Zodiac Sigh!
Author's Note: I would like to thank from my heart to Hoku ala and Kuramagirl2003 for posting most of my reviews. I dedicate this fan fiction to both of you.
Chapter 13 – Green Eyed People
A stack of papers…
A String of deadlines…
Successive meetings…
Who cares if all these are in her desk where in fact, she still had a Manhattan hangover?
Shizuru cannot completely forget on how their trip to New York City leaves a permanent mark in her memory. For the past twenty minutes, all she can do is to daydream with all the food, wine and shopping.
Oh, yeah…shopping definitely made her a certified addict.
Ever since they left the bustling city, she is helplessly carrying three luggages where she brought only one since she left Japan. Touring the city must be very dangerous for the cash-strapped travelers. Fortunately, Sakyo was at her side as he pays the entire bill. She couldn't even imagine that he would do that for her. He easily trust his colleagues and subordinates as generosity must be part of his traits.
She doesn't mind if she still has the jet lag as long as that memory keeps her happy. She returned to her normal routine as she hums to her favorite tunes.
"Damn you, Sakyo Valdez!"
Mr. Butajiri slams the newspaper to his desk with all his strength. It was an insulting sight for two reasons. One, his company became number one and two; he became the CEO of the year from the highly admired New York business analysts. His uncontrollable anger is flowing into his emotions as he grabs the vase and smashes it to the wooden floor. Shattered pieces of the broken vase bounce back and accidentally hit him in the face. For a few minutes, a drop of blood appeared at the floor.
His employees witnessed the entire scene, as they do not dare themselves to get into his office. He stares at them and unfortunately, no one move from their frigid position.
"What the hell are you staring at? Get back to work!" he yelled forcefully.
All of them instantaneously returned to their desk. He had a hard time dealing with the reality on how a small-scaled company like Sakyo could overthrow a large scaled one like his. There must be a rational reason why it is so. He needs an analyst but nobody wanted to work with him since he has a difficult attitude in getting along with the people.
He wanted to punch Sakyo's face printed in the front page of the business paper but he can't. A plan came into his mind, which he needs to do something…that it will be his last card to draw to annihilate him.
He needs to fight fire with fire.
If the only way to get back on top is to use the usual scheme of rant and rave, then he will be successful in the end.
As if his plan came into action, someone knocked at his door.
He turned his attention towards the stranger.
"Who are you?"
"My name is Jin Ito, at your service. I heard you had an obsession in taking over the neophyte CEO." He greeted.
"How did you know?" he asked.
"Let's just say, I came from that company…three years ago."
"How the hell…"
He broke off his sentence as someone from Jin Ito's behind emerge from his shadow. From there, a key person appeared that would lead them to malicious victory.
Mr. Butajiri sinister smile appeared as he welcomed both of them into his premises.
Shizuru finally made way down to the last page of the paper as she left Sakyo a big awe. Despite the lack of sleep, she finished all the papers effortlessly. Somehow, she had found the new energy that would supply her for the rest of the week.
"You surprised me again."
"I love giving surprises away."
He received all that stack of paper to have a final review. She shortly left his office to give him some time of himself.
She exits herself out from the office to get through the lounge area of the company. She is trying to recall her dream last night. Someone kissed her in the forehead and carefully tucked her into the thick sheets to secure her in a warm bed. How odd it is? Probably it was the stress during her time in New York and unfortunately, it still has an effect on her.
Who kissed her?
It is impossible that Sakyo is the one who did it since he will not commit such a foolish thing.
Or is it?
She shook her head, concluding that he is not the one she suspects. Then, who could that person be? She does not think that his butler did it.
If Sakyo is the one, then why it is so?
Could it be that he has feelings for her?
That is excessively impossible! The relationship between CEO and secretary only exists in the movies in order to have a happy conclusion. Romantic books, too, have that sort of story where the prince strongly supports the maiden…in the business world. However, another shot of reality met her conscience as she took a sip from a hot cup of coffee.
She stared outside of the window, thinking deeply on how her future would compromise if the relationship comes out from the media. She highly values her privacy and she abhors any questions that relates into her private life. She despises attention, in any way possible, in all fields.
Sakyo set aside the papers as he finished all of them in a single review. Who needs a review if he has a detailed secretary who would scrutinize every word written in here? She is such a breath of fresh air in this company. She had done more than he ever asked for. Moreover, she deserves more than a secretary. He leaned back on his chair to think of a better position suited for her. He let his chin rested on his hand, processing through his brain, on how he would get away from the developing relationship.
It was hard to think and to feel if you are trap between your ambitions and love. He hates it when two of the most contrasting figures would collide. Emotional and mental state are like water and oil, they do not mix. However, a strange twist of fate, they meet at the far end of the road. He has a difficult time, choosing what path would he likely to take. Ideally, it would be both since a human being comprises by an emotion and intellect. However, balancing between them is another question to consider.
