"Sevenfold" Yellow: Avarice
Color: Yellow
Sin: Avarice
Chapter Title: A Girl's Best Friend (18/49)
Word Count: 1553
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Yellow:Avarice
“You shouldn’t do that, Seto,” Mokuba chided playfully. “Think of your health.”
Seto turned to glare at his brother. “Do you really think I give a damn about my health?”
Mokuba sighed. “Well, with those twenty-five hour days you pull, and the high stress position you have in the company...” He glanced over to his passenger. “Would it really hurt to take better care of yourself?”
Just to spite his brother, Seto took another long drag of his cigarette.
Mokuba frowned. “I’m not kidding around Seto, that’s bad for you. And if I’m driving, then I get to say whether you smoke or not.”
“Hey kid...” Seto looked at Mokuba, one eyebrow raised, daring him to say something else. “It’s my car.”
Mokuba sighed, not up to fighting with his brother. “Fine Seto. But when your lungs fail you and you’re hospitalized for years, finally dying and leaving me to inherit your empire, then I’ll remember what you said.”
Seto rolled his eyes. “Great. I’m looking forward to it.”
Ten minutes later, they arrived at their destination: the Domino City Shopping Complex. Mokuba parked the car and they walked into the bustling building, ready to make their purchases. “So,” Mokuba asked lightly, trying to tread carefully around his brother’s rather unpleasant mood. “What are you going to be buying today?”
Seto sighed. “A present for Jacqueline’s birthday.”
Mokuba groaned. “What? And you had to drag me along? That’s true cruelty, Seto - true cruelty. I hate shopping for other people's girlfriends.”
“Stop it. I thought you liked her.”
“Well... Well I do, I guess, but that doesn’t mean I want to be here while you search for...” Here, he batted his eyes in the exaggerated impression of an infatuated female. “Perfect present.”
“Shut the hell up,” Seto commanded gruffly. “It’s her birthday - I can’t just get her a... a card or something. Apparently, it’s more meaningful to her if I pick it out myself.”
“Super,” Mokuba muttered sarcastically. “But she didn’t even ask for homemade? You could have set those priceless stones yourself.”
“Yes,” Seto said, trying to head off what he knew would lead to an argument, “she has expensive tastes. But I’m a very wealthy man.” He glared at his brother. “It’s a mutually beneficial arrangement.”
Mokuba raised a skeptical eyebrow. “Mutually beneficial? Well I’ve got one thing to say, Seto... The sex must be great.”
In an uncharacteristically charitable gesture, Seto ignored him.
The two men rode an escalator up to the second floor, and walked through the crowd until they reached a small, tidy-looking jewelry store. “Why did we have to come here?” Mokuba grumbled. “The Kaiba name has power, and we’re obscenely wealthy - couldn’t you just have called in an order?”
“I know the owner.” Seto said tersely. “He’s been retired for about twelve years and he only works on a few, select pieces himself. It’s best to see him in person.”
They walked in and were immediately greeted by a thin, greasy-looking salesman. Mokuba didn’t bother listening to the exchange, and only barely noticed when a small, elderly looking gentleman walked out of the back room.
“I’ll see you at the car, Seto,” Mokuba said, having no interest in talking business. “Call me if you can’t find me.” He walked out of the store with a swagger, leaving Seto alone with the clerk and the owner.
“You’ve come for something special then, have you?” Seto nodded and the man seemed to smile. He put a velvet box on top of the counter. “Here - have a look at these pieces then. My very finest.” He opened the case, and three rows of dazzling jewelry winked back at all those gazing at them. “All right sonny,” the man said, rubbing his wrinkled hands together. “Let’s see if you’ve got a good eye.”
Seto scanned the array of necklaces, bracelets and rings casually. Jacqueline preferred gold, he knew, so... Something tasteful and elegant... Maybe with diamonds, and...
His eye caught on a silver necklace with a brilliant blue sapphire and Jacqueline flew right out of his head.
