Chapter 2: In Litigation

Sakura walked into Li Corp with three phrases in her head: I would be an asset to the company, I am willing and able to work hard, and I am a team player. It was three of the top ten phrases to use on an interview to land a job—and although it came from Google; Google was her only hope. Tomoyo had given her a recommendation (and her outfit), along with Meiling and her old employer. As she walked into the elevator and heard ding for her floor, she walked down the hall confident and was enamor with the Gold steel letters reading, "Li Corporation." It was her moment to shine.

"Excuse me." Sakura turned to the voice and saw that it was a black haired, purpled eyed woman with a smirk on her face.

"Yes?" Sakura replied.

"How may I help you?" The woman had a warm smile.

"I am here to interview with Li-sama about a position here. My name is Sakura Kinomoto." The woman looked Sakura up and down and then began to scan the schedule for today. It was 9:15 am. She did see that he did have an interview with the time scheduled. She turned from the screen to girl and smiled.

"Well, Kinomoto-san, it appears that you are an hour early. Your appointment is not until 10:30 am. You can wait here and I'll get you some coffee or tea, which every you like." Sakura knew she was early with the buses have weird hours and only allowing her to get somewhere an hour early or fifteen minutes late and she decided the former than the latter. Sakura nodded her head and requested some green tea.

"Here you are Kinomoto-san" Sakura accepted the tea and began to read over the economic sections in the magazines that she saw on the table. She was going to be ready to prove herself.

Syaoran Li prided himself on three things: his looks, his smarts/business savvy, and his patience, but Meiling was trying all three. He was still on the phone with Meiling after a half an hour. And when Meiling argued, he felt his face get stiff, his ability to debate go out the window, and his patience run thin. She was really making it a point to hire this Kinomoto woman.

"Syaoran, please hire her. She's in a really tough spot." Syaoran was not one to give handouts when it came to company. It was his family business that his grandfather started…he wasn't going to be the one jeopardizes it for a former homemaker.

"Meiling, if her qualifications are up to par than I will. Where did you meet this woman, anyway?"

"She has some legal and personal troubles and, she's Tomoyo's and my friend." Syaoran read between the lines. Knowing Meiling's legal work, it was a divorce. "Moreover, she is qualified. She can speak Chinese, Japanese, English with a little Spanish, she got a Master's in Business Accounting and spent time studying abroad in America and Spain for business, as far as I am concerns, she's good."

"Yeah, with a gap in experience and worked with the Amayaki company." Leave it to the lawyer to leave out valuable information.

"Well hey, it's a big company like this one, she has connections to it I believe her grandfather started it, and the family are silent partners, so you know you're not getting a newbie to business, and although she had a gap of a year and half."

"Meiling, two years, there is a gap from June to October of the next year. What happened?"

"That is still a year and a half. I don't know Syaoran, personal issues. A year and half of missed time does not change that she got what it takes. And isn't Makio leaving in 3 weeks, can beggars really be choosers?" Syaoran rolled his eyes. Meiling heard silence and knew Syaoran was thinking.

Leave it to the lawyer to make a good case. He could not be a chooser, but Syaoran did not want to deal with a possible in and out situation with secretaries.

"This isn't going to be a stand-in job. I won't have her for six months to a year and everything is done after that time."

"Syaoran, there are somethings that I can't grantee, but I do know she has stakes—she needs the job."

"Everyone needs a job, Meiling."

"But, she has a daughter, and juggles taking care of her father. She just moved to Tokyo to be closer to him and for this opportunity. If she can't find another one, well it kind of rock bottom. Her legal issues are anything, but amiable."

"What do you mean?" Meiling rarely brought up the type of cases she took unless they were noteworthy, such as children fighting over money that their stepmother granted, a celebrity, or abusive husband (rightfully) having to pay up.

