Deal Me In

WARNING: SUGGESTIVE SCENE AT THE END OF THE STORY.

Cool gray eyes casually surveyed everything around the area. Everyone was dressed to impress, as should be because of the people present. Only the higher-ups of the most successful companies were present for this social/business party, socializing with business partners while looking for potentials.

Atobe Keigo was probably the only exception. The Atobe Group was already partnered with a few of the executives present and he only socialized with them enough that was worth his time. He had contemplated just taking an early leave; however, a promise to play a few hands at poker kept him from going.

"Atobe-kun!"

Atobe turned toward the direction where the voice called out to him. "Sakai-san, what can Ore-sama do for you?"

"Still using 'ore-sama', are you? I think you're the only one who can get away with that," Sakai mused as he approached the younger man. "How are you enjoying the party?"

"The party is enjoyable, Sakai-san. Ore-sama thanks you for inviting me," Atobe responded automatically.

"Come now, Atobe-kun. You can't honestly say that being with us older executives is enjoyable," Sakai mused light-heartedly.

"You seem to have caught me," Atobe admitted with a smirk. It was not like he was hiding away his boredom with a carefully placed mask. It was just that not everyone could read him well enough to realize how he really felt about any situation unless he said so straight out. That was what he usually did but it didn't hurt to tell a little white lie every now and then.

"I thought so. You're the youngest amongst us so it'd be understandable if being here for more than necessary would be boring," Sakai said with an understanding smile. "That's right, I almost forgot. I came to get you for the poker game that's going to start in the other room. Everyone else is already there."

"So we should make our way as well," Atobe said, accompanying the older man. They reached the room in no time and once they entered, they were greeted in various fashions. The two new arrivals sat in the last two remaining seats available and the game began.

"So Sakai-san, how's life treating you?" A fellow business partner asked the elder man.

"Rotten," Sakai said in a mock-irritated tone. "Nothing but paperwork."

"I think we all can relate to that," Takeo, a close friend and business partner of Sakai's said in amusement. "And the family?"

"Just fine. Expecting a grandchild soon," Sakai proclaimed proudly with a big smile.

"Congratulations," Takeo said sincerely. He then folded his hand and noticed the silent Atobe next to him. "Speaking of families, when are you going to start one Atobe-kun? You're twenty-five now; you should go get a wife."

"He's already got one," Tatsuya, a partner of Atobe's, piped up. He was one of the younger executives, second only to Atobe, and fairly knew the happenings of Atobe's life. "He got married about two weeks ago."

"Eh?! You're kidding!" Takeo exclaimed, looking at Atobe in astonishment. Everyone else was in a similar state. Takeo glanced down at Atobe's left hand and noticed the silver band encrusted with three diamonds on his ring finger. "It's true," he said gesturing to the ring.

Atobe glanced over at Tatsuya with an annoyed look. "Ore-sama would appreciate it if you didn't go blurting about my private life, Tatsuya."

"How come we weren't invited, Atobe-kun?" Sakai asked after the initial shock faded.

"Ore-sama wanted the wedding to be a strictly private affair and my wife agreed," Atobe replied as he set his cards down revealing a full house, thus winning the round. "Ore-sama apologizes if this has offended any of you."

"How did you find out, Tatsuya-kun?" Takeo asked the younger man.

"I saw the ring and asked," Tatsuya said with a shrug. He went about shuffling and dealing the cards to the players around the table. "Which reminds me, you never did tell me who you married and how you met her."

"Yes, I'd like to know that, too," Sakai wondered as he picked up his cards and looked at them. Then he along with everyone else present looked expectantly at Atobe, who looked like he was contemplating on whether to tell them or not. In actuality, he was thinking back to about three years ago when he had first met her. He inwardly smirked. Ironically, the setting was similar to this.

-flashback-

"Keigo, try to at least look entertained," Atobe Nanami lightly reprimanded her only son. "I know you do not like coming to these parties, but when you take over the company, you will have to attend them anyway. Your father is just getting you prepared."

