A/N: HEY!! I'm still chilling and just kicking back watching TV for the whole day. I think I've done it too much now cos I've gotten more chubby lol. That's bad. Anyways, here I am with a new chapter lol. Sorry if this one's late. Hope u guys like it! Oh yeah, Happy New Year to everyone!
Disclaimer: I don't own CCS. Clamp does.
P.S: Thanks to Armageddon Angel for editing this, how do they say it? beta-ing?
Chapter 10Sakura jumped for joy in the bank. The queue behind her just watched amusedly at the young girl practically dancing just after she received her cheque. Sakura felt some kind of achievement when her paycheck finally came. It was her second paycheck, but the first one didn't feel so proud because Sakura was just a lousy assistant in Azusa's eyes. However, the second one was three times as much the first cheque she received. This was a plus side to being Syaoran's secretary, even though he still makes fun of Sakura.
"First job payment, sweetie?" An older lady who was next in line asked Sakura.
"Yeah…" Sakura smiled and sheepishly scratched her head. The nice older lady gave her a warm smile before going up to the bank accountant to do her own business.
She practically skipped her way out of the bank. She was so happy! Once she paid her rent, electricity and water bill, she's going to buy a whole stack of food for Kero. Her poor cat lost a lot of weight when he got sick. She was going to save some in the bank and then the rest she was going to use for shopping.
" Whoa! Careful there!" A man's voice woke her up from her daydream. She immediately bumped her head onto his chest.
" Umm, sorry." Sakura blushed.
"Yo, Sakura-chan!" Eriol gave a friendly smile and put his arms around her.
"Oh, hey Eriol!"
"What are you doing here?" Sakura and Eriol asked each other at the same time.
"Um, I'm here because I'm picking out something to wear for tonight's party. Oh, here!" Eriol explained and handed Sakura a white card. "Little- I mean Li told me to give this to you. He said that you left too early jumping for joy. He told me to come here."
You are invited to Li Corp. and Yuen Corp. Staff Get-together,
Friday night JW Marriot's Hotel, June 12th, Time: 7:00 pm.
Dress: Casual/ Formal
"Oh no! Tonight!? I have nothing to wear!" Sakura whined.
"So? You're his assistant, and soon to be mangaka. You have to be there. Let's go shopping together. You get to help me choose what to wear. Then we'll see yours." Eriol suggested.
"Hello? Eriol? Should I refresh your memory? You have a girlfriend. Friends don't go out with their friend's boyfriend." Sakura hesitated.
"Tomoyo won't mind. She'll be glad that you picked something good. Oh, did I tell you? Today is me and Tomoyo's one-year anniversary for being together! I rented a room at Marriot's for the weekend, both of us, so we could-you know- have some fun." Eriol said evilly, rubbing his hands together.
"Poor Tomoyo." Sakura joked.
"Let's go and woo my babe. And er, your babe, whoever it is." Eriol announced.
Sakura rolled her eyes and entered the expensive men's suit store with Eriol.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
In the hotel ballroom, the atmosphere was full of celebration and life. The band played songs while groups and couples danced to the music. The waiters moved about in the spacious room, offering drinks and snacks to the guests. The chandelier hung above the crowd down below, giving a vibrant light.
Tomoyo reluctantly tried to fix her hair, wanting to make sure it was in place but not wanting to mess it up either. Her dark blue hair was styled into a messy bun. Tonight, she wore a pink dress that was tight on the top, revealing her nicely shaped chest, and the rest of the dress loosely flowed down to her knees. Her black high heel with straps made her look really tall and sexy.
" Heh, Tomoyo, lots of guys are checking you out tonight." Chiharu nudged Tomoyo.
Tomoyo smiled and took a glass champagne from a waiter passing by, Chiharu also took a glass for herself along with her.
"Eriol better be one of them." Tomoyo replied. "And you're talking about me like you're wearing a potato sack. You look hot, Chiharu." Indeed, Chiharu also looked pretty. Her brown hair was curled for the event, and she wore a lemon yellow dress.
