Disclaimer: I don't own CCS, Clamp does. But I do own this story.

Pairings: Syaoran x Sakura, Eriol x Tomoyo

Chapter Two

"The Plot"

After taking a whole week off work, Sakura was back in Tokyo after she set her affairs in order in Tomoeda. She paid her proper respects to her father up to the day he was buried, she paid Kentaro- regardless of his refusal –for his services and every personal thing he's done for her father, and she called the bank to check what exactly her father intends to do with the money if she doesn't inherit it all.

Of course, she wasn't all that surprised when the bank manager, who was a friend of her father's and to whom was left with his instructions, told her that he could not tell her due to his father's wishes to keep it a secret from her and from everyone else until the deadline of her 27th birthday.

Sakura groaned and banged her head on her desk. Her father was gone and yet he was still playing games on her as if he was still alive! It was because of that that her grieving was abruptly put to a stop. And she bet it in her mind and heart that her father intended for something like this to actually happen to ensure she doesn't stay gloomy over his passing.

"Sakura?" Tomoyo asked gently with a small smile, but all she got in reply from her best friend was a muffled grunt. "Sakura," she pressed on more firmly.

Turning her head to the side, she looked at Tomoyo with a lost expression on her face.

"What are you going to do about this? You can't just sit there moping around. Your birthday's not exactly near at hand but it is if you're thinking about marriage here," she pointed out smartly, earning another groan from Sakura. "Seriously though, what are you going to do about all this?"

After a few minutes of silence, Sakura finally sat up straight and shook her head.

"I'm…"

"You're…?"

"I'm going to have to do it," Sakura said with a determined nod of her head.

"Do what?" Tomoyo asked somewhat cautiously.

Sakura turned to her, a fire in her eyes although she also still looked like she was about to cry in desperation.

"I'm going to have to make him fall in love with me," she explained simply though in a totally unconvincing tone of voice.

Tomoyo raised a brow at her.

"What?" Sakura asked with a frown. "It's possible!" she argued as she stood from her seat. "I mean, he's only human. How hard could it be to get into some kind of a relationship with him?"

Shaking her head with amusement written all over her face, Tomoyo stood from her seat and placed a hand on Sakura's shoulder, a kind look on her face.

"You are aware that he's one of Japan's most eligible bachelors?"

Sakura made a face. "Well, he doesn't have a girlfriend. That-"

"And that his last girlfriend was an heiress for a chain of hotels?"

"Then being with me wouldn't be as complicated as his last girlfriend," Sakura countered though more unsure now.

"I love you Sakura but seriously, are you sure you want to do this? Personally, I think he'd be a guy with bad taste and a bad judge of character if he doesn't fall in love with you, but then let's say if or when he does fall in love with you, how are you going to handle it?"

"What do you mean?" Sakura asked, confused.

"What will you do if he falls in love with you and finds out that you were only using him to get your father's money?"

"I might fall in love with him too," Sakura pointed out.

"Yes, but the fact still remains. The only reason why you're bothering with him in the first place is to get your inheritance. Knowing just that is already wrong in itself."

Sakura fell silent.

Tomoyo looked at her best friend with genuine care and worry. She knew the reason why Sakura was forcing this matter. She and her father have gone through a lot in the past and having the money being wasted away after everything they've been through is maddening and ludicrous.

"Okay, enough with the depressing talk," Tomoyo said in a firm tone. "Let's go out for lunch, my treat."

"Mr. Li?"

Syaoran tore his gaze from the women who had just entered the restaurant and turned to the familiar waitress.

"The usual," he responded with a small smile of gratitude.

The middle-aged waitress bowed with a smile and left him to himself.

Syaoran turned back to the pair of women who were now seated in the two-seater table by the window before he took out his cell phone. Opening the folders to his old and already read messages, he finally arrived to the one he had been looking for.

Are you jealous yet? Her name is Tomoyo Daidouji. I first met her months ago but we've only just gone out officially a few weeks ago. I love her, she might be "the one".

