Day and Night
Four
Dominique Destine looked with a degree of amusement as her assistant poured the coffee, overfilling the fine china cup and spilling dark fluid onto the desk. "I think you can stop pouring now," she told her assistant mildly.
"Huh?" Alicia Sevarius blinked, the blonde roused from her daze. "Oh no!" she yelped, swinging the pot onto a tray as she hurried to grab some towels. "I'm so sorry!" the frantic young woman fretted as she mopped up the mess.
Dominique had to fight back a laugh at her usually cool and composed helper. "It's all right," she smiled warmly as the blushing woman tidied up, "but what has you so distracted?"
Alicia blushed charmingly as she finished cleaning. "That gargoyle I told you about, the one that helped me?" Alicia said excitedly, "She visited my home!"
Demona listened with some amusement as the young lady gushed over her. She rather liked hearing herself described as a 'noble beauty' and having 'striking eyes,' at least from Alicia's point of view. If Demona was going to be honest she rather thought the night's visit was the most fun she had had in years.
"She was just... incredible! I hope she comes by again," Alicia ran down.
Demona drank a bit of her coffee, savoring the taste. "And you weren't frightened?" she felt she had to ask her.
Alicia looked at her in surprise, "No, not at all. I knew she wouldn't hurt me."
"Everyone can hurt another," Demona murmured, struck by her past action.
"Hmm?" Alicia looked at her in surprise.
Quelling her memories she focused on adopting her Dominique persona as she briskly said, "Well, I'm glad things worked out well."
"Yes, they did," Alicia smiled back. Shaking herself she tried to focus on business, "Sorry for being so scattered, I have your schedule here."
"Hit me," Dominique teased, her slips curling in a smile.
Alicia giggles as she murmured, "It's not that bad, today."
The two women ran through the schedule, one with fewer captains of industry than other days but with a greater amount of small details to handle. Alicia smoothly suggested possible choices for refreshments for a few guests as well as providing Dominique some reminders of quirks and personality traits those people might have.
"And Suzumiya is a womanizer, is he?" Dominique noted wryly, considering unbuttoning her blouse a bit to gain a negotiating advantage.
"Yes, she is," Alicia stressed the gender. As Dominique looked at her questioningly she continued, "The head of Labyrinth Security tends to have a new pretty lady on her arm every week. I haven't heard any rumors that she takes it seriously."
"I'll keep it in mind," Dominique agreed as she finished writing up some personal notes. "Thanks for the reminders," she added.
Alicia bowed slightly as she headed to the outer desk, "You're welcome, ma'am."
Alicia felt a stir of pleasure as she felt Demona's office. 'If I was a puppy I'd be wagging my tail,' she admitted as she sat down behind her desk. One of the innovations Alicia had started at the office was keeping small, summary reports on the business people they regularly dealt with, to be used to remind Miss Destine as needed. While Alicia suspected that Dominique had a fine memory, the reminder sheets helped flesh out a guest if needed.
The upper floor office had one whole side that was just clear, made out of a combination of super tough glass and plastics, offering an incredible view. It was a casual gift given by Miss Destine, given without any expectation of thanks or any other reaction. Alicia often found herself taking in the view, though today she found herself wondering where the mysterious Gargoyle was, during the days.
'Focus on business,' Alicia scolded herself, going back to business as she began to go through the morning's daily calls. Nightstone had many business partners, and all seemed to want a piece of their mysterious leader.
"Yes sir," Alicia said, "I know you are the North American head of the Lagoon trading company, but I can't put you through to Miss Dustine."
"But it's vital I speak with her!" the man demanded arrogantly.
Alicia wondered if the man could guess how often she heard that matters were vital and that the caller had to talk to Dominique now. "Sir, I will take your message and pass it along to the manager. Now, can I have your name and number?" she asked politely.
"Very well," he growled out, clearly unhappy.
Alicia sighed as she recorded the information, then spent several minutes talking to the switch board wondering why a small courier company would even be put through to the president's level. 'Apparently someone got taken in by the title, not the company,' she noted with a sigh.
"Alicia," Dominique's voice came over the intercom, "I think Suzumiya is on her way up. If you want, you can go on break."
"She isn't that bad, is she?" Alicia had to ask, having only her predecessors notes as a guide.
"No, from what I remember she's worse," Dominique said dryly as the elevator chimed. "Crap, that's probably her," she said as she walked through the door to the outer office.
The elevator doors opened and a brown haired Asian woman strode in, followed by two others. The gray haired woman had the most remote expression oh her face that Alicia had ever seen, pecking at a minaturized notebook computer coolly. The other woman wore a sexy black dress, short enough to show legs and low cut to highlight impressive breasts. She also looked rather miserable, despite being rather cute.
"Miss Destine," the leading woman declared, "I'm Haruhi."
"Dominique," she nodded politely, looking at the two other women questioningly.
"My secretary, Yuki," Haruhi waved to the gray haired girl then over to the sexy one, "and the eye candy is Mikuru."
Dominique's eyes narrowed a bit at that description, but she replied calmly, "This is my executive assistant, Alicia."
"Ma'am," Alicia nodded, feeling more than a bit disturbed by how the woman was looking her over like a side of beef.
"She's a cutey," Haruhi noted cheerfully, "must be awfully convenient having her here."
Dominique voice dropped dangerously, "We do not have that kind of relationship."
"You don't?!" Haruhi looked startled, "Then why hire a blond like...."
Before Haruhi could complete the blond joke Dominique had slammed her up against the wall, shocking everyone in the room. "If you insult my employee," she said flatly as she held the woman by the collar of her shirt, "I will not be responsible for my actions."
Haruhi gulped visibly then managed a weak smile. "It appears I jumped to conclusions," she said diplomatically, "can we start over?"
Dominique let her go, nodding stiffly. "That would be a good idea," she agreed as she lead the woman into the office, leaving Alicia alone with the other two women.
"Uhm," Alicia looked at the strange women, "Can I get you some coffee?"
"Please," Yuki said calmly.
Mikuru smiled weakly as she sat down on the couch against one wall, "Miss Suzumiya really isn't all that bad."
"Yes she is," Yuki noted flatly.
"Well, yes she is," Mikuru admitted.
To be continued....
Notes: Haruhi, Yuki and Mikuru are from The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. I needed a 'playgirl' character and was too lazy to make up one out of whole cloth. This Haruhi is one who never met Kyon and therefore never evoled out of being a self centered jerk.