Kakashi, as always, had impeccable timing. Just as I was exiting my class, pardon slip in tow that was easily given most likely because of my name and status, he was calling to inform me that he parked near the dorms of the school. I gave him a grin when we finally neared eachother, but he stared back with a bored eyes, his face carefully hidden as always. He didn't need to express it, deep down I knew he was happy to see me.
Skipping to a halt and punching his arm, I plastered another smile on my face and asked, "Aren't you going to ask about my first day?!"
"No," he answered bluntly, seeming rather bored with my antics.
"How rude," I mocked in my best fancy offended girl voice, "I'll have you know, its gone rather well."
"If you keep it up, I'll let you go to this meeting with simply what you're wearing," he warned quietly, his eyes giving away his smirk when I brushed him off, "But let me guess."
"You have it right," I finished, giving him a smile, "I wouldn't give a shit either way."
"I surely hope you get rid of that attitude while you're here," he chuckled while turning and pulling out a covered outfit that still hung on the hanger, "Your mother would have a heart attack if she knew how serious you were about attending a formal event in such... fashion."
"Hey, watch the insults buddy," I narrowed my eyes at him, grinning when he unzipped the outfit before me, waiting for my approval, "What she doesn't know doesn't hurt her. Especially about this, don't tell her a damn thing about this. Father wouldn't care, but mom would flip her shit if she knew I was going to this thing with a suit on."
"Like the color?" He teased, reading my mind as if I was an open book. How could I not? Maroon sweater vest that covered the white dress shirt, gray fleece jacket- that looked rather expensive, gray black and white tie, all tied together with the black jean pants that could be mistaken for something more formal.
"You know me far too well," I grinned in approval, "A very school boy approach, not too formal and not too casual. And I have a pair of chucks that would go with this perfect. I dare say, this is check mate."
"I'm pleased that you're pleased," he replied, before zipping it back up and holding it out to me, "I'll wait here while you get changed. Its almost time to start everything off."
Nodding, I turned and jogged to the swiveling doors that was the entrance of my penthouse of a dorm room, "Alright, give me ten minutes."
X
Hands in my pocket and feeling a tad savvy in my new get up and matching beanie on, I strolled through the eerily quiet entrance of the dining hall with Kakashi forever quiet and watching. The place was clean, almost too clean, with marble and shinned brass- in reality it was most likely gold- everywhere. Paintings and fine vases decorated the walls and pillars, it could have been passed as an art museum. In the middle of the room, closer towards the huge double doors that sat in the background, was a desk with a girl diligently scribbling something down on a piece of paper.
Coming to a slow stop, I waited a bit for her to acknowledge me, but minutes passed in vain. Slowly getting the point, I cleared my throat subtly. With a squeak, her indigo bangs swung her face as she shot a look up at me. Seemingly nervous, she rushed, "Oh, I'm so sorry. Um, can I get your name?"
I smiled slightly, hoping my cool demeanor would relax hers, "Rockwell. What's yours?"
That didn't work. Eyes widening in absolute terror, recognition instantly flashed through her features. I wasn't trying to boast, usually events like these took last names not first. In obvious effort, she choked out, "My name? It's... it's Hinata."
"Lovely name," I complimented with another smile, "It suits such a pretty girl."
Her blush was third degree as she brushed her bang back and smiled shakily. Before I could fluster her much more, she quickly grabbed the phone to make a brief call. In seconds she glanced back up and informed, "You're escort will be here shortly."
Nodding and drumming my fingers against the mahogany desk, I waited patienly with a glance at Kakashi. He was standing a few paces behind me, eyes steadily on mine in the deafening silence of the room. I knew what his look meant, and I had already worked on getting myself in the right mind set for this meeting. I didn't need to make a good impression, but instead a statement.
Rockwell wasn't just money. They bred pure ice.
As the doors finally began to creak open, I looked back at the desk assistant and gave her a soft smile, openly expressing how thankful I was for her kindly assisting me. Choking out something else with a quick nod, she hastily went back to work. Satisfied that I at least left a good impression with one person tonight, I turned towards the doors to greet my escort.
And I also suddenly felt a wave of ravage satisfaction.
Headed my way was the empty headed blond who had gave me the fourth degree just hours ago. She held a smile on her face, one that looked almost too real to be fake, with an absolutely gorgeous deep red silk dress flowing down just past her knees. With simple, but clearly expensive, silver heels on and a pearl necklace around her neck, she pulled off the look of professional and elegant in a way that seemed far too easy. Pretty? She had mistakenly accused me of thinking earlier.
She was wrong. She was drop dead gorgeous.
Her smile flattered for a moment, and then she skittered to a halt. In seconds, she understood just who Rockwell was and who she was escorting. And seconds later she recovered herself, not before cursing silently of course. The sound of her heels clanging and echoing the halls were musical.