– Eriol Hiiragizawa –

Scrolling down the message, Syaoran got to the photo Eriol had attached with it which was a picture of Eriol, his best friend for God knows how many years now, and the very same lady with the ashen black hair who was currently seated by the window in the very restaurant he was eating in.

Pocketing his cell, he nodded a thank you at the waitress who had brought and set down his lunch in front of him.

'Interesting,' he thought, eyeing Tomoyo and her companion interestedly. He was sitting in a much private area of the restaurant which was covered from the view of the other diners, but he had a perfectly good view of the area the women were sitting at.

"Thank you," Tomoyo said with a smile at the rather young and eager waiter whose been hanging around their table and looking at Tomoyo and Sakura in turns.

"Glad to be of service ma'am," he said with a huge grin before bowing deeply at the pair of them and leaving towards the kitchens.

"Eager. Don't you think?" Sakura said with a laugh as he watched the waiter leave and almost crashing into another waiter who had just come out of the kitchen through the swinging doors.

"Very eager," Tomoyo agreed with a giggle.

After a few minutes of silenced laughing, Sakura instantly sobered and looked at her best friend with the same look of desperation she had at their office.

"Tomoyo…" she said in an almost pleading voice. "What do you propose I do about this?"

"It's really your call Sakura," she said after a sip from her water glass.

"Would you think badly of me if I try to seduce the man into loving me just so I could get my money?"

After a short pause, Tomoyo shook her head.

"You're biased. Of course you won't hate me, you're my best friend! But if anyone else found out about this, they'll think I'm a real nasty bi-"

"Now stop right there," Tomoyo interrupted with a raised hand, cutting her off abruptly. "First of all, I won't be telling anyone, except…maybe…"

"Your boyfriend," Sakura said with a raised brow, making Tomoyo turn scarlet. "From how you talk about the guy, I'd say you can't help but tell him just about anything. When do I get to meet this mystery man of yours anyway? You've been going out with him for almost a month now."

"I-I can keep secrets from him too!" she countered defensively although looking quite flustered about it. "I…I just don't realize what I say to him until I've said it, that's all."

"Of course," Sakura said with a laugh. It was very unusual to see the usually calm and composed Tomoyo Daidouji getting this disconcerted over a guy.

"And I'll introduce you to him soon. I promise."

"You better! I'm really bad at remembering names of people I'm not familiar with. So you can't expect me to address him so chummily until you actually introduce us."

Tomoyo grinned at her and took a sip from the glass of pineapple juice that another waiter had placed in front of the pair of them.

After a few minutes and a few bites off her lunch, Tomoyo watched Sakura closely as she played around with her food.

"Sakura," she began gently, "I'll help you in any way I can. Just…"

Sakura looked at her with a gratefulness written all over her bright emerald eyes.

"Just at least keep yourself grounded. Will you promise me that?"

"Grounded? What do you mean?"

"I mean, you're treading on dangerous waters here. And I'm not just saying this because the man's rich beyond imagining. I'm saying that, this is a game of love we're talking about."

"Game of love?" Sakura echoed in surprise and mild hilarity at the seriousness of her best friend. "I wouldn't go that far Tomoyo. I haven't even met him yet and we're talking like I'm ready to swear my eternal love for him and have his babies. I'm sure I-"

"But you're going to get yourself involved with him," Tomoyo interrupted sounding worried now. "I don't know much about him but I've heard of him more than enough times to know what kind of a person he is."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm not saying he's the spawn of Satan or anything like that," she amended immediately after seeing actual fear on Sakura's face. "I mean, well, you saw how he looks from pictures and you basically know part of his background to assume that he's the sort of guy almost every female, who would dare, go after."

"Well, yes. But so?"

"So…I don't want you to get hurt," she finally surmised.

Sakura smiled a gentle smile at Tomoyo. For a moment there she thought that she was about to tell her that the guy's the sort who could easily murder her or something in that line.

