'Official Pandemonium'
Part I-Scene III
Disclaimer: I do NOT own GH…
A Week Later
Do you remember what I said about maintaining my inconspicuous status at the office?
Well, here's an update: I need an Invisibility Cloak. The situation is nothing short of desperate.
First off, I am right in the sight of Mr. Hotshot Boss. A day doesn't pass at the office unless he throws some scathing, snide remark at me… the interns are baffled by the amount of attention paid to me. And thankful that it isn't directed at them. At least this situation has a bright side, I've become the 'intern-saviour', if Big Boss (a term coined by Mr Yasuhara Osamu, no copyright infringement intended) ever wants to freeze some poor, unsuspecting employee, he chooses me.
Yay!
I fume silently. Never reply. I'm trying to ingratiate 'subservience' in my bones, hoping that it will help cope with the amount of insults fired at me. I hope the excess brain-cells in that head of his freeze in the cold today. Brr. The jerk says the big words every time he communicates with me. Show off! He can try all he wants, I'm learning all those words he says to me and one day I'm going to throw them right back into his face. Hah!
See above: Ingratiate. Subservience. Infringement. How do you think I ever learnt those, huh?
Anyways, back to the topic at hand. See below for the comments he dishes every morning while entering and every evening during his grand exit.
"Ah, the eminent Miss Taniyama decides to show up, on time. How miraculous."
"Thank-you for the compliment, sir."
"It's astounding how you've managed to understand such a theory, despite your clumped brain-cells."
"Indeed, sir."
"I'm afraid Miss Taniyama has slipped into the depths of dumbness."
"Excuse me, sir - ?"
"Perhaps her little brain cannot comprehend the differences between socializing and work."
"Um…"
"Miss Taniyama, if you would move out of the way. That is, if your feet understand the movement."
"Er…"
"I see that your alarm has started cooperating. Interesting."
"… …"
NOT that I have accepted defeat. I'm just maintaining my status; well, as much as possible, by not replying. I hope he's going to drop this attitude one day, perhaps then he'll finally start looking more appealing to me. I don't understand what the other girls at the office titter about when he passes their cubicles.
But then again, he's not a jerk to them. If he acts any nicer in front of me, I'm going to have a stroke. Believe me.
Just passed my compartment. Threw that arctic glare in my direction. I tried to glare back. Failed. Didn't even say something sarcastic to me.
I think I'm going to faint any moment, now.
The door slams behind him. He disappears into the den. Without a word.
Yeah, definitely getting to the fainting part…
"She's going to last for about…" Yasu murmurs in thought, eyes darting between the blonde assistant at the desk and his expensive watch. "… four… and a half minutes from now."
I gape at him. Masako rolls her eyes. Madoka calls him an insolent little bastard under her breath. Clearly, they both have been losing the previous bets.
But this is extreme. The father of extremes. She can't get fired under four and a half minutes for God's sake! Even Davis is not that much of an asshole. The poor woman's just been sitting, how could she commit a transgression (another Davis word) while sitting!?
For some reason, the trio hangs about my workspace. Probably because it has the best, unhindered view inside Davis' office. Reconnaissance is my priority. I do not spy on him. Or ogle.
Okay… so, maybe I do. Occasionally.
Frequently…
Assistant Number Twenty nods into the receiver, gets up from her desk, much like an immaculate supermodel and goes into the den. Davis called. I see, perhaps he's going to like this one. She looks tough. And pretty. Maybe he's a sucker for a pretty face. I recall all the previous female assistants from the total of assistants and compare them to this paragon of female beauty. No match comes up. She has lasted for more than two days. A record.
Davis is definitely a sucker for a pretty face.
Yuck.
"Any moment now." Yasu stares, intently at his watch, counting down to the last moment. "Now."
His words are punctuated by a slam. Assistant Number Twenty exits, wiping one tear from her eye as she boxes up her things.
I whirr around to look at Yasu. Madoka tries to sneak away but Yasu extends his hand, a silent demand for cash. She relents. Masako gives Yasu her best smile and is promptly forgiven the money. Madoka stalks away in disbelief, murmuring about soft spots and smug little rats.
Assistant Number Twenty is the past now.
So, Davis likes tea. Earl Grey. Hates coffee. Prefers juice to soft-drink. Has an affinity for sweet things, cake especially. Reads his own books. Does not own a car. Nor drives. Occasionally looks at a mirror on one wall of his office. Never smiles, not even in private. Owns a total of three ties which he does not wear often, only on meeting out of office. Is not a fan of suits, prefers black-coloured turtlenecks with long, black coats to them. No jackets in his wardrobe. No colours in his wardrobe whatsoever. Dresses in black or grey.
And is impartial to pretty women. I am relieved.
This is reconnaissance.
Oh, who am I kidding?
Three Days Later
Madoka has called with news.
I can't decide if it's good or bad.
"He's leaving for Japan." Madoka sounds tired, world weary. Lin stands over her chair, looming over the both of us. "Told me some shit about a meeting with some sponsors for the testing equipment - "
"Is he lying?" I ask curiously. "Don't we have a meeting in Japan, next week?"
"We do, Miss Taniyama." Lin nods, pushing a document towards me. "But we know for a fact that Noll is going to set apart time to capture Gene's killer. He's going to find that body even if his powers kill him."
I absorb the information. Swallow my empathy for Davis. I can't imagine how nightmarish it would have been for him to stand there, hopeless as he felt his twin die. It's… unimaginable.
A part of me wants to help him. I squelch the urge and nod at my seniors.
"So I have to stop him from that?" I clarify, fighting the urge to scream at them to leave him alone and let him find his own way to deal with this situation. But I can't talk. I promised Martin. I can't let a father down. "Bring him back to England, without letting him find a corpse. Be his nanny?"
