Fired V: Evil Pompous Verbiage and a Ray of Hope

"Can't you even tell me how you feel?"

That stung. However, nobody's ever dared to imply he was a coward before. Yet, that was exactly what he was. He was scared of rejection.

Oh, but what did he know anyway? He'd grown up in a 'sheltered' corporate environment all his life. His foster father was CEO of UK's major electronic manufacturer while his grandfather had no education, grew up in a shack but somehow ended up being Taiwan's richest man.

"You have the gifted corporate blood of the Hikaris. It is your destiny to make lots of money and have clingy women dying to get their hands on you." A freaky woman's voice had once whispered to him when he was half asleep.

Corporate blood… destiny… they were the most ludicrous things he's ever heard in his life.

All he ever wanted was to live a normal life, not make $ 88 888 888 on his first lemonade-stand business or get an MBA and a CMA at 15. Gawd, how he hated his rich blood!

Because of it, he couldn't win over the girl of his dreams. More specifically, all he's managed to do was piss her off.

(divider)

The next day, Risa wore black pants and a brown sweater to work. She didn't bother with make up. Her 'in box' contained one 54 page document titled Executive Analysis of the Integrated Framework for Management of Information Systems. There was a post-it note attached: Harada-san. Please read this document and summarize the main point in less than one paragraph. – Hiwatari

Less than one paragraph?

At least she had some real and normal work now. Exceedingly unexciting work. She flipped over the first page.

"Table of contents" she read. "Policy and Procedure Regulations. Innovation. Systems in Tokyo. Software Packages. Disclosure."

God this was depressing. Subconsciously, she went over to the computer and started surfing. 'Fashion tips.' She clicked. If she could, she would have gone into fashion design. But no…her father wanted her to work in an office. "There's lot o them seedy characters in teh fashion bisiness," she could hear him saying.

Lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice a shadow loom over her.

And for once, it wasn't Satoshi or Hayasashiri san or any of the single or not-so-single males in the office.

It was Yui.

If there was an anti-Risa club or an anti-Satoshi x Risa club, Yui would be president.

"Harada san!" she said, loud enough so that the whole room could hear. "What work-unrelated thing are you reading? Fashion tips for winter?"

Risa didn't wither under her blazing gaze. "You have no business to be in my cubicle."

"Business. Hah! Harada-san, you make me laugh. I'm only trying to improve the productivity here in a business-like fashion."

"I disagree. You are only decreasing productivity by making a scene."

"Your comment does not justify your actions."

Risa shrugged, then pressed a few buttons on her phone discreetly. "So I take it, you want me fired?"

Yui's phone rang. Without missing a beat, Risa said, "Oh look, your phone's ringing. Better get that. It could be an important client."

Yui's face darkened but sauntered away to 'answer' her phone. People were still staring.

"Show's over. Get back to work everyone." She made shooing motions with her hands.

(divider)

An hour later, Risa got up to refill her mug but caught the sight of Yui who was eating the last of an apple before throwing it into the garbage can. Not wanting to provoke her again, Risa tip-toed back to her desk. She grabbed her purse then exited the room to walk to the vending machine. On her way down the hall, she caught sight of Satoshi who wasn't looking where he was going because he seemed to be engrossed in a document. Not wanting to deal with him either, she went back the way she came. Not knowing what else to do, she opened Satoshi's document. As any good reader would do, she briskly read over the entire thing, focusing mainly on the summary and conclusions.

That was until, she saw something weird.

Under Disclosure, it read 'Harada san, if you're reading this, good job for poring through this document. What I had meant to communicate to you was that I think you are a nice person and I like you. I apologize if you were getting the wrong idea.'

Risa read through it several time just to make sure she wasn't subconsciously rearranging the words in her head. She also pinched herself to make sure she wasn't hallucinating from a drug Yui could have slipped into her drink. When she had confirmed that her mind wasn't playing tricks on her, she became irritated.

Firstly, why did he have to sound like he was giving a business proposal?

Secondly, why was this in her assignment?
Thirdly, why didn't he come tell her face to face?

This warranted yet another trip down to room 561.

(divider)

The door was pushed open. His chair was facing the other way but she didn't care.

"Geez, why can't you tell me face to face? Instead you have to hide it under layers of text."

"It's my style, Harada san. You should know that by now."

"Fine. But you're going to have to compromise. Take me out for dinner and I'll consider your disclosure."

"I accept your terms, Hara-"

"Call me Risa."

"Right."

He swiveled around, got up from the proverbial throne of presidency and took her hand. They walked through the office oblivious of the males and females who were steaming with jealousy.

The moral of this story is that true love conquers all. Even corporate blood.

The End!

AN:

I wrote chapter four and five on two subway trips. I'm happy that it turned out to be an actual story with an actual plot! So far, I'd have to say that this fic is my favourite work to date.

Oh and about the Executive Analysis of the Integrated Framework for Management of Information Systems, I'm not even kidding. I'm on a work term right now and I had to sludge through pompous verbiage like that.

So this is it for Fired! For those following 'to not fall in love,' umm…I'm working on the last chapter. (dodges apples and oranges)

If you liked this or you think this is garbage, please leave me a review! Fankyuu!