Chapter Three – Maybe
Tori walked into his office building, feeling more than his average happy. He greeted the door man like always, greeted the secretaries and the employees that crossed his path between his car and his office… like always, he greeted the elevator boy like always and he greeted Ruby. Ruby was silent, she was shocked… she smiled. "Finally, he's coming round." She sat down on her desk and went through her files in the computer, checking up on updates, meetings, news and anything else that may be useful for Tori. It took her a little over two minutes before she stood up called for the coffee lady and then turned to the heavy oak door that divided her and the boss.
A soft knock brought Tori out of his reverie, he had been standing by the window since he entered the office, he only took the time to put down his briefcase on his desk and then the memories of two days prior had rushed back to him in seconds. Hearing the knock on the door made his smile falter some, he knew who was on the other side. He walked the distance to his chair and sat down; taking his time as he slid the black briefcase across the desk and turned it to face him, with delicately slow clicks he opened the case and began to take out documents. "Come in." he looked up after a few files rested neatly on one side on the oak desk and the briefcase. Instantly the door opened, Ruby walked in with a bright smile on her face and a few details in her hand. "Tori, you have-"
"That would be 'Sir' to you" Ruby span around and Tori stood up.
In the doorframe rested a lazy looking young man, with messy brown hair with glossy amber eyes. "LI! When did you get back? Why didn't you call me? How was your Christmas? Ruby you may leave." Tori walked around the desk and took the young man's hand in a hearty handshake; they hugged like boys do and laughed as they moved towards the window, their favourite place. Ruby opened her mouth to argue but the two men were engrossed in conversation. She decided for a cough instead but almost regretted it.
Li and Tori turned around to look at the source of interruption; taking in the sight Li turned to Tori with a questioning look. "Who's the snake?" Tori smiled politely trying to muffle a giggle as Ruby's face started to match her name. She was about to turn and walk out when she was called back.
"Hold on a second Ruby," Tori turned back to Li adding a few words to his hushed conversation before directing his next comment to the two of them. "Li, this is Ruby…" the two shook hands. "She is the substitute but now that you're here, there is no further use of her." Ruby's jaw dropped.
"Are you firing me… but he isn't even a secretary, you don't know his quali-"
"I'm not firing you, I'm demoting you… and don't question me. I know him because he is my assistant manager; he was away for the holidays due to some business trips he had to make abroad. But now he is back and I don't need you."
"I don't understand… why can't you just keep me?" Ruby moaned.
"You were only here because I needed someone to take calls and arrange meetings. But now I have my secretary and Li back." With those words another young woman entered; she held a video camera on one hand and a folder on the other. "Hi Tori… what is going on? … Who's that?" Madison made a small neglected check over the brunette before continuing with her conversation, making it clear that she didn't really care for any further details about the latter. "Showron, you forgot the camera again… and MissRae wants you to call her as soon as you can." Li nodded in understanding but closed his mouth, refraining his next words as he caught Ruby watching their exchanged conversation.
"Why are you still here?" Unlike Tori, Li was less patient and he didn't hide his dislike for those that displeased him.
"That is none of your business, I'm here to talk to Tor- Mr Avalon." Ruby shot back ignoring Li's frown and Tori's arm as he pulled the younger man back.
"Just a little advice that I believe you should heed. Don't make mistakes, especially when Mr Showron is involved because he would not hesitate todischarge you. And if you make it personal he will make your life hell." Madison smiled before walking out and closing the door behind her.
"So go on talk." Tori turned to his desk and sat down leaning back into the chair; Li took his position by the window, resting against the glass as he crossed his arms.
Ruby glancing back from Li to Tori, looking very much like a child caught with her hand in the cookie jar. "…" She closed her mouth opting that she looked like an idiot with her mouth hanging open. "I just don't understand why I can't stay. That secretary can be his." Ruby looked at Tori with pleading eyes, throwing her hands dejectedly and accusingly as she spoke.
"I'm not surprised that you don't understand, after all your mind is not all that developed." Tori turned in his chair like a little child, bored. Li looked on, mildly, his outside appearance didn't seem affected by Tori's out of character behaviour, but his mind was raising the alarm as he lifted his brows mentally.
Ruby narrowed her eyes and bowled her fists, "You can't just ask for me and then discard me like yesterday's trash. I won't stand for it, you can't just be nice and then turn around and treat me like crap. If this it's how it is going to be between us, I think you will rethink your behaviour because I won't have it." Tori launched from his seat at about the same time as Li snapped up from his stance.
"Who the hell do you think you are?" Li's voice was thunderous making Ruby jump back in fear as she turned around remembering at once that he was in the room.
"How many times do I have to tell you Miss Moon, there is no us, there never was there never will be. Don't you dare come and shout at me about my behaviour and how I should make my decisions, now get out of my office and I don't want to see your face on this floor again!" Ruby could feel the tears welling up in her eyes, she hadn't really listen to what Tori or Li had said, but she didn't like being shouted at, she had a fear of men shouting and she couldn't hide it, no matter how much she tried.
She made a run for it, dropping all that she held in her hands and banging the door against the wall as she flung it open. She flew down the corridor and down the stairs only slowing down when she felt sure that she was far enough from the top floor of the sixteen-story building. She pushed through the glass front door of the building and breathed out in relief. "Far enough," she looked back before walking towards the parking lot on the side of the building. She need needed a long drive to refresh her emotions and she was going to take it.
……………………
Yue looked out the window, the feeling of uncertainty and not belonging was not there as it usually was when he looked at the view. He smiled; finally he could enjoy the beautiful picture-perfect view without having to feel the opposite of what he saw.
"I take it that you had fun with my brother… Sir?" Sakura stood a few steps behind the white-haired young man. He turned and smiled down at the brunette. She smiled back and waited for a few seconds for his answer.
Yue looked back at Sakura when he noticed her patient look. "Did you say something?" She giggled before moving forward and standing right next to him, facing the window and looking up at the cloudless sky.
"Yeah, I asked if you had fun with my brother." She provided.
He laughed before a light blush graced his features. "I suppose you could say that." He looked out the window once again before he opened his mouth to speak again. "It was rather nice to be able to talk to someone like that, it wasn't like a business meeting where I have to talk about figures and deadlines, and it wasn't even idle chatter to pass the time or to be polite. It was something more; it was nothing and everything at the same time. Does that make sense?" The older youth looked athis smaller companion, his eyes making him look much younger and a lot more innocent.
Sakura nodded her smile never wavering, she had wanted this to ensue for so long, but she never expected it to happen between her boss and her brother, the two most important men in her life, –apart from her father, and someday her yet-to-be-husband- the men that needed it the most. Talk about love at first sight. She sighed.
