Kurosava looked at Ethan as he signed the files he got "Not this one. I told them to change this. I'm not accepting anything vulgar like this" Ethan said.

"I personally like this idea though"
"I'm the businessman here" Ethan said.
"Yes."

"You may leave now" Ethan said as he got up and wore his coat.
"Are you heading out?"
"Yes" Ethan said "Kirito, you should take some rest. You're overworking nowadays" Kurosava said "It's fine. I'm paid for working"

"But still, you should listen to me, Kirito" Kurosava said. "Sora, get me the files by night. I'll be at the ramps till then. Today's the first show of the new season. Make sure nothing goes wrong" Ethan said "Yes sir" Sora said.

"Kirito" Kurosava said "Oh! I'm sorry. I didn't realize you were an expert for my life! I'd ask you to continue so that I could take notes. But currently I'm busy, you should be too. You're paid too afterall" Ethan said with a smile.

Kurosava just stared at him with a smile. Ethan smiled back and left the office. Kurosava crushed the files in his hand as he watched Ethan leave and close the door.

'You again closed the door for me!' He thought while gritting his teeth

Kurosava walked towards his office and sat on the chair. He looked into his computer. He seemed angry as he typed on the keyboard "This isn't where I belong... That brat... He's bossing over me" He mumbled.

"You think I'm funny? My abilities surpass you on so many grounds! I will put you to your place. Just wait till tonight. This will be a fashion show you'll remember forever when your reputation sinks down on that filthy red ramp"

Maya stood on the ramp with a fancy lingerie, a magician hat and heels. "Okay everyone! Final practice! The president will be watching this time! Don't mess up!" The manager shouted on the mike.

"The pres?" Maya said with a smirk. She looked over the other models standing beside her. Ethan stood at the corner of the entire audience hall and shared a conversation with the make up artist.

She got down from the ramp and ran towards him. She hugged him from behind and whispered in his ear "Pre- si- chan~"

(Note- Chan is a Japanese honorific)

Ethan shouted and moved away as he covered his ear. She smiled and said "You're sensitive on your ears!"
"Get lost! Go practice!!" Ethan said as he turned red. "You'll watch me?"
"I'll watch everyone!"

"Okay." She ran back and climbed the ramp. Ethan turned towards the make up artist.
"How is she doing?" He asked.
"She's quite playful and never on time. Disturbs everyone in the makeup room and doesn't sit still a moment"

"We should throw her out--"
"But, she's pure talent. She seems natural. None of our experienced models has a presence so strong as this rookie. And she's got the charms" The manager said.

Ethan smirked "I will decide that"

"Un deux trois quatre!" The head manager shouted. Maya was doing the opening act followed by the others. She waved her hands as she walked confidently on the ramp "Wow, she's talented alright" Ethan said.

Then she looked at him and passed him a flying kiss "Somebody kill her right this instant" He said as he turned back.

Practice continued while Ethan worked around with the others. Vivian got on the backstage. "Vivian! You're here!" Ethan said with a smile as he stood before her.

"Yes. But, why have you called me here?" Vivan asked.
"You once asked me why is everything so organised for mere lingerie. Today, you'll see that live" Ethan said.
Vivian smiled "Well, I'm excited"

'No that's not the reason. That's obviously a lie since you're idiotic enough to still not get it. I just can't leave you home alone at night' Ethan thought as he turned back.

The musicians in the background took a seat as people began entering and filling the seats. At eight, the lights and cameras were set and the crowd was ready.

Ethan sat in the VIP section with Vivian "Musicians?"

"It's been a tradition in Belleneé to play music live rather than playing a recording"
"I see."

Suddenly, the sound manager ran towards him "Sir!" Ethan stood up and went towards a corner. Vivian looked at him.
"What is it?" Ethan asked.
"Sir, the vocalist isn't here yet. He isn't even picking up his phone! We can't contact him!" He said while breathing heavily from all the running he had done.

"Why didn't you tell me before?! The show starts at 8:05! It's barely five minutes!" Ethan said.
"We went to his home to get him but it's locked! What should we do?!" The manager said. "Eat my ass!" Ethan looked angry as he walked to the backstage with the manager following him.

He reached the backstage and opened the door. The models stood in a line setting up their dresses. It was loud until they saw Ethan and turned quiet. "Which one of you can sing?" Ethan asked.

Nobody answered "What's the matter, sir?" Sora asked.
"We don't have a singer, dammit!" Ethan shouted. Everyone started taking and panicking. Maya looked here and there.

"I can't just move on the instruments. It's too plain and boring" One of them said.
"Pres! Please do something!" The make up artist said."I--"

"I will sing" Everyone turned back "Vivian!" Ethan said and Maya looked at him "I can do it. And right now, only I can do it" Vivian said. Nobody said a word.
"Vivian to save the day!" Maya finally shouted "Or night... Our knight in shining armour is here!"

"You know what's funny? Not you-- Shut up!" Ethan said and walked to Vivian. "Can you really do it?"

"If it's for you, then why not? There's no other way, Ethan" He pressed her hand on his face "Let me go" Vivian said. Ethan looked at her in a daze "...Good luck" He said "Yay! Can I please have a drink?"

"Drink?"

Kurosava sat inside his mansion while looking at the chandeliers "I could've had that position. This is my sister's company. She promised me I'd inherit it. Then why?" Kurosava said as he looked at his half filled red wine glass.

"Kirito, you think you can handle a company by yourself? You're just 22. You're too young for all that pressure! We should think about it" Kurosava, 28 years old then, said as he looked at Kirito dress up in a coat. He walked towards Kirito and pressed his hands on Kirito's shoulders.

"You're naive, Kirito. There are wolves out there you know. That is a dangerous world. You should probably wait to get all mature. Till then, uncle will handle everything"

"Mom has chosen me to handle her company" Kirito said as he fixed his tie while looking into the mirror. His voice was expressionless, just like his face.

"Oh that's just a mother's love. You know love is blind" He said with a smile.
"Yes, but hate isn't" Kirito said. "What?" Kurosava said. Kirito turned back with a smile "Mom...

Hates you, doesn't she?"

"Damn you" Kurosava said as he squeezed the wine glass and it broke into pieces. The red wine and his blood mixed together and dropped on the floor through his fingers.

"You brat. You've always looked at me with those condescending, impudent eyes." Kurosava said and began laughing "But finally I've realized that those eyes are nothing but just eyes that carry vulnerability of your past, Ethan Evaganza."

He remembered how that one night on Kirito's 23rd birthday, he drunk a lot. That Kirito who wasn't a light drinker was drunk, thanks to that drug. And Kurosava made sure that only he sat beside him as he babbled.

"They got my death..." Kirito mumbled as he pressed his head on the table.
"What do you mean?" Kurosava asked as he pressed his head.

"Vivian Garnette, I hate her. Everything is a mess because she exists" Kirito said.
"Mess? What are you saying, Kirito? Our company sales have only rosen up"
"That's the point. Kirito is dead. It's me, Ethan Evaganza, who lives" Kirito passed out.

"Thank you, Kirito. That much information was enough of an inoculum for me to began my part of work. And if I prove that he's not the Kirito which people think he is, then I'll have everything I want. This company, why only this company, when I can have both? The entire Belleneé productions and Baleneé studios will be mine.

All I need to know, is who is this brat and where did they find him. Because the real Kirito is obviously dead. I just need a hint to put together this puzzle."

        
- To be continued

My Heart Hates Me
Because I love you