{14} "Love Is Not Over." (Pt.2)

I decided to read a book to kill time but I got bored after a while —I had the attention span of a cat— so I ended up playing with Koda outside in the backyard which was a lot of fun.

Gokk do also arrived later, noticing that, I went inside. I was all sweaty after having a good run around with Koda which he noticed.

"Looks like you had a good work out." he said, watching me catch my breath, as I drank a bottle of water.

"So where did you go this morning? Kazuchika had to take Soo-ah home himself." I said to him after sitting down in the kitchen.

"He did? I apologize, I had a small errand to run."

"Why are you apologizing? I simply wanted you to be the one to take her home for... obvious reasons." I implied with a mischievous smile.

"What's with that look?" he asked, with a questioning look.

"Oh come on, I saw the way you guys looked at each other that night, you clearly have some attraction to her." I told him, folding my arms.

He looked away from me with a small blush appearing on his cheeks. "It's not like that."

"Alright Mr. Tomato." I teased as his cheeks were now bright red.

"Okay, maybe I find her a little attractive," he admitted rubbing his hand behind his neck. "I doubt she feels the same though, she doesn't like me much."

"That may have been true but I beg to differ, I think she may give you a chance after seeing what a truly great person you are, so try your best when you take her out." I said to him with confidence.

"Speaking of, you think you can help me with that?"

"Of course anything to help my friends, let's see," I stood up and walked around him, observing his outfit, I wasn't sure if the brands were the same here but being a Fashion Designer myself, I could tell immediately that his clothes were top quality by the way they were sewn and finished also by the kinds of fabric used. Which I was positive in any world weren't cheap. "You're not broke, judging by all the expensive clothes and jewelry you wear, so you can afford to take her somewhere nice and not shabby, and I know just the place." Of course I would have to check if that place still existed thought, fingers crossed that it did.

"You do, what is it?"

"Soo-ah has particular taste, her taste is really old school, but modern at the same time, when it comes to restaurants and food."

She is Jin's sister alright, I laughed to myself. "She likes nature, so I was thinking somewhere outside in a garden with cherry blossoms and lanterns for that nice, classic and at the same time romantic feel."

"They're places like that? I've never seen one before though." he said with amusement.

"Yes, but you usually need a reservation to get in." I added still planning everything out in my head.

"Any idea what I should give her as a gift?"

"Slow down there cowboy, you're taking her to somewhere pretty decent a.k.a an expensive place, and now you want to buy her a gift too?" I asked thinking that may be a bit much, but then again Soo-ah had some pretty bad experiences in the past, so I guess she deserved all the romance she could get.

I wanted her to know what it felt like to truly have love and I believed Gokk do could give her that.

"You know what, forget what I said, that's a great idea, when I said expensive I didn't mean like really really expensive or anything." I clarified, I wouldn't make him spend too much money on her.

"I don't mind, like you said I can afford it, I think. I'm gonna need you to help me pick something out for her."

"Sure. Gokk do don't except her to trust you right away it may take sometime before she does and please just be yourself."

"Thanks for the advice, Sagwa." he said with a smile.

"No problem, I'll make the reservations for you and we can go whenever to by her a gift, alright." I replied smiling back and he nodded. "Okay, so I'm going to go shower." I told him as I left.

...

After a nice warm shower, I proceeded to get ready, styling my hair first which was not easy, but it came out alright. I decided to go with big silky curls.

I then did my makeup and got dressed, coordinating my outfit perfectly. I decided to wear a golden-glittered, long sleeved top, with a black leather, long at back but short at the front skirt with a bow on the waistband. I gave myself a smile of approval as I looked myself over in the mirror, admiring the black and gold heels and striped pouch.

Surely enough by the time I was finished it was night fall, so taking up a black over coat, I made my way downstairs to see if Kazuchika was dressed as well.

"You clean up pretty well." Gokk do greeted as I caught his eye.

I bowed to him in thanks, I even threw in a little curtsey making him laugh. "Is Kazuchika ready yet?" I asked not seeing the tall human-being in sight.

"He is but he's already outside in the car, he told me to wait for you so I can walk you out."

"Huh, you're going as well?"

"I'm not really going, you could say that I'll stand guard at the door while you guys enjoy your meal."

"I see, then shall we." I said lowering my gaze feeling a little bit guilty that he won't physically be eating with us.

"We shall." he responded, leading the way out the door, he lead me to the car, opening the door and closing it after making sure I was comfortable before going around the other side sitting in the driver's seat.

Kazuchika seemed to be busy with his phone but he did glance up at me to acknowledge my presence with a smile, complimenting my outfit, before going back to his device. He was wearing an all black suit with a bow tie, his light brown hair messy. He then held his head up to look at me in thought. "Sagwa, we don't have to go if you really don't want to, we can cancel if that's what you really desire."

