Hilde’s Fashion

by Oyuki

Chaper 1

(a year later...)

Duo opened the door to his office only to find Hilde asleep on his desk with her arms pillowing her head.

“Hey, wake up! Wake up!” he said.

“Huh?” she mumbled opening her blue eyes. “What happened?”

“Geez, you’re still here? What are you doing in my office anyway? Shouldn’t you be in yours right through that door?” he asked. He sounded annoyed, very annoyed.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Duo!” she said rubbing her eyes with her hand, “ I was just finishing the report for your father. When I was leaving last night I saw it on the floor and...”

Duo made a face and said, “Yeah, okay...” Wow, she’d actually done something right for a change. Not that she wasn’t a good at her job, it was just that he would never admit to it. What he would admit was that he found her... he struggled to find a correct word for her. Um... ugly. He disliked her because she was ugly.

Hilde quickly left Duo’s chair as he walked around the desk to sit on it. She walked to the other side of the room and opened a door to her office. Well, it looked more like a closet than an office rather than an office, but hey, she had her own office.

“Well, now I have nothing to do for the next,” he looked at his watch, “twenty minutes that I was going to spend doing this report. I’m home free,” he said to himself. He read the report so he wouldn’t look like a complete idiot when he presented it to his father and found that it was surprisingly well done. She knew what she was talking about.

When Duo finally met with Richard Maxwell, he saw right through his son. “Duo, who wrote this for you?”

Dou managed to look hurt and said, “Dad, c’mon! Most of your workers, with the exception of Heero, are completely incompetent. Who could write this besides me; I mean, I researched and--”

“You’re just digging a deeper grave for yourself, son. Now, tell that nice secretary of yours to come see me, please,” Richard said good naturally, as if speaking to a small child.

“Hilde? You want to see HER?” he said narrowing his eyes.

“Duo--” his father warned.

“But dad--” Duo whined.

“Duo, I know you didn’t write this, Hilde did. And you and I both know that she’s overqualified to be your secretary. Now, please tell her I want to see her.”

“Fine, be that way! But I’m not calling her! Get your secretary to call her, I was your errand boy when I was ten, not anymore!” he said before he slammed the door.

He pressed a button on the cradle of his phone and a pleasant female voice answered. “Relena, please call Hilde Schbeker and ask her to come to my office. She’s my son’s secretary.

The door opened and he said, “Ahh, Hilde I wanted to talk to you...”

*~*~*~*

There was a rumor going around Maxwell Fashion. A rumor that had reached Duo Maxwell this morning that hadn’t yet reached Hilde Schbeker.

Duo seethed in anger. There was a wild rage inside of him that if he’d seen Hilde that moment he’d have strangled her!

He sat in his chair, behind his desk, holding his aching head in his hands. It was a bright, sunny Monday morning, and he had a splitting headache. After a night of drinking and partying, and an incredible night with Catherine Bloom, he arrived to work to hear the latest rumor. Usually, he would not pay attention, but he knew this one was real! It wasn’t a fabrication. He was ready to kill!

How could his father do this to him? His only child! The rumor going around was that his father was thinking of retiring, due to his health, and passing control of the company over to... to Hilde! The secretary; his SON’S secretary.

That dumb bitch, how had she managed to gain presidency of HIS company!

He was going to have a talk with is father...

*~*~*~*

Hilde, of course, was clueless to all. She had no idea what was going on. Her days were filled with work and Mr. Duo (as he insisted everyone call him to differentiate him from his father, Mr. Maxwell). She sighed. Her nights were filled with dreams of Mr. Duo.

She sighed again and leaned her head back into her chair. ‘Mr. Duo,’ she thought fondly. There was no denying it now, she was in love with Duo Richard Maxwell. She even thought that little trick his parents had made with his name was cute. He was so handsome, and he seemed so dedicated to his work, and his father’s company. She wondered where he was. He was usually pretty punctual, even if he’d spent the night before partying and drinking.

