Chapter 2 – Career Prospects
"Yes?" There was a trace of impatience in the deep masculine voice that answered the polite knock. The door opened to reveal a middle age employee holding a thin folder in his hands.
"My report on the girl from Fleet Limited that you wanted investigated, sir."
"Ah," the slight frown disappeared and the tall figure leaned back in the leather swivel chair in a deceptively casual manner, intense dark eyes partially concealed behind a heavy half-lidded glance. "So what have you got for me, Hanaru?"
"One Makino Tsukushi. She joined Fleet Limited only this year and holds the position of accounts clerk. She is currently eighteen years of age and her highest education level is a high school degree. Her marital status is single and is apparently unattached at the moment. Her parents died in a motor accident when she was fifteen. She is living with her younger brother – one Makino Susumu – in a one bedroom apartment in Brunswood. I have the address here. Her brother is eleven years old and is studying in XX school. He is apparently quite bright and is trying for a scholarship to Etoku … …"
"Financial status?" Tsukasa enquired coolly.
"They have a trust fund which is adequate but not substantial, which explains why Ms Makino is working."
"How is her record at Fleet?"
"An industrious and responsible worker who does her best. She is not afraid to speak her mind and provide suggestions, even if she may be a bit loud occasionally … …" He was interrupted by a sound from Tsukasa that would have been deemed a snort by other less illustrious being.
"… … She is currently also doing her ACCA and the department has plans to promote her to the position of accountant when she has completed her part-time course after the usual three or four years … …"
The room was silent as Hanaru completed his report and handed the folder to Tsukasa. He opened the folder and quickly flicked through it, stopping at one particular section where he paused and read the details more carefully. A frown of concentration ceased his brow for a moment, then he closed his folder and handed it back to his staff.
"This is what I want you to do … …" Hanaru listened attentively to Tsukasa's instructions and jolted down a couple of notes. Then he bowed and exited the room silently.
A somewhat wicked smile twisted Tsukasa's lips for a moment before he buried himself in work again.
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Tsukushi carefully set aside the pile of delivery orders that she had invoiced, sighing as she reached for ringing phone with her other hand. Interruptions were the bane of her life.
"Hello, accounts department, Tsukushi speaking."
"Tsukushi, Ryoko wants to see you," the slightly anxious voice of Yuki could be heard. Tsukushi swallowed nervously as her heartbeat sped up.
"Do you have any ideas regarding why she would want to see me?" She automatically tried to recall certain of her actions that might have landed her in trouble with the Director of the Human Resource Department. "Well, it can't be the accident with the pot of plants in the pantry. Anyway, they were dying to start with. I apologised after reporting the accident and even offered to replace them … … Coming in late for work the Friday before because my alarm clock broke down? But that was only one time … … Then there was … …"
"Tsukushi," Yuki's voice interrupted her flow of thoughts. "Stop speculating, it may not be anything bad at all. Just get your butt up here as soon as possible and don't make Ryoko blow her top!"
"Yes, yes, you're right. Just keep your fingers crossed for me."
"Will do."
Within a couple of minutes, Tsukushi found herself standing in front of the Director's door. She swallowed nervously as Yuki gave her a thumbs-up sign and slipped off, mustered up her courage and knocked on the door.
"Come in, please." She shut the door quietly and then turned to look at Ryoko. As per normal, the Director of Human Resources had her inscrutable mask in place and she gave Tsukushi a professional smile when she looked up. "Ah Tsukushi, how are things going?"
"Good. How are you?"
"Oh, I've been pretty busy with this merger, which is also the reason why I wanted to see you. Please take a seat." Tsukushi sat down gingerly, wondering wildly for a moment if overstaffing was a problem resulting from the merger and if she was getting fired. She really needed this job. It paid relatively well compared to other similar positions and had good career prospects … …
"How would you feel about being temporary transferred to work as a director's personal assistance for about six months?"
"Sorry?" Ryko's question completely threw Tsukushi. This was certainly not something that she was expecting.
"A director has been sent over from the other company to work with us for a few months to learn about the way we operate and to facilitate a smooth transition. He brought his own assistant to help out, but he really needs someone from our side who knows the works. If the position becomes permanent, we will naturally seek to hire a permanent personal assistant as well. However, because of many uncertainties, we have decided to choose someone from our company first."
Ryko flipped through Tsukushi's file, "we specifically decided to select someone from the accounts department because the new director would be spending a lot of time on the company's accounts and it would be more convenient to have someone who is knowledgeable in that area. Also, it states in your curriculum vitae that you had worked as a secretary in your part-time and summer jobs. You also know shorthand and have a fast typing speed. Besides, you are the most senior account's clerk that we have in the department and we are short of accountants so they can't do this job either."
