“Mr. Princeton, sir?”

Sebastian jolted back to reality with a start. He turned to look at the blond-haired, green-eyed woman with thick glasses addressing him.

“What is it?”

Jane Hamilton bit her lip and told herself to stop shaking so hard in front of the handsome billionaire who was scowling at her. She glanced up at him again, her eyes large. Oh shit! She shouldn’t have done that. He really did scare her, and she totally didn’t understand why every female in the world wanted to date him. Yes, he was very hot. Yes, he was very rich. And no, she didn’t find herself attracted to him in the very least, like every other female.

She took a deep breath and said, “Sir, I was told you wanted to inspect the stage.”

Sebastian sighed. He’d been in such deep thought moments ago that he’d forgotten about his request. Nicolas had asked him to inspect the stage, to make sure everything was fine. He wasn’t sure why he hadn’t been paying attention to his surroundings since they’d entered the hotel.

No, actually, he knew why. It was because of that blond woman Sosuke had bumped into when they arrived. Why had he found her so fascinating? Why couldn’t he stop himself from thinking about her? Even though she’d been at such a great distance from him. Even though he hadn’t at all seen her face. But her figure really did remind him of somebody. The long hair, though a pale golden-blond color, was also oddly familiar. Then there was the way in which she’d walked briskly away. It was her gait that attracted his attention. It was as if he’d seen that gait somewhere before, on someone he’d known very well.

God! Why couldn’t he get her out of his mind? The only woman who had ever done that to him was Sakura.

Suddenly, his heart ached.

Sakura! Sweetheart. Where are you?

“Sir?” Jane squeaked again.

Sebastian snapped his eyes to her. “Yes.”

“Should we go?” she asked meekly.

Sebastian nodded and strode ahead, leaving Jane to quietly follow him.

They came to the first floor and then into the great open space of the great hall where the show was going to take place. Staff were everywhere, setting up the scene, placing chairs along the rows, setting various equipment, and testing the lighting and sound.

“As you can see, sir, everything is going according to plan so far,” Jane said. “That’s our runway there.” She pointed to the long T-shaped raised platform in the middle of the great hall. There were bright white lights on all sides that would shine on the models as they did their catwalk, showing off the beautiful gowns and jewelry they wore.

“And the sound?” Sebastian asked.

“It’s good. It’s going to be classical Japanese music mixed with pop. I think it’s called Sakura Sakura.”

“What?” Sebastian snapped, turning his azure-blue eyes to Jane, his face tense.

Jane was taken by surprise by his abrupt query. She swallowed nervously and said, “It’s called Sakura Sakura.” Then she had to explain further, thinking he didn’t know or understand. “The song depicts springtime, when cherry blossoms bloom, sir.”

“Yes, of course. I know that,” Sebastian said. He took a deep breath then. Shit! Why was he in such a bad mood? Why was he so agitated?

Sakura. Her name kept ringing in his head. Sakura. Sakura. Sweetheart. Where are you?

“Please continue, Ms. Hamilton,” he said.

Jane blinked. Holy shit! He knew her name?

She cleared her throat. “Yes, of course, sir.”

She turned and led him to center stage. They were at the end of the raised runway when Jane’s phone insistently rang.

“Sorry, sir,” she said apologetically. She hastily turned on the phone. “Hello?”

“Jane, it’s me, Sakura.”

Jane bit her lip and peeked up at Sebastian. “Where are you? Are you lost or something? Did you get that list from the wardrobe assistant?”

“I did. Where are you? I’m bringing it over.”

“I’m in the great hall on the first floor where the show is going to take place. Come quick. I have to get that list to Chris before he kills me.”

Jane heard her friend laugh. “It’s your fault, Jane. Now who said she’s very organized?”

“Don’t tease me. Not now. Please hurry.”

“All right. On my way.”

Jane sighed and hung up. “Sorry about that, sir. It was work.” She gave him another apologetic smile.

Sebastian simply nodded.

Jane phone rang again. She grunted under her breath. “Sorry, sir,” she said again to Sebastian.

“Take your time.” Sebastian turned and started walking away to inspect the stage.

Jane sighed in relief and turned her attention to her phone. “Yes?”

“Jane? Where the heck are you?”

