I hurry to push down the black halter top dress. A quick little outfit I picked up on the way to Leon's apartment where he too has to get ready for the banquet. I made the unfortunate mistake of not being as prepared as I originally thought. Note to self, always have formal attire on standby. So I make due with what I have, I take my hair down from my elegant up do to have my hair flowing down in waves. I dig out my makeup to add a bit more flare to my natural look and a fresh coat of lipstick. I toss my silk scarf into my bag along with my shirt and skirt before exiting the bathroom.

I look down at my watch checking the time, "Come on Leon!" I call. "Coming!" he calls in return, I look back to see him exiting his room. I'm shocked by the sight and my mouth falls open, "What the hell are you wearing?" I hiss. Leon stood there in khaki slacks, blue button up, and a red untied tie hanging from his neck. "My formal wear?" He mumbles looking down, "Formal wear? Formal wear? You call this formal wear?" I all but spat, my impulses flaring to fix the situation. "I think I look nice." He grumbles picking at his tie.

I feel my blood boil, I didn't speak to him as I push past him and into the room he came out of. He sputters out some poor excuse for words as he follows, I disregard the enormous collection of snapbacks lining the walls in favor of the closet along the right wall. I snap open the doors to find the closet a mess of clothes falling off hangers and loose items tossed every other direction, It takes all I have not to turn and snap at the poor man.

I decide not to waste anymore time as I start to toss clothes around. I eventually found a pair of black slacks with a matching vest that buttons along his torso, I pair it with a thankfully not so wrinkled white button up. I turn and yank the red tie off his neck before tossing him the shirt and slacks, "Change quickly, if you're not done in three minutes I'll dress you myself." I grunt before exiting the bedroom. I couldn't help but smirk as I heard hurried fumbling and muffled curses when I closed the door. I stare down at my watch counting the seconds to minutes, three minutes on the dot the door swings open to a panting, flushed Leon.

"Well done, Now hold still." I mumble, I lean forward and flip the collar of his shirt up. Leon stood stiffly as I lace the tie around his neck before knotting it neatly, I flip the collar back down and straighten the tie to align perfectly. The ding from my pokédex alarms us to get a move on to the location of the hotel. I toss the vest at Leon and hurry to the door, "Come on if we're late Miss Oleana will have our heads," I rush.

Leon slips on the vest and buttons it as we hurry to the door, I take the keys from Leon and lock the apartment before taking his arm. I lead us the Chairman Rose's Hotel where the crowd nearly takes me out at the sight of Leon. However we manage to push through, once inside the hotel we're finally able to breathe our own air. I look over Leon's appearance, hands of all shapes and sizes had been pulling and yanking at us upon our entrance. I quickly straighten his tie and re-button his vest as he somehow missed one when dressing at the apartment, a fact that I will no doubt irritate me every time see a picture of it on a magazine cover thanks to the dozens of photographers that mobbed us.

Despite the bad taste in my mouth, it takes all I have not to laugh when I notice his fly is open. "Leon," I whisper, He hums as his eyes are casted over the lobby looking at the guests that are attending. "I'm going to turn around and block you from sight, please close your fly." I whisper subtly. I can feel Leon practically flare with embarrassment as I turn to face away from him, a smirk itches onto my lips when I hear a quick and firm 'Zip'.

Leon clears his throat and shifts uncomfortably, "Thank you." He mumbles. "It's what I'm here for." I muse before moving beside him and placing my hand on his back. I push him to the event hall where the bustle is most thick. Leon hunts down Chairman Rose, Politely giving short greetings then excusing himself from whoever approaches him first. We find the Chairman and Miss Oleana on the other end of the hall, I smile politely at the two as I stand behind Leon.

"Leon, I must say I'm quite impressed. You've done well today from what I hear from Miss Oleana. Not only have you not gotten lost, but you haven't been late to a single appointment, and you're marvelously dressed this evening." The Chairman smiles, my chest swells with pride at the achievements, "All thanks to (y/n), I think I finally understand why you keep Miss Oleana so close." Leon chuckles scratching his cheek.

The Chairman grins at his response, "I'd hope Miss (y/n) works well for you Leon, she seems like a hard worker, but I had a bit of doubt when watching your battle not too long ago." The Chairman mumbles, My heart stops and it takes all I have not to intervene. I have to remember it's not my place, a piece of advice Miss Oleana bestowed on me when she heard I was held in such high regard was that if I wanted to do a good job I must be as invisible as possible. She explained that it's our job to work as silently as possible so that way our employer can focus on achieving our goals. She's wrong of course, but in order to achieve my goal I must play their game.

"I'm not sure I follow." Leon mumbles, "She was too soft with her Pokémon, forfeiting and running out onto the field because her Pokémon was weak." The Chairman chimes. I grit my teeth and bore my eyes into the painting on the far wall, knowing full and well that if I saw the look on his face I'll lash out. "She did make up for it, her strategies are nothing short of brilliant. I thought perhaps she's making up for her lack of brawn for brains, and there is no shame in that. However I firmly believe that you won't get far in this world without both." Chairman Rose muses. "I think her Zarude performed quite spectacularly." Leon argues, "Because that is simply its nature, that kind of strength has nothing to do with its trainer." The Chairman rebuts.

