Close enough

Five years.
Five years since I stopped working for Kaiba Corp and started my own company.
Pro Assist, a company dedicated to the training and guiding of personal assistants for corporations, show business or independent businesses.
Five eventfull years.
I can't help but smile as I pour myself a glass of red wine, Chardonnay, courtesy of my employees for our 5 year existence.
Gifts from employees. Seto would have a fit.
I once gave him a birthday card when I was still working for him and he looked at me like I'd just told him the Dark Magician was serving the macaroni special in the company cafeteria.
He's always been a strictly business type of man. Never showing any emotion, not even the faintest glint. Except that one time, over five years ago.

'I'm sorry Mr. Kaiba, I can no longer stay in your employment.' Loraine tried to keep a straight face, but inside she was close to tears, unable to believe she had just spoken the words that would end the only part of her life she was actually proud of.
Kaiba's face, however, remained straight and his ice cold stare ran her through, sending shivers down her spine.

'I see.' Was all he said.

'I will stay on until a suitable replacement has been found and trained.'

'That won't be necessary.'

'I... beg your pardon?'

'You can leave right away. You'll be paid full until the termination of your contract and you will receive compensation for your period of unemployment.'

'Wait...you're firing me?'

'I am. You may go now.'

Loraine couldn't believe what had just happened. So it's true what they say, He is ruthless.
She let the anger set in briefly until it dawned on her.
'I must have hurt him real bad.' She thought.

She went to leave the room, but before she closed the door behind her she turned to look at the CEO on last time.
'Thank you Mr. Kaiba. It was an honour to work for you. Goodbye.'

I'll never forget the look in his eyes when I told him goodbye.
I definitely wasn't his favourite person in the world at that time.
But in that sea of resentment, I also saw the slightest glint of pain. And that was something no one had ever witnessed.
I'd hurt him bad. Cut him to the core of his soul. But I never realised how hard it had been on him until exactly five years ago today.
I was closing up shop after my first day as owner and Senior Manager of ProAssist.
I'd spent an extra hour or so cleaning up after our little office party and all my employees had gone home already.
I excited the small building I'd bought on Shepperd. I'd just locked the door and put the keys in my purse, when I found myself, stuck in the rain, between a Locked door and Seto Kaiba.

Loraine's heart stopped as she stared into the all too familiar azure eyes of her former employer. The rain was coming down hard and even though he was soaked, his dark brown hair, framing his handsome face in wet, dripping tendrils, he was still the most beautiful creature Loraine had ever seen.
She felt uneasy, cornered, but she couldn't deny the fact that she was happy to see him again.
It felt like hours passed before she finally found the courage to speak.

'Mister Kaiba. Long time no see.' She said, quietly, her voice sounding hoarse with emotion.

'Cut the small talk Loraine. That's not why I'm here.'

'Still gets straight to the point every time.' Loraine couldn't help but smile a little at this thought.

'Then why are you here? What business do you have with a former employee, whom you yourself fired. I am right to assume this visit is strictly professional?'

'Enough.'

Loraine had been casually teasing him but when she saw his reaction, her heart ached. This was not the cold, unscarred CEO she had left behind. Before her stood a hurt man. A man who had spent a great deal of time looking for something he had lost, without knowing what it was.
His once vibrant blue eyes were now dull and tired. His face was much paler then it used to be and there was light stubble on his gorgeous face, giving him a rough look.
She let him continue.

'I'm tired, Loraine. I'm tired of feeling like this. I've been a wreck, hardly sleeping, not being able to concentrate. I can't stop thinking about you and I hate it. Ever since you left, I've felt like this and I want it to stop. You're the big expert on human emotions, so you tell me. What the hell is wrong with me?'
He sounded tired, broken, at wits end. This was not the man Loraine once knew.

'I think I know.' She whispered.
'And it's my fault. I'm sorry.'

'I'm going to need more than an apology, Loraine. How can I make it stop?'

Loraine chuckled slightly.
'He might not look like himself anymore, but he still sounds the same.' She thought.

'You had your heart broken.' was her simple reply.

This startled Kaiba. He had heard Mokuba going on about it once. How he had been inlove with a girl and how she'd broken his heart. He had spent a lot of days shuffling through the mansion like a zombie. Seto had told him to get a grip and let it go. There was no way something a silly and non-existent as love could have such an effect on a person.
And now...he had experienced it firsthand.

