Thank you very much for reviewing my first chapter! I'm very glad a lot of people even like it! Shocked, in fact! but enough about me.. on with the story!
Chapter 2: Mission Impossible
Her finger pointing to the center of his eyes. Somehow, it was trembling with fear. She gulped before opening her mouth to speak of her frustration to the man before her.
"What are you doing here?" she shrieked.
"Mikan! Don't talk to your new boss that way!" snapped the guy in glasses standing beside her. "Please excuse her behavior. I'm sure she's actually pleased to be working as your assistant. She's been in charge of research on the Tohoshinki company" smiling as he spoke to Natsume, who was clearly amused by this.
"Assistant?" Raising her eyebrow in disbelief.
Natsume turned to Mikan, "Ms. Sakura, it says here that you took a sick leave for an appendix removal". She nodded.
"Is the left side of your stomach okay?" He asked, sounding slightly concerned.
She smiled,"Yes. Its fine". Pleased at his sudden concern.
"That's good. By the way, the appendix is on the right side". He smirked while Mr. Sawada just turned his head away, chuckling.
"You'll have to excuse me. I have an appointment to catch. So, I will see both of you at the party tonight". With that, Natsume left Mikan and Sawada in the room.
Mikan heaved a sigh. "Mikan, You've met him before?" asked Sawada.
"No, we just met in the elevator. But why was i chosen?" said Mikan, still disapproving him as her soon-to-be boss.
"How would i know? He singled you out himself." Was the shocking reply.
With her eyes widened, she asked again,"Singled me out?"
"And by the way.." Sawada looked at her from head to toe while crossing his arms, before continuing "Tonight's the party, can you go dressed like that?"
She was wearing a black turtleneck, sleeveless sweater-like one piece dress. She was pouting her lips, looking at her usual outfit, as if saying 'What's wrong with it?'.
"Remember tonight's the party" and he too left the room, with arms still crossed and eyebrows still furrowed.
Mikan looked at her outfit again. She heaved another, more frustrated sigh.
.:The Party:.
There were lights everywhere.
A huge billboard showing a picture of the latest Volvo.
There were a few models of the said car around the compound.
People were flooding the dimly-lit dance floor where tables filled with mountains of odurves, desserts and of course, champagne.
Natsume was staring at Mikan from head to toe. She looked amazing in her strapless, up-to-the-knees red sparkling dress, toped up with Jimmy Choo Smooth Metallic Sandals and matching Jimmy Choo Cosmo Metallic Evening Bag.
"Ms. Sakura, do you have a different party to attend to later tonight?". He finally asked.
"What?". She replied. "Yes, my friends are having a wine party later tonight" She smiled widely, hoping that he won't notice that she's lying.
Natsume stood up straight. "You actually look quite nice in that dress. I'm surprised".
She blushed. "Thank You"
"It'll come in handy for your mission later tonight". He fixed his silky peach colored tie. He was wearing a normal business suit. It was just his fancy tie that added the elegant touch.
"My Mission? What Mission?"
"You see those two men over there in striped ties?" He asked and continued when he saw her nodding her head. "They're Englishmen. They're with Arashi Holdings, our competitors in the Tohoshinki deal. Mr. Yunho is here tonight, he's the president of Tohoshinki. So, i need you to get as close as possible to them. Pretend that you can't speak English and find out everything you can about their meeting with Yunho. That's your mission". He looked over to the two men in striped ties again.
Mikan was again shocked. "Wait, You're saying... So, you want me to spy on them?"
He smirked.. yet again. "Isn't corporate data collection your specialty, Ms. Sakura? I remember clearly that your resume included 'Fluent in English, Japanese and Korean' or is that a lie?"
She stuttered her reply,"B-bu-uut-t t-tha-at wass..."
"Natsume" a distant voice called. It was a lady, in her mid-40's. Short auburn hair in a long, flowing black dress. "Well, look who we have here?" She said.
He smiled at her. "Hey, Kumiko".
"Go ahead". He whispered to Mikan before heading towards Kumiko to engage in a long awaited conversation.
"Wah! So, i get the work and you get the fun? Heh. Am i some sort of James bond?".
She glided passed the many groups of people, holding a glass of red wine in her left hand.
She would occasionally look over her shoulders, as if she were an undercover agent.
Join in on a group discussion just to blend in. Eventhough, she doesn't know their topic of discussion.
Then, she twirled and bumped into one of the men wearing striped ties, splashing the contents of her wine glass onto his shirt.
(italic english)
"Oh my god! I'm sorry.. I'm so sorry, Are you okay?" wiping off the invisible stains appearing on his silk shirt.
"It's quite alright, these things happen. Are you alright?" He asked her kindly.
"I'm alright. I'm sorry."
He smiled at her. "Have yourself a good evening then"
She smiled back. "You too. I'm sorry"
They left her to sigh in frustration. "Sakura Mikan, you're really on a roll tonight."
Picking up her phone she dialed Natsume, who was entertaining another women, this time with short red hair.
"What should i do? I blew my cover." She shrieked into his ear.
"What?" Came the reply.
"I SPOKE IN ENGLISH!" She screamed louder.
"Shit!"
"What do i do now?". This time she sounded panicky.
"Figure it out. Steal their documents if you have to". And he hung up on her.
She looked at her phone, eyes widened. "Seriously"
Looked around.
Snapped her fingers and proceeded back to the showroom to find the guys wearing striped ties.
...P e K o P o N...
"I didn't expect to see you here." Said Yunho to Natsume.
...P u d d i N G...
"But i'm sure you're well aware of those facts." The one wearing the red striped tie said to Mikan.
She smirked. "Of course. It's my job to know the facts. You know?"
The one wearing the blue striped tie pointed in Natsume's direction and said,"By the way, Who's the chap over there talking to the president?"
"You don't think he's with the competition, do you". He continued.
"I wouldn't worry. Nobody knows the President's at the party except for us and besides, our real rivals are the Americans, not that yellow monkey". Said Red Stripes.
"BFFFT!" Mikan spat out her drink at that comment and started giggling.
When she noticed the two men staring at her, she cleared her throat and said,"Arashi Holdings seems to be in a slump lately.. and there's a rumor that your interests were at stake, since the failed merger with Super Junior, Is that true?".
The Blue Striped spoke up,"Well, there'll be a big deal for us soon too"
"Oh Really? I knew that!" Shrieked Mikan.
"Shhhhhhh!" Said Red Striped, elbowing his partner.
Mikan sighed,"Oh, don't worry. I'm not here to give a report. You don't have to worry."
They looked at each other, concerned. "Off the record?"
"Of course! Off the record!" smirking triumphantly while sipping her wine.
The men started whispering at each other before agreeing to tell her things.
...P e K o P o N...
"Vision?" asked Yunho. "Ripping a company apart and selling it off. Is that your vision?"
"Excuse me" Natsume reached for his phone and read Mikan's surprising message before turning to Yunho. "Very well. Bypassing the board and attempting insider trading with Arashi Holdings. Is that your vision?. I'll show you real vision. Wait and see."
He smirked and walked away.
...P u d d i N G...
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