Hilde sighed a third time and straitened. She knew there was no way Duo would ever notice her. He was handsome, rich, sophisticated, and experienced... in everything. Over the year that she’d worked with him she’d seen him go out with many women. She knew because she’d seen them come and go through his office door. They’d all been different, but they all had had one thing in common. They were beautiful. Oh yes, they had more than that in common. They were all tall, to compliment his 6’4” frame. They’d had blond hair, brown, different shades of red, black hair... the list was endless.

It seemed that his favorite flavor was Catherine Bloom. He’d been out with her more than he had gone out with the others. She was gorgeous. Long legs, a body Hilde wished would come naturally to her, well endowed, auburn hair that curled naturally and eyes... those eyes. Her eyes would make every movie star jealous; they were unmatched.

Yes, it hurt her but she knew she would never have him.

*~*~*~*

“... I don’t understand why you’re doing this? The presidency should be mine, I’m your son, your heir! Why are you giving it to her?” yelled Duo at his father. The rumor was true. His father was giving Hilde Schbker the presidency of the company, and making his son vice-president.

“Duo, if you calm--”

“Is the bitch fucking you?”

“Watch your language, Duo!” Mr. Maxwell as he stood up to face his fuming son.

“Well, is she? I find no other reason as to why you are doing this! I mean, it’s not as if she was anything else going for her, she’s probably really good at giving he--”

“I told you to watch your language! No, she is not doing anything for me. I just think she is better at managing herself, and it will only be for three years. It will be in her contract, she’ll step down as president then you will get the position. Then she can either become vice-president or leave the company. It’s so you will gain experience--”

“Dad, it’s not as if she’d that much older than me--”

“She’s not, she’s your age. She has your same birthday in fact--”

“Dad, come on! You will embarrass me and when I do become president then other companies won’t trust me. I mean, they’ll think that you didn’t leave me the presidency because I’m stupid or something! Argh! I can’t talk to you anymore!”

Richard only shook his head. This was the reason he wanted Hilde to be president before him, she would show him the ropes and when he was ready he would take the reins.

Disclaimer: Do I really have to say it? I thought so... NO THEY ARE NOT MINE!

AN: Did you guys get the catch with Duo’s name? If you didn’t it’s like this: Duo means two, and his middled name is Richard... get it? Cheesy but kinda cute! You’ve, hopefully, the warnings on the other chapters, I don’t want to write them again.

Chapter 2

Over the next month, Duo thought of ways to go around what his father had said. He’d tried to talk to him and all sorts of things. But, he was unyielding. So, Duo had found a way to get around all that. He’d devised a plan that would surely secure him the reins of his grandmother’s company. He would do anything, ANYTHING, to get presidency of this company.

Duo smirked.

Agent’s name: Duo Maxwell

Mission: Seduction, impossible? mmm... maybe, but he’d give it a shot. It wouldn’t hurt him.

Duo smirked again and leaned against his chair staring at his friend Heero.

“You’re serious?” he asked.

“Yup.”

“I wouldn’t recommend it. There’s no guarantee she’ll fall for it...”

“She will. I’ll just put the old Maxwell charm to work and she’ll be putty in my hands. You’ll see, give me... let’s say a month?” he said with a smile on his handsome face. He was going to have fun with this.

“Fine, but don’t say I didn’t warn you,” Heero said amused.

“Care to place a small wager?” Duo asked raising an eyebrow.

“Hmm... I don’t know. What are the terms? And for that matter, what could I possibly get from this?”

“I get her to refuse my father’s offer by going out of a few dates, kiss her. If I win you will take Relena to a... a bar-- a Karaoki bar and sing her a cheesy love song!” finished Duo triumphantly.

“I gotta what?” asked Heero incredulously.

“You heard me, and you gotta kiss her. That girl’s been after you since she met ya, man. AND she’s not so bad looking.”

“Fine, but I have some conditions of my own. You gotta sleep with... well you know who.”

“Hell no! No fucking way!”