"Ore-sama knows and understands mother. It's just that everyone here is at least ten years older than Ore-sama," Keigo admitted to his mother. In all honesty, he really didn't want to be here. He was twenty-two after all. Although he understood the importance of attending these social/business parties, he couldn't fathom the reason behind staying longer than he should.

"Just bear with it, okay? Your father has been looking forward to becoming partners with for a long time," Nanami requested of her son.

"Of course, mother. You will expect nothing but the best from Ore-sama," Keigo assured to his mother with a genuine smile. Nanami smiled in return before leaving her son's side to mingle around with the other women. Now that his mother was gone, Keigo contemplated on what to do. He glanced around the area, seeing his father talking with the owner of the manor and the company that his father wanted to become partners with. Wondering how the talk was going, he casually made his way to where his father was.

"Keigo, good timing," Keisuke said when spotting his son coming toward them. Once the younger Atobe reached them, he formally introduced him. "-san, this is my son and heir to the company, Keigo. Keigo, meet Shigeru-san, owner of Aisu Enterprises."

"Pleasure and honor to meet you -san," Keigo greeted respectfully with a bow.

"Such a well-mannered boy. Nice to meet you as well," Shigeru greeted in return with a smile. "I have heard nothing but good things about you. Pretty soon you will be taking over your father's company, correct?"

"That is correct. Father has decided that I'll be ready to take over in three years," Keigo said, discreetly boosting his own ego further.

"That's good. I have a daughter about your age. She has just returned from studying abroad and will start working in the office next week with me," Shigeru informed, a proud smile shining on his face.

"By the way, -san, where is your daughter? I have yet to meet her," Keisuke wondered as he took a quick look about. "Actually, I don't even know how she looks like."

"She is around somewhere. She is quite good at keeping herself hidden from others," Shigeru replied, shrugging it off. He glanced over to the younger Atobe and noticed that he was a bit stiff-looking. "Relax, Keigo-kun. I understand that with you being so young around the older generation, you tend to feel a bit bored, right?"

"Ore-sama apologizes if you feel offended," Keigo instinctively replied, not noticing how he referred to himself.

Shigeru blinked at the younger man for a second, and then let out a chuckle. "I think you're the first person to refer themselves like that. That's rather refreshing; I like it." The owner of the manor took a sip of his wine before a look of realization came to his face. "That's right. I organized a game room for those who wanted to have a little more excitement this evening. Would you like to join them Keigo-kun?"

"What kind of game are they playing?" Keigo asked. His interest was piqued at the prospect of a game.

"Poker," Shigeru replied simply. "Are you a gambling man, Keigo-kun?"

"I like to believe myself so," Keigo responded with a slight tilt of his head.

"That's good. Life would be too boring if you didn't take chances," Shigeru said in a wise-like way. "My daughter likes to take chances. If the odds were in her favor, then she wouldn't hesitate to go all in. Come, I'll show you where the game room is. She may be hiding out there."

led the way with the two Atobes following behind him. It didn't take them long until they reached the designated room where some males were lingering about but no game started. Keigo glanced around and noticed most were affiliated with his father but were not actually partners with their company. He wondered why they hadn't started to play yet. It was a good thing that said his question out loud.

"The game hasn't started yet? Something wrong?"

"We were short on players. We didn't want to start until we had enough." A man had answered for the rest of the group.

"Well how many more do you need? You've got another one here," Shigeru wondered gesturing toward the younger Atobe.

"With Atobe-kun, we need one more," the same man responded.

"I don't see my daughter in here," Shigeru mumbled to himself as he looked around. "I'll go look for my daughter and bring her here. If someone else comes in, then just start the game; otherwise wait until I return with my daughter." With that, left the room to search for his only daughter.

"Keigo, do you really wish to play?" Keisuke questioned his son with an inquiring look.

