Arigatou gozaimas to all who reviewed in the previous chapter! I'm happy that you loved it! Anyway, just to answer some of the questions regarding the previous chapter: Meiling is NOT Syaoran's fiancé. Their relationship is purely platonic, being cousins and all.  And yes, Syaoran did graduated from college.  It is stated in this chapter so I guess you'll know it later. ^__^ Well, I just want to thank starquestor for e-mailing me about a mistake I made in the last chapter. I was surprised that she's the only one who notice it! ::chuckles:: Anyway, thanks for correcting me @_@  So yes, please if you see any grammatical errors on this chap, feel free to e-mail me. Oh, I hope you'll also review this fic after you read it. That would be a big help! Arigatou!

CHAPTER TWO

Syaoran stared at the tall building looming in front of him.  He narrowed his eyes at the thought that he will be spending most of his day in this place that seemed to mock him, as if doubting his capabilities to handle such an illustrious company.

            He walked hesitantly inside the office, regaining his composure. 

"G-good morning Mr. Li!" A surprised attendant in the lobby greeted him as soon as she saw him.

He glanced at her and gave a curt nod of acknowledgement.  He wasn't surprised at all at the look she just gave her.  In fact, every employee in the lobby was staring at him in surprise.  He suddenly felt like a new kid transferring to a new school with all the attention he's been getting.

"Is Hiiragizawa here already?" He asked the attendant authoritatively.

"Hmm…yes, Sir.  He arrived about half an hour ago." She smiled. "He's at the fifth floor, waiting for you in your office."

"Thank you." He replied before walking away from the lobby.  His eyes hastily scanned the area and saw the elevators situated on the left wing.  He briskly walked towards it, hurrying to reach his office at once.

"Good morning, Sir Li!" A woman, whom he estimated to be around the age of her late twenties, greeted him as soon as he opened the doors to his office.  It's been so long since he last went inside this building just to see his mother that he was surprised at the fact that his late mother already hired a new secretary.  He vaguely remembered that a thirty-year-old something woman used to work as a secretary to his mom when he was still around fifteen years old.

Syaoran looked at the empty receiving area of his office.

"I'm expecting someone. Uh, where is Hiiragizawa?"

"He's already inside your private office, sir."  His secretary tilted her curly hair to one side, pointing at the direction of the mahogany door of his office.

He took a long deep breath before opening the door. 

"I never knew you have this little habit of tardiness." Eriol spoke at once when he saw him.

"I had a hard time getting up by six o' clock in the morning." He frowned.  He slumped recklessly at the huge leather chair situated on his table.  His eyes caught sight of the new nameplate placed atop the desk. Mr. Li Syaoran, Chief Executive Officer.  His lips tilted slightly to one side, amused at his 'new' title.

"Well, if you're really serious about taking over your family business, you should start by going to the office in time."

"Your beginning to sound like Meiling."  He said exasperatedly.

"I'm here to help you aren't I?" Eriol chuckled. "So I'm just giving you tips.  You should be touched at the fact that as soon as you called me up last Saturday, I managed to adjust my hectic schedule just to meet you this Tuesday."

"Oooh, yeah. I should be." Syaoran replied sarcastically.  He looked at him with his eyebrows raised.

"You never change my cute little descendant."

"Give me a favor, will you? Could you just quit the whole descendant thing because it's really getting on my nerves!"

Eriol laughed slightly, looking at him in amusement.

"I already gave you enough favors.  Anyway, what made you decide to finally handle this job?" His eyes sparkled mischievously. "Are you planning to settle down soon?"

"Are you kidding me? You know I'm not into marriage and stuffs like that."

"Well then, what's your reason?"

Syaoran darted his eyes away from Eriol's face, glancing at the spacious office that his mother used to occupy.  He must admit that he was a little surprise earlier when he noticed the new furnishings of the office.  He never thought that they would redecorate it so soon especially that he still haven't really decided yet on the matter regarding about his position as the CEO of the company.

He shrugged at Eriol. "I don't know. I just decided to try it."

"So you mean to say that you're still not sure about managing the company?"

"I guess so."  He sighed frustratingly.  "It's such a big responsibility! I really don't know if I could handle all the pressures of this work."

Eriol looked at his sullen face thoughtfully.  "It's really easy once you get the hang of it.  You're intelligent Syaoran and you know that.  Isn't it that despite how lazy and stubborn you are, you still managed to get above average grades when you're in college?  And don't you go telling me that business is not your thing, because you took up Economy which is somehow related to the industrial world."

"I took up that course because I couldn't think of anything at that time.  Up to now, I still don't know what I even want."

"Well, maybe I should extend my stay here longer." Eriol stared thoughtfully at the ceiling. "I think I should give you enough time to familiarize yourself with all the trades of this business."

"I thought I will never say this but…thanks a lot for your help." Syaoran muttered.

Eriol grinned at him.  "Well, you don't have to thank me.  It's my job as your 'ancestor'."