"Thanks." Chiharu giggled.
"Where is Eriol? Stupid idiot! Men always choose what they wear for the last minute. Last time I texted him, he was shopping two hours ago. He met Sakura there because she was at the bank, so they went shopping together. He asked if I minded and I didn't mind. I wonder where Sakura is as well." Tomoyo explained to Chiharu.
Just as they were talking, a handsome man with dark hair and cerulean eyes covered by his glasses entered the room. He was wearing a blue, buttoned long sleeved shirt with black pants. Followed by him, a caramel-haired girl with green eyes shyly walked next to Eriol. She was wearing a dark green dress with a light green poncho.
"Damn! Look at Eriol, looking mighty fine! Sakura, you look kawaii!" Chiharu burst out her compliments as soon as both of them were making their way towards them.
Sakura could not stop blushing since she wore her dress and entered the hotel and now she's here. She felt so out-of-place. She was poor; she shouldn't be here. She saw the people in the ballroom wearing designer dresses and suit. She bought the cheapest dress in the shop. She hoped Eriol didn't notice that she doesn't have a lot of money. At least, he didn't say anything. She felt so envious looking at Tomoyo and Chiharu's dress, probably something from Cavalli, which was the last brand she heard that was currently in the season.
"Thanks, Chiharu." Sakura blushed and thanked her.
Eriol gave Tomoyo a peck on her cheek and smirked, "So Tomoyo, what do you think?"
Tomoyo looked at him with devious eyes and whispered loudly. "You and I are not wasting anytime. Soon as this party is over, we're heading straight to our room!"
Sakura and Chiharu burst out laughing.
"Hold up on the sexual tension here!" Chiharu exclaimed.
"Sakura-chan, you look so kawaii!" Tomoyo gave Sakura a friendly hug.
"Now that we're all here, let's dance." Eriol led Tomoyo and everyone else to the dance floor that was already packed with people.
Sakura tried to dance but her eyes kept looking at others. She couldn't help looking at their gorgeous dresses. Azusa was wearing a silver dress that opened at her chest like a V. It was too open for Sakura's taste, but still Azusa looked good. And, she just had to admit that she wanted to see Ken as well. She wanted him to see her in this dress as well. People had told her she looked cute, so she didn't look that bad, right?
She also wanted to know what her boss was up to. She moved her eyes and searched the room. She spotted a mess of chocolate hair. Yep, it was Syaoran. He standing and talking to a group of old men on a balcony just at the corner of the room. She guessed that was probably the VIP place.
Syaoran looked like he was in a serious conversation, talking business perhaps to the rich men in the suits. He wore a dark brown long sleeved buttoned shirt, with beige pants to match his black business shoes. His messy bangs covered most of his forehead. He toasted a drink with them and sat on a leathered couch on the balcony, by himself. He looked around the room, obviously so bored with the party. He spotted a familiar girl staring at him. Sakura blushed and looked away when she saw Syaoran had noticed she was looking at him.
BUSTED! Sakura felt herself feeling guilty for some reason.
She danced some more with Tomoyo and Chiharu, well mostly it was Tomoyo and Eriol showing their kickass dancing moves. Sakura and Chiharu were impressed how Eriol could pull Tomoyo closer to him and suddenly gently push her away, and then she would twist herself back into his arms. Sakura cheered along with Chiharu when Eriol picked Tomoyo up with his both hands, and let her fall gently, landing in his arms again. It was so cute. Sakura and Chiharu just occasionally sway to the side.
"Where are Rika and Naoko?" Sakura asked.
"Naoko is sick, poor girl. And Rika has some kind of business with her parents." Chiharu replied.
"Hey, want to get some champagne and leave those two alone? I feel left out." Chiharu suggested.
Sakura laughed and nodded.
They went to the side of the room. Another waiter happened to pass by with a tray of glasses with champagne in them. Chiharu signaled the waiter and he came. Chiharu took two glasses and handed one to Sakura.
