"You can do this." Hitomi kept telling herself as she pulled on her skirt for the third time in front of the mirror, checking how the front and back and feeling uncomfortable and wishing that she didn't have to go through this.
The shoes were barely two years old though unnoticeable except for the dust she had to clean off and had been a slight discomfort when slipping them on. It was hard to walk in the first few times around to break them in until she got the hang of it, without having her heels getting caught and learn to stride and not lose balance.
She gazed at her reflection and taking in her appearance. Her short hair was brushed until it shone and comb back behind her ear and having as little makeup on, didn't want to cake on so thickly like other girls did as she never tend to wear it much, applying only as necessary to add some warm color to her and give a good impression.
Last thing she would want was to look like some whore on the street trying to pass herself to make a quick buck. This way she saw herself professional and matured-looking. Right now she didn't feel like that inside. Her stomach was churning and trying to resist the urge to throw up.
God, this wasn't her at all, after rummaging through her drawers and closet with the few decent clothes she had, searching for the right attire, no business suit as she couldn't really afford one and found a white blouse and a blue length skirt. Even with these clothes, she still felt vulnerable and inappropriate to wear in such a place and in front of others.
She couldn't believe what she was doing. Let alone what she was thinking in accepting his offer for this job which she was uncertain whether she would get it or not.
Maybe she should call in sick and call the whole thing off.
She shook her head and fighting the nausea by taking deep breathes. No, this was not the Hitomi she knew, the real Hitomi wouldn't be scared out of her wits without taking a chance or standing for what she wanted. She wasn't going to hide like a coward and not do something that would give her a better pay and experience that would help along the way for a better future than this shithole.
This wasn't only for her but for Mamoru's and has to go through this, for both their sakes. She looked at her reflection and nodded her head, knowing she had to stay positive and have a clear head on the situation.
She gotta keep telling herself she was going to walk in there with her head high, see how this goes, give it all her worth and hope for the best.
"After all, what else do you got left to chose from? You need this more than you can imagine Tomi old girl. Let's just see how this rolls and have it head in the right direction and try not to screw things up."
She just hoped she wasn't making this the biggest mistake of her entire life. She took out the pendant that hung on the gold chain around her neck and held it. The only heirloom worth hanging on to passed down from her grandmother before she died to her when she was only five and had yet to realize the meaning or grasp the concept to death at such a tender young age.
The rose pink teardrop jewel shimmer in front of her eyes as it laid inside her hand, "Oh grandma, please give me the courage and strength to pull this off." She tuck the jewel inside her blouse and for a second heard her grandmother's wistful voice in her head, 'You can, just believe in yourself…'
"I hope you're right grandmother." She grab her purse and the folder beside it and pick up her keys from the table and went to lock it behind as she set out downstairs to find the same vehicle that drove her back home last night but someone else, not Chesta, was leaning against it waiting for her to show up with his arms crossed over his chest and a deep scowl on his face.
"Name's Miguel, I'll be driving you to the office." That was all he said and didn't seem the type to be pulling off this kind of thing, then again she somehow knew that he must be following orders, no doubt about it. Nothing else other than his name and what purpose he was here for was all he would tell her and wasn't likely in the mood to say anything other unless asked.
He open the door and shut it while heading around to his side and putting the car in gear and driving off. The drive to the building was quiet, taking half an hour to get there and noticed how different it was for during the day for many of the places to be deserted, so dormant and no one really out there except a few hobos or drunks sleeping in the alleys or inside cardboard boxes.
Yeah, they'll only come out like creatures of the night wanting to suck the money out of people who come by until they're high dry and sleeping with major hangovers. She turn to Miguel, who was driving and when they stopped at a red light decided to ask what's been on her mind, "So um, what's Dilandau and the other Ryuugekitai doing?"
He look to her, giving her a dark glare that could have burn a hole through her and she would be pretty toasty by then.
