Cherry Contact

11: Gas Leak

AN: It's been a minute :p here is the next chapter because I'm in a silly goofy mood. This chapter will be a bit less focused on TruMar (GASP?!) This chapter may be just a smidge shorter than usual but hey not every chapter needs to be a epic 7k word chapter right

Valese wasn't sure what to make of the past week. She's been trying to bring together Marron and Coconu, as they would make an adorable couple. But the more she tried to purposefully set up scenarios for the two. She'd found that her temporary new boss has made it increasingly difficult to get anything rolling.

If Valese didn't know any better, it was like Mr. Briefs was fawning over Marron. He'd be hot on her trail and literally sniffing her out at any given chance. More often than not, his meetings with her would overlap and run into his other, more important meetings with potential investors.

And Marron! Recently, she has begun to wear more form fitting clothes, such as tight pencil skirts that have left the men on the accounting floor panting after her. It was a subtle change in her friend's clothing selection, but she was never the kind to strut out in anything but a big cardigan and slacks. Valese figured it was a sense of confident boosting, especially since she broke up with Pensil...however...something was still off.

Valese, being the efficient assistant she was, logged the foot traffic on the executive floor and approximately at 2:41 PM sharp…she noticed Marron stepping out with her hair, which was previously down, up in a bun. Around this time, Valese always made it a point to check in with Mr. Briefs, as she found he's always in an exponentially better mood than earlier.

So Valese has drawn a few conclusions from this. Either her best friend and her boss were having an illicit office affair, or her boss had an immense crush on her best friend. Either way, neither was looking good for the assistant. The brunette watched as her best friend waved at her, as she wobbled over to the elevator.

"Oh yeah, they are definitely fucking," Erasa snorted as she sat down at the desk adjacent to Valese. "Did you see her face?" The blonde woman whistled as she organized her papers, a smirk daring to creep up on her face.

Valese turned over to Erasa, shock spread across her face. "How are you so sure of that?" the younger woman asked as she turned her head over to her co-worker. "Marron's my bestie I think I'd know!"

Erasa rolled her eyes as she looked down to her schedule spreadsheet. "Honestly, Valese, you are cunning at times, but willfully dumb at others."

Was it so obvious to everyone, aside from her, about the nature of Mr. Briefs and Marron's relationship? Movement on the project was moving steadily, as expected…so aside from the awkward interactions between Marron and her boss…why should Valese be concerned? After all, everything was going as planned.

Well, there was actually more to it than Valese would enjoy admitting. She was set out on finding incriminating evidence to help Bulla get ahead of Trunks in their race for the position of head honcho. But while Valese prided herself on her anything to succeed attitude that drew Bulla to her, there was also the real issue that her best friend was also at risk here.

So, Valese was going to do what no other assistant with the same experience dare try to do to Trunks Briefs: request to speak to Madam President Bulma Briefs, and put all stops to what could potentially be a horrible situation for her best friend.

Valese leaned a bit closer to her computer screen, feverishly typing up a formal email to request to speak to Bulma herself.

Subject Line: About Vice President Trunks Briefs.

Dear Mrs. Bulma Briefs,

I am Valese Cansiili, I am sure you may know me as Bulla Briefs' executive assistant, and currently filling in as a temporary assistant for Trunks Briefs. I am writing to schedule a one-on-one meeting with you to discuss some critical concerns that I feel must be addressed as soon as possible. I would love to elaborate in person with you. Whenever your schedule allows, I would love to set something up with you.

Thank you,

Valese Cansiili Executive Assistant @ Capsule Corporation

As she pressed send, she watched as a bolt of blue dashed across the hall in a panic. "Valese, with me now!" Bulla barked her fingers, snapping as if to summon her loyal subject to her side, and Valese gladly did. There was concern laced across Bulla's face, that much was evident, but even that couldn't stop her ever professional appearance.

As they both boarded the elevator, Valese pulled a fan from her purse and began fanning her boss, who broke out into a slight sweat. "Is everything alright, how can I help?" Valese replied as she readjusted Bulla's red cropped suit jacket properly on her shoulders with her free hand.

"There was an incident…on the ground floor…" Bulla's breath was slightly labored, Valese had never seen her in such a state of disarray. Bulla tugged on the collar of her silk shirt almost as if

to get more air circulation. "I think there were some injuries…I only had one person working on–" Valese cranked up the fan as she pulled out some tissues, blotting the woman's forehead. "Everything will be alright," Valese reassured calmly, "you are Bulla Briefs, you can handle anything."

Bulla swallowed carefully, her eyes watching as the elevator reached the ground floor as the doors swung open. Smoke inundated the elevator. Valese began to cough hoarsely as the toxic fumes began to fill her lungs. Fortunately, however, Bulla popped a capsule with a gas mask for the both of them. Prepared as always, Bulla Briefs was the kind to dive head first into a problem.

There was a formidable creak and groan of some kind of machinery that Valese wasn't sure of. She was an assistant, not a mechanic of any kind – she looked around, seeing the point where the smoke was billowing out of. It was strange how there wasn't a soul