#i should start doing this again. had to get out before kenzaki gets drunk or else i crumble in public

[melto]

remember when i used to listen to the blade drama cd whenever i went into the grocery store so it was like a life or death race against the clock to get in and out.

[otomefoxystar]

The One - Chapter Six

Fandom: Kissed by the Baddest Bidder

Pairing: Eisuke X OC ( Charolette)

Warnings: Abuse, Kidnapping, Pregnancy

Nothing could have prepared Eisuke for the panic he felt when he woke up and realized Charolette missing wasn’t a dream. He had fallen asleep at his desk leaning back in his office chair. His neck and shoulders hurt from the way he was sleeping. Soryu stormed into his office.

“ Did you sleep in here?” He asked, shocked. No answer.

“ Do you have any idea what time it is?” Eisuke looked at his watch 10:38. Fuck, when was the last time he slept this late?

“ I know you’re worried about Charlotte, but you have got to pull yourself together. We are all worried about her, but we have the black dragons and the police at our disposal.” He pinched the bridge of his nose.

“ I know. I know. It’s just we HAVE to find her Soryu.”

“ Okay, let’s gather everyone together so we can come up with a plan, after you shower.” Soryu had a suspicion that there was something more to the story that Eisuke had intentionally left out.

When Eisuke finally came down from his room, everyone looked at him with worried expressions. He took in a deep breath and sat down.

“I just can’t shake the feeling that it could be the same person that attacked her.” Baba blurted out. Soryu looked at him.

“ Hmm, I wonder. Eisuke, the attack happened here so the attacker would either have to be a guest or an employee, correct?”

“ Yes, that’s right. I’ll have Kenzaki get a list of all the names for that day. I don’t know why I didn’t think of this before.”

“ Because you’re a goddamned mess,” Mamoru stated. Eisuke ignored his comment and went back up the stairs to his room.

“ I think he blames himself.” Baba glared at Mamoru

“ I’m not gonna walk on eggshells because his feelings might get hurt. He needs to stop being a princess. I’m gonna go to the office, call me when he gets those names.” Mamoru got up to let himself out.

“ I understand what Mamo is saying, but I think boss is really depressed. He isn’t himself.”

As soon as Eisuke sat down at his desk he called Kenzaki to get the names he needed. He couldn’t imagine what was happening to Charlotte right now. He wondered if Baba was right maybe it wasn’t someone after him, but who has been after her this whole time?

—————————————————————————————————

Morning and night seemed to run together, Charolette didn’t sleep well if at all that night. She dreaded the moment that Yuri would come in, she needed to figure out how to escape. There were no windows where she was, she wasn’t even in a house. It was like she was in a garage or somewhere for storage. There was a bed and a bathroom, but nothing else. It was cold and the only light radiated from a single lamp hanging on the ceiling. She went to stand up, and upon standing she realized she was attached to some kind of chain that extended up to the ceiling and was hooked to an iron like collar that was around her neck. She could move around freely, but unless she could somehow get out of the collar she wouldn’t be escaping.

Her hope dwindled and she heard the door open. She looked over to see Yuri bring some food into the room. He set it on a plastic bucket that was next to the bed.

“ Eat” It was not an offer, it was a demand. She looked at the food, and as much as her body craved nutrients she was hesitant to eat it.

“ I didn’t poison it, I wouldn’t do that. I love you.” Had she heard him right?

“ You would do this to someone you love? kidnap them and restrain them? That isn’t love.” He glared at her, and she cowered, then he smacked her across her face.

She rubbed her face, where he had hit her. “ You will learn your place woman! you are not to speak to me in such a way.” She picked up the fork but stopped as she looked at the meal that was in front of her. “ Why aren’t you eating?” He came up close to her face. “ You will eat it, every fucking bite unless you want a repeat from a moment ago.” She began to slowly eat until the plate was empty “ That wasn’t so hard was it ?” He took the plate “ I’ll be back later, I have to go to work. I’ve brought you some magazines. He set them down on the bed and left locking the door once again.

She heard him start the car and drive away, and her situation suddenly became very real and her eyes filled with tears, and she began sobbing into the pillow. Tired from sobbing, she fell asleep. Hours had gone by and she wondered how she was going to eat lunch if he was at work. It makes sense now that she knew she was pregnant. Her increased appetite could be problematic. She decided she should spend her time looking for a way to get out of the chains she was in. Going into the bathroom she noticed an ugly bruise on her cheek from when he had hit her.

