Unforgettable
Written by Remi
~Chapter 1~
Five years later . . .
She had dimmed the contrast of the screen in front of her several times, and it still didn't do much for her eyes. The black texts against the white background on her monitor nevertheless glared at her. With a frown, she scribbled a note on her pad, reminding herself to order an anti-glare filter. After having written it, she immediately added another line, and changed it instead to, "Get large monitor plus anti-glare filter!"
Dropping her pen on the desk, she leaned back on her leather chair and stretched her arms. She brushed aside her thick mass of shoulder length hair to rub the kinks out of her aching shoulders and neck. Sighing in relief, she sagged in her chair. The relief she sought quickly fled as she again stare at the monitor before her.
Hours upon hours, she had been staring at the same screen. Her eyes were only saved from the dreary task when she took her breaks, went on meetings, or was out of her office. With a moan of despair, she twisted her chair around to look out of her office window.
The sight of the tall prominent San Francisco skyscrapers managed to somehow make her feel better. Its effect on her was even more prevalent as the lovely orange glow of the setting sun, reflected off the gigantic buildings' windows. The view looked just majestic. Taking in the beautiful scene, she allowed herself to indulge in it. However, the few seconds of escape she sought didn't last long before the phone on her desk began to ring. She picked up the receiver. "Akane."
"Hey, aren't you done yet?"
"Nick? What time-" She glanced at the digital clock on the wall. Sure enough, it was later than she had thought. "It's six already? Sorry, I didn't know."
"As usual. Look, I'm already downstairs."
Her eyes went to the unfinished project on her desk. Although, her eyes and neck were begging her to stop, her mind was set on finishing the task. All it took was a few more minutes . . . Licking her lips, she asked, "Nick, do you think you could-"
"Come on Akane, you been doing overtime for the last few weeks now. I swear you're the last one that leaves the building." He mocked. Then turning on his renowned sexy voice that he does with so many women, he coaxed. "Have I done something that I should apologize? Is that why using that as an excuse to avoid me?"
"Nick, you know very well that's not it."
"Don't tell me you prefer the company of a machine more than me." He murmured suggestively, his sexual innuendo not at all hard to miss.
"Nick . . . " She lightly warned, before her eyes quickly lit up in mischief as she reciprocated in kind to his banter. "Unlike you, who never have to lift a finger, I have to work for a living."
"Hah! If you would've let me take care of you, you wouldn't have to worry about bills or anything else for that matter." He drawled.
"Practicing your lines on me again? How many times do I have to tell you? That isn't going to work." She scoffed. With an impish grin on her face, she then suggested, "Now however, if you offer carte blanche to one of your girlfriends . . . I sure she'll be happy to take up your proposition."
"But Akane, I don't have any girlfriends. If I did, it's all in the past." She could almost imagine the cocky smile on his face as he stated that.
She snorted. "With the number of girls that hang around you each day, I think not. I would rather torture myself, staring at this monitor in front of me, then go through the heartaches you give them any day."
"Oh come on, I can't be that bad." He muttered outrageously. When she didn't immediately change her opinion, he heaved a sigh in defeat. "I guess I'm going to have to prove that to you. Else, you'll keep that bias opinion about me, just because I-"
"Bias opinion? Hah! Look here playboy-"
"I know you need time. You don't want to get into a serious relationship yet."
"That's not what I was going to say."
"But that is what you've been doing, constantly making excuses." He insisted.
Now as she thought about it, what Nick had just stated wasn't entirely false. She had been keeping guys at bay. Well, some of the guys, but that have been for one good reason or another . . .
"Akane, I'm crazy about you. And you know I have never been this serious about anyone before."
"Jeez, that's very believable, what's with you trying to push your friends on me and set us up on dates." She said dryly. In fact, six of her ex-boyfriends had been through his introductions.
