Watch the Clock
Chapter 2: Just Debating
By: Kitten at Heart
(Listening to: Hairspray)
Summary: Syaoran was just hired at a new company. Everyone fears his new boss, who seems like an emotionless dictator. What happens when he meets her outside of the office?
It was a very tough day of work. Syaoran eventually found the writer of the letter requesting a party for the office but he was already gone. Chan Tou. He was a sneaky fellow. He senses danger from a mile away. The very minute he saw Syaoran enter their department he ran up to Tomoyo's office and granted some apologies for his sudden departure from the company. Some people have heard rumors that he has taken a job at "Fish Sticks R Us" as the chief fry cooker.
Syaoran slowly exited the building to only moan when he saw the flashes of lightning and pouring of rainfall outside. Putting his coat over his head, he ran across the street to the local bar. When he entered the dark bar, smells of smoke and alcohol entered the room. He set down his coat and briefcase, and let out a big yawn.
"Sir? Can I have a beer please?" Syaoran sighed.
"Tough day, huh, kid?" Said the overweight bar manager. His voice was scratchy and his face was unshaven.
"Yeah. It was my first day…" Syaoran sat down on the bar stool and ran his hair through his slightly damp hair. The bartender slid him a mug of beer, but Syaoran just stared at it. "Maybe I shouldn't have taken the job." He whispered to himself.
"Shouldn't have taken the job? You are the best Marketing head we have ever hired." Laughed a perky voice from behind. Syaoran looked over his shoulder only to see his boss from hell. Her hair was tangled all over the place (most likely because of her unorganized nature) her shirt had coffee stains all over it, but her head was held high. She sat down on the stool next to him and smiled sweetly.
"A pint Fuji." She told the bartender. While she waited for her order, she ran her hands through her hair, trying to get some of the tangles out of it. "Don't doubt yourself Li. No one said it was going to be easy. I only hire the best…to hire the best. Hence Tomoyo!" She giggled lightheartedly.
"A whole pint, huh?" Fuji's voice scuffed.
"Yup. Tough day."
"Here ya go." Fuji gave her a pint of "Ben and Jerry's" ice cream. She just loved American ice cream.
"Chocolate chip." She stated to her wide-eyed employee. She dunked her spoon in the tub of ice cream while sticking a little of her tongue out. "What is the matter Li?" She wondered in a child-like voice. Syaoran smiled and laughed a little.
"I am just surprised, that is all." His chocolate eyes lit up at her behavior.
"Surprised at what?"
"N-nothing." He quickly said.
"Go on. We are out of the office. I promise that you won't get in trouble." She flashed her famous smile and shone her bright emerald eyes before shoving her spoon into her mouth.
"Ummm…well you act like a monster in the office and now…" he trailed of. He heard her giggle and even sneak in a snort here and there.
"Monster? I am very flattered Li. Right now, you are seeing my true self. I cannot act like myself in the office or I would be taken advantage of." She froze for an instant. Shit. I should not have said that. "I-I mean an employee could try to slack off or something...yeah." She suddenly found interest in her ice cream.
"Oh." Syaoran sipped some of his beer and looked at his boss. She sat next to him, troubled. He glanced at his watch and sighed. No wonder he was starving. Wanting to change the atmosphere, he asked, "Do you know any good places to eat?"
Sakura's eyes glittered as she forced down some of her frozen treat down her throat. "Actually…Tomoyo, Eriol, and I were going to a pizza place downtown at seven. Would you like to join us? I could have one of my drivers pick you up after you get out of your work clothes."
"Um…" What should he say? His BOSS just invited him for dinner…with a few others. Although - he was really hungry for real food. Pizza sounded really good. "Sure Kinomoto-san."
"Drop that san stuff in public. Call me Sakura out of the office if you like!" She stood up and slammed a couple of bills on the bar table. "Pick you up at seven!" She smiled and skipped out of the dim bar. Yet, she forgot of the rain outside, so one could see her shriek and twitch of the sudden touch of water on her skin. But she continued to skip to her waiting limo.
"Doesn't she need my address?" Syaoran wondered.
"She has her ways kid." Gruffed Fuji.
"This is going to be a frustrating job." Syaoran growled before slamming his head on the bar table.
*~*~*~*
Buildings slowly walked by in the window of the taxi. Syaoran slowly dazed off while watching pedestrians rush for cover. "Can you go faster? I actually want to get home before next week." Syaoran growled at the taxi driver.
"Sorry sir. It is the rules. Follow the speed limit."
"Oh, and I am sure the speed limit is two miles per hour. And I am sure this is the fastest way. Even I know which is the shortest way." Syaoran groaned. Were all taxis like this? Next time, he is taking a sub…or bus…or something else. Maybe he will rent a bike. He will just petal his way to work in a business suit while carrying a briefcase. Syaoran smiled a little bit at his mental picture of him wheezing his way up a hill in a business suit.
"Sir. We are here." The man grumbled.
"About time." Syaoran shoved the man some money and got outside of the car. He walked up to the apartment building and fumbled to get his key out. Once he got inside the building and in his apartment, he sighed. The pale green walls held no pictures, just an old sword that gleamed in the light. The couch was a dark green and was the only piece of furniture in the main room. To the left was the kitchen, which held only a stove, refrigerator, a sink, and a microwave. A small table was stuffed into a corner with a newspaper on it. To the right had a hallway, which held doorways to a bathroom and a bedroom. Syaoran walked to his bedroom and set his things on a chair. What have I gotten myself into, he thought. He changed into his casual wear, which consisted of a dark green shirt and khakis.
"SYAORAN!" Screeched a female voice. Syaoran only rolled his eyes and locked his bedroom door. "Syaoran? Where are you sweetie?" pleaded the voice. The person tried to open the locked bedroom door and grunted. "Come on, sweetie! I know you are in there!"
