JOB
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Taisho Industries, business meeting
"Of course this would be the best course of action. Since there are about 7 million people on the planet, this should appeal to most of them."
Kagome cleared her voice discreetly and bent forward to whisper something in the ear of her employer, who had just spoken. He dismissed her with a hand, as if she were an annoying fly.
"Not now, Higurashi, not now with your nonsense," he said haughtily.
Kagome, however, wasn't going to be deterred. "Just a second, sir, I need to speak with you," she repeated what she had quietly whispered a moment before.
Her employer, Inuyasha Taisho, sighed impatiently and stood up from the meeting table. "Fine, you irritating woman. Be quick."
Kagome led the man a little to the side and quietly whispered another few words. The rest of the people who were present at the business encounter remained waiting.
Less than twenty seconds later, Inuyasha came back to the table, shaking his head. "This stupid woman…" he mumbled loudly. "To think that she took me aside just to feed me some foolishness about there being more than 7 billion people on the planet and not 7 million," he snorted derisively. "What a brainless secretary I have."
The other people around the table had embarrassed expressions on their faces, while Kagome, standing behind her employer's chair, had an unreadable face.
The meeting continued with some difficulty, Inuyasha continually saying other stupidities and Kagome doing her best to rectify them and leading the topics on. It wasn't an easy task, especially because he did all he could to make fun of her in front of everyone. It was clear that he despised and looked down on her. But, courageously, the woman continued to do her job with remarkable effort – and, surprisingly, with good results.
Kagome Higurashi had been working for the company of Inuyasha Taisho for more than a year. She was just twenty-three, but she was accomplished and clever. Her pay wasn't very high, and the job was not satisfactory, but she desperately needed the money. Her younger brother, Souta, was in need of expensive treatment at the hospital after a bad car accident, and she needed everything she earned. Therefore, she had to tolerate the mean attitude of her dense employer as best as she could.
The meeting didn't last much longer, and when it was over, Inuyasha was the first one to leave, insulting his secretary once again while exiting. All the others sent her a few glances of pity and left as well.
Alone in the room, Kagome sighed. All those people were terrified of the power of the Taisho family, therefore didn't dare speak against the ignorance of Inuyasha. Not that she herself could do much. If she was fired, her brother's life would be in grave danger. She sighed again.
"Miss Higurashi?"
She jumped slightly. She hadn't noticed that there was still someone in the room. She took a step back on instinct, before noticing who it was.
Sesshoumaru Taisho was Inuyasha's older half-brother, and he owned a large part of the Taisho companies, but mainly the branches that were abroad. He had come that day from a faraway land only for the meeting. Kagome had never met him before, only heard stories. He was rumoured to be quite strict, but also a fair, honourable, skilled and honest businessman.
The man, so similar to his half-brother and yet so different, regarded her intently for a moment. Then he walked to the door and closed it.
"I'd like to speak with you for a moment, please." He said it calmly and politely, and Kagome saw no point in arguing with that. After all, as soon as she exited that room, she would have to go back to her boss, Inuyasha, and she certainly wasn't looking forward to that.
So she nodded without a word, signalling for him to continue.
He turned to face her fully. His eyes observed her carefully. And then he said something she wasn't expecting.
"I would like to offer you a job, miss Higurashi."
Kagome's eyes widened. What?
Before she could say anything, he continued, with a hint of amusement, "Please let me finish before saying anything. I have seen how my disrespectful brother mistreats you, and I know you have to endure long gruelling hours with him as his secretary, beside the fact that he constantly belittles and insults you. The motivations of your tolerance are yours and I can't pretend to understand them, but I can guess it must be something serious for you to suffer so much. However, in spite of all these things, there is something else that I couldn't help noticing, and I'm sure everyone else noticed as well." His gaze became more piercing. "Despite your very young age, you show great intelligence, knowledge, initiative and willingness to work. Even if my brother doesn't see it, everyone is aware of the fact that you are clever, and everyone is aware of how hard it must be for you to work with someone as stupid as Inuyasha. So this is why," and he took a step towards her, "I would like to offer you a job as my personal assistant. I am in need of someone who can deal with many tasks as quickly and expertly as you do. I will admit, this is the first time I meet you, but I'm more than positive that you are the best one for the job, because what I saw today deserves all the appreciation and respect I deem anyone worthy of."
Kagome was in shock. She opened and closed her eyes a few times, still startled.
Seeing her astonishment, Sesshoumaru smirked slightly. "In this new job, you would have normal working hours, miss Higurashi, not the slavery Inuyasha pretends from you while he goes partying. Oh, and of course the salary." He named a number that was five times what she received at the moment. Kagome's eyes widened again.
Abruptly, she sat down, not able to think coherently. She was receiving a wonderful job offer? No, she must be dreaming.
"Forgive me, but… is this some kind of joke?" she said weakly, tilting her head to the side in order to look Sesshoumaru in the eye.
He shook his head. "No, miss Higurashi, I assure you that I am perfectly serious. I believe you deserve better than what you go through every day, and your talents are exactly what I'm looking for. Do not waste them with someone like Inuyasha."
Kagome remained silent for a long while, mulling over those information. Then she decided to speak. "I… I have a younger brother, who was hit by a drunk driver a year ago. I desperately need the money I earn for his treatment, so that's why I never quit this job…" She didn't know what had made her say that, but she had just felt the need to blurt it out.
Sesshoumaru didn't seem surprised. The briefest expression of sympathy and understanding crossed his face, before being replaced by his usual business mask.
Kagome continued, hesitantly, "I'm sure you'll understand what I'm about to ask, Mr Taisho… and I apologize in advance… but I would like a written offer from you before quitting my current job. I cannot afford this to be just a momentary impulse and you changing your mind later."
Sesshoumaru nodded, not at all bothered by her demand. It was instead a clever request, and he inwardly smiled, thinking that he had really found a good person for the job as his personal assistant.
She then spoke again. "Another thing… I understand that you travel a lot…"
He interrupted her calmly. "Do not worry, I have come back here to take control of the company and I won't be travelling anymore. And if Inuyasha continues with his foolish behaviour, I will find myself forced to kick him out for good."
Kagome was still a bit uncertain and voiced her final concerns. "Um… Mr Taisho… not to be disrespectful, but… are you sure you want to make your job offer to me? After all, I'm just twenty-three, not qualified enough, with no real experience, and I might very possibly not be able to handle the job…"
The man shook his head once. "I never say things I don't mean, miss Higurashi, and I believe you are capable to do what is needed. I will prepare the papers you requested immediately."
He sat down next to her and prepared everything that was necessary. He also requested that she call him 'Mr Sesshoumaru' instead of 'Mr Taisho'.
He then gave her the papers, properly signed, told her he would be expecting an answer and left the room.
…
Three days later, Kagome Higurashi quit her job with Inuyasha Taisho and began working with Sesshoumaru Taisho.
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A/N: I don't know where this came from... and I don't know if I should add something else to it.
Thank you so much for reading!
KitsuneMiyuKendraHyuga