What Men Want - Chapter 21

Amaya finished her ninth tour of the apartment when she finally decided she had had enough. Saeba had disappeared hours ago, presumably in search of his partner, a fact Amaya didn’t understand a bit. Wasn’t she the one he was supposed to protect? Hasn’t Kaori been his partner for more than six years, so she should be able to take care of herself? Besides, she was probably out for a reason—like a boyfriend or lover—so he was probably going to be the fifth wheel when and if he found her.

Sulking, she dropped into an armchair, staring out the window at the pinking sky. Dusk was upon the city, so that meant she’s been alone in this house for the whole day with her two bodyguards carousing around town with no thought of her. Talk about professionalism. But what irked the most was the fact that Saeba preferred going after his partner than staying at home with her. That clearly showed he harbored pretty deep feelings for that Kaori person, and that didn’t bode well for her plan. Not well at all!

Her eyes still on the city before her, she heard the door behind her open. The brilliant smile disappeared the moment she turned and noticed Kaori in the doorway.

Kaori nodded almost imperceptibly, her eyes perusing the living room.

Amaya slowly straightened in slight alarm as she noticed the state Kaori was in. Her eyes were dilated and red-rimmed; she was pale as death; her mouth was pinched into a thin line; and she was slightly trembling. Just what has happened to her?

“Are you okay?” she quietly asked.

Kaori flinched, pasting on a false smile. “Yeah. Fine.” Her eyes turned shadowy. “Where is Ryo?”

Amaya elegantly lifted one shoulder. “I thought he was with you. The way he rushed out of the house this morning to find you and all...”

Kaori nodded slightly.

Amaya gracefully lifted one arm, posing it on the back of her armchair with a flourish. “I don’t know why he bothered. You look unscathed, and you were probably having a good time.”

Kaori arched an eyebrow at the tone. Well, wasn’t that interesting? When the chick had arrived, she had been all demure and hush-hush, but now...Now she sat on that armchair—Kaori’s favorite armchair—as a queen, looking like she owned the place. And the tone of her voice...It just screamed Yakuza widow. A Yakuza widow miffed that her current ogling material cared for some other woman more than he cared for her.

Kaori knew this whole scene wasn’t because Hitotsugi Amaya felt abandoned by her two bodyguards; she felt unprotected and unsafe having to spend an entire day by herself. No, this was something else. This had nothing to do with protection and all to do with the person in charge of said protection.

She’s seen it happen before. She’s heard that tone of voice before. The tone of a woman who knew she had a rival before her. As if! Kaori was never a rival to any of the women who have fallen for Ryo. And she never will be. Why couldn’t they see it? Just because they lived under the same roof and shared the common rooms of an apartment, a job, their meals, and a bunch of friends didn’t mean they were involved.

He couldn’t care less about her, and he’d made it painfully clear that morning in Mick’s apartment. Her eyes started stinging again at the memory of that scene. How could he say such things to her? It was more horrible than being called a whore to her face. Just because he found her half-naked in the middle of Mick’s apartment didn’t mean she’d slept with the man. He should’ve known better than that. He should’ve known her. He should’ve been the only one who really knew her, and yet he thought the worst of her at the first opportunity. How could he?

Amaya regally stood, moving closer to the woman who stood frozen in the middle of the living room, staring into nothingness. How dare she just stand there like that, staring into space? She could at least have the decency to look contrite or something.

“You know, Kaori-san, I’m here out of need for protection, but how can I feel safe and secure when my bodyguard prefers to go in search of his partner than keep me out of harm’s way?” Her eyes were hard as she stared up at the taller woman. “I don’t know what he sees in you in the first place.” Her eyes flew over Kaori’s figure. “Just look at you. You give no thought whatsoever to your appearance. Short hair, and these clothes. Hah! And how you act and treat him. No man should ever have such a mannish creature at his side.”

Mouth agape, Kaori stared down at their guest. So this was it, then. Screw the demure, shy, and silent girl that had arrived at their doorstep. This was the true Hitotsugi Amaya. This arrogant, insulting, obnoxious little chit throwing a hissy fit over a new toy!

After years of searching for her inner bitch without any success, Kaori has grown resigned to the fact that she probably didn’t have all that venom in her. Boy, has she been wrong. Maybe it was the tough day she’s had, maybe it was the discovery of Ryo’s secret fantasies, maybe it was the horrible night, or maybe she’s just grown tired of being constantly trampled over by women who were more beautiful, sophisticated, and feminine than her, but Kaori has finally had it. And oh, behold, there she was, her inner bitch claws out, ready to do gory battle.

Straightening her spine, she glared at the woman before her. “Listen, missy. I don’t know who the hell you think you are, but first, you’re a guest here, and ladies of your rank,” the word was drenched in sarcasm, “are supposed to possess enough class and decorum to know their place in a household not their own and show respect to the people who give them shelter. Second, you’re here seeking protection. We didn’t have to accept this assignment! But we did, and you should show some gratitude to Ryo and, consecutively, to me as his partner. Third, you’re not a prisoner here. You can leave any time you like if you feel the accommodation does not meet your high standards or you feel unprotected.” She took a deep breath. “You stand here before me still alive; you look healthy, so there’s no worry about an imminent death due to starvation; and you look rested, so you must have slept quite well tonight.”

Amaya’s eyes darkened in anger. “How dare you talk to me in that manner?” She, too, straightened to her full length but didn’t even reach her opponent’s chin. “I’ve never been thus treated in my life!”

“You should go out more,” Kaori stated with a shrug.

Amaya gasped, completely outraged. She would have slapped the woman, but she knew it would have been a very stupid move, judging by the look in Kaori’s eyes. “If my husband was still alive, he would—”

“If your husband was still alive, you wouldn’t be here in the first place!” Kaori interrupted her. “And you do well to remember that your husband is dead. He’s not even cold in his grave, and you’re already searching for fresh meat!”

Pale and on the verge of tears, Amaya strode toward the door. “I don’t need to listen to this.”

Kaori pivoted. “Oh, so you can dish it, but you can’t take it!”

Amaya turned again, pointing her finger at Kaori. “I won’t let you speak to me that way! I loved my husband! He was a good man!”

“Sure, good men get shot by snipers on a daily basis!”

Amaya narrowed her eyes into slits. “You better keep your mouth shut!”

An eyebrow arched again. “Or what? I might suffer a fatal accident. Are you threatening me because you can’t handle the truth?”

Without a word, Amaya opened the door and walked out, but before she could slam the door, Kaori’s voice stopped her for the last time. “By the way...” She glared at her, lifting four fingers. “Four, keep your manicured little paws off Ryo, or something bad just might happen to you. Remember that I know where you sleep.”

Amaya flashed her a cynical smile. “Is that a threat?” she hissed.

“Oh, no.” Kaori’s smile sent shivers down her spine. “It’s a promise.”