She looked at the device locked around her neck, if only she knew how to pick a lock then maybe she could get this thing off, but she didn’t know the first thing about picking a lock. Things seemed so bleak, she clawed at her neck yanking turning whilst crying. She sank to the floor into a crying mess. She stayed there with her back against the tub with her legs drawn up against her chest. She didn’t know how long she had been in the bathroom, but she heard the door unlocking and she had to steady her heart. “ Charlotte are you in the bathroom?” He went into the bathroom and he saw her huddled on the floor. “ Charlotte?” She looked up at him “ Please let me go, Yuri.” He chuckled. “ Haven’t you figured out that is never going to happen?” Tears stung her eyes. “ Why are you doing this Yuri? What do you want from me?” He squatted down and caressed her face, she flinched. “ I want you, I need you all to myself. You are always with that fucking CEO Ichinomiya or that blond artist asshole. He took you away from me once, that’s not going to happen again.”

She looked at him in disbelief “ Do you think so poorly of your employer?” He traced the bruise on her face with his fingertip. “ They took you away from me.” She swatted his hand away. “ I was sick, they took care of me. You attacked me, you tried to rape me! If Ota hadn’t been there then you would have succeeded.” He laughed again “ Well he isn’t here to save you this time, is he? I have you all to myself.” He smiled “ You're fucking deranged, no matter what you do to me I will never belong to you!” At that, he hit her again and laughed maniacally. “ You are a feisty one I’ll give you that, but soon you will learn that your place is here with me. Your dinner is waiting for you…When you’re ready.” He turned and left, locking the door once again.

She finally got the energy to walk back to the bed where she saw her meal on the plastic bucket, as much as knew she should eat, she didn’t have the motivation. Then her hand went to her stomach, she had been so wrapped up in the situation she was in that she had forgotten about her pregnancy. She took in a deep breath and sat up straight eating the dinner that was made for her. Her stomach didn’t settle well and she rushed into the bathroom retching the food that she just ate. She wiped her mouth and wondered what would happen if Yuri was to figure out she was pregnant?

——————————————————————————————————

Eisuke handed the list of names to everyone when Hikaru walked in seemingly out of breath. “ Are you alright?” Luke asked “ No, no I’m not! This was delivered at my house.” He opened a small box and dumped out the contents onto the coffee table. “ It’s Charolette, whoever has her is taunting us.” There were pictures scattered across the table of her bruised and beaten with a black eye, a swollen and bruised cheek, and a split lip. Then there was a picture of the collar attached to her neck.

“This could be fatal to her current condition.” Soryu swallowed thickly “ Fatal? The amnesia, how?” Luke looked over Eisuke, and it clicked for Mamoru “ What are you two not tellin’ us?” Luke shook his head “ I can’t it’s patient, doctor confidentiality.” Baba furrowed his eyebrows “Isn’t this a special circumstance?” Luke stood his ground “I can’t” Hikaru looked between Luke and Eisuke “ But Eisuke seems to know” Eisuke stood up “Because I was there” Eisuke looked around “ None of you are going to let this go are you?” He sighed “ Okay” Luke glared at Eisuke “ It’s fine, it would have come out eventually.” He cleared his throat. “Charlotte's pregnant” Soryu studied Eisuke, and he contemplated his behavior lately. “And you're the father” Eisuke chuckled “ I sometimes forget how perceptive you are Soryu.”

Ota shot up out of his seat “ It’s true? Are fucking kidding me!?” Baba stood up and squeezed his shoulder. “ Ota” he shrugged off Baba’s grip “It’s not confirmed, I don’t know who else she’s been with. It only happened once.” Ota moved in towards Eisuke “ No! She’s not like that, she doesn’t sleep around. She hasn’t had a boyfriend in almost a year. And not to mention as far as I know you two aren’t in a relationship and have never have been” Hikaru came up behind Ota “ Ota calm down, we all want to find Charlotte.” Ota had a crazed look on his face “ No, this doesn’t add up. You forced her to sleep with you! Eisuke sighed “This is ridiculous! I didn’t force her to do anything.”

Eisuke crossed his arms “You used the fact that you own her as leverage. You didn’t give her a choice.” Eisuke inhaled sharply “ I cannot fucking believe you! Why Charolette, you could have any woman you want so why choose Charolette?” Everyone looked at Eisuke expecting an answer. “ Because I knew she wouldn’t screw up. I had to convince these people that we were in love, that we were together.” Ota started laughing “It’s all coming together now. That’s why she got so drunk that night. All of this is your fault, all of it. For her getting attacked, the amnesia, and on top of that, you got her pregnant! Now she could lose the baby YOU put inside of her, how much of a douchebag can you be!?” Then Ota closed the distance between them and punched Eisuke right in the jaw. “Fuck you Eisuke! You better fucking find her!”

