Disclaimer: I have no rights over any Ouran characters.

Haruhi got to the office early to pack up the few things she'd used to personalize her desk. When she finished she realized that everything fit in one small box. You would think there would be more after having worked here for over three years.

Maybe she should thank Kyoya. True, he'd said some horrible things to her, but those horrible things were what prompted her to pull herself out of this rut she was trapped in. Strange how the destruction of one dream allowed her to discover and fulfill another one.

"Miss Fujioka?"

Haruhi turned away from her box to look at Miss Watanabe, Mr. Tachiki's personal secretary.

"Yes?"

"Mr. Tachiki is here and he'd like to speak with you."

Well, that hadn't taken long. Kyoya sure worked fast.

"Thank you."

She stood up and followed Miss Watanabe through the office, memorizing every detail. She never wanted to forget this place or the lessons she'd learned here.

The solid oak door shut quietly right after Haruhi stepped into the office. She walked up to the massively opposing desk and stood waiting in front of it. There were two very plush leather chairs but Haruhi knew that those were meant for clients, not junior lawyers.

Mr. Tachiki was leaning over his tablet reading something and completely ignoring her. It appeared that he didn't realize she was there, but she knew better. It was a power game of his, trying to force her to speak first and put herself at a disadvantage.

She let him get away with it for a minute before deciding that enough was enough.

She wasn't going to play by anyone else's rules anymore. She'd tried that, and it hadn't gotten her as far as she wanted.

Carefully, keeping her face impassive, she pulled her smartphone out of her pocket and took a seat in one of the chairs, which was even more comfortable than it looked.

Her eyes were focused on her phone, but she watched him. He tried to pretend indifference, but there was a slight tightening around his jaw that gave away his feelings about her audacity.

She smirked on the inside and sent out a quick group SMS to all of her friends.

Haruhi: Anyone know of any offices for rent?

Alianore: Why do you need an office for rent?

Hunny: Haruhi, is something wrong?

Mamoru: What did my father do?

Mori: I know of one.

Zackarie: You need a new office? Can I decorate it?

Chiye: What did you do?

Masaye: Didn't the Ootori Group give you a good review?

Tamaki: Chiye! Haruhi couldn't have done anything! I blame Mamoru's dad.

Mamoru: Sadly, I agree with Tamaki. My father isn't exactly the nicest person.

Mei: I can't really believe you're related to him.

Zackarie: Yes, you're much too sweet.

Alianore: Zack! Stop flirting in a group chat!

Mamoru: Ali, he's not flirting. That's just him.

Mori: He's flirting.

Hikaru: You two are so blind.

Kaoru: Aren't they?

Chiye: I'm glad you two aren't as blind as them.

Masaye: Definitely.

Hunny: Um, can we focus on why Haruhi needs a new office?

Reiko: Yes, please. I already got my daily dose of sweetness. Too much will make me sick.

Haruhi had to fight a smile, she really loved her friends.

Haruhi: I'm currently in Mr. Tachiki's office.

Mei: WHAT?!

Tamaki: I'm coming to rescue you!

Mamoru: Wait. How are you on your phone?

Haruhi: He called me here and decided to ignore me. So I sat down and decided to get on my phone, since he's on his tablet.

Zackarie: I think I know who will win this standoff.

Chiye: Poor Mr. Tachiki. He's seriously underestimated you.

Masaye: Why has he underestimated you? I know he isn't very nice, but isn't he very smart?

Mamoru: My father is a misogamist. And Haruhi's been hiding her talents.

Mei: That explains it. I'm so glad I have such an awesome boss.

Hikaru: Yeah, our mom really is the best.

Kaoru: Even if she has trouble telling us apart.

Chiye: You mean you two don't realize the truth?

Masaye: Don't you know that's her way of teasing?

Hikaru: WHAT?!

Kaoru: But…

Tamaki: They're right.

Haruhi: Mori, you know of an office? I want to get started on opening my own law firm today.

Mori: Yes, I can show you it after lunch. My girlfriend, Chelsea, is good friends with the building manager.

Hikaru: Mori, that was a speech!

Chiye: Hunny, did you steal his phone to type that?

Reiko: Mori can talk quite a bit when he feels the need.

Hunny: Anyways, Reiko and I are in the country visiting her parents. Mori is in Tokyo.

Mamoru: Haruhi, do you need a partner?

Haruhi: Mamoru! I can't ask you to leave your family business! What would Kenichi do without you?

Mamoru: He'd be just fine. I'm not really the best lawyer anyways. I'm much better behind the scenes. Isn't that why we work so well together? Anyways, Fujioka and Tachiki has a nice ring to it.

A noise came from the desk and Haruhi observed Mr. Tachiki putting his tablet down and turning his attention to her. She refused to look up at him and continued to look at her phone.

Zackarie: You two are a good pair. Almost makes me jealous.

Alianore: Zack, would you just ask him out already?

Zackarie: I don't know what you mean.

Alianore: Sure, and pigs fly.

Zackarie: *sigh* It's not like he goes that way. But if it makes you happy.

Zackarie: Mamoru, want to grab dinner on Friday?

Mamoru: What do you mean?

Zackarie: I mean we get all dressed up and go eat somewhere romantic. Then maybe go see a movie or take a walk in a park.

Mamoru: Yes

Zackarie: What, really?

Chiye: Finally!

Hikaru: About time!

Tamaki: That's so sweet!

Reiko: Sweetness overdose!

Mamoru: Yes, and what do you mean I don't go that way?

Zackarie: I've never seen you date a guy.