"Tomoyo," she said as she took the other girl's hands in hers. "I don't know what'll happen from here on out. Maybe I'll get hurt, maybe I won't. But that doesn't matter. At least I know I've done something about the situation rather than idly stand by and watch as the scenes pass by and someday regret not doing anything about it."

"I knew you were going to say something like that," Tomoyo said with a sigh although she was smiling.

Sakura grinned at her and winked. "I'm not the type to give up so easily after all."

"And that's why I love you."

"Your orders," yet another waiter announced before placing plates of food between them on the table.

"I beg your pardon?" Sakura said, dumbfounded.

"You heard me, the boss wants to see you today. And by boss, I don't mean myself but the highest of the higher ups," Hizumi repeated with a grin and looking rather proud. It wasn't everyday that someone from her staff was needed by anyone in other higher ranking departments, let alone the top one.

"You mean Mr. Li, Mr. Li Xiao Lang, wants to see me, today, right now?" she confirmed still in disbelief.

"I'm surprised this still comes as a shock to you Sakura, I mean, I did tell you that Mr. Li's going to need your services soon as his secretary weeks ago."

"Well, yes, but…" Sakura's brows knitted together in worry. What are the chances of the man in question asking to see her the very day she decided to plot on having him fall in love with her? "I…I just forgot about it. It's still hard to believe that I get to work with him, I guess," she reasoned.

Hizumi laughed and placed a reassuring hand on Sakura's shoulder. "Believe it! And don't worry, I'm sure you'll do fine as his secretary and you'll be back down here with us in no time."

Sakura smiled a small smile and bowed at her in thanks.

"Now get going, you wouldn't want to keep him waiting. I don't think you'll be starting today, I mean, it's four in the afternoon, people are starting to pack up for home for the day already. He probably wants to meet you first before you can officially start working in his office."

"Mia, recheck these documents for me before you fax it over to our branch in Barcelona."

With a nod of her head, the slightly plump, 42 year old woman left the large office, folders full of papers in her arms.

Just as the double doors to his office closed behind her, the phone on his desk began to ring with a little dot blinking beside the name "Tai".

"What is it?" he called out after pressing the button.

"Ms. Kinomoto is here waiting to see you Mr. Li," one of his secretaries informed him, her voice on speaker ringing in the room.

"Send her in," he replied curtly before ending the call.

Syaoran sighed, grabbed the folder labeled "4281 - Kinomoto, Sakura" and leaned back into his leather chair before turning around and looking out the vast glass window that comprised the entire side of his office behind his desk.

Not long after, Syaoran heard the soft knocking on his office doors and two pairs of feet entering.

"Ms. Kinomoto for you Mr. Li," Tai announced before the door reopened and closed yet again.

"Good afternoon," Sakura greeted rather unsurely, seeing as the man was out of sight.

"Good afternoon," Syaoran greeted back as he scanned through her profile yet again. "Please take a seat Ms. Kinomoto."

Sakura looked around the office and spotted the sofas situated around a coffee table in the middle of the large room, as well as a few chairs to the sides.

"Thank you," she replied quite unsurely yet again before walking over towards one of the two chairs directly in front of his desk.

A small smirk appeared on Syaoran's lips hearing the woman taking a seat so close to him. Most of the people he calls into his office usually prefer sitting well away from him, especially those who have never met him before.

"Employee number 4281, Ms. Kinomoto, Sakura, female, single. You are currently working for Li Corp. in the Tokyo branch under the Human Resources Department headed my Mrs. Iwa, Hizumi. You're almost reaching three years of employment and you're best friends with a Ms. Daidouji, Tomoyo. You-"

"Is that in my profile?" Sakura interrupted without thinking.

Syaoran turned his chair around so abruptly, Sakura almost jumped in surprise as his amber eyes met hers. "What is?" he asked, looking at her intently and studying her for the second time that day. He had seen her in the restaurant at lunch with Tomoyo but this was the very first time he'd seen her up close and clearly. The photo of her in the profile certainly didn't do her beauty any justice.

"What is?" Syaoran repeated, seeing as he somehow rendered the woman seated in front of him speechless.