"I don't think that's any of your business!" He stated matter-of-factly and she was slightly taken aback but try not to let it show as she got over his outburst and wondering what got his crotch in a vise.
Jeez did it kill just to ask a simple question to start a conversation, apparently with this guy probably. She decided to let that one slide and thought of something else rather to start off, "Ok, so I know I may be asking this so sudden and out of the blue but you seem pretty peeved."
"Gee you think so, whatever gave you that idea. I mean what possibilities lead to that Sherlock." He said sarcastic while she must be guessing the reason behind it, having to do with her probably.
"It's not like I ask for this, I was somehow 'volunteered' to pull it." He said, quoting the 'volunteered' part with indenting his word, more liked forced into this kind of crap to go and be some chauffeur that he thought was totally unfair to him.
For fuck's sake, he was a Ryuugekitai and was now being some bitch's driver today! What's next being the errand boy and send to pick up the guys' laundry? He put his foot down hard, literally as they reach a stop and they moved slightly by the sudden jerk and Hitomi almost gagged on her seatbelt as she look at him.
Yep she was right, he must've been picked for this kind of job by random like getting the short straw of the deal and feeling that he shouldn't be doing something as picking her up while the rest of the gang went and did real 'business'.
If that meant picking on people and being big bullies to other who can't afford to pay off their debts, for example her brother and herself and she was going to the office to working there. What an ironic turn of events this was.
She sighed, if she got through this, she was going to need a couple aspirins, a box of chocolate pocky and probably catch up on some serious Yomikiri. Those always made her feel better as it worked for when her time of the month comes around and only chocolate and watching Tsukushi Makino and Tsukasa Domyoji would quail her moodiness. For him, she bet he would have beaten the shit out of people to do that.
They made it to the same building, Zaibach Corporations CEO. In the daylight, its' glass windows reflecting the other buildings and as they pull in to the employee parking lot and she got out, heading inside to use the elevator could see outside them, taking as they went high and saw everything.
She press the button to the top floor, the one she went to last time knowing it had to be there for the secretary job to be close to their boss for whatever needs and run errands to others. She waited, fidgeting slightly as the doors open and she step out, heading down the end of the hall where his office should be and taking a deep breath and raised her hand, ready to knock, when she heard his voice from the other side.
"Come in." And though taken surprised and wondering how he knew she was here and lower her hand to where the knob was and open to walk into the room. She saw him by the window, holding a cell to his ear and speaking in a strange tongue she didn't understand until he finish the call and close it with a snap.
"Americans." He mutter as if it left a bad taste in his mouth, the way he said it, "Always with the same questions and having to repeat myself, I swear goes through one ear and out the other, what are they half thinking at times, Kami I don't want to know…" He pinch the side of his nose and tried to calm the throbbing headache coming and then turn to see Hitomi standing by the door, "Good you arrived. Have a seat. I assume you have your résumé with you. May I?"
She nodded and hand the folder to him and took the offered seat. Last thing she would ever plan to do was run late for an important interview, especially with the CEO of Zaibach Corporation despite how he might be a bit of a jerk the way he talk about her and her brother.
If he dare make one comment about her brother during this meeting she didn't know if she'll be able to hold herself back from lashing out at him. She waited as he looked over her report, obviously knowing he must've already as he had tapped into her school records and other and see if he would decided whether to have her take the job or not, even when it had been him who offer but guessing with the Strategos, the man has his sources.
She sat there with her hands laid in her lap perfectly straight and grabbing the edge of her skirt and feeling like she was waiting for the executioner's blade to come down on her and saw him look up and nodded every now and then making few comments on some parts.
"Seems like you have everything qualified, not bad, though you seem to lack a bit in some areas but with time and I can assure will be able to handle everything with ease…"
She listen, taking what he said and not sure if it was good or bad and wondering how long he plan to prolong this torture as her patience and her fears were getting the best of her, having a firm grip over her heart and ready to squeeze the life out of her before he finally say, "Well let's get you settle. There's a desk across this office and if there's anything you need, one or two of my other workers can be there to handle any questions you have."