“No deal then. Plus, I’ll go tell your father what your planning.” Heero could be so bad sometimes. He could be cruel and harsh when he wanted to be. He smiled a sinister smile. Hn, just the way he’d been with poor little Relena. He’d slept with her then the next day he made sure she found him with Sally Po, the nurse. It’d been cruel, but it was funny as hell, and exciting to see how he had made Relena do anything he wanted her to.

“Earth to Heero! Hello! Come in Heero!” yelled Duo and waved his hands in front of his friend’s face.

He shook his head and snapped out of his reverie. “Take it or leave it, Duo,” he said.

“No, there’s no way I’m sleeping with that freak--”

“Duo, Duo, Duo, you and I are alike; that’s why we’re best friends. We both know what the other is capable of...”

“I’ll go as far as making out with her-- in my car!” tried Duo.

“Sleep with her,” Heero said again.

“Heero--”

“Come on, Duo. It’ll be just like when we were younger. We could see how far you can make her go.”

Duo wanted to say no, but the thrill of the hunt excited him. Even if the prey wasn’t very appetizing. He thought about it for a few more moments before he said, “You have yourself a deal, Mr. Yuy, but what’s in it for you?”

“The fact that I’ll know that you slept with her...,” there was a long pause before he said, “and a tape of the whole thing...”

Duo shook his head, but still they shook hands.

Chapter 3

The next day Duo made sure he arrived earlier than Hilde. He sat on his chair and tried hard not to laugh. He practiced things he could say when she came in. When she did come in Duo smiled.

“Hello, Hilde,” he said pleasantly.

Hilde was taken aback. He never said hello to her. It took her a few seconds to reply with, “Good morning, Mr. Duo.”

“My, you’re looking well this morning, Hilde. Had a good night?” he asked with a big smiled plastered on his face.

Hilde was confused. Mr. Duo was never this... this nice to her. “Are-- are you okay, Mr. Duo?” she asked warily.

“Oh, I’m fine, fine! And call me Duo. I mean, we’ve been working together for a year now!” Duo was enjoying this. He was very interest in how far he could take this. How far would Hilde go for him? He smiled again. He would definitely enjoy the game he was playing.

“But, Mr. Duo, I don’t think it would be proper for me to--”

“Oh, what’s proper these days? Come on, Hilde. We’re two young people here, we’re the same age, and you should call me by my first name just like I call you by yours. You don’t want to make me feel old, do you?” he asked giving her a small dose of puppy dog eyes.

“No, I guess not,” she said quietly staring intently at his cobalt eyes.

“Then call me, Duo.”

“Okay, um... Duo.”

“There! See, was that so hard?”

“No. I’m going to go to my office now. Do you have anything you’d like me to do before I get to work?” she asked getting back to office mode, a habit Duo would have to break. If he played his cards right, she might get fired... or quit! Something strange tugged at Duo. ‘She shouldn’t get fired,’ it said, ‘it’s not her fault that you father--’ Duo quickly squashed that thought before it could be finished. He couldn’t think like that if he wanted to get his plan to work.

“No, I’m fine. Don’t work too hard, Hilde!” he called cheerfully. ‘I think she’s falling for it. Her face was confused, but I can tell she likes me. Yup, it’s the old Maxwell charm working again.’ Duo sighed, it seemed that he would win his little ‘bet’ with Heero.

When lunch rolled around Duo was ready to take Hilde out. When she came out of her office he stood up and walked over to her. “Hilde, have lunch with me?” he asked with a confident smile playing on his lips.

Hilde struggled with what to say. “Duo,” she said slowly, “I don’t think we should--”

“You’re coming with me to lunch! What’s the harm in that? We’re friends, aren’t we?” he asked.

“Ye-- yeah.”

“Is there any reason for friends not to have a quiet lunch together?” he asked smoothly. He was going to get her to go out with him even if it killed him. He never lost a bet!

“You see, I was going to have lunch with Relena. It wouldn’t be very fair to her is I just went with you instead. Then she won’t have anybody to have lunch with.”

