"Are you ready for the meeting?" Lydia said as she watched her father.
Kosei paced through his office sorting documents and gathering them into an orderly pile. "I would hope so," he laughed.
"Do you need help with anything?"
Kosei looked up from his desk briefly. "No, I don't think so,"
Lydia nodded as she sunk deeper into her chair. Her gaze followed her father as he paced between different spots of his office mumbling notes to himself. She smiled towards him; she always enjoyed watching him run the family business. Although he seemed to love his work, she wondered just how stressful it was on him as he never showed any sign of exhaustion. Her thoughts dwindled as she watched him gather his things and start for the door.
"Oh, are you going?"
"Yes, it's about that time," Kosei replied as he glanced at his watch a final time.
Lydia smiled as she stood up to approach him. "Let's go then,"
Kosei's brow furrowed in confusion. Lydia noticed his odd expression and she began to produce a similar one as she couldn't pinpoint the source of his confusion. "What is it?"
"Your grandfather didn't tell you?"
"Tell me what?"
Kosei released a deep sigh. He despised being the bearer of bad news. "Your grandfather has made all meetings an employee only basis. There were some complaints from company partnerships that we had too many 'unnecessary' members present. Even shareholders aren't allowed to attend anymore."
She felt her heart bury itself atop her stomach. "What?"
"I'm sorry, Lyd, there's nothing I can do about it. I know how much you enjoy being there. I even tried to talk to him about it, but he wouldn't budge."
"But, we're family! How could he just out me like that?"
"It wasn't a personal attack on you; you did nothing wrong. Like I said, even shareholders can't see in on our affairs anymore."
Lydia sighed and turned her gaze to the floor seemingly focusing on its every detail. "It's so unfair,"
"I know it is, but try not to let it get to you. Maybe you can talk to him about it after the meeting; he might find a way to fit you in."
"Maybe," she muttered.
"Listen, Lyd, I'm running late, but I'll see you when I get back afterwards, okay? We can talk then."
"Maybe later, Dad. I should probably go; I have that school project to work on. I'll just see if I can meet with my partner early."
"Okay, try to have fun. I have to go, I love you."
"Love you too."
With their exchange over, Kosei departed leaving her behind in the bare office. Lydia released a deep sigh as she sat back down in her chair. Her disappointment seemed to be physically weighing her down. After a moment of contemplation, she reached for her phone to send a text. Several minutes after its delivery, she finally received confirmation to meet with the brunet CEO for their project.
Lydia made her way through the hallways towards the elevator corridor. The halls were absent of any employees as they were either shut away in their offices or at the infamous meeting. Finally reaching the elevator, she pushed the button and waited for the doors to open. As they slid aside, she was met with a familiar face.
"What are you doing here?" she asked as she stepped into the lift.
"Wow, how cold," Naoto laughed. "I'm just delivering some files."
"You're not going to the meeting upstairs?"
"Why would I? They bore me."
Lydia rolled her eyes. "Well, at least you have the ability to go."
"Finally heard about the new rule, eh? I was wondering when that'd happen." Naoto grabbed the lanyard hanging from his neck and began twirling his employee badge through his hand. "Yep, sure is great being an official employee."
Lydia glared to the spinning badge in his grasp. "Are you serious right now?"
"One-hundred percent," he smiled. After a moment, he released his grip from the lanyard and the grin disappeared from his lips. "If you're so bent about it, why don't you just intern here?"
Lydia turned her gaze downwards. "It's against school rules to have a job."
"Oh, please, don't give me that innocent girl excuse, you know well enough that something could be arranged for family businesses."
Lydia sighed. "I just…" The ring on the elevator soon dinged and the doors opened to the lobby. "I have to go."
Naoto shook his head as she left. "Jeez, you're so touchy sometimes, Cuz."
O.O.O
"Are you going to focus or continue to waste time?" Kaiba's sharp voice came through.
Lydia snapped from her thoughts. She gazed around noticing that she sat in the middle of the young CEO's office with her laptop positioned in front of her. She looked up to see the brunet across from her with a blank stare upon his face, yet there was a hint of annoyance in his eyes.
"Sorry, what did you say?" she asked.
"Are you going to continue wasting time?" he repeated.
"No, sorry, I was just thinking."
"Clearly,"
Lydia glanced back down to the online document in front of her. Their research paper was slowly coming together; it only required a few more paragraphs and the necessary edits. "What part were we discussing again?"
"On the contrary, I was discussing how best to write the closing argument, while you sat there idly."
"I'm sorry. It's just been a busy day."
"If you're so preoccupied then perhaps you shouldn't have asked to come by early."
"If it was so bothersome for you, then why did you let me come?"
"Unlike you, I'd rather get this assignment done as soon as possible. I have better things to work on."
"I'm sorry, I'm probably just getting in your way."
