Title: Girlfriend 22
Author: MistyWing
Rating: T for mild sexual innuendoes and or some sexual content
Genre: Humor/Silliness/Romance/Sakura & Syaoran
Summary: Sakura has thirty days to make it or break it and she'll do anything for that proverbial pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Yelan has hired Sakura to find a girlfriend in thirty days for her good-looking-hot-shot son. Easy? Yeah, it would have been if Yelan hired a young lady much more qualified for the position. Such a job comes with ground rules that cannot ground the spirit of a cheerful girl who hasn't got a clue what she's truly bargained for. Meanwhile, the good-looking-hot-shot son is slowly losing his sanity.
Proposition
How should one explain this; this raging conflagration that no sane person could explain?
…Her finger nails painfully dug into the paint of the wall behind her, while his flaming fingers slid up and down the fabric of her loose blouse. His heated hands penetrated the fabric of her clothing, singed her skin, and continued licking flares of fire in her sizzling blood. His searing kiss was hungry and demanding as well. Too willing and entirely wanton, she parted her lips to him and fed him his needs. When her lips parted, he realized that she had joined in the pleasure by coaxing him to enter her core in a manner that would leave them both dizzy. In return, his lips to hers, did exquisite and poignant things to her body; sending a thrilling chill down her spine. It made her wonder, how it would feel to crawl inside him and join their souls together. It made him wonder if she was the cause and remedy to his insanity. She was the usurper of his practicality and yet, she was all that he could think about...
Okay, this was neither the time nor place to be in the throes of love making…
Yeah, there was a job to do, but if only she could just remember what that job was…
… Let's pose this question once more; how the heck did it come down to these two people, who were like a mixture of oil and water that refused to come together due to the difference in their density, kissing each other in the confines of a closet?
"Never ever let anyone tell you 'no,'" her father had told her countless times.
Alright, so they said 'no' to her more than a couple of times, but they couldn't say 'no' the millionth time. In fact, they didn't need to say 'no' the millionth time. They would just honey up their 'no's' in their diplomatic and typical way; words on top of words that held the same crucial point.
Tomoyo said it in her unchanged gentle soprano, "Sakura, I love you, but I can't give you that kind of money. I'm selective about my spending on you. You could just show appreciation for the clothes I give you for a change."
Touya snapped at her as usual, "That's enough, squirt. It's time you quit daydreaming and start making a living like a normal person. Get a job and survive as God ordained."
Inside Tomoyo's room or inside Touya's office she would whine, "Why?"
They would give the exact same answer with the familiar matching tone, "Running a business is not something you want to do."
In other words, "I can't trust you with a chunk of money," "You can't even manage your own closet, don't jump the gun and try managing a shop," or "Running your own business is not the same as picking up the flute."
Starting her own florist shop was her dream. It was her father's dream, too, since it had also been her mother, Nadeshiko's, dream. And now that he was gone it became more important to her to obtain that dream.
For that dream she had ended up applying for a job post offered by the retired District Attorney, who took a lesser job as a partner with Goldman and Steinbeck some years ago. She had met the attorney, Yelan Li, at the Annual Amateur Inventors Sweep (AIS).
With the economy taking a turn for the worst, a chance for the average Joe or the average Jane to win $25,000 at the Annual Amateur Inventors Sweep was like winning the mega bucks lottery. Sakura needed a six figure winning, but something, particularly money in any size, was better than nothing. For the regular American Dunkin' Donuts worker $25,000 was cake, ice cream, or whatever you like to sink your molars into. For Sakura, $25,000 was a small portion of her dream.
At the AIS, contestants had to present their inventions to a panel of judges, who so happened to be a bunch of CEOs, presidents, and executives. Sakura's entry wasn't much of an invention. Her strawberry float, decorated with an assortment of flowers and shrubbery was appealing, but nothing state of the art. She couldn't even get fourth place, which was just an honorable mention. Those top guys treated eye candy like sore thumbs. They were only going to invest on ideas that promised huge.
After she had lost, Yelan approached her with a bigger prize. The stars were shining brightly for her that night and Sakura had pictured her supportive father smiling down on her from his cushioned perch in heaven.
"My son, who is the founder of Li Diamonds—yes, that jeweler—requires a personal secretary to cater to his standard needs and deal with the simple office work. You won't be disappointed with the salary regardless of your education and titles or lack there of," the attorney told her. "If you're interested, come by my office tomorrow at noon." Sakura took Yelan's proffered business card with shaky fingers.
How much did a secretary of the famous Li Diamonds president make, Sakura wondered? If it was about $60,000 a year, with all the state tax, federal tax, Medicare & social security, Fidelity 41(K) (maybe), utility bills, and rent to consider, it would take her ten to twenty years to come up with the money to run her flower business. She would have to beg Touya to give her "splurge money," but she would have to redefine splurge. Forget it; Touya's money was out of the picture. Sakura would just have to live with the clothes that Tomoyo designed for her. Not to forget to mention, stocking her cupboards with canned vegetables would be foreign to her, but necessary.
"Hi Sakura. Glad to see you." Yelan sauntered into the conference room with a legal pad and sat across from Sakura at the round table.
Yelan Li was someone Sakura wanted to imitate in some shape or form thirty or so years from this day. Even though her hair was streaked with silver, her skin was a smooth, unwrinkled pearl surface. Best of all, Yelan was a woman with money, power, and direction.
"This kind of interview will be somewhat different from the other job interviews you might have had in your professional life. I want to be personal with you and I want you to be personal with me," Yelan explained.
