The Taste of Wine

{ Chapter 6 - Questions }

In a world where business is greater than life, lies and deaths are common. It might sound absurd but that is a fact in tht field, it's a lie if someone said business is a safe path, afterall the more you grow the more you see that the enemies are there, your enemies could be time, the product, the customer, the employee, or a business man themeselves.

Business is only a matter of patience and wits, the patience for something to grow, and the wits to make it grow even more, Ran is a son of a well known business man and his way of path isn't entirely wrong, but it i questionable. Why the adopted daughter of the Armani? Why someone useless? That person is only well-known for its title of adoption and a bit of its talent for Art which is quite rare for them.

"You look tired" Xierra commented while checking Ran up and down, quite shameless but she's also just observing, her phrase made the man himself laugh, his eyes glow, Pleased.

"Are you in fact concern Xie?" Of coure the man wouldn't let the opportunity slip and teased the woman who could only respond by rolling its hazel eyes while it continue to eat some of its noodles.

"I don't mind, don't be shy, I'm not tired, why would i be when i finally got to see you after a week?" the man yet again attempted to take advantage of her by the use of its tongue of words, Xierra raised an eyebrow and scowl at the opposite individual.

"What a way to ruin my day more, Sir" She sarcastically said which has a bit of truth in it, the man chuckled, lightning up a cigarette which Xierra watched him do.

"Why won't you call me by my name Xie?" Ran asked with curiosty, the lady ignored his question and questioned him back.

"Why do you keep calling me Xie? I never gave you my permission to" She said sternly, Ran is now the one who raised an eyebrow before replying.

"Well of course, i never asked for it. Don't you like it?" Ran gently said which made Xierra paused for a bit, because she realized the words no or 'i don't like it' can't leave her pinkish lips, why won't she deny it? And simply said No?

Maybe because she does like it? After all its her first nickname.

"I'm done here, i hope you don't bother me please" She blurted out instead grabbing for her bag and illustration, her noodles are already done so she doesn't have any reason to stay any longer. Even with her statement said as if Ran didn't hear it, he followed her all the way out with his hands hidden inside his pocket and eyes gentle but suspicious.

"Hop on"

Xierra stopped to glance at Ran who had the door of his car opened, she raised an eyebrow at him her facing saying 'Really? You expected me to trust you?'.

Ran took notice of it of course but ignored it nonetheless gesturing his hand for her to get it.

"Come on" He said gently and delicate but after the incident at the mansion it is hard to agree on his invite.

"Is that a threat?" Xierra asked, letting out a sigh, she could walk out already to be honest, but somehow her mind tells her to listen for a bit if he would give out a reason.

"Haha, of course not darling, but if you agree on this i would tell you more of my goal and reasons, don't worry though i won't lie"

'Won't lie but he literally just fooled me the other day? How shamefull.' she thought her eyes glaring at the man who still holds the door of his own car for her.

"Just a quick drink" He said smiling at her way.

But Xierra doesn't give in that easily, and she won't riding at his own car is like suicide, how can she trust this man twice? knowing it would just endanger her life. But though she does want to know more about his goals.

She glanced at her watch first, she only has an hour for her to rest, and 20 minutes would take just fr her to reach her home by car, and 30 minutes by jeep, if she would choose....

"i'll agree...... If you ride the bus with me" She bravely demanded, a smirk forming at her soft lips, confident that someone rich and golden as Ran would never agree to her request. But as she was about to wave away her goodbye Ran smiled sweety at her and with a gentle voie answered simply with a-

"Sure"

"Right i knew you won- Wait what?!" She was asked mid sentence, confused if what he just heard is right, this man before her just agreed to go ride a crowdful vehicle with her?

"What's the matter? Let's go" Ran initiated after closing the door of his car and locking it, Xierra could only just nod and followed him who is already walking ahead, but eventually slowed his pace to match hers, a gentle smile plastered at his lips.

"Well then milady, i guess first let me propose a game with you" He suggested which Xierra surprisingly agreed fast, but the reason for it is because Xierra's mind is a bit occupied at the moment that she didn't payed much attention to his words, and Ran knows that thats why he said that first to make her agree.

"With every answer on your question i myself must get an answer from you alright? You are free to say pass if you do not wish to answer" Xierra finally snapped out of it after hearing what he said clearly, because she has the upper hand by getting the power to deny him without and pursuation she doesn't think its bad afterall, and what can this man ask her anyways?

