’s expense. But that was the past. And
surely he wasn’t one to dwell...Then again, he had so enjoyed one-uping her at every turn. Perhaps he would allow her to plea her case before
letting her know he would take his business elsewhere. Oh shit. Hoops.
She had his account and she could plan this event, but he was going to make her jump through hoop after flaming hoop to please him. Damn it. She knew
that was the way it was going to go and she would have to suffer in silence if she was hoping to keep her job. Ruka knew that was what he would do
because it was just the kind of torture she would’ve dragged him through. Oh yes, the person responsible for this set up would never hold a job in
PR again in their life. Never. But she would have her fun with that later.
Pushing away from the edge of the restaurant's bar, she quickly brushed a hand over her dress and approached her old enemy. “Mr. Ben Hassi-,” she put her hand out for him to take, an olive branch should she need one. “It’s
been a while, Amiri.”
And they shall know I am the Lord, when I shall lay my vengeance on them.
Ruka Sōuen. Wow. Amiri had not been expecting this surprise when he stepped out of he car and into Cipriani's. But he could not
decide...pleasant surprise or unpleasant? It had been years. Years since he had seen anyone from the private school he had attended in
Oregon. He had left so suddenly after hearing of his father's demise that there were no "goodbyes". His mother withdrew he and his sisters and that
was the end of EPS. His time there was done. To see someone, no matter who it was or how significant or insignificant they might have been, was like a
warm, tender reminder of the days when none of this existed. When his youth fooled him into believing in a manhood that would not exist until
he was forced into it. It reminded him of what was and would never be again.
Then again, this was Ruka he was talking about. Of course, a older, maturer Ruka. Very mature it seemed. An event coordinator, nonetheless.
But still the same Ruka. The "Ruka" that had dismantled his first Bugatti, his father's gift to him, and sent it to his entire family in so many
pieces, Amiri had lost count by the time the last package had arrived. The same Ruka that exposed his little cheating game to all of the "pawns"
involved, costing him...his queen. Evita. The very same Ruka that berated him, mocked him, insulted him and made his life a living
hell whenever she decided to bless him with her presence.
With all of this in his mind, Amiri removed his shades and placed them back in his blazer pocket, the smirk not falling from his face as he studied
her. Time had proven kind to her, thank Allah. Amiri's eyes fell on the soft curve of her hips and moving up to the roundness of her still small, yet
noticeable chest, both of which were packaged very neatly in her navy blue dress. Wonderful. She no longer looked like a malnourished boy child. Good
for her. She studied him, too. Except her eye did not roam his statuesque build as his combed over hers. There was wariness there. Calculating
carefulness. She was gauging him. Finally, she pushed herself from the bar, her hand outstretched to him.
"Ruka..." He acknowledged her, familiarity in his voice. He, too, stretched his hand forward, enveloping her hand in his soft grasp. With a nod to her
comment, he covered her had with his other one, pulling her closer to him. There was no indecency in their closeness, it was one of friendship. It had
been far to long to truly remember the things that plagued their childhood. He was a man now, and she, a woman. Time had moved past such
triviality.
"It has been far too long." He said simply. His dark eyes narrowing as he brought the top of her hand to his lips, pressing them against her warm
skin. Yes, time had changed things, but there was something inside of him that still wanted to see Ruka squirm.
Screams from the haters, got a nice ring to it
I guess every superhero needs his theme music...
Had it really only been four years since they saw one another last? He had left Eldridge so abruptly she couldn’t exactly pinpoint the day she
noticed he was missing. And then her uncle packed up the family for yet another move soon after, so she never had time to really check into it. As
much as she wanted to deny it though, she had missed Amiri. No one ever got under her skin like he did and the games she liked to play required her to
lose sometimes. Amiri was the only one that could ever bring her to speechlessness.
And here he was doing it again, his mere presence surprise enough to leave her at a loss for words. She was able to utter a greeting, it’s been
too long. The time had done him very well though. He wasn’t nearly as repulsive as she remembered...she might even say he was...quite handsome,
the shades on his face adding that certain touch that made Amiri Amiri. And look at this, he had matured into a gentleman.
Ruka’s smirk became a soft smile as he pulled her closer before his lips met her hand. It was funny how time changed things. As an adolescent
both of them would have been absolutely disgusted with the idea of his lips touching any part of her. Now however, she found his little
gesture charming.
It seemed his assistant however did not. Ruka’s eyes fell on her as Amiri drew back into his own space and the smirk she had been wearing returned,
this time directed at the girl. She knew that look. Amiri was to close to this “old friend” for her liking, and Ruka knew why. So not too much had
changed as Amiri was still sleeping with those beneath him. Ruka thought about making a snide comment to the girl but this was neither the time nor
place.
“Should we sit-,” Ruka asked politely her eyes coming back to Amiri. “I’ve gotten us a table toward the back. You know how I like
discretion.” Her eyes came back to the assistant at his back at her last word, a successful attempt to get under her skin. She wasn’t trying to
mess with her head, but she still knew how to make those opposing her back down.
And they shall know I am the Lord, when I shall lay my vengeance on them.
Watching Ruka's smirk melt into a barely decipherable smile was the topping on their peaceful exchange. The olive branch had been received, the white
flag had been waved and there was peace in the world. Well there was peace in Cipriani's and that was enough for the moment. His gaze never
left her face as he pulled away from her, their greeting and brief reunion over and the time for business ready to begin. Quickly, he looked over the
restaurant. It was bustling with the lunch crowd, business men and women ordering short, quick meals only to return to their places of business within
the hour. The rat race. A place that Amiri would never understand and thankfully, would never have to experience because of his father's arduously
deserved legacy. A legacy that Amiri and his family were working to continue to grow and EMRG, with Ruka's assistance, would only aid that
cultivation.
"Yes, we should." With a slow wave of his hand, he signaled to Ruka to lead the way, eying Nijai. And as usual, she was as easy to read as an
interstate billboard. Blatant and on display. And completely inappropriate as this was neither the time nor the place for her theatrics. Her back was
rigid, her light brown eyes cutting into Ruka's back as she turned to walk them to the table that she had chosen before time. And all of this behavior
in front of Ruka, no less. She would not embarrass him. If she did, it would be her job. She was replaceable...in every aspect. There was no doubt in
his mind that there were a dozen other women with credentials just as impressive...and throats just as deep.
Moving around Nijai quickly, his eyes flashed at her, a brief signal to fix her attitude before he corrected it first. With his head back in his
business (and hopefully Nijai's mind in the right place also), he followed Ruka to the back...not hesitating to let his eyes roam a little lower,
taking in the full effect of that blue dress. What? He was a man who could respect the finer things. And that dress was most surely a "finer
thing".
"So, down to business, I presume?" Amiri said as they arrived at the table, his eyes watching Nijai closely as she stood near the table, but just far
away to respect the conversation that would commence. Unbuttoning his blazer, he shrugged it off and draped it over the back of the chair before he
waited for Ruka to sit and then seated himself.
