Meika absent-mindedly traced the gold embossed message written on the card attached to a dozen roses of varied colors she received earlier.

Roses are red.

violets are blue,

the first time I saw you,

my heart knew.

She couldn't fathom what to feel about this, since this was the first time she received flowers as a token.

As the most sought-after criminal lawyer, people send her bribes or threats and most often both, if you consider calling 'those', gifts.

She is in Penarth, South Glamorgan, Wales. A colleague recommended her, since she's Japanese, to represent a rumored yakuza shingiin sued for human trafficking.

"Aren't you even going to smell the pleasant aroma of those bundles of inflorescence?"

Said female lawyer raised her hazel-shaped orbs and stared at the speaker. It was Tomo, one of her researchers who stayed behind to accompany her even after office hours.

Said researcher waved her hand in dismissal the moment she saw the stoic expression on her superior's face. She used high faluting words with her answer because she wanted to distract her boss from overthinking. On normal occasions, she's annoyed. But now, she just stared at her as if her mind was wandering somewhere else.

"Ah. I just remembered that holidays don't exist in your vocabulary," she changed the topic.

"What holiday?" The lawyer's brows furrowed.

"Today is St Dwynwen's Day."

An uncomfortable smile appeared on her already uncomfortable face when Meika continued to sport her visage with an expressionless look.

"It's the Welsh Valentines' Day, Sakurada-Sama."

"Oh!"

Meika has altogether forgotten about that. Being buried with paper works for the past week could make your brain go numb and dumb to other things because you're so hellbent on finishing your current case in order to go back home soon.

Wales is an exquisite country, with its lush national parks and pristine beach resorts that are full of history. Penarth, where she is staying, is a place which is a living embodiment of both - a Garden by the Sea. She doesn't want to stay too long, hence she develops an attachment. It's a no-no given her field of work.

Her phone vibrated, so she dug it out of her dark grey blazer pocket and asked without looking who the caller was. "Is it confirmed?"

The answer from her caller made her scowl.

"Hai. Domo arigatou gosaimasu."

She dashed towards the glass cabinet stacked with law books and pressed a hidden button behind the paneling where a secret door swung to open.

"Tomo, close the office. We have a lead to our target." She was about to step inside, but went to a momentary halt. "Bring that card over once you're done. Our passcode is in there."

*~*~*

Tomo placed the card her superior has been scrutinizing earlier on the table. She glanced at her boss, who's busy decoding encrypted messages and then at the three huge monitors in front of them.

Each monitor displays all the information their covert job needs.

On her right side, said monitor shows the strategic locations of the entire community of Penarth. The left side shows information regarding their possible current targets. And the last one in the middle, analog numbers full of zeroes and ones in neon green nimbly moving up and down only her mistress can read and understand.

"Scrutinize that card on our UV reader. There's a hidden message somewhere," she said without looking up at her.

Tomo followed without questions. She's not really one of her researchers. She's just posing as one since it's needed in their current mission. Her actual job is a servant to the Sakurada Clan assigned to their only daughter and successor. She attended to her mistress' needs and wants since childhood.

The Sakurada Family is a clan that is covertly tied to the yakuza community. The former head of the Sakuradas, her mistress' otousan, was known as the boogeyman of the Japanese underworld. His talents and abilities in infiltration, espionage and assassinations were unrivaled when he was still alive. Now, her daughter took over, and she is even better at it. Upfront, she's known as the most sought after but elusive Asian criminal lawyer that saves all kinds of crooks from jail. Down back, she's earned the title Queen Ripper of the Japanese underworld and her popularity extends to almost all the underworlds in the world. They need her not only to bail their asses out of incarceration if everything or anything in their unlawful dealings gets downhill or busted by government agencies. They need her more for the same reason they needed her father.

"What's the hidden message?"

"Two capital Cs, Mistress."

She nodded and typed said letters as passcode to decoding information. A new window suddenly popped up and opened on the monitor on her right, revealing a certain profile.

Meika was floored the moment she saw the picture attached to it. This seems too good to be true. She zoomed it out for better inspection. She needed assurance that what's in front of her is real. Indeed, the smiling face of an Asian man with hazel-shaped sage eyes like hers framed with maroon rectangular glasses stared back at her as if silently saying, yes, I'm real.

An audible gasp is heard behind.

"Cyan Carl Shu Yi Xe of ShuStatic Summit?"

The attorney didn't answer, as she was still shocked by the face blatantly blaring at her huge monitor screen.

Her disbelief was disrupted when her phone vibrated again. She picked it up and pressed answer, but said nothing.

"Did you like the flowers I sent you?" A timid baritone voice graced her ears.

"Is this your idea of a joke?" Her usual dead calm tone rose to a pitch as she gripped her phone tighter. "Because it's NOT funny."

"Bǎobèi, the blood pressure. It's spiking."

