Corliss quietly sat in front of her mirror then tied her hair up in a side ponytail.

"Gross..." she muttered and took the hair tie out. She put her hair up in twin tails. "I look like an outdated high school girl..."

She sighed then took out the hair ties. Maybe she should just let her hair down. She grabbed a bunch of hair and tied it. She turned her head from side to side, satisfied with the look. It then dawned on her that she was changing her usual hairstyle. Why? She shook her head, pushing her thoughts aside. Her phone dinged, signaling she had gotten a message.

"Illumi~!" she said happily. She blinked then slapped her cheeks. Why was she getting happy? "This isn't like me."

She fixed her hair before heading out. She was getting excited for no reason.

____

Corliss held a frilly sleeved shirt against her body then frowned. It was cute, but it didn't look good on her. At least that's what it seemed like to her. She put it back on the rack then sighed. She shouldn't be want shopping when she just quit her job. She reluctantly walked out, remembering why she went out in the first place.

She walked into the supermarket then checked her short list. She just needed things for the house like cleaner. She peeked down the aisles then widened her eyes in surprise.

"Yuya?" she called out.

The man turned his head then quickly walked over to her. Corliss stepped back as he had gotten too close.

"Where were you last night?" he asked worriedly. "Did you get sick?"

"I quit. I can't stand that place anymore." she said, shaking her head.

"Will you be able to survive...? You did say you didn't have another job lined up..." he said worriedly.

"I'll manage. I wouldn't have gotten this far if I was a weak willed bitch." she said with a grin.

"You can depend on me, you know. I'm here for you." he said, holding her hands.

"I'll keep that in mind, Yuya." she said, slowly pulling her hands out of his. "And I still haven't really forgiven you for that night..."

"I was trying to tell you that wasn't how I meant it. I understand that how I said could've been worded better, but I just maybe you'd get a peace of mind being assigned somewhere else." Yuya explained. Corliss simply blinked. "Really, that's all I meant to say."

"But you're still treating me like I'm the problem. Nakamoto is the problem, he should be fired and jailed with the rest of those creeps." Corliss countered, unbelieving of what he was saying. "Why do I befriend the worst people?"

"Liss, just listen." he said, holding her back. "I just want to help you... I want you to be safe too."

"I appreciate the sentiment." she said, brushing him off and walking away.

She thought he had reflected on himself. The men around her were really nothing but a bunch of idiots and perverts.

____

Illumi looked around comparing marble tiles.

"Mr. Zoldyck! We just got word that the wife wants a marble swirl for the kitchen counter." he said holding his phone.

"Really? But then it'll throw everything off. God, what is with people these days? Are they purposely trying to make us look bad?" Illumi seethed. "Tell her if she wants it that bad, she can find another company. I would never betray interior design like this."

"Sir-" he said but Illumi was already out of earshot. "We can't keep going like this..."

Illumi sighed heavily and ruffled his hair. He knew he probably just cost them the job, but he couldn't betray his heart. He couldn't stand the idea of an imperfect interior.

"Sir! I just got off the phone with the wife and she wasn't upset!" said his employee, his face bright. "She said she thought about it and said you had a point. And she'll let you do whatever."

"Really?" Illumi asked in shock.

"She said if it turns out really good, she'll pay a bit more." he said.

"Wow... I was really expecting her to stop working with us. I guess good people do exist..." said Illumi, sighing in relief.

Illumi received a text. He took out his phone as he headed back inside.

____

Corliss stood in front of her mirror, half naked and completely worried about what outfit she would wear. A dress? A skirt? Pants? What did she wear yesterday? Just when all hope felt lost, a garment caught her eye.

"This... this is it!" she exclaimed, hurriedly searching for matching pieces.

Some time passed and she found herself deciding whether to wear a short or long necklace. She ended up going with the pearls, starting to feel giddy inside. Why? She didn't know. She was just meeting a buddy. Maybe it was because not once had he asked about her extremely flat chest or ass. Maybe because he didn't question her not as slender arms.

"It's not bad to show off once in awhile, is it...?" she asked aloud, knowing no one would answer. "I want to show the real me, not who I'm forced to be..."

Her phone buzzed and belted out a generic ringtone. She looked at it before letting her head rest against the surface. Maybe she was overdressed. Her phone stopped ringing. It was probably best she didn't get her hopes up. He would probably show his true colors if she wore a more revealing outfit. Though, it would definitely put her in more trouble than she'd like.

The generic ringtone sounded once more. She quickly changed into something a little more risqué before heading out.

____

Illumi sighed as he waited by his car, sipping on milk tea. Corliss was running late. She finally appeared, out of breath and gasping for air. He offered her some of his tea and she gladly accepted. Illumi quietly looked her over, taking in the short skirt and off the shoulders shirt. It was... different.

"Sorry for being late. I almost left my wallet." she said, finally catching her breath.

"It's fine. It's not like we have a reservation or anything." he said, getting into the car.

She strapped herself in then glanced at Illumi who kept his eyes straight ahead. He hadn't commented on her outfit. She was sure he would. She decided to increase the risqué factor and untied the string on her shirt, exposing some of her chest. She lifted her skirt some, revealing more of her thighs. He had to notice now.

Corliss frowned as Illumi not once looked her way, not even at red lights. Did he figure out what she was planning? They came to a stop at a red light. Illumi looked at her then froze. Was she always showing that much skin? Corliss blinked innocently.

"Is it hot in here? Do you want the A/C on?" he asked, figuring she was trying to make herself cooler.

"Huh? No... I'm fine." she muttered, taking an invisible blow.

The light changed and his attention was back on the road. Corliss sucked it in then reached over and ran her hand over his thigh.

"Are we almost there? Can we take a bit longer...?" she asked, unbuckling her seat belt and leaning in close to Illumi.

Illumi pulled over then put on his hazard lights. He figured something was up and this just proved him right.

"What's going on? Suddenly wearing such an outfit and exposing more skin. Then this whole touching me and getting close? Are you really Corliss...?" Illumi asked, finding this side rather unlike her.

"I am, I am... I was just... I was being foolish." she mumbled, sitting back in her seat. "I was trying to expose you as a pervert..."

"Eh? You thought I was a pervert in disguise?" he asked, offended.

"Can you blame me? I'm not saying I'm not in the wrong, but..." she said then trailed off.

"Corliss, I swear on my life I won't touch you in any way that makes you uncomfortable. I won't force you to do anything either. Just be you." said Illumi.

Corliss's body shook and soon Illumi was being hugged by the teary eyed woman. He gently patted her back, hoping she could relax around him one day. He certainly did find her somewhat pretty, but he really had no ill intentions towards her. To him, she appeared as a plastic flower, shiny and resistant to many things. But after awhile, her shine would dull and that resistance would give way, allowing tears, holes and stains to appear. A part of him wanted to preserve the flower, blocking it from future damage.

____

Corliss happily ate then hurried off to get another plate. Illumi hummed, satisfied in seeing her smiling again. Even if it was only temporary, he wanted her to feel relaxed. It had been a long time since he met such a headstrong woman like Corliss. But something about her made her different from all the others. Her flat chest? Her not as slender body? Her piercing gaze that resembled a beast?

"Illumi, you have to try this." she said happily, sticking fried crab in his mouth.

"I don't like crab..." said Illumi, politely eating what she had fed him. "Feed me something else."

She searched around on her plate then gave him some vegetables. Corliss smiled happily, enjoying their late afternoon meal. How long had it been since she was able to relax around a person without fear of judgement?