Soryu went to go after Ota “No, let him go.” He said wiping the blood from his mouth. “He’s hurting just like the rest of us” Baba interjected Eisuke stood up straight “ No, you’re wrong Charlotte is the one hurting, we are merely worried we can only fathom what she is going through. Question the employees first.” Eisuke began to walk off “ you’re in love with her.” Baba stated it wasn’t a question but a fact. Eisuke paused for a moment, but then continued up the steps. Baba smiled, seeing that as confirmation.

When Eisuke closed the door he knocked over a chair in frustration. He knew Ota was right, he had forced Charolette to sleep with him for his personal reasons. She fell pregnant, ended up with amnesia and it was all his fault. All the torment she had been through was his fault.

When they rescue her he's going to let her move on with her life without him in it. It was what was best for her, even if she was still pregnant. He would give her enough money to live a happy life with their child in peace without any interference from him. First, though he was going to find her and he was going to ensure her safety and take care of the scum that took her. Then…he would let her go.

[emilyplaysotome]

Part 7 - About Last Night

Down the Voltage Rabbit Hole is an ongoing story about our MC, who could easily be anyone in voltage fandom. She woke up in hospital bed only to discover that she’d somehow been transported Voltage universe:

Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5 - Part 6

Part 7 - About Last Night

For the third time in four days, my head pounded, except this time I only had myself to blame.

I should have ensured that the meal ended before the cake, before the wine, and before my resolve had been shaken. If I’d been strong enough to end it when I should have, I would have been waking up in my own bed right about now, instead of the bed in Soryu’s penthouse. 

Reflecting back on it now, the entire night had been designed to seduce me. Similar to the MCs of this world, I too was unable to turn my nose up a delicious meal - especially one that was free. 

Back home, my friends and I had what I fondly referred to as “our restaurant club”, which consisted of a monthly get together at the latest up and coming (or high end) New York City restaurant. We’d splurge far beyond our means in the shared interest of tasting the best NYC had to offer. I had dined on everything from the nine-course chef’s tasting menu at per se, to Mario Batali’s down-to-earth pastas and pizzas at Otto, and as a result, the opulence of the spread Soryu had prepared for us was not lost on me.

The entrees ranged from familiar Western comfort food that he had no doubt ordered to put me at ease (such as hamburgers, french fries, and pizza), to Japanese delicacies (in case I was feeling adventurous) which he walked me through, such as namako (sea cucumber) and fugu (blowfish sushi). It was fairly miraculous that I had been able to resist at all, considering the fact that while I had been working hard to convince myself that Soryu as a man was not “real” in the sense I required, the food very much was. 

The one silver lining of last night had been that I’d at least had the good sense to keep things platonic...other than the part where he held my hand and we gazed into each other’s eyes...

...Barf. 

How had I allowed myself to get so swept up in the moment? It wasn’t like me...although, when I began to think about it, kind of was. I chalked my inconsistent behavior up to my inner Gemini, who caused me on occasion to transition from calculating and deliberate to whimsical and careless.

I lay in bed, eyes not quite ready to be opened, as I oscillated between scolding myself and attempting to justify my actions. I told myself that in the grand scheme of things, hand holding was fairly inconsequential considering it was something grade school children did without second thought. The more I thought about it, I began to feel pretty confident that I could play the entire night off without any hurt feelings. 

After all...he’d asked me to have dinner with him and then decide. Just because I’d decided to sleep on his offer, didn’t mean I wasn’t ultimately going to take him up on it.

Once I’d worked this all out in my head, I rolled over, opened my eyes, and almost screamed bloody murder.

Soryu was curled up next to me, sleeping soundly, which was odd because I knew for a fact that he had not been there when I went to bed the night before. Sure I had been drunk, but I hadn’t been the kind of drunk that I’d been with Hiroshi.

I reached my hand out and gingerly poked his cheek as I sat up, creating some space between us.

“Yo, get up.”

Groggily he batted his eyelashes at me as his eyes adjusted to the morning light, and he smiled that kind smile which had the power to render me helpless if I wasn’t being careful.

“Good morning.”

“Don’t give me that crap,” I said forcefully, putting my emotional walls back up. “Why are you in my bed?”

He rubbed his eyes, as if he were a little boy, and innocently said, “Honest mistake. I was pretty drunk last night.”

I knew that was a lie. Soryu Oh didn’t get drunk. Soryu Oh was a man who could hold his liquor. He was just making an excuse to get close to me, and I needed to do what I couldn’t bear to last night and push him away.

“Oh, well....thanks for everything, but I’d like to live in employee housing now.”

I found myself unable to make eye contact as I said the words, so I don’t know what he actually looked like when the reality of what I said sank in, but I’m pretty sure it must have been heartbreaking to witness. Like the coward I was, I stared at the covers until he left the room, closing the door behind him. I could hear him speaking with Eisuke in the other room as I got dressed, making good on his promise.

