My Perfect Lady 79 Pride, Impression And Power

What had happened?

Albeit Miya remembered the last time she had met the Chairman of the Hunter Corporation, his creepy kite, the man with the slingshot, the possum Mochi, and the ridiculous trick that the old man had pulled off on her by stealing a kid's pet. But she couldn't muster even an ounce of indignity or fury, not even when she reminded herself of all his acts.

That gaze of his held power. And the man was oozing it from every inch of his body.

All Miya could feel was fear.

Simon coughed.

When he spoke, his voice was tough.

"Left before a store. Handed over a pouch. What do you think the packet has?"

Huh?

Miya looked at the old man gormlessly her eyes never leaving his, even when her neck began to hurt from the strain of looking up.

"I don't repeat myself, young lady. I don't like it."

Although the words had been said in pleasantry, Miya thought they held the undertone of a threat. Her mind reacted before her body could, and she rewinded the question in her head.

Before even a second had pa.s.sed, she yelled out loud, "Cas.h.!.+"

Simon Hunter's gaze hardened, and she almost flinched in fear. But then, his steel face broke into a rare smile. The old man grinned, showing pearly white teeth.

Miya wanted to cry in relief.

What an intimidating aura this man had!

She had never, ever felt that fearful of his son!

In that moment, she was a thousand times thankful that Jimmy Hunter was nothing like his father. Well… maybe. She couldn't say for sure.

The man too scared her many times.

She was swept away by her own thoughts, when the old man's voice pierced through her senses again.

"Not bad," he said, "But in this case, it isn't cash."

Swiftly, the Chairman took away the packet from Miya's hand. Miya watched him, fascinated, as he broke open the seal, and retrieved a wallet from inside. Then opening the purse, he took something out.

"It's a card," he said gruffly

Miya's eyes flew open wide, and her jaw dropped as she recognized the Black Luxury Mastercard that Jim had handed over to her when they had just landed to Country S. She remembered leaving it in one of her jeans pocket, and then forgetting all about it…

Wow.

That meant she had been dropped before this store by Jim. Then, why was she suddenly meeting Simon Hunter?

The Chairman saw confusion written over Miya's face. He smirked at the expression, then broke the card into two.

Miya's face was now filled with horror.

The old man barely gave the card another glance as he threw away the pieces of it. Then indifferently, he pocketed the purse that the card had been kept in.

"Don't be too surprised, dear," he said equally nonchalantly, "That card is for losers like your husband."

Miya instantly wanted to retort, but courage slipped from her body sooner than she had mustered it. She grudgingly let it go, wondering how she could escape this situation now. Why had the Chairman chosen to meet her here, and now, and that too when Jim wasn't around?

Her boggled mind was then almost made to blast, when Simon Hunter finally put a large hand on her forehead. He then pushed her head down forcefully, so that she was looking at the front.

"You'll break your neck," the old man chided, and Miya was somehow reminded of his son.

Then, Simon put his hand on the small of her back, and began to push her forward.

Miya gasped.

What? What?

What!

What was he doing?!

She was reluctant to move forward, in fact she wouldn't have, but then the old man pulled another trick. He removed his hand from her back, and put it across her shoulder instead. His hold was formal, nothing inappropriate, and yet it made Miya want to jump out of her skin.

"M-Mr. –" she was about to revolt, when Simon's gruff voice cut her off.

He clenched her shoulder, the hold firm, yet not uncaring, and almost jerked her back so that she was now standing stiffly.

"Always. A straight back, always," he said in a matter-of-fact tone, "It's a signature of pride."

When the old man was a.s.sured that Miya wasn't bending her spine even a bit, he nodded approvingly to himself, and very calmly moved forward in the direction of the store.

All breath left Miya. She could not!

She wanted Jimmy Hunter! Whose back would she hide behind now?!

Simon Hunter breathed beside her, and his hold on her shoulder relaxed. He didn't let go of her completely though. Instead, his next set of instructions came. His voice now, had dropped to a whisper.

"Remember, when I sent that man, the one who used a slingshot?"

Miya's face paled. She was ready to freeze again, and she felt her temper rise despite the fear, when Simon said again, "Recall the look you gave me back then. How did you feel when you figured out it was me who sent him?"