Jane grunted under her breath. It was Adam Somerville, the backstage manager. After taking a frustrated sigh, she said nicely into the phone, “I’m with Mr. Princeton, Adam. What do you want?”

“Showing him around, are you? Why didn’t they ask me to do that instead?”

Jane thought he sounded pissed. He just loved to rub shoulders with the rich and famous. She took a bit of delight at the thought that he’d missed out.

“Did you want me for something?”

“Come backstage for a minute, will you? I need you here.”

“Okay. Be there in a few seconds.” She hung up and rushed to Sebastian, who was busy staring up at the lights.

“Sir?”

Sebastian turned to her. “Hmm?”

“I have to go backstage for a second. I’ll be right back.”

“Take your time,” he replied, dismissing her.

Jane nodded and rushed away, her feet light.

Alone, Sebastian continued to look around him, though his mind was elsewhere.

Sakura! he thought.

Clung! And then blackness.

Sebastian blinked. What just happened? Why was the whole place suddenly flooded with darkness?

“Oi! What the hell is going on there?” he heard a man shout.

“Yeah, where’s the light?” another yelled.

“Sorry!” A voice echoed through a speaker. “We’re just testing the lights. Please be patient. It’ll only take a moment.”

The mumbling and grumbling continued from the staff. Sebastian shook his head. He had enough inspecting the stage and headed toward the door. Only he couldn’t quite see properly in the darkness and smashed into a small, soft body.

“Huh!” the female made a sound, falling into his arms, her face hitting his hard, muscular chest. At the same time, his feet tripped on cords lying on the floor and he fell backward, taking the woman with him.

He hit his back on the floor, the woman sprawling on top of him.

God! She felt so soft, warm, and just right in his arms. Her hair! Oh God, her hair smelled beautiful. It reminded him of spring, of Sakura.

“Shit!” he muttered under his breath.

“I’m so sorry,” she whispered softly, her warm breath fanning his skin, causing his whole body to soar in pleasure. His heart suddenly thundered within his chest.

Sakura! Sakura! It has to be Sakura!

“I couldn’t see.” She chuckled apologetically.

Sakura! He wanted to scream out her name.

The woman began to move away, out of his arms.

No! No! No! He wouldn’t let her go. He couldn’t let her go.

He held on to her tight, his mind screaming her name over and over again. Sakura! Sakura! Sakura!

“My files!” She moved hastily away from him and out of his clutches. He sat up, his hands reaching out for her, searching for her. He heard shuffling and ruffling and the light came back on.

The room was flooded with bright light and it momentarily blinded Sebastian.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Sakura! Where are you? Please don’t leave!

He blinked again and then adjusted his eyes to the brightness. He scanned around him, his heart still pounding heavily within his chest. Then he saw her rushing away toward the exit, her long blond hair flying behind her.

He frowned. She wasn’t Sakura. She was the woman he’d seen earlier with Sosuke at the lift. What was wrong with him? He definitely needed to clear his head.

“Sir?” Jane called out.

Sebastian waved at her to leave him be. “We’re done, Ms. Hamilton.” Then he was out the door.

He took the lift and came to the top floor of the hotel where his parents’ penthouse was located. In the spacious living area, he found Lady Haruka and his parents, James and Brenda Princeton, having morning tea together. They are getting along well, he thought with a smile, and he was pleased.

“Mom, Dad,” he said the moment they looked up.

“Sebastian, darling,” Brenda said. “Join us.”

He came to sit on the sofa next to his parents and poured himself a cup of coffee. He took a sip and found it was flavorless. Instantly, for perhaps the millionth time, he missed Sakura’s aromatic, flavorful coffee. His face darkened at the thought.

Brenda noticed and said, “So how’s the stage inspection going?”

“Shouldn’t he tell his staff to do that?” Tristan said from the other side of the room. “Nicolas, I mean.”

“All his staff are busy,” Logan put in. “I would imagine. And Sebastian is free.”

“I think Nicolas is just too easygoing with his staff,” Hayden said, sipping his tasteless coffee.

The door opened at that moment, and Nicolas and Sosuke walked in.

“What did you just say, Hayden?” Nicolas asked his brother.

Hayden took the bait and said again, “I think you’re too easy on your staff.”

“Then maybe you’d be kind enough to teach me a few things about staff management?” Nicolas raised his blond brows at his brother. “I’d be glad indeed.”

