Hello, dear readers! We are now on the 9th chapter. In this episode, Tomoyo will get to know more about Eriol and his father. What are the things that she will discover?
Anyway, just sit back and enjoy reading.
Chapter 9 : Knowing you more (Part 1)
It was nine in the morning. It won't be long before their new restaurant will open and Tomoyo had a very important meeting with the recruitment dept. Syaoran, on the other hand, was just standing next to her. "Okay, guys..." she said. "It will be almost four weeks from now before we open our new restaurant, and as you may know, we now have new hires to help us with its operations. They have sent their resumes, went thorough tough interview with you, and of course, we knew their potentials through the initial training that we provide. But we still do not know them personally. I want our company to have a personal connection with our employees, and I need your help with this. This move was launched to improve our relations to our own employees. We are doing it again. This time, to our new hires. We will personally visit each of their homes and we will get fo know them by seeing their daily lives."
The members of the recruitment team knew what she is saying. But they express their doubts about it. One of them told her. "We understand your goal in doing this, ma'am. But some of us think that it isn't practical. In the first place, we meet them every day through training. Isn't it enough for us to build a stronger bond with our new hires?"
"Good question!" She replied. "As for me, It's not enough for us to know them based on their credentials that they indicated on their résumé. If you want to know what kind of employee we'll be having, then we have to know them personally, right? I mean, come on. It takes a lot of effort to know someone than just reading their profile on their résumé. We have to have a deeper understanding about our employees. We've done this once before, when my great grandfather built this company. I believe it's a great way for us to know more about our employees. We will get to know all of them by visiting their places for one day and knowing their everyday life. Isn't it much easier for us to deal with our employees if we know them personally? This company is committed to ensure employee satisfaction that's why we're doing this. Besides, it has been our company's great tradition, and we are the only company in Japan with such policy. "
One of them argued. "We don't have enough people to do it. We have 45 new hires and the recruitment department only has 22. It won't be easy for us, ma'am."
But little did they knew that Tomoyo was prepared for that concern. "Well, I have a plan. Each of you will take two new hires. You will visit their homes, and make sure that you'll ask questions about them and their family. make sure you have your notebooks and pens ready for it. But please, it shouldn't be like you're creating a scrapbook. Also, don't you dare take any photos or videos of their house, or their family. They might think that they're under surveillance."
The recruitment team listened to her instructions as she assigned each of them the two employees they'll have to visit. She also told them to file their reports within a week. But one of the people from the recruitment noticed something. "Ma'am. You have assigned each of us for these new hires. But I noticed that you didn't assign someone for Mr. Eriol Hiiragizawa. Who will visit him?" Tomoyo gave her a sweet smile. The rest of the people in the room, with the exemption of Syaoran and Tomoyo, were looking at each other. Then she told them that she will assign someone for him. "He had a very special condition that why I didn't include him on the list. Don't worry. I will asign someone for him."
It was 7:30 PM. Eriol, his father, Touru and Sakura we're having their dinner together. Then, Eriol told them something. "Oto-san...Sakura...Tomorrow is Saturday, so it's my off..."
Sakura replied. - "I know. It's my off tomorrow as well so I'll be able to help you take care of oji-san."
"Okay..." he said. Then, he had his announcement. "Someone will come tomorrow... from our company. They'll have a visit because... they want to know more about me..."
Sakura and Touro were clueless. "Huh?" his father said. "What do you mean they want to know you more?'
He explained. "I dunno either. But they told me that... it's their company policy. They also told me that they want to improve their relationship with their employees... especially the new recruits... so they're doing this. Don't worry! I don't think they'll something bad..."
"Is that so?" says his father. "Well, then! We have to prepare for it."
"Yeah... we really have to because... it will be my boss who will visit us."
"Seriously?!" shouted Sakura " What time will your boss come?"
"She told me that I'll meet her in the office at around 10:30, then we'll be here 30 minutes after."
Touro felt excited for his son. "Okay, Sakura. Help me clean the house tomorrow. We'll make sure that we'll treat your Eriol's boss well."
"Sure, thing!" replied Sakura. "I'll be here early in the morning! I'll also buy some groceries,too."
"Thank you for helping us, Sakura...I'll give you money for the groceries..." says Eriol. "I will also give you the list of items to buy. Then, I will have to cook once I returned together with my boss..."
