Not too far away, Rufus was hearing the same type of conversation. It was considered to be more one-sided than anything. In his office, there was a rabid blonde-haired woman screaming bloody murder (again). He was most certain that he was going to be deaf soon. Perhaps that was why he was taking his mind away and purging her from his thoughts. He'd rather think about Tifa anyway. The masquerade banquet…he liked it. He couldn't remember enjoying himself so much since he was a child. Of course, he liked the fundraiser previously as well, but at the moment, it most definitely wasn't comparing to the recent event that had taken place. Tifa's presence there had made it all the better. Not only was she beautiful, but she was absolutely radiant. He just couldn't pass that up, and right now, Scarlet was really beginning to get on his nerves.
"Are you even listening to me! Gaea to President Shinra! Gaea to President Shinra! Come in please, Mr. President!" By this time she was leaned over his desk, the palms of her hands planted against the surface. How could he possibly go off and do something like that…with the AVALANCHE girl, of all people! Oh, yes. She was pissed off. She was more than pissed! If she had her way, she'd order that Tifa be taken out by the Turks or Heidigger himself. Not receiving a response from the president, her right hand curled into a fist gesture and she slammed it into the support before her. "Just what the hell is wrong with you!"
Of course that had caught his attention. She was destroying personal items of his! And that he just couldn't allow. (Well, he could, but he really didn't want to. He had sentimental feelings for all things that were to be considered his.) His azure eyes rose up to her and he gave the most indifferent sigh, as though absolutely nothing she said had any weight in the world. "…What seems to be the problem, Scarlet?" He wasn't playing dumb. He knew damn well what was bothering her. It might have been bad of him, but he was actually suffering of pleasure from watching her squirm. That was his primary reason for pulling that in the first place (aside from spending time with the lovely brunette). Chaos was beginning to break out in the company and he could not be more satisfied.
Was he kidding with her! Scarlet had half a mind to reach out a hand and strangle him for an infinite amount of time. What joy she would get from watching him struggle from her grasp. She couldn't, though. She absolutely couldn't. If she did, she would be held responsible and her possible position in the company would be in jeopardy. She narrowed her eyes at the devilishly handsome man before her, "You know exactly what I'm talking about. Stop pretending to be dumb, because I know you're not." Although she had to question every now and then. Rufus didn't always execute the 'smart' actions. Lately he seemed to be showing that side of him more. It was so simple to conclude what the problem was. Lockhart. That woman was bringing out the worst in him, quite literally.
What better way to spite the woman other than to say the obvious? His head ducked and he glanced down to his paper work. He really didn't have time to waste with her idle bickering. "I think it is sufficient to say that you could not satisfy me the way she does. That is why you are nowhere near her in terms of physical or emotional contact with me." He almost added as reassurance for himself that he had no emotions, but then decided there was no reason to do so. For all Scarlet needed to know, he was using Tifa to his own devices, not that he'd divulge those to anyone. The expression she gave caused him to nearly chuckle. It was one of the first times he felt like doing that in front of her. Typically she caused him to shudder with disgust (or anxiety). Then he scowled at her and gestured towards the door, so she would show herself out, "You can go now. If I wanted to be mothered, I would rely upon my own maternal unit to do so." Of course, his mother was deceased, but that didn't matter or change anything. His feelings were the same. If he wanted to be lectured, which he didn't, but if he did, he knew where to go for that sort of thing.
She had to refuse. He was going to make some kind of big mistake and everyone in the company was going to pay for his foolish actions. She had to avoid that at all costs, and that meant if she had to smack some sense into the president, she most definitely would (and she'd probably enjoy it). Scarlet straightened her composure, but didn't excuse herself just yet. She had to at least try and talk some sense into him. "President Shinra, I'm not sure you actually understand what it is you're getting yourself into. This is a female who once tried to assassinate you. This is the same female who was a part of that resistance faction that you despised so much." If logic and reasoning wasn't going to work, she might feel that it was necessary to blackmail him (which she was going to end up doing anyway).
He was waving off her comments as she spoke. Rufus really could care less what she thought or what anyone else in the company thought. At least, that was the way he wanted to feel. He honestly had his doubts. Of course, it wasn't as though he had anticipated ever finding some kind of fancy for the brunette with whom he was spending so much time. "And I am not certain that you are aware that you are currently wasting my time. Please go bother someone else." Like Heidigger. That man probably belonged with the treacherous woman. They were annoying beasts of burden and the president wanted nothing to do with either. Taking for granted that Scarlet would listen to him, Rufus's deep blue eyes turned their attention back to his paper work before him. It was about this time he realized he was looking forward to Tifa's return…whenever that would be.
No, no, NO! Not happening! She really needed to take matters into her own hands. The blonde-haired woman was resisting the urge from pummeling his desk again with her hands and instead, narrowed her eyes at the ignorant man before her. "What is there stopping me from going to the media with this information? You drop things with her, or you'll find yourself in a world of hurt, along with your position." Even if she wasn't the president of the company, she often seemed like she could have been. Her influence was rather high and she made a big difference (and it was worse because she knew that). She had absolutely no doubt that she could go to at least one person, spread the word, and expose the president's happenings. Shin-Ra secrets could be put out in the open and it was almost worth it, considering that she'd lose the president to…that…woman.