Hayden chuckled. “I’d be glad too, bro.”

“Damn,” Conrad put in. “You two are always going on about that.” He looked heavenward.

“By the way,” Sosuke interjected, looking around the room. “Where is Darcy-san? I haven’t seen him since this morning. Is he not coming to the event?”

“He’d be at his loft, doing his artsy thing,” Conrad supplied. Then the youngest of the Princeton brothers couldn’t really help himself and asked, “By the way, Sosuke, that woman you bumped into this morning by the lift?”

Sosuke raised his brows and started to rock himself back and forth. Haruka noticed and hid a smile. Her nephew only did that when he was into something and tried to hide it. Now she was interested in this blond woman they’d glimpsed that morning as well.

“Yes?” Sosuke asked evasively.

“You did see her face, didn’t you?” Conrad asked.

“Yeah,” Tristan added with interest. “What does she look like?”

Sosuke frowned and noticed himself rocking. He made himself stop and cleared his throat. “Why do you want to know?”

Logan was beside him immediately and swung his arm over Sosuke’s shoulders. “Come on now, Sosuke, my friend, spit it out. Can’t keep a beautiful woman all to yourself, you know. We share.”

Sosuke didn’t like the sound of that.

“Hey,” Nicolas put in, frowning at Tristan and Logan, who were having rather a good time teasing the Japanese man. “That’s Sosuke’s business.”

Tristan chuckled. “Come on, man, what does she look like?”

“Pretty?” Logan asked.

“Hot?” Tristan added.

“Sexy?” Hayden queried.

“Blue eyes?” Conrad put in. “It always goes with the blond hair.”

“I think you guys should really take this outside,” Sebastian said, indicating there were conservative adults here that didn’t want to hear such conversation, referring to his parents and Haruka.

His brothers, however, weren’t listening and continued.

Tristan said, “I’m partial to blue eyes.”

“Me, too,” Logan added. “There is that something with blue eyes and blond hair. They’re perfect together.”

“I’m into black hair and chocolaty-brown eyes,” Conrad said.

The room suddenly went dead silent as the brothers stared at Conrad, who went rather red in the face. James took Brenda’s hand into his and gave it a gentle, comforting squeeze. Brenda looked up at her husband then, tears burning within her eyes. She gave him a weak smile.

Haruka noticed the subtle movement between husband and wife. She also noticed the tense atmosphere surrounding the room and the brothers’ silence, as though what Conrad had said hit a target. She wondered what was going on.

“Actually,” Sosuke began, “she does have one blue eye.”

The tense atmosphere was lifted then, and Hayden said, “Blue eye?” He cocked his head to one side.

“You said blue eye, singular,” Conrad put in.

“What?” Tristan couldn’t help himself from asking. “Is she blind in one eye or something?”

Logan shook his head. “How unfortunate. And to think you gazed at her like you did, Sosuke.”

Sosuke grunted, and both Logan and Tristan laughed.

“I’m sure she’s not blind,” Nicolas put in, frowning at his brothers to stop their nonsense.

“She has one blue eye and one gray eye,” Sosuke said.

The brothers turned their full attention to Sosuke, including Sebastian, who was interested. They were talking about the same woman he’d bumped into just moments ago after all. He hadn’t seen her face and now wondered what she looked like.

“It’s the oddest thing,” Sosuke said. “I’ve never seen that color in anyone before.” He cocked his head to one side. “The blue one is so blue, like the color of the sky in summer.” He turned to Sebastian. “Actually, it looked very much like yours, Sebastian-san. The color of your eyes, an azure-blue.”

The brothers’ gazes shifted toward Sebastian, who turned a bit pale in the face all of a sudden.

“And the other one?” Sebastian asked, his voice cold.

“The other?” Sosuke frowned. “Like I said, it’s the oddest color, the likes I’ve never seen on any person before… except—”

“Except?” Nicolas prompted. He really couldn’t help himself. He knew what all his brothers were thinking. Shit! He hoped their suspicions were right. He really hoped so. Then that would explain everything. Why they couldn’t find her.

“Except,” Sosuke said, “Darcy.”

“What do you mean?” Sebastian asked, his voice hard.

Sosuke was confused by the tense stance and dark faces all the brothers wore as they watched him, his friend Nicolas included. He chuckled and tried to make light of the situation.