Screams from the haters, got a nice ring to it
I guess every superhero needs his theme music...
Amiri waved his hand, signaling Ruka forward and their small reunion was over. She pushed her feelings to the side in order to make room for the
change in her demeanor. The only thing she took more seriously than her career, was her family and with her Uncle on business in Tokyo and Akatsuki
still brooding his way through life, there wasn’t much to worry about in that department. The only thing that mattered was this deal; right now.
Life threw you for some crazy loops. If anyone had told her she’d be devoting even one second of her time to Amiri Ben Hassi four years ago, she
would have laughed herself into a coma.
But here she was, ready to cater to his every whim; in terms of this event that is. Even if he had matured into, dare she even think it, someone
worthy of her attention, Amiri still wasn’t the man for her. Then again years ago she was sure that that man was Kenji...Times change it
seemed.
They came to the table she had reserved a week in advance for this meeting And she took her seat as Amiri spoke and took his. So, down to
business, I presume? Oh absolutely. “Of course. I know how valuable your time is and I won’t waste it. I understand that you need an
introduction gala of sorts. Something simple, elegant, and quiet, but not so quiet that it goes unnoticed. I can do that for you.” Of
course she could. Social events were her livelihood. They had been since high school.
And they shall know I am the Lord, when I shall lay my vengeance on them.
Of course Amiri did not intend on lingering in his memories for too much longer. A reminder was wonderful as Ruka's presence symbolized a time long
past. A time that was lost to him now. But too much retrospection and the pain began all over again. Pain for the things that he wanted to remember,
but ought not. There was no time for tear or regrets. For looking back and slowing down. He had done all of that years ago and he had made a promise
to himself to never allow himself that moment again. He remembered it...so clearly. It was the day of his father's funeral and all of the men had
retreated from the graveside, back to the women of his family, as they were not allowed to be that close to the dead. He knelt there, next to his
father's body in that lonely hole, tears pouring down his freckled cheeks, whimpering ,in Arabic, to a father who's ears could no longer hear him. He
had wept so hard that his entire being shook and so long, that his family sent the help for him. But he left his tears, his fears, everything there
next to his father, in that very grave, swearing to never pick any of it up again.
And now, he was living the very belief that he took on at that grave that day. He refused the past, only moving toward the future. And the future was
his company and the legacy of his family. It was so unbelievable. That once upon a time, he was the spitting image of Don Juan, loving and leaving,
finding his amusement between the legs of a woman. Now, he was nothing less than Alexander the Great, just as his father had been. Conquering, taking
without question, building an empire worthy of an emperor. A king. Sure, every once in a while, a woman found his eye and then, his bed. But his lust
no longer led him, like a leash to his length. Now the hunger to succeed was the driving force that pulsed within him with every heartbeat. And it
seemed that Ruka's heart beat with the same vigor as she got right to it, his event on her lips before they could even order drinks. A smirk found the
corners of his mouth as he listened to her speak, nodding as she gave him exactly what he was looking for in his upcoming event. Hm, she had not
missed a single detail of his desire. Admirable.
"Exactly." He said, meeting her eyes again. "And your company can provide all of that, I am sure." His comment was one of confidence, not challenge.
He had heard good things from Nema and the rest of the board of directors about EMRG. He knew to trust their judgment when it came to partnering with
companies. And what was more, he had confidence in Ruka's ability. Yes, that was exactly what he said. Confidence. If there was anyone that could
mastermind an event and pull it off without glitch, it was most likely Ruka. She was the girl that orchestrated the theft, dismantling and shipping of
his Bugatti at the mere age of sixteen. And he had known her to do much more...complicated, intricate things during their time as schoolmates. Why
would a simple gala be anymore difficult?
"I am sure you have brought something for me to look over? A proposal perhaps?"
Screams from the haters, got a nice ring to it
I guess every superhero needs his theme music...
And that was how things were now. Ruka was pretty much all business all the time these days. There were times when she made time for people that
mattered to her; Akari, Kenji, her family, but they were the only people that could get away with cutting into her busy schedule. And with school and
work and trying to keep up with the new secrets her uncle was trying to keep, she barely had time for anything else. She was walking a path of success
that called for very little deviation from getting the job done. This was a nice change though.
Yes. Amiri was a pleasant surprise in her day. For now she could say that she was happy to see a familiar face from her past...for
now. She would see how long that lasted once they began working together; which it seemed they would be doing.
The corners of Ruka’s lips turned up as he expressed his confidence in the abilities of her company. Sure. Right. He should have confidence in EMRG,
but more than that she wanted him to have confidence in her. She was a little selfish when it came to doing business; her goals required her
to be honestly. She didn’t plan on being with EMRG forever. put bluntly, she really didn’t want to remain with them for too long after graduation.
She needed clients to know her name, not the people she worked for if she was going to branch out on her own.
“We most certainly can-,” she responded slowly, “But I’d like to give you my personal guarantee of quality. My team and I
expeditious, consistent, and efficient. There is nothing you can request that we cannot do.” And she prided herself on that fact. If only he knew of
some of the more...interesting requests she had gotten. She had done the wedding of some spoiled Upper East Side bridezilla. She asked for snow
leopards. Ruka delivered. Endangered or not, they existed somewhere, and when Ruka wanted something she got it. That much had not changed.
“Right-,” she began, reaching into the tote next to her ankles. She removed a document portfolio placing it between them. “Everything is there. Aesthetic details, fixtures, furniture,
and four different venues in the area. I’ve already made arrangements to survey the locations myself, and if you would like to be there when I do, I
can make myself available whenever you are and change the appointment time.”
If the truth be told, she had talked the managers of all four of the places she had in mind into freeing up a week of their event schedules so that
they could meet on his demand should he want to go. Yes. She was that through. Like she’d told him, there was nothing he could ask for that she
couldn’t make happen.
And they shall know I am the Lord, when I shall lay my vengeance on them.
Nodding his head at her words, a waiter arrived at the table and placed a small glass, a short distance from where his hands sat, long fingers
intertwined. He frowned at it and the server...and then his eyes connected quickly with Nijai, her back newly turned to them. He knew she had been
watching. And he knew that her ears had been tuned to everything that they had said, even in the crowded restaurant, she was listening. More and more,
Amiri began regret her. No, not hiring her. She was a suitable assistant, thorough and all of that, but when it came to her ability to rationalize,
she was a common woman. So confused by her heart that she made foolish decisions, like Amiri's drink choice coming to the table before he was well
into the heart of his discussion with Ruka. Just like any other meeting, Nijai knew to not order for him until preliminary discussion was
over. Having waiters visit his table was a distraction and she knew to not act until he gave her the sign that he was ready. Had he even acknowledged
her yet? No. He had not. Yet, here was his drink. A raspberry liqueur was sitting in front of him without his instruction and Nijai would pay.
Amazing. The woman chose to lose her job because of a drink? Sad, really. She had potential. If only she had kept her womanly wiles to herself, she
might have gone far...
