Chapter 1

A tall, dark and handsome man sat at his desk reading over contracts with possible business partners who wanted a chance to be a part of his multi-billion dollar empire. His father had started the corporation from the ground up with a few of his friends straight from university; but before his first son was born they all regrettably died, leaving him the only heir to the company. At the age of 14, his father passed away, leaving only his mother to care for him and the company that he left behind. His mother struggled with the business at first, not knowing how to run it but slowly she began to learn and even doubled the profits within two years. Unfortunately this meant that she wouldn't have time to spend with her teenage son, who had already become a spoiled brat, party animal and playboy; unbeknownst to her. Finally now at the age of 25, his mother has seen who he has become and is worried that he will have no one in this world after she passes away, because of his cold heart and playboy ways.

The telephone suddenly rings and the man picks it up, "Li," he speaks. "Hello cousin, how-" "What do you want now Hiiragizawa? I'm busy." Syaoran spat. "Do I really need a reason to call you? But anyway I'm going to be in Japan and I was thinking that we should meet for coffee sometime this week." Syaoran sighed; Eriol was his only family besides his mother and other cousin Meiling, but someone that he couldn't stand to be in the same room with. "How many times do I have to tell you not to call my personal line?" Eriol chuckled. "I don't like speaking to your secretary since it's always a different woman whenever I call. Last month was Saya, and the month before that was Ichigo." Syaoran replied, "Is it your business that I need to find competent ones?" "It is if you have relationships with-" "My schedule is packed at the moment so just call my secretary with the date." Syaoran said hanging up on Eriol.

A woman walked depressingly through the streets of Tokyo, "Am I ever going to find a job, I can't keep living like this..." she groaned, nearly dropping a couple of her resumes on the ground. Her name was Sakura and she was a business major straight out of Tokyo University at the age of 22, whatever you asked she could do; marketing, project management, Human Resources, the list goes on. Sakura was ranked at the top of her class because she thought that if she worked hard she would get a great job doing what she loved as soon as she graduated. But life doesn't go according to plan, she quickly learned. Her last two interviews today were complete disasters, even more so then the ones last week.

Syaoran's secretary walked into his office, carrying a binder full of documents and placed it on his desk. She had long flowing golden blonde hair and crystal blue eyes. "Is there anything else I can get for you, Mister Li?" Syaoran looked up at her for a second and went back to reading another contract. "That's it for now Kieko." She had a disappointed look on her face. "So are you coming over tonight?" Syaoran smirked, "It was just one night, do you really think I'm interested in you?" Kieko felt embarrassed. "Then what was all that flirting beforehand in this office?" Syaoran's piercing amber eyes met hers, "It was just something to keep me entertained for the time being. Oh and you're fired." Kieko fumed just as the door flung open.

"Syaoran!" It was his mother. She had long black hair and onyx eyes, and her face was slowly starting to show lines of wrinkles but she still looked very young for her age. Kieko stood there frozen, not knowing who she was. Syaoran didn't even look up from his documents. "Who are you?" His mother asked looking at Kieko. "I-I'm his secretary." "Former secretary," Syaoran stated. "Syaoran, you can't keep throwing away secretaries like this, they are getting hard to come by because of your reputation with them." Syaoran looked at Kieko. "What are you still doing here? Get your stuff and leave, you've been dismissed." Syaoran spat, watching Kieko leave from his office. "That's it Syaoran, you will no longer have a say in this matter, I will find a secretary for you myself, whether you like it or not." Syaoran sighed, leaning back in his leather chair with his hands behind his head. "Must you interfere in my business mother? I have always conducted the interviews with my secretaries." His mother had had enough. "Not this time Syaoran," she countered leaving the room.

Sakura was still looking around for interviews and didn't look where she was going and bumped into a woman, knocking her coffee to the ground. "Oh I'm so sorry about that." Sakura sincerely said to the woman. "I can buy you another coffee." "No need, it was almost empty anyway." The woman replied, picking up one of Sakura's resumes from the ground. "Are you looking for a job?" She asked, earning a nod from Sakura. "Well, then would you like an interview?" Sakura beamed, "Thank you, I would like that."

An Hour Later...

"Your qualifications are outstanding I must say from the other two applicants I interviewed today," The woman cautiously said, not wanting Sakura to turn her down. "But for the time being I'm looking for a personal secretary and assistant for my son, Syaoran Li. Will you take the job?" Sakura didn't even hesitate to think, all she wanted was to have a job and even more so at Li Corporation, if this was her first job, even as a secretary, her foot was right in the door to opportunities. "Yes, I humbly accept." Sakura shook her hand, earning a smile from Syaoran's mother. "Excellent, you start right away and I'll show you to your desk." "Thank you very much Mrs. Li", Sakura gratefully thanked. "Please, call me Yelen, Sakura. No need for formalities at Li Corporation with me."

