Summary: CEO Natsume Hyuuga, a business tycoon in 27, needs a maid for his new luxurious house. But what if he found out that the person he hired is none other than Mikan Sakura, the owner of the second largest company in Japan? What will be his reaction?
Chapter 1: Hiring a New Maid
Natsume crumpled the paper with a scowl and threw the thing into a nearby trashcan. Leaning back on his swivel chair with a weary expression, he sighed. It has already been a week since he announced - publicly, mind you - that he needs a maid for his new house. That is a stupid move on his part, he admits, but on his defense he was pretty out of his mind the moment he did that. Lack of sleep really did numbers on his sanity. Anyway, so it has been a week and up until this moment, nobody was qualified enough to pass the screening he has set up for the aspiring applicants.
Of course he wasn't insane enough not to set some ground rules for his safety and peace of mind. First on his list is she must not be a stupid, annoying, and obsessed fangirl. Second, she must be capable of keeping his place neat and clean. What is the sense of finding a maid when she won't be useful enough? And third, she is forbidden to fall in love with him. This is one rule he strictly implements for himself and for his employees because in business, everyone should be professional.
He isn't what you can call a workaholic. But working for his family's company, the Hyuuga Corporation as its CEO, takes all of his time that he isn't even able to sleep properly, let alone maintain his newly bought house in a smooth and proper condition. Most of the times his only purpose for going home is either to take a bath or get some spare clothes. Although it was convenient to have his own suite within the company building, the prospect of working and living in the same place suffocates him. And thus explains the situation he's having right now.
Closing his eyes, he could feel his temples throbbing. He only got a good 2 hours of sleep last night, but it seems like his paperwork wasn't decreasing even a bit. He was supposed to have a few minutes of shut eye when his intercom buzzed. Groaning, he pressed a button and his secretary's voice emitted from the device.
"Hyuuga-sama," Sumire Shouda, his secretary for one year, started. "Yome-san requested for a schedule right now. Shall I send him in, sir?" He frowned. What in the world is Kokoro Yome doing in his office?
"Let him in." He answered, sitting properly on his chair. Koko then stumbled through the door, the latter grinning from ear to ear. He went straight for the seat in front of his table.
"Hey~ Natsume." Koko greeted, which earned him a frown.
"What are you doing here?" Natsume asked, resuming his works and trying to see whether his presence is worth his time. Koko pulled out his phone and without removing his eyes from its screen, asked him back.
"Well, I heard you're looking for a maid. Some of your female employees are talking about it earlier and actually wanted to try applying. Pffft. That's kinda funny."
"I didn't know you are such a gossip mongrel."
He looked at the raven-haired lad, faking a hurt. "Of course not! I was just, you know, curious. And I'm such a good friend because I'm here to give you moral support since you still haven't found your precious one." Natsume snorted, getting used to his dramatic antics.
"In case you haven't figure it out, I'm steering away from hiring a fangirl. They're such a pain in the ass." Seriously, who in the world could tolerate their loud and annoying squeals? Not to mention their obsession towards him. Oh, the horror.
"Well, maybe I can help with the application process. You see, I'm very good at handling-"
"No, thanks."
"-interviews and your fangirls are no exception." He continued, a sudden thought entering his mind. "Actually, maybe a help from your secretary will also be useful since she's pretty good at detecting fangirls."
Natsume agreed with that. His secretary seems to be good at that particular skill, and he has actually used it to his own benefits. It was just his luck that she seemed unaffected by his good looks and status, making their work relationship great. "I don't have time for that."
"Oh come on," Koko whined, feeling a bit disappointed that his plan wouldn't happen. "The more the merrier."
"Get out or I'll strangle you, Koko." Natsume snapped, knowing that Koko knew he meant harm and at the same time won't hurt him that bad. If you get what that means.
"Hey, I just want a maid too! And it'll be hitting two birds with one stone if I become a part of the application too!" Trust him to be so stupid at the wrong time. He made it sound as if they're playing around.
"No."