But Amiri's face showed none of the ponderings roaming through his mind as he knew better than to let emotions conflict with his business dealings. It
took a smart man with too much to lose to understand keeping emotion and business separate. Hopefully Nijai would learn that one day. But her youth
and inexperience showed far too often and even that outweighed the ongoing sight of her amazing breasts.
"Excellent..." Amiri's hand brushed the glass of liqueur to the side, showing his obvious distaste of Nijai's actions as he reached for the portfolio
that Ruka produced from her bag. Opening it, his eyebrows lifted in amusement, complimented by the little smirk he wore. He...was...impressed.
Everything in the leather folder was laid out perfectly and without flaw. The presentation of the different venues. All of the deco formed around each
venue and each venue with its own, specific ambiance. Just amazing. Turning the pages as he compared each venue, his mind ran with little details. The
people who would attend, the numbers, what message each venue would convey. After a few minutes, his quiet flipping slowed as his hand rested on the
top of one of the venues.
"Perfect." His simple response. The Astor. Hmm. To think that there were such beautiful, hidden gems like the Astor in Kapuhai Reef made his interest
in the port island grow even more. There was such nostalgia in the place. Elegance and class flowed from the picture alone. "There are old hotels in
Morocco with this same ornate presence. It mirrors the old, Parisian feel of Casablanca and I like it. And the combination of Moroccan and Hawaiian on
the carte du jour? Ruka..." Looking up and into those dark, prideful but powerful eyes, he smiled and leaned back in his chair.
"You outdo yourself." Outdone herself, she had. Without more than a simple discussion with Nema's assistant, over the phone, she had comprised an
event that encompassed everything the company wished for in their presentation future clientele and hopefully, future partners.
"But I am sure that you already know that. You have always been one for details..." With a smirk, as he motioned for a server to take the evidence of
Nijai's tasteless behavior from the table, he thought of the havoc Ruka had rained of EPS as a girl...and the wonders she had yet to perform in
Kapuhai Reef as a woman.
Screams from the haters, got a nice ring to it
I guess every superhero needs his theme music...
Ruka watched the whole ordeal with his assistant take place as her lips continued moving, giving him the bare minimums of his upcoming event, detailed
in the portfolio. It happened quickly and, like all things with Amiri, was very subtle, but Ruka caught it. The assistant had overstepped her
boundaries. A simple drink that said so much more than it probably should have. I mean, of course the girl was his assistant. She wouldn’t be
efficient if she didn’t know something as simple as what he wanted to drink, but the poor girl had gotten ahead of herself. Amiri’s drink was
nothing more than a cry for his attention. Poor thing was probably infatuated with whatever the magic was that had surrounded Amiri Ben Hassi for so
long. It seemed nothing much had changed in the years they had been apart. Amiri was still driving girls to self destruction over his appeal.
She left the thoughts of his personal dealings as he spoke, a small word of praise on his lips as he brushed the glass to the side. He was impressed.
She could tell from the tone in his voice and the smirk his face usually wore when he was pleased with something. “I’m glad you think so-,” True
words. For the first time, his opinion mattered to Ruka and having his approval pleased her as well. Sue her.
Ruka gave him a moment to flip through the pages in the portfolio, his dark eyes glancing over each page, a small facial reaction accompanying each
page flip; nearly all of them expressions of satisfaction, but one of them was set apart from the others. He stopped, his hand resting on a picture of
the Celestial Ballroom of the Astor Hotel. It had been her choice for the event too. It had an old world elegance that kind of called to
her...apparently Amiri was receiving the same call. Perfect. That was just what she had said when one of her team had gotten back from
scouting. This was absolutely perfect, and the only space that she would even really consider holding his gala in. Sure, she had come with , but
really, there was only one choice to be made.
The smirk on her face never faded as he muttered her name. She’d outdone herself? No, not yet. She was simply getting started. He had yet to see her
in action. Making her plans happen was where all the fun was. Giving employees seemingly impossible deadlines? Stressing interns to the point of
tears? It was her little slice of high school revisited, only this time her torture had a purpose.
She shook her head a bit, an amused smile playing at her lips as Amiri finally had the drink removed from the table. “And it seems you are still one
for the insecure. You couldn’t humor the poor girl?” She asked nodding toward the drink the waiter promptly removed, vowing to return
momentarily for their orders. Overstepping her professional boundaries? Yes.
But she was among a friend.
And they shall know I am the Lord, when I shall lay my vengeance on them.
Flattery. A mouthful of it actually. Never, in a million years, did Amiri believe or hear himself saying the things that he was to Ruka.
Well, to be honest, he had not thought much about her in the past years, in the first place. Any words that he had hoped to say to her had passed from
his desire a long time ago. After Evita found out about his extra-relational trysts with that...blond...whose name escaped him at the moment,
he had been livid with Ruka. Angry. Vengefully vowing the day that he saw her, because of her involvement, that it would be her last...socially and
physically. All that fury was gone now. After the departure of his father and his succession into his father's immensely massive shoes, none
of it truly mattered, which was something that Amiri had continued to miss in his boyhood. His father had repeatedly tried to give him that truth, but
Amiri found it easier to cast those things away, just as he had the other words of wisdom his father exasperatedly attempted to offer him, only taking
away from their lengthy discussions what benefited the way he chose to live. The women, the drink, the manipulation and power. Only those existed in
his youth.
Older now and slightly more astute, it was easier to forget the past and compliment the future, which was getting easier and easier by the second.
Oddly enough, Ruka astounded him. Her work was impeccable, not an error to be found and perfect, as always. It was once that her perfection was almost
crippling to him, wounding him in such a way that no other reigning queen bitch at their old private school could ever manage to do. Now, her
perfection had him fascinated and wondering. Just how had that tiny, irritating, yipping pup become the woman that sat at his table? Of course their
meeting was only business and he had been warned by Nema to keep such transactions and interactions as such when doing "business" on the company's
time, but this was Ruka. Not truly an "old friend", but familiar enough to take a moment from their metered discussion on his future event to catch up
with each other's lives, yes?
It seemed that Ruka had the same thought in mind. Nijai's behavior had not gone unnoticed. Not that Amiri believed it would have. Women of Ruka's
class knew appropriateness when they saw it and knew when it was lacking. When she spoke to him of his flippant dismissal of Nijai's cry for
attention, he smiled, his lips curling at the edges. "Come now, she is not insecure. Just ignorant and spoiled. I apologize for her
behavior. That will not happen again." And it would not. Nijai would be grateful if he did not end her employment in the middle of the restaurant.
"Besides, she does not need for me to humor her. She humors herself. Surely you can see that."
Without leaving her gaze, Amiri smirked again, collecting his thoughts for a moment before he spoke. "But enough about that unfortunate incident. How
have you been? I cannot pretend that as...pleasureable as it is to see you..." With a short pause, Amiri's eyes traced her form quickly, his
eyes narrowing with interest. "It continues to astonish me. What are you doing here, in Hawaii?"