Syaoran paced in his office, thinking about what kind of secretary his mother had recently hired. 'No doubt she probably picked an average looking girl with high qualifications', he thought, sitting back in his chair. He would have to get rid of her and fast without his mother knowing within a month when she would leave on her business trip to England. He had a plan forming in his mind, he would drive her crazy, giving her impossible tasks and forcing her to leave on her own. It was foolproof.

Yelen showed Sakura to her desk and told her of her duties, many which seemed straight forward and relatively simple to her. She also gave her Syaoran's cell phone number as well as a company cell phone. "Now, Syaoran may even give you some other duties or tasks to do for him which is where the assistant part comes in." Sakura nodded and began working. Yelen made her way into Syaoran's office and saw him looking out the window. "Now then, your new secretary Sakura Kinomoto has already started her basic secretarial duties and here is her company cell phone number." "Yes mother," Syaoran groaned, still looking out the window. "And don't even think of firing her while I'm away, she is highly qualified and I would rather have her doing some other job. After a year I would like to give her a chance of another position within the company."

Syaoran whipped his head toward his mother "A year?" Yelen smiled, "You thought that she would only be here a month or so like the others? Please Syaoran, you really need to grow up and face the fact that people just can't be thrown away. When you were young, my secretary and best friend stayed with me for 7 years before she retired, and your father's stayed for over 20 years. And don't forget, I hold the rights to this company and I can easily sign it off to Eriol." Syaoran massaged his temples, plopping back into his chair. 'It's going to be harder to get rid of her, especially since mother wants to hold on to her. Even worse Eriol would get the company.' Syaoran groaned. "Alright, but what if she quits?" Yelen pondered, "Well, if she goes on her own I can't stop her from being your secretary, but if you were to force her, that's a completely different story." 'Shit.' Syaoran thought, this was going to be hell for him.

Sakura was already getting used to her tasks, making Yelen proud that she managed to find someone like her on such short notice and said goodbye to her as she left the building to take a short vacation before leaving for England. Syaoran was depressed at his mother's demands and left early for the day, looking over at his new secretary, only she wasn't there. 'Qualified my ass.' Syaoran thought, 'She's not even as her desk'. Syaoran got into his car and drove downtown.

Sakura stretched in her chair "Glad I'm done." Her day was stressful today with lots of phone calls, planning meetings and there was a man who asked to speak with Syaoran but when she checked his office he wasn't there. Come to think of it, she hadn't even met him, let alone seen what he looks like. Oh well, there was always tomorrow, Sakura got her jacket and took the subway home.

"ZZZZ,ZZZZ" Sakura's phone buzzed on her night table. She began to stir and looked at her clock, 3:23AM. Sakura then picked up her phone without looking to see who was calling, "Hello?" "Come pick me up." Sakura didn't recognize the voice, "Umm, who's this?" "Your boss, now hurry up, I'm at Club Equinox." "But I don't-" Syaoran hung up on her. "-have a car". Sakura got dressed in jeans and a tank top and took the subway to the club. She arrived at 4:00 AM and began to look for him, mentally noting that she had no clue what he looked like. She tried calling him back while wandering around the front and bar area but there was no answer and there was no one picking up their phones as far as she could tell by looking around. Sakura made her way to the dance floor, still trying to call Syaoran, trying to think what he would look like based on his mother's looks, black hair and onyx eyes.

Suddenly a man with short black hair and green eyes grabbed her by the arm. "Hey, do you want to dance?" Sakura looked at him and asked "Mr. Li?" The man chuckled. "Nope, but I could be Mr. Li if you want." Sakura freed herself from his grasp and tried to walk away but he stopped her once again. "Come on beautiful, just one dance that's all I ask." "Sorry, I'm not here to dance." Sakura defended, only he didn't believe her. "You don't look like you're here for anything else. You're dressed in skinny jeans and a tank top." He had a point; maybe she should have dressed like a secretary. "I'm sorry but I've got to go." Sakura turned around and bumped into someone's chest. "You heard her, she's not interested, now get lost." A calm, sexy and yet dangerous voice threatened, causing the other guy to back away. "Alright, I'm not looking for any trouble." And with that the man disappeared from the dance floor. Sakura didn't bother to look up at the man, and thought to quickly slip away, but the man put his arm around her waist and whispered into her ear, "come on and follow me."