Lin closes his eyes. Madoka bites her lip at the sarcasm dripping from my words. I can't say anything more. I agreed to this, after all.
It is now that the situation seems so stupid. So irrational.
God, I'm screwed.
"Fine." I stand up. Pick the file from their desk that has all the info I need to stop him. "But I make my stand clear on this. I'm doing it because I can't see Martin and Luella let down, because I owe this place for the stability of my powers - "
"Mai - "
"Without you guys teaching me to control my powers, I would have gone insane with the fear." I pause in the doorway, fists clenched to the side, bile climbing up my throat as I recalled some of my dreams. The panic. The fear. The blood. The desperation. "I'm doing it as an obligation. Otherwise - I think you're all dumb enough not to trust him. He doesn't deserve to live in the shadows of your fear."
When I exit the office, I wish I would have said all that to Martin. Dissuaded him. Told him to stop stopping his son. Told him to let go.
Too late.
Belatedly, I realize my position at the office now.
Mai Taniyama, assistant to Dr Oliver Davis, CEO of BSPR.
I have to last this trip. I have to make myself the best yet. The most perfect.
My fingers dial Ayako's number.
"Hey, Ayako. Need to ask a favour." I adjust the phone between my ear and shoulder, fishing in my bag for a comb to fix my hair before my interview with him. "Are you up for some shopping today? I'm going back to Japan. Strictly business."
"Mr Davis."
He does not look up from his files, his eyes roam idly over the words as if my presence is nothing more than a triviality.
I growl internally. Call out his name again.
"Mr Davis?"
Nothing.
I narrow my eyes and the next words tumble from my mouth without thought.
"If you think your silence is going to irritate me, sir." I cross my arms and raise an eyebrow at him. "You're deeply mistaken."
Slowly, he raises his head. Stares unblinkingly at me. Thoughtlessly shifts the papers away.
I stare at my vague reflection in cerulean depths. Inhale. Wait for the rapid-fire to start.
His office is the cleanest, most organized space I have ever, ever seen. The papers on his desk are stacked according to priority levels, pens arranged in a holder, files in the corner and an empty cup to the left side. Books neatly arranged in the shelves, a mirror on one side of his desk, a solitary photo frame next to the mirror.
"Miss Taniyama." He stretches out the syllables in my name with excruciating emphasis. "Do you think my sole duty at office is to irritate you?"
I flush but hold my own. "No, sir. But the alternative is that you are deaf and that can't be possible."
Oh. My. God.
His glinting eyes narrow and he imperceptibly leans forward. Expects me to lean back. I stare at him. Forcing my eyes not to blink. Blinking is defeat.
"There is one more alternative," He intertwines his fingers, forming a web of some sort. "- perhaps you do not know the meaning of subtlety."
"Perhaps you do not know basic manners." I counter.
"Perhaps you forget your boundaries."
I gaze at him, stunned. Is this some kind of tennis match? Then, I find my voice.
"Perhaps I have no boundaries at all."
He blinks. Dark blue disappears before snapping back to me. He is disconcerted. I stiffen.
Not my place.
Davis rises fluidly from the chair and strides to the glass window. Turns away from me, arms crossed. A sign that torment is yet to come.
"You have two minutes, Miss Taniyama." His voice is smooth. "Explain why I should give this job to you."
It is my turn to be confused. I know for a fact that he has read my file, what is the purpose of asking me for answers which he already knows?
I choose candour.
"You need an assistant, Mr Davis. One who knows how to handle anything you demand. I'm here."
He whirrs around, clearly surprised at my confidence. I quake on the inside.
"I see." He turns back around, one hand in the pocket of his pants. God, is he a supermodel or what? "So, you think I need you?"
I need you.
My stomach flutters and I resist the urge to wrap my hands around it so I can hide whatever is going on in there.
"Yes. You need someone who knows you. Understands the demand of this job."
"Fascinating." Davis finally turns, eyes narrowed as he studies me. I fidget in the chair, nervously tucking a strand of my hair behind my ear. "So now, you claim to know me."
I fist my hands. The jerk thinks I'm incapable of working efficiently!
Oh, I'll tell him…
"You like tea over coffee. Earl Grey. Chocolate cake is your favourite, though you do not like chocolate in itself. You do not like to wear ties. Nor suits. Black and grey are your favourite colours. Juice is better than carbonated drinks. Your favourite author is you…" He clears his throat at that but I ignore him, I'm on a roll in case you didn't notice. "And you like predetermined settings in which to conduct all client meetings. And you have no patience for Chinese food."
To say he is shocked would be an understatement. He stares at me as if he is trying to solve a puzzle. Trying to put mismatched pieces together. I do not look him in the eye. Heaven forbid he calls me out on my stalker tendencies.
"Fine." Do I hear an annoyed note in his voice? Or is that petulance? "You can start tomorrow. Take the rest of the day off. Arrive at eight."
I stop myself from falling off that chair and gather my scattered brain. Carefully, I stand up and walk towards the door.
His voice stops me in the doorway.
"And Miss Taniyama?" I half-turn to him, knocked down by his words. "Black and grey are not my favourite colours. They are a choice I made in a circumstance."
In my daze, I nod at him. My mouth dries up.
"And do you have a favourite colour, sir?"
He looks detachedly amused by my question.
"Yes." He leans back in his seat, entangling his fingers when his sharp gaze catches me off guard. "And it's brown. File that away."
Oh my…
There is no other word for it.
I flee.
A/N: So that's all for now, folks! Going out to write ATCAD. Review to your heart's content!
Cookies…
-borntoflyhigh-