"Then, let me start off by saying, I really like that subtle musky scent of Japanese Cherry Blossom perfume. It's nice."
Yelan beamed at her. "Why, thank you, Darling. Aren't you sweet?"
"Father used to say I'm a little too sweet sometimes," Sakura said in her reedy voice.
"I agree with him, but I don't necessarily think that's a bad thing," Yelan spoke, noting the frown etching the young woman's face.
Sakura paused and began twiddling her thumbs. "I used to work at a bakery before they had to close up shop. I have a Bachelor in Arts for Women Studies and a Masters in Management and Business Organization. I'm twenty-four."
"That's very good, darling, but about the rest of the educated world your age have your credentials. Yet, the best of minds are stuck flipping burgers or ringing up our essentials. You and I both have our reasons for being here, so let's exchange our thoughts and beliefs. I'll tell you why I picked you as a candidate and you tell me why you want this position."
"To be honest with you, I don't want any sort of job. I only want some money, so I can start my own business arranging and selling flowers. This is my dream and this has been my father's dream."
"And your father is unwilling to take part in this endeavor?"
"He passed away last year."
Yelan gasped. "I'm so sorry, darling. If I had known I wouldn't have brought it up."
"It's no biggie. I'm happy to be reminded of him." Not to mention driven, she thought offhandedly.
"Well, my son's previous secretary had to take leave for, um, company issues that have nothing to do with legal matters or, um, impropriety. Everything's resolved, but he hasn't had a secretary for a number of days now." The way this articulate attorney stumbled on her words was a sign that she was holding back. "He's looking for a secretary and I intuitively believe that you are perfect for him."
Maybe Yelan didn't understand or missed the part when Sakura said she didn't want to work for anyone and wanted to start her own business.
"You want this florist shop as much as I want to retire and raise my grandchildren yet to be born."
"You're not that old, yet," Sakura murmured.
Crow's feet sprang around Yelan's eyes as she laughed. "I guess I'm not, but my son is turning thirty next month and I still don't have any grandchildren. I keep coming out of retirement because of a tireless sense to keep working. I really want to retire and that's only going to happen if I find my son serious about a special someone."
"Oh, I get it! My brother Touya married after college, but when he did, my archeologist father stopped working to do some babysitting and house-sitting."
"Babysitting or even house-sitting sounds divine to me."
Sakura frowned quizzically at the older woman. "Okay, so your son isn't into women? Is that your-er-his problem?"
"Yeah, that's the problem. He isn't interested in anything, but work." Yelan gnawed at her lower lip and continued, "Here's my proposition; you work for him under my recommendation, but on the side, you will secretly be working for me. By the end of the month I'll write you a check… For how much?"
Sakura did not hesitate to state her price. "$250,000."
In turn, the strict lawyer didn't blink at the figure as she spoke nonchalantly. "At the end of the month I'll write you a check for $250,000 if you secretly work for me. Your job is to find my son a girlfriend that he likes."
"I'll work for you, Yelan!" Sakura exclaimed, sticking her hand out to the attorney to shake and seal the deal.
"There will be drawbacks."
"Anything."
"Make sure that what we've talked about today stays in this room. When you're working for me, I repeat, do not clue him in on my being involved. Keep me out of your line of work," she iterated sternly.
"Absolutely."
"The girl you find for him has to be marital material. Let me make myself clear; she has to be potential wife material."
"Piece of cake."
Yelan chuckled. "I don't think so, Sakura darling. Syaoran is a rather fastidious man. Taking him out is like pulling teeth. Asking him out is like walking that green mile to death row."
"I'll figure something out."
Yelan gave her a maternal smile bubbling with adulation. "You will; I'm sure of it. Keep in mind you are really working for him under the pretense. Can you do that?"
"Yes, Ma'am."
"You also need a disguise that will make you look ordinary. The way you look just won't do."
"Huh?"
"Heavens, child! Someone must have told you, at some point, just how adorable you are. You mustn't look so striking if you want Syaoran to hire you…"
"I never thought…"
"You mean to tell me you don't notice yourself turning heads?"
"No, Ma'am," Sakura gasped in shock.
Sighing, Yelan simpered. "It doesn't matter. Will you just look unattractive in the office for the next month, please?"
"Yes, of course."
"Then, welcome aboard," Yelan said, taking Sakura's outstretched hand and giving it a firm shake.
"So you're taking me off the average Joes and Janes' ship to take me on deck the Girlfriend Project Voyager?"
"Yes and you have a month."
"Great!" Sakura chirped, jumping out of her chair to get ready.
"Once you walk out this door your job begins. The clock starts ticking," Yelan warned.
"I understand."
Sakura opened the door. "Oh, yes, Sakura, one last thing." Yelan said gravely, her tone making Sakura halt. "Syaoran has had countless secretaries. I won't say why these secretaries have had their streak of bad luck with my son for the sake of privacy. It will only be a matter of time before you figure it out yourself."
"Uh-huh."
In the same grave tone, Yelan spoke again, "Be careful. He takes after his father and is what women would coin 'The Devil.' So my final directive is this."
Now the tone she used changed to a mingled resolve and serenity.
The serene tail end of her voice swept away most of the conviction in the forefront when she spoke. "Do not fall in love with him."
My opportunity to fall back into comedy has broken out. I'm looking forward to writing this particularly light hearted and hilarious story. Title will be subject to change. Please, give me some reviews or feedback regarding the story. I'll be reading all your messages this blizzard ridden season. Happy Holidays!
Best,
M. Wing