Kyouya directed me down the hall, grasping the back of my upper arm. He was always the smart one. I would have bolted the second he let me go. I looked up at Kyouya, scowling.

""This is a crime, you know," I asked, not even bothering to be polite.

"Well then, it is indeed fortunate for me," Kyouya responded, "that I have funded the construction of half the police stations in the four surrounding districts. I doubt they'll listen to a woman's word against my own."

"Tch, so that's how you are, then?" I observed. "You violate the law because you know you can go hide behind your money?"

He stiffened, almost imperceptibly, but smirked. "Precisely."

I gaped. I couldn't believe he was admitting to something like that. Only a truly arrogant person would...

"So, I really don't want to work here, if that's what's going on," I told him, still being tugged along. "I'm in school to be a lawyer, not an office worker."

"Haven't I told you that it's already being taken care of?" He coolly replied, glancing down at me out of the corner of his eye.

"But you haven't explained how."

"And I am not obligated to do so."

"But I'm asking you to."

"You didn't ask, you demanded," he mocked, repeating what I had said in his office. He turned right sharply, down another hall, and I stumbled after him, tripping over my own feet.

"Senpai, can't you just tell me what's going on?" I begged, getting frustrated. "Friends don't keep things form each other."

He stopped, and met my imploring gaze with indifferent eyes. The smirk on his face had melted away in place of a slight frown. I saw another emotion flutter through them, but it was gone in an instant.

"Friends?" He inquired, his voice laden with skepticism. "You can't be serious, Fujioka-san."

I tilted my head to the side, confused. We were friends, weren't we? Could that bond, the one we had created through the Host Club, have just faded away? Had it been too long to call ourselves friends still? Perhaps, in Kyouya's eyes, we really weren't friends anymore. I should have known, since he had stopped calling me Haruhi. I was now "Miss Fujioka." I felt a slight twinge in my stomach, but I brushed it off and laughed dryly.

"Of course I'm not," I lied. "Just tell me what's going on."

"You'll find out soon enough." He set his mouth into a straight line, and he gestured toward the door we had stopped next to. "Please try to act proper in here. My brothers are very critical, and it would be most unpleasant if you were to make me look like a fool for the recommendation."

He opened the door and looked at me expectantly.

I hesitated, drinking in his words. I was planning on becoming a completely mannerless commoner inside, just to avoid getting the job. My conscience was beseeching me to rethink my plan, if only to spare Kyouya his dignity. But I couldn't be bullied into this. I had to back out, and if this was the only way, then so be it.

"Fujioka-san, if you could..." Kyouya urged. I snapped out of my thoughts and stepped in through the doorway, straightening my back confidently.

The first thing I noticed about the room was how terribly quiet it was. And bare. No paintings, or plants, or decorations of any kind. The walls were even white. There was just a long table in front of large window panels, with about ten chairs spaced around the table. Two of them were taken.

In one sat a man who looked positively vicious. His eyebrows were drawn in toward his nose, and arched at a sharp angle up and away from his eyes. His hair was parted to the side, and styled in a way that made him look terribly outdated. His business suit was crisp, and he didn't seem to have a single thing about him that suggested the existence of a heart. I shuddered inwardly.

My eyes traveled to the other man. He looked stern, but not nearly as frightening as the other. He almost looked... weary. As if he were growing tired of the world and its antics. His hair was growing slightly past his eyes, conflicting with the frames of his glasses. He seemed the type to be displeased easily, which worried me.

I couldn't have imagined two more intimidating men to conduct an interview. Instantly, I understood Kyouya's reasoning for not wanting me to reflect poorly on him. He was the youngest sibling, and had worked frighteningly hard to obtain his position. One slip up, and these men would pounce on him in an instant to snatch his title away. After all Kyouya had done, I knew at that moment that I could never bring myself to sabotage him. I had to succeed in this interview. I could always resign later.

I started toward the chair across from the two unsmiling men. They watched me cross the room, their eyes not wavering.