Immediately, he thought of Anzu. And he promptly berated himself for it. He wasn’t supposed to be thinking of her! He had begun seeing Jacqueline to try and get the dancing minx out of his head. He had forbidden himself from thinking about her; he didn’t even allow her to be spoken of. Mokuba thought it was due to pure hatred, but... Seto didn’t hate her. In fact, he was a bit more interested in her than he cared to admit. But she was betrothed! Ahh, he could have kicked himself a thousand times - he should not be thinking about her! They had shared one meaningless moment - just one! And he hadn’t thought of her before that moment, and he certainly shouldn’t be thinking about her after it.
He had... He had Jacqueline. No, he didn’t love her, but she was brilliant and beautiful and her father was one of the most prestigious businessmen in all of France. They made a perfect match - he was lucky to have her. At least that’s what everyone had told him, over and over again. He supposed they were correct. Jacqueline was beautiful, rich, well-connected, intelligent... In fact, the woman was as near to perfect as a human could be. She put up with Seto’s arrogance, she knew how to be discreet, she was strong-willed enough to keep from getting walked on... Any man, even one like Kaiba Seto, would be lucky to have her.
So why did another woman invade his mind so often?
He blinked and his eyes shot over to another piece in the case. As long as he avoided the sight of the sapphire, he would be fine and Anzu would leave his mind completely. Except she didn’t. And though he wouldn’t admit it, she wouldn’t leave his mind no matter what he did. His fingers ran over the silver chain of the necklace. No matter what he did...
It would be so easy to buy both the sapphire necklace and a necklace of gold for Jacqueline. It would be too easy. He could own them both with no trouble at all, with barely any sort of dent in his wallet. It was greedy, he knew, but he longed for them. The safety and certainty of a future with Jacqueline, and the wild warmth and passion he knew came with Anzu.
“This one,” he said decisively, pointing to a tasteful gold necklace with a pendant made of three diamonds.
The old man smiled and nodded. “Yes, excellent choice.” He looked to the cashier. “Give him whatever he wants. Prices should be in the book.” And after his final word, he creaked back into his dark room nestled in the back of his shop.
Seto watched as the clerk took out the necklace and laid it on some white tissue paper. Jacqueline deserved his whole heart and mind, not just a portion. Guiltily, he looked at the other pieces. “Wait,” he told the clerk sharply, “I’d like...” He pointed to another necklace. “I’d like that piece as well.” He saw a ring, set with two diamonds and an emerald. “And that ring as well.”
The clerk’s eyes widened, but he said nothing. “All right, sir, if that’s what you want.”
As the jewelry for Jacqueline was being wrapped up, Seto picked up the necklace with the sapphire that reminded him so much of her. For a moment, he hesitated.
“Excuse me, sir,” the clerk said. “Would you... Will you be purchasing that as well? It’s...” He cleared his throat, trying to be tactful. “Well, sir, it’s very expensive and you have such a... large tab already.”
Seto glared at him angrily. His eyes shot blue fire and the clerk trembled under the dark, angry gaze. “I assure you, I can pay it. In fact, if I so chose, I could purchase this whole damn store.” His hands clenched into fists. “However, I’m not feeling particularly avaricious. For now, my greed has been checked.” His eyes narrowed and his piercing gaze sharpened. “Ring me up. Now.”
“Of course, sir,” the clerk said obligingly, breaking out into a cold sweat at such a frightening customer. The total was as high as the clerk had warned, but as Seto had known he could, he paid it with ease.
Taking the bag full of black velvet boxes, he stormed out of the store, cursing his own greed with every step.
Necklaces and rings were one thing, but just because he had a stone that reminded him of Anzu didn't mean he was any closer to the woman herself. It was a meaningless gesture anyway - he had Jacqueline and no matter how much he might long for Anzu, he was happy with Jacqueline. She was the real thing, she would be there when his silly crush had abated, and she was worth all the money he had spent on the jewelry. He had done that for her because he genuinely cared about her, not because he felt guilty about - what did Mokuba call it? - mind-cheating on her. Even if it was an enormous sum...
“Jacqueline,” he murmured to himself as he headed to find Mokuba, “you had better appreciate this.”