He stood up and she following his example to the door as she now found she had been given the job and stepping out from the office to find her new desk waiting for her as he said. When she was able to sit in the new chair by the small laptop, she let out a sigh of relief, not realizing she had been holding her breath the whole time in there and taking in the dryness of the stuffy environment.
So far so good, now all she had to do was try and manage this with no sweat. She saw the stack of papers waiting there that were assign for her to start filing and organizing. She hope this would turn out easy and that nothing would go wrong.
"Ok should be a piece of cake."
Two and a half hours and she had been getting the hang of it and into the whole swing of things as she made to do what she can when she was send to grab this file from this person and deliver in the other cubicle and set into this category or scheduling important dates that Strategos had to go and attend with important clinics, some from this part of the region in their area, other from other foreign states like the U.S.
She could hear the tapping of fingers on keyboard outside his room and wondering what he was working upon and knowing had to be of most important. She had her own to do as she went to put in the data he wanted for this upcoming event for the company.
She rarely met the few people who worked there as some would only tend to what they've been hired for and wished she could have someone to talk to or at least make some conversation with.
Even those at the small briefing room didn't say a word to anyone, not even a 'Hi, how's it going with the misses' or 'how was your trip in…'
Anything was better than total silence. Everyone was so distant from one another, so silent and thought she would crack under the treatment before she saw one of the few people she was almost glad to see.
Keyword, 'almost'.
Dilandau and his crew had came in around noontime just as she was heading for her break to go and grab a quick bite when she saw the silver-haired leader and his fellow dragonslayers coming in and heading for the Strategos office, probably to discuss some important business that came up.
She wondered what they had been up to but had seriously change her mind after noticing the dangerous look in Dilandau's eyes and reconsider. Better she never found out or learn who the poor soul was. Her brother was her main concern and higher priority, hoping he hadn't been running into anymore trouble now that she was here, last thing she wanted was to be added more debts to this.
When it was time for lunch, she made to go and head for some deli that seem close by and just as she stood by the elevator, waiting before she sense someone standing behind her and turn to find herself staring face to chest and tilting her head to find Folken there. What was he doing here?
As if reading her mind he looked at her and feeling like the room was getting a little over heated with the way he was staring and tried to control herself, "I have a lunch meeting this afternoon with the CEOs of the conglomerate that needs to be negotiated with for a very important business we intend to work upon. It will probably be a half hour or so, I might come in a little later than I expect back." Before she could even ponder more on what this so called 'negotiation' would be about his cell started ringing and he sighed pulling it out from his pocket.
He pressed on the first ring and held it to his ear, "Strategos speaking." He listen for a few seconds, his face impassive listening to who ever was on the other line, "Ah good to hear you're planning to come, I'm sorry about hearing your father not attending. Yes of course I'm on my way. I'll meet you at the restaurant like I told you Dryden. See you in a couple minutes and send my regards to your father and also your fiancée."
He press the end button, finishing their conversation and seeing that Hitomi was curious, "That's was one of the people I have to see, a associate of mine as we run a tight business. His fiancée is also in part but her father will probably be there at the restaurant." She took it in as if she had been a part of the whole thing but had not made sense of it at all.
Why he was telling her this she had no idea and when the elevator finally arrive and they got to the ground floor, they both heading off their separate ways as he got his car and went off to that restaurant he was planning to meet this Dryden person.
As she grab a sub and diet coke and paid for both her purchase and taking a seat eating her lunch, she was thinking about her recent conversation with Folken, she means Strategos.
"Dryden, now where have I heard that name before…?" She was certain that she had or seen mention somewhere and trying to remember from where exactly. She was still thinking of that one name as she made it back to the office and logged in and finally decided to go info searching on him on the Internet.
