I stopped the car in the parking lot.

Claire accepted my offer to give her a ride, both to her house first, and to her college later on. I couldn’t be certain if she understood my nefarious plans and just didn’t care, or was oblivious. Either way, my goal was simple.

“You have an evil smile, Tian,” commented Counter Girl.

“That’s because my evil scheme is about to commence.” I responded, masking the truth behind the joke.

“Um? What are you trying to do this time?” My words evidently sparked some curiosity in my passenger.

“Claire. A beautiful girl just got dropped off by an expensive sports car.” I graced her with an explanation. “What do you think I am doing here?”

She took a moment to think about my words, and then blushed.

“Do you really have to do this?” Counter Girl questioned.

“But of course. It’s a very straightforward message.” I nodded. “A warning if you must. I am showing my interest in you, so people who aren’t ready to fight for you should give up.”

The color of her blush deepened some more.

“Hey, Claire,” I continued. “Do you want a kiss?”

The Counter Girl glared at me, blame clear in her eyes.

“Yes.” As usual, her answer was surprising yet pleasant.

I leaned in for a kiss as my partner closed her eyes and parted her lips in anticipation. This one was lengthy and quite a bit more intense than the previous few.

After Claire, flustered up to the root of her hair, left… more like running away… Hm, maybe letting myself cop a feel was a little too much? Counter Girl didn’t say no, though. Of course, she wore a bra, which was a bit disappointing… Yet, my control was severely compromised already as it was, no idea if I would’ve stopped with just a kiss, if not for that last line of defense…

I shook my head, trying to chase away those dangerous thoughts. Just how many times have I done this exact thing lately? Way too often. Shrugging, shaking my head, and, most damning of them all, sighing became a part of my life as of late.

I sighed again. How easy was it before? All I needed to do was to react according to the predetermined reaction profile, a mask, as I called it. Gigolo, professional, even the beast in a way. Now that I think, even boredom relied heavily on this semi-autopilot.

And just like that, with my head in a complete mess, with my thoughts in disarray, I somehow managed to drive my way to Bella’s condo.

I came here today for two reasons. First, as I decided earlier, was to change a car, and second one was to look at what kind of suit my special woman organized for me.

Bella: [Your suit.]

Bella: [My place.]

Bella: [Bodyguard floor.]

I pointedly ignored another fetish-heavy daily pic, this time featuring black pantyhose and upskirt tags. Like anything that involves Bella and matters of my seduction by her.

So, yeah, my suit was done, even if it was late to the party. I shook my head again. Maybe I should’ve slept some more. My thoughts felt sluggish, and my mind was running in circles.

I shook my head again. Fuck it.

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Another half hour later, I was done with trying on my new suit, which was perfectly fitted to my figure. And she did it without requiring my presence at any stage of this process. Bella… I wasn’t certain how to feel about this. Her ability to pull it off impressed me, while being away herself, though another part of me screamed a warning at her keeping such close tabs on me. My dear, if I didn’t already know you were borderline obsessed with me, it would have creeped me out.

***

Changing the car to a familiar business-class crossover from Sunday, I was currently on my way to my grandmother’s bar. It was almost lunchtime, and I was praying that she won’t let her only grandson stay unfed.

As I went inside through the familiar black door, a curious sight entered my vision. The Lady in Black, Kouzuki Miya, was serving tea to someone. Huh, I guess that’s how I would’ve looked in a decade or two if not for my ultimate choice.

The visitor was both taller and wider than my current self, cutting an impressive figure in his traditional costume. A head full of gray hair and a gray mustache. Impressive jawline. Skin showing marks of age and adversity. A heavy gaze of hazel eyes, full of regret, relief, and, which was surprising, joy.

Long Hào, the head of the Long clan, and a husband of both Kouzuki twins.

“Should I come later?” I asked, feeling a little awkward about this surprising meeting.

“Ah, Tian?” Judging by the genuine shock in my grandmother’s tone as well as how her gaze was quickly filling with apprehension, it wasn’t something she orchestrated. “It’s not…”

“It’s not something of her doing,” Long Hào interrupted his wife. “I decided to visit Miya completely on a whim.”

Their reaction made some sense to the practical side of my mind. It wasn’t the first time when lady-in-black reacted borderline-irrational to the idea of doing something that could potentially lead to my disappearance.

“I understand.” I nodded. “Michael Roah greets the Head of the Long clan.”

I gave the man a ceremonial bow. I never interacted with him before, but from what snippets of information about this person reached my ears, he was someone to be reckoned with. Experience in dealing with the old man Smith helped a bit as well.

“Only he?” Followed a response. “What about the other two?”

“Hào.” There was a not-so-hidden warning in the tone of my grandmother.

I gave the situation another spin in my head.

“The other two aren’t here today.” I shook my head. Sigh. “It’s not the time nor the place for them to meet you, Lord Long.”

“Yet you reacted when Miya called you by the name Tian.” Followed the observation.

“She is a family. I’m fine with whatever way she calls me.” I deflected. Hm, calling her that word didn’t feel wrong. Go guess why.

Another heavy gaze of hazel eyes landed upon me.

“I see,” said one of the most powerful men in the world. “Nice to meet you, Michael Roah. Send my word to the other two. I am waiting for our meeting.”

He rose from his seat, and turned to the lady-in-black.

“I am sorry, Miya. It seems like there is an urgent matter I must take care of.” Long Hào excused himself.

“Take care. I will visit you later.” My grandmother responded to his words.

Just like that, he left.

“Tian, I…” Kouzuki Miya called out to me, as her husband closed the door behind himself.

“Grandmother. I trust you.” As far as I could, that is. “I heard Lord Long’s words.”

“But…” She tried once more.

“Grandmother,” I interrupted her again. “I’m neither naive nor dumb enough to believe that I would’ve been able to avoid this meeting forever. Especially after both my alter egos made their moves.”

I looked at her. Heavens, she truly was scared that this would make me leave.

“One of the three reasons why I came here today was to ask you about organizing this meeting.” I told her.

“Then why did you refuse to use this opportunity?” Of course, the Lady in Black quickly caught on to this.

“Because the first meeting between those three should be official, scheduled, and on his territory. It’s a matter of basic respect.” I shrugged. “Which leads me to a second matter I’m here today for. I wanted to ask if you could introduce me to a high-class atelier. I am in severe need of an appropriate wardrobe for such a meeting.”

“And what about the third one?” My grandmother raised an eyebrow.

“Of course, it was to see my family again,” I stated the fact.

At last deciding to accept my words, Kouzuki Miya let out a held breath and her expression brightened. Well, playing a dress up doll for a few hours wasn’t that high of a price for such a change… Why did I even care? No reason.