2 The Boss
There is one person who could turn your world upside down.
Shizuru pushed the door and she immediately caught the attention of everyone especially the guys who seemed more than eager to assist the applicant.
"Hello lovely lady, are you applying here?" A blonde young man who seemed like a receptionist approached Shizuru.
"Yes, I'm submitting my resume," Shizuru replied with a sweet smile, the one she used to have her way with people.
"Under normal conditions, we would just take your resume and ask you to wait for the call from the company but in your case, you could just sit there and wait for a moment while I deliver your resume to the boss," the man said trying to exaggerate his role. Shizuru was laughing inside but she played with the man's antics. It seems that she really got herself into something interesting.
"Ara, thank you so much then for your help. Here's my resume. Please do put a good word for me to increase my chances of getting hired," Shizuru faked. She imagined that the man's head swelled like a pumpkin.
The man briskly walked to Reito's office which was separated from the large room by a glass divider. Shizuru saw that the man whispered something to Reito and then Reito lifted his gaze to Shizuru. At that moment, Shizuru shifted on her seat and smiled. Reito then looked at the resume and talked to the man beside him waiting for instructions.
The next moment Shizuru was ushered to Reito's office. Shizuru felt that the other employees in the room where shaking their heads while smirking. Shizuru then had a dilemma. How could she say that the management is being unfair when the injustice was working for her benefit? She should surely give a lot of thought to whatever she would write for the June issue.
"Sit down, Viola-san," Reito grinned as if he just caught a big fish.
"Thank you," Shizuru replied as she took a sit on a chair across Reito's table.
"Your resume is impressive. Tokyo U Journalism graduate with honors," Reito started. Shizuru knew that she would be hired. She just needs to play Reito's game. "It says here that you worked for the Red Ink Publishing Company?"
"Yes, I did," Shizuru replied while staring at Reito's eyes to make him believe that he has her full attention. "Nice tie."
"Oh, thank you. Women like red ties," Reito whispered with a smile. He was distracted by the comment on his tie but he felt happy about it. "By the way, what happened at the Red Ink? I don't think they'd fire a lovely woman like you."
"They certainly didn't fire me. I resigned because I wanted to discover other avenues. I felt like I wanted to try it here at Kuga Marketing Corporation." Shizuru said with a straight face. This is the reason why she called Yukino earlier and resigned. Shizuru hated lying. All the information in her resume is true. The only crucial thing that's kept hidden is the fact that once her field research is over, she would go back to The Rising Sun and write as Shizuru Fujino.
"I see. Their lost then," Reito said.
"You're flattering me Kanzaki-san," Shizuru said as if she was shy.
"But it says here that you're currently taking law subjects?" Reito asked, confused.
"Yes, I'm enrolled at the Tokyo U Open University. I only took a few subjects. I'm not really keen about becoming a lawyer, I just want to study about Women's Rights," Shizuru said. That should scare him a bit, Shizuru thought.
"Women's rights?" Reito faltered.
"Yes, many women today are not treated properly and I want to at least protect myself by knowing my rights," Shizuru casually said.
"She's a feminist, a drop-dead gorgeous feminist. Nevertheless, I'll try if she'll take my offer," Reito thought while eyeing the beauty in front of her.
"We don't really have a vacant post at the moment that would fit you but I could give you a temporary job if you want until a vacant post is announced," Reito lied. Shizuru was trying to process the information and she was right about her hunch. "You can be my personal secretary for the mean time until a vacant position is up. It's your choice."
"Oh, but it appears that you already have many secretaries here," Shizuru replied while looking around Reito's office. There were two women taking calls and another woman in front of a computer typing something. Reito was caught off guard.
"Yes that's true but there's a lot of work that needs to be done in my department so I could use your help only if you want," Reito said trying to sound serious.
"Can you brief me about my roles if Iaccept this temporary job?" Shizuru replied. Reito's eyes gleamed. It seemed to him that his plan was working out. It always worked with pretty ladies who needed a job. They would do everything. Reito grinned like a dirty old man. All of this display of unprofessional treatment was of course noted by Shizuru.