“Just like Darcy. One eyes, it’s exactly the same as Darcy’s, that moonlike pale lavender color. I think it’s like a mauve-grey?”

Sebastian felt his whole body shaking. Oh God! Could that really be her? Sakura? Shit! He had her within his clutches and he just let her go? Just like that?

“Where is she?” Conrad asked suddenly.

“She’s working backstage!” Sebastian supplied and strode to the door.

Sosuke watched in confusion as all the other brothers followed Sebastian, Nicolas included. He turned his attention to his aunt and saw she was also looking at him in confusion.

Though she gave the impression she hadn’t a clue what was going on, Haruka did notice something very odd. The husband and wife sitting opposite her looked rather anxious and relieved at the same time. What was going on? Why was the talk of this pretty blond woman bringing forward such an intense reaction in this wealthy and kind family?

Haruka didn’t know, but she did know this—she hoped they found what they were looking for, because she knew they were looking for something. Or someone.

* * * * *

 

Sakura wasn’t used to running errands. Today she found out she wasn’t any good at doing it, and vowed to never do it again in the future, especially where it involved helping backstage before a fashion show.

Her heels really hurt. She wondered if she should take her shoes off and walk barefoot on the soft carpet instead.

Clutching the folder against her chest, she took out her cell phone and gave Jane a call.

“Hello?”

“Jane, it’s me, Sakura,” she said. 

“Where are you? Are you lost or something? Did you get that list from the wardrobe assistant?”

“I did. Where are you? I’m bringing it over.”

“I’m in the great hall on the first floor where the show’s going to take place. Come quick. I have to get that list to Chris before he kills me.”

Sakura laughed. She couldn’t help herself. Jane had many times told her how organized she was, and now look at what happened. She was missing files left and right and had to beg her for help. “It’s your fault, Jane. Now who said she’s very organized?”

“Don’t tease me. Not now. Please hurry.”

“All right. On my way,” she said and then hung up. “On my way,” she murmured to herself, pacing toward the lift.

A few minutes later, she was once again on the first floor, heading toward the great hall where the fashion show was going to take place. The moment she opened the massive door and stepped across the threshold, there was a loud clanging noise and then darkness, and at the same time, the door shut behind her.

“Okay,” she whispered under her breath. “What just happened?” She blinked several times and then opened her eyes wide to get used to the darkness.

“Oi! What the hell is going on there?” a man shouted.

“Yeah, where’s the light?” another yelled.

“Sorry!” A voice echoed through the speakers. “We’re just testing the lights. Please be patient. It’ll only take a moment.”

“Right,” Sakura muttered. “Just when I’m in such a hurry.”

The staff continued their mumbling and grumbling, and Sakura wanted to laugh at the whole silly situation. Suddenly, the door was thrust opened from the other side, hitting her backside, knocking her off balance. She stumbled forward headfirst and smashed into a hard, masculine body.

“Huh!” she puffed out, falling into a pair of strong arms, her face hitting the man’s chest. Then she felt him falling off balance as if he’d tripped on something, and she went along with him.

“Shit!” she heard him mutter under his breath.

Sakura felt awful and hastily uttered, “I’m so sorry.” Then she thought to add, “I couldn’t see.”

Feeling rather embarrassed in his arms, she began to move away but found him clinging onto her as if he couldn’t bear to let her go.

“My files!” she uttered in panic and hastily moved out of his clutches. She was just picking up the folders when bright lights suddenly flooded all around them. She sighed in relief, took note that all three files were in her hands, and then rushed away toward the exit where the backstage was.

She found Jane ordering people around and at the same time speaking into her mic. She looked very busy. Jane finally spotted her and waved for her to come.

“Hey, files?” Sakura asked.

Jane sighed in relief. “Oh my God, thank you so much, Sakura. But there’s one more thing you have to do for me.”

“What is it?”

“Can you please take these to Chris? He’s up on the fourth floor,” she begged. Then she saw Sakura was about to ask why the wardrobe manager was up on the fourth floor and said, “Don’t even ask me that. That man’s logic is beyond me.”

“All right,” Sakura said. “I don’t mind.”

“Good,” Jane said, dumping another set of files into her arms. “Now hustle, my dear friend.”

Sakura laughed and took off out the door.

* * * * *