Hey everyone! I finally got around to revising Business Replies. I renamed it and revised it greatly! I hope you enjoy this new version, and I'm sorry if it has a slow start… I promise it will speed up next chapter! This chapter is from Serena's point of view.
DISCLAIMER: don't own characters.
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Business To Attend To
By Silver Running Water -- Chapter 1------------------------------------
"Darien Chiba." That was it. I looked up at him and tried not to think of how devilishly handsome he was. That'd be inappropriate. But still, I couldn't help it…
I forced myself to ignore those wily thoughts and focus on neatly crossing his name off of Mr. Logan's agenda.
He had walked up to my desk and stated his name as if he did this sort of thing everyday. As if he got interviewed all the time and knew he was going to get the job. I don't know why, but it irritated me more than the fact that I actually found him handsome; and I didn't want him to get the job. Just so he wouldn't be so perfect anymore. I suppose that's an evil thought, but what could do I? I was only human.
"You may take a seat," I replied indifferently and shuffled the papers around my desk, trying to look professional and as if I had things to do other than stare at him all day.
"Where?"
What? I looked up quickly and realized that there weren't any chairs indeed. Darn. In the movies they always had them placed conveniently across the secretary. I grew slightly embarrassed at my blunder, but was determined not to let it show and keep up my nonchalant exterior.
"Well then, I suppose you'll just have to stand," I carelessly waved a hand around the room.
He only raised an eyebrow. What was it with this man? I sincerely hoped that he didn't think that he was perfect. But I knew he did. And once again as I stumbled on to that fact, it annoyed me even greater.
It was silent for five minutes as he stood there, observing the room that I had decorated myself. My desk was placed horizontally facing the entrance and the file cabinets were lined up against the walls. I had random plants scattered on top of shelves and little stuffed animals. The walls were olive painted because I had always had this dream to work in an office of that color. Mr. Logan didn't mind how I decorated, as long as I made it more appealing. The door to his own office was behind my desk, so it wasn't possible to get past me without an appointment. Unless I was sleeping. Which didn't happen as often as I wanted.
I knew that Mr. Logan was ready and waiting. I kept track of these things, so of course I should know, but I've also been with him long enough to know how he works.
He'd become displeased that the interviewee was late and that would put them on his grumpy side, and once he became grumpy, he was cold and sarcastic and took pleasure in watching people fumble around and screw up their interviews. A minute was a big deal in his life. He watched the clock in his office like an eagle whenever he had to interview, which is why my voice was a bit gleeful as I told Mr. Shields he could go in- a minute too late.
Which is also why I was surprised when I glanced at my own Far Side desk clock and realized that Mr. Shields had been in the office with Mr. Logan for over half an hour. It was a record. And highly suspicious. I'll admit that I was a little curious to find out what was going on in there. But it could wait. I had much paper work to do.
I glanced at my desk.
The surface was wiped clear in the center and all my files and contents were organized. Miserably, I realized that on the contrary, I had nothing to do.
I sighed and had the deepest urge to twiddle my thumbs. But I wasn't like that. I was Ms Professional who had no outside life. But really, after three years of no outside life, you begin to miss the "real" world that you've spent your whole life getting prepped for.
I gave another huge sigh, and out of boredom and pitying myself, I began to twirl around in my chair for amusement.
I had been spinning around for about five minutes when I began to feel nauseous. No one ever told me the side affects to having fun. Then again, no one would bother considering I'm a strait-laced girl.
I heaved a sigh and stopped spinning my chair. But that didn't mean the world stopped. In fact, I kept seeing blurry objects around me. I frowned as I sat still, staring straight in front of me, waiting for my vision to sharpen. And when my vision sharpened, it focused on Darien Shields standing in front of me.
I gasped slightly and could feel my cheeks redden deeply. He looked around the office, giving me time to compose myself, and I felt embarrassed at being caught at acting unprofessional. He must have been one of the blurs that I had seen moving around me.
I cleared my throat hastily and looked up at him. "How may I help you?" God, I sounded like a sales clerk.
His mouth lifted slightly before he answered. "Mr. Logan would like that I schedule another appointment."
I'm sure that I reminded him of a fish as I gaped at him amateurishly. He was the first one that had ever been asked to schedule another meeting after being late to the first one. I moped inwardly that my antics to make him late hadn't worked. Snapping out of my daze, I reached to the right side of the desk and grabbed an appointment book. I flipped through searching for an open slot.
"Let's see… Mr. Logan is available… hm… he's actually quite busy for the next two weeks… but I think that I can pencil you in three weeks on… on Tuesday?" I glanced up at him for conformation.
He pursed his lips thoughtfully before holding up a finger, motioning for me to wait as he stepped aside and pulled out his portable phone.
While I waited for him to check his own schedule, the phone on the desk rang and I reached for it.
"Hello, Mr. Logan's office, Serena Anderson speaking." I paused. It was someone canceling an appointment in two days. "Alright, I'll be sure to tell him. Thank you for telling us ahead of time." I hung up and flipped back a couple of pages in the appointment book. As I erased the appointment and wrote a yellow sticky note reminding myself to tell Mr. Logan of the canceled appointment, Darien Shields came back up to my desk.
"Sorry, I'm not free that day," he told me warily, and I had a glimpse of his stressed face. Suddenly, I felt sorry for the man. He hadn't done anything to me, yet here I was, ruining his chances of a job. I felt a wave of guilt wash over me.
I gave him a small, sympathetic smile. "That's alright. Someone just called in and canceled an appointment for this Friday. Would that suit you better?"
He didn't even have to make a call; he immediately gave a curt nod. I guess his secretary must have told him what days he was available. "That'll work."
"Alright, the appointment is right before lunch at 11am." I quickly wrote down the information on a small piece of paper and handed it to him. He nodded his thanks and left, leaving me to stare at his retreating back.
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Well? I hope that wasn't too boring or confusing! More will be explained in the next chapter! Please read and review! Don't forget to check out my website Silver's Heaven for more. (www.silvers-heaven.cjb.net)