Ryoko smiled as she looked at Tsukushi's shocked expression. "This is definitely not a demotion. In fact, you can see it as a temporary promotion and your salary will naturally reflect this." She mentioned a figure and Tsukushi's eyes widened. It was about one and a half times her current salary.
"What are my responsibilities?" She managed to ask through a suddenly dry throat.
"Managing the Director's appointments and correspondence. Filing and producing reports which he requires. Also, arranging meetings and taking minutes at the meetings. Helping out with the analysis of certain accounts and figures, and of course you can obtain the help of the appropriate accounts personnel. And in general doing what he requires you to. So how you do feel about it?"
"If he finds that he has no need for my services?"
"Then, you will be reinstated to your original post. There will be no one replacing you."
"Alright, I'll do my best."
A genuine smile broke out on Ryko's face, "I know you will. You have an excellent record. So, tomorrow report at the new director's office – room 5 – on the top floor at 9am."
"Tomorrow?" Tsukushi's voice was almost a squeak.
"There shouldn't be any problems with the accounts department. I have already informed Sasuki."
"Thank you very much," Tsukushi managed before she left the room, still in a daze. She was pounced upon by Yuki who waylaid her on the way to the lifts.
"Tsukushi, is everything alright?" She asked worriedly, looking at her friend who still appeared to be in a state of shock.
"I'm going to be transferred to work as a temporary personal assistant for the new director from the company which we are merging with." Tsukushi finally snapped out of it.
"Wow, that's great news!" Yuki said with a smile as she elbowed Tsukushi slyly. "Hey, the HR grapevine says that this new director is reeeeeeeeeally good looking."
Tsukushi rolled her eyes, "why do you always have a one-track mind, Yuki? He's probably already married with a beautiful wife and a football team of kids."
"Well, there's nothing as invigorating as conducting a clandestine affair on the side with a mature, wealthy and gorgeous man … … Ow!" Yuki grimaced as her friend rapped her sharply on her head with her knuckles.
"No romance, no affair, no nothing! It's going to be strictly business and I'd better get back to finishing my work, otherwise I'll have to work overtime to finish it by today." She bade a quick goodbye to her sulking friend and quickly returned downstairs to her desk. I hope he's a decent fellow to work with and that I won't find the new job too demanding, she mused before putting the entire event out of her mind and focusing on furiously keying in invoices for the rest of the delivery orders.
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Rui strolled out of the gym with his bag slung over his shoulder, dressed casually in a T-shirt and a pair of jeans.
"Rui!" He turned and saw his "colleague" and friend Akira, known as Ark when working, stationed near the entrance. "How are things? Been busy lately?"
"Not too bad. Are you here alone or with your client?" Rui asked Akira when he reached him.
"Waiting for my client." Tall, lean and handsome with longish silky hair just touching his shoulders, Akira was another top escort in the organization. "I heard that you've got a new client wanting an exclusive contract with you."
"Yeah, 'cause you're taken." Rui teased.
Akira simply shook his head, "so are you going for it?"
"The usual. Not longer than 3 months, and I get one day per week off to meet up with other clients for meals or basically keep in touch." The irony in his voice was obvious.
"Rui, it's ok to get longer contracts, you know." Akira said conversationally as he took out a cigarette from his gold cigarette case and offered another to Rui.
"Don't want emotional attachments."
"It's alright to be a little fond of your client so long as you don't fall for them and form any long-lasting attachments. Also, it's easier and safer to stick with one familiar client as you well know it." They both lit their cigarettes.
"Don't want my clients to cling onto me either."
Akira flicked the ash from the end of his cigarette and sighed, "well, we've had this conversation before. I'm not trying or going to force my opinions on you. Just always keep in mind what's best for yourself … … Hey, I've got to go. See you around … …"
Rui watched his friend approaching an elegant woman in her early forties who just walked out of the gym. She was tall and thin, rather attractive with short, dark curly hair and was dressed in sports attire. With easy familiarity, Akira slipped his arm around her waist as he took her bag from her and murmured something in her ear that made her face light up as she giggled like a schoolgirl. So that was the famous Ms Takeno, the wife of the multi-billionaire Mr Kobayashi, and one of Akira's oldest clients. They had been together for three years and strangely enough, they looked good as a couple.