Typing in the name, she got about a million Drydens and wasn't sure which was her guy. Then she tried with putting in Zaibach and found one that matched with twenty or so articles about the merge with Zaibach and Asturia. She clicked on a couple and read what they said before finally tying in the full name of this Dryden character.
Dryden Fassa, age twenty-six, the cosmopolitan, the only son of a Meiden Fassa, business magnate and former president until he step down and allow his son to run his company. Also sole stockowner of many if more companies around the world from here to the US and other renowned regions she never heard of. It mention about his recent engagement to the youngest daughter of the Palas Incorporate Empire, Millerna Aston.
Millerna, her birthday was recent and surprising the same age as hers. She had two other sisters, Malene the eldest, passed away about five years ago and had a child with the head president of Freid after their arrange marriage and the second eldest Eries was still single and was temporally working for her family corporate and doing business in the states.
Interesting to say as Hitomi was taking in everything and then getting back to work, not wanting to seem like she was slacking and went to pull the other recent programs she had been on before lunch.
By the time every file put in the computer and saved and checking anything else in particular to the work and was getting ready to leave. She check her watch and found it was five after seven.
It was close to that time when people in the neighborhood started heading home and those that sulk the streets at night was theirs to attain once more. She hoped she wouldn't have to bump into any weirdo or druggies on the way, last thing she want is to be running in pumps and her heels were hurting. She was about to get ready to leave, packing her stuff away and then ready to go and head for the ground floor to make her way when she heard Folken's office door open and him walking out of there and towards her.
"You don't have a ride do you?" Well of course she didn't, she had been dropped off by Miguel and she had seen him walking off with the others not too long ago and doubt he would be come back to offer her his services.
"I'll walk home, don't worry." She didn't need to have someone to take pity or whatever it was as she was not one to really ask from people so much. She had her own pride after all which she didn't mind having to raise a brother who acted from time to time like a whiny five-year old with a temper tantrum instead of a grown up.
Call it motherly-sister instincts or what but she had to make sure he wasn't causing any trouble by the time she got home. "I'll be fine, I can handle myself." She said as she pulled her jacket on and was about to make leave when he stopped her once again, "I'm sure you could but I insist." She saw that there was no changing his mind.
"All right fine, if you are so courteous for my safety, let's go then." She didn't have to wait as he was by her side as they took the elevator down and made for his car. She was surprised to find a different car waiting for them, a sleek silvery-blue azda MX-5 Miata Convertible.
She had not cared much about car or what brand or model as long as they got her to her destination but Mamoru was literally obsessed with them and had magazines littered about his room and in the bathroom along with his porn magazines which she never go near.
She watched as Folken unlocked it and open the passenger seat for her to get in, "After you." She slide in and he closed the door and then got into his and went to put the car into gear. It was later she soon regret ever getting into this car with him.
"EYAH!" Hitomi screech as Folken made a hard turn on one of the streets, passing the yellow light that turn red after they zipped by and could hear the pounding of her heart and thought would burst at any minute now. She was starting to think that there was no way she was going to survive this.
I'm gonna die, I'm gonna die because my boss is driving like a maniac and about to have a heart attack. I'm too young to die, I had so many things that I've yet to accomplished and now I'm going to be dead!
Fuck, fate really sucks for me. And even if my boss is a little bit of an arrogant and charming, oh no I did not think that. Oh who am I kidding, he is one hot looking but still why did I even agree to get into his car is beyond me?!
She was gripping the dashboard so tightly and her knuckles turning white. Folken noticed and chuckled lightly which made Hitomi shot a glare in his direction.
"Hitomi you got to relax, if you spook that easy, you're not gonna last long." He stopped at a red light and she saw his garnet eyes on her again, "Trust me, you'll be fine."
"Trust you?! You're the one who's driving over the speed limit and if I'm blind I saw you going pass the direction where we were to original turn and—"
"Hitomi have you forgotten that during this time, the district will be overpopulated and traffic will take forever. We're taking a shortcut."