"The old man couldn't have said it any better."

"Oh, what's this news I've heard from Meiling?  She said some co-heir living with you in your mansion or something like that."

Syaoran rolled his eyes.  Trust Meiling to babble stuffs like this to Eriol.

"Well, mother left the house to me and to some girl I never even knew that existed.  I just don't understand her reason for this! I don't even know how she come to know her!"

"Do you know the name?"

"Attorney Tan said that this girl's name is Sakura Kinomoto.  Heck, she's not even Chinese!" Syaoran growled. "She surely is not my long-lost relative or something."

Eriol was startled when he heard the name.  "S-Sakura Kinomoto?"

"Yeah." He narrowed his eyes. "You know her?"

"Uhm…no." Eriol shook his head gently, his mind suddenly filled with thoughts.  "The name just sounds…familiar."

~~~~~~~*OoO*~~~~~~~~

Syaoran stretched his tired body in the couch, his eyes drooping sleepily.   For him, the day is indeed long and tiring.  He never thought how complicated it could be being in-charge of a whole company.  He knew it is difficult, but not THAT difficult.  Eriol said that he's simply starting with the basics and he's already having a tough time acquainting his self to his new 'world'.

"Do you want some tea, Syaoran?"

Syaoran opened his eyes and found himself looking at the familiar face of his butler. 

"No, thanks.  Maybe later."

"Okay. I'll just be in the kitchen supervising the maids." And with that, Wei silently walked back towards the direction of the kitchen.

= Being responsible sure is tough especially if you grew up to be one spoiled child. = He admitted to his self.  He never thought that an unfortunate incident such as the death of his mother would be the only one to open up his eyes.  He remembered how his late mother used to be so disappointed at him for being so stubborn and irresponsible.  And the fact that he used to change girlfriends so easily as if he's just changing his clothes, doesn't help either.  Yelan used to say how she is afraid that he might end up with the wrong women.

A loud ringing of the phone startled his thoughts.  He hastily grabbed the phone located near the table beside the couch.

"Hello."

"Syaoran?"  A hesitant voice asked on the other line.

He paused for a few seconds, trying to recognize the voice.

"Grace?"

"Wow, you still recognized me!" She giggled softly. "Oh, I've heard about the death of your mother. I'm really sorry about that."

"It's okay. I've already come to terms with that fact so don't worry."

"Oh…I mean, that's good for you."

"So, why did you call?" He asked.  He didn't mean to be rude but he just don't know what business she might have with him that he suddenly called him up after about two years.  He really didn't develop the habit of keeping in touch with his ex-girlfriends.

"Well, I just want to let you know that I'll be coming back in the country anytime this month."

"So?"

"…I really hope I could get to see you. I mean it's been a long time since we last saw each other."

"I don't know, Grace. I'm busy with a lot of stuffs right now." He scowled. "Listen, I've got to get going now cause I still have to do something."

"Okay. See you soon, I guess." Grace replied softly.

"Bye."

Syaoran groaned inwardly at the thought that Grace is coming back to Hongkong soon.  Well, he must admit that she got a nice personality and a gorgeous face to match with, but knowing the sound of her voice…he knows she wants to get hook up with him again.  He really don't think that he could handle a girl right now.  He doesn't need anymore distractions with all the problems that he's been dealing with right now.

"Now what?" He muttered when he heard the doorbell ringing.  He idly watched Wei walking briskly towards the door.  In a few minutes, their loyal caretaker emerged back at the door.

"Syaoran, you have a guest. Shall I let her in?"

"Who?"

"Well, she wouldn't tell me her name. She said she'd rather introduce herself to you when you met face-to-face."

Syaoran's face look annoyed.  It must've been some woman he used to know dropping by.  They used to do unexpected visits to him which used to bug him and his mother the most.

"I can't do anything about it anymore, can't I?" He sighed exaggeratedly. "Fine. Let her in."

He waited uninterestedly at the living room, cursing silently whoever it is who came to visit him. 

"Please come inside, Syaoran is sitting in the couch waiting for you." He heard Wei said.

His breath was taken away when he saw a very beautiful woman standing hesitantly on the front door.  He was mesmerized by his beauty; with his auburn hair falling up to her shoulders and her expressive green eyes looking at him anxiously.  Even though she's wearing a simple blouse and jeans, he never thought how that look could be so sexy.

"Do I know you?" He asked her curiously.   

"Well, I…Um…" She paused uncertainly. "Syaoran Li, right?"

He nodded silently. "You still haven't answered my question."

"We haven't really met before…"

"I know that."

The woman's face flushed at his sudden display of aloofness.  It doesn't mean that because she's gorgeous, he's going to get all chummy with her the first time they met.

"Well, I'm…Sakura Kinomoto."

~~~~~~~~~

kotsch

A/N: A cliffy, ne? ^_~ Anyway, thank you for reading the chapter. I hope you liked it.  Please review okay?  I'll certainly appreciate it!