As the three had finished their dinner, they discussed their plan for tomorrow visit of Eriol's Boss.
The next morning, Eriol was just standing outside the office. He's been waiting for his boss to come outside. When a voice of a lady called his name. "Eriol!" He turned his back to see who was it. He didn't recognized her at first, but he was amazed by what he saw - It was Tomoyo, in a casual attire. She's wearing a pink lady's polo shirt, skinny jeans, and sandals. Tomoyo approached Eriol, he was speechless to Find out that it was indeed Tomoyo. "Hey, you!" said Tomoyo. "Why are you looking at me like that? Do I look good?"
"Ah... Yeah... You're... you're pretty." he answered shyly.
- "Hmmm..." Tomoyo gets closer at him. "And you really have to think about it, huh?"
"No! I mean... Yes! you look pretty. I swear! " He said, raising his left hand.
Tomoyo accepted his complement. "Okay. If that is what you think, I thank you for that. By the way, I won't bring my car with me. Is it okay if we commute instead?"
"Are you sure?" He said. "I usually ride a bus all the way here. But aren't we ... waiting for someone?"
She replied. "Waiting for someone? Sure, I'm not. Anyway, let's get going! I'm definitely excited to see your father!" She grabbed his left hand and walked along, holding can see on Tomoyo's face that she is eager to see Eriol's family. On the other hand, he was just too shy that his boss is holding his hand. He doesn't want to show it to her, though, thinking that she might get offended.
They were on the waiting shed, waiting for a bus. When suddenly, a red car stopped in front of them. Someone from inside opened the door and went out of the car. "Syaoran?" said a curious Tomoyo. "Why are you here?"
Syaoran replied "Why am I here, you say? Of course, I'm here to give both of you a ride! I'll be your driver and this will be your taxi cab for the whole day."
- "But I didn't told you to follow us, right?"
"I know. But if something happens to you, then it's my responsibility since I'm your secretary. Besides, you haven't given any orders for today so I assume I'm free to do what I want, and here you go! I followed you!"
- "If that is the case, then I'll give you one - Go back to the office. NOW."
"But Tomoyo! I can be your chaperon for today!"
- "We're not having a date, and we're not even running away! Why are you supposed to be a chaperon to us?"
In the midst of their conversation, Eriol butts in. " Ah... Tomoyo..."
- "What, Eriol?"
"L...Let me explain..." he said. "He ask me a favor... if we can let him join us. He told me that he will pay someone a visit." Tomoyo gave him a fierce look. He explained further. "B... but I told him that you should know...the he told me that he will let you know about it... I thought you know it that's why I'm asking you if are still waiting for someone."
"See?" said Syaoran. "You don't have to complain, Tomoyo. I let him know it. Plus, I already gave you a hint yesterday that I will join both of you."
Tomoyo shouts at Syaoran. - "No, you didn't!"
"I did, Tomoyo dear! So... Let me join you now, okay? In the first place, it for business. You're not dating him, right?" Syaoran said
"And aside from that... he's here already... We will save money since we don't have to pay for our bus ride... So please let him join us..."
In the end, Tomoyo retreats. She lets Syaoran join them. "Okay, I give up. I'll let you join, then... But be prepared on Monday, okay?!" They went inside the car, and Syaoran drove all the way to Eriol's house.
Back at Hiiragizawa residence, Touro and Sakura is getting prepared for their visitors when the doorbell rang. "Oji-san!" said Sakura. "Maybe it's them! I'll just open the door real quick."
Touru lets her open the door. "Go ahead!" Sakura went to the door, and opened it. She Saw Eriol, but was surprised when she saw Tomoyo. "Oh!" Tomoyo snapped. "It was you from last week! you know her, Eriol?"
Eriol was clueless. "You... saw her already?"
Sakura stuttered. "So...you're Eriol's boss..."
She was even surprised when she saw Syaoran at their back. "Yo!" said Syaoran.
"And what are you doing here?" asks Sakura. They started their visit with a surprise. They looked at each other, as it was unexpected for them to meet again.
UnitedOsprey1991 , Good suggestion. But I'm not considering Sakura to be a part of the company as of yet. Thank you for your feedback. And thanks as well montclaire06 for doing the same.
That's all for today. Please expect that the 2nd part will be uploaded as soon as possible. Thanks for reading!