Rolling her eyes, the aqua-haired girl places a hand against the door marked "H. Tenoh" and knocks. From Taylor's words it was clear that the company and its employees not only valued a sense of luxury, but also a flair for the overly dramatic.

The door opens quickly and Michiru finds herself up face-to-face with the wealthiest female CEO in North America, and one of the most powerful people on the planet. Or put another way, the person whom Michiru had publicly insulted, and perhaps humiliated, just a few minutes ago.

"I'm glad you could join me," the blonde greets, looking more casual in her now unbuttoned blazer. "Please, have a seat."

Smoothing out her light blue dress, Michiru chooses the chair closest to the door, and sits down rather stiffly. While she was intrigued as to what would happen next, part of her was already regretting entering this lion's den of sorts.

The sense of discomfort is not lost on Haruka. "So you don't feel safe here, but you do when you're in a crowd of journalists? You don't want to speak to me in private, but you question my integrity in a room full of hungry reporters?" Haruka's eyes flash in anger, before she shakes her head and lets out a loud breath. "Sorry. I forget my manners sometimes. What's your name, anyway?"

"Michiru Kaioh. Reporter with The Vancouver Post." Short and sweet.

"Michiru, eh? I would have thought that I'd remember such a unique name in the paper. What do you write about?"

"Mostly fashion, arts and culture, those sort of things," Michiru replies. She wonders now whether she is in Haruka's office for an ice-breaking conversation or a full-out interrogation. "But if you must know, I'd rather write about business, politics. The type of current events that have some more important meaning than this year's spring collection."

"Don't you want to keep on top of the latest shoe trends?" Haruka asks, her anger now replaced by curiosity and amusement.

"I was referring more to tops and bottoms," the girl responds, registering for the first time how lean and fit Haruka Tenoh looks in her current getup. Michiru had certainly taken advantage of Google Images before to 'research' the famous business magnate in her signature suits, but this casual look had its perks too.

"So where did you study at, Miss Kaioh?" Haruka inquires, continuing her investigation while sizing up the petite beauty. It seemed that Haruka couldn't keep her eyes off the other woman's body either.

"I did my schooling on the east coast. And speaking of my journalism training, I'd like to be the one asking the questions. I am the reporter in the room, aren't I?"

"Well you certainly proved that earlier, didn't you, Miss Kaioh?" Haruka's tone is still light, though the edge was creeping back in. "I've got an idea for you, then."

Michiru widens her eyes to convey her interest, and whispers, "Do tell." Having spent many years flirting her way through college and the office hierarchy, Michiru had developed a most useful skill of recognizing exactly when it would be advantageous for her to use her feminine wiles - even on other women.

"I'll give you an exclusive interview. You can ask me anything you want, from the most personal to the most professional, and I'll answer them. Tonight."

"Eager much?"

"Not so much eager as extremely busy." Haruka wasn't used to being on the receiving end of teasing, and her response was short on humour.

"And surely there's a catch?"

"Of course. If you consider joining me for dinner at the Top of the World to be a catch."

Michiru smiles slyly and ponders the offer. "I guess I could fit that in this evening."

"Good, because I really don't think you have a choice. Let's do 7pm. I'll have someone pick you up?" The blonde's voice slides from light to business-like, signalling the end of the conversation.

"I'll make my own way just fine," Michiru responds, standing up and heading towards the back of the office. "I do look forward to getting to know you better, Ms. Tenoh."

"Let's see if you still feel the same way after tonight," the tall woman warns, pushing a button on her phone and standing up to open the door. "Taylor will see you out."

As Michiru follows Haruka's guard to the front exit, she can't help but smile at the turn of events. Somehow, what started out as an obnoxious, if not entirely inappropriate, line of questioning had resulted in a dinner date. And at the fanciest restaurant in town, no less. Indeed, this seemed to be a perfect opportunity to learn more about the charismatic Haruka Tenoh - and a perfect opportunity to expose Tenoh Motors for the deceptive company that it was.