Chapter 4
Katara headed home, feeling satisfied with how things were going. Not only would she be able to manipulate Zuko on a personal level, but she'd have access to business accounts, private emails and employee data. It would be perfect. She could take Ozai down from the inside out.
Once she got home she tossed off her sweater and kicked off her heels. No sooner than her sitting on the couch, a knock came at the door. That's weird she wasn't expecting anyone. All of her friends she had were back home and she doubt her father would come and visit so who could it be?
Another loud knock came from the door.
"I'm coming." Katara yelled
Geez impatient much, she thought as she answered the door.
"What do you -" Katara froze in mid sentence when she seen who was at the door
It was Toph and Sokka what were they doing here?
"So are you gonna let us in or just stare at us?" Toph said waving her hand in front of Katara's face her closest friend and brother were here but why?
Sokka was probably her closest family member. He was her brother, her rock, and her partner in crime. Always looking out for her and getting stuff for her whatever she had needed. He was like her father but a way more fun and friendly one. They were always together . Until Sokka moved and went to study abroad which left Katara feeling more alone than ever. He was the only good thing that kept her sane in that awful village. Toph was a childhood friend who was just as close to being her real family. Back when they were growing up the Bei Fong's had lived next door which made it easily for the three of them to grow up together.
Years later Katara decided to move to search for her mother's killer. Sokka and her father wanted to let her memory to be. But Katara… she wanted revenge. She wanted retribution She had been training with X for some years and finally decided to leave home in order to fulfill her true destiny or so she thought.
Katara was shocked to say the least she had know idea why they were here. Did her father send them? She was confused. "What are you two doing here?"
"What I can't visit my baby sister?" Sokka said as he pushed his way through the door. Toph followed behind . "Whoa it smells like feet in here sis!"
Sokka stopped just shy of her shoes she has just taken off, while Toph plopped down on the couch and placed her feet on the coffee table .
"You guys came all the way here just to visit? You guys never come and visit me." Something was up. She could feel it.
"Of course that's why we did it Sugar Queen! We wanted to see how your city life was! We'd hope you'd have a live in the now boyfriend but we can tell in by the way this place looks that you couldn't possibly have place is a pigsty and coming from me is saying something!" Toph said.
Katara was slightly offended. Granted the place was a ''little'' messy but to say pigsty that was going overboard. She used to be on top of cleaning but lately X has been on her case so much she hasn't had much time to do anything but eat and sleep.
"Um excuse me Toph but who said I didn't have a boyfriend?"
Sokka's ears turn red. "You have a boyfriend?! I want to meet him. No guy will be shacking up with my sister without my approval."
"To be honest Sokka she is an adult now so she could shack up with anyone. She does live alone." Toph said sarcastically.
"Yeah but that doesn't mean that she has to." Sokka said face palming himself. He was such a drama queen.
Katara rolled her eyes " You guys I'm not shacking up with anyone. I am dating. But I don't have a boyfriend. So you guys can stop being nosey. But anyway, why are you really here?"
She really didn't want to deal with this all she wanted was get some rest before she had to go out and stalk the whereabouts of the kidnapper again.
Sokka completely disregarded her question, "Boy I'm starving you got anything in here to eat sis."
"Cut the crap Sokka you can have food after you tell me why you're really here"
"Fine'' Sokka said dramatically, "Can I talk to you alone for a second Katara?"
"Sure thing Sokka." Katara said as they walked toward her bedroom."Toph feel free to make yourself at home-not that you already haven't "
Sokka closed the door behind them.
"So what's up?" She asked with her hands on her hips.
"Listen Katara. The real reason I came here was to tell you something important. Now I know mom's death was hard on you and dad not being around that much didn't help but you have to get out and live life. We're not getting any older! Date. Go to parties. Settle down. Don't spend your life locked up in the house. You don't call us and dad is worried about you."
"Oh so that's why you're here? Dad sent you?! Well I figured his new wife wouldn't want me around. If he really wants to know why I haven't called. How can he be around for her and her kids and never around for us? Gran Gran raised us NOT him."
"He did the best he could. The military job he had paid for our nice house and for you to go to school and for food and clothes. He wanted to be there."
"Yeah well I needed more than that. I need more than money and a few talks here and there I needed closure ,time, and love something he couldn't give us. Our mother was murdered and he just ran away. He married a new woman and lived well . But me …... I just can't move on like that I won't. Mom can't be replaced." she said as a tear fell down her cheek
" Mom won't be replaced she will forever be in our hearts. But, Katara. you have to move on….. you can't keep holding onto that pain and agony that you're feeling . It's gonna take you down a road that you won't be able to come back from." He placed a hand on her shoulder. "Let it go can't be bitter all your life ."