Screams from the haters, got a nice ring to it
I guess every superhero needs his theme music...
Who knew they’d end up this way? Hell, who knew they’d ever run into one another ever again? The last time they’d seen one another Amiri had
sworn to kill her on sight the next time they came across one another. Something about one of his conquests finding out about the blonde menace who
seemed so important to her back then. Hm. She couldn’t even remember the girl’s name now...Was it Megan? Lucy?...It wasn’t of importance. She
never was. Like the many others, the girl had just been a way to entertain herself. A means to pass the time through high school. That time had
passed, and it seemed it had for Amiri as well because here the two of them sat, amicable and dare she say it, cordial. Ruka was sure it was the first
conversation they’d had that hadn’t consisted of constant griping.
He was older now, more mature; as was she. She had grown, discovered that there are times when respect was warranted whether someone had earned it or
not. As odd as it may sound though, she considered Amiri as one that had earned her respect. Truth be told, he had earned it long ago, but now things
were different. He didn’t seem to be the carefree, unmotivated, stoner that just so happened to get the jump on her every now and again. He wasn’t
nearly as crude as he had been and she couldn’t deny how well he pulled off that suit. She really couldn’t pin point what it was that had changed,
but there was something in the way he carried himself now...he was a man. And she would respect that.
That didn’t mean she couldn’t reference his old habits, which seemed to die hard. Still Amiri opted to waste his time with those beneath him--no
pun intended. Sure, Ruka could concede to the girl’s beauty, but she lacked finesse. She was missing the class it took to even compete with a man of
Amiri’s caliber, let alone control him. Poor girl. She would learn. Ruka saw her potential. Unfortunately, it probably wouldn’t be with Amiri that
she learned the lesson she needed to. She could tell in the way that he referenced her, calling her ignorant and spoiled, that her time with him was
limited. Ruka would be surprised if she was the assistant that took her call tomorrow, but she would digress. And not because she was getting a stare
from the assistant that might have given someone not of her stature pause. Ruka however was unimpressed and suddenly...bored with the topic
of conversation.
As if reading her mind, Amiri changed the subject. How had she been? Ruka couldn’t help the smirk that deepened on her pink lips as she watched his
eyes fall over her form. Pleasurable, huh? He didn’t have that much of her respect. But she would ignore him. She couldn’t pretend she hadn’t
done the same thing since their time together had begun.
“My family’s here. Well most of it, my cousin returned home when we moved-,” just enough. She might have added ‘on business’, but
Akatsuki’s business was none of his. Specifics lead to questions, questions lead to trouble. She avoided it now. “These days I’m just finishing
school and working.” Hearing it made it sound lamer than it did in her head. Sure, she loved her work, but really? That was it? Yeah. Yes, it was.
“And you? What have you been up to Mr. Ben Hassi? Whatever it is, I see you’ve done well.”
And they shall know I am the Lord, when I shall lay my vengeance on them.
Listening intensely, Amiri's attention kept to Ruka's brief comments about her life since Oregon. It seemed that she had made the move from the dreary
city they had both, at one time, inhabited, just as he had. And as curious as he was about the reason for her departure, he knew better than to ask.
Amiri had known enough of Ruka to know that there was nothing said that was not to be divulged. In his youth, he had gone out of his way, beyond
simply scheming, to find out things about Ruka and her family and sadly, he had only skimmed the surface. It was too bad that a poor girl had lost her
innocence for a few assumptions and superficial detail. But that was more than some had ever achieved as Ruka was highly silent about her past and
present and when it came to her family, she was and had always been, eerily void of detail. But Amiri respected that silence now, more than he had
then, as he also knew the importance of ambiguity. The less people knew, the more they wondered. And in the business he found himself controlling in
the present days, that level of secrecy was necessary. No longer were the affairs and indiscretions the most important things that Amiri was entrusted
to protect. His boyish games had given way to aggressive tactic and leadership.
So...her family was also there, in Kapuhai Reef, where they? Interesting. Her family probably meant Akari, the best friend that she had held closer to
her bosom than a sister. Oh, and not forgetting Kenji, Akari's twin. But Amiri had always felt that things went deeper than just the three of them,
completely inseparable in their youth. Would the same be said for their adulthood? And the cousin? She must have meant the other boy that had
completed their foursome. Tall. Broody. Constantly with a look that said that he would rather be anywhere than the grounds of the stuffy private
school they all attended? Yes, him. Amiri had never known his name as he was an upperclassman that kept to himself more than his younger cohorts chose
to. All the same, most of Ruka's family was on the island and surprisingly, on an island this immense, Amiri could not ignore the feeling that he
would be running into them sooner than later.
And aside from Ruka's family, her days were filled with...what was this? Working and school? Well. This was certainly not the Ruka that he
remembered. Of course the over achievement was not new. Ruka had been happy to outdo anyone (including him) who gave her a chance to accept the
challenge. But no partying? No social scene? Why, things had surely changed. But was that any surprise? Things had become so different for him that he
barely recognized himself when he looked into a mirror or heard his own voice. Aside from the physical obviousness, there were things that would never
be the same. The haughtiness in his eyes. The impish smirk on his lips. They were replaced by the drive and initiative. By the subdued persona he now
put on at all times. By the desire that welled in his breast. In more ways than once, Amiri was slowly changing into...his father. The man
that he wanted to see so dearly, that he began to mold himself, shift and change, so that he would see his father's reflection looking back at him
whenever he watched his own face.
"Well..." He smiled, the whites of those perfect teeth flashing before he let the pride from her statement overwhelm him completely. "I have been
working for my father's company since my departure from Oregon." His father. With a pause, Amiri cleared his throat, his eyes wanting to look
away from Ruka, but refusing to let her see the emotions that tossed inside of him. Rarely did he speak of that time between then and now, when he had
been at his most vulnerable. But, he was in friendly company. Or he wanted to believe he was, even though Ruka had never proved herself to be such.
She had always been the enemy. The adversary. But that afternoon, the eyes that looked out at him said something different. They were familiar. She
was familiar. And it had been so long since he had seen something that reminded him of what use to be. What was.
"My- father passed...away. And..." Pausing again, his long fingers played with his cuff links quickly before cleared his throat again and continued.
"And that meant the end of my childhood as I and my sister took over immediately. I have...had time for school and barely anything else, including
sleep..." With a small laugh he smirked, thinking before he finished. "...and I have yet to actually see Yale's campus and I will be a Senior at the
end of this semester." She thought she was busy? No, his life was another level of "busy". Jets, cars, different hotels every other week, changing
time zones so much that he could no longer keep the time himself. All of this was his life now. So busy that he could barely keep the playboy ways
that had been so familiar to him and synonymous to his name in his youth. It was beyond him how to balance all of it and adding Madgeline to the
picture only complicated it all.
"When I figure out how to balance it all, I will know I have done well. But now, I feel like I am barely keeping it all from tumbling over into a heap
on the floor!" Another laugh brought him out of the rant he had fallen into. "I ramble. Forgive me."