"Well, it doesn't differ much from any other secretarial posts in the company. It's just that since it not an official job, I would be the one paying you for your services. The salary is the same as the one offered by the company but it may increase if I'm really satisfied," Reito said, emphasizing the words – "it may increase". Shizuru laughed inwardly. "Poor company, they have a dumb man for a director," she thought.
"Ara, it's a lot better then than the official post. You said the salary may increase more than what the company gives if I only do my job properly," Shizuru said, pretending that she was happy.
"Yes," Reito replied, still grinning, "but are you sure you can do the extra services?"
"Services like what?" Reito was confused at this question. His prey was supposed to say "I can do anything for the job." Reito quickly thought of assignments that he might give to his personal secretary.
"Well, services like looking for executives and have them sign important documents, making rush reports, entertaining business associates…I may also ask you to make my tea…or give me a massage when my neck goes stiff due to all the paper works in this department." Reito said while internally praising himself for being a smart man.
"Oh. If I were to choose, I'd rather become an official employee but I'd accept your offer while waiting for a vacant post from any department."
"Good, good, see you tom-"
A loud bang was heard on the door and an angry green-eyed lady came in. Her midnight navy hair fell down softly on her back and it was apparent that she was walking toward Reito's office.
"Good morning Director," the employees in the room greeted her like robots but she didn't pay any attention to them. Reito was calm because he knew that this was a common Kuga Natsuki entrance. Reito was holding Shizuru's resume and was about to shake hands with Shizuru. He was about to make a pass at Shizuru by holding her hand much longer than necessary. But this entire plan went to waste.
"Applicant?" Natsuki asked Shizuru. Normally, Shizuru would always reply with words to make use of the nice effect to people of her accent but this time she merely nodded. She thought that Natsuki's eyes were intense and it's too difficult to look away. Natsuki walked towards Reito and snatched the resume from his hand. Natsuki quickly scanned it and then she gazed at Shizuru.
"You're hired. I just fired my dumb secretary. Follow me, I need you to start today."
"Ara," Shizuru beamed. She stood up and straightened her skirt while Natsuki was looking and waiting for her. Shizuru smiled at Natsuki and Natsuki glared at her. Nonetheless, the smile didn't fade. Shizuru turned her head to Reito who now wore a shocked expression.
"It seems that I just got an official position Kanzaki-san. Thank you so much for your help," Shizuru politely said. She decided that she would at least let Reito shake her hand so she lifted it in front of him. But it really was Reito's unlucky day. Just as he was about to shake Shizuru's hand, Natsuki impatiently dragged Shizuru away from the office by pulling her wrist and leading her to her own office. When Natsuki was out of sight, Reito banged his table and screamed, "Kuga!"
The report that she should present the following day filled Natsuki's head with worry that she almost forgot she was holding an applicant's resume on one hand, and dragging a person with her other hand. She stopped on her tracks and dropped Shizuru's hand. Shizuru felt relieved but her skin was white and sensitive so a bruise was apparent on her wrist. Shizuru expected a "sorry" but she didn't get it. Natsuki just ignored the result of her actions and looked at the resume for Shizuru's name.
"Viola-san, follow me," Natsuki said and then she briskly walked toward her office.
"I was right, she's grumpy and has an ego larger than her that she couldn't even say sorry," Shizuru thought as she followed her new boss. She quickly caught up with her and she walked beside her. Natsuki thought that was weird. All the secretaries she had walked behind her, not beside her. She then threw a glance in Shizuru's direction only to find out that the girl was smiling. She wanted to scold her but nothing came out of her mouth. Something's off. Natsuki couldn't put a finger on it. When they reached her office, Shizuru was please at how organized Natsuki was and how silent everyone worked. Shizuru looked at one middle-aged woman working on her desk and then the woman mouthed, "Good Luck".