She snorted and crossed her arms, "Yeah a shortcut, sure." Not believing a word he said as there was no possible way that this was going to take her back to the apartment.
"Where are you really taking me seriously, I would like to know?" He didn't say anything and her eyes narrow, her stubbornness getting the best of her, "Look will you please tell me what's—" Finally the car started slowly down and then stopped.
He pulled out of the small compartment a pack of cigarette and lit it, taking a deep breath and then blowing out a cloud of smoke. "We're here."
Hitomi not sure what he meant by or was talking about, "Here, where?" He point with his metallic forefinger and Hitomi following in the direction he was and saw what laid before them. They were parked in an isolated parking lot far from the city itself and out on open terrain.
She saw the city before them and all the lights a glitter of what seem glowing and putting on a show for their benefits. She never have been up here or outside the city to see it like this. Taking in the scene and then turning to Folken, wondering what he was up to.
He took another drag and turn to look into hers, "I come here when I need a break from all that business and meetings. It sometimes nice to watch this and enjoy the scene and take a fresh whiff of fresh air free from the stuffy and overcrowdings."
She was amazed how he calmly was telling her all this like back at the elevator and realizing that there seem to be a lot about this man she had no idea about.
In the office, he was serious and calculating the best plan for business, hence being know as the Strategist, the Strategos but out here there was something completely different and thinking there was more to him than she had thought.
The rumors and stories about his cruelty yet seen no sight of it, well maybe with his henchmen doing all the dirty work but he wasn't it. Maybe to keep his hands from being dirty or whatever but she doubt he would raise a hand against anyone and instead took things rationally before going into action.
Again she looked at him, how his blue hair fell down to touch his shoulders while the rest spiked up on top but falling over his brow when a light breeze came and played with the blue strands. Her hands were itching to reach out and brush one of the bangs but had to keep that from happening.
One he was her boss and two it wasn't right to have a relationship with your co-workers and—she really hadn't gotten that far but knew there was bound to be a lot of reason not to get into close contact with him and just not thinking it. Folken turn to her, "What are you thinking about?"
"Huh, oh the view's very nice, it's really, yeah beautiful."
"Yes it is." She wished she could come up with something other as he was busy brooding again and then wanting to find out something that which she had been curious and never ask up until now, "Um anon uh Mr. Strategos sir?" He turn and she tried not to flush under his impending gaze, "Well I was wondering if there was something you wanted to talk about?"
Oh real smooth, she wasn't sure why she was asking him it's not her business and was his own personal life but still. He raised an eyebrow, "About?"
"Well I don't know, about like who you really are, I—" His cellphone rang, interrupting her and he went to pick it up, "Hello." He listen to whoever was on the other line and she saw his eyes narrowed and his forehead scrunched up, looking peeved and answered as calmly he could but one could sense the undertone of his real mood dripping through to the caller.
"All right be there in a few minutes and don't do anything before I get there, understand? That's a direct order!" He sound pretty angry with whoever he was talking to. Probably Dilandau her best guess but she didn't get to question as he shut the phone and cursing under his breath.
"How dare you, Dilandau. How dare you!" Yep, once again her guess had been accurately correct, probably because of her psychic intuitions or maybe an array of luck which she doubt it to be. He sighed and turn to Hitomi, "I'm sorry but something just came up. I'll take you immediately home now."
Without another word shifted gears and did and as he did promised, taking about ten minutes to get to her places and unlocking the side door. She looked to him and then said, "Thank you for letting me get the job." He nodded then once she closed the door and standing by the front and ready to go in watched as he drove off.
So many things had been going in her thoughts now, all having to do with him and wondering what it was about him that made her want to know the man behind the Strategos and the Black dragon.
Blue Kitsune: Ok I'm hoping to write the next chapter on Folken's past to let everyone know how he got to become the Strategos and leader of the black dragons. Just pray that I get some inspiration and wish me luck!