I dig my nails into my palms, "Nevertheless, she is here to prove herself." Chairman Rose smiles, "It seems she has some work ahead of herself, if she can get you looking acceptable but can't seem to bring herself up to par." He continues. I felt the cord of my patience snap. However before I have the chance to act, a body forces its way into our small group.

"Chairman! How wonderful it is to see you, I was just wondering if I can borrow (y/n). The man I'm talking to seems to be from her Region." Nessa bursts in and lies straight through her teeth. I've seen the trainers and associates from the program, not a single one of them is from Kalos. I watch the Chairman wave her off mindlessly, Nessa holds my arm in a steel grip as she drags me off. Only to stop once we're in a huddle of a small group

"(y/n)? Mate? Are ya good?" Nessa questions waving her hand in front of my face, "Someone better tell me who the fuck Chairman Rose actually is before I rip him apart by the seams to find out myself." I sneer, the group around me takes a noticeable step back. "Welcome to the league." Raihan, low and behold, speaks out while lifting his flute of champagne to his lips. I snatch the glass right out of his hand and turn to face the wall so I can knock back the entire glass without being seen by the entire room hoping to maintain a proper image.

"Damn," A male voice muse, I lick my lips clean and turn to the voice. The owner is a man messily dressed in a punk themed black and white suit. Oddly enough it fits him, even if it makes my habits flare at the messiness. "(y/n), meet Piers, our resident Dark type gym leader." Raihan muses, I straighten my shoulders and hold my head high, daring him to speak to me in any degrading shape or fashion in regards of what he just witnessed.

"Easy there Sweetheart, I ain't judgin'." He chuckles holding his hands up in mock surrender, I hum and quirk my eyebrow. "We all know tha' sack a shit can get under ya skin." The man muses, "Still doesn't answer my question." I grumble placing Raihan's now empty glass on a tray that passes by. I manage to snag two full glasses before the waiter gets out of reach, I pass one over to Raihan who knocks his glass against mine before taking a sip.

"The Chairman...He's not what ya call a trustworthy person." Raihan spoke slowly, "He twists words like it ain't nothin'." Piers adds, "Not to mention, he's the biggest manipulator in Galar." Nessa hissed crossing her arms. "I can't tell you how many times he's threatened to buy out my company." She whispers venomously, "Or disband my gym because dragons are a 'subtype'." Raihan mutters, "Nothin' compared to Piers or Leon though." Raihan continues.

"Oh?" I query, "Piers doesn't get funding for his city because of his gym isnt able to Gigamax and Leon...Well he works Leon like a chained Houndoom. No offence." Raihan whispers. "None taken." I mumble as my eyes fall to Piers then across the room to Leon who looks like he's laughing uncomfortably. It sparks something in my chest, the way it all feels so familiar. I watch as Leon tenses up as Chairman Rose pats Leon's shoulder, then it clicks, why it seems all so familiar.

"Well I'll be damned," I whisper breathlessly, "Even across an entire sea I can't seem to get away from him." I snarl. I knock back my entire flute of champagne, this time uncaring if anyone sees me even if the entire room was watching me under a spotlight. "Alright love, I think ya should take iteasy." Raihan warns taking my empty flute, "Perhaps," I muse carelessly, "However, I'd like to get my fun in. Because after tonight there's a long road of work for me." I sigh out.

"Why ya say that?" Piers' question, "Because I think it's finally time someone shows this man what it's really like to play at the big table when it comes to the game of stars and fame." I giggle, grabbing a new glass of champagne. "Are you sure bout that (y/n)? Do ya have any idea if they'd let ya go that far?" Nessa whispers leaning close so prying ears can't hear.

"I don't think the question is who's going to let me Nessa, my dear. It's who's going to stop me and who am I going to crush under my heel first." I answer, boring my eyes into the Chairman as he laughs along with some ambassador. I smile when he feels my eyes on him and scans the room until his eyes land on me. I raise my glass in salute before taking a sip. He doesn't respond and only goes back to conversation, but it only brings a smile to my face.

One filled with malice and promise, this man thinks he knows so much, but I'm going to show him how wrong he is. "Raihan? Piers?" I question finally tearing my eyes away from the Chairman. The two men hum in response, "You wouldn't happen to be so loyal that you wouldn't slip me a copy of your gym contracts would you?" I smile flawlessly. "I can have you one in a few days," Raihan smiles, "Fuck I can get you the original by tomorrow. If this means what I think it means." Piers smirks. "A copy will do just fine, Piers, and as a shareholder in your company Nessa I think it's within my rights to see the percentages of the shares and their holders." I smile. "Of course." Nessa shrugs with a devious smirk.

"Wonderful. Now if you would be so kind as to excuse me, I have a job to maintain." I chirp, I don't wait to be excused before I make my way over to a thoughtlessly wondering Leon. "Come, I think it's time we make our exit." I smile, "I couldn't agree more." The man sighs out. I could only smile. 

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