Ignoring her jibe, he stated matter-of-factly, "Akane, that was years ago when we first met. My friends should be thankful that I even give them a chance to meet you, much less get to date you. And back then in college, you practically closeted yourself and stayed in the dorm all the time. I was only trying to be helpful by getting you to go out more and have fun."
Nick had been very helpful all right. So stubbornly helpful that he virtually dragged her along with him to all the clubs and parties he went to. Moreover, he had done that so often, his friends started to mistake her for his girlfriend. For, they had never seen him with the same woman for so long. She smiled at the memories. Even if she hadn't openly admitted it, she did have a lot of fun. However, ever since she graduated from college, she had devoted a large amount of her time on developing her career that she hadn't gone out as much. "Now that you reminded me, I can't believe some of the things we did back then." She giggled.
He laughed. "Like the time when you got drunk and started singing karaoke? Now, what was that song you sang? Ah yes . . . "
"Nick, don't remind me, I don't want to remember that."
"It's 'All Cried Out', is it not?" Nick chuckled, taking great pleasure in helping her recalled the most embarrassing thing she ever did in her college years.
Even after so long, she still couldn't help but cringed at the feelings the memory brought on. "Oh, why did you have to remind me of that? That was the most embarrassing thing I ever done."
"That wasn't embarrassing, Akane. It was entertaining."
Peeved, she stated accusingly, "At my expense. And you knew I was drunk too, and you didn't try to stop me."
"Oh come on Akane, I was singing along with you too." He laughed. "And what can I say? The audience wanted to hear your lovely voice and see you sing. Besides, you have nothing to be embarrassed about. They liked it!"
She rolled her eyes. "You're just saying that to make me feel better."
"If I'm going to just make you feel better, I'm going to do more than just talk." He teased.
Good Old Nick, she could always depend on him to cheer her up. With a lighter heart, she smiled. "We did have a lot of fun back in college, didn't we?"
"Yeah, we did. You know, we still can have fun."
She couldn't help but grinned at his honey-coated words. It sounded so enticing . . . But then, Nick always had a way with words. If he tried hard enough, he could even sweet-talk a bird into frying to his hand. He was that convincing. However, by now she was quite used to his ardent teasing and his flamboyant ways. And even if he had been serious about courting her, she doubted it would have last. Nick was simply too wild for her, far too much like the 'Wild Horse' that she once knew.
"Nick . . . " She softly murmured.
"Yes Akane?"
"I'm really glad to have met you."
"Me too, Akane. Me too . . . " He said tenderly.
She smiled. "You're here to pick me up, right? I'll be down in a minute."
"One minute?"
"From the time it takes me to get down the elevator, I would need at least ten." She said in exasperation.
"Five."
"Okay, okay! I'm turning off the computer. Happy now?"
"Of course." He said triumphantly a moment later, after hearing the Windows shutting down tone.
She rolled her eyes. "All right then, I'll see you later."
Before she could hang up, he added, "Remember, five minutes Akane. If I don't see you, you know what I will do."
"Why you-" He disconnected before she could say more.
She stared at the phone gallingly. To her vexation, he had managed to have the last word again. "Ooh, he could be so . . . so . . . " She tried in vain to find the right words, before she threw up her hands in frustration. She just wished Nick would change. Why can't he be more serious, more understanding, more . . . She abruptly stopped. Smiling reminiscently, she shook her head as she hung up the phone.
"What am I thinking?" With a soft look in her eyes, she fondly whispered, "Don't ever change, Nick."
*** She made it downstairs to the lobby in five minutes flat. She caught sight of Nick outside waiting for her. It wasn't hard for her to spot him. Nope, it wouldn't be hard at all. Tall and handsome, he stood in his dark blue business suit as he leaned against his black BMW. With his back against the sunset, the light from the descending sun show off his dark shiny golden hair and his bronze tone skin. He was a sight to behold. He looked absolutely gorgeous.