"Why would I ever want you to do that? Of course I want to have dinner with your father." I responded as what he said aroused confusion in me.

But I'd later find out why he was so insistent on me not going.

"If you say so." He exhaled as we took our leave, I realized I had no idea where we were going, if we were going to his actual house or a restaurant, guess I'd have to wait and see.

We pulled up in front of a beautiful mansion with a fountain, well maintained plants and palm trees, it almost resembled a castle, we entered through a big automatic gate with two guards at the front who let us in.

"Holy...!" I expressed with widened eyes as they saw how huge the building truly was, gaining me a weird look from Kazuchika as he wondered what caused my out burst.

The car came to a halt right at the front door, Gokk do got out to open the door for me, but as I was about to leave Kazuchika's hand on my arm stopped me. "Uh... by the way I haven't told him we broke up yet, actually I haven't really told anyone, so can you just pretend nothing changed, you don't have to kiss me or anything just act normal so he doesn't suspect anything." he begged me with a hopeful look.

I thought for a moment before replying, "Okay, it's our secret."

Gokk do helped me out, kindly draping my coat over my shoulders, protecting me from the cold night air. Kazuchika came by my side and we entered the house and I suddenly felt a wave of nervousness wash over me.

I had no reason to feel that way, the house was different but I was certain that's all that changed, so what was this ridiculous feeling that warned me otherwise?

The sound of my heels echoed through the hallway as they made contact with the marble floor. We passed many servants on the way who bowed to us and I subconsciously returned the gesture earning me a weird look as usual.

"Welcome home sir. Mr. Okada is waiting for you in the dinning room." A well dressed old gentleman informed as he took our coats and I thanked him with a smile. As I had more time to observe my surroundings, this place really did resemble a castle of some sort, it was indeed fit for a king.

"Let's go." Kazuchika whispered, bring me out of my thoughts as I followed behind him. We then came to the dinning room and the doors were opened to us by the guards there. Sitting at the head of the table was an older man who resembled Kazuchika in many ways, his greying hair was slicked back, he stood when he saw us his face mutual; showing no visible emotion as he approached.

"You're on time for once." he said to his son with his hands clasped nicely behind his back.

"I'm not always late." Kazuchika replied to him, his father then looked down at me and I greeted him with a smile and he grimaced, ignoring me, he walked away back to his seat.

'Did he just... ignore me?'

I was taken aback by his action, so much so, I blanked out for a second but Gokk do tapping me on the shoulder woke me up. "I'll be standing over there if you need anything." he whispered in my ear and I nodded.

Kazuchika and I then took a seat next to each other, the moment we did someone immediately poured us a glass of red wine. "Dinner will be served shortly." They informed before leaving the room.

I take a sip of the red liquor, feeling someone's eyes on me, I looked up seeing his father side glancing me and not nicely either, it was a look I had gotten use to here, the look of pure disgust.

Well now I knew why Kazuchika didn't want me to come here.

Kazuchika noticed our silent staring contest, he cleared his throat before saying, "So, is there a reason you wanted us to come here?" His words breaking the ice between us.

"There was, it's about the up coming Fashion show we are to organize for a client, though I was hoping that when I asked you to bring your girlfriend over you would've already broken up with this one, but unfortunately you're still together I see."

"Of course we are, I already told you, I'm serious about her." Kazuchika defended, meanwhile, I continued to sip my wine looking between them awkwardly.

"I don't see why, all she ever does is be rude to everyone, spend your money and sit at meetings twirling her hair, she's nothing but a pretty face. I'm sick of telling you to get a smarter girlfriend. Looks aren't everything, you need someone who can help you with this business." he spat insulting my intelligence and my ability.

As someone who built her own fashion empire from nothing into one of the world's biggest empires, I wasn't gonna sit there and continue to be insulted.

"With all due respect sir, I can safely say I'm more than capable of being useful to you, I'm not just a pretty face, I can handle anything you throw my way so... Bring. it. on." I smugly replied, surprising him and even Kazuchika, as I looked his father dead in the eye.

He smirked. "Since you're 'oh so confident' why don't I give you the task of taking care of the fashion show arrangements."

"I don't think that's a good ide—"

"That won't be a problem." I interrupted Kazuchika and he shot me a concerned glance. I smiled and nodded as to say: 'I got this.'

I knew this was the only way I could convince his father that I was no longer the person he knew.

"Just know... if you fail, you'll leave my son and this family for good." he added looking forward to my failure.

Unknown to him planning fashion shows and sometimes other important events had become a huge part of my everyday life so there was no way I was gonna fail.

Kazuchika gave me a worried look and I reassured him with a confident grin showing him that I knew what I was doing. "It's a deal." I responded, 'putting my money where my mouth is.' so to speak, making his smirk widen like he already won just by hearing my response.

I downed the rest of my wine in frustration, slamming the glass on the table as the food arrived.

...