“Ohayo, Sakura-chan,” Sosuke greeted with a warm smile the moment he came in. “I hope I’m not too early.”
Sakura waved his apology aside. “No. I’m usually an early riser. Everything is sorted. Are we leaving now?”
“Traffic is only going to get worse,” he said.
“Yes, that is true.” Sakura rushed over to pick up Toby. “This is Toby, my dog. Are you sure it’s okay for me to take him with me?”
Sosuke laughed. “Oba-chan loves dogs. I’m okay with it. This one isn’t very active, is he?”
At this comment, Sakura glanced at Toby. Sure enough, the dog didn’t look very excited about anything, which was unusual for him. A worried frown appeared on Sakura’s face, and she told herself she’d have to take the dog to see the vet once everything was sorted.
She gave the dog an affectionate pet, then turned to Sosuke. “Shall we?”
At Sosuke’s nod, they left the gallery, Sosuke carrying the heavier baggage.
They arrived at the apartment within thirty minutes, thanks to Sosuke’s expert driving skills and the not-so-heavy traffic at such an early hour.
“Ohayo,” Akira greeted Sakura the moment the girl stepped into the apartment. “Oh my God, what a beautiful dog!” She rushed over to Sakura and begged for the dog before Sakura could put her bag down. When she handed the sleepy Toby over to her, Akira giggled and stroked the pup. “Oh, you’re so sweet and cute and white and fluffy.”
“There she goes again,” Sosuke commented.
Haruka appeared with a broad smile on her face. Without even a good-morning, the woman surprised Sakura by giving her a tight hug.
“Did you sleep well?” Haruka asked.
Sakura nodded, feeling a little overwhelmed that these people were so nice to her. They reminded her of Daddy James and Mom Brenda, and her heart constricted at the thought of her adoptive parents.
Akira frowned and uttered, “What’s the matter?”
Sakura quickly shook her head. “It’s nothing.” With Haruka’s concerned look, she confirmed, “It’s been a while since anyone has been so nice to me.”
At this, Haruka smiled with understanding. Akira laughed and said, “Sakura-chan, you’re making Sosuke blush.”
Sosuke frowned at his sister. Akira ignored the dark look her brother gave her. “Come on. I’ll show you to your room.”
Sakura was more than pleased the moment she saw her room. It was designed in such a way that was both modern and classic at the same time, with a sort of oriental style pastel wallpaper, chandelier, soft warm-toned carpet, and a low wooden Japanese-inspired bed.
“It’s beautiful.”
“Of course it is,” Akira said. “Suits you perfectly.”
Sakura placed her belongings on the floor and thanked Haruka once again for being so considerate. After she’d finished putting her clothing and other personal accessories into drawers, Haruka and Akira showed her around the apartment and then introduced her to the Japanese housekeeper and maid. Then she spent the day with the two women as they introduced her to her new job as Haruka’s personal assistant, which Sakura quickly learned and found she rather liked quite a lot.
It was after dinner and they were having a lovely tea when Sakura asked what else there was in this building.
Akira said, “There’s the gym, the pool, and a beautiful garden on the ground floor.”
“What about the one on top?” Sakura asked curiously.
Akira looked uncomfortable and a bright blush appeared on her cheeks. She cupped her hand and bent over so her aunt and brother wouldn’t be able to hear her as she whispered, “Don’t go there. This guy and his brothers live there. The guy is a dragon. Just like Sosuke.”
Akira’s mind flashed back to that day when she’d snuck in to take a peek at the exotic garden. She hadn’t been careful enough and came to face the dragon, Nicolas Princeton. The man was outrageously naked in all his male glory. The only thing he had on him at the time was his glasses.
Akira immediately shut out what happened next and said to Sakura, “I’ll take you for a tour.”
“That would be great,” Sakura replied.
After Haruka had retired to her room for the night, Akira and Sosuke took Sakura out for the promised tour of the building, along, of course, with Toby. The dog was suddenly very excited and barked loudly as he sprinted about.
They came into the gym, and Sakura eyed the place with interest. The room was large, with various types of equipment such as treadmills, rowers, ellipticals, exercycles, and there was even a place for boxing and weightlifting. Next, the siblings showed her to the swimming pool. It was a large area and had a great view of the street across from the building. Sakura was pleased.
“I’m going to come here to swim,” she said.
Toby was running around the large pool, barking loudly. Akira laughed. “Wow! Toby is getting very excited about something.”