"You have done greatly, as well. I can tell. And...if you do not mind me saying, the grace and maturity that you have gained through out these past
years wears amazingly on you, Ruka. You look stunning."
Screams from the haters, got a nice ring to it
I guess every superhero needs his theme music...
Yes, well she had very good reason to divulge next to nothing when people asked about her personal life. She had learned at an early age that saying
the wrong thing to the right person could have dire consequences. Not that she considered Amiri to be a threat of any kind, but it was better to say
nothing at all than say more than should be said. She could remember a time when her peers, Amiri especially, did nothing but try to pry into the
darkest corners of her life. Ruka couldn’t blame them, she always somehow managed to stumble upon the deepest of their secrets and use them against
them. You didn’t stay queen without making a few enemies. God, why had that been so important to her? She couldn’t even bring reason to it
now...the torment she put her so called friends through. Of course she never considered them that. Her only real friends then had been Akari and Kenji
and the same as still true today...but her thoughts had ventured off course.
What had she been up to? Work and school pretty much consumed her life outside of family. She had been a socialite through high school, but that
stopped when she got her diploma. High school as over and so were the games she’d played there...of course she had a few tricks that still worked in
the “real world”. A 4.0 was tough to maintain when working full time...Minions were still a must, she simply referred to them as assistants now.
As for her partying? She planned them for a living. She had grown tired of being a guest at them long ago. Company events might have been considered
parties, but she still used them as networking oppertunities. Only “socializing” with those she might use in the future. Such was life these days.
Surely, for Amiri things were different.
Ruka remembered the boy from their childhood. Constantly between the legs of whomever he’d deemed worthy of his time that day, passing his school
work off to be done by someone else, getting high between classes...That was the Amiri she remembered. Maturity had obviously done away with some of
those traits, but the others she found herself curious about. What had Amiri been up to since they shared a zip code?
Oh. The smirk she wore fell away as he told her he had been working for his father’s company since his move. It wasn’t what he had said,
but the way he had said it. It was ominous; preparing her for what he struggled to say next. His father had passed...She allowed the silence that
followed that announcement so that Amiri could collect himself. She knew from experience how...well, to put it lightly, off-putting
acknowledging the death of a parent was.
He continued on his own, explaining that his life had been similar to hers. Work and Yale? Well. She couldn’t pretend she wasn’t
impressed. Of course, she had been impressed with him since she spotted him entering Cipriani’s. She shouldn’t have expected any less. Amiri had
always been one for the best in life. Ivy league was just something more for him to conquer. Nice. Very nice. He was laughing when the waiter returned
for their orders. She placed hers, ordering the veal farfalle with lemon sauce and waited for Amiri to place his before continuing their conversation.
“I am very sorry for your loss Amiri-,” she paused, debating upon whether or not to give a little of her vulnerability in return for his. “My
parents...” were murdered, “Passed as well...Car accident-,” or assassination, but who cared for specifics these days? She looked away, unable
to keep eye contact through her own confession and thankfully Amiri took control of the conversation once again.
He complimented her, telling her she had done well for himself as well and...hm. The smirk she had worn earlier returned as he referred to her as
‘stunning’. “You’re very sweet-,” she said with a smile. “The same could be said for you. You are definitely not the young man I remember
from school.” Nothing was truer. Amiri had changed, grown. She wouldn’t say so because she knew how rude it might sound, but she no longer
considered him unworthy.
And they shall know I am the Lord, when I shall lay my vengeance on them.
And the only thought going through his mind as his lips let go of the truth that he had given no one's ears the privilege of hearing was "why"? For
years. For years he had held on to that fact, never uttering it to another person, much less someone that he had a relationship with as a "client".
Amiri never spoke of his father's death to...strangers. He never told anyone more than they needed to know and what was more, he never
actually "told" anyone at all. The story of his father's death was publicized, by word of mouth, or it was relayed by assistants, but never by his own
lips. Not because his father did not mean anything to him. It was quite the opposite. His father meant too much. More than words. More than he had
known in life, but he knew now in the subsequent death. He could never...make the words. Not even when he talked with his sisters and his mother. His
father had always..."moved on". "Left him behind". "Carried on into the next life". But never...passed and certainly never..."died". He could
not say those words, much less think them. But he had just then, to the most peculiar choice of person. Ruka? Ruka was who he verbalized his father's
demise with? Why? Why her? They had no ill will against each other in adulthood, although they were sworn enemies in childhood. But there was no
feeling at all between them. No sense of devotion as to why he would feel so ready to admit that reality to her. Yet, he had certainly felt so
drawn to do it...and more.
After his words ended and their orders placed, the invisible waiter catching his hurried choice of "the same", Ruka's polite condolence followed...but
her voice continued. With something so unexpected...lucidity. She spoke about her parents and how she had lost hers also. Amiri's eyes noticeably
widened at her admittance to herself. He had not expected it. From years of trying to see inside of Ruka (of course as a means to her destruction),
Amiri had finally been allowed a tiny glimpse of her. Albeit, small...but significant. A car crash? How dark...and tragic. The steady eye contact that
she had held with him faltered, her dark eyes looking away. Probably to hide the emotion that had, too, made him look away from her eyes as well. The
emotion that was nothing but a weakness, if spotted. That even though he had subtly opened up to her and erased the client/marketer, he could not
chance her to see.
"And my sincere condolences to you also." He muttered awhile later, his endearing compliment falling on not only her ears, but also Nijai's, the side
stare she was giving their table turning into a glare. Without much concern, Amiri carried on. "It is such a loss to lose a parent. Now I know
that...misfortune." By misfortune, Amiri had obviously meant pain. The pain of never telling his father how much he respected him. And the
uncertainty of knowing just how much he would, one day, make his father proud after a lifetime of mistakes and disappointment. Amiri had never been
the perfect child. He had done nothing but take his whole childhood, so indulged. So quick tempered and slow to think. Now, because of his father's
death, he would become who his father had wanted him to be all along...and Miloud would not be present to bear witness to it. Such cruel irony, life
was full of it.
"But it is worth every moment to carry on his work." With that final word, he re-pasted his smile and looked to Ruka again, fully taking in the
response to his compliment.
"No, I am not the same...those days full of immaturity are long gone now." For a moment, he grew quiet, before the his smile broke, an impish shadow
of the grin he once wore on his once youthful face was there. "But I must say, I do occasionally miss it. Do you not, Ruka?"
Screams from the haters, got a nice ring to it
I guess every superhero needs his theme music...
What? She was not as heartless as she pretended to be. Far from it. Amiri had opened up to her and...sadly she could relate. She knew the pain of
losing a parent. Hell, she knew the pain of losing both. She imagined it to be much orse for him though. He had been at an age where he understood
what had happened. An age where things may have gone unsaid. Ruka had been young, four, when her parents were taken from her. She cried because
okasan* and otosan* were missing; not because she knew they weren’t coming back. She didn’t find that out until much
later...years before the same she found out why they would never return to her. She remembered hating her uncle for quite sometime afterward.