"Uh, am I allowed?" Sakura asked loudly.
"Duh, how old are you? Sixteen? You're nineteen, of course you can." Chiharu stated as matter-of-factly.
"I've never drunk alcohol before." Sakura found herself blushing.
Chiharu raised her eyebrows.
"Okay, well take it easy. The first drink is usually the weirdest one." Chiharu advised.
Sakura nodded and tasted the drink. It was quite nice, she felt quite grown up, in a sort of childish way. She was never this out-of-place before.
"Take it easy, little girl." A deep voice smirked behind her.
Sakura rolled her eyes and blushed. She turned herself around. Was she drinking like an eager fourteen year old? Well she can't help it…
Syaoran looked really bored, tipping his glass of wine back and forth so the liquid inside it would go in whirlpools. Sakura couldn't resist checking him out, as he noticed, but he didn't say anything.
Sakura ignored his comment and asked the man.
"Enjoying the party?"
Syaoran stared at her emerald eyes with those fierce amber eyes. Sakura felt a little disappointed when he didn't check her out. He looked sort of moody tonight, maybe because something didn't go well when he discussed with those rich men.
"It's not bad. Wasn't as bad as last year." Syaoran said quietly.
"Li-san!" A tall, gorgeous woman wearing a blood red skirt approached him.
"Pleasure meeting you again! Has my boss talked to you yet?" She shook his hand.
"Nope." Syaoran said.
"I'll make sure he will." She gave him a wink and walked to the other side of the room, greeting other men in suits.
"Well aren't you lucky? You have beautiful women hounding you 24/7." Sakura said.
"Heh. Is someone jealous? Sakura I didn't know you were interested in the same gender." Syaoran retorted.
Sakura gasped. She doesn't know how to reply to his comeback about her. She didn't need to as suddenly a firm hand was placed upon her shoulder. She turned around.
It was Ken!
As soon as Ken scooted closer to Sakura so that he could talk to her, Syaoran immediately rolled his eyes and left them. Sakura raised her eyebrow in question. What the hell is up with Syaoran?
Syaoran ignored Chiharu's peering eyes as she watched him with curiosity leave Sakura and Ken and into the crowded dancefloor. Chiharu wondered along the same lines as Sakura. But she let it go, as she took another sip of her champagne and sank her back to the wall, watching the dance.
"Hey Sakura!" Ken said happily.
"Hello, didn't see you?" Sakura asked.
"Yeah, I was socializing with other mangakas of the Yuen's production company. Turns out they like my drawing as well, of course they should." Ken said too vainly, Sakura noticed.
"Cool." Sakura replied.
" I'll introduce you to them, if you want, there's Akane, you know she's famous for High School Romance. And there's Ichiro, his Dragon of Darkness is rising in popularity as well." Ken explained.
" Um, no, it's okay, I mean, I'm just an assistant." Sakura said.
She loves reading Akane's High School Romance. Thanks to Maiko, who also loves Akane's mangas, Sakura is able to read all the current volumes.
" Fine. Hey, so you wanna dance?" Ken asked.
Inside her head, Sakura was bouncing up and down. Yes, finally a guy asked her to dance. Chiharu gave her thumbs up. Sakura looked at Ken, did she hear him right.
"Sure. That'd be great." Sakura tried to sound casual, but she was gleeful.
Ken took her hand and gently tugged her behind him as he made his way to the dance floor. Sakura swore she nearly died when one of his hands held her hand up while the other was touching her back. They danced slowly, as Sakura hasn't dance for a long, long time.
As Sakura giggled happily, she did not know there were two pairs of eyes eyeing them up with distaste.
The brown-haired woman frowned as she saw the two of them dance and laugh together.
On the other side of the room, a pair of amber eyes never took their eyes of them.
TBC
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
A/N: How was it?Also the names of the mangas I truly did make up lol. If it's similar, like the high school one, im sure there's many similar titles, its purely coincidental lol. PLZ REVIEW! HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!
Nops