Sakura snapped out of it and looked away from him before answering. "A-About Tomoyo being my best friend."

"No, but not everything I know came from written reports and such," he explained before looking back down to reread her profile although he has read it more than enough times already to have it all memorized.

"I see," Sakura replied, at a loss of anything else to say. She had seen the picture of Li Corp.'s CEO more than enough times in newspapers and magazines to know how he looked like but this was the very first time she'd seen him. And this close a proximity. Now she doesn't blame the women she'd read about that go to different lengths just to get close to him.

Females nowadays would easily get attracted to men with wealth. But in this case, money was certainly not the only thing this man was blessed with. Sakura stole a glance at him and can't help but let her gaze linger. His chocolate brown hair was messy but didn't look untidy since it wasn't too long, and neither was it too short. Thick eyebrows of the same shade were properly aligned and kept above a pair of eyes the color of intriguing amber. His jaw line was sharp and his obviously broad shoulders were covered beneath a gray, finely tailored suit.

"So, Ms. Kinomoto," Syaoran said, sending Sakura's physical inspection to a halt.

"Y-Yes?" she said nervously, making her sound like a squeaking mouse.

Syaoran raised a brow at her. He had purposely faked reading her profile for a few short minutes to get the woman in front of him more comfortable in his presence….and let her finish looking him over. He had enough experience with women to assume what happens when he first comes into close contact with them. And just as he thought, Sakura was no different.

"I assume you were briefed by Mrs. Iwa regarding the job you are requested to take in my personal office?"

Sakura mentally shook her head, trying to clear her mind from the obvious God-like creature seated in front of her. This was not the time to drool over her future boss, and future husband.

'Husband?' Sakura thought, now in despair as she looked back at him. 'What in the world was I thinking?' she asked herself. 'It would take a miracle to even get this man to even look at me in a more informal and personal way!'

"Ms. Kinomoto?" Syaoran said in a clearer tone and with much authority.

"Yes," she answered immediately. "She briefed me of the job I'll take as your secretary."

"And?"

"And that I'll be required to act as your translator in French for the most part."

"Well, that is true but not in the most literal sense," Syaoran corrected as he placed the folder with Sakura's profile on his desk before looking at her more intently.

"I don't think I understand."

"You will be required to translate, yes, but not for me," he explained, sending Sakura more into confusion. "I wouldn't bother or even consider expanding the company to places like New York, Barcelona and Paris without actually knowing their native tongue."

"You mean to say, that you are already fluent in English, Spanish and French?"

Syaoran nodded. "And Chinese of course since my birth place is in Hong Kong and that is where Li Corp. first came to exist. Even this branch in Tokyo is just an extension branch similar to that of the ones in England, Spain and France."

"I…I see…" Sakura said with a frown. She was equally impressed as well as confused. "So, what exactly would you require me to do for you as a secretary fluent in French?"

"I hold meetings from time to time with the CEOs from the other branches of Li Corp., and files come in and out from Tokyo to Hong Kong, New York, Barcelona, or Paris and vice versa. You will be required to translate legal files and other documents that come in and go out to Paris as well as handle issues that involve that specific branch that may come up, here. You are also required to attend meetings with me by the way where that branch is concerned. French is a fascinating language but it isn't something just anyone bothers to learn especially since we are in Japan. For example, if there is an employee here whose expertise is needed to aid in the shortcomings of the branch in Paris, we can't very well expect that person to know how to speak in French. In that case, your services will be required."

"I understand," Sakura said with a nod. And here she thought she was merely playing secretary number four. She didn't know just how big a duty her job entailed. "Does this mean I'll have to stop my current job in the HR Department?"

Syaoran nodded. "Unless you want to work both jobs at the same time, and that is just humanly impossible by the way. I need you here in the same working hours or even more, on more than one occasion. I place a very high regard for those I take as my secretaries. So to speak, the shoes you're about to fill isn't a walk on the beach. Especially for you right now it's not."

Sakura didn't know how to respond to that but perhaps it was apparent on the look on her face that she didn't quite understand him.

