Can You Keep a Secret?

Chapter 4 "Conscience"

Chapter 4 "Conscience"

"Hey, Polka, are you done yet?" Natsume asked flatly as he signed his paperwork.

It has been three days since the party and Natsume's been resting at his hotel room, leaving Flame to Nogi Ruka for these past days. We have all tried to question Mr. Pony Tail to Takato's possible whereabouts, but he won't speak. It was exactly 11:37 pm and as Hyuuga Natsume's secretary, I had to help him. So far, everything had been back to normal – scratch the usual questioning of my nosy workmates. That is, until tonight.

"Yeah, I'm done," I said, handing him the pile of papers. "And stop calling me Polka!" I added.

"Sure," he murmured, not bothering to look at me.

I opened my mouth to say something, when I heard Ruka's phone ringing.

He slipped his fingers into his pocket. "Hello?" he said.

Both Natsume and I looked at him, curious at his unusual expression. After a long moment of silence, the blond boy said "Yes" silently and ended the call, looking at Natsume.

"Daddy says," he paused. "Your mother just took the flight for Tokyo."

I didn't say anything at that time, because, obviously I didn't know how urgent the situation was, but it left me wondering as I saw Natsume's composed expression twist, suddenly.

.

BEEP. BEEP. BEEP. BEEP. BEE – I pressed my fingers at the rectangle above my digital alarm clock. Stupid noise, waking me up! I got up and prepared.

It was another busy morning at Tokyo – with the usual chattering on the streets and cars waiting for you to walk in front of them and run over you.

I walked swiftly across the pedestrian lane to the huge building of Flame.

"'Morning, Sakura-san!" the guard greeted.

I smiled at him and nodded once, not starting a conversation – because if I did, they would just ask me what happened at the night of the party.

The elevator doors opened and I met the eyes of a pink-haired girl, whom I was trying to avoid.

"Hey, Mikan-chan!" she chirped happily as I entered the elevator. "So, are you ready to tell me, yet what happened that night?"

I rolled my auburn eyes. What was I to tell her? That my goody-goody-wow-wow partner kidnapped me and lured Natsume? OH, NO. Saying that would start the scandal Ruka and Hotaru was avoiding.

"Well?" Misaki-senpai pressed. "Hyuuga-dono, you and that Katsuya-guy disappeared! And I heard that he never showed for work after that, too!"

"Nothing happened," I murmured, stepping out.

"If nothing did, then why did Mr. Nogi take Hyuuga-dono's place for the past three days?" she questioned further.

I gritted my teeth at her persistence. "Because he had diarrhea!" OH, LORD. I can't believe I said that!

Misaki-senpai halted at her steps. "He did?"

I bit my lower lip. "Maybe?"

Misaki held back her laughter. "Wow! I could imagine him in the toilet and – "

"Imagine who?" Natsume said from behind her.

Misaki-senpai stood straight, still chuckling. "Nothing, S-Sir."

Natsume rolled his blood-red eyes and glared at me. "You come with me."

I nodded, fighting a smile.