"Ore-sama doesn't see the harm in a game," Keigo said with a shrug.

"All right, I'll leave you here, then. I'll go back out. Have fun," Keisuke said with a sigh. The older Atobe left his son and went back out to mingle about with the others that were not participating in the game. Meanwhile the men interested in a game waited for either the return of with his daughter or another arrival to start the game, whichever situation would come first.

A few minutes passed before the door opened again. Silence reigned throughout the room as they saw who stepped through the doorway. A female with flowing ebony hair, clad in a scarlet red dress that showed all the right curves. The most striking feature that the female possessed were her light-gray eyes, they almost seemed silver as glanced over the occupants within the room.

"I had heard that this was supposed to be the game room. And yet I see that no one is playing. Is something the matter?" The female asked to no one in particular.

"We're short on a player," Keigo responded when it seemed like no one else would.

"Is that right? Well, you're in luck. Deal me in," the female said, making her way to the table and taking a seat. After a slight pause, the other males within the room moved toward the table and took a seat without question.

Keigo, on the other hand, raised a perfect eyebrow at the way this woman just came into the room and seemed to take over everything with a high and mighty attitude. Granted that he usually did the same thing, but having someone else do it to him irked him just the slightest bit. This female seemed to have piqued his interest a lot more than the actual game. He too made his way to the poker table where the last seat was right across from her.

Another thing that got to him was that he did not recognize the woman before him. He searched through his memory but found no trace of the image of the female. He wondered who she was and decided to ask directly rather than beating around the bush.

"I believe that we didn't catch your name, Miss…"

The female just stared at him with piercing light gray eyes for a moment. She then smirked as her eyes became mischievous. "I'll tell you my name, Atobe Keigo-san, when you are able to totally defeat me."

"Are you trying to provoke me?" Keigo questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"Not at all. Think of it as an incentive to get you to play at your best," she said, expression becoming innocent with her eyes still having that mischief shining in her eyes. The Atobe heir met her gaze fully, taking on her challenge. Receiving the cards dealt to them, the game began.

Hours of playing seemed like minutes as the game progressed. Players were dropping like flies and in the end it came down to Atobe Keigo and the mysterious female who they still did not know. Although Keigo had played well, the female was proving to be a formidable opponent. She was like a professional gambler with the way she handled her cards. At the moment, she was leading the game, but Atobe was not far behind.

"Shall we raise the stakes once more?" She asked with an expectant look on her face.

"Ore-sama sees no harm in that," Keigo replied, putting out a stack of thousand dollar chips. The woman across from him didn't hesitate to follow suit as the dealer gave them their cards. Both glanced at their cards before returning their gaze to each other. They seemed to stare at each other as the game progressed on, each swapping cards until satisfied in believing their hand was the better one. Gradually the pot became bigger until it seemed that all of their chips were sitting in the middle of the table.

"Raise," the ebony haired female said as she pushed a stack of chips to join the others.

"Re-raise," Keigo called, putting out double of what she did. He sent a challenge through his gaze to her and she decided to meet it head on.

"All in," she said calmly as she pushed the rest of her chips towards the center. In retaliation, she sent a challenging stare back, daring him to meet her. Not one to back down, Keigo met her.

"All in."

"Show your cards," the designated dealer said, looking at them expectantly.

Atobe decided to go first and flipped his cards over revealing a full house with three of a kind queens and a pair of nines. He smirked at the female across from him and expected to see a defeated look on her face. However, his smirk faded when she looked just as calm as before. She slowly turned over her cards revealing three of a kind ace with a pair of tens.

"Full ace with pair of tens wins," the dealer declared, gesturing toward the female. She had a look of victory on her face as she smirked at Atobe who was in a slight state of shock.

"It looks like I win, Atobe-san. Perhaps when next we play, you'll be able to defeat me and learn my name," she said, standing from her seat. "Gentlemen, it was a pleasure playing a game with all of you and I look forward to another game in the future." With that, she gave a slight bow before leaving the room.