~~~
Previous ♥ Next
Sin: Avarice
Chapter Title: A Girl's Best Friend (18/49)
Word Count: 1553
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Yellow:Avarice
“You shouldn’t do that, Seto,” Mokuba chided playfully. “Think of your health.”
Seto turned to glare at his brother. “Do you really think I give a damn about my health?”
Mokuba sighed. “Well, with those twenty-five hour days you pull, and the high stress position you have in the company...” He glanced over to his passenger. “Would it really hurt to take better care of yourself?”
Just to spite his brother, Seto took another long drag of his cigarette.
Mokuba frowned. “I’m not kidding around Seto, that’s bad for you. And if I’m driving, then I get to say whether you smoke or not.”
“Hey kid...” Seto looked at Mokuba, one eyebrow raised, daring him to say something else. “It’s my car.”
Mokuba sighed, not up to fighting with his brother. “Fine Seto. But when your lungs fail you and you’re hospitalized for years, finally dying and leaving me to inherit your empire, then I’ll remember what you said.”
Seto rolled his eyes. “Great. I’m looking forward to it.”
Ten minutes later, they arrived at their destination: the Domino City Shopping Complex. Mokuba parked the car and they walked into the bustling building, ready to make their purchases. “So,” Mokuba asked lightly, trying to tread carefully around his brother’s rather unpleasant mood. “What are you going to be buying today?”
Seto sighed. “A present for Jacqueline’s birthday.”
Mokuba groaned. “What? And you had to drag me along? That’s true cruelty, Seto - true cruelty. I hate shopping for other people's girlfriends.”
“Stop it. I thought you liked her.”
“Well... Well I do, I guess, but that doesn’t mean I want to be here while you search for...” Here, he batted his eyes in the exaggerated impression of an infatuated female. “Perfect present.”
“Shut the hell up,” Seto commanded gruffly. “It’s her birthday - I can’t just get her a... a card or something. Apparently, it’s more meaningful to her if I pick it out myself.”
“Super,” Mokuba muttered sarcastically. “But she didn’t even ask for homemade? You could have set those priceless stones yourself.”
“Yes,” Seto said, trying to head off what he knew would lead to an argument, “she has expensive tastes. But I’m a very wealthy man.” He glared at his brother. “It’s a mutually beneficial arrangement.”
Mokuba raised a skeptical eyebrow. “Mutually beneficial? Well I’ve got one thing to say, Seto... The sex must be great.”
In an uncharacteristically charitable gesture, Seto ignored him.
The two men rode an escalator up to the second floor, and walked through the crowd until they reached a small, tidy-looking jewelry store. “Why did we have to come here?” Mokuba grumbled. “The Kaiba name has power, and we’re obscenely wealthy - couldn’t you just have called in an order?”
“I know the owner.” Seto said tersely. “He’s been retired for about twelve years and he only works on a few, select pieces himself. It’s best to see him in person.”
They walked in and were immediately greeted by a thin, greasy-looking salesman. Mokuba didn’t bother listening to the exchange, and only barely noticed when a small, elderly looking gentleman walked out of the back room.
“I’ll see you at the car, Seto,” Mokuba said, having no interest in talking business. “Call me if you can’t find me.” He walked out of the store with a swagger, leaving Seto alone with the clerk and the owner.
“You’ve come for something special then, have you?” Seto nodded and the man seemed to smile. He put a velvet box on top of the counter. “Here - have a look at these pieces then. My very finest.” He opened the case, and three rows of dazzling jewelry winked back at all those gazing at them. “All right sonny,” the man said, rubbing his wrinkled hands together. “Let’s see if you’ve got a good eye.”
Seto scanned the array of necklaces, bracelets and rings casually. Jacqueline preferred gold, he knew, so... Something tasteful and elegant... Maybe with diamonds, and...
His eye caught on a silver necklace with a brilliant blue sapphire and Jacqueline flew right out of his head.