I knew it was all my fault, and I couldn’t tell what was making me feel worse - my hangover or my actions. 

It didn’t matter though. I couldn’t sit here forever, wallowing in my poor choices, so I forced myself to get up and began to gather what few belongings I had.

Once everything I owned was present and accounted for, I looked at the empty suite and said a silent goodbye to it, which I knew was illogical on my part as I’d be back to clean it in the days to come. I recognized the fact that I felt a bit of gratitude towards this room which had offered me a bit of comfort in what had otherwise been a traumatic few days. As it sunk in that I would never live here again, my overly sentimental feelings towards the penthouse began to make sense - not only had I developed an affection for the space, but also the man who inhabited it. 

Before I could fully comprehend what was happening, my guilty conscience went into overdrive, and instead of vacating the room I found myself rummaging through the suitcase I had just packed. I found the small piece of silk fabric Tauxolouve claimed was a thong, and left it under Soryu’s pillow.

I started to leave again, but then began to worry whether or not it would be too hidden. In order for my sins to be absolved, I needed Soryu to find the thong and return it to me in the way I predicted he would. 

After staging the balled up thong in a few different locations, I finally settled on the corner of the bed that we had shared last night. Convinced that the contrast created between the black silk and white bedding would set my plan for redemption in motion, I took one last look at my carefully art directed thong, and left the room.

Kenzaki allowed me a half day to get settled in my new digs and I have to admit, living alone again was pretty awesome. The room itself was as I’d expected - a small studio apartment that would have felt claustrophobic to anyone who hadn’t been conditioned to deal with small spaces. Fortunately for me, New York City real estate had prepared me for such a room, and I quickly felt at home. 

The room had all the necessary furnishings provided, and it had seemed that either Soryu or Eisuke had instructed whoever prepared the room to include a few sets of bedding, in addition to a television, and laptop. I didn’t have much stuff, so it was a fairly easy move for me, and after no time at all found myself moved in. I glanced at my phone and saw I had a few hours to kill before I was required to be in at work. There was a lot I wanted to do, but if I’m being honest, it was hard to think about anything other than Soryu. 

Obviously he had gotten under my skin, which bothered me, since I logically I acknowledged that none of it was real. Everything he did, and everything he was - it was all an elaborate ruse to get me to fall in love with him, and what made me even madder was that it had only taken a few days to for me fall under his spell.

Was I that pathetic, that starved for attention in my old life, that I would allow myself to fall so quickly for a man that I knew was an illusion?

I sighed, mulling it over in my room, half-euphoric with an unfamiliar love sick feeling, and half-disgusted by how weak I was.

After an hour or so of wallowing on my new bed, I decided to attempt to be productive by adding phone numbers (if available) to the places I planned on visiting. Once that was done, I found myself on the phone with the Sanno Corporation, setting up a date to tour the office, followed by a few more calls, including one in which I impersonated a concerned parent in order to visit the grounds of Seishun High School. Before I knew it, I’d set up several appointments and it was time to go to work. 

I put on my uniform, and for the first time, in a very long time, worried over whether or not I looked ok.

“I’m here to clean!” I exclaimed cheerfully as I entered the lounge.

I’d been procrastinating a bit - handling the suites first, full well knowing that the entire group was present. They were in the middle of planning the upcoming auction, and spoke about it freely with the understanding that I possessed no knowledge of hotel’s shady dealings. Their candor surrounding the discussion of the auctions surprised me. Considering they had only known me for a few days, it struck me as odd that they would speak so freely about their plans in my presence. Perhaps they figured that I was insignificant, or that their fragmented manner of speech made it unlikely that I would put together the clues that hinted at the hotel’s dark underbelly. Regardless, it still felt rather careless to me.

With the bidders completely engrossed in their conversation, for the first time since I’d arrived at the Tres Spades, they ignored me completely. I took advantage of this opportunity to go about my business (hurriedly tidying as the room magically reset itself) while attempting to inconspicuously listen in. 

As Eisuke alluded to disposing of someone who had begun asking too many questions about the ins and outs of the auctions, I stole a glance at Soryu and reminded myself that he was a bad man, in charge of a dangerous, underground crime ring that murdered people on a regular basis. Just because this world felt familiar and safe to me, didn’t mean it actually was. I had to operate with caution moving forward as it seemed entirely possible for me to perish in this world, just as it had been in mine.

“You wouldn’t want to date John Wayne Gacy or John Gotti,” I whispered, trying to convince myself, “and you definitely don’t want to date him.”

My time spent cleaning went quickly (as it usually did in this world), and with the exception of Eisuke asking Soryu fairly pointedly if he had a date for the auction (he said no), very little happened.