Talk broke out within the room as they conversed about the games that they witnessed. Chatter ceased when the doors opened to reveal the Atobe matriarch entering the room and making her way to her son who was still seated at the poker table.

"Keigo, it's late now. We should be heading home," Nanami said to her son, snapping him out of his small bout of shock.

"Mother, did you happen to see the female that left this room?" Keigo asked his mother, curious to know about the woman that just beat him.

"Yes, I did. Why do you ask?"

"Do you know who she is?" Keigo questioned right back, hiding his anxiety as best he could.

"Don't you know? You've been playing cards with her for the past few hours," Nanami wondered, a confused expression on her face. When she didn't receive a response from her son, she let out a small sigh. "That was -san's daughter, ."

**********

"Good morning father," greeted her father, who also happened to be the owner of Aisu Enterprises, upon arrival at said office building.

"Ah my little princess, right on time," Shigeru greeted his only child jovially with a hug.

"Father, I don't think you should be calling me that anymore, especially here," reprimanded playfully with a mock glare.

"Nonsense! You'll always be my princess," Shigeru proclaimed loudly, causing some of the nearby workers to stop and look at the father-daughter pair curiously. felt a bit embarrassed with her father's antics and wondered just which side of the family she inherited her personality from.

While it was known that her father was a cheerful type of person, it was rumored that her mother was a gentle soul that wouldn't hurt a fly. wouldn't know of this because her mother had died at childbirth but she had heard stories. With those two for parents, it was a wonder on how she ended being the type of person she was.

Being a slightly introverted person, didn't socialize much, making her a practically unknown in the business society. The higher-ups knew she existed but they did not know what she could do or how far her business prowess extended to. was like a shadow, a working behind the scenes type of person and she intended to keep it that way until it was decided for her to take over her father's company.

However, like everyone else, she had a secret side to her as well. Being an unknown had its advantages and used them to their fullest extent, mostly in the gambling department. A natural born risk-taker, she had a special talent when it came to taking chances. When it came to gambling, she was like a professional and it showed in the games that she would play, even though it was not often that she would for fear of bringing dishonor to her father's name if anyone found out who she was.

"So, shall we get started with all this paperwork that your secretary has so kindly as to place on your desk, father?" suggested, gesturing to the rather large stack of papers sitting innocently on top of the owner's large desk. Before her father could say a protest to actually doing the work, a knock came to the door.

"Come in." Shigeru easily admitted in the person behind the door, wanting to delay the inevitable as much as possible. The sight that greeted the duo upon the door opening was a ridiculously large bouquet of fresh red roses arranged in a vase. raised an eyebrow at the sight and glance over to her father who also bore a questioning look on his face.

"Excuse me but this is a delivery for -san," the delivery boy announced, poking his head out from behind the flowers.

's left eye twitched at hearing that the large bouquet was for her. "Who sent it?"

"Umm, there should be a card attached," the delivery boy answered nervously, noticing the dark look the young female had.

approached the arrangement in quick strides and eyed the red flowers in disgust. She glanced over the bouquet and quickly spotted the said card amidst the sea of red. Plucking it out from its holder, she scanned the card, her eyes darting across the small piece of paper taking in its content. Her eye twitched once more before lifting her irritated gaze to the delivery boy. She eased up a bit when she saw the boy tremble under her gaze.

"Please return to sender," ordered calmly.

", who is it from?" Shigeru inquired, quite curious as to who would send his daughter flowers. He blinked when the card was shoved in his face. Taking it out of his daughter's outstretched hand, he read what it said:

-san,

You will meet with ore-sama today for lunch at the Pyrie Restaurant at one. Do not be late. Ore-sama expects you to be there.

Atobe Keigo

"Atobe Keigo-kun?" Shigeru wondered what the young Atobe heir would want with his daughter. "Do you plan on meeting with him?"

