OF SUAVE BUSINESS MEN AND EFFICIENT SECRETARIES


Author Janna


Anime Card Captor Sakura

Genre Romance/ Business

Pairing Syaoran Li X Sakura Kinomoto

Rating T

Disclaimer

I'm just a poor person trying to create my story with the existing characters from Clamp's show, Card Captor Sakura. (wipes tears) Sole property rights go to Clamp. The standard disclaimers apply.


Summary

Secretary of a tycoon, Sakura, helps her boss Syaoran realize that there is a world outside other than business, accounts, profits and more business. In a unexpected way. For a pleasure read. Enjoy the mushiness.


Of Suave Business Men And Efficient Secretaries


CHAPTER 3


Previously

Still surprised from the turn of events Syaoran could only agree. Only his mother had served ultimatums on him and only she could actually get him to do something he didn't want to do.

What the heck is she planning?


Present

Tokyo was home to enough of the rich, affluent, loaded and the famous that nearly everything amazing and humanly possible was available to rent. Which was the reason why Sakura pulled up in front of Syaoran's building with her own — at the least for the weekend anyway—sleek midnight blue Volkswagen open roof convertible. If it were up to her choice, she preferred silver Audis with a bit more mileage and better sound system.

She'd moved from simply shaking and quivering with nerves to feeling nauseous, her stomach filled with fluttering butterflies— it was definitely not an improvement. Her Aunt Kaho might applaud Sakura's devices and tactics and even the brilliant scheming – which worked so far, so fine, though over a tentative 'but', but she would take her to task well and good for lying. She was never the best at it with people who knew her well against her

"But I couldn't tell him the real reason I bid on him surely….I what the heck am I going to do? Oh Kami- sama please save me…," Sakura muttered to herself as she waved her reluctant every day smile at the doorman and made her way to the elevators. "Syaoran sees me as a piece of office equipment, ready at his beck and call, not a woman who felt something human enough for him. Telling him I care about him would be as enamoring to him as if the fax machine lovingly declared its cartridge deep affection and undying love for him. It would be like I was having this heart deep felt affection, printer style. Telling him I'm doing this for his own good is so much more better and so much more simpler. Really." She murmured unconvincingly to herself.

Had Aunt Kaho been there, the seemingly stern woman would have looked let down, even though she wouldn't have said anything to rub the fact in. Her aunt was a firm believer in unconditional love. She gave unconditionally and also received in three the love and respect as returns.

Sakura exited the elevator on the top floor which was reserved exclusively for the elite Li Syaoran and made her way to Syaoran's penthouse. She was still rationalizing the decision to keep her feelings as a secret to herself as she forced herself to push the bell, with only half her heart into it.

She half expected him not to be there. It would not be a big surprise at all. After all, he'd grumbled under his breath the entire previous afternoon with out missing a beat, complaining furiously about all the work he would be missing in his one day absence. A family man in the true sense. If she had quarter a brain, she would turn around this instant, and go in search of a nine to five type of guy who would show at the least some reasonable emotion for her and come early and be reluctant to leave for office the next day. Not someone already married to his precious work.

She had half a mind to drop all plans and leave him in his metallic jungle of an office. But he'd never actually refused straight out and that was the only thing keeping her rooted to the spot. And her sense of responsibility as she had caused the mess and she would do the damage control. She tried to tell herself that was a good thing. At least she had a go at bringing her emotions to the surface. She wanted to find some comfort in it but couldn't help but wonder if it would be better to know where she stood, rather than being kept on her toes waiting in anticipation.

When the door opened, she braced herself for more complaints and irritated looks. It did not happen, but, boy, she was glad she was braced herself because while Syaoran in a suit made her heart beat faster than a long distance jumper, and Syaoran in workout clothes made her want to throw herself in front of him while screaming at him to open his goddamn beautiful, enchanting eyes and look at her, as in look at her, Syaoran in jeans and a snug-fitting polo shirt took her breath away, leaving her speechless.

Soft well worn away denim hugged strong thighs, developed calves and emphasized his narrow hips, while the deep green shirt hugged his broad shoulders and muscled chest to perfection. It was half tucked and the over all effect was as stunning as usual if not more. She had a feeling that he could wear a rug and still pull it off to such extent with his looks, that it would be the new in thing the next day morning. Her gaze rose to the set of his square jaw complete with a stubble, to his firm mouth that twitched in to a lazy smile ever so slightly.

Finally she looked at his eyes—dark, mesmerizing and today filled with questions and determined to get the answers.. As usual, his dark chocolate messy hair was long, wavy and layered, with a bangs drifting onto his forehead, making him look ethereal with the ceiling lights glinting off its lusture. The 'I – just – rolled -out -of -bed –look' suited him so much and distracted her so, that Sakura had a hard time collecting her scattered thoughts.

