The Corporate Catch
By: Sandreline
Hello everyone! I hope that you all enjoyed the first chapter! Thank you to everyone who reviewed and messaged me! You are too kind.
Chapter 2: Challenge Accepted
Kagome stepped out of the elevator to the top floor, and was surprised at the small group of workers huddled together outside of the office to Sesshomaru's assistant. Walking a few steps forward, she quietly asked, "What is going on?"
The red-headed wolf demon, Kouga's partner for the antiquities department, jumped slightly. "Goodness, Kagome!" Ayame stated in a stern whisper. "How do you do that?"
"This Sesshomaru cannot believe the ineptitude you possess to perform even the easiest task assigned to you." The Western Lord growled out, clearly audible through the door.
Kagome shrugged with a smile to Ayame before repeating her question. "What is going on?"
"Kagura screwed up again." Ayame whispered in no small mark of delight. Kagura was not known to be kind to anyone unless they could offer her something of worth. As such, she was the reigning champion of the title of 'Office Bitch'.
"My apologies, my Lord," His secretary pleaded with him, and they knew her eyes were tearing up from his anger and her fear. "I did not mean to forget, please let me fix this…"
"What did she do now?" Kagome asked.
"She never sent out the contracts that were supposed to arrive at the London office two days ago." Ayame informed her. "They were marked urgent by Lord Toga himself."
Kagome bit her lower lip gently. "You should all get back to work before Sesshomaru finds you out here."
She didn't have to say it twice for everyone to disperse. Kagome approached the door to Kagura's soon-to-be former office, intent on completing her errand so as to get back to work herself.
Inside, the dog demon cut off Kagura's pleading... "It is clear you are not competent enough to do it correctly the first time, so why should this Sesshomaru allow you to do it again?"
"Please Sesshomaru," Kagura tried again. Kagome winced, knowing things inside were about to get worse. Perhaps she should just take a seat and wait a few minutes. Yes, that sounded much better. So, she moved to take a seat on one of the couches that lined the walls and acted as a waiting area. That did not mean she could still not hear the argument inside.
As Kagome thought, Kagura's lack of formality only fueled his fire. "You are fired. Gather your belongings and remove yourself from the premises. If I must, I will remove you myself."
Kagome jumped slightly as Kagura's office door was ripped open and she flew out in a gust of wind to the elevator, a mix of anger and embarrassment. Rising from the couch, she ran her fingers through her hair to settle it back in place before turning to face Sesshomaru, who had made his appearance.
He turned to face her, the pink in his eyes fading back to gold. "You just received a promotion as my new assistant. Gather your belongings and return back here at once."
The documents that Kagome had already begun to hold out to him to sign fell to the floor.
After a moment of shock, Kagome quickly knelt down to pick up the folders, grateful that none of them had fallen out of their protective covers. As she stood, she raised her blue eyes to meet his face. "My apologies Lord Sesshomaru, I already have a position as an assistant to your brother. If you will please sign these documents, I will return to it."
Sesshomaru's eyes lowered slightly. He had never been turned down before; and after looking through her company profile, he was firm in his belief that she was far better a secretary than the half-breed deserved. Taking the folders from her with a clawed hand, he took his gold-plated pen from his suit pocket and signed the necessary papers. As he returned them to the human female's possession, he received a bow before she quickly retreated to the elevator.
Very well. If that is how she wanted to play, then he would concede. He never lost.
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Two minutes after Kagome returned to her desk, Lord Toga entered her office from the hallway. "Hello, Kagome. Does InuYasha have a moment to talk to me?"
The priestess smiled warmly. "Of course!"
Her reward was a playful wink as the retired Lord entered his youngest son's office and closed the door.
Kagome smiled warmly as she returned to her email to Sango, detailing what had happened outside of Kagura's office. Her best friend had emailed her, having heard from Ayame about the scandal. Sango was one of the many that despised the wind demon, but to a frightening degree. Kagome was eagerly informing her gossip-loving best friend about the details when InuYasha's shouting caused her to jump from her chair.
"No fucking way in Hell!"
Kagome's wide, curious eyes looked up from the computer and to the right at InuYasha's door. What was going on in there?
Suddenly, the intercom that connected her to InuYasha buzzed, and when she pushed it, her boss' voice screamed out so loud that it hurt even her eyes. "Kagome, get in here now!"
With an eyebrow twitch of irritation, Kagome grumbled but did as told. Closing the door behind her, she had to force her powers to not come rushing to the surface. While Toga was sitting in a relaxed manner in one chair, InuYasha was standing across from him with his aura swirling in anger. "InuYasha, what is going on?" Kagome asked.
"Did that bastard offer you a job, Kagome?" InuYasha growled out, his fangs flashing in the florescent light of the office.
Kagome was instantly up to speed. "I told him no."