That had definitely caught Rufus's attention. However, he too, had a plan. He was rather well known for such things, so the idea that Scarlet had not considered this caught him by vague surprise. He shook his head at her as he rose to his feet and took her by the arm (inwardly vowing that he would forever wash that hand), escorting her over to the door, "Let us consider this, for just a moment, Scarlet. You have your position to think about and I have mine. I will not hesitate to hire the Turks to eliminate you. Following that, I will be more than obliged to offer Miss Lockhart your current position as well as retaining her status as my secretary." A few more moments of silence and he pulled his grasp from hers, resisting the urge to be completely repulsed by her existence. "Do we understand one another?"
His eyes were the only warning Scarlet could possibly need. She knew he wasn't the type to give idle threats. If something wasn't done up to his standard, he would most definitely let everyone else know. Giving up her position just to get rid of Lockhart wasn't really a good idea. Personally, she didn't think it was worth it. That meant she would just need to come up with a plan to do away with the pesky creature. That was easier said than done, however, and she was more than aware of such. There was a faint nod given to Rufus and then she started to leave. She stopped for a moment and then turned to him, "You'd best keep this quiet from the media. This company will not be responsible for the actions that you take. You're not making a very good name for yourself right now. Don't let the public see it as well." Without another word, she'd left the blonde-haired president to his thoughts.
Once he had been freed of her…insufferable company, he wandered back over to his desk. He wasn't making that many mistakes, was he? No. Of course not. It was all in Scarlet's mind. She always overreacted to everything anyway. He couldn't trust a word that she said. He inwardly scolded himself for even thinking about believing her. Still, he couldn't help but wonder what exactly he was getting himself into. Was he making a mistake at this current moment? All of this thought on the lovely brunette was bound to get him in trouble somewhere. Typically he had a plan for these types of things, so he wouldn't be caught in a mess. Had Tifa somehow taken over him and caused him to lose some of that intimidation he had so long cherished? He wasn't sure he wanted to think about this anymore.
He couldn't concentrate. This wasn't working out at all. Lately it seemed that the more time he spent pondering his secretary, the less work got done. Of course, that was what he thought secretaries were for. She'd scolded him before for letting things pile up like that and a part of him didn't want her to have to work too hard when she finally returned (if she was…'allowed'). He needed to get away. He needed some type of vacation, anything to get out of the drab life he was trapped in. He didn't want to deal with irritating cretins any more. There was no escape, though. Somewhere in the back of his mind he knew this, although he couldn't quite admit it at the current moment. He'd settle for being gone for a couple of days if he could. Yes. That was what he would do. The weekend was approaching and he would go on a much-needed vacation. At this point, he didn't give a damn what anyone else thought of that.
Where would he go, though? Where could he possibly go that the Turks wouldn't follow him? And where could he go to avoid Scarlet at all possible costs? He paced back and forth in front of his desk and then turned his attention to a rather large tapestry of Gaea on the wall. His right hand rose to his chin as he looked over the various locations. The hot springs in Mideel? The rebuilding progress in Midgar? The mansion in Nibelheim? There were a few too many places for him to pick from. Where would he be most comfortable? A few moments of consideration and then he nodded. Junon. It was his home for part of his childhood and he did recall there would be festivities that he needed to be present for. The problem was…he didn't really wish to go alone. He wanted a companion…someone to keep him entertained, perhaps. The town, itself, really wasn't that interesting at all, so he wanted to see something exciting (what a chore).
A strange odd little smile began to take his face and he approached his desk again, leaning forward to take his cell phone from the surface. What is her number again? He had only dialed it a couple of times. It must have been the reason her name was at the top of his address book, possibly rearranged by importance. After all, his work was most important for him. At least, it was at this moment.
He really had no other way to go about this. Normally he would have had one of the Turks take care of this for him. On the other hand, he didn't even want them to know where he was going, or that he was inviting Tifa with him. If they found out, he would never hear the end of it, especially from Reno. He could easily find himself minus two Turks.
Hitting the call button on his phone, he listened to the ring tone a couple of times. When the brunette answered, it was the first time he felt like hanging up without a word. How could it be possibly that she affected him in such a way? He was never nervous! According to him, this whole situation was preposterous! Finally he cleared his throat and started to speak, "Miss Lockhart, I apologise for disturbing you while you are at home, however, I had an offer for you. I am most interested in taking a vacation to Junon for the next few days. I was wondering if you would like to accompany me."
He fell silent for a few moments and then he gave the smallest smile. That was the answer he had wanted to hear. His first thought on himself was that he was the gods' gift to mankind. He didn't expect Tifa to turn him down and her weakness as a female had most definitely confirmed it. He nodded slowly, refraining from releasing any chuckles on his end. "Yes, yes. That would be lovely. That's fine. Tomorrow evening then. Yes. Of course. It will be absolutely lovely. Until tomorrow, Miss Lockhart."
Rufus was still retaining that small smile when he'd hit the 'end' button on his phone. Placing the device upon his desk, he looked around his office. The nicest thing he could do was to at least leave a note. Of course, by the time anyone found his leave of absence, he would be enjoying the festivities with a lovely brunette at his side.