It had been his fault that her parents were dead. His fault that she would never see them again...all over a little business. That’s what
her parents were to their murder. Just business. Amiri was lucky...She knew how morbid that sounded, but it didn’t change the way she felt.
Amiri’s father had simply passed on, her parents had been disposed of as if they meant nothing. His father died a man. Her parents died as a means
to an end.
But she could add that to the list of things no one would ever know about her. She would not let her emotions get the best of her in front of Amiri,
especially during the course of their business together. This was probably the first and last time she would open herself to him beyond her thoughts
on his event. That was simply the way things had to be.
He offered his condolences and she nodded politely. As she did so she noticed the prying eyes of his assistant once again, her ever-present glare
still had not faltered from her honestly, quite lovely features. It wasn’t at all appreciated. Ruka sighed, her mind going over the many ways she
could quickly and quietly do away with the attitude she was receiving for no reason whatsoever. The whole ordeal was ridiculous, really. Something she
shouldn’t have had to handle...
But as Amiri continued on, the smile returning to his face as he told her his days of immaturity had long since passed. And then...I do
occasionally miss it. Do you not... “At times-,” she paused her gaze averting back to the assistant as the smirk on her face took a
mischievous turn. “But you don’t know some of the twisted things I did back then,” God, the blackmail information alone was enough to make his
head spin let alone the scandals she manipulated her followers into committing for her pleasure. She had been somewhat heartless then; taking pleasure
in the pain of others...but he was right. She did miss it and occasionally she indulged herself.
“Some of the twisted things I am still capable of-,” she said just loud enough for the assistant to hear. She drew her bottom lip in as
she leaned in to the conversation. One that was about to take an interesting turn. Sure, it was a show for the jealous whore, but she could still have
her fun right?
_____________________________
*Otosan-father
*Okasan-mother
And they shall know I am the Lord, when I shall lay my vengeance on them.
Amiri's comment was not as much "in jest" as it should have been. As much as Nema advised against it, he often found himself missing the days when the
fulfillment of his own life was his only concern. When there was nothing beyond the drink and the procuring of women and weed. When holding more than
his own life in the highest importance was only something to prepare for in what seemed then, a distant future. There was nothing in Amiri that
imagined that this would be his life now. That his father would leave so soon. That he would reach his responsibility before what seemed the
appropriate time. But his plans, his desires, the meant nothing to fate, it seemed. Nothing that he wanted mattered any longer. Not the freedom. Not
the youth. And not what use to be. And even the firm advising from Nema did not stop his thoughts. She, warning against the evils of retrospection and
he becoming the obedient puppet of his father's company. The face of it all while she and his beloved Uncle made the difficult decisions for him that
he was still not capable of making alone. It was a fated existence. Something that Amiri had no choice in. He only had lived the possibility of his
responsibility, but he had never known the weight of it until it was placed in his lap. Was it any wonder the past looked so much brighter?
And it had been bright. Bright and luminescent, the mere mention of the name, "Ben Hassi" brought respect and jealousy to the faces of his peers. And
sometimes...unbridled desire. It was all the same. The want there. The want to be him. The want to know him. The want to possess him. Of
course he still saw glints of those things in the eyes of the people that surrounded him, but in high school, his youth, he was god. And no matter if
their mouths slandered him or bragged on his prowess...every mouth spoke his gospel. His story. Even Ruka's perfect pink lips. A smirk broke his
expression at Ruka's admittance of, at times, wishing for the past, just as he found himself doing. They were amazing times. Even the times he had
shared with Ruka. Scheming against her. Sniping and hissing at the very whisper of her name. Hating her. The hate. It had been so amazing, so
powerful. And at times, so thick that he could feel it course through his veins.
Now, none of it was there. There was no clenching of his teeth as he watched her, sitting in front of him. Her dark brown eyes shifted from his gaze,
looking past him to...to Nijai, he presumed. Who, was most certainly, still minding business that was not hers. Her time was most certainly
running short with him, but he thought it...necessary, deciding right there, that he would teach her a lesson in professionalism and demure in her
last moments as his employee.
"Oh, but I did hear some of the most entertaining rumors of your...exploits. And I did encounter you, first hand. Remember?" His lip
curling into a quick smile, almost as a reminder to Ruka of the execution of his first, beloved Bugatti. A reminder that he doubted that she needed.
Leaning forward, his long fingers coming together, folding across the soft, linen-ed tabletop. Perhaps he was laying it on a bit...thick in his hopes
to show Nijai just how far her importance in his life actually reached, but it was necessary...and perhaps a bit fun as he played right along with
Ruka, who seemed to have had enough of Nijai's behavior, too.
"I know that I have never told you this..." His voice lowered, just above a whisper. "But your intrigues always kept me...how should I say...on my
toes? It was amazing to see just how utterly corrupt your mind could be. Amazing and...might I add, a bit...rousing?" With a small chuckle,
he cocked his head as she continued to speak, mentioning how she still had a few twisted things up her sleeve...adding the bit of her tiny, bottom lip
to the comment that already had Amiri a bit, lest he say, warm around the collar. Twisted, hm? Really. It was a new day, Amiri realized, his eyes
narrowing as they moved from her lips and back to Nijai's full frontal stare. He would have never imagined it. Ever. The unthinkable had happened.
Instead of utterly disgusting him in every way possible, he was sure that Ruka Sōuen had successfully peaked his interest in
her. Literally. Not a difficult feat for most attractive women. But for Ruka? She had just turned water into wine. Yes, things had certainly
changed...
"Twisted? Perhaps you should enlighten me?"
Screams from the haters, got a nice ring to it
I guess every superhero needs his theme music...
Ruka saw no shame in occasionally reminiscing about times past. Contrary to every teen movie anyone had ever seen about high school, it was a high
point in her life. Far from the highest, but she didn’t dread her return to the halls day after day and she had graduated valedictorian. Unlike her
peers, Ruka did what she could to see to it that everything she wanted out of high school she received. Positions of power, dominion over her fellow
students, and hell, even a few of the teachers. Her past had prepared her for her future. She hadn’t gotten to running a branch of one of the lead
event planning and marketing agencies in the nation without outsmarting the so-called “best of the best”, just as she had in the battlefield that
was high school...They were good times.
And she could remember some of her favorites involving Amiri. As much as she had hated the boy in his youth, she couldn’t deny the fun she had
during their petty arguments. No one played the game of deception, scheming, and blackmail like Amiri Ben Hassi. Admittedly, he had been the only one
that could really keep her on her toes. Some of her best work had been done at Amiri’s expense and for that she should probably have thanked
him...but she wouldn’t. Now it seemed entirely to late and then...Ha. She could barely stomach saying two words to him then, let alone having them
be “thank you”.