Katara looked at him with fire in her eyes." You don't understand Sokka."
"Look she was my mother too!" Sokka said but the look on Katara's face proved sokka wasn't getting anywhere Sokka took a deep breath
"I know how you're feeling but being cold and living in the dark will bring you nothing but pain no happiness it's time for us to move and settle down and most importantly …..live katara - at least that's what mom would've wanted".
"I'll see you later by the way I'm getting married."
Sokka said as he walked out of her bedroom. Katara said nothing as she seen Toph and sokka make their exit out of the house She went to the bathroom to wash up before she had to go out and stalk again. She looked herself in the mirror, the bags under her eyes spoke her heart and soul at the moment dark and tiresome. Sokka was so wished that she could have a happy life like him settle down even find someone to love and cherish like he did she tried to be happy for him not even herself but she just couldn't. She had a personal vendetta to achieve
"I'm not bitter. I'm vengeful but you'll see soon."
…..
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Monday came quickly. To be completely honest, Katara hadn't been used to waking up so early. She was night owl, All of X's work involved a lot of late nights and days spent slept in. Other than normal drowsiness, her sweatpants was what she missed the most. Now she had to squeeze into a tight pencil skirt and white button up shirt. She even tried to do her hair by blow drying it into soft waves she even applied foundation and lipstick to her face. She had to at least act like she wanted the stupid job.
Once again she made it upstairs on the elevator to floor 69. She walked into her newly assigned office. Katara paused in the doorway she immediately frowned. The office looked as if a hurricane just passed. Files were piled everywhere. Papers were thrown all over the place. Sticky notes covered the computer screen. The office phone was ringing off the hook. It looked like a horror show. It must of been too much for the temporary assistant to keep up with. Or that he didn't have a clue what he was doing.
"I guess it's time to put my cleaning skills to work." Katara said cracking her knuckles.
First things first that damn phone needed to shut up. She unplugged it out the wall. The ringing was driving her crazy already.
'If it's important they can leave a message.'
Katara didn't know much about working in a office but common sense was to organize everything. Every file was put in alphabetical order in the file cabinets. She carefully went through each sheet a paper and stapled the correct ones together then sealing them in their own labeled envelope.
Katara looked over at the clock on the wall. Two hours done passed by. At least the office looked half decent. She went over to the computer screen. The sticky notes had names and numbers of people who needed to schedule a meeting.
"I have to turn that stupid phone back on." She said rolling her eyes. She plugged the phone back into the wall socket. Five minutes didn't even go by and the phone began to ring.
"I want to quit already." She sighed loudly. She picked up the phone after the third ring. "Thank you for calling Ember Kenna Co. Katara speaking. How may I help you today?"
"KATARA!" The voice yelled at the other end of the line. It was Zuko. "I've been trying to call you for the past 25 minutes!"
"I'm sorry sir but something was wrong with the phone and this office was a disaster. Please forgive me." She said trying to sound innocent. Zuko let out a soft sigh. "No no. I apologize. It's your first day. And the temporary intern left you with a disorganized office. I shouldn't of snapped at you without answers."
'I got you right where I want you.' Katara smirked.
"Listen. I'm already close to being late. I have a meeting to attend. I sent you an email of things I need done before the day is over with. Do you think you can take care of that?"
"Yes of course you have nothing to worry about you can count on me."
"Thanks Katara." He said and then the line went dead.
Good. Zuko wasn't going to be in his office which meant it was time for Katara to do a little research.
She walked out of her office. The clicking of her stilettos were getting on her last nerve. She missed her combat boots. As she walked down the hallway she felt lustful eyes lock on her body. She couldn't help it she had curves. This was an everyday thing for Katara. Men always did stare her down. She had he pretty face and the thin waist. Had her hands not been tied trying to take Ozai down she maybe would've use them for her "needs" and then toss them away. Men she always hated them even the ones she was closest to her .Somehow they always ending up leaving her.
She made it to Zuko's office. She grabbed the doorknob and turned it but it was locked. Katara looked at her surroundings. The coast was clear. She took out a bobby pin from her hair and picked the lock in .5 seconds. Success. She closed the door behind her and locked it. Zuko's office was well organized. It was neat. Too neat. Like he had OCD or something. Not even a speck of dust was found. Katara made it over to his computer. He had a password set on it.