“I didn’t know you were friends with her! Tell you what, you go and tell Relena that she can have lunch with us. I’ll go get Heero to go with us then she won’t feel too awkward being with us. What do you say?”

“But--” she started.

“No buts. I can assure you neither of them will mind. Just one thing,” he asked.

“Don’t tell Relena Heero is coming. Let that be a surprise to her; they’re old ‘friends’ too.” Duo was having a field day with this. He not only was taking Hilde out, he’d made it easy for his friend to go out Relena again without having to ask her out!

“Why don’t you want me to tell her?”

“Oh, no reason. It’s just that they haven’t gotten together for a long time and I want to surprise both of them,” he said gracefully.

If Hilde had known what kind of friends Duo and Heero were then she would never have accepted the invitation for lunch. Something in the back of her mind a voice told her not to accept. That Duo was acting very strange, that he must be up to something. She, of course, ignored the little voice and agreed to have lunch with the man she was in love with.

“Okay... Duo,” she said with a shy smile and went in search of her friend and roommate of four months, Relena.

“Meet us in the cafeteria!” he called after her before he started laughing. He went back to his desk and called Heero.

“Man, I made it easy for you! I just talked Hilde into persuading Relena to have lunch with you!” There was a pause as Heero spoke. “No, Hilde and I will be there too! It’ll be fun to watch her try to be nice to you! Meet me in the cafeteria in about five minutes, okay?” Another pause as Heero spoke to Duo. “Okay then! See ya!” Duo smiled and rested his chin on his interlaced hands. “This is going to be great!”

Five minutes later he and Heero were waiting for the girls to arrive. They were not going to have lunch in the cafeteria, a fact which Duo had purposely left out when he asked Hilde to lunch.

“Here they come,” Heero said to Duo. He ignored Hilde and focused on Relena. She hadn’t’ changed. She was the same in every way, except her eyes. They held a wariness in them that hadn’t been there when he’d ‘been friends’ with her. When they approached them Relena stiffened.

“Mr. Duo,” she greeted him. “It’s nice to see you.”

“Hello, Relena. Call me Duo!” he said and shook her hand.

She turned to Heero and greeted him in a clipped tone, “Mr. Yuy.”

“Heero, Relena. Call me Heero. We’re old friends, remember?” Heero said in a soft silky voice. He said those words in that tone so she would remember. He smiled his ‘you know you want me’ smile at her. He turned from her and said, “Hi, Hilde. How are you?”

“Mr. Y--”

“You have to call me Heero too.”

Duo got impatient and said, “Let’s get going, I don’t want to have to rush.”

“Going? Where?” asked Hilde.

“Well, to the restaurant. We won’t have lunch here!” Duo replied taking her hand and leading her to the exit.

Relena looked at Heero as he offered her his arm. She didn’t say anything, but she didn’t accept his arm, instead she walked behind Duo and Hilde.

“I like it when they play hard to get,” he said to himself and smiled.

Chapter 4

Heero wasn’t liking this very much. Relena was trying to ignore him. On the drive to the restaurant he’d talked the whole way and she’d just looked out the window.

The four young people were led to a table by a young woman. Duo pulled the chair out for Hilde and Heero for Relena.

“What would you guys like to drink,” asked the waitress.

“I’ll have a margarita,” answered Duo, then looked at Hilde.

“I’ll have a lemonade,” she said and smiled at the waitress. The waitress managed a weak smile back at her.

“Relena?” asked Heero.

“I’ll have a lemonade also,” she replied monotonously.

“Tequila,” was all he said. He was getting annoyed by this. He knew it would be a little more difficult to charm her this time, but she was totally ignoring him. ‘Oh, well,’ he thought, ‘I’ll just have to work a little at it.’

Heero put on his 100 watt smile and looked at Relena. She was smiling at something Hilde had said. When she turned and got a look at her , her smile disappeared leaving only the shadow in her eyes.