Actually...that’s an over simplification. They talked about an upcoming heist, murdering at least two individuals that they felt posed a threat to their auctions, and wanted Kishi to look into Soryu’s file at the station, as Eisuke was concerned by the Ice Dragons’ recent drug activity arousing the MPD’s suspicion. However, as a woman who was desperately trying to control matters of the heart, Soryu’s lack of date for the auction jumped out at me more than the terrifying reminder that I was literally working for criminals.

I was about to excuse myself when Eisuke called me over and asked me to make him a coffee. I protested at first (that’s not really a maid’s job), but soon remembered how futile arguing with Eisuke Ichinomiya is. From there, the orders started coming in - a tea for Baba, juice for Ota, bourbon for Mamoru.

Only Soryu stayed silent, and followed me to the drink cart to prepare something for himself. I got to work, as did Soryu, and after a brief, uncomfortable silence he broke it by asking, “Did you settle in ok?”

“I did, thank you.”

“I...you left this.”

With that he thrust the thong I’d left behind into my hands.

I’d done it as a favor to him - as an apology for treating him so poorly when he’d been nothing but wonderful to me. He didn’t realize it though, but he would soon enough, and I knew exactly what I needed to do from here.

“Oh gosh,” I said, pretending to be ashamed. “How embarrassing.”

I made sure to not pocket the thong as fast as I would have normally, because I knew like a moth to a flame, Baba would appear any moment.

“Is that what I think it is?”

He obnoxiously patted Soryu on the back and for once, I felt in complete control of the situation.

“Baba,” I pleaded quietly. “Please...don’t tell the other guys. Okay?”

I made sure that the insinuation we'd slept together came across loud and clear. I watched Baba’s face quickly transition from disappointment to a sort of smugness that could only be meant to antagonize Soryu. It occurred to me that I had triggered something in this universe that changed Baba’s role from a potential love interest to a mischievous, fun loving, tension breaking side character. 

He nodded with a wry grin, and trotted back to the couch, taking what would most likely be a permanent seat next to Ota.

While he did this, I pretended to be relieved, but in actuality knew that the second I stepped out of the room, Baba would reveal what I had hinted at to the rest of the men, and all Soryu needed to do was go along with it.

Soryu didn’t understand this though. He stood before me, red faced and clearly befuddled. Just as I’d done with Hiroshi, I lightly touched his shoulder and got on my tiptoes, bringing my lips close to his ear.

“Feel free to go along with it,” I whispered.

“Go along with what?”

“You know…” I trailed off and gave him a suggestive look, which caused him to turn a bit redder. “Consider it my farewell gift to you. We’re even now.”

Soryu’s eyes widened slightly, as he came to grips with what I’d done. 

I watched as the wheels spun behind his eyes as he realized that I’d left the underwear behind on purpose, and blushed an even deeper shade of red when he realized that I knew what the rest of the men knew, but never said - that Soryu Oh was a virgin.

Sure, he was many things, but being a virgin was the one thing that the bidders, should they ever want, could hold over his head. It was something that he found to be a bit embarrassing, as a 28-year-old man, and a gangster no less, who was constantly surrounded by sex and illusions of sex.

I’d put two and two together fairly quickly, between Eisuke’s initial certainty that lodging with Soryu would make me most comfortable as a woman with a boyfriend. Eisuke had made it clear that day out of all the bidders, Soryu would never touch me, and when I’d pressed him, insinuated he’d never seen his friend in all the years he knew him touch a woman, so it was doubtful that he’d start now. 

My conviction only grew after Soryu told me about his past - having never been in love or casually dated. Since he’d also expressed that he’d never patronized a prostitute, it was clear that his sexual experience was limited to whatever he did on his own time, without the mess of a flesh and blood woman that he’d lose interest in “after she opened her mouth” as he had so bluntly said that night.

From behind me I could hear snickering, and I watched as Soryu’s face relaxed. He gave me a small nod, to the point that anyone else who hadn’t been watching us closely would have missed it, and with that, he walked back to the couch carrying the drinks I’d prepared for everyone.

I left room, quietly closing the door behind me, with a clear conscience but my heart aching ever so slightly. This was for the best. I needed to keep moving forward. I didn’t have time to pine over Soryu Oh right now. 

I needed to get to Conte before I missed the dinner rush.

To be continued…in Part 8!

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Thanks for reading :)

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(Hope you’ll check it out too - the other parts are up top! @plloo2013!)

[otomefoxystar]

The One - Chapter Two

Fandom:  Kissed by the Baddest Bidder 

Pairing: Charolette X Eisuke 

Warning: Mentions of being attacked, and amensia 

Genre: Angst 

Written by: @otomefoxystar

As satisfied as Charlotte felt there was a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. She got out of bed and Eisuke eyed her.

“ Where are you going?” He smirked at her as he put his arms above his head. 