Sakura tired to struggle free but he was stronger than the other man. "Stop struggling, I'm not going to hurt you." He said, leading her to the centre of the dance floor. "Please let me go, I need to find someone." His piercing amber eyes met her emerald ones. "Who, may I ask are you looking for?" Sakura broke the gaze and tried to walk. "I won't let you go until you tell." Sakura sighed. "I'm looking for a Mr. Li." The man looked at her; medium length light brown hair, a gorgeous figure, mesmerizing emerald eyes; in a word she was beautiful and it wasn't just the alcohol talking. 'She must be my new secretary.' He thought. "Syaoran Li, by any chance?" Sakura nodded. "Perfect, then you've found him." Sakura stared in shock, but it was broken quickly from the smell of alcohol from his lips. "Wait, I need to tell you, I don't have a car." "Then drive me back in mine." Syaoran replied back. "I don't have a licence." Sakura answered, earning a smirk from Syaoran. "It'll be fine, if the cops were to pull you over, they'll see that you're with me."

Sakura saw that they were going the wrong direction, opposite to the exit of the club. "Mr. Li we-" "Call me Syaoran, Sakura." Syaoran stopped her. "Fine, Syaoran, we're going the wrong way, this is not the exit." "I know that." Syaoran sat her down on a stool and ordered her a drink. "A Virgin White Freezie for the lady." Sakura looked at him sit down. "And for me, a glass of whisky on the rocks." He turned to Sakura, "Don't worry, yours doesn't have alcohol." Sakura had had enough. "Mr. Li- I mean Syaoran, I'm not here to socialize, I need to get home and wake up for work tomorrow, as should you." Syaoran took a sip and replied, "You don't have to come into work tomorrow; I've got another job for you instead." Sakura sighed, she knew that she'd have other tasks but babysitting him was definitely not what she had in mind. Sakura tried a sip and liked it; it was very tasty for a non-alcoholic drink. Syaoran finished his glass and grabbed Sakura's arm, taking her to the dance floor. "Syaoran can't we just leave?" Sakura asked, annoyed that he was dragging her again. "We will," Syaoran said twirling her around to meet his eyes, "after we dance."

Syaoran pulled her closer to him and his hands encircled her waist possessively, as he started moving to the music. "Come on Sakura, relax." Syaoran breathed into her ear, his voice sent a chill down her spine. His hands moved up her body and he placed her arms around his neck. Sakura slowly began to relax looking into his amber eyes, they had momentarily softened. Sakura still kept a close distant from him, making Syaoran a little disappointed. He twirled her again so she was facing away from him. "Lean back against me and just relax." Sakura sighed giving up, and started to enjoy herself. They began to grind in unison to the music, earning them stares from the other dancers on the floor. Syaoran's hands travelled up and down her torso to her hips, then finally resting on her thighs, sending a shock within her body. Sakura was in a state of euphoria, moving her body suggestively against Syaoran and getting lost in the music. Syaoran was keeping his mouth shut, afraid of moaning out loud. 'I've never met a woman with moves like this.' He thought, getting a little tired from trying to keep up with Sakura, he could feel that the alcohol was starting to affect him. He brought his lips down to her neck, nibbled lightly and kissed it. It shocked Sakura making her turn around quickly and almost met her lips with his. "Longing for a kiss?" Syaoran asked just as the music stopped.

Sakura blushed a little and moved slightly away from him, just as he cupped her chin in his hand. "Didn't you say we could leave after one dance?" Sakura asked annoyed at his tactics. "If we must." Syaoran replied with a tone of disappointment in his voice. He again dragged Sakura out the door to his car and handed her the keys. "You better not crash it." Sakura sighed, getting into the driver's seat.

She pulled up to his house, luckily the streets were empty and there were no cops, let alone cars in sight on the way there. Sakura handed him back the keys and said goodnight. Syaoran grabbed her wrist, "And where are you going?" Sakura stared at him. "Where else, home." "If I weren't drunk, I'd drive you back and I would let you take my car but if you were to get pulled over for not having a license..." Sakura groaned, he had a point. "I wouldn't let a lady walk back home herself so I'll let you stay for the night. Who knows who you might run into." Syaoran wrapped his arm around Sakura and let her into the house.

"Upstairs and to the left is an empty bedroom," Syaoran stated, hanging his jacket and tie on a hook. "Across your room and two doors down is the bathroom, okay?" Syaoran asked walking with her upstairs. Sakura sighed, nodding. Syaoran looked at Sakura's emerald eyes then turned to walk to his room. "Goodnight, we'll talk later in the morning." "Goodnight." Sakura said, going into her room.