It was also no wonder her female co-workers had been swarming her with questions about him when they found out, to their delight, that he was just her roommate and was still a bachelor. They had even been curious enough to ask what lay beneath the suit he wore, which apparently did nothing to hide his well-defined physics. Undoubtedly, Nick was 'a man among men' as Mrs. Nodoka Saotome would so favorably liked to describe. And someone was already appreciating the sight.
"Oh, great. You're not going to ask me to entertain one of your girlfriends again, are you Nick?" She groaned in despair as she glanced at a woman with blazing red hair next to him. Why does she always seem to get stuck in this kind of situation? But then again, she can't quite complain since Nick practically drove her to and from work daily. Besides, he even shared his spacious condo with her. Resigning to her fate, she grabbed her briefcase and stepped out of the building.
As she approached, she noted the look of irritation on Nick's face. It was clear that he was feigning interest in the redhead's conversation, as he politely nodded his head now and then. She slowed her pace when she stood a good few feet away from him, and took her time as she studied the redhead beside him.
The woman was around her age, in her early twenties. Judging by her clothes, she appeared to be pretty well of and also had an eye for style. The chic green dress that the redhead wore, complimented well with her lustrous long hair that hung loosely at her back. Her dress was modest enough to not overly expose her well-endowed chest and slim long legs. It still left enough of her generous figure to the imagination, at the same time emphasing her shapely attributes. This was the kind of woman that Nick seemed to attract constantly.
Mentally, she scanned through the long list of Nick's girlfriends' names, but couldn't find one that matched the redhead's description. This redhead must be one of his new catch that was why she hadn't met her yet. She shrugged her shoulders. She saw nothing unusual about it since Nick practically changes women as often as he changes clothes. She continued to walk toward him, observing with amusement as the scene unfolded before her. By now, the redhead had encircled her arms around Nick's neck, and he doesn't seem all too happy about it.
Scowling, Nick unlocked the redhead's arms from his neck and pushed her away. "I have a fiancée, Miss Strickhorn. She isn't going to be happy if she sees you flirting with me. And she isn't the only one."
After reproaching the redhead, Nick crossed his arms over his chest and looked annoyingly at the woman. "If you want to talk about your father's business, Miss Strickhorn, my secretary can schedule an appointment for you."
"But now is a good time as any other, Nick. Besides, this business proposal I have is between you and me. It has nothing to do with Daddy, whatsoever . . . "
"Frankly speaking, Miss Strickhorn, I'm not interested in any of your proposal."
"Why don't we see if I could change your mind about that?"
Akane impishly grinned. Nick was practically being pushed to a corner. Even with his silver tongue, he wasn't getting anywhere with the stubborn redhead. "You going to own me another one, Nick." She smiled. Holding her briefcase in one hand, she used the other to comb the disarray from her long hair. With an aid from the reflection of a passing window, she straightened her navy colored jacket and smooth out her matching skirt. Pleased by what she saw, she confidently strode toward Nick.
A look of relief quickly overtook Nick's face as soon as he saw her. "Ah, you're finally here, sweetheart." He walked up to meet her and relieved the weight of her briefcase.
"I'm sorry to keep you waiting, darling." She fashioned the tone of her voice with a tad of affection that would have been befitting from one of his so-called girlfriends. Tilting her head, she reached up and kissed him on the cheek.
As she took a step back, Nick promptly wrapped his arms around her waist, keeping her in place. With mischief in his cobalt blue eyes, he huskily whispered loud enough for the redhead to hear. "It's well worth the wait." With that, he kissed her fully on the lips.
She would have let that slide if she hadn't begun to feel his tongue. He was turning a staged kiss into a full-blown French kiss. Her face started to heat up as well as other parts of her body that were pressed against him. She pushed him away, but done it so gently that to any observer, it would have been some sort of by-play between two 'lovers'. Forcing a smile on her face, she glared at him. "Later . . . " She growled softly with enough emphasis to let him know of the retribution she seeks once they were alone.
He playfully leered at her. "I can hardly wait . . . "
Straining not to let the smile on her face crack, she stated, "Darling, let's not be rude. Why don't you introduce me to your friend here?"
