A Heart's Recompense
Chapter 2
Sesshoumaru poured himself a drink and sat down on one of the overstuffed couches in his penthouse suite. He took a sip of the scotch without really tasting it. His mind playing images he'd spent two years trying to forget.
Kagome Higurashi. A human miko in a time when they were no longer needed. Demons and humans had long ago learned to coexist lest the constant wars take unacceptable tolls on both races. He'd had no prejudices against her race. Then. Now… He knew them to be selfish. Accomplished liars with no honor. She had taught him that lesson.
Two years ago he had banished her from his life. Closed the door on the painful emotions. Taken his battered pride in hand and put it all behind him. Everything that reminded him of her had been packed away. Including the ring he had bought with the intention of binding them together for all eternity. Why he kept it was a mystery to him. He had come close to destroying it. Along with all the photos and the gifts she had given him. Something stopped him. He still did not understand it. Instead of destroying everything, he dumped it all in a box that was now sitting on a shelf in his closet. Perhaps he kept it as tangible proof of his folly.
He had met her when she practically bowled him over in the hallway on her way to her workstation. Not knowing who he was, she had bowed low and apologized. Her excuse, she'd been delayed returning from lunch and was late. She smiled that heart-stopping smile and waved as she hurried down the hall.
He could not get her smile out of his mind the rest of the day. He had to know who this girl was. He only knew that she worked for him. Somewhere in the building.
Over the next several days, he scheduled impromptu meetings with his department heads. Meetings that took place in their offices. He took his time entering and leaving the meetings, looking over the faces of those who worked in that particular department. He had begun to think he had imagined the girl when he finally spotted her. In a tiny cubicle, wearing a headset, and that smile that had started his single-minded quest days ago. She worked in the customer service call center.
Having found her at last, he had to talk to her. He strolled up to her small desk with his hands folded behind his back.
"Good morning, Miss. How are the customers today? Any difficult complaints?"
She looked up at him with the clearest indigo eyes he had ever seen, and smiled at him.
"Nothing I can't handle. May I help you?"
"No. I'm here for a meeting and I thought I recognized you from the other day."
She gasped.
"Oh my God. You're the one I almost ran down. I'm so sorry."
"Think nothing of it. You were in a hurry to get back to your job. Quite understandable, commendable even."
Her eyes twinkled in amusement.
"So I'm forgiven, then?"
"If you tell me your name."
She turned from her desk and held out her hand.
"It's Kagome…"
"Higurashi!"
Kagome's hand dropped and she winced.
"That would be me." She whispered.
Sesshoumaru frowned. He recognized the call center manager's screeching voice.
"If you have time to chit chat while on my clock, then you have time to answer a few calls. I'm not paying you to socialize."
Kagome bowed her head and turned back to her desk.
"I'm sorry. Ma'am. It won't happen again."
"See that it doesn't. You can easily be replaced."
He put a hand on the girl's shoulder.
"Don't let her words bother you."
He turned to go.
"By the way, the name is Sesshoumaru."
He walked straight to the manager, who now recognized her mistake.
"I'm sorry, my lord. I didn't realize it was you."
He steered her to her office and closed the door behind them.
"Does it matter? That was most rude. Do you always belittle your employees on the floor in front of others? I'm quite sure that is not the way to motivate people. I've found that promoting workplace harmony is more conducive to getting the most from your workers."
She crossed her arms over her chest, refusing to let him intimidate her.
"I'm paying those people to answer customer calls. I expect to get what I pay for."
He stared her down.
"I… not you… I... am paying those people to do a job for this company. Handling customer complaints is a stressful job by its very nature. Adding more stress by creating a hostile work environment is counterproductive. In light of your behavior and attitude, I believe you are unsuited to this position. The employees of this call center are your internal customers. They deserve the same care and consideration as the customers who call in with complaints. Your lack of professionalism reflects poorly on this company and will not be tolerated. Please clean out your desk, Miss Mashida. Let HR know where they may mail your final paycheck."
Kagome glanced up as she heard the door to Miss Mashida's office open. Her neighbor in the cubicle beside her only waited until the door had closed behind the pair to hastily alert her to the man's, Sesshoumaru's, identity.
"That bitch is in for it now. She just pissed off the boss."
Kagome's eyes turned back to the closed door. The boss?
"Wait. As in THE boss? Mr. Taisho?"
The girl laughed.
"That's him. All six foot three hunk of sexy demon."
All had been quiet when he emerged from the office of his former manager. His eyes sought the girl. Kagome. She was speaking into the headset as her fingers flew over the computer keyboard. He would not disturb her during a call. He gave a small smirk as he folded his hands behind his back and made his way back to his office. He needed to have his assistant set up some interviews with candidates for the now vacant call center manager's position.
Sesshoumaru took another drink before setting his glass on the table beside him. The memories were as clear as if the incident had happened yesterday. He knew there would be no sleep tonight. Once the memories started… It would be a long night.
To be continued…