"My family owns Li Corp.," Syaoran started to explain. "The branch in Paris is one you can consider as the baby of the group. It only just officially opened so you can expect to be busy day and night for quite some time. Are you willing to accept that? Better yet, can you even handle that?"

"I can and will," she replied with a determined nod.

Which, apparently, was enough for her new boss.

"To be honest, I was hesitant at the prospect of hiring you," he confessed as he relaxed back into his chair and inspected Sakura without a care although quite aware that it made the woman in front of him uncomfortable.

"Uhm… May I ask why?"

"Your physical features," he said in barely a whisper.

"Excuse me?" she asked, not quite sure if she heard him right.

Syaoran smirked at him and shook his head. "Why do you think I would be hesitant in hiring you for this position?"

After a few seconds and not much thought, "I would think it be because of my age?"

With a brow raised at her, he gestured for her to expound.

"Well, I am only 26 years old as of now and from the people I've seen working directly under you, from the people in this floor down to your secretaries, they all seem to be in their 40s and 50s, and some probably their 30s in the least. I suppose you think, considering my age, I won't be as reliable as they," she explained sincerely.

"You make a fine point. Most 20 year olds especially in this modern day and age aren't as reliable as I would like, but I am hoping you are different. But I can assure you that your age was never a factor in my hesitation to hire you. Age is not of importance to me. Perhaps you should do a little research on your boss-to-be next time."

"Oh," was all Sakura could reply. That was certainly a good thing. Of course she didn't want to be looked down upon just because she was younger than the rest. His last statement however, was confusing. What did he mean by doing research on her boss-to-be?

"I have to praise you for your keen observation as well," Syaoran added. "Indeed, the youngest person in my personal team is in her 30s. Josie, one of my secretaries fluent in English besides Japanese is 34 years old. That would all, of course, change if and when you decide to work for me."

With that said, Syaoran pulled out one of the folders stacked on one side of his large desk and slid it towards Sakura. He opened the folder revealing a few legal sized papers stapled together that comprised of Sakura's new contract.

"All you have to do is sign," he said before placing a pen on top of the papers.

"Will you mind if I…?" Sakura gestured to the folder.

"By all means," Syaoran said with a wave of his hand and watched Sakura as she started reading through the contract.

Sighing, Sakura stepped out of the elevator and slowly made her way towards the entrance of the company building.

"Oy, Kinomoto! Rough day?"

Sakura looked up to see one of her acquaintances and gave him a weak smile.

"Kinomoto-san! I saw Daidouji-san standing outside, could she be waiting for you?"

"Yes, thank you!" Sakura called back to another of her acquaintances.

That's one of the many good things about working in Human Relations, she gets to meet almost all of the employees working in Li Corp. at some point or another.

"Sakura!" Tomoyo called out excitedly the moment she stepped out of the sliding glass doors. "So? How was it? What did he want to see you for?"

"Well, you're not looking at the Assistant Head of the HR Department anymore, but the Secretary to the CEO of Li Corp.," she informed although not as ecstatically as one should in her situation.

"You don't seem too happy about it," Tomoyo pointed out as they slowly made their way to the park where they have to walk to the other side to get to the building of the condominium-hotel where they have both lived in for years now.

"Quite frankly, I don't know how I should feel. I mean, from Assistant Head to Secretary?"

"True, the position is lower but considering your working directly under the head honcho himself makes being Secretary even a bigger job than being the head of the other departments. Don't you think?"

"True. But…I still don't know about this," she said, still sounding unsure. "And to think, I already signed the contract!"

"What are you worried about exactly?"

"My boss," she confessed without hesitation.

"Mr. Li?"

"The very one," Sakura agreed with a sigh.

"Why? Is his personality that bad?" she pressed on, worried now. Of course she didn't want her best friend to work under someone with an unbearable attitude. That certainly screams "bad working environment".

"On the contrary," Sakura said, stopping down the path in the park and turning to Tomoyo with a look of despair. "He's too damn perfect!"