Weiss scribbled away on a holographic screen. Another day, another signature which meant another contract and better business ventures for the Schnee Dust Company. Though simply designed, her office was something to be awed. It was small with a primarily white design, the furniture a slight off-white so that you knew it was there, a glass table set on marble. The state of the art technology was what made her office truly special, her desk alone served as; a touch screen monitor, holographic projector, intercom and a list of other functions Weiss had either forgotten or didn't care enough to use. It was a result of unimaginable research developments, though it wasn't so far a dream for the young CEO as its creation was the direct result of Schnee industries.
Weiss spun in her chair before walking over to take in the breathtaking view of Atlas. 30 floors up and she could see almost to the edge of the continent. She gazed down at the people who game and went, some her employees others just citizens. They felt so small to her, so estranged. Weiss had spent the majority of her life behind doors as the heiress of the company name and when she came of age she was made just that; the body and soul of Schnee Industries. Her word was law. Whatever she wished for became a reality with the company's efforts. Her leadership and near cutthroat attitude had raised prophets and made Weiss a household name. We were talking sponsorships, TV appearances, magazines covers and any other bell or whistle that came with it. Weiss had everything…nearly everything.
"I've brought you today's paper and your afternoon tea Ms. Schnee."
"Thank you Ms. Belladonna." Weiss said with a smile as she faced her dark haired secretary.
Blake Belladonna; 25, the same age as Weiss and essentially the closest thing the CEO had to a friend.
"What's my schedule for today?"
"You also have a meeting with the public relations committee and the design team the design team. You also got a call to see if you would be interested in sponsoring the reigning champion of International Tournament of Hunters, Pyrrha Nikos, again."
"You can tell them yes, I'm quite the fan of hers." Weiss sipped her tea. She had been a fan of Pyrrha since she was a young teen, admired her even, back when Weiss too entertained the idea of becoming a huntress. They had even met on occasion.
"Also…" there was a long pause in Blake's words, it told Weiss that she wouldn't like what came next.
"Spit it out, waiting won't solve anything."
"Your father is on line one…" Blake said as she hid behind her tablet, amber eyes filled with slight worry behind her glasses.
"Oh." Weiss said, her face turning pale(er) as emotion drained from her face. Weiss and her father, the former CEO, had a very strained relationship. One such reasoning among the long list was that Weiss had forcibly removed him as CEO in a hostile takeover when she became majority shareholder. Ironically it was also one of the only times Weiss was certain that her father was indeed proud of her. "I supposed I'll speak to him."
"Yes, Ms. Schnee." Blake nodded before pressing something on her tablet.
A window opened up on the large window bringing up the visage of a man both parties were extremely familiar with. "Hello, princess." The face smiled at Weiss before momentarily becoming a cold nod toward Blake.
"May you excuse us Ms. Belladonna," Weiss said, voicing the complaint that her father didn't wish to speak.
"Yes, ma'am." Blake nodded before exiting. It was a custom Blake had grown used to, Mr. Schnee was not fond of outsiders in his presence. If you weren't a Schnee or a business partner than you were expendable to him and even being those things didn't prove much.
"Have you seen todays headline?" Mr. Schnee asked once the third wheel was outside of the room.
"Not yet, Ms. Belladonna had just brought it to me." Weiss explained as she reached for the paper.
"I'll save you the trouble," he cut her off just as she had begun to read the headline out loud. "The White Fang has declared war on us."
"Again," Weiss rolled her eyes. 'I thought it was supposed to be news'. Weiss kept the thought to herself, she knew her father hated when she spoke out of turn. But the White Fang declaring war on the Schnees was old news. Literally, as old as the company itself.
"Yes, this time they've listed their prime target as…you."
"Me?" Weiss nearly screamed. "What does the White Fang want with me?" The CEO was taken aback. Her mouth went dry as fear took hold. "I've done nothing to them, what does a group of terrorist and thugs want with me?"
"It's the name sweetie," her father sighed. "You're a Schnee, sweetie, and to those animals we're all the same."
Weiss took a sip of tea, it took every ounce of grace she had not to let the cup shake violently in her hands. "Bunch of savages those Faunus are."
"Right," he father nodded in agreement. "So I've take necessary precautions and found you a bodyguard. They should be arriving shortly."
"Excuse me?" Weiss barked. "I don't need a bodyguard!"
"Yes, you do!" Her father assured. "As current CEO you need to be protected, you ARE Schnee industries and as the former CEO it's my duty to assure the future of the company I worked hard for."
"But-"
"No buts young lady, this is for your own good." Her father gaze was stern, it made Weiss feel so small and weak under it. "You aren't capable of protecting yourself so I'm doing what I think is necessary. Plus she seems to be a friend of Winter's, so she came highly recommended."
Weiss failed at suppressing an eye roll. Winter, her sister and family star, had risen to stardom as a Huntress when Weiss had failed. Their relationship had always been strained, more so than Weiss and her father's. Winter was considered perfect in every way, not something Weiss had easily measured up to.
"Look princess, I'm doing what I think is best ok?"