"Well," with Meiling's sign, Syaoran got more concern. "He left her for another woman, and is fighting against giving her spousal support for herself or her chronically sick father, who has respiratory issues; moreover, her ex is fighting for custody of their four-year-old in the name of providing her the lifestyle she deserves. If anything, it could get bad to worse." Syaoran felt his heart sink at those prospects and he remained silent through the story. He imagined divorce got ugly, but not underhanded and ugly. "So, this job would allow her to disprove his claims."

Syraoran signed and found himself saying, "Okay when you put it like that I will be more open, but am not charity. She has a fairer shot."

"Thank you, Xiao-Lang."

"Kinomoto-san, Li-sama will see you now." Sakura prepped up at her name. She knew she maneuvered the magazine out of her hand awkwardly, and the woman's smile did not make her feel any better. She stood up and nodded. "Please come this way." Sakura walked through the doors after being asked for permission by the man behind it and waited.

Syaoran tried not be a pervert in that moment, but the soon-to-be divorce woman with a kid was hot. Her hair in a neat bun. He could see her high cheekbones, and how soft her lips looked. Her suit jacket did not hide the curves, and only a peek of cleavage showed and her neck visible it was hard to not notice. Neither were those legs in her skirt. Moreover, he could see her eyes. They were so green and deep, even though he could sense the nerves.

"Li-sama, I would like you to meet Sakura Kinomoto. She is here for an interview." As she bowed to him, he couldn't help but look her over some more.

"Thank you, Makamoto-san, please give us and hour and hold all my calls." Mako saw her way out. "Kinomoto-san, please sit." Sakura walked over to Li-san trying to keep her head up high and be smooth.

"Good morning, Li-sama, thank you for taking the time to interview me. I am really excited for this opportunity. I am a team player, I am willing to work hard, and I would be an asset to the company." Sakura looked at Syaoran face and saw the bored expression.

"Well tagline aside." Sakura began to look at her hands and hated that she used her three phrases in one swoop. "Kinomoto-san, you are here on recommendations from two close people in my life. We need someone that is proficient in Spanish and knows the Caribbean well because we are planning to expand out there. Notably the islands like Dominica, Grenada, and Jamaica. What do you know about these places."

"Well in all honesty, not that much outside of my personal travel to places like Jamaica and Antigua, but I did complete a trip to the Dominican Republic with my father and have helped him look at Aramarks statues. Do feel that I know it more than the average person."

"Kinomoto-san, what are your long terms goals?"

"Well I have a daughter, and I want to be here for some time like until my daughter grows up and finishes high school. And I want to save for retirement."

"How old is your daughter?"

"She is about 4-years-old, and is going to be 5 in a couple of months, but like I said I will work really hard. I know that I am a little green for secretary work, but I know business."

"You don't have to make your case she has already done that, so I am willing to hire you." Sakura could only imagine what Meiling said. She knew she was a good lawyer. She was about to talk, but Syaoran held up his hand. "This job gives you a couple of benefits. You'll be making good money with health insurance; a retirement plan and primary and secondary school fee subsides. Your daughter will have access to a good school near the job, so no need to worry about transport. However, travel is a big potion like 10 weeks total for the year, and you'll be required to work late on occasion and you'll be invited to business functions and charities. However, vacation time is a month every year and sick days are 3-weeks for the year. Are you willing to accept?"

"Yes, I do." Sakura gave him a sign of relief and small smile that made Syaoran heart flutter a little.

"If you don't mind me asking, what is your daughter like?" Syaoran said in a small voice.

"Well, she is an adventurous four-year-old that loves to make people laugh. I hope one day she becomes a comedian. She is very dramatic. She gets scared easily and can be a handful at the store, and I love her." Sakura felt happy to talk about Maho-san, she was the only thing that helped her get out the bed some mornings.

"Well that good to hear. Kinomoto-san, please tell Makamoto that you will need paperwork for the job and you begin training under her next week." Sakura nodded her head and made a speedy exit. She wasn't about to tempt fate.

Dear Dairy,

I got the job. I hope that life will change for the better. I hope that the court will be easy tomorrow. I am still concern about Maho, and Daddy, plus Toya can only do so much, but at least something changed for the better.

Sakura