Musical, because with each step I could practically hear her head reeling, attempting to find some sort of excuse for her rude behavior earlier today.
Oh man, this was going to be a bit too enjoyable. Yeah that's right sweet heart, you made a pretty shitty enemy too.
"Hello, my name is Ino Yamanaka. It's a pleasure," she greeted with a swift perfect smile, but the bit of strain that curved her lips gave it all away.
My lips twitched as I said taunted, "Tayuya Rockwell, I believe we've met already."
Her eyes slightly narrowed, "Yes uh... I do believe so."
Lifting my arms, I gave her a grin and asked, "What do you think? Proper enough attire to be up to par with the elites, or am I still third class garbage?"
Lips thinning and glancing around uneasily, she said almost desperately, "You look impeccable, of course."
"Kiss ass is usually the way to go, but there is no need to lie," I teased, eyeing her carefully. With a small point at Kakashi, I admitted, "He already told me how much he disliked my taste."
"I'd appreciate it if you didn't spread lies," Kakashi said in worn tone, "I have a reputation to uphold you know."
"See," I grinned while glancing back at the girl, "He isn't too nervous to tell me how it is. And you didn't seem too mind my feelings earlier."
Looking annoyed, she bit out, "How about we go into the dinning room now. Everyone has been worried with your arrival, you are the last one to show."
"Well please show me the way," I encouraged, taking mercy on my fun torture, "Tis almost like I'm famous around these parts, huh Kakashi?"
"Don't boast," he chastised in his bored mumble, "There is a lady about."
"Indeed," I joked, then let my eyes slip to Ino, who was trying everything she could not to kick me in the shin, "A pretty lady at that."
Ill impressed at my private joke that she clearly caught, she whirled around and practically stormed me towards the direction of the lunch in. As she did so, I took a breath and focused.
Alright. Enough playing around, it was time to get serious.
oOo
To say there were surprised to see me is an understatement. They clearly weren't informed that I would be taking my parents place, it was obvious by the confused frown on their lips when Yamanaka announced me in. She had no problems scurrying off right after, leaving me in the spot light. And Kakashi didn't speak up, of course. It was up to me to clear the air.
Simply put, this was test number one.
My mother and father didn't make simple mistakes like this, they had done it on purpose. I hadn't expected them to test me so childishly, and I'm sure Kakashi was to report how I reacted to the situation, so I brushed it off and kept a level head.
Smile polite and light, shoulders straight and tall, I strolled down the stairs casually. Despite the fact that I hated when people acted as if the world was under the sole of their shoes, I reminded myself that this was my playground and I could do whatever the hell I wanted. The lunch in was a business proposal to me and me alone. I wasn't here to impress anyone, I was here to leave a firm print on the fresh sand my parents had so delicately spread before me.
So I would do just that.
"Hello there, excuse me for being fashionably late," I said with a sheepish smile sweeping my lips. With every eye that I caught, I forced myself to meet unwavering. The place was intimidating of course, these were the literal men and women who owned major companies for years; they were far off from the snot nose at this school. They knew the game, they were trained sharks.
But the Rockwells' were known to be tougher and meaner.
"I will be the representative and stand in for Rockwell Corp. My parents, unfortunately and regrettably, couldn't find the time to make this amazing spread of a lunch in we have spread before us," I continued casually, reaching the final steps of the grand stair case and grinned through the nerve wrecking silence, "But please, don't hesitate to approach me just as you would approach them."
A murmur began to spread around me, but soon it was covered up with light music of a live small orchestra was playing in the middle of the humongous ball room. Sighing in relief that I was finally out of the spot light, I looked around. Kakashi silently moved next to me, almost assuring me that I wasn't alone and he was still there. And to further boost my confidence, he muttered a few words of encouragement.
"You did well. Keep it up."
Nodding firmly, I began making my way towards the mini bar of sandwiches. Everyone's mutter became easier to pick up, like a steady buzz that was growing louder and louder.
"I didn't realize Rockwell had a son," a female whispered with an amused tone.
"Watch your tongue, that is Rockwell's daughter, Tayuya.," another male replied in hush.
"They are so open minded," a whisper from another direction said wistfully.
"They speak highly of their daughter all the time, but I never expected her in such..fashion..."
Popping a grape in my mouth, I chewed happily unphased by the obvious gossip going around about me. But after a singla grape, I realized how hungry I was and began piling on whatever I could grab within my small plate. Everything tasted amazing, a surprising burst of flavor within each small little triangle of a sandwich, and that was just in one bite.
I began to wonder how all the sandwiches would taste together.
"That's incredibly ghastly to watch," a voice interrupted mid chew.
I coughed in surprise, choking on my feast. Glancing back I was met with piercing blue eyes. Forcing myself to swallow, I croaked out, "Have you tried these? Their fucking awesome."