Or, rather, they watched my legs cross the room. Men.

I stopped before them, standing in front of the table. I bowed deeply and introduced myself.

"Good morning. I am Haruhi Fujioka. Please think kindly of me."

The men nodded, and I took that as a signal to take my seat. The mean-looking one spoke first.

"Fujioka-san, please tell us why you have decided to submit an application to Ootori Inc."

I glanced over to Kyouya, who was watching me closely. He nodded slightly, as if that was a sign to make up something. I was good at pretending, after all. These two were just like any other rich man. All I had to do was act like I worshipped them, and I'd have the job in an instant.

"Well, you see," I started, smiling as prettily as I could manage. "Your brother, Ootori-san, had mentioned that a job was available, and I thought of how wonderful it would be to work with such refined individuals, such as yourselves. I have heard of your greatness, of course, from my acquaintances. It is too obvious for anyone to overlook, I must admit."

They took the bait. The mean brother's eyes softened slightly, and both of them took on matching arrogant smirks. My eyes flitted toward Kyouya for a brief second, and I could see approval written into his face.

"I believe I have the skills necessary to be useful to the company," I continued. "And I really, really would like to work under men who are in control, intelligent, and resourceful. That is my wish as a prospective employee. I simply can't imagine finding men like that anywhere but here."

Way to go, Haruhi. You nailed it.

The tired brother looked at me appraisingly, and asked me another question.

"Fujioka-san, what skills do you possess that make you worthy of our corporation?"

"Oh, Ootori-sama," I laughed politely, and my voice increased in pitch. "I really mustn't brag about myself like that. Only you can tell me whether or not I am skilled."

This was apparently the right thing to say, because the two men chuckled.

"Yes, yes," the tired one replied. "Only time will tell. You attend Tokyo University?"

"Why yes, Ootori-sama, I do. I am a senior."

"And, how are your organizational skills?" The mean one asked.

"Very well, as they must be. It would have been impossible for me to make it so far in Tokyo University if I had poor organization. Am I right?"

They chuckled again. The mean one said, "Of course, this is true."

After a moment of silence, I asked, "Is there anything else you would like to ask me, Ootori-sama?"

"No, no. Nothing at all," the tired one responded, glancing at his brother and nodding. They stood from their chairs.

"Welcome to the company, Miss Haruhi Fujioka," The mean one said.

I beamed. I really could get far with these manipulation techniques. My mother would be proud. I stood and bowed again.

"Oh, thank you so much!" I gushed, feigning girlish excitement. "You won't be disappointed."

Not that my words mattered, of course. They weren't even paying any attention to my face, much less my words.

I bowed again, and then followed Kyouya out into the hall. Once we were about ten feet away, I turned to him with fire in my eyes.

"You owe me, Senpai," I shot at him. "More than you'll ever know. I can't believe I was in there simpering. I never simper. And all to save your stupid pride." I began to walk off toward the elevator, but Kyouya grasped my arm and spun me around to look at him. His face was set in a stoic mask, and his eyes were boring into my own.

"Thank you for that..."

Finally, a sincere tha--

"...but I owe you nothing."

Spoke too soon. I always do.

"Congratulations, Fujioka-san," Kyouya leaned in toward me, and I could feel his breath on my face. "You are now officially my personal secretary."

Oh, no.

((A/N: Well, I hope this satisfied you. It isn't very long, but that's just how life goes. Just so you know, in case you were confused, I started this story using 'Miss' and 'Mr.' for their names. Now, I'm reverting to the Japanese suffixes, which I'll assume you all understand, because they are used all over the anime world. I'm still looking for a beta, if you're interested. I described Kyouya's brothers as I would picture them to be. I don't actually remember seeing them in the anime, so this is what it is. If you're offended by this, please feel free to stop reading now. They'll be playing a crucial role in the story, so this won't be the last of them. That's all I have to say. I'll have the next chapter up soon. Within the next two weeks, to be sure. Until next time...))