Mamoru: Zack, you've never seen me date anyone. My last boyfriend was in high school. I just never met a guy that swung that way that was interesting. Anyways, I've only seen you date girls.

Zackarie: Yeah, well, it's a sliding scale. I lean more towards girls, but I'm interested in guys too.

Alianore: Could you two have this talk privately?

Mei: Please, we need to focus on Haruhi right now.

Mr. Tachiki cleared his throat rather loudly. Haruhi looked up and blinked at him innocently.

"Yes, Mr. Tachiki?"

"Miss Fujioka, just what do you think you're doing?"

She locked her phone and slipped it back into her pocket.

"Well, you looked busy. So I decided to wait for you to finish."

His round, wrinkled face grew red.

"So you pulled out your phone and sat down without permission?"

She smiled politely, "Of course."

"And just why did you think you could do that?"

"Well, that's because I don't work for you anymore."

He raised an eyebrow, "Interesting, I don't remember firing you. Though your little escapade into corporate law made me consider it, I ultimately decided a pay cut and a demotion would be better. That is, if you apologized nicely."

"Oh, that's so nice of you, but, you see, I don't feel I can accept. In fact," she pulled an envelope out of her suit pocket, "I'm tendering my resignation." She stood up and laid the envelope on his desk.

He looked down at the envelope and then looked up at her. Anger burned in his eyes.

"You're not getting a reference. In fact, I'll make sure you're blacklisted for pulling this stunt."

Haruhi started to smirk.

"You do that."

He stood up, shoving his chair back angrily. "You'll never work again! I'll ruin you! You put my entire firm in jeopardy! You're nothing but a trumped up commoner! You'll be nothing without Tachiki and Sons!"

She continued to smirk and even raised one eyebrow.

"Funny, I don't remember Tachiki and Sons doing much for me. In fact, I do believe you've been holding me back. Have a good day."

She turned smartly and walked to the door.

When she was almost there she turned back around and looked at the furious, red-faced old man leaning over a desk that was much too big for him.

For just a moment she felt pity for him. How sad it must be to be so stuck in your ways and unable to change. All it took was a quiet reminder of him ordering Miss Watanabe to wear shorter skirts to work to destroy that pity.

That reminder was what prompted her to say, "Mamoru was right, Fujioka and Tachiki does have a nice ring to it, doesn't it?"

"WHAT?!" he exploded.

Her lips twisted into the first genuine smile she'd ever given him before pulling her phone back out and heading out the door.

Haruhi: Mori, Mamoru, meet at one o'clock? Fujioka and Tachiki really does sound nice.

Zackarie: Hey! I want to come too! Someone needs to make the place look nice.

Haruhi: Okay, you can come, too.

Mamoru: One works for me. Just need to empty out my office and talk to my father. Haruhi, can you go wait by my car? I'll be out in thirty.

Haruhi: Okay

She made a quick stop at her desk and grabbed her purse and box of things before heading to the elevator.

Mori: See you at one at the Abe Building.

Tamaki: I'm so excited for you!

Chiye: Go Haruhi!

Hikaru: I hope there's a recording of that meeting.

Kaoru: We can probably ask Kyoya to get one.

Haruhi: Don't do that.

Masaye: Why not? Didn't you have a good date?

Alianore: Yeah, you never did tell us how it went.

Mei: I'd almost say you were avoiding us this weekend.

Haruhi took a deep breath and pushed the elevator button. Well, there was no time like the present to dash all of their hopes.

Haruhi: He's the reason I had to do this. He made some nasty allegations and then promised to give Mr. Tachiki a bad review of me. It didn't help that he grabbed me and I had to give him a few well-placed kicks in order to get away.

Hunny: No!

Tamaki: That's not like Kyoya!

Haruhi: I'm sorry Tamaki, but I think your old friend has changed. He called me some really revolting things.

Kaoru: Wait a minute.

Kaoru: Wow, someone filmed you, here's a link to the video: ********

There was silence on her phone as Haruhi rode the elevator to the parking garage and walked to Mamoru's car. She quickly punched in the door code and put her box of things on the back seat before getting in and pulling out her phone again.

It only took another minute for everyone to start reacting to the video.

Chiye: That $$!

Reiko: Let me go prepare a curse.

Alianore: But…Tamaki how can you be friends with someone like that?

Hikaru: Huh, you didn't give me a warning before you kicked me.

Kaoru: What happened to Kyoya? It's like he's possessed. Reiko can you perform an exorcism?

Reiko: Possibly.

Masaye: What a pig!

Hunny: Good use of the Haninozuka style.

Mori: You've gotten very proficient.

Mei: Just let me at him!

Mamoru: Oh, Haruhi…I'm so sorry.

Zackarie: To think, he misjudged you so badly…

Tamaki: No…this…this can't be Kyoya. He would've never acted like this.

Haruhi: Tamaki, maybe all those years in America changed him.

Tamaki: No! I refuse to believe it! There has to be another reason!

Haruhi: If you say so, but I don't want to talk about him anymore.

The phone was silent for a few minutes.

Mori: See you at one.

Zackarie: I'll meet you at Mamoru's house with lunch in an hour.

Mamoru: About to come down, just finished talking to Kenichi. He's fine with it, and he said to tell you he's sorry, Haruhi. I'm going to talk to my father. I'll only be a minute.

Haruhi sighed and locked her phone before leaning back and closing her eyes.

She really, really didn't want to talk about him anymore, so why couldn't she stop thinking about him?

Author's Note: That group chat was so much fun to write :D

Enjoy! :)