"Congratulations. That is the only thing you know." Syaoran said in only a whisper. He glanced at the clock. He only had twenty minutes. But while he was checking the time, the person made their way into the room, using a bobby pin. Syaoran turned around to see a woman of his age leaping over to him to tackle. He quickly (not to mention smoothly) stepped aside to see the woman collapse onto the ground. He rushed out of the bedroom to seek of another place to hide.
"Ah! Why are you trying to hide from me?" the woman squealed. "Li Syaoran!" Syaoran did not have many places to hide with this small apartment. He had the money, why didn't he just buy a larger apartment…or a house? That is right…he didn't need it! Stupid morals. He saw an open window and leaped out to sit on the roof.
"Come out, come out, where ever you are…" The woman chanted. "You know better to play childish games with me Li Syaoran. I can tell you know who about you know what…" Ha! Li Syaoran will NOT fall for that trick. Yet, his foot began to slip. He saw some rocks from the roof fall about six stories. He gulped as his foot slipped again. He will not fall. He is the Martial Arts Champion of the Hong Kong area plus suburbs! His foot slipped again.
"SYAORAN!" Yelled the woman. Darn…she found him. But once Syaoran heard this, he got startled and lost his support. According to the laws of physics, he plummeted to the ground.
"Oh goodness! Li, are you ok?" Asked an angelic voice, yet he could not see the carrier of this voice for his face was in the ground.
"No." he growled. How come people always ask if you are ok, if you are badly hurt?
"SYAORAN!" Screeched the mysterious woman as she, to, leaped out of the window. "Get away from him you slut!" The woman showed her firing ruby eyes and flipped her pitch-black hair. She grabbed the young man and growled at the woman. "He is my fiancée, not yours!"
"Meiling…I am NOT your fiancée!" He finally got up and shrugged her off of his shoulders. He looked up to see none other than his boss with concern written all over her face. "H-hi, Kino- Sakura."
"Do you need any help?" She asked. "I have a first aid kit in the limo…"
"No…I am fine physically. Mentally no. Let's go." He gruffed as he offered his boss an arm. She gratefully took his arm but paused for a second.
"Li Meiling. I will see you in my office at Eight fifteen sharp." She growled. Meiling just stared at the woman who had her back turned. Who was this person? Why was Syaoran being so nice to this…other WOMAN?
"Who are you?"
"Are you that stupid?" Sakura turned around to reveal her face. Meiling gasped and started to tear. "You know how I feel about office relationships." They entered the limo and watched Meiling's tearing face from the window.
*~*~*~*
"Sakura!" Tomoyo called from the back of the American styled pizza parlor…although the 'American Style' was more like an old western parlor…with the cowboy waiters, bandanas, and such. The two headed over to the table and greeted Tomoyo and Eriol. "You brought Li-kun! Sakura…I did not know!" Tomoyo winked
"Tomoyo!" Sakura laughed lightheartedly as she slapped her best friend playfully on the arm. "I found him in the bar after work."
"You got a pint, didn't you?" Eriol laughed. Sakura eagerly nodded her head. "We already ordered." Eventually, everyone got deep into conversation about flying pickles, cats stuck in trees, and printers.
While Eriol and Tomoyo were deep into why chipmunks don't fly but some squirrels can…Sakura asked Syaoran, "Why did Li Meiling claim that she was you fiancée?" with a little jealousy in her voice.
"Long story. My parents and her parents arranged for us to marry before we were born. We cancelled…or I cancelled the arrangement ten years ago. I don't like to talk about it." He confessed.
"But you just did." Sakura laughed. "You know what is happening to her tomorrow, right?"
"Um. She is getting fired?" Syaoran guessed. Sakura nodded. "But I just told you we aren't in a relationship. And we are out of the office."
"True. But I don't want her to think that you are in a relationship and suddenly appear in your office to put you off task. She also called me a slut. I never liked her. She always clutters my desk with stupid questions. Are you trying to defend her?" Sakura said quickly.
"No. Just like debating." Syaoran smirked.
*~*~*~*
Kitten: I know, very stupid place to end off. I am sorry. Hehehe! Here is my thanx to the …7 reviewers? SEVEN? Huh? Lemme check again. Nope. Seven. Ok. Here we go.
babybluestarangel- Yeah! Power to the people! Time for change! (trumpet fanfare in the background) Cuz trumpets are cool…can you guess what instrument I play at school?
maxiwolfblossom- Mwahahaha! Aggressive sakura…only now it is at work…pooo…
Yun Fei- Lookie! Don't leave! She is not all bad!…I am going to cry now…
Namiko-Daughter of Sekhmet- wow. That is a long name. Who is Sockmit? Oh well, Namiko-Daugher of Sekhmet, I am glad you loved it. Keep loving it.
Sunny pig- Thank you sunny pig! I am glad that I wasn't the only one who thought about this! Yay! Don't sneeze with all of that dust. Yeah…Sakura has a first aid kit…since you fell of the chair!
Dangerously Sweet- That sounds like an ad…Dangerously sweet…so sweet…they are dangerous…haha. Oh! Sorry! Sugar is good for the heart! And attention span! I continuing!
Ra- love the name. Something that the cheerleaders do! The are cheering for you! RA RA Shishcumba! WHOOOO! Goooooooo school! Yay! Whoot. Keep going. Keep going where? Texas? Sure! I used to live there! Oh, the story. Its goin. Oh yeah. I am cool…
Remember. If you review, I shall give you free air and praise at the end of my chapters. See the individual notes? That could be your name. Your name- thanks for reviewing. You haven't reviewed yet so I can't add any special junk in yet. Thanks.