"No," crisply replied. She picked up a pen from her father's desk and wrote a quick message on the back of the card and replaced it within the bouquet of roses. "Return to sender. I'll pay you double of what this cost."

"Yes ma'am!" With that, the delivery boy did as was ordered of him, leaving the father-daughter pair alone in the office.

"Wasn't that going a bit too far? He doesn't know of your extreme loathing for roses," Shigeru reasoned after a moment of silence. just shrugged her shoulders before giving her attention to the paperwork on the desk that would not do itself. However, there was slight curiosity shining in her eyes for a brief moment as to why Atobe Keigo wanted to have lunch with her. She put that thought off to the side to concentrate on the jumble of words in front of her.

**********

Atobe Keisuke didn't even bother hiding the amused grin he had on his face as he watched his son pace around the room of his office. He had been a bit surprised when Keigo had said that he wanted to meet the young heiress but more amused then anything. He knew that once his stubborn son had his mind set, he would not stop until he had what he wanted.

"Chairman Atobe?"

"Yes?" Keisuke answered back when his secretary spoke over the intercom.

"There seems to be a delivery for the young master here," the secretary informed.

"Send it in," Keisuke said, admitting entrance. He raised an eyebrow when upon the door opening was a large bouquet of red roses. However, the younger Atobe had a different reaction all together.

"I thought I had commissioned you to deliver that promptly to who it is for. What is it doing here?" Keigo had commanded from the young delivery boy who was at the receiving end of a glare.

"Umm, she wanted me to send it back to you. I think she wrote a note on the back of the card though sir," the delivery boy was able to say with stuttering.

Keigo raised an eyebrow at that and sauntered up to the large bouquet and fished out the card and read the message that was written on the back. Being curious, Keisuke stepped up behind his son's shoulder and read over his shoulder. He held in his chuckle but a wide amused smile had fought its way to the surface after reading the short message.

Atobe Keigo-san,

You won't be able to win me over that easily.

P.S. - I detest roses.

**********

"-san, sorry to interrupt but there is someone here that wishes to meet with -san," Shigeru's secretary informed from the doorway to the owner's office.

Both father and daughter looked up from the paperwork they were looking at and glanced at each other with questioning looks. Shigeru then looked up to his secretary. "Who is it?"

"He has said that he is Atobe Keisuke's son from the Atobe Group, Atobe Keigo sir."

"Let him in," Shigeru said quickly before his daughter had any time protest. A second later, they stood up to formally greet the Atobe heir as he sauntered into the room with his head held high and his usual smirk on his face. "Keigo-kun, what a surprise. What brings you here to Aisu Enterprises?"

"-san, it is nice meeting you again. However, I will be honest. I have come to personally request your daughter to have lunch with me," Keigo admitted smoothly, doing his best to not show his irritation in his voice. His gaze turned toward the said female in question who seemed to be trying to glare holes into his head. Unfortunately for her, that tactic didn't work on him.

"I guess my intention was not clear enough in the message I had written in returning the roses to you," said with subtle sarcasm.

"Oh your message was quite clear, but I'm the type of person who refuses to accept 'no' as an answer," Keigo remarked with a smirk on his face.

"Is that so?" retorted with a raised eyebrow. She stared straight into his eyes and saw the challenge in the cool gray eyes once more, daring her to take it. However, she was not one to take the bait so easily. "You have yet to learn my name from me and you expect me to have lunch with you, Atobe Keigo-san? Rather bold of you to dine with someone you do not know if I may say."

"Ore-sama is willing to take the chance," Keigo replied, his usual smirk on his face but his eyes held a bit of seriousness to them to show her that he would not back down. Unfortunately for him, she wasn't about to back down either. It was then that he had an idea. "How about this then? Ore-sama proposes to another game. Should you win, then ore-sama will back down and not bother you again."

"And if you win?" questioned, showing the tiniest bit of interest in this proposal.

