CHAPTER-20
By now Konomi had realised that going the hard way was not going to work with Takanori-san. He probably has dealt with approaches far more intense than hers. Konomi wasn't even sure anymore if going the hard way was what she wanted to do. She just wanted answers to her questions. That's all. Takanori-san did not seem like the person who would refuse her an honest answer if she asked honestly.
"Oh well. The law is not what I am concerned with right now." Konomi said.
"Of course." Takanori said with a little smile playing on his lips.
"Takanori-san. I will be honest with you. I am suspicious of the motives behind Irie-san's actions." Konomi said simply.
"I see. Which of his actions do you find suspicious?" Takanori asked.
"If I have to be honest, everything." Konomi replied.
"Sagawa-san you have to be a little more precise for me to answer your questions and confusions." Takanori urged.
Up until this moment, everything that Yuki did were all a slew of memories of various events in her head. Starting from the time they were in high school, when they were "friends", to when they didn't exist for each other even while attending the same school, to the recent events of running into each other again and Yuki's sudden interest in her.
"You can tell me about them one by one." Takanori's voice brought Konomi back to the cafe table.
"Ah yes. Irie-san wants me to be his secretary even though I am clearly under-qualified. Why?" Konomi asked.
"I would not say that you are clearly under-qualified. You will be officially hired by the company, which means the HR is involved here. Yuki had sent your profile to the HR and they deemed you fit for the job. Previous attempts at getting the Chairman a secretary have been unsuccessful. Every time the Chairman cites the same reason, 'she doesn't understand what she's being told to do.' The HR department cleared your profile and prepared the proposal contract to hire you. The conditions of employment and everything else related to it are nothing special. They are the standard that is followed in the company for every employee. The Chairman simply proposed your profile for the job and it was accepted." Takanori explained.
This is possibly the longest he has talked. Konomi thought.
"If it is like that, then why is he so keen on getting me to accept the position?" Konomi asked.
"I am afraid I am not so sure about this. But my thoughts are that this is because of his competitiveness. Never before in the company has any of his proposals been rejected or failed when they came to fruition. That is the amount of detail, research and planning he puts into them. If you refuse the position, this will be the first proposal he forwarded that did not come to life." Takanori said.
"I doubt that's all there is to it." Konomi said.
"Of course there is more. But for that I am afraid you need to talk to the Chairman himself." Takanori said.
"Why did he buy my father his snacks from the grocer? Is that also something that is part of the process of recruitment?" Konomi asked.
"I doubt he did that as the Chairman of Pandia. It seemed to me more like he did as a classmate of yours from high school for his high school friend's father. He even introduced himself to your father as that." Takanori replied.
Konomi wasn't expecting that. She never thought of it that way. Never thought of Yuki that way. It almost seemed impossible to Konomi that Yuki would act like that towards her father. How did he even recognise her father at the convenience store? After all, they only met once, that too in passing...
"Sagawa-san, are you okay?" Takanori once again brought Konomi back to the cafe table.
Konomi looked up at the man sitting across from her and blinked twice.
"Yes. Thank you. Thank you Takanori-san for your time today. I really appreciate it." Konomi said and bowed.
"No-no. Is there anything else I can help you with?" Takanori said.
"Not at all. I really appreciate your help." Konomi said and bowed again.
They both got up to leave and just as they exited the cafe Takanori offered to drop her home or to the nearest train station. Konomi declined the offer and once again thaked Takanori and started walking. The only question that she could not bring herself to ask Takanori-san was the question, the answer to which she wanted to hear from somebody else's lips. She took out her phone and typed a text.
"Good evening Satoh-san. I was wondering if you are available to talk tomorrow."