"I'll spill your own blood, right..." Her threats were cut off when the caller spoke again.

"Meet me at The Deck in an hour and I'll explain everything. Promise."

*~*~*

Tomo stole a glance at her mistress through the rearview mirror as she waited for the traffic light to switch to green. Her overall demeanor hasn't changed a bit, but she could tell by the stormy expression in her eyes that she's livid.

Cyan Carl Shu Yi Xe.

The only son and successor of ShuStatic Summit. A Hong Kong-based top-notch broadcast media group of companies but is rumored to have ties with the Chinese triad.

The two first met when they were teenagers. Her mistress was around seventeen and Yi Xe, fifteen. The latter's father came to see the former's otousan for business.

Her mistress then had to entertain their guests' son while both adults discuss stuffs. Yi Xe, being obsessed by video games then challenged her mistress to a one set of match obliviously thinking he could end it soon and mock her ignorance about it. She looked so old-fashioned and traditional with her formal white cherry blossom-motif kimono. Turned out embarrassing for him when he was defeated on said match. He must have been shocked and mesmerized because the next thing he said to her was 'Marry me'. Her mistress' reaction then was so bizarre. She was trained to master and control her emotions at a very young age, but his words caused her cheeks to redden. From then on, Yi Xe never stopped wooing her. He became a constant pain in her mistress' tattooed but sexy ass.

But her mistress' anger right now might not be because of annoyance. Despite Yi Xe's mischiefs and antics, not once did she get angry. She usually lets him be and ignores him. Their relationship might look one-sided, but weirdly, her mistress cared. What she might really be angry about right now is why Yi Xe got involved himself in her underworld business dealings. Last time they heard, ShuStatic Summit has severed their ties to the triad and is trying its best to come clean.

So how the hell did he suddenly got involved in this?

"Mistress, what's your next command?" She asked, eyes on the road and continued driving.

"None, until I get answers from that twit."

"Hai!"

They savored a bit of silence, both observing and witnessing the people and places they pass by. Rows of well-lit buildings and establishments, some still in Victorian and Edwardian architecture, that most people only see on television shows and movies, line up along the busy streets.

Then Tomo's driving slowed along Saint Joseph's Park. Meika could illumine through the well-lit lamp posts surrounding the area, its colorful flower beds, trees and exotic plants on her window.

The beautiful community made Meika think of early retirement and of settling down peacefully. "How long till we get there?" She asked, hoping to distract herself from wishing impossible things.

"Three minutes."

She was about to respond when her phone vibrated.

"We'll talk alone. No spying Tomo." That same timid baritone voice spoke on the other line.

This made her glance at her driver, who also is staring back at her via the rearview mirror. There's a knowing smile plastered on her lips.

Her servant's expression made her end the call immediately.

"It's ok Sakurada-sama. I'll wait in the car." Tomo knowingly understood.

She didn't meet her eyes but said, "I won't be long."

The moment Tomo parked their car just across the restaurant, she immediately got out and sprinted towards the entrance where a uniformed maitre d' was waiting.

"Good evening Madam! How may I help you?"

She gave the maitre d' a quick nod and corresponded with a perfect British accent. "Good evening. Mr. C.C. Hsu booked a reservation for us."

"Ah! Yes, Mr. Hsu. This way, please."

She is led towards the innermost part of the restaurant and there, at the table next to a glass window overlooking the Portway Marina, is her date. His sights affixed on them as she and the maitre d' were walking towards him.

Yi Xe stood as they reached him and smiled warmly, first at her, then at the maitre d'. He looks dashing despite the simplicity of his rust-colored cardigan, dark brown jeans and worn white sneakers attire. It emphasizes his lean physique, towering height and fair complexion.

"Bǎobèi!" He greeted. "Glad you could make it." His right hand tried to reach and touch the woman's left shoulder but stopped midway and withdrew his attempt because he saw Meika's hazel-shaped eyes flashed. It was fleeting, but he noticed.

Then she smiled back, saying, "Yes. I won't miss this for the world." She then switched her attention to the attendant. "I've heard and read a lot of positive reviews about this place, so I want to try it. And here we are."

The maitre d beamed at her, pleased at what she said. "Thank you, Madam!" He nodded in return, then he asked Yi Xe. "Shall I bring your orders, sir?"

"Yes, please. My wife is famished." His gaze on her never left as he answered. "I don't want to delay her hunger further, so that she won't get sick," he added jokingly.

"But of course, sir." The attendant chuckled. "Please excuse me. I'll have Cindy deliver your food right away." This time, he curtsied.

The moment the maitre d left, Meika uncovered her displeasure and unabashedly glared at the man in front of him.

"Bâobâo, set your wrath aside for now and let's take our seat, ok?" his entire face is beaming but the solemn shine in his sage eyes is pleading. "It's Valentine's day and I want to take this opportunity to spend time with you on a romantic date before I hand you what you need."