"You will allow ore-sama to take you out to dinner and tell ore-sama your name," Keigo finished, satisfied. He had an inkling of suspicion that she could not resist a game, especially from a good opponent. He was not disappointed.

"All right, I accept."

"Excellent. Shall we have the game this afternoon then?" Keigo suggested, a victorious smirk on his face.

"I don't see any reason to delay your defeat," agreed, a smirk of her own on her face. Then she furrowed her eyebrows. "Did you just call yourself ore-sama?"

-end flashback-

Atobe chuckled a bit at that particular memory. He laid his hand out on the table showing his cards of three of a kind. He smirked when he heard the round of groans of loss from around the table. He was about to go about collecting his winnings when the door to the room opened. Everyone's attention was turned toward the newcomer, including Atobe's.

"Well, well! If it isn't -san! What a surprise! It's rare to see you at these kinds of events," Sakai greeted with a smile.

"I thank you for inviting me Sakai-san," greeted with a smile in return. She looked at what the group of men was doing and a certain twinkle shone in her eyes. "Playing cards, I see. Who is winning?"

"Atobe is," Tatsuya mumbled as he gathered the cards and began shuffling them.

"Perhaps you could help us out. I had heard that you were quite the card player, -san," Takeo suggested, gesturing to the open seat near Tatsuya and Sakai.

"Hmm, I see no harm in a round. Deal me in," accepted, taking the available seat that was across from Atobe. Their eyes met for a brief second before they turned their attention toward the cards that were being dealt to them. In the end, it came down to Atobe and as they stared into each other's eyes, the tension getting thicker by the second. A few seconds later, let out a sigh.

"I fold," declared, handing her cards to Tatsuya.

Atobe held a smirk of triumph as he handed his cards to Tatsuya and collected his winnings. "Perhaps -san has lost her touch."

just raised an eyebrow at that, letting it slide for the moment. She stood up from her seat and turned to the gentlemen in the room. "Sorry to cut this short, but I should be getting home. I have a busy day tomorrow in the office. Good night, everyone."

"Shame you couldn't stay and play cards with us a little longer. I wish you luck in your future endeavors," Sakai said, standing as well, giving a slight bow. The other men followed suit, wishing her a good night.

"Thank you and have fun with your game." With that left the room.

The men continued the game once she left. After two more rounds, Atobe decided to call it quits. "I have to get to the office in the morning for an important meeting," Atobe said, excusing him self from them with a bow and wishing them a good night.

"Don't you find it odd that Atobe left around the same time that -san did?" Tatsuya questioned as he continued to shuffle the cards. He didn't see the incredulous looks on the other executives' faces as he dealt the cards.

**********

sighed as she had finally made it home, thanking the butler when he took her coat from her. She slowly made her up the stairs and into the master bedroom. Sitting in front of her vanity table, she began to take off her jewelry. As she was about to take off her necklace, hands stopped her from doing so. She stiffened slightly at the sudden contact, but relaxed when she realized whom the hands belonged to.

"You took the shortcut, didn't you?" She questioned to the figure behind her as they took off the necklace for her and placed it in her jewelry box with care.

"Of course. I couldn't leave my wife alone in this big mansion by herself, could I? What kind of husband would I be?"

"Keigo, you know I don't like you taking that route. It's dangerous," reprimanded lightly to the man behind her as she took out her hairpins.

"You, of all people should know I would go at any length for you," Keigo reminded her as he wrapped his arms around her from behind, his chin resting lightly on her shoulder.

"Hmm, that I know all too well. I still can't believe you cheated in that one game three years ago," said, a fond smile on her face. "Just to learn my name from me and to have dinner with me."

"It was well worth it. Look where my cheating has brought me to," Keigo muttered with a smirk. "So shall we indulge ourselves in another game?" He whispered into her ear playfully. , getting the hint right away, smirked at her husband.

"Deal me in."

##########

February 2, 2007
Written by: Kurohane
Edited by: linchpin