Sosuke said, “This pool gets a lot of use. Everyone who lives here loves it. I recommend early morning if you want the place to yourself.”
“That’s how I like my pool,” Sakura said. “The whole place to myself.”
Akira turned to Sakura. “Don’t trust him, Sakura-chan. Early morning is when Sosuke likes to take a swim. I suggest late at night. No one comes here at this time. Like right now.”
Sakura laughed as the siblings began to argue over the subject, and none noticed the barking had stopped and the culprit dog itself was missing. It was when they were at the elevator that Sakura looked about her. “Toby?”
Akira shrieked, “Toby’s gone! Where is he?”
Sakura began to panic. Sosuke suggested, “Let’s split up and look for him. The dog can’t have gone far.”
The girls nodded, and they parted ways. Sakura found herself climbing upstairs, and in the distance, to her relief, she heard Toby barking excitedly. Worried for her beloved dog’s safety, she took two steps at a time, following the sound of the barking. Finally, she pushed open a door and found herself along the corridor she and Jane had been in yesterday. She searched wildly about her, and in the distance, she saw Toby in the private garden, barking at the penthouse.
“Shit!” she muttered under her breath and rushed along the corridor. She cracked the last door open, slid through, and sprinted to the dog. She picked Toby up and told the dog to quiet down. Toby, however, had other plans. The dog kept barking so loud and with so much excitement that Sakura was sure the residents inside would have heard the noise. They would undoubtedly come to investigate any moment now.
A door cracked open. Sakura panicked. She turned on her heel and sprinted back the way she came.
She heard footsteps rushing out into the garden, and Sakura held her breath as she closed the door behind her. Once she knew she hadn’t been spotted, she took in a deep breath, calming her furiously beating heart. She turned her attention to Toby and put a finger to her lips, telling the dog to stop barking.
Toby did and looked at her curiously. He snuggled his head against her chest with affection.
“Why are you so excited all of a sudden?” she asked the dog, stroking him. She returned her attention to the residents within that penthouse, wondering who the dragon and his brothers were. She turned to her right, moving slightly to the window, and was about to take a peek when Toby barked again. She drew back in a flash, knowing the people—yes, she was sure there was more than one now—would surely come her way if she didn’t shut Toby up.
“It’s now or never,” she whispered under her breath, and then, quick as she could, she sprinted across the corridor.
Oh God! She could feel it. The heavy footsteps. They were definitely coming after her. The thought of being caught suddenly felt awfully sickening to her. She just didn’t know why, but she didn’t want to be caught by the people who were running after her.
She slipped through a door and ran down more stairs. Thank God, Toby had stopped his barking. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have escaped. She went through another door and lost them. She sighed with relief, her heart still pumping loud and fast.
“What were you doing, Toby?” she queried the dog. “You could have gotten me into trouble.”
“You found him.” Sosuke’s voice reached her.
Sakura looked up and smiled. “Yes.”
“Good,” he said. “Shall we go?”
“Akira?”
“She’ll find her way back,” Sosuke said.
The two slipped back into the apartment and waited for Akira to return. The woman did about ten minutes later, her face red and her eyes bright.
She came to slump herself on the sofa with a sour expression on her lovely face. It was only when she saw Toby running to her that she smiled once again.
“Toby, I thought we’d lost you.” Then more quietly to herself, she mumbled, “Or that baka dragon of a person had taken you as prisoner.”
“Would you like some coffee, Akira?” Sakura asked.
“Yes, please,” Akira responded, still thinking about her encounter with the Princeton brothers and her stupid fall with Nicolas.
Some minutes later, stars appeared in Akira’s eyes as she sipped Sakura’s coffee. “Wow! It’s the best coffee I’ve ever tasted, Sakura-chan. From now on, you’ll be making coffee for us every day.”
Sosuke, who couldn’t help but smile at the delicious coffee, said to his sister, “You’re a slave driver, Akira.”
Akira glared at her brother, and Sakura laughed.
It was nearly midnight when Sakura, fresh from a shower and in her cozy pajamas, got ready for bed. She lay there staring up at the ceiling, with Toby on top of the duvet by her side, cozily asleep. She thought how nice Lady Haruka, Sosuke, and Akira were to her. For the first time in a long time, she felt right at home. She felt as though she actually belonged here with them. She smiled at that wonderful feeling and slowly drifted off to sleep.