‘Hmm... she’s not so bad looking,’ Heero thought. He glanced at Duo who was engrossed in a conversation with Hilde. ‘Better than Duo’s.’

“Hilde, tell me about you,” said Duo to a blushing Hilde. He, like Heero, was putting on his best of everything. His best smile, his best gaze, and his best attitude. You had to do what it took to impress a lady. Especially one as... ‘unique’ as Hilde.

Hilde giggled a little and Relena looked at her. She blushed and said, “What would you like me to tell you?”

“You know, the basics like where do you live, about your family, your friends. Stuff like that.”

“Well, I have a sister who lives in India with her husband and my two nieces; we don’t have any parents. I left all my friends in Michigan, where I used to live before I moved here, and I’ve lived with Relena for the last four months.”

“Really? I never saw you guys together. I didn’t know you guys were friends. How about you Relena? Tell us about you,” he asked with a big smile in her direction.

Relena felt a little uncomfortable with the smile coming her way. She’d never even talked to Duo, except for business about his father. She managed a small smile and said, “Both my parents died when my brother and I were young. We were cared for by our god-parents. My brother, Milliardo, lives in England with his wife.”

Heero wasted no time in coming up with a question, “Do you have a boyfriend?”

After he had asked the question the waitress came back with their drinks. Then she took their orders and left.

In the few moments that the waitress had been there, Relena had her answer ready. “Yes, I do have a boyfriend,” she said with a warm smile.

Heero was taken aback. He hadn’t been expecting her to have a boyfriend. He’d been with her about a year ago and she showed no signs of being involved with someone. ‘So, she has a boyfriend? Doesn’t matter, this will just make it even better. I never refuse a challenge.’ Heero’s smile grew bigger. This just kept getting more and more interesting. He picked up his shot glass and swallowed it all at once. He then motioned for the waiter to bring him another one.

The lunch went on with much silence. The only ones that were truly talking were Hilde and Duo, only because Duo wanted to get her interested. One of the other two occupants was busy trying to ignore the fourth person in the table. She wanted nothing to do with him ever again. She knew what it was like to be with him. She had started working for Mr. Maxwell two years ago, and soon after had met Heero. At first she’d been wary of his advances. He was after her for months, until one day she’d let go of her resistance. After a few dates she had taken him home and from then on it was a disaster. The next day she found him with Sally Po, a nurse. It had hurt, badly. But she was beyond that now.

When lunch was over, they were driven back and they got back to work.

“Duo, I don’t think I made much progress today. Relena wasn’t talking. But you, on the other hand, made a lot of progress. She was eating out of your hand. Man, a little more and you can sleep with her!” said Heero laughingly.

“Aw man! I’m not looking forward to that, but a deal’s a deal, right man? I’m honor bound to do that. But, since I’m going to sleep with Hilde no matter what I suggest you do something equally humiliating,” Duo said, pouting just a little.

“Hey, I will do almost anything just to have you and Hilde on tape!” Heero said laughing. He wasn’t lying, he would give almost anything to have Duo do what he didn’t want to do.

“Fine,” said Duo. “You have to take Relena out to the karaoke bar we had agreed on and sing a cheesy love song...”

Heero nodded his head. “Piece of cake,” he muttered.

“... and you have to give me a tape also,” he finished with a big smile at his friend.

Heero just smiled. “Duo, you’re the one that will be sleeping with a dog, not me.”

“Yes, but I’ll get a lot accomplished by sleeping with a dog,” Duo said jokingly. Getting serious he said, “You know I’ll do anything to get my hands on this company. I don’t want some stranger to come and take credit for something my family has worked so hard for.”

“I know, Duo. It’s just that you are also doing this because you think it’ll be funny.”

“That too,” he said and got up and walked to the door.

“Where you goin’?”

“Why, to go see Hilde of course. It’s about time she went home, and I’m gonna drive her.”

Heero laughed evilly. He knew exactly what Duo’s plan was. He moved fast.

“Get going then...”

tbc...