“ To the bathroom? what’s wrong?” he chuckled lowly 

“ You’ll see once you’re in the bathroom” one side of her lip pulled up.

“ You should take a look at yourself.” He took in a deep breath and looked into the mirror. 

“ Jesus, woman!” He looked back at her.

“ Honestly, you look just as bad.” 

Charolette looked in the mirror and felt over the bruises Eisuke left on her skin. She sighed, and he looked over at her.

“ How am I going to go to work like this? At least yours can be covered by your shirt.” Eisuke scoffed

“ You’re a woman, cover it up with makeup.” She glared at him

The next day they were riding home in the limo away from the hotel.

“ You did well Charolette, don’t worry it won’t happen again. We can go back to the way things were before.”

Charlotte didn’t know what to say so she just nodded her head fiddling with the sleeve of her blazer. They rode the rest of the way to the hotel in silence. She was looking out the window at the buildings going by. Regret filled her up, and she knew that working with Eisuke was going to difficult from here on out. 

She would just have to get through it, he assured her it would only happen once. She would treat him with respect because he was her boss, but she was going to keep her guard up. She decided from here on out that she wouldn’t let him push her around anymore, she was going to keep him at an arm’s length. Eisuke looked over at her looking out the window and for the first time since meeting her, he wondered what was going through her head. It was a strange feeling; usually, after having sex he would make the woman leave and his body would feel satisfied, but he would also feel empty. It was different with Charolette, she had warmed him up. She wasn’t like the women he dated. She had brought something out in him, he just couldn’t pinpoint what it was. When the limo pulled over she got out and turned to him.

“ I’ll, uh...see you tomorrow.” She quickly turned from him and walked off to her room.

She didn’t sleep around she could count the number of people she’d slept with on two hands. As soon as she closed the door behind her she locked the door, and ran to the bathroom and slid to the floor into a crying mess. She sobbed into her knees as the images of the night clouded her mind. To say she didn’t enjoy herself was a lie, but this was not her, and she didn’t know how to go on from here. 

She composed herself and walked to the hotel bar where she drank drink after drink. As she continued to drink herself into oblivion a man in the corner of the bar was watching her intently as if she were prey to be eaten. Ota entered the bar when he saw an inebriated Charlotte. He sat next to her and looked at her with concern.

“ Koro” She looked over at him and glared.

“ Go away Ota I want to be alone.”

He shook his head as she downed another shot of rum.

“ In the years I’ve known you, you’ve never told me to go away. We’re close right?” She looked at him and sighed.

“ Yes, we’re close Ota, you’re the only one I trust, the only one I can talk to.” He smiled

“ Okay then, talk to me. I’ve never seen you drink like this.” She downed another shot 

“ I’m fine I just wanted to let off some steam.” He cocked an eyebrow

The bartender brought her another shot, but Ota moved it out her way.

“ I think you’ve had enough.” 

She pushed Ota and stormed off. 

“ Charlotte!” 

When she was about to leave that mysterious man covered her mouth, and took her in the storage room. Ota didn’t know where she went, so he went looking for her. 

“ If you scream I’ll make this miserable so be good and don’t make a peep.”  

She tried to get away, but she fell and he pinned her down to the floor. He ripped her shirt and ripped her skirt trying to get it off. He started to unbuckle his belt, and she decided to take a chance and yelled.

“ Ota! Help me!” He heard her right away, and the man hit her on the side of her face. 

Ota came rushing in and took in the sight of someone choking Charolette. He tore the man off of Charolette.

“ Do you get off on targeting drunk women!?” He punched him so hard he fell backward hitting his head on a shelf causing him to be unconscious. 

Ota helped Charolette up, and put an arm around her.

“ Here, let's cover you up.” He took off his jacket and put it over her trembling body. Tears started pricking at her eyes, and Ota read the emotion swimming in her eyes.

“Hey, I’m here. He embraced her and she started sobbing. Her knees buckled and he lifted her princess style and carried her to the penthouse.

Sometime along the way she passed out in his arms.

Ota laid her down on the couch in the lounge and covered her up with a blanket. As soon as he put her down he noticed the blue shiner on her cheekbone and the bruises around her throat. Everybody started gathering in the lounge ready for an auction meeting but noticed a sleeping Charolette on the couch. 

“ Why is she sleeping on the couch?” Baba asked 

Ota looked at the men that were looking at him for answers.

“ She was attacked at the bar, I just keep thinking about what would’ve happened if I wasn’t there.”

Soryu looked down at her and saw her shirt was torn.

“ When you say attacked? What exactly happened Ota?” Ota took in a deep breath.

Eisuke walked in and noticed the state she was in.

“ What the hell happened?” He said as he noticed her ripped clothes as she turned on the couch. Then he saw the bruise on her face and throat and his eyes narrowed in anger.