No, Amiri may never know his real worth to her during their childhood, but it was probably obvious now as the two of them sat across from one another
completely civil and might she even say, friendly. None of the hate from their previous encounters seemed to exist anymore...and a part of her was
pleased with that fact. She had enough enemies without adding Amiri and his newly acquired power to the list. He may have been a contender in high
school, but she was sure his pull far outreached what it had back then...quite honestly, a problem she would never even want to think about fixing.
Luckily she didn’t have to. Amiri was not dwelling on the past, simply reminiscing; all the while playing into her little game with the assistant,
his words as vague as hers had been so that the girl was free to let her mind wonder about their meaning.
Of course they weren’t talking about what she assumed they were. Amiri was referencing the theft and destruction of his precious Bugatti...One of
her best exhibitions of power, but now, in retrospect...maybe just a little over the top? Perhaps. But it wasn’t as if she had killed anyone and the
reference was clearly serving it’s purpose as Ruka allowed her smirk to deepen, her eyes meeting those of the assistant. Insolence was not something
Ruka handled well. This was simply her telling the poor girl just how sadly mistaken she was if she though a mean look and discourtesy was going be
enough to shake her. With the way Amiri was playing into things though, it seemed he had grown tired of his plaything as well.
She smiled at his final words. Enlighten him? Hmm. Times did changed didn’t they? If anyone had told five years ago her she’d sit at a
table with Amiri Ben Hassi and consider...enlightening him, she would have made it her mission to socially destroy whomever had brought up
that such an absurd notion. And yet...here they were. She couldn’t lie, the thought had crossed her mind. She remembered the few stories she’d
allowed her minions to tell...of course a rumor then meant nothing to her unless it could be proven true. She now had the opportunity, but sadly she
wasn’t able to take it. Amiri’s relation to her past didn’t make him any less of a client and Ruka did not mix business with
pleasure...no matter how pleasurable it had the potential to be.
“You and I both know that I shouldn’t-,” she said softly, the devilish smirk still at her pink lips. Shouldn’t being the operative
word...Wouldn’t would have been more accurate in their past, and couldn’t was the word she should have used not. She could not
sleep with Amiri Ben Hassi as long as she had business with his company. Not that she was anything like his child of an assistant and wouldn’t be
able to pull her feelings from her work, but it was just a rule of hers. Relationships got messy when she got bored and she couldn’t risk that with
Amiri. But if the situation were different...
Ruka pulled away. The show for the girl was over and strangely she found herself frustrated with the outcome. “But it was fun while it lasted-,”
she said, giving his assistant one last sentiment to fume over while they continued their business lunch. She could tell already that there were so
many things she wanted to say to her. So many things she would probably tell Amiri, still under the impression that her opinion or feelings even
remotely matter to him.
“I imagine the two of you have more than enough to talk about once you leave here."
And they shall know I am the Lord, when I shall lay my vengeance on them.
Yes, enlighten him. He had not meant for it to sound as...dirty...as it had. And during a business meeting, no less. Who was he fooling? He
had. But could be blamed? Ruka's power had always been a bit of a thorn to his side. An Achilles heel of sorts, in his youth. The way she thought
and schemed. Manipulated and destroyed. It shook his world more than she would ever know and almost made him shed a bead of sweat in the planning of
his swift and accurate revenge. She was the beginning of his anger, never ceasing to swell the need for a malevolent counter blow in the wake of her
actions. But, behind all that hate. Behind all of that distaste for her...and her hair, the was respect. And a bit of admiration. A wise man once said
that a person's admiration is the beginning of their attraction. Well, Amiri's admiration had turned into...lust. So much that he
could taste it like a sweet liqueur. It rolled over his tongue, filled his nostrils. Peeked his senses to her. With a smile matching hers, the
expression on his face never faltered, wanting Ruka to see the seriousness in his comment. Ah, power did it to him every time.
And her answer came almost as swiftly as his words left. She should not. That was no surprise. Women like Ruka were...different. The were not
like the foolish Nijai, so silly and immature that they believed Amiri's gift of himself inside of them meant that he was giving them his heart also.
How stupid of them to even believe that his dick had anything to do with his heart. But women of Ruka's caliber understood men like him. So powerful
and in control that the simple things held no pleasure for him anymore. He was a man that could gain anything he wanted with a wave of his hand. The
easily obtained meant nothing to him and Nijai became inconsequential the moment she opened her beautiful legs to him on top of his desk. He had worn
her down and had had her not even a week after she was hired. She was fun while she lasted. But now...she was just...boring and pitiful. And
he was done with his plaything. But Ruka. She had always known the importance of keeping it interesting...even when they were at each other's throats,
threatening death every moment they could. And he could tell that the twists and turns that she threw into every game she played did not just stop
with her intrigues. No, he could tell that they only got more interesting...in the bedroom.
"Ruka. I do not like rejection, you know this." He admonished her and smirked playfully, his eyes still scouring her with a look that one should
certainly abstain from giving a business partner. A look that told her, in less words than he truly needed, just how serious he was. Just how much, if
she gave him the chance, he would put business aside, clear the restaurant and take her, right there...on top of the table, if he must. But looking
away from her, he regained his composure and leaned away from her, his glance going to Nijai's blushed cheeks. She huffed violently and turned away
from them.
"But if I must be rejected, I would rather it be by someone as ravishing as you." Looking up and nodding quickly, he silently thanked the
waiter that had arrived with their selections and requested a bottle of Merlot before the waiter left quickly, anxious to fill the order. Quietly, he
placed his napkin on his leg and gave Ruka the once over as she spoke. She really was ravishing. And if it had not been for the already indecent
behavior that would SURELY get back to Nema as Nijai would be vengeful after her dismissal, he would have pushed the issue of
their...enlightenment. If not for now, surely for later. What? She was tempting, to say the least. Even the red hair that use to turn Amiri's
stomach was beautiful on her, complimenting her face more than he had ever seen it do. But he would keep things...professional. For the moment, at
least. Lest he saw a entrance in the future, an possibility, he would take it...over and over again. But now, he would behave...well, to the best of
his ability.
"Oh, the fun has just begun. Would you not say?" He murmured, the ripple of sex in his voice unmistakeably decipherable. With feigned embarrassment,
he cleared his throat and smiled. "I meant in our professional relationship, of course. I think we will work quiet nicely together." With a quick bite
at his bottom lip, he chuckled at Ruka's joke about his ride back to the office with Nijai.
"I doubt that I will be more than willing to listen to anything she has to say..."
Screams from the haters, got a nice ring to it
I guess every superhero needs his theme music...
Oh she knew exactly what he meant with his request for enlightenment. Amiri may have changed, but it seemed his...charm had not
faltered over the years. Of course, she had been immune to his allure back then. She had been nothing but repulsed when he was in her presence, his
arrogance doing nothing but irritating and taunting her. At least that was what she had told herself back then. Now, she could easily confess that his
arrogance was justified back then. He had been a worthy opponent, the only opposition that actually posed a challenge for her. She had been through
hell finding his boyhood tryst with the maid whom he was still seeing. Hell. But she had done it.