Koko paused. "Can I even watch-" When Natsume threw a glare, he put his hands up in surrender. "Okay! I get the point. Anyway, the reason I came by is about the proposal I gave you last week. Have you read it?" And then it was all about work this time. Natsume nodded.
"Yes, but I'd rather talk about it over a meeting. I'll tell Shouda to give you a copy of my feedback before we discuss it." Koko is working for Natsume in their auto department, and he gave the lad his latest designs for their upcoming exhibit this coming December, which was seven months from now.
Koko seemed okay with that. "By the way, I heard Mr. Hazuko's daughter will be holding a birthday ball. Are you coming? I think she's pretty smitten with you."
Natsume remembered the face of a blonde-haired brat with a plain face and dull grayish eyes. "Mr. Hazuko is an asset, but I can't tolerate the daughter." He remembered attending one of their party last year and he has been polite to the daughter. To think she took that as flirting and even went after him, thinking he really was interested in her. Too bad for her though, since he was involved with a red-headed woman that time. The girl was broken-hearted to pieces. Until she found out that he's single again.
"That's true. I remembered her bitching about your relationship to her friends one time." He glanced at his phone and stood up. "Fine, I'll just see you around. I'll be meeting up with some of our engineers later. Good luck with your search! And get a girlfriend already, Mr. grumpy cat." He ended in a loud voice then finally disappeared behind the door.
Natsume sighed. He appreciate Koko's presence because he always set the mood whenever they're hanging out. But sometimes he's just too noisy for his taste. And also, before he could bother looking for a girlfriend, he should find a maid first.
- - - - - - -meLria-chan- - - - - - -
"Mikan-sama, are you really sure about this?" Mikan sighed in exasperation. She already lost count about how many times Anna Umenomiya, her secretary, has asked her that question. She gave the latter a reassuring pat on her shoulder.
"Anna-chan, don't stress yourself out, okay? Besides, I know what I'm doing. I'll be gone for a short time so there's nothing to worry about."
"But, is it really necessary? About that thing you told me?" Anna pressed on, still bothered by the fact that her lovely boss, and the CEO of the second largest company in Japan, will become a regular employee.
Mikan lifted a brow, turning to arrange her table that she will vacate for a few months. She'll be having her own brother as her substitute anyway, and that removes a lot of worries off her shoulders. Her brother is capable of handling their company since technically, she only filled in the position when her brother went for the military. "Anna, I want to. I'm all interested to try. My brother has survived military training for eight months without any of the privileges as a young millionaire bachelor, and I think it's my turn to experience it too."
Anna would never understand her logic. But no matter how many times she expressed her sentiments, her boss already made up her mind. "Will you resume the position when you return?"
"I'm not sure, Anna-chan. Besides, now that onii-chan is back, I'll have all the time to think about it."
"I hope you will get a good experience, Mikan-sama. I will be waiting for your return." She hoped that nothing bad will happen to her too. She can be a bit too trusting sometimes.
Mikan smiled. "Thanks. Please keep it a secret, okay? I don't want anybody else to know about this."
She nodded. "I will. If you need something, please tell me so I can do it. I'll get back to my table now."
Mikan watched as she turned and went out of the office. She checked her phone. She still have one last meeting to attend before she can finally say that she's off from being a temporary CEO. And that meeting would be one hour away at the moment.
Scanning through her contacts, she searched for her brother and dialed, placing the phone against her left ear. After four rings, the other line picked up.
"Hello, sweetie." Came Tsubasa's voice from the other line.
"Nii-chan, I hope you did not forget that you have to be here in the building before 4pm. And it's already 3pm. Where are you?"
"Yes, I did not forget. I just got sidetracked on my way there. I can't resist the calling of the mango graham smoothie that I love from Eros' Nest." Tsubasa was talking about their favorite café a few blocks away from Tokyo University. They loved to eat there during their college days and it just became one of their favorite places throughout the years.
"And? Where exactly are you right now? Because I need to get going and I don't want to run late. This is a new partnership with a big corporation I'll be heading to."
"Sweetie pie, relax. I'm on my way up there. I'm already here at the parking grounds." That put her at ease. Grabbing her bag and coat from the coat rack near the door, she hurriedly went for the elevator.