"Tch, I've had worse company."
Lydia gave a slow nod and then returned to the document. The room hung in silence as the duo typed up their research, only the distinct clicking of their keyboards remained. As the sentences passed by her vision, the more Lydia's head seemed to swell with thoughts. She couldn't get the conversation with Naoto out of her head. Why was she hesitating with herself? She gazed up at the brunet across from her and noticed his rapid clicking on the keyboard and frozen glare towards the monitor.
"Do you like managing your own company?" she thought aloud.
Kaiba froze as he turned towards her. She had a blank expression on her face. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me, I'm only curious."
The brunet released a sharp sigh and then turned back towards the monitor. His gaze was fixed back upon the paragraphs displayed to him. "It's tolerable,"
"You inherited your company, right? What was that like?"
Kaiba's nerves went rigid. His muscles froze in place where it seemed as if he could shatter if landed the fainted blow. He hated thinking back to that time. He remained silent for several seconds with his gaze turning hard and icy, yet immovable. Lydia noticed his change in behavior and observed him closely.
"Kaiba? Sorry, I just wanted to know as a fellow heir to a company."
The young CEO remained silent and just stared at her.
"Anyways," she drawled. "I just want to know one thing, and then I promise we can get back to work."
"What?"
"Did you feel ready to run a company, especially at a young age?"
"Yes." His answer was almost immediate.
"Really? I don't think I'll ever be ready if the job fell to me. I guess I just don't want to disappoint my family."
"Tch, that's a loser's mentality."
"What?"
"Insecurity only gets in the way of the future."
Lydia thought about his words briefly. "That's one way to put it, I guess," she laughed. "Anyway, I promised that we'd get back to work now, thank you though."
"Hn, whatever."
The duo began to focus their attention back on their paper. Within the hour, their final paragraphs were finally typed out and in the process of editing. "To think we're almost done with this project. We just have the presentation left to do."
"Indeed,"
"When do you want to present it? I know you have a busy schedule."
"We're not presenting it." Kaiba replied bluntly.
"What do you mean?"
"I arranged so that we don't have to present to the class, we only have to complete the work requirements."
"Oh. When did this happen?"
"When the project was assigned,"
"Not really a people person, are you?" she laughed.
"Hmph, how observant of you," he replied with a sarcastic smirk.
She smiled back to him. "You know, I could almost miss seeing your sarcastic attitude all the time."
"I could say the same to you."
Kaiba frowned at his own words. He scoffed at himself. Miss her? Give me a break, he told himself. He didn't have time for sentimental friendship nonsense—no, he refused to make time for it. There was no room within himself to find consideration for anything other than his company and his brother. Mokuba's softhearted words to him the other day must've poisoned him somehow. That much he thought was certain.
"Wait, really?" Lydia looked to him.
Kaiba gazed back at the monitor in front of him. "You're tolerable, is all."
Lydia slowly nodded. "Right. Well, I'm going to finish editing at home, I have to get back soon."
"Fine,"
"Let me know what day works best for you to finish this."
Kaiba nodded as he watched the brunette disappear from his office.
O.O.O
Later that night, Lydia sat in her room with her thoughts once again occupying her. Insecurity only gets in the way… The words repeated in her mind just as rapidly as her other conversations during the day. Am I wrong to hesitate?, she questioned herself. Maybe her motivation to shy away from it was as weak as Naoto had suggested. Although the more appealing the option came, something still held her back. She managed to brush it away and clear the jumbled mess of confusion residing within her.
Eventually, she stood up and left her room. Her mind carried her to the doorway of her father's office. She peered inside and saw her father writing notes and comparing elements between his documents and the data on his computer screen. Even late at night, his work ethic was still something to be admired.
"Dad?" she called from the doorway.
Kosei turned around and smiled. "Oh, I didn't even hear you come in. Do you feel any better yet?"
"Yeah," she grinned. "How was the meeting today?"
"It was a drag, honestly. Just more logistics on our new project. It was nothing for you to be upset over earlier."
"I guess I overreacted." She replied sheepishly. "I just want to be valuable to the company and learn whatever I can."
"You are valuable to us. I understand your frustration though; I was eager to learn everything too before I graduated and got hired in."
"Pretty similar, I guess?"
Kosei smiled. "Definitely."
Lydia nodded. She fidgeted with the ends of her hair for a moment as she tried to steady her mind. "Can I tell you something?"
"Of course. What is it?"
"I want to intern at the company."
Oof, what a chapter! Somehow I manage to get months of writers block and then get a burst of energy and write these things in a single sitting, damn. Lmaoo we love therapist Kaiba, classic (hopefully that part wasn't awkward tho, I tried :P). I just pray that my next update won't be that far off cause I'm suddenly motivated rn. Anywayyys, I hope you all enjoyed the chapter!