How many times had she wanted to lean close and push those wayward strands back into place? How many times had they worked late into the night, pouring over schedules, planning all meetings, setting up the event, brainstorming ideas all the while sitting shoulder to shoulder, face to face, his masculine scent invading her body and making it nearly impossible to stay rational?

"Right on time," he said, his deep baritone breaking through her reverie. "You told me casual right? Does this work?" He lightly brushed the front of his shirt.

She nodded because speaking was more than she could manage. She'd been planning this day ever since Syaoran had walked into her office cubicle and tossed the charity request brochure for the bachelor auction on her desk and announced his intention of having her buy him so he could be altruistic but not lose time. So much rode on these few critical hours.

If Syaoran could finally see her as a person rather than a furniture piece—as a woman—then maybe there was a chance. If not she would have to find a way to collect the bits of her broken heart and move on with life. In the past people have managed to survive with broken hearts. Her name would just be added to the list of willing victims.

"So what's the master plan?" he asked as he stepped into the hall way and closed the door behind him a carry bag slung over his shoulder. "I've been thinking about this and figured you'd want to get back at me for all the nights I made you work late. So are you going to have me wax your car? Or paint your living room?" his voice light and jovial.

Sakura raised her eye brows and looked at him.

He looked at her with bemused smile. "Nothing much slips past you, do they?"

He opened the door again, took out his laptop and left it on the bed. Feeling her eyes boring into his back still, he gave in and also took out his cell phone from his pocket and threw it beside the laptop.

Sakura stood glancing at him critically. "Some things never change."

"Sorry. Couldn't help it. I should never have expected any less from you. Anyway what will we be doing? No revenge right?"

"Am I going to like it?"

"Possibly"

"Are we going to be alone and secluded from the world?"

"Probably"

"Are you ever going to give me a straight answer?"

"May be."

Sakura chuckled at the frustrated look that etched his ruggedly handsome face. "I promise you though – its definitely not revenge of any kind."

"So your not going to torture me with labour, huh?"

She thought of the elegant and luxurious day and evening she'd arranged. "Not exactly."

Not exactly was right, Syaoran thought as they pulled up at the marina docks and as Sakura led the way to a beautiful classy eighty five-foot yacht, titled Amaya.

On board the captain greeted them warmly. The boat was theirs for the next five hours. Where would they like to go?

"How about cruising up the coast?" Sakura asked. "All right with you?"

As she spoke, a crewman opened a bottle of some vintage champagne and poured them each a glass. Syaoran took in the plush cabin, the elegant furnishings and the tray of hors d'oeuvres beside the champagne and frowned.

As he'd already mentioned to Sakura, he'd expected her to force him into hard labor for their twenty-four hours together as a return for him taxing her so much. But he'd never thought she would come up with something like this.

"Syaoran? The cruise? Are you okay with it?"

"Whatever you'd like." He replied still deep in thought.

He accepted the glass of champagne then followed Sakura onto deck where they watched the crew cast off, each moving to his own space doing the necessities which helped run the luxury yacht peacefully.

"They way the work is amazing." Sakura looked at the men, sipping her wine thoughtfully.

"That's what every body needs. Everyone doing his duty, also helping others to do their best. That's what team work is all about." Was Syaoran's reply.

While their yacht moved through the maze of boats, Syaoran found himself more interested in the woman standing next to him than in the spectacular view.

She looked so… different. For once her long knee length hair was loose, rather than up in a tight bun or in a braid. She wore casual aqua marine slacks and a matching blue jacket, emphasizing her petite frame, while her calf length quarter pants exactly matched her dark- emerald green eyes. She was a vision in blue and green.

He was not the only person to realize just how beautiful she looked. He had noticed every male's eyes following his companion on their way and found out to his surprise he didn't like anyone other than him looking at her. He filed away the thought for later scrutiny.

Had she been anyone else, anyone other than Sakura, he would have done the math. One yacht, one bottle of champagne and an entire night together. It equaled seduction. Usually. But that wasn't Sakura's style…or was it?

He realized he knew nothing about her, her personal life. Nothing about her, save the fact that she made his world rotate smoothly, nice and organized.

If she had seduction in mind, did he want to take part in it?

She turned and caught him staring at her. One corner of her mouth curved up in a beautiful smile. It left him breathless.

"What?" she asked looking back at the expanse of the vast sea before them. Never before had he noticed that her hair had red tinges in it. Never before had he noticed how her musical soprano voice echoed with intelligence. She had an innocent aura around her which appealed to him, made him want to wrap his arms around her and hold her safe from anyone else but him.

"You're a surprise," he said, his voice thankfully not betraying the confusion he felt. What was he thinking? This was his secretary. His Sakura. He could not fee- Wait did he just think of her as his?

"You mean the boat and everything." She said twirling back at him.

"No. I mean you."

Her green irises widened in surprise. What brought this on?