Shizuru is a perfect person for two reasons: One; she is well suited for the job since he hates particular details and two; he loves to give her a thrill.
In the end, he prefers to keep himself distant.
By the time the clock strikes five, all of the employees of the Goliath Company left to go home safe and sound. Meanwhile, the superior has an ultimate motive by using his spies via using computer as a battleground.
He focused his attention on the whiteboard as the two underground figures started to open the discussion.
Jin suggested, "I still have the information that you need in order to unlock their passwords and acquire their secrets."
Mr. Butajiri noted, "Are you aware that they had a firewall to protect the important files?"
"Firewall is indeed a serious matter but I had a way to extinguish that."
The mysterious person places a small memory disk at the top of the table. Both of them wondered why.
"I had it with me." It spoke.
The veteran CEO carefully approaches the table as he picked up the disk. He observed that it is indeed a device, which would take them by surprise.
"How did you acquire such thing?" he wondered.
"I want revenge…that is all I want." It replied
"Tell me; what kind of reward do you want me to give you?" he proposed.
"I want a reward that would bring Sakyo to its knees and his close associate."
He laughs with his simple request. "Done!"
Sakyo's eyes were engrossed unto his monitor as he carefully studies the stock market. The figures were in modest levels. However, he noticed something different.
The Goliath's stock market was rising one tenth of the number at a time.
However, a monitor alerts him in a shocking way.
Someone unscrupulously unlock all the security systems as passwords starts to reveal the information to everybody else. This could create an enormous risk of his company.
A hacker is on the loose!
Why did it happen in a short time?
He predicted that while he was away, the media must have triggered the Goliath Company's uproar. Knowing Mr. Butajiri by heart, he cleverly prophesized that he was willing to engage him in a battle. He perceives that he is going to use the dirtiest tactic in order to survive.
He wondered on how he did such a cheap and predictable plan that would gamble everything including his reputation…
…of being the notorious CEO in the history!
Nevertheless, he wanted to acquire more than what he bargained for.
Mr. Butajiri definitely provokes him to retaliate…and for that matter, he will do it.
He will absolutely destroy his company down to ashes.
Goro suddenly emerges to his room, "Sakyo, someone is stealing our…"
"I know, Goro. We need to unleash our own weapon. Additionally, call our legal counsel for this." He commanded.
"I would like to add, we need to call the police." He suggested.
"We don't need a police, we already have one." He said showing him a disk in his hand.
He was unaware of that device as he took a step closer. Sakyo's calm image turns into a deadly one. He can clearly see through his eyes that he will decimate anything that aggravates his temper. Sure, he does not want to use it but this is a perfect time for him. He can show the media and rival companies on how dangerous he was.
Goro applauds the young CEO, who is willing to take the cyber battle by storm.
Another day has ended as Shizuru decided to check her bank account by accessing to the website. She knew that today is payday, as she wanted to buy some groceries for tonight. As soon as she entered her username and password, distress hits her badly.
Someone villainously stole all her money!
"No! What the fuck is going on?" she frantically said.
Sakyo paid his attention to the helpless damsel as he stood up from his seat and approached her.
"What is it?"
"Someone entered my account and burglarized everything that I had."
Sakyo could not help but to feel her distress. Whoever the hacker is, he will definitely pay for the damage he made.
She began to cry as he took his credit card from his wallet.
"Use it."
"I don't want to use it. I had enough of your money." She said politely.
"Shizuru," he spoke, "you need it more than I do. Let me take care of the hacker. This will be the least of your worries."
"Do you know what is happening?"
He nodded for an answer.
Sakyo left his card above her table as she began to take it and leave. However, Sakyo called her to do a last favor.
"What is it?" she asked by the time she turn around towards him.
"There are five cards facing down the table. I want you to choose one."
Shizuru noticed that there are indeed five identical cards lying down in his table. What does he want? She decided to do it since she gets anxious of this abstract plan.
She chose the second card from her right as she turns it over to see what is underneath.
"What does it say?" he asked.
"Lion." She said in a peculiar way.
"I see."
She did not know exactly what his strategy is. A picture of an angry lion appeared in the card. What does it signify? She shows her wondering expression as he began to answer it.
"You'll see."
-To be continued-
Side note: A few years back, I remember my young brother was playing Suikoden II from Sony's Play Station. From there, there was a scene where Shu, a military strategist, asked his colleague, Apple, to pick four cards from the table. The girl did as she read the selected card, it was written the word "fire". Later, it turned out that the "fire" was the strategy against the Highland Army. Take note that SHU EXACTLY LOOKED LIKE SAKYO!!!! I SWEAR!!!
I was so inspired by it and from there; I took that scene to replicate here in my story. ;)