It's All Business:

The next morning, Tea left the house early for her first day of work at Kaiba Corp. At first glance, she didn't feel up to it. But then again, at least it could take her mind off things.

"Hey Tea," Mokuba greeted her at the entrance. "Seto told me you'd be here."

"Yeah," Tea frowned. "What am I supposed to do?"

"Well, follow me." he smiled. As he passed by some workers, they all greeted him. Tea's head went from side to side, looking around. Kaiba Corp lobby wasn't as what she expected. It was more of a resemblance of a hotel. Making their way towards the elevator, Mokuba pushed the button for the 20th floor. The door closed as the elevator began to move.

"So how have you been all this time?" Mokuba rambled on.

Tea froze at his question, pondering and debating whether she should answer his question or not. She then forced a smile and replied. "I'm fine. Getting better."

"Good to hear." he smiled. Minutes later, the door opened, finally reaching the 20th floor. "Here we are. Just take it a little easy on Seto. He's not exactly feeling well in the head this morning. One of his business partners wanted…or at least is planning to cut off their partnership." he knocked on the doors (as they were always closed if you were going to Seto's office) three times. "Seto, Tea's here. You can show her the works." he then turned and left, leaving her standing alone in front of Kaiba's office.

Minutes later, the doors opened and Kaiba stepped out. The two locked gazes with each other. Not much in a romantic way but in a way as if they were putting up a challenge.

"Detective Malik called my office earlier." he looked down on her. "And let's get a few things straight Miss Mazaki. Just because Santa is back doesn't mean you're gonna get special treatment here. Depending on what my mood is, I'll either treat with you respect or treat you as how I really felt about you."

"Why am I not surprised?" Tea muttered sarcastically.

To this, Kaiba sneered at her sarcasm. "This is the first time I actually hired cheerleaders. But then again, it's better than hiring dogs and those who believe in the heart of the cards."

"Kaiba you should be ashamed of yourself!" Tea glared at her boss, her fist clenched tightly. "At least show some respect now that Yugi's dead thanks to Yami!"

"Relax Mazaki." Kaiba crossed his arms over his chest. "I still respect that munchkin. Just don't expect just to ever befriends whether now or the after life." he paused as he led Tea to her desk, which was right outside the office. "Now, as my secretary, you take my calls, take messages and get whatever I want. Think you can handle that?"

"Is that all I have to do?"

"That and keep records and files. You start at 8:00 and finish at 5:30. You only have half an hour's worth of a lunch break. Start off seven dollars an hour, Monday through Friday since Mokuba takes shifts as secretary during the weekends. And please…" he headed back to his office. "Limit your personal calls. This isn't a place where you and Wheeler can mooch off."

"We're not dating anymore." Tea was detesting her boss more and more. "We broke up last year."

"It's what I predicted." Kaiba chuckled to himself. "Your relation has gone to the dogs all right." he then went back inside the office, closing the door behind him, leaving Tea fuming.

"That pompous jerk." Tea grumbled as she sat on the chair, looking over the list of things needed to be done. Just as she was about to look over the papers, the phone rang.

Startled a bit, Tea nearly dropped the papers. Her eyes shifted to the phone. "Okay Tea," she said to herself. "This is Kaiba Corp. Of course that creep isn't going to call. He doesn't know I work here in the first place." Laughing to herself, she picked up the phone. "Hello, Kaiba Corp office."

All of a sudden, the same menacing laugh rang in her ears.

"Not again…" Tea became easily shaken with fear. "Please…"

"I'm glad to see that you're enjoying your job. Of all the jobs you could have gotten, you chose to bow down to Kaiba."

"What do you want?!?" Tea shrieked, not caring if Kaiba heard her.

"My dear, the caller smirked. "Last night's incident was just a wake-up call for what will come on Christmas Day."

"Say what?!?" Tea couldn't get the loud ringing in her ears. "How do you know I work here?!?"

"Dear, why can't the answer be more simple? I've been watching you. I like your business suit too. High heels, dark blue coat and skirt with a black shirt. I'd say I divorce Mrs. Claus and go straight to you."

At that point, Tea slammed the phone back onto the receiver. At the same time, Kaiba came out with an angry look on his face. Making his way towards her, his arms crossed over his chest, staring down at her. "Miss Mazaki, I thought we went over our policy about making personal phone calls."

"That wasn't Joey who called me." Tea sank into the chair. "I swear Kaiba!"

"No?" Kaiba, as usual, began to doubt her. "Tell me then, who was it that called you?"