"Great! I won't make it in time if I don't run right now. I guess we'll just see each other later. I'll call you."
Tsubasa wanted to complain about it, wanting to spend some time with her for a while but he knew they will take too long chatting up. "Fine. I'll see you later."
"Thanks, nii-chan. Bye." Then she hung up. She pressed the 'G' button and as the lift rolled down, she was thinking about the name of the corporation she will be heading to.
Hyuuga Corporation. The number 1 car manufacturer that is dominating Japan and some of the Countries from South and South East Asia.
And to think she landed a very generous partnership with them. Well, it isn't official yet, and the reason behind the meeting for this day was to discuss things about their future partnership. On second thought, maybe she should have brought Anna with her. So she decided to text her secretary as she went for her red Audi in the parking grounds.
Unknown to her, this meeting will be giving her a lot in return, but not exactly how she thought it would to be.
- - - - - - -meLria-chan- - - - - - -
Sumire lifted a brow at the person in front of her. "Excuse me, did I hear you right? You're applying for the job of being Natsume-sama's maid?"
Mikan laughed inwardly. Then with a confused expression, she asked. "Why, is there something wrong with me?"
There is nothing wrong with you, that's why. She thought with a grimace. She held Mikan's folder, her resume neatly lying inside as she scanned it, finding nothing but impressive credentials that makes her want to ask again why she decided to apply for the position of her boss' maid. "No, there's none. Although I'm surprised you wanted to apply for it, considering your credentials."
Mikan smiled. It was an abrupt decision on her part. She really doesn't have any interest in applying, not until she saw the notice flyer pinned on the bulletin board beside the glass doors by the entrance lobby. She haven't imagine herself as a maid before, and yet for some reason, the idea of being able to watch and observe the young CEO of Hyuuga Corporation appealed so much that she found herself pulling her resume out from her brown briefcase and heading towards his secretary. It's a really good thing she has prepared her resumes a week ago. To think she was here for a future partnership. She also called her brother earlier, telling him to grab the red folder on her topmost drawer labeled 'Hyuuga Corp' and proceed to Hyuuga Corporation with Anna as the new representative for Yukihira Industries. With that sudden decision, she was officially off duty for the CEO position, letting her brother deal with the meeting. "Well, I saw an opportunity and no matter how big or small, it's still an opportunity."
Sumire nodded, still unconvinced with her answer. This lovely woman in front of her, with a very good resume and with a professional aura, will become a maid. Is she out for Natsume Hyuuga? Nah, I can feel it, she's definitely not a fangirl. And the only possible reason she could come up with was, she was interested with him on a more personal note. "Please wait for a while, I need to make a call." She picked up the phone and pressed a button. "Sir, I have an applicant here for the job offer. She's okay," She glanced at Mikan for a second, "Shall I let her in?"
The brunette watched as she exchanged conversation with her boss, probably warning him that she was over qualified for the position. Not to mention that she's pretty gorgeous, as what her suitors would always say.
"Sakura-san, please proceed inside." Sumire stood up and return the phone to its cradle, going around her desk and opening the door for her. Mikan gave her a smile, before taking her folder and going inside the office.
She watched as the brunette disappeared behind closed doors, undecided whether she's amused because she wanted to be a maid or because she's over qualified she might get the job.
Inside the comfort of the office, Mikan was welcomed by the elegance and neatness of the maroon-carpeted floor. There were leather couches at the left side of the room with a wide coffee table in the middle of it. There is a door at the right, probably leading to a comfort room, and another one on the far end. In the middle of the right wall is a Wine rack and champagne glasses with a small refrigerator below it. Dragging her stare at the middle of the room, the oak-wood office table is a masterpiece, accompanied by two cushioned chairs at both sides. Then behind the table is a black swivel chair, its back meeting her gaze.
With confident strides, she headed for the table and cleared her throat. "Good afternoon, sir."
When the chair turned around, she held her breath.
And then she met the handsome face of Natsume Hyuuga, his crimson eyes smothering her hazel ones.
- - - - - - -meLria-chan- - - - - - -