"Okay." Weiss sighed defeated. She knew there was no point in resisting. It never helped her in the long run.
"Good. Come on, give your old dad a smile." Weiss smiled, albeit very reluctantly. "That's my girl. Now, I have to go, take care kiddo." Without delay the face disappeared, window closed and the call ended. With just as much speed the smile faded from Weiss' face.
"Is it over?" Blake called as she peeked into the room.
"Were you eavesdropping, Ms. Belladonna?" Weiss shot her secretary a frigid glare.
"Sorry, I have very good ears." Blake smiled a tad bashful.
"Well whatever, not like it matters." Weiss shrugged.
"I think your father has good intentions."
Weiss gave a sharp laugh. "Good intentions? My father? Ha! I can assure you that you are most certainly wrong." Weiss sighed as she looked gazed out the window, where her father's visage had just been only moments before. "You heard him, he wants to protect the head of the company, it just so happens that he'll be protecting me. He's always been like that, doing what he think is best for the company and not the people."
"Ah," Blake said flatly, not certain if she indeed care. "My apologies."
"It's fine." Weiss continued to hold her glare, this time it fixated on her own reflection. It was now trained on her own face, specifically the scar that ran over her left eye. She had gotten that when she tried to become a huntress, her father had set up several rigorous test that she needed to pass…and she hadn't. Her scar was proof of that, of her failure.
"But can you push back my appointments, I feel as though I need some air."
"Yes, Ms. Schnee." Blake nodded again."
The elevator ride was a quick one. Weiss had demanded a VIP elevator be built for the private use of only a select few. Thirty floors of stopping in a cramped elevator was not something she wanted in her day to day life. She waved and nodded to hellos to as she made her way through the lobby. It was the closest thing she had to simple conversations, most of them avoided her gaze or remained silent. The only time she really had exchanges with people were during board meetings. Weiss found herself sighing as she tried to convince herself that she didn't need human interaction. She was a Schnee, the better if not best breed. She had nothing in common with everyone else, that's the ideology she had been raised on.
"Hey! Ms. Schnee! Weiss!" Someone was shouting. Shouting her name. Probably the tabloids or something, their heiress elected to ignore it, choosing to adorn a pair of shades to hide her face. "YO ICE QUEEN!"
Ok, maybe not the paparazzi. The last comment made Weiss spin on her heels to see a large woman with flowing golden locks dressed in a suit waving her over. The woman was stood in front of what seemed like a luxury car, but why was she smiling and calling Weiss over.
"What is it? You're wasting my time." Weiss folded her arms and did her best to look as cross as possible, giving life to the Ice Queen comment. It was a nickname she had earned thanks to her business tactics, but no one had ever dared say it directly to her face.
"Yang Xiao Long at your service." The woman presented a card from her pocket, Weiss took note of the leather gloves that covered the blonde's hands as she took the card.
"Who? I'm not scheduled for a meeting right now, if you're looking for a handout you've come to the wrong place."
"I'm not looking for any money, trust me." The blonde waved the thought off with a confident smirk before gesturing to the card. "Your father sent me, I'm your new bodyguard."
Weiss nearly growled. She had hoped to get more time alone before she became the prisoner of an appointed oaf. "I don't need a bodyguard."
"Well according to the check your dad cut me and todays morning paper, yeah, you do." Yang opened the car's rear door. "Right this way."
"And if I refuse?"
"You can, then I'll just stuff you in the back seat anyway."
"You'd be fired."
"Maybe, and then you'd end up with some other bodyguard."
Weiss entertained the thought. The blonde was right, her dad would probably send an endless list of bodyguards if he was serious, which he always was. So she could either fight for her freedom while she still had it, or go willingly. Well stubborn was Weiss, middle name. Okay, no it isn't.
"I'll take my chances." Weiss turned her back on the body guard and proceeded to walk away.
"Wow, didn't actually think you'd choose the hard way," Yang said, slightly dumbfounded. "Your sister was right about you."
Weiss rolled her eyes, mentioning her sister would not help Yang's case.
"Weiss Schnee, you will pay for your crimes against the people!" Another voice shouted, this time louder and filled with hate. The voice drew in everyone's attention. It was a protestor, not something unfamiliar in the shadow of a looming office building.
"Wha?" Weiss seemed almost dumbstruck as they came charging toward her, wielding something in their hands.
It was a blur. Weiss felt a breeze brush past her with the force of a hurricane as a golden blur collided with the protestor, sent them airborne before bringing them crashing back down.
"Are you okay Ms. Schnee?" Yang asked, with what seemed like genuine concern in her voice.
"Y-yes." Weiss mouthed, she was completely frozen, the shock of everything still taking her. She turned her eyes downward to the object that the protestor had been wielding. A bucket, pooling over with what she really hoped was red paint.
"Still think you don't need a bodyguard?" Yang asked as pinned the attacker under her knee.
Weiss didn't want to admit that she was wrong. But what would she have done? She couldn't protect herself from this, what could she do against an entire organization of trained fighters?
Weiss Schnee; 25, CEO to the biggest organization on Remnant and currently in mortal danger.