Miya was now thoroughly confused.

What was this man doing?

She did listen to him however, because something in her told her that if she didn't, this man would be more than p.i.s.sed off. Not to mention, he was the Chairman of the Hunter Corporation after all.

So she recalled.

Back then, when she had figured out that the painted man had been sent by Jimmy Hunter's father… she had felt –

"Unimpressed," she muttered in a low voice, causing Simon to beam.

"Now that's my girl," He said, thoroughly happy, and clearly enjoying himself, "Why did you ever marry my idiotic son? But yes, unimpressed. Remember that look. When you look around in the store, no matter what you feel, remember to give every piece of cloth in there that same look."

Ohkay… somehow, Miya felt as if she was undergoing some sort of weird training.

And just then, the two entered the store.

Miya was afraid, and she would have sweat profusely, when the old man's grasp on her shoulder tightened. He whispered, "Relax," and moved forward.

Inside the store, every employee froze.

From the owner, to those presenting the dresses, all looked at the proud man that walked in through the door. It took them only a moment to realize who he was.

Why, it was the Chairman of Hunter Corporation… Simon Hunter himself!

It was as if the realization and the reaction came simultaneously to everyone in the store. The owner rushed to Simon in awe, and the employees gaped from afar.

Even the old man was quite handsome for his age…

It was only when the owner had reached close enough, did he pay any attention to the scrawny girl that Simon Hunter held close to himself. She looked weird in a baggy overcoat, she had a swollen cheek, and her knees were bandaged.

And yet, Simon Hunter himself had never walked into a store before.

The owner looked confused.

The Chairman could read these commoners' expressions like the back of his own hand. He gave the owner a dismissive glance. Then willing Miya forward, he said under his breath.

"Unimpressed, dear. Unimpressed. That just now was a lousy performance!��

Miya was startled, dazzled by the store, but she had noticed the owner's disapproving eyes when he had noticed her. So, for the sake of not spoiling the Chairman's impression at least, she straightened her back, forced a poker face, and glanced around, trying to look unimpressed.

But… no matter what, the place was beautiful!

Simon obviously sensed the situation, so he whispered again, "Not so forced. Think of all these clothes and accessories and humans as weak thugs trying to challenge you. You're stronger than them right?"

Ah, the power of imagination!

Within a second, Miya imagined the room filled with villains of all sorts, who had come to pick a fight. Instantly, her eyes gleamed, and she looked back, amused and obviously, unimpressed.

Simon Hunter grinned.

He liked this girl.

They moved from one dress to another, as the employees and owners didn't dare to approach the two. They had earlier frowned at the girl, but when they saw Simon Hunter point at one gorgeous dress after another, and the girl clearly dismissing them all, they were instantly nervous.

It seemed, they thoroughly needed to impress the girl, if they were going to win a favour with the Chairman!

The owner quickly signalled the employees to approach the girl, and help out.

At the other end, Simon Hunter noticed the buzz that just one look from Miya had caused and smiled at her.

"Not so nervous, now, are you?" he beamed.

Somehow, Miya had completely relaxed. No one was giving her strange looks anymore. And she was thoroughly enjoying the look-unimpressed technique!

She quickly nodded.

"That, dear," Simon said now, "Is called making an impression. Pride, first impression. Now, comes power."

Miya had come to really like what Simon Hunter was teaching her, so she nodded enthusiastically.

The Chairman was satisfied.

"Then look at something in here as if you really like it. Like that creepy dress in the corner. It's a limited edition. Point at it, and give me a smile. And say, 'Father', of course."

Miya frowned at the last statement, and deliberated upon whether to do it or not. Just then, the owner approached them again, and Simon muttered, "Now!"

Miya imagined a Hayabusa in place of the dress, and immediately pointed at it. Then she looked back at the Chairman, and was moved by the gentleness in his eyes. Her smile was simply a reaction, as she said:

"That one, father."

Simon Hunter grinned as well.

Then nodding at her slowly, his entire body oozing warmth, he stretched out his hand and lightly patted her head.

"Of course," he said gently.

Just then, Jimmy Hunter entered the store.