“ Ota was there” Mamoru stated, and Eisuke looked at him for answers.

“ Explain...Now!” Ota looked down and sighed.

“ I found her drinking practically all the rum in the bar. I told her that she’d had enough and she got mad and pushed me and stormed off. I went looking for her, but then I heard her screaming my name. I went into the storage room, and this disgusting man was hovering over her about to have his way with her.” Soryu’s eyes widened 

“ Are you telling us that she was almost raped?”

Ota took a deep breath“ Yes, and she passed out when I picked her up. She’s completely blasted.” 

Eisuke looked down at her, and back at the men in front of him.

“ She is not to leave until this asshole douchebag is found. She’s safe here with us.” He scooped her up in his arms and carried her trembling body to his room. He laid her down on the guest bed, and grabbed one of his t-shirts, and changed her into it. He covered her up.

“ I knew I should’ve made you come with me.” He stroked her hair 

“ If you wanted to get drunk I could’ve arranged that. Unless... I’m the reason for your actions.” He turned off the light and shut the door.

Later that night Charolette woke up in a sweat feeling disoriented. She didn't recognize her surroundings and she started to panic. She got out of bed feeling the need to escape, and once she left the room she started to register where she was but didn’t remember why. Nothing made sense her head felt all jumbled, and she felt the need to run. She started to open the door when she heard footsteps and she quickly opened the door feeling a rush of urgency and fear.

“ What do you think you’re doing?” Eisuke said as he grabbed her wrist.

She looked back at him with fear in her eyes. He had never seen her look at him like that before. She had always had spirit and spunk, this was not the Charolette he knew. Something was very wrong. Tears filled her fear-stricken eyes, and Eisuke measured up the scared women in front of him. 

“ Don’t hurt me, let me go home please.” He looked at her worriedly.

“ I won’t hurt you Charolette, but you can’t go home. You’re safe here.” She started shaking her head.

“ No, no, no I need to go home. I have to work tomorrow.” Eisuke turned her around so she was looking at him.

“ I’ll call Kenzaki, you don’t have to work. Not till we find that asshole that attacked you.” 

She didn’t seem to register what he was saying, it was like she was stuck in her head. Eisuke reached in his pocket and called Soryu.

“ I need everyone in my suite” he hung up the phone and Eisuke led her to the living room and sat her down on the couch, and sat in a chair near her.

Everyone walked in and they saw Charlotte on the couch wearing one of Eisuke’s shirts.

“What’s going on?” Eisuke looked over at Baba

“ I don’t know, she seems confused. I thought you could talk to her Ota, she trusts you.” Ota walked forward and sat next to her, he put his hand on her back and she flinched so he removed his hand.

“ Koro” She looked at him with a confused look on her face.

“ Who’s Koro?” Everyone gasped.

“Uh... Well, nevermind that, Charolette what’s going on?” 

She looked at Ota, and he didn’t see any recognition there. She was a million miles away. He looked over to Eisuke with a questioning look.

“ I need to go home. I have to work tomorrow.” Eisuke scoffed

“ I already told you...” She interrupted him “ I can’t be late, my boss doesn’t like it when I’m late.” Ota cocked his head to the side.

“ Yeah. Charolette... Do you see you’re boss in this room?” Eisuke looked at her expectantly 

She looked at everyone. “ I don’t think so? I’m having a hard time remembering what he looks like.”

“ Charolette... Do you know the men in this room?” She looked at the other men

“ Should I know them?” Everyone was starting to get concerned at this point.

“ Do you know who I am ?” She looked into his amber eyes, studying him. He knew her well enough to know the answer, that she didn’t remember him

“ I recognize you, you seem familiar but I don’t remember. I’m sorry I don’t think I do.” She put her head in her hands and started smacking her head. Ota grabbed her hands and pulled them away.

“ Don’t do that” 

“ Boss, you should probably call Luke. I think there is something wrong with our princess.” 

Ota looked at Charolette, and she looked up and tears started streaming down her face.

“ What’s the matter?” She bit her lip and took a deep breath.

“ I’m so confused.” 

Luke walked in with his doctor kit, and Ota stood up giving Luke space to examine her. 

“ Hi, sexy bones I hear you’re having a hard time remembering things. Let me ask you something do you remember me?” She shook her head

“ That’s okay, do you remember your name?” 

She laughed “ Charolette” Luke pulled a chair in front of her and put his stethoscope around his neck.

“ Do you remember that’s your name or is it because they keep calling you that?” He motioned towards everyone. 

“ I remember” 

“ What’s the last thing you remember?” She knitted her eyebrows together. 

“ I remember pushing my cart and getting paged by my boss, but everything is scattered and I can’t remember faces or names.” 