"I don't know." She didn't look up. "The voice…that same voice…he called me. I think he's stalking me."

"Seto," Mokuba spoke up, standing beside his brother, listening in to the whole story, "Maybe you should move Tea's office into yours."

"What?!?" Kaiba couldn't believe what his brother was suggesting. Having to watch a cheerleader for nearly all day? Am I the only sane person here or has the world fallen into the black hole?

"I mean," his brother continued on, "Don't you remember what happened the other year when Yami was Tea's Secret Santa and killed most of his friends all for the sake of writing a novel?"

"Yeah but here's the thing Mokuba," Seto's eyes shifted from his secretary to his brother. "Yami's locked in the asylum on the other side of town. They wouldn't let him make a phone call."

"So what are we supposed to do? What if she's telling the truth? You can't just fire her for getting an unimportant phone caller! What if the caller is watching her? I mean, you gotta admit Seto, there are a lot of high-rise buildings in this city."

"Whoever it was must've intended to make a prank call." Kaiba turned and made his way back to the office. "I'll give it a few days. If it persists, I'll move her office."

"Shouldn't we get the cops involved?' Mokuba jotted something on his clipboard. "I don't think Tea is the type to be joking about something like this."

"If this continues, then I'll have the cops look into it." Kaiba turned on his heel. Other than that, I'm just going to leave it as a prank call."

"Seto!" Mokuba glared at his brother. But Seto simply ignored him and shit his office door behind him. "Fuck!"

"Mokuba?" Tea's eyes widened, tilting her head to the side. "Since when do you swear?"

Mokuba sighed, leaning against her desk. He pressed his hand on his forehead, gazing at the floor. "I'm sorry Tea. Seto is usually…well…you know how he is. But today, he's more of a hypocrite to a point that even I can't stand him!"

"Is this about his business partner?" Tea's eyes scanned at the list of things to do.

"I'm not sure." he took out a rubix cube from his pocket, his fingers fumbling with it. "Could be."

All of a sudden, the phone rang. This only got Tea startled, nearly causing her to jump out of her chair.

Mokuba, surprised by Tea's reaction, held her by the arm, in an attempt to calm her down. "Tea…Tea relax. I'll take the call." he made his way towards the phone, pushing a button. "Kaiba Corp Office."

"Ah yes. This is Yoji Kirima from KCK, Kaiba Corp Korea. Is a Mr. Seto Kaiba available?"

"Er…yes he is sir. Please hold." Mokuba pushed the hold button before pushing one of the other buttons. "Seto, Yoji Kirima on line three."

"Transfer the call." Seto said through the speaker. Mokuba pushed the transfer button. He then turned his attention towards Tea. "Relax Miss Mazaki. That's just Seto's business partner in one of his companies in Korea."

"I know I shouldn't ask but what do you usually do around here?" Tea crossed one leg on top of the other.

"Well, besides being Seto's personal assistant, more like a balloon trailing after him."

"Basically, you don't do anything to unbore yourself?" she arched an eyebrow.

"I guess you can say that." he pounded his fist on the desk. "God it's so boring. At least give me some fun and have Joey here so Seto can make the dog submit." To this, he started laughing.

Tea gave Mokuba a murderous look.

"Joking," Mokuba laughed. "Just joking Tea. The only time I ever see my brother smile is when he has an evil plot for Joey."

All of a sudden, they heard a loud shattering noise cracked on the door."

"Uh-oh." Mokuba's faced etched to worry.

"I take that his business partner decided to cut their partnership off?" Tea assumed.

"This isn't good at all." Mokuba brushed his hair back. "His cooperation in Korea is one of his biggest partners next to China and America."

And at that, Kaiba stepped out of his office, breathing heavily. "Fucking bastard! Fucking witch!"

"Seto…" Mokuba stared at his brother with worry.

"Mokuba, give me a light." he reached inside his coat, taking out a pack of cigarettes.

"I thought you quit for sure this time. Plus…" he patted his pockets. "I never carry a lighter with me. You know that."

"Mr. Kaiba." Tea stood up. Since it'-s my lunch break, maybe I could get your lighter."

"Don't listen to him Tea." Mokuba reached into his pocket, taking out a patch. "Take your Nicoderm CQ for Christ's sake man."

"You know that I'm not going to use this shit!" Kaiba sneered before turning his attention towards Tea. "Fine. You got twenty minutes. Take Mokuba with you so he could buy the lighter for me."

"For the last time, I ain't getting it!"

(-)

To Be Continued