He arched his eyebrow in amusement. "How remiss of me, I can't be blame though, for the mere sight of you steal my senses." He winked at her.
"Akane, meet Miss Trish Strickhorn, a daughter of a business associate of mine. Miss Strickhorn, this is my fiancée, Akane Tendou." He lingered on the word 'my', putting more weight on it than necessary.
She frowned. Although, they were only putting on an act, he shouldn't be enjoying himself so much. She extended her hand in greeting toward the redhead. The woman simply stared at it.
"Oh really . . . " With a raised eyebrow, the redhead glanced at her speculatively. Her piercing blue eyes traveling up and down her body. After the thorough scrutiny, the redhead finally grasped her extended hand. "I mean it's really nice to meet you."
"Same here, Miss Strickhorn." She kept her voice neutral, excluding the doubtfulness that was quite apparent in the redhead's voice.
"Call me Trish. I'm sure we'll be seeing each other a lot more often to come to first term basis." The redhead directed her gaze at Nick. Her intention made known for all to see.
"That might be difficult, Miss Strickhorn. You see Nick and I are working on a project right now. I doubt we have time for social visits, much less time for ourselves . . . " She placed a hand on Nick's shoulder and put on her best longing look as she gazed at him.
"No need to worry yourself, sweetheart. I'll make it up to you." Nick gently squeezed her waist as he returned her glance. If the redhead hadn't interrupted, she would have started to blush under his intense heated gaze.
The redhead cleared her throat. "My father is waiting for me to join him for dinner. It'll be a shame when he hears that you can't join us, Nick. He does so enjoy your company, as I do . . . However, if you do decide to change your mind Nick, you know where to find me." After throwing a predatory smile toward Nick, the redhead seductively walked away. She headed toward the red Ferrari that was parked right behind Nick's BMW.
Akane shook her head in disbelief and looked on incredulously as the redhead drove off in high speed. "Can you believe the nerve of that girl? She still flaunts herself at you, in front of me. And I'm supposed to be your fiancée."
Nick's eyes twinkled in amusement. "Do I sense a touch of jealousy in your voice?"
She puckered her brows and unclasped his arms from around her waist. "I just don't like her. It makes me wonder how many relationships she had broken up, in stealing other women's boyfriends, or husbands for that matter."
"Oh, you will never have to worry yourself over that, sweetheart, because she isn't going to take me away from you." Nick smiled confidently.
She frowned. "Speaking of our relationship, since when did I become your fiancée? First, I was just a friend, then I was your girlfriend, now I'm your fiancée?"
She counted on her fingers the number of roles that she had played in the past and blinked in amazement. "What's next, Nick? Am I going to be your wife?"
"If only you say yes." He teased and gave her puppy-eye look.
"Don't give me that look. I still haven't forgiven you for what you did yet." She crossed her arm and gave him a fixed stare as she tapped her high heels in waiting.
He looked at her innocently. "Sweetheart, what did I do?"
"Will you stop calling me that? We are not putting up a show now."
"But you don't seem to mind before."
"Ooh you-hey, you're trying to change the subject again. Don't think you're off the hook that easily, Nicholas Montgomery."
He winced, knowing that she was quite displeased with him, because she used his full name. And she only does that when she wanted him to be serious. But then again, he just couldn't help himself. "Akane, if you don't tell me what I did wrong, how should I know?"
By the happy grin on his face, he knew very well what he had done. He just enjoyed watching her fluster too much. No doubt, he wanted her to say it. Nope, describe exactly what she found so daunting. She'll show him.
"You kissed me using your tongue." She said bluntly.
His straight white teeth flashed as he grinned. "But you kissed me first. I was only responding in kind."
"I kissed you on the cheek. Besides, you knew we were only pretending." She broodingly gazed at him.
"Akane . . . " He sighed as he rested a hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry that I didn't ask your permission to call you my fiancée. I didn't know Trish would follow me. That is why I didn't warn you ahead of time when I was on the phone with you. She is such a spoil brat."