 Everyone looked at her, and she started crying. Luke put his hand on her shoulder.

“ Listen, let’s not focus on what you can’t remember. Let me examine you, maybe you fell and have a concussion. There might be a reason for your memory loss.”

Once he was done examining her he sat up and cleared his throat. 

“ You look healthy Charolette there’s no concussion. You have bruising on your face and throat.” He looked at the guys standing off to the side. “ The bruising indicates trauma. Do any of you know if something happened?” Eisuke cleared his throat.

“ Let’s talk over here Luke.” Luke got up and walked over to them. “She was attacked and nearly raped, Ota saved her. He brought her here and I put her in my spare room and she woke up and freaked out.” 

“ When did this attack happen?” Luke looked over to Ota 

“ Maybe three hours ago”

“ Do any of you know how long ago her last memory took place?” Eisuke nodded 

“ Two days ago” Luke rubbed his chin 

“ She has trauma-induced amnesia” 

Eisuke looked over at her sniffling and wiping her tears away while she sat on the couch by herself. This was his fault, if he hadn’t made her have sex with him then she wouldn’t have gotten drunk and she wouldn’t have been in that bar in the first place. Because she is who she is and she takes everything so seriously his actions have caused her serious consequences. He might have gotten out of that arranged marriage but now the only woman he ever trusted is broken all because of his selfishness.

“ Will she get her memory back?” He realized she didn’t even remember their night of passion. It might have been about business but some time during the night they had lost themselves in each other.

“ There’s no way to know, sometimes people do sometimes people don’t. I want her to as much as you do, but all we can do is give her time and try to think of ways to get her to remember important things.” Luke looked back at her and back to Eisuke.

“ I don’t suggest she goes back to work, not for a while at least. I also think it’s best she stays here in the penthouse. Probably with Eisuke since he has a spare bedroom.” 

“ Agreed,” Eisuke said as he crossed his arms.

Luke and the other five men walked over to her and Luke sat down next to her.

“ Charlotte, you were attacked and nearly raped. As a result, you’ve lost your memory. You are going to stay here in the penthouse with Eisuke. You will have your own bedroom and have free reign of the penthouse like everyone else, but it’s your safest option. Let me reintroduce you to everyone.” She was scared but knew she had to accept what has been given to her.

“ That is Eisuke the owner of this hotel, and your boss. He’s the one you’ll be staying with. He’s kind of quiet and cold, but it’s a front don’t be afraid of him because he has a soft spot for you. This over here is Baba, he loves women but you are the only woman he treats with respect. This here is Mamo, he’s a lazy ass cop but he cares about you too. This is our resident artist Ota and your best friend. You have been friends ever since you joined us. I’m Luke, I’m the doctor. This is Soryu he's the leader of the dragons and says he hates women but doesn’t hate you. Then there’s Shuichi and Hikaru but they aren’t here. You’ll be safe Charolette I promise.” 

“ I can’t go home?” Luke shook his head.

“ I’m afraid not, it’s not safe for you, it’s safer here with the people that know you.” She looked down.

“ I don’t think I have any clothes why else would I be wearing a man’s shirt?” Eisuke walked over to the chair next to her.

“I’ll make arrangements to get your things. You can make that bedroom your own, decorate it. Do whatever you like it’s yours. You also have your own bathroom. I won’t bother you.” She looked towards the bedroom that now held her life. 

“ We’ll help you remember Koro!” She looked over at Ota 

“ Why do you keep calling me that?” Baba and Ota chuckled 

“ Oh Princess that’s his pet name for you, get used to it.” 

She got up and pulled down the shirt, but not before Eisuke noticed bruises he left on her thigh. He was hoping nobody else noticed, of course, she was a grown woman she has had sex before Eisuke. They would probably think she had some random roll in the hay. He would probably be the last person they’d imagine sexing up their princess. 

“ I’m exhausted I’m going to go to sleep.” She walked off before they had a chance to say anything.

“ Soryu, we’ve got to find that motherfucker!” Soryu looked over to Mamoru 

“ I agree, he stole Charolette’s memories of us. I’ll get the dragons on it right away.” 

After a long night of discussing Charolette’s condition and how to take care of her assailant and the auctions, Eisuke was drained. All he wanted to do was go to bed, but with Charolette asleep in the other room, he couldn’t bring himself to go to his room.

He was worried about her, worried that she would freak out again, worried that she would wake up scared. This wasn’t like him, Eisuke didn’t worry about others, but when it came to Charolette it was different. She was what brought the sunshine into the group. He couldn’t help himself and snuck in the room and shut the door quietly. He sat in a chair in the corner of the room, he unbuttoned two buttons of his shirt and listened to her heavy breathing which eventually lulled him to sleep.

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