"Fine." She relented and took the seat. Her eyes never left the man in front of her that took his seat too. "But we need to take this quick. Tomo is freezing outside."

"Don't worry about her." His beaming smile, which showed his one crooked tooth that made him look cuter, appeared again. "I sent someone to give her a thick and warm winter coat and an extra-large mug of piping hot Americano, so she'll survive for at least an hour," then winked.

"You really had everything meticulously prepared, huh?"

"Given how sleek and skittish you are in dodging my invitations, yes, I have to."

His statement caused to loosen her tension. A slight quirking of her bow-shaped lips ensued.

"Ah. There goes the once in every red moon smile I always yearned for." This time, he openly reached for her.

"We're in public, so behave."

"I try, believe me. But with you, it's hard." He moved his left hand and boldly traced the knuckles on her right hand resting on top of the table.

"I miss you."

"I don't."

"Bâobâo," he frowned. "You break my heart."

"How can I when you bug me regularly? Meika's right eyebrow rose an inch. "So, I really don't."

They both shared smiles, Yi Xe's typical beaming one, and Meika's sarcastic one.

Their nonverbal exchange of communication got disrupted when they both heard an on-purpose clearing of the throat. The lawyer immediately pulled her hand and put it on her lap while the nerdy guy raised his head to acknowledge the server.

"You must have been apart for a while, sir, madam." There are stars in her eyes and a huge smile plastered on her face as she placed Yi Xe's order for them.

Her overflowing giddiness made Meika cringe internally. She really abhors bubbly people. They always have these ridiculously funny expressions on their faces that make her want to puke. The twit must really be enjoying this because he winked at her again and that made her want to gouge his twinkling orbs out.

"May you enjoy your meal and have a wonderful evening together." She giggled. "Dydd Santes Dwynwen Hapus!"

Yi Xe thanked and bowed at the cheery server. "Ain't that nice? The people here are cheerful and amiable?" He said, while staring at her retreating back as she left.

"It's purely business, so don't put other meaning to it."

"Harsh." Yi Xe snapped his head back at then scowled at her.

Meika finally loosened her tight demeanor and smirked. Then stared at the huge round shape of bread elaborately stuffed with beef or pork patty that is topped with cheese, veggies and some condiments.

"You brought me here to eat burger?" She poked the huge bun with the dinner knife.

He pursed his lips into a grimace. "You often leave your meals untouched if I order fancy ones. So there." Then glared where his hazel shaped sage eyes disappeared and were replaced by twin lines. "I ordered you a fast, greasy on-the-go-to-eat-still-fancy because this is a fancy restaurant, burger. "

She ignored his sudden outburst and started cutting her food to bite sizes.

"Hmmm, not bad," she said after she took her first bite.

Yi Xe can't help but feel genuine affection towards his other half. Seldom are the instances that he witnesses her loosen her conduct in a manner where her emotions are freely showing on her face. It was followed by pure tenderness as he watched her finally eat the food he bought her.

They've been married for six years but because of their circumstance, they couldn't stay together and do stuffs like normal couples do. His wife's nature as a criminal lawyer has been honed as a thinker, a realist whose heart has hardened from humanity's cruelty and indifference. She's always polite, but purely indifferent. Then there's her other role as well, which is far darker than her job as a criminal lawyer that solidifies her behavior as it is.

There's still a lot to discover and learn from her reclusive introverted soulmate, but he's willing to wait and bid his time. After all, that's what husbands do if they want to continue to love, take care and support their wives. And he's truly madly deeply in love with her.

Meika noticed that all too familiar funny for her dreamy look on her husband's face and brought him back to reality. "If you will not eat, start talking. Let's not waste time."

Yi Xe again smiled at her, but internally sighed. Ah! There goes my illusion of a romantic evening with her.

He also started cutting his own food to bite-size pieces and ate. They shared a silent but peaceful and pleasant meal together.

Once they finished eating, Meika broke their silence. "Start talking business."

Yi Xe is stirring his cup of café latte when he answered. "Your target is used by my family as a scapegoat for the child trafficking going on in this county."

"I don't understand," she responded before she took a sip of her macchiato. "Your family has been doing their best to cut ties with the triad and completely come clean."

"That's what I thought too," his eyes still on his cup. "Until I accidentally decoded an encrypted message from one of my uncle's business emails."

"What?"

Yi Xe finally raised his eyes and looked directly at Meika. "You heard me. And no, Fùqīn doesn't know. I'm keeping it under wraps for now."

"You know that your life is already in jeopardy the moment you discovered this," her tone became icy.

"I know," he still beamed, but his eyes reflected sadness. "That's why I came here. I wanted to see you because this may be my last."

"Stop being dramatic and tell me everything."