"This should be a breeze." Katara inserted her flash drive into the PC. She began to type in a series of codes and within a few minutes she had access to his computer.
His screen saver was the photo of a Phoenix surrounded by fire. It was fascinating yet peculiar.
His computer had a bunch of files on the desktop. They were all locked. She clicked on one of them and tried to hack it. A firewall came up.
Hell, he wasn't gonna make this easy for her would he?
Katara's instincts kicked in. Someone was coming. With the firewall up on the computer there was no way she could shut down the computer in time. She stuck her foot under the desk and flipped the electric switch. The computer went black. Katara snatched her flash drive out of the PC and slipped it in her pocket. The office door unlocked and the figure entered. She was average height with fair skin. She had long black hair with bangs that stopped above her eyebrows. She stood still as her and Katara locked eyes with one another. It was the stuck up bitch from the elevator who still had that scowl on her face.
Mya was her name? Katara didn't care all she wanted to know was why was she in Zuko's office messing up her plans.
"Who are you and what are you doing in here?" She demanded.
Katara didn't like the tone of her voice. "Who are you and why are you questioning me?" She snapped back.
"Let me guess: You're Zuko's new pet."
"I'm no one's pet sweet cheeks."
"Oh yeah? Well that's the only reason he hires an assistant. Did he screw you in his office yet? I'm not surprised. You look the type." she said as she stuck her nose up in the air.
What the hell was that suppose to mean she this girl had some nerve! Just to get under her skin katara said in a sultry voice
"No Not yet but I was waiting for him to come back from his very important business meeting so that I could in fact right on this desk "
"You BITCH!" Mai said as she lounged at her. Katara was already suspecting and that she would try and attack her. She was ready immediately and slammed Mai to the ground. She was about to pin her until she heard footsteps and then she immediately flipped the two of them so that Mai was on top of her.
"Ahhhhhhh get off me Mai. Please, I was only trying to use the trying the printer." Katara said she crawled into the fetal position and blocked her face.
She wanted to laugh so bad but she had to keep it in. This girl hits are softer than a pillow.
"What in the world is going on?!" Zuko said as he saw the two girls wrestling on the floor. He quickly pulled the two women apart.
"Mr. Agni, I was only trying to use the printer and this crazy girl attacked me" Katara spoke in a soft voice.
"Zuko, she is lying! She was by your desk snooping around so I questioned her!" Mai yell indignantly
"Mai, how many times have I told you not to come to my office especially to harass my employees when they're trying to work?" Zuko seemed pissed. Lucky for Katara she could use his annoyance with Mai as an an advantage.
"But Zuko I-"
He cut her off immediately, "But nothing" Zuko sighed and rubbed his temples. "Is there anything that you actually needed that was so important that you had to come to my job?"
"Well no I…" Mai seemed bewildered. Katara knew this wouldn't be the last time Mai would rear her freshly salon treated
"Great. Now, I'm really busy right now and don't have time for this." Mai wanted to protest but the look Zuko was giving her made her she decide against it.
"Fine." She said sounded defeated.
Mai picked up her bag and walked over to katara.
She cut her eyes at her and whispered, "This isn't over bitch!" She spun around her hair slightly hit katara's chest. Katara smirked as Mai walked out of the office and slammed the door behind her.
"Katara are you okay? I'm so sorry. I know this isn't an ideal first day." Zuko said as ran to console her
Of course she was fine. She was a spy and whatever you called hits that bimbo was throwing was no where near damaging.
"I'm fine but Crazy Ex much?!" katara said as she smiled
"It's complicated Mai can be …. a handful at times." Zuko said
"Tell me about it ….."
"Not that I really mind but was there a reason why you're were in my office?" Zuko asked confused
"Ohh yes well I was trying to use the printer because well the one in my office seemed too complicated for me to use I tried looking for help but there was no one around to help me ."
"Next time you need to come in here please ask. There's important documents in here that not just anyone can stumble upon, okay?" Important documents. He was making this too easy. "This is my private office. Please don't come in here unless I invite you in. I'll have someone from IT take a look at the printer and teach you how to use it."
"Ok no problem it won't happen again" she said
Ok I guess I'll get back to work then katara said as she closed the door this was gonna be quicker than I imagined or so she thought
AN:/ We're Alive School has been rough for both of us but we will update much quicker now that we have more time on our hands please feel free to Pm us if you have any questions .