Ino cringed at my manner as Kakashi handed me a small cup of water. Taking a sip, I cleared my throat and tried speaking again, "You should just take a bite. How do you make five star sandwiches? I simply never knew."
"I'd rather not," she muttered in disgust, face scrunching when I put a whole triangle in my mouth, chewing happily, "Is this how you act in public?"
"Only when no one is watching," I answered truthfully, going for another sandwich.
"I'm watching," she pointed out.
"Someone important," I corrected, smiling slightly.
She curled her lip in annoyance. Then, with great effort, she said steadily, "I came to speak with you about what happened earlier."
"Leaving me at the stairs to fend for myself was really a dick move," I nodded in understanding. Kakashi cleared his throat, and with a glance at him I corrected in question, "A bitch move?"
"Not exactly what I had in mind," he sighed out.
"I was speaking about the headphones thing," she pressed, obviously annoyed at the sidetrack.
"Oh," I replied as if I had no idea, "Well don't worry about it. It isn't as though I have suffered and musicless life because of such a traumatizing experience."
She narrowed her eyes. I gave another smile.
"I was just hoping it wouldn't defer your judgment," she continued on, now biting out her words to keep a polite tone.
What she said caught my attention. Raising an eyebrow, I asked, "What do you mean?"
"What happened to us was incredibly... inconvenient," she explained slowly. I smirked, that was a good way to put it, "But it has nothing to do with the offer my father will be putting on the table later tonight."
Brows furrowing, I said slowly, "His offer?"
"Of requesting investment," she spoon fed me the missing information, looking incredibly aggravated that she had to do so.
I blinked, then with a small frown, I asked, "Was the president of the school the one who contacted my parents about this in the first place?"
"Yes," she replied, now tapping her foot impatiently.
I quickly looked at Kakashi, who remained expressionless. Setting my jaw, I glared at the ground with a silent curses running through my head. Test number two, going up against the president of the school, gauging the pros and cons of his request and understanding the consequences of denying him. I haven't met the man yet, his scorn could be more fiery than a burned woman's. Would being kicked out of the school be an option for him, or would he keep me in simply for persistence? Yamanaka, company of mental medical equipment. Ninth largest suggested rate for medical instruments, entangled within 20 donation groups, popularity rate near the fifties.
"Rockwell."
I snapped my eyes back to Ino, who was watching me with uncanny eyes and an annoyed twitch to her brow. Smile strained, I answered, "Yes?"
"I was saying, I would hope our little accident earlier today wouldn't defer your judgment with my fathers request," she pressed impatiently.
Brushing her off, because my mind was still in business mode, I answered distractedly, "Don't flatter yourself, you are in now way a factor on if I give an approving answer or not. If he is able to sway me is a factor, if he is able to present a convincing argument is a factor, if the man is smart with his money is a factor, but his stumbling, uncaring, unfocused, ill sensitive daughter is completely, and unmistakably, not a factor. So I'd appreciate it if you didn't insult me in suggesting I am as novice and unskilled as you have already judged me to be. Because I'm not."
"Tayuya," Kakashi warned with a low tone.
My mind snapped back into place again and in a few slow seconds I realized what I said. My eyes moved to Ino's, lips opening to sincerely apologize about my insensetive response, but was unable to.
Looking completely livid, she set her jaw and shot fire from her ice blue eyes. Hands twisting into fist, she said between clenched teeth, "Thank you Rockwell, you seem to hold your legacy's reputation well. Whatever was I thinking that I could ever defer your judgment, silly of me I must have been unfocused."
I swallowed and began weakly to explain, but already she had turned and stormed off. Setting my jaw, I looked away and cursed silently to myself. It wasn't like I was aiming to hurt her ego like that, I was just focused on the random spurts of information that was flowing into my head after years of studying business and all of my competitors.
"They all know Rockwells' are sharks, but there was no need to prove it to someone who has no rope to pull on yet," Kakashi said quietly as I stood there, "Tone it down, or you will not only lose business interest, but gain enemies as well."
Clenching my teeth together, I nodded once.
There was times that I knew I was confident and good at what the Rockwell family did for generations.
But there were also times where I completely hated that part of myself...
Alright, there we go. Now, before we judge lets sit back and think of the possibilites.
We all know I love drama, and angst, and party chapters. Now thing of this as a fucking playground at my disposal. We have college, rich kids, back stabs, and people fighting for power?
Um... FUCK yeah thanks, lets try to make this work.
It'll be slow at first, because I wish to get a feel for Tayuya before we get into the meat and bread of the story. But, once we get there, it won't be so closed out to just two people and one story line, you know? I want to make it really open, like. I want you to be like GASP! SHOCK! OH HELL NO!
I'm always pretty spurattic so give me a break. Work is good. Life is good. But laptop is about to die and i'm going to work out soon, so i'm hauling ass out of here. Chapter 3 in the works, see you soon!
Read Review, tell me what you think!
Shycadet hauling ass, out.