"And you aren't?" She slyly countered.
He looked at her intently. "Akane, I may not have to lift a finger to get most things in life, but I still have to work hard for certain things. And I worked hard to earn them."
She meant to only tease him; she hadn't expected him to take her words at face value. Moreover, he was the one who taught her not to take things too seriously. Regretful that she may have offended him in some way, she apologized. "I'm sorry, Nick. I didn't mean it that way. I know you don't depend on parents' money. What you have accomplished has been through your own hard work, and-"
"Akane!" He grinned, stopping her in the mid of explaining. "I will forgive you as long as you forgive me."
She blinked in confusion. One moment, he was apologizing to her, and now somehow he managed to make her done the vice versa. And this hadn't even been about the liberty he had taken with her. Finally, catching on to his game, she sullenly looked at him. In a soft tone, she said simply, "Nicholas Montgomery."
His Adam's apple bobbed. And for once, she got to enjoy the look of uncertainty on his face, replacing the confidence that was ever present there. By her silent urging, he started to explain. "Akane, I needed you to act as my fiancée because Trish knows a lot about me. She had even hired a private investigator to check on me. She found out three things for sure. That I'm rich, unattached, and you're living with me . . . "
He waited for any sign of change on her face. When none surface, he obligingly went on. "As you can see, the word 'girlfriend' means nothing to her. And I don't want her to see me with the word, available, stamped on my head. Besides, we have live together for so long, it wouldn't be illogical to say that you meant more to me than just a friend. That's why I said you're my fiancée. I was hoping that would discourage Trish. But she saw right through the kiss you gave me. Why do you think she doubted who you are? And you know how they see me. I would have demanded a real kiss on the lips." He gave her the 'smile' that had captivated so many women. With a soft look in his eyes, he reached up to gently brush aside the tendrils of hair from her face.
"Oh, forget it." She sighed in defeat, unable to keep up her façade. It seemed she wasn't entirely immune to Nick's charms after all. She could never stay angry with him for long. Shaking her head wearingly, she mocked, "I don't even know why I ever decided to help you with your girlfriend problem."
Grinning broadly, he hugged her.
"Akane, you know how persistence some of them are. Without your help, I wouldn't have been able to stop them from pestering me. I really appreciate what you're doing. And now you got Trish to stop harassing me, too." He positively pointed out, before frowning. "But I'm not sure if that would keep her from bothering us."
"Oh, great. Now, she thinks I'm one of her competitors." She said dryly and mentally cringed at thought of the redhead taking upon a scheme to challenge her for Nick. "I just hope she isn't like the crazy one you attracted last time."
She shuddered at the memory that comment brought on. He rubbed her back to soothe her fear.
"I don't think Trish is that crazy. She could still be trouble though. She's conniving, persistence, and willful." Nick said thoughtfully. "Yes, definitely willful. I'm afraid we won't get much sleep until she's good and gone."
"What?" She cried out incredulously, not noting the twinkle in his eyes.
He chuckled and lightly tapped her nose. "Gotcha."
"Nick!" She playfully slapped his arm. "I'm being serious here."
"Akane, Trish got the hint. I can assure you, she isn't going to bother us again." Whistling, he stepped away from her and began to head back toward his BMW. With his back turn to her, he stated. "You know, you shouldn't be so serious all the time. Cause when you're not, you smile a lot. And when you do . . . "
He pulled the passenger door opened. Placing her briefcase inside, he held the door out for her. With a wink, he finished his comment. "When you do smile . . . You become the most gorgeous woman who can take away any man's eyes."
Smiling, she softly asked, "You really think that, Nick?"
With a serious look on his face, he replied. "Yeah."
