Author's Notes: Wow. Sorry about the wait, and thank you for your patience. My internet has been on the frtiz lately, but now it is working! Yay! Without further delay I present to you, Chapter Three. Enjoy! Constructive Critisism is always welcomed!
Behind Closed Doors
Chapter Three: Denial, Denial, and Denial
Sakura entered Ookami Inc the next day with a few new gadgets, courtesy of Rika, Naoko, and Tomoyo. Certain devices that would allow Sakura to view and hear what went on in Marlene's office as well as Syaoran's from a mini screen she could slip into her pocket, and an earpiece that could easily be mistaken as a wireless.
She checked her disguise in the reflection of the elevator's walls on her journey up. Day two. I wonder what's going to happen today?
As Sakura walked into the open floor, she made sure she greeted those close to her and called everyone that she knew by name. It was best she put forth a friendly position now so that they all more readily accepted her.
"Good morning Miko-san," Marlene greeted her the moment Sakura stepped into her own office.
"Good morning Marlene-san," Sakura returned with a cheerful smile. Time to put those acting skills into good usage.
"I am heading out for the day to take care of a few problems with a client. I believe that you will be all right by yourself? You did such an excellent job yesterday," Marlene's cool smile didn't reach her eyes.
Sakura ignored the look and managed to look humble. "Thank you so much. I hope it was to your standards."
"Yes," Marlene allowed. "It was. You've caught on a lot quicker than I expected, although your resume was pretty high." She shrugged to herself. "That is why I believe you shall be fine alone for a day. If there are any problems, I'm sure someone will be able to help you." Marlene slid her arms through her jacket sleeves and settled her purse over her shoulder. "If a serious problem comes up, call my cell phone, the voicemail will pick it up, and I shall get back to you when I have a spare moment."
"Yes Ma'am," Sakura showed that she understood the hidden meaning, 'Don't bother me.' "Have a successful trip."
Marlene's cool face lit into an almost amused smile, like she was in on a secret joke. "I'm sure I will." She gracefully walked out the door and shut it behind her.
Sakura rolled her eyes when she was sure that Marlene wasn't coming back in. Sure, that's not obvious. She might as well come right out and tell me that she's up to something suspicious in one-way or another. She settled herself into her desk and set about to work. Meeting my foot.
Within fifteen minutes a tentative knock sounded on the door. "Come in," Sakura called.
The knob twisted and revealed one of the girls from the other room. "Miko-san? Is Li-san out for the day?"
"Yes," Sakura answered, curious.
The girl's face broke into a warm smile. "Would you like to join a few of us for lunch later then?"
"Sure," Sakura's face lit up at the welcoming gesture.
"Okay, we'll be sure to get you," the woman replied and shut the door gently behind her.
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Sakura re-entered her office after lunch, satisfied. Not only was her tummy full from eating, she had managed to snatch a few interesting tid-bits during the conversation. The gossip had mostly centered around Marlene and her previous secretaries, and the record of how long each had lasted. The whole event had become something of a spectator sport around the office, and the women strongly encouraged Sakura to beat the longest record; three months.
I need to remember to send all that information on to Ava later tonight, to see what they make of it. Sakura thought idly as she settled her purse beneath her desk. Now I need to get some real work done.
She decided it was now-or-never to set up the devices her team had lent to her. She quickly set up the listening devices, hidden cameras, and voice recognition systems inside Marlene's private office having already set up the ones in her own, once she had figured out how to disarm the ones currently present. Satisfied with a job well done, Sakura was just heading out of Marlene's office when she saw someone sitting in her desk, looking at her work.
"Can I help you?" Sakura asked, a little miffed that she hadn't heard anyone enter, and nearly bit her tongue when she recognized the familiar pair of amber eyes look over at her. Oh drat. Perfect Sakura. "Oh! I'm sorry Li-san, I didn't know that it was you."
Syaoran shook his head. "No, I'm sorry for looking through your things without permission, but I have to say," he looked back at her papers. "You're very good."
Sakura flushed with pleasure, noting that her heart rate was a little too fast for acting, but presumed it was from nearly getting caught. "Thank you, Li-san."
