Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ An Exile's Stone Heart ❯ An Exile's Stone Heart II ( Chapter 2 )

Author's Notes: Wow, I know it's been a long time, but to tell the truth, I didn't think anyone would review this, or like it for that matter. What a surprise it was for me to discover people actually enjoyed this. Like I said in the last chapter, this is angst, and pretty much unhappy for our favorite blondes. Don't expect any happy-go-lucky nonsense here. Er… this is an AU, in case I didn't mention, and I don't know if I will add Yugi and Co., unless you guys want me to. If you do, say so in the reviews, or email me. J

Disclaimer: Yugioh belongs to other people!

An Exile's Stone Heart

Chapter Two: Twenty-three and so tired of life, such a shame to throw it all away…

Mai just couldn't understand what exactly was so special about Joey Wheeler. They slept together, and as decided between the two, there would be a strict 'no strings, no rings' policy. They weren't a couple, and there was no need to feel anything more than an attraction fro him. They were just colleagues. Nothing more and nothing less was her motto when it concerned Joey Wheeler, but lately, she had been feeling different. Mai didn't feel as if she wanted more from their "relationship" but there was something else. She dressed quickly, wanting to leave the brownstone as quickly as possible. They always had their rendezvous at his home. There was no way he was coming to her place.

That was just one of the many rules they had concocted for each other. If either of them violated any of the rules, their relationship would dissolve completely. She knew she was playing with fire, and she could accept that. If she wanted her plan to go through safely without a hitch she would have to lie, cheat, and steal. That was something she was well educated in; ruthlessness. The corporate world was everything media, television, and movies made it to be. There were no sunshine happy endings. When a company got taken over, so did its denizens. It was very much like those sayings 'kill or be killed.' When your ass was on the line, you did desperate things. Mai frowned, annoyed with where her mind had been going lately.

Joey was just a play thing, and she was the same to him. That was all they would ever be to one another. She had no reason to feel guilty or ashamed about anything. After all the shady under-the-table dealings Joey had made that ruined some of her business dealings, she would get the last laugh. She'd screw him, and he'd be left to pick up the pieces. It was all a game, everything was a game.

"Let's see who has the last laugh you fucking bastard."

Mai spat bitterly as she wove in and out of traffic. At least there were some perks to working in the city. To say that hated Joey would be an understatement. She hated him with practically every fiber of her being. She hated his smile, she hated his eyes, and most of she hated his heart. She hated what he did to her, and she hated that she still found him irresistible. She also hated herself a little as well for sleeping with him. He was her rival in the corporate world, and yet here she was sleeping with him.

Of course love was a tow way street, but then again they had no love for one another. Aside from an animalistic attraction to one another, there was no shared affinity towards one another. She found his jokes tired and boring, and him to be an arrogant bastard. He was going to meet his downfall if she had any say, and she would be the one initiating the act. She was going to watch him fall from grace again, this time hoping he never stood up again.

Her coworkers liked to say they were fucking for the mere product it would bring. A means to an end they had said. Damn those bimbos if they were right. Mai wouldn't be telling them that they actually were correct, and the only reason she was messing around with him at all was for the gain it gave her. They liked to share secrets, almost like insider trading, but the benefit for them was that they couldn't get caught. Both of them were shifty as hell, and could be as classy or as smarmy as they wanted.

"Almost there."

Mai said aloud as she saw the complex in which her firm was housed. For six years Mai had been a member of the internationally recognized LaBeouf Finance Inc., a conglomerate that did litigation for many other companies. Her company was pretty much the pimps of the Japan. It was their responsibility to collect monetary fees from the companies they kept from going under, while pocketing the cash for their services. There was something very refreshing about making money and keeping it all for yourself.

Yet that had been her problem. She had chosen to become a fool for Joey Wheeler, only to see it blow up in her face. Never again would she allow herself to be strung along by anyone, especially him. Mai clutched the wheel so tightly that her knuckles became white. She released her death grip on the steering wheel, and turned into the parking lot. She got premium parking of course, with a special name designed for her services. No one was to park in her spot. She made sure that rule was enforced. If anyone didn't adhere, she would see that the person's car was impounded.

As she stepped out, already her assistant was waiting for her with her clipboard ready, and bright smile on her face. Lila Hu was a well to do woman with big aspirations, and lots of drive. She was older than Mai, but they were very good friends. Lila had three children, and her husband made a lot of money, so she didn't mind not being placed higher during promotions season. This was like a part time job for her. Mai smirked at the woman thirteen years older than herself, locked her car, and they entered the elevator.

"Did you have any success with getting information out of Wheeler?"

Mai smirked at the older woman, checking her make up on the elevator wall's reflection.

"Of course I did, although, I'm going to have to arrange our rendezvous at another locale next time."

Mai said yawning softly.

"Mai sweetheart, one day you are going to have to stop trading information that way."

"I know, but that takes the fun out of everything."

Lila chuckled, and they exited the elevator heading towards Mai's corner office.

"Oh yeah… Mai? The boss wants to see you pronto."

Lila said checking her clipboard, and adjusting her handless phone. She backed away still checking her day planner.

"Something about the Myers account."

Mai groaned, and waving Lila off heading into her office. The Myers account was the most difficult account that she had to deal with this year. It was usually reserved as grunt work, but her boss, had requested her to work on it, and the client. There was no way to get out of doing it. Mai opened her door, and was unhappy with the face she saw there. Before she could say "Get out" or "I'm calling security", she found herself in a lip lock with the last person she'd wanted to kiss. She pushed the annoying man away and glared daggers of hatred. Mai kneed the young man unceremoniously in the groin, before sitting gracefully in her leather swivel chair.

Footnotes: That is it! I hoped you liked it. Anyway, next chapter, I will say why Joey hates Mai, and vice versa. Who is this mysterious man and why is he in Mai's office? What's so bad about the Myers account? What does Mai have up her sleeve, and why does she want to see Joey's downfall? If you want to see Yugi and company in this story at all, let me know when you review.

-Shanni