"I don't particurlarly hate myelf but still what can you truly get to someone like me?"Xierra started as they walk side by side towards the bus stop, her eyes glued at the station while Ran keeps glancing at her.

"Hmm, well to be brutally honest at first, i want to use you so if things go wrong i could make you take all the blame, and nothing will tarnish my name." Ran was straight out honest as he said and that did hurt Xierra a bit, she could easily imagined what he meant by that. And he was extremely horrible for it.

"How was your day?"ran asked as its him time to, Xierra glanced at his way with confusion, wondering why is he so curious about her day.

'Should i be honest too? Afterall he did brutally told me his true intentions which is far more terrible than what I thought'

Before she answered she took a sit at the bench while waiting for a bus that goes to her place stop, Ran remained standing by her side with his arms folded at his front.

"A bit of an issue with one of my partners in a project, she didn't showed up for weeks and when she comes back she expected me to still give her credt for what i did alone" She said her expression changing to sour. Ran kept his purple eyes stuck at her while another question lingers at his head.

"Real reason you wanted the Armani's downfall?" Xierra said turning her head to glance at the handsome youth, her eyes briefly widens when it meets his own calm amethyst one, did not expect for the man to have its eyes already fixed at her.

" A petty revenge personally, and just the desire for more power" Ran smiled at her which made her anxious making her look away, thankfully the bus finally came which they got in after a few passengers leave.

Ran glanced at her and offer that one single seat that was about to be taken by a guy but Ran was faster and taller because he have already placed a hand on the seat, Xierra thanked Ran for the effort and meekly sat down avoiding to meet his eyes, Ran placed his left hand at the head of the chair while the other at the front seat, as if securing her which made he lady even more flustered and anxious at his actions.

Xierra flinched slightly when Ran suddenly bended over to reach her ear, she bit her lip as his hot breath touched her ears.

"Your an art major, i didn't knew having a partner in a project is possible, i thought its only to make art by yourself?" Ran's unreasonable questions are surprising but Xierra didn't mind in the end, atleast he's not asking something personal like what she's doing.

"It's just a quick project our professor asked for, saying to make art for someone instead for ourselves, like a team work, but unfortunately it didn't work for me." She said sounding a bit bitter about it.

"Hmmm"

"If i still disagree at your offer........Would you still kill me?" Xierra said, her tone becoming cold as she ask for something like that.

There was a bit of silence between them before Ran answered patting her head so sudden which made Xierra glanced at him, he gave her a sweet asuring smile while gentle patting her like a little girl.

"Depends....."

'Right, depends on my WHAT?!' Xierra couldnt help but get nervous when of course her life is now depended on the words of a yet still stranger of a man, she was just trying to live now she's not the one to decide that, right how atrocious her life is.

"If your useless then i might as well slay you, but... "

'But?!'

"If you make someone like me fall for you, then my love would be your hope and mercy" Xierra immediately glanced at him with an eyebrow raised and her eyes showing the shock of what she just heard, She is shock at the shame this man can bring with himself. Fall? Love? Hope? Those are the things she couldn't help but just laugh it off, those things are more useless than her.

"Your getting quite way too confident by that, Ran..." Xierra snickered, making sure she emphasized his name for him to hear clearly how big of a shame his name already is because of the words he said.

"Hahaha, why? Don't you find me handsome at all?" With his question Xierra iz confident she could deny it without fail, but before she could even let out those words she need the man came closer to her face but not too close enough, just enough for her to notice every single thing about his features and unfortunately everything about his face is perfect, not to mention his body is already a perfect frame for him.

Now it makes it hard to deny his own beauty and handsomeness.

The two stared at each others eyes for a moment before it break off by Xierra averting her eyes at the road, now it feels kinda stuffy and hot inside the bus, even with just a low amount of people around the bus she could feel a bit of sweat at her forehead, with Ran locking her at her seat it feels like she's trapped at his grasp.

After some time of a few questions asked and answered she stopped at the gate of the Armani's household, she didn't even bid a goodbye to the young man and only rolled her eyes at him who gave her a sweet smile while they parted ways at the bus.

It was quite a long day for Xierra, after the problem with her partner she finally met that man again, it was sudden but atleast she heard some answers.

But still, its strange.

"Why was he even there? " She wondered to herself, buying cigarettes is not the reason she's sure of it because that man, that so damn rich man probably has dozens of new boxes of cigarettes inside his car. Did he really not follow her too?

"Who is? "