"I was actually wondering if you could help me with a problem of my own," Syaoran looked at her inquiringly.
"I can certainly try," Sakura agreed. Perfect. Now I can get the full scope of his office as Miko without seeming out of place.
"Thank you," Syaoran smiled warmly at her. "Please follow me up to my office."
"All right," Sakura followed closely behind. Wow. He looks just as good from behind. Her traitorous thoughts broke in. Stop it Sakura! She scolded herself. This is your target. Your mission. Do not get involved more than is necessary, and don't you forget that he's already married! Regardless of his wife's antics.
"Here we are," Syaoran's, voice interrupted Sakura's musings.
"Huh?" She asked intelligently.
"Are you all right?" Syaoran asked, giving her a slightly worried look.
"Sorry! I'm fine. I was just thinking." Sakura's face flushed.
"If you're sure," Syaoran shrugged. He nodded to the person sitting in the front desk, and led Sakura into his private office. He offered her a seat and sat in his own, before digging through his desk for the paperwork.
"Who are those three?" Sakura indicated the portrait of his children on the desk, seizing the opportunity to talk to him. "They're all so cute."
Syaoran's face lit up into a proud smile. "They're my kids, Kerri, Nathan, and Aria." He pointed out each child as he said their names.
"Nathan looks just like you," Sakura commented, matching Syaoran's smile.
He nodded. "And Kerri looks just like her mother."
"Aria looks like the both of you," Sakura continued. "What are they like?"
"They're great. They all get along so well with each other. I don't think I've ever heard them fight."
Sakura sighed wistfully. "You're so lucky. I love kids."
"Don't you have any?" Syaoran asked surprised, and Sakura didn't miss the flick of his eyes at her ring finger.
"No," Sakura lamented, wiggling her left hand in front of her, gazing at it longingly. "Haven't found anyone to have any with yet."
"You're not married?" Syaoran's dumbfounded look made Sakura smile.
"Nope."
"Huh. Most girls like you are caught right away," Syaoran commented almost to himself.
Sakura shrugged off-handily. "I just haven't found the right person yet, I suppose. Although, when I do, I hope he's as good-looking as you." She flirted lightly, and was happy to see that he flushed in response. She sighed dramatically. "But one can only hope. So, what were you looking for my help for?" She saved him from his sudden awkwardness.
"Right…the papers…" He fumbled awkwardly with his file and Sakura rescued him by taking it off his desk and searching through it herself, a teasing smile alighting on her lips. He's so cute when he's flustered. "I see what you mean," she said after giving it an once-over. "I think that if you were to…"
Sakura helped examine the problem, and point out possible solutions, enjoying her time with her boss and simultaneously trying to figure out just what it was that Marlene didn't see in him.
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"Alright, Sakura-chan. Spill."
"What are you talking about Tomoyo?"
Tomoyo eyed her life-long friend critically. "You're grinning from ear to ear. What happened that made you so happy?"
"Nothing, nothing," Sakura avoided the subject, as she flushed lightly. "It was just a good day at work is all."
"Uh-huh," Tomoyo raised an eyebrow at her cousin. "Right. And do you mind explaining what that entails exactly?"
"I just had fun Tomoyo, honest."
"With whom?"
"I had a nice lunch with my co-workers. They were very friendly," she brushed over the topic.
Tomoyo eyed her dubiously. "Just lunch with co-workers?"
"Well…" Sakura hesitated. She hated keeping things from her best friend, and she wasn't quite sure what it was that she was trying to hide.
"It's Li-kun, isn't it?"
Sakura's heart thudded once and blushed. "N-no!"
Tomoyo stared unblinkingly at her from across the couch during their weekly get together. Sakura was over Tomoyo's apartment today, and they had just finished eating, and were relaxing against her squishy navy blue pillows.
"Well, maybe, I mean it's possible, I guess, I mean it could be," Sakura blabbered.
Tomoyo sighed. "Oh Sakura-chan. What am I going to do with you? I've been trying to set you up with guys our entire lives, and now you start to like the one guy you can't have?"
"I never said that I liked him like that!" But Sakura's face flushed brighter.