Looking at him with new appeal in her eyes, she slowly made her way to him. She didn't say anymore until she came face to face with him. Although, she considered herself a tall Asian woman by having reached five-foot-ten, Nick still towered over her. The top of her head barely touched his chin. Tilting her head up to look at him, she softly murmured, "You said that I shouldn't take things too seriously. Then . . . should I ignore the feelings that I got when you kissed me?"
"W-What feelings?" Gingerly, he asked as his eyes widened.
"Well, like how my body heats up when you touch me." She timidly looked away as she went on. "And my heart . . . "
He watched as she lightly fingered a spot over her breasts.
"It beats so fast that I . . . I feel like I have been running for miles."
Unable to remove his eyes from her, he stared.
"And you know what else, Nick?"
He swallowed and slowly shook his head.
Leaning up on her toes, she whispered into his ear. "I like the feeling."
Not waiting for his response, she got into the BMW.
"Ah Akane, about what I said earlier-"
She stopped him before he could finish. Lightly, she poked him on the chest and winked, "Gotcha."
He stared at her blankly for a minute, before he gritted his teeth and ruefully shook his head. "Akane, have you ever consider becoming an actress?"
"You know, I had thought about that once. I mean I certainly have enough experience from the practices I got, by acting as your girlfriend over the years." She thoughtfully tapped her chin. "But then I'm already happy with the job I have. And I like living in San Francisco. And another thing is, you're here with me."
"Akane . . . " He murmured softly, quite pleased by her comment.
Her eyes sparkled mischievously as she added. "I mean hey, if I ever lost my job and all my money. At least, I still have someone who's dumb enough to support me financially for the rest of my life."
"What? I'll get you for making fun of my generous offer!" He reached into the passenger seat and tickled her mercilessly.
She couldn't withstand him for long before she screeched in her seat. "N-Nick! Stop! Please!" She cried out helplessly as she tried to catch her breath.
He stopped. With a smug smile on his face, he asked "Are you sorry now?"
"Yes! I'm sorry for calling you dumb." Her eyes danced as she remarked. "I should have called you an idiot instead."
"Why you . . . " He growled and tickled her again.
"Nick! Okay! Okay! I yield!"
"Now, what was it you were going to say again?" He caressed her ribs in warning.
"You're not dumb, nor an idiot. You're . . . "
"Yes?" He raised his eyebrow and waited for her to answer.
Boldly, she grinned. "You are crazy."
He didn't tickle her this time. Tenderly, he smiled. "Yeah, I'm crazy about you. I thought you know that." He affectionately ruffled her hair, before placing a light kiss on her forehead. With a sigh, he said, "Come on, let's go home."
*** Click. Click.
His client was going to be very pleased.
Click. Click.
Not only have he located the subject of interest after several weeks of searching, but he also got rather some 'interesting' photos too.
Click. Click.
He had to admit his client certainly has great taste. The woman, she was quite a looker.
As the black BMW speed away, he came out from his hiding place. Smiling, he put his camera safely back into his carrying bag. He then headed toward his car, which was parked not too far from where the BMW had been. He got into his car and started the drive back to his office to develop the films. As he drove off, he took out his cell phone and made a call to his client.
"Yes, this is Detective David Stanley. Could you please leave a message for Mr. Saotome? Yes, please let him know that I have the information he requested and would like to schedule a time to bring them to him."
Five minutes later after he disconnected, he received a call. It was his client, demanding to see him or rather the 'information' he has right away.
French word used:
carte blanche - loosely translated as 'white carriage', if I'm not mistaken. This is a proposition made to a woman from a man, to be his personal mistress. In return, she gets anything she desires . . .Author's Notes:
Just to make sure that readers aren't confuse over Akane's age. Akane was 16 years old when she first met Ranma (Ranma is also the same age). From the letter she had written to him in the Prologue, it had been 2 years since she had been with him. With the beginning of chapter 1, time have gone by 5 years, so that makes her now 23 years old. In this chapter, I wanted to show a little of how she is doing after she left Nerima. She seems to be doing rather well. Don't you think? *wink *wink ^_^.
vers: 12/6/01