Immediately, he thought of Anzu. And he promptly berated himself for it. He wasn’t supposed to be thinking of her! He had begun seeing Jacqueline to try and get the dancing minx out of his head. He had forbidden himself from thinking about her; he didn’t even allow her to be spoken of. Mokuba thought it was due to pure hatred, but... Seto didn’t hate her. In fact, he was a bit more interested in her than he cared to admit. But she was betrothed! Ahh, he could have kicked himself a thousand times - he should not be thinking about her! They had shared one meaningless moment - just one! And he hadn’t thought of her before that moment, and he certainly shouldn’t be thinking about her after it.
He had... He had Jacqueline. No, he didn’t love her, but she was brilliant and beautiful and her father was one of the most prestigious businessmen in all of France. They made a perfect match - he was lucky to have her. At least that’s what everyone had told him, over and over again. He supposed they were correct. Jacqueline was beautiful, rich, well-connected, intelligent... In fact, the woman was as near to perfect as a human could be. She put up with Seto’s arrogance, she knew how to be discreet, she was strong-willed enough to keep from getting walked on... Any man, even one like Kaiba Seto, would be lucky to have her.
So why did another woman invade his mind so often?
He blinked and his eyes shot over to another piece in the case. As long as he avoided the sight of the sapphire, he would be fine and Anzu would leave his mind completely. Except she didn’t. And though he wouldn’t admit it, she wouldn’t leave his mind no matter what he did. His fingers ran over the silver chain of the necklace. No matter what he did...
It would be so easy to buy both the sapphire necklace and a necklace of gold for Jacqueline. It would be too easy. He could own them both with no trouble at all, with barely any sort of dent in his wallet. It was greedy, he knew, but he longed for them. The safety and certainty of a future with Jacqueline, and the wild warmth and passion he knew came with Anzu.
“This one,” he said decisively, pointing to a tasteful gold necklace with a pendant made of three diamonds.
The old man smiled and nodded. “Yes, excellent choice.” He looked to the cashier. “Give him whatever he wants. Prices should be in the book.” And after his final word, he creaked back into his dark room nestled in the back of his shop.
Seto watched as the clerk took out the necklace and laid it on some white tissue paper. Jacqueline deserved his whole heart and mind, not just a portion. Guiltily, he looked at the other pieces. “Wait,” he told the clerk sharply, “I’d like...” He pointed to another necklace. “I’d like that piece as well.” He saw a ring, set with two diamonds and an emerald. “And that ring as well.”
The clerk’s eyes widened, but he said nothing. “All right, sir, if that’s what you want.”
As the jewelry for Jacqueline was being wrapped up, Seto picked up the necklace with the sapphire that reminded him so much of her. For a moment, he hesitated.
“Excuse me, sir,” the clerk said. “Would you... Will you be purchasing that as well? It’s...” He cleared his throat, trying to be tactful. “Well, sir, it’s very expensive and you have such a... large tab already.”
Seto glared at him angrily. His eyes shot blue fire and the clerk trembled under the dark, angry gaze. “I assure you, I can pay it. In fact, if I so chose, I could purchase this whole damn store.” His hands clenched into fists. “However, I’m not feeling particularly avaricious. For now, my greed has been checked.” His eyes narrowed and his piercing gaze sharpened. “Ring me up. Now.”
“Of course, sir,” the clerk said obligingly, breaking out into a cold sweat at such a frightening customer. The total was as high as the clerk had warned, but as Seto had known he could, he paid it with ease.
Taking the bag full of black velvet boxes, he stormed out of the store, cursing his own greed with every step.
Necklaces and rings were one thing, but just because he had a stone that reminded him of Anzu didn't mean he was any closer to the woman herself. It was a meaningless gesture anyway - he had Jacqueline and no matter how much he might long for Anzu, he was happy with Jacqueline. She was the real thing, she would be there when his silly crush had abated, and she was worth all the money he had spent on the jewelry. He had done that for her because he genuinely cared about her, not because he felt guilty about - what did Mokuba call it? - mind-cheating on her. Even if it was an enormous sum...
“Jacqueline,” he murmured to himself as he headed to find Mokuba, “you had better appreciate this.”
~~~
Previous ♥ Next