Tomoyo gave her friend a melancholy smile. "You do realize that your face gives you away all the time, right? Especially when it's just the two of us."
Sakura grabbed a pillow and squeezed it to her chest, burying her face in its depths.
"He's married Sakura. You know that. And even if he wasn't, he's your mission. You know the rules. You're not supposed to get involved with your mission, especially the target."
"Technically Marlene's the target-" Sakura muttered to the pillow.
"You know what I mean."
Sakura sighed, barely lifting her head above the soft square of fluffed material. "I know, I know. But Tomoyo, really, it's nothing. I think he's cute. That's all. There's nothing wrong with that. It's harmless!"
Tomoyo smiled almost sadly, and hugged her friend. "Just be careful Sakura-chan. I don't want to see you get hurt."
Sakura was a little startled by Tomoyo's reaction, but smiled in gratitude nonetheless. "Really, Tomoyo, you're taking this way out of proportion. Can I help it if his smile makes my day a little brighter? And the fact that his kids are absolutely adorable!"
Tomoyo laughed and pulled out of the hug. "Okay. I'll let you slide on this just once. Oh! And before I forget, Taizen-san wants to know if we would like to meet Li-kun's children."
"Really?" Sakura's eyes lit up. Then her face fell slightly. "Do you really think that's a good idea? What if they accidentally let something slip to one of their parents, or anyone else for that matter?"
"Chiharu, Naoko, Rika, and I discussed that probability. However, Taizen-san says that the children hardly ever speak to Marlene, so that should not be a problem. And, Sakura-chan, I have a suggestion. Why don't you invite the children somewhere neutral? What if they were to meet up with me first? They already know me a little through their father and Eriol."
"But what about Meiling-san? She doesn't know about you being in Ava, remember?"
"I think I may have Eriol tell her."
Sakura immediately became alarmed. "Tomoyo, that's a huge risk!"
"I know Sakura-chan, but I'm worried about her, and I have met her several times before. Besides, she's under contract. She knows how our system works if word spreads in the wrong way."
Sakura bit her lip. "If you're sure…"
Tomoyo placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I'll be fine. Don't worry. And I have another suggestion for you."
"Yes?" Sakura asked almost warily.
"When you do talk to Li-kun's kids, come as yourself. Not Miko, and not Terese. Just Sakura-chan."
Sakura's eyes widened. "You mean, without a disguise? But Tomoyo-"
"They're smart kids, Sakura-chan. If you trust them with a bit of yourself, they'll trust you."
Sakura inhaled deeply, and let it out slowly. "I suppose you have a point. All right, let's do it. Run everything over with everyone else when you head to Ava in the morning, and contact Meiling-san. Let me know everything from there."
"Okay." Tomoyo's gentle smile eased Sakura's worries enough to push the matter aside for later, and the two continued their 'girl time' for the remainder of the night.
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Sakura hummed a tune in her head as she headed into the darkening building of Ookami Inc as Terese that next evening, her light hair stirring slightly in the breeze.
It's all set. I get to meet with Meiling-san's family and Li-kun's kids, as well, tomorrow after work! She managed to stifle any squealing as she walked through the double doors, and settled for grinning widely instead. She nodded to the security guard in passing, and he smiled awkwardly back at her, wondering what was going on inside her head.
Sakura nearly floated on air the entire elevator ride up. I love kids! I can't wait to meet them in person! This is going to be so much fun! Sakura danced to a song in her head as she vacuumed the floors, losing herself in her thoughts and enjoying herself.
She was so lost in her own thoughts and excitement that she didn't notice the warning signs strewn about just inside the door of her next stop. Her mood popped like a helium-inflated balloon when she opened the door to take care of Marlene's office.
At first glance all Sakura saw was crumpled shapes seemingly tossed around the floor carelessly. Bewildered she cracked the door open wider to allow the light from Miko's office to seep through.
What in heaven's name are clothes doing in here? Wait a minute…isn't that the same skirt Marlene was wearing-?
Sakura froze in disbelief as the slow realization hit her. A sudden noise in the darkness caused Sakura's attuned senses to locate the source immediately. She wished in that instant for the first time in her life, that her sense weren't so keen.