However, his situation was totally different from Akira's, Rui reminded himself as his lips twisted into a cynical smile. Shaking his head, he turned around and his eyes widened in shock as what appeared to be a stack of cupboard boxes crashed into him. Instinctively, he raised his arms to push the boxes away. There was a shriek and a loud thump as all the boxes toppled onto the ground, revealing a girl who was sitting on the pavement with a dazed look on her face.
"Deja vừ!" Tsukushi thought when she sat down hard on the pavement amongst the scattered boxes, and a moment later, a slim but masculine hand was extended in front of her. "This is starting to become a habit," she muttered as she placed her hand in the palm, accepting the offer of help. To her surprise, the slender fingers closed around her hand with surprising strength and effortlessly pulled her up onto her feet in one movement.
"Wow, you sure are str … …" her jaw fell open when she lifted her head and found herself looking at an angel – a tall, lean, drop-dead gorgeous and very male angel. The lightly tanned face was framed with longish dark brown hair, with a lock of hair falling into dark brown eyes that were fringed with long eyelashes that any girl would kill for. A high nose, sculptured lips and a chiselled jaw completed the work of art. She almost drooled as her eyes automatically roamed downwards, taking in the broad, muscular shoulders, the trim waist and the long jean-clad legs.
"Like what you're seeing?" A masculine voice broke the silence, a tinge of amusement obvious in the voice. Tsukushi flushed to the tip of her ears as the trance was broken and quickly bowed to the beautiful stranger, keeping her eyes firmly fixed on the ground.
"So … so … so … sorry … … I … … I'm sorry … …" She stuttered as she quickly bent down and started picking up the boxes.
The initial annoyance that Rui had felt at the collision slowly dissipated as the young girl gaped wide-eyed and open-mouthed at him. Instead of feeling the usual indifference, irritation, anger or even humiliation when his "assets" were being closely perused, amusement swiftly took over when he saw the combination of child-like wonder, disbelief and innocence in those huge eyes that were staring unblinkingly at him. He almost burst out laughing when his remark resulted in the poor girl muttering apologies to the floor, not daring to look in his direction anymore. She's cute, he thought. Taking pity on her, he bent down and picked up a few boxes.
"Where are you carrying these to?" He asked her.
"Er … … er … … just the building across the street," she was bright red as she addressed his feet and gestured towards the said building. He simply picked up the boxes and started to cross the street, leaving her to scutter after him with the remaining boxes. Before she had time to thank him, he left the boxes outside the building and walked away with a "be more careful next time" softened by a slight smile.
"Thank you!" She yelled after his disappearing figure. A smile lit up Tsukushi's face as she hoped that she would meet him again.
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AN: So sorry for this late update – had a long week and rushed this out within 3 hours, so please excuse any stupid mistakes that you might find. Wrote a longer chapter to try to make up for the late update. Thanks to all my readers for your patience!
Viel: Thanks for letting me know that you have been reading my stories !!! Sometimes, I really wonder if the pple commenting are the only pple who are reading, so it's really great knowing that there are more pple out there reading my stories than I had thought! I haven't read much of Sydney Sheldon's works ( I prefer Jack Higgins, Jeffrey Archer and Maeve Binchy etc etc .) but I do know that he's quite a popular writer, so thanks !!!
Lian : Good to see you again! Yes, Rui definitely has to be more experienced in this story because of his "career". And no, I have no intention of letting him catch HIV in this story ;) … … Thanks for reading !!!
thefrustratedwriter: Hi, soooooooo glad that you like this !! I have been a bit concerned because this is really not the high-school stuff and the characters are really quite different (maybe if they grow up???). So it's really encouraging to know that certain pple do like the plot !! Thanks !!!
.:: Stacey ::. (perfectionisimpossiblehotmail.com) : Thanks for still reading this story !!!! Ah yes, I find it quite difficult to imagine Tsukasa in a poor environment because of his character. I think it will be much less easy to be so arrogant and careless of other's feelings if one has suffered through poverty. I'm glad you don't find Rui's character too unacceptable! Shizuka's part in this story is going to be a relatively minor role as well – I mean for my current plans. Will let you know if this changes.
Pure Innocence: Thank you for your encouraging comments !!! It is indeed a relief to get feedback that some pple actually find the plot acceptable so far! Thanks !!!!
Nancy: Really interesting to read your insight about Rui and I like your interpretation !!! Thanks so much for your encouragement and I must apologise for this chapter being so late! It should be better from now on … … :)
kensingtonkid : Sorry, sorry one week became two weeks … … But thanks so much for your support as always !!!! Good guesses, but I shan't repeat your guesses here in case it leaks out the plot too soon ;)! Very perceptive of you though :) Thanks for reading and commenting !!!
