Forced Marriage, True Love

16. Surprise

Taki was sleeping peacefully on my bed, his back facing up, while his face was buried in the pillow, his arms beside his head, while his legs were crossed over. I couldn't help but stifle a laugh. To think the CEO of Tachibana industries would sleep like this? If word about this goes out, I'm sure he'd have no face to greet the public. But why the hell was he in my room?

As much as I wanted him to get out, I couldn't bring myself to wake him up and ask him to leave. Especially if there is a half-naked, conniving woman inside his room. And so, I slowly dragged my suitcase to take out my night clothes. As I did, I noticed another suitcase which wasn't mine present in the room. Curious, I took it out and slowly opened it and I found pants, shirts, ties and suit jackets which were clearly a man's, or rather Taki's.

Hell no. I'll only allow him here for tonight. Not the entire trip. I definitely need to talk to him about this tomorrow. Nodding once, I put back the suitcase in its place and went inside the washroom to take a shower while taking my clothes with me.

As I was, I couldn't help but think, did Taki know about what Miki was planning all along? Nah, that's not possible. He's not that smart, especially in these sorts of things. After changing into my night dress, I took a pillow from the bed and placed it on the couch by the window.

Thankfully the sofa was soft. Or else I would've thrown a bucket of cold water on his face and kicked him out of bed. You're lucky this time, Taki Tachibana. "Just one night. You'd better have a good excuse to give me tomorrow morning." I plopped on the couch and pulled a bedsheet over me while resting my head on the pillow.

How sad. I get a luxurious hotel room, only to sleep on the couch. My pathetic life.

***

I woke up at seven in the morning, and the first thing I heard was a loud knock at my door. I grunted and slowly made my way to the door. Before I could fully open it, I was pushed inside. It took me a second to realize who it was: it was Saya-chan and Tessie.

"Saya-chan, what are you-" I started but she cut me off. "I wanted to see your luxury room..." She said, although her voice soon trailed off when she noticed someone sleeping on my bed. "Oh my god! Mitsuha! You slept with someone?!" Tessie cried, making me widen my eyes in shock, all the sleep leaving me.

Suddenly, I remembered everything that happened last night, and I panicked. Saya-chan walked over to the bed and pulled the off blanket before I could do anything. And both Tessie and Saya-chan gasped.

On the bed, was Taki, who was still sleeping, his face buried in the soft pillow. Sensing the covers were off, he groaned and pulled it back up while turning to the other side. Before both of them could ask me anything, I quickly grabbed their hands and my room key card and went outside, closing the door behind me.

"Mitsuha! What the hell was that?" Tessie shouted, making a few of the room service men turn their heads to us. "Be quiet." I hissed. "You slept with Tachibana-san!" Saya-chan asked in horror. "No, I didn't!" I quickly defended myself.

"Then why the hell was he in your room?" Tessie shouted, making me snap at him. "How am I supposed to know?! He was here even before I came to the room." "What? Why would he sleep in your room?" Saya-chan asked. "I don't know. I have the same question, which I'm gonna ask now. So, bye." I stormed into my room and shut the door on their face.

I strode straight to the window and opened the curtain, letting the sunlight fall in. "Rise and shine." I said. As the light fell on Taki's face, he groaned and covered his face with his hand. "Wakey wakey. It's seven in the morning." But Taki groaned and pulled the covers over his head.

Now that's it. I stomped over in frustration and pulled down the covers down, making him squint. "I said good morning in two different ways. Get up right now!" I shouted. Taki slowly opened his eyes. "What?" He mumbled in his sleepy, raspy voice - which was quite hot. Mitsuha, focus.

"Give me one good reason why you're sleeping in my room." I said as I tapped my foot. Taki sighed and closed his eyes again. "I paid for it." I stared at him in shock for a moment. "Right, you did. But that doesn't give you any right to sleep in the room you booked for me." "I can and I will." "No, you can't! You can't sleep in the same room you booked for your employee! Your room is next door. Go sleep there."

Taki let out a frustrated groan and sat up on the bed. "First of all, you're not just my employee. You're my fiancée." I was about to open my mouth and argue, but Taki raised his hand and stopped me. "Second. I can't go back to my room when there's a scheming slut inside."

My eyes widened. "Wait. You knew?" I asked. "Of course, I knew. I have a spy in my parents' house. My mother wanted to threaten me into marrying Miki with that scheme yesterday." Taki snorted. "How pathetic of her." I frowned. "Your mother did this?" 

"Yes. Now let me go back to sleep. I set my alarm at 7:15 and I don't want to wake up before that. Good night." He plopped back on the bed and pulled the blanket over his head. I scoffed in disbelief.

***

I quickly freshened up and ran downstairs in a hurry, looking over my shoulder a few times to see if someone was following me. If people saw me and Taki exit the same room, it would very embarrassing. And that's the last thing I want.

I reached the dining hall and spotted the designing department. I quickly ran up to them and was about to sit down on a chair, when someone pulled it for me.  I glanced up in confusion and my eyes widened in horror. It was Taki who had pulled the chair for me.

He gave me a small smile and pulled a chair next to mine and sat on it, surprising everyone present. I blinked. Why is he sitting here? Everyone exchanged glances and the VP... she was giving Taki the brightest smile ever.

"Good morning, Tachibana-san. We're pleased to have you at our table." She said. However, Taki didn't respond to her and simply kept looking at me, waiting for me to sit down. I forced a smile and sat down, feeling daggers from everyone, while Taki himself pulled a chair next to mine and sat on it. The tension was so high, if I was made of wires, I'd go haywire. "Tachibana-san, are you attending the trade show today?" Taki continued ignoring her and kept looking at me, his eyes twinkling in awe.

Feeling awkward, I shifted in my seat, the tension of the room sending chills down my spine, at the same time burning me up. Realizing that his attention was solely on me, the VP shot me a deathly glare. I'm dead. However, before things could escalate, the waiters and waitresses came over with our food.

I was just about to eat my sandwich when one of the hotel staff approached us. "Mr. Tachibana, since you and Ms. Miyamizu slept in the same room, shall we cancel the other room?" My eyes could've popped out of my sockets, while I turned as white as sheet. I felt the hideous glares from my co-workers, and my VP... I'm sure she'd volunteer to go to hell if it meant killing me.

"Sure. That's a good idea." Of course, it's a good idea. I can smother him in his sleep. After the torturous breakfast, I went to the bus stop and waited. The designing workshop will start in two hours. And I heard it takes almost one hour to get there.

I sighed, when I suddenly heard a whistle from behind me. "Hey baby." I stilled.