'Impossible. There is no way! No way such silly things can have this effect on me! You're wrong, it's something else!' Kaiba shook his head in disbelief. Yes he had cared for Loraine, maybe even loved her, but even though she'd left, he was not fazed by it. It didn't bother him. Just like business, you win some, you lose some.

'I'm sorry Mister Kaiba. That's what it is. And I'm sorry I putt you through it.' Loraine's voice trembled. She felt so horrible, so guilty for doing this to him. Of course she still cared. How could she not? No one had touched her in a way that Seto Kaiba had. She spent years working by his side. He had confided in her and relied on her. They had so many wonderful times together and the night of the Charity ball had never left her thoughts. She knew she'd done the right thing by leaving him. She needed to be strong, independent. Her career needed to come first. She didn't need love.
How wrong she was.

'I refuse to believe that you could have such an effect on me.' Kaiba spat
'After what you did, I should hate you. Despise you! And here I am, freezing down to my bones in the pouring rain! For you!'

'Indeed. And why is that?'

'Because I l-'
Had he almost said it? Had he almost said the word, his adoptive father had told him meant nothing in the world?
'Maybe not in your world, you insane bastard, but it's about time it started to mean something in mine...' Kaiba thought bitterly.

'Loraine. Why did you leave?'

There it was. The question Loraine had been asking herself for about a year now. Why did she leave?

Because you wanted to be independent!! You had goals! Your Career is what matters and you were just going to throw it away for something as silly as love!

But he cared..

No he didn't! Why would he?! You were just his assistant! Nothing more!

Was she?

'I...don't know. I suppose I fooled myself in to thinking I couldn't be the professional I always strove to be if I stayed. And I couldn't stay. No matter how much I wanted to.'

'Why?'

'Because I swore never to get involved with an employer. And not only did I get involved, I fell in love with you.'
Loraine could no longer keep the tears from running down her face, though they went unnoticed among the many raindrops.

'You...loved me...'
This was something new for Kaiba. He had never heard anyone but his brother say those words to him and to be honest...he liked it.

'I did...and I think I still do.'

That did it. Kaiba grabbed Loraine's arm and pulled her close. His hands went up and snaked into her wet auburn hair.

'I don't know what you did to me Loraine.' He breathed
'I cared for you. Deeply. But I never thought I could...love. For me, love was an illusion. Nothing more then a game I refused to play. But now I realise, I really was in love. And I think I still am. I don't know what you did to me that caused me to feel like this. But I like it.'

With those words said, the soaking CEO pressed his lips on to Loraine's, kissing her with a passion that had been suppressed for over a year. And she returned the kiss.
After what seemed to be an eternity they parted, breathing heavily.

'I know you swore never to be involved with an employer like that, Loraine. But if I recall correctly, I fired you.' Kaiba said as his arms snaked around her waist.

She smiled at him.
'You did, didn't you?'

'I can't believe I'm about to say this but...I ...love you, Loraine McEnly. Will you give me a chance?'

A shrill ringing brought the young CEO of ProAssist back to reality. She leaned over to the intercom and pressed a button.
'What is it, Felicia?'

'Your husband is on line 2, Mrs Kaiba.'

Loraine smiled as she thanked her assistant and picked up the receiver.
She leaned back in her chair, while gently swirling the wine in her glass.

'Hello darling. I was just thinking about you...'

Aaaaaah!! Finished!!! I can't believe I actually finished one!!!
And what an ending o.O
Anywhoooo sorry it took so long everyone but I've been very busy!!!
I'm working now. Yup, 7h30 till 16h00 every day. And I moved to Scotland, did I mention that XD
So yeah lot's to do!!! But here's the happy ending, like everyone requested. I guess you all thought poor Seto deserved some happiness in his life right?
Well I hope you all enjoyed the story and the way it ended. I might write a fic about the years between Loraine's depart and the ending of this fic. Might. I'm working on a novel and a play as well and I still haven't had time to discover merry ol' Scotland!

So peace out to y'all and thank you sooo much to everyone who's stuck with me and reviewed over all this time.
And a special thanks to my girl, Lady Midday, for poking me to finish and for the ever wonderful brainstorm sessions.

Oh and cookies for all ^^