In the days that followed that takedown, she often wondered how he might retaliate. His death threats of course weren’t at all serious to her as he
had no idea who he was actually dealing with. No, he wouldn’t be able to kill her, so what?...Sadly she never found out as he left town soon after.
If she had to give anyone the benefit of the doubt though, Amiri was it. Any man that could leave her without words, which he had done on more
occasions she cared to admit to, was capable of bringing her to her knees.
Now though it seemed he was trying to bring her to her knees in not so malicious ways. But she couldn’t. Now while a business relationship existed
between them. Besides, Amiri would bore with her just as soon as she closed her legs again. Ruka was a lot of things, but stupid had never been among
the words used to describe her. Amiri got the things he wanted with the snap of his fingers. Easy described 98.9% of the acquisitions in his life, and
as soon as he got the things he wanted he bored of them...quickly. That had been the fate his assistant suffered and Ruka would not be the
same. Mostly because she would probably grow tired of Amiri before he did with her. They were very much alike, she and Amiri. Things, people, sex. All
of them could be bought and sold; traded. They only held value if she had to work to control them.
Yes, she had many reasons for not sleeping with Amiri and he would simply have to accept them, although as he put it he did not like rejection. She
smiled at the look he was giving her then, his eyes speaking the words his lips could not while his soon-to-be-fired assistant stood by. He wanted
her. And he was not at all interested in stopping at a little harmless flirting. “You have my sympathies-,” she said playfully before he
finished, telling her that he would much rather be rejected by someone as...again with the sweet compliments. She hoped the girls he “dated”
didn’t fall for just a little bit of sweet talk and a lustful glance. Ruka required more. And she might have made a teasing comment if their food
hadn’t arrived before she could speak.
She looked up, a small thank you on her lips as he placed the plate in front of she and Amiri and rushed off to get the bottle of Merlot Amiri
requested. She figured they would move past their coded conversations of sex, but she still heard it in his voice when he spoke again. The fun
has just begun. Oh really? A chase? He was willing to chase her was he? That was interesting, to say the least. He clarified quickly, the sex
leaving his tone as she chuckled a little. Sure, their professional relationship. Ruka knew what he’d meant and she found that to be far more
interesting than their “professional relationship”.
But, it was an area they should no longer explore. Placing her napkin gently across her lap, she spoke to get them back on the topic of this lunch.
“Yes, I think we will work extremely well together. I’m actually very excited about handling your event.” That also could’ve been taken the
wrong way by his plaything, but she was no longer watching her words for her. “I do hope you’ll accompany me to the Astor when you have the
time-,” for scouting purposes of course! She was only thinking of their “professional relationship”.
And they shall know I am the Lord, when I shall lay my vengeance on them.
Work? Work was the last thing on his mind at that particular moment, although he should have been ashamed that it was. But he, of course, was not. Of
course, his ways were different. He was more mature, more focused, and certainly more reserved. But there were some things that just died
hard...Amiri's love for the chase being one of them. His childish ways had died long before, chasing the skirts were not an option anymore. But one
thing was for certain, he never turned a skirt away. The serious life that found its depth in business, profit, and production was not his. It was
only the costume that he wore to satisfy his sister and uncle. Nema would always be the brain of the family and most certainly, the corporation. She
had always had a heart for their father's company, knowing at a very young age that it would be her destiny. Their father had often joked that she had
been born the wrong gender, that "Allah had gotten it wrong". But sometimes, Amiri thought he was right. Nema would be the one to keep the company's
head above water. When Amiri had fallen apart after their father's departure, it was she who immediately hit the ground running, not even hesitating
to mourn the father who had taught her everything she knew in the first place. She wrapped her emotions in herself and proceeded, while everyone else
fell apart. Amiri envied that of her, wondering why fate would make HIM the one to carry on a legacy that he had only gained the heart for after the
predecessor passed the baton. All of the weight only balanced on his broad shoulders, but underneath those shoulders, the heart that lusted after life
still pumped, hidden beneath his breast.
"I could not have chosen a better coordinator." He nodded, knowing that that comment could not have been anymore truer. The fact is, he hadn't chosen
her, much less, her company. That had been all Nema. His dear sister, constantly with her head in the job and her mind on the money (where Amiri's
mind often stayed). She had chosen so wisely, he had to admit it. But what luck! How the stars had lined up so beautifully. Was it chance that his
sister would chose the exact company that his high school nemesis worked for. And the same department, much less! Providence had his favor, he
presumed as he watched Ruke place the white, linen napkin on her lap, her eyes returning to his gaze. With a smile he picked up his fork and began to
eat, listening to her speak more about the location, The Astor Hotel, which she had chosen for him.
"Oh, I would love to accompany you..." And that quickly, it was back to work. The authority returned to his voice as he leaned over the portfolio and
stole another glimpse at the attractive ballroom, complete with grooved ceilings, softly-lit teardrop candelabras and sufficient space for the gala.
Elegant, yet nostalgic. Perfect. "And maybe view the rest of the hotel? It would please me if you would join me for drinks, as I am sure there is a
lounge we could where we could...converse further?" Perhaps the flirting was not over, but Amiri meant the question with the greatest innocence. It
had been amusing, to say the least, sitting with Ruka and catching up again, after so much time. Surely, she could understand his request. And of
course, they would discuss the gala, but he wanted to find out more. Know more about his past adversary.
Screams from the haters, got a nice ring to it
I guess every superhero needs his theme music...
Yes work. They needed to refocus on what brought them together in the first place...Although that seemed to have been fate. What were the odds that
his sister, whom to the best of her knowledge, knew nothing of Ruka and Amiri’s past together, would choose EMRG to organizze their event? More odd
still, what were the odds that Amiri and Ruka were on the same island when the Chaâbi Group needed a coordinator for said event. It was eerily
coincidental how they’d come together, but she was sure no one’s hand had been in it but fate’s. Why would there be anyone else? Amiri surely
had not sought her out just as she had not sought him. Life was just funny that way...
Pushing her thoughts aside, Ruka rejoined the conversation, a polite nod in response to his compliment. He had no idea how right he was. There was not
an event coordinator alive that could even come close to duplicating her work, let alone topping it. Nema had chosen wisely and it may have
sounded arrogant to say but, damn if it wasn’t true.
She spoke, as she picked up her fork, beginning to eat as she finished speaking. She really was looking forward to his company at the Astor. Despite
and in contrary to their history, Ruka found herself enjoying his company. Oh, goodness. Akari would lose herself over this one. She had always
teased her about how sure she was Ruka loved Amiri and “hated” him to hide it. Now that she could tolerate him, she would probably be
insufferable. But that was an issue for another time. Right now, Amiri had her attention. And it peaked as he asked her...drinks? It was a little
outside of her comfort zone do have drinks with her clients...but for Amiri...
“We’ll see-,” she said with a small smirk.
And they shall know I am the Lord, when I shall lay my vengeance on them.
![[*]](images/davis/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