"Like that asshole would listen!" InuYasha spat. "Big scary Sesshomaru went whining to daddy to get his way!"
"Calm yourself, InuYasha." Toga's calm but firm tone rang out. "I am here because this is an opportunity I wish to speak with Kagome about. I am well aware that you do not wish to part with her, but this is a rare opportunity for her."
"That bastard's lucky if a secretary can last a month with the icicle up his ass!" InuYasha refuted. "There's no way I am putting Kagome through that!"
"Lord Toga, I declined the offer." Kagome cut in diplomatically. "I am very happy where I am."
"See, Pops? Case closed. Tell Sesshomaru to find someone else." InuYasha huffed as he final sat down in his chair once more.
"I am afraid that I cannot allow you to do that, Kagome." Lord Toga stated. "You have too many skills to simply settle as an assistant, even if it is for InuYasha." The doggie ears on her friend's head flattened. "The opportunity to work along with Sesshomaru will open up many more doors for you."
"I appreciate your concern, but as I said I am very content with my current position." Kagome repeated.
The ancient dog demon took a moment to read the human female before him. He had known her since her birth; her father had been a valued partner in his company and at Mr. Higurashi's early death, he took a fatherly role in the young girl's life. She was smart with an air of class and far too many talents to remain as a secretary for the rest of her life. Currently, her posture was tense with stubbornness, and her blue eyes sparkled with determination. He could see he would need to find a different approach.
"Let me offer you a deal, then." Toga stated as he slowly stood from his chair. "Sesshomaru is in need of an assistant immediately – he has far too many responsibilities, and even for someone as organized as he is, he still needs help. You will assist him for one week while he looks for another suitable replacement, and in the meantime Sango will be promoted to InuYasha's assistant." Seeing that she was about to protest, he continued. "However, should he not be able to find another one, you will remain with Sesshomaru for a period of six months. If you can do that, you will have lasted longer than any of this other assistant's; and as a reward I will make you a department head in any branch you choose, where you can continue to work your way to the top."
InuYasha's mouth was hanging open. "No!"
Kagome, however, was deep in thought and Lord Toga could barely suppress the smirk at the corner of his lips as he could see her wheels turning. If he was lucky, Kagome could work the same magic on Sesshomaru that she did on InuYasha to get that icicle out of his son's ass. If he was really lucky, she just might get Sesshomaru to fall in love with her and finally give him grandpuppies!
Kagome, meanwhile, was weighing her options. It would be a wonderful opportunity to see how the demon Lord works – after all, Sesshomaru was as ruthless in business as he was a warrior in the Feudal Era. It would be a great learning experience, and look very impressive on her résumé.
Besides, people would be lining up to work for him. He would have himself a new assistant before the week-long limit was up.
"Deal."
"Kagome!"
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Sango stood on the other side of Kagome's desk. She could hear InuYasha muttering curses about betrayal and how he would make Sesshomaru pay for doing this to him from the half-demon's office. She resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Instead, she chose to watch her friend put the last of her supplies in a cardboard box. "Are you sure, Gome?" Sango asked, a little worry lacing her tone. "Being in such close proximity to 'The Killing Perfection' may not be the wisest idea. You know how is treats his assistants!"
Kagome gave a shrug. "He is annoying and a jerk, but then again so is InuYasha. It will not even be for a week – I bet a week of lunch on it."
Sango's brown eyes sparkled. "Free lunch for Sango!"
Kagome quirked an eyebrow. "What about free lunch for Kagome?"
The brunette shook her head. "Not going to happen. Mark my words, Kagome; you will be buying me lunch for a week! And since you get a generous pay raise while working for the icicle, I will not hold back!"
Kagome and Sango both laughed over this, before InuYasha marched out. "Get to work Sango!" The half demon completely ignored his best friend, and instead slammed his office door shut.
"Oh, he is such a puppy!" Kagome snapped irritatingly.
"Don't worry, Gome," Sango added. "If he upsets me too much, I'll just use some old family tricks to put that dog in his place."
This caused the two women to laugh once more. Sango came from a long line of demon slayers. Her family was in charge of the rouge-demon force that handled the demon criminals, just as there was a team of demons that handled the human ones for instances such as hostage situations.
"Well, good luck have fun!" Kagome said as she started to the elevators. "I'm off to meet my doom!"
"Good luck!" Sango replied as she took a seat at Kagome's desk just in time to answer the phone.
The elevator doors closed before Kagome with a ding, and Kagome leaned back against the wall with a sigh. She knew this was not going to be easy, but she was going to do her best to trudge through the week. All she had to do was avoid his poison claws and keep from purifying him. It shouldn't be too hard.
Right?
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So, what did you all think of chapter 2? Please let me know if I am heading in a good direction with this story – it is all coming off the top of my head, and I have no real destination!
Thank you all so much!
~Sandreline
