Chapter 218 - Maki Yuuka

"That's Axis Corporation's Vice President, big bro's almost fiancée, Maki Yuuka…"

Asou Chiaki was stunned into silence. Ara knew she had heard of the woman. Axis Corporation, although not doing as good as Suzuki Raiden Group had been doing recently, was an old company passed on as far as five generations. Just a bit like Homura International, it was involved in recreational business such as gyms, malls, and travel.

It was why Axis Corporation was a perfect fit for Suzuki Raiden which dealt with hotels and resorts. Although that was before they formed a partnership with Homura International. Now that they did, the collaboration between Axis and Suzuki Raiden's as good as a torn drawing. It was never going to happen – not that Aki had the plans to collaborate with them from the beginning.

Aki's hate for Suzuki Daizo extended to everything and every one the old coot's connected with. Since their uncle was friends with the Makis and even worked at Axis now, the company was forever crossed out in Aki's book.

"Ha?"

Chiaki was totally confused. "Why would she be here for….me?"

The secretary's voice trailed off as she realized the possible reason for this, and she groaned. "Your brother's dead meat," Chiaki growled, remembering the showdown between Aki and his uncle during the IBEC last Tuesday.

"Why?"Ara asked in amusement, and Chiaki told her what happened.

When the old man confronted Aki about his engagement, Ara's idiot of a brother brushed him off with his claim that he already had a girlfriend and didn't bother clearing the misunderstanding when Daizo assumed that it was Chiaki. Now, the thwarted fiancée must have been trying to check out her competition, ergo her presence at the mall right now.

"Well, that woman probably had no plans to follow us from the beginning, but seeing you with me made her curious."

Chiaki was sure that meeting her at the café was pure coincidence. But the woman recognized Ara and realized the younger Suzuki was with Chiaki, the presumed girlfriend and thus decided to check out her competition.

"I had no idea if she likes Aki for real or was just forced into the engagement like other girls in her position. But seeing her like that today, she probably does like him to some extent…"

Hearing Chiaki voice her thoughts out loud made Ara smile. Why? Because the secretary kept calling her brother by his given name instead of the usual 'Pres'. It meant that she was ruffled enough that her real feelings were coming out.

"Well, for all we know, she can be just curious. After all, it's not every day a pretty heiress gets rejected as a wife candidate," Ara reasoned.

That was true. For all they knew, Maki Yuuka was just angry at Chiaki because the secretary was chosen over her when she felt that she was more than qualified to be Mrs. Suzuki. It was purely pride and not love. At least, it's what she thought it was for now.

"Why are we hiding anyway?"Ara asked again, and Chiaki smiled sheepishly.

"Because I thought she's a stalker-kidnapper," Chiaki confessed, making Ara chuckle.

"Yeah right, with the look?" The younger Suzuki was more than amused.

What kidnapper would bother to dress to the nines and strut with her Chanel bag in the middle of the day? But of course, this thinking was naïve on Ara's part, and the other woman told her so.

"Don't underestimate kidnappers Ara. They'd do anything to take their target unawares to the point they'd dress up to look like someone who'd most unlikely do anything bad."

Well, Chiaki had a point and so Ara conceded. She would take note of this and be more aware next time. However, since they already knew who the woman was, there was no need to hide like hunted rabbits anymore during the hunting season. It's not like that Maki woman could do anything to them even with her henchmen.

Homura Ryuu already knew what and who Ara was originally, and so she wouldn't hold back using full power if needed. Besides…

Ara glanced at the far end of the boutique where she could see a woman in casual clothes pretending to be totally engrossed in one of the items on display there. Aside from the Maki woman, this girl had been following Ara since she left Denenchofu, but it was alright. The woman was one of the people Ryuu hired to protect her from the new agency the Homura House entrusted her and her friends' safety while they're all busy in Hakone.  

"Alright. Since we already know who she is, let's stop hiding and see what she wants when she finds us," Ara told the other who reluctantly agreed.

"Well, your brother will be here in a while so I guess it's okay," Chiaki compromised although she still sounded reluctant.

Ara thought Chiaki's overprotectiveness of her was so cute. No wonder Aki liked her so much.

Ah no, he was in love with her…

"Since we're already in this shop, why not pick up some things?"

Most of the boutiques in Shibuya Hikarie were classy. It's a great place to shop for girls who loved fashion.

"Alright," Chiaki agreed and they started browsing through the items and clothing on display.

When Ara spotted something nice for Chiaki, she immediately took it. Aki had specifically told her to buy things for his beloved and Ara was such an obedient sister.

"Chiaki, look at this."

'This' was a very chic one-piece dress the color of beige and white. The skirt was a pencil cut, and so it would totally look good on Chiaki who had pretty curves.

"That's very nice."

There were diamonds in Chiaki's eyes. She was also someone who liked fashion very much like a normal girl, and she could appreciate the very nice piece Ara was showing her.

"Try it on to see how it is," the secretary suggested but Ara didn't need to. She saw the size and she knew it would fit Chiaki, and so she just went to the cashier to pay for it.

"Are you sure you're not going to try it first?" Chiaki inquired.

"It's okay," Ara answered just as the lady in red entered the boutique, walking in like a breeze.

Maki Yuuka glanced at them and gave Ara who turned to her a huge smile, but the younger Suzuki didn't return it, and just pulled Chiaki out of the boutique.

"Is that's okay?" Chiaki whispered to her.

"Which one?"

"You ignoring her," Chiaki prompted and Ara grinned.

"Of course. Who is she anyway? I dislike people like her," Ara answered confidently.

Behind that huge smile, Ara felt the hardness in those pair of brown eyes. That woman was Koharu in the making, and she didn't want another yandere character in her life.