What greeted her eyes were Marlene and her lover in the now-half darkness entangled with each other on top of her desk. Sakura's hand froze on the doorknob, she hadn't turned on the office light inside Marlene's office yet, but the light from behind her that filtered in was enough for Sakura to know she had seen much more than she had ever wished to.
Her stomach filled with lead, and her blood ran cold. She knew what Marlene was up to, but for some reason, it made her sick to see it right in front of her face.
The two were so wrapped in each other that it took the pair a moment to realize that they weren't alone. With the slightest of gasps the shadowy figure of Marlene jerked up and turned sharply toward the door.
"Get out! Now!" Marlene's cold, but steady voice rang throughout the silent air.
Sakura was glad that she was pretending to be deaf because her body didn't seem to want to move.
"Who is it?" The slightly nervous masculine voice next to her asked.
Marlene narrowed her eyes critically at the figure standing in the door, and at last recognized the outline as Terese. She let out a quiet sigh. "It's just that deaf cleaning maid. Don't worry, I'll take care of this."
Sakura averted her eyes as Marlene moved to get off her desk. Sakura heard movement, but didn't look back until Marlene was right in front of her, fully dressed and as neat as a pin. Marlene indicated that Sakura should follow her into the other room. Sakura's body finally responded, and she followed meekly behind; hitting upon an idea she switched on the voice detector and discreetly glanced at her own hidden cameras located in her office. I may need to keep these on a twenty-four hour sound feed instead of just sight, she noted mentally before meeting Marlene's face.
I'm so sorry. I did not mean to intrude. Sakura signed hurriedly, looking embarrassed.
"How much did you see?" Marlene asked and signed at the same time.
I'm sorry. Sakura averted her eyes momentarily.
"I am a little embarrassed that you caught my husband and I like that," Marlene responded, blushing in effect.
Sakura managed to hide her scoff, and look surprised. Oh! That was your husband?! I didn't know. I thought the man from the other night was! The two of you looked so close.
Marlene's eyes were immediately on the alert, but she smiled in reassurance. "No, that man was my brother. He and I are very close."
Brother is the best you could come up with? Sakura struggled to keep her face straight. I see. Well… She shifted awkwardly. I am so sorry to interrupt you and your husband during such an intimate time, but I should be getting back to my work. I will work on the next floor before I come back here to straighten up. This is the last office I need to take care of up here.
"Don't worry about that. You do not have to clean this one tonight. It would really be unfair to ask you to do that." Marlene shook her head, looking at Sakura with a face full of apology.
Not to mention down right disgusting. I'd need a HAZMAT suit before I did that. Gross, I hope I haven't been cleaning other places like that unknowingly. Thank you so much for your understanding.
"Actually, Terese?"
Yes?
"You do not have to clean this office at all. It is my own personal office, so it will not bother me to straighten it up myself when it needs it."
As you wish, Sakura bowed a little in agreement and parting before departing to the next floor, dragging her cleaning supplies with her. She cleaned everything as quickly as she could, eager to get out of the place and rid the images out of her mind. Thank you intuition for having me set up the cameras earlier. She shivered mentally.
When she returned to her apartment a couple hours later Sakura immediately stepped into the shower and scrubbed herself until her skin glowed pink. "Ew. Ew-ew-ew-ew-ew-ew-ew-ew! Groooooooosss! Why?! Why would she do that there? Can't she get a hotel or something like a normal woman having an affair on her husband while supposedly plotting to take his life? Does she get a kick out of screwing around with another man in her husband's work place? UGH!"
She shut the water off, and wrapped a towel around herself. Wiping away the steam from her mirror she gazed at her face, her thoughts straying towards the husband she had just been referring to. "Poor Li-san. What did he ever do to deserve this? I mean…that's his own work place for crying out loud! He owns it! Built it! After all that's happened he still permits her to work there like nothing is a miss. Can he really love her that much?"
Sakura vividly recalled Syaoran's blushing face when she had teased him yesterday. She sighed dreamily until the image was suddenly replaced by one of Marlene and her lover. "Ahhhh!" Sakura yelled at her reflection, and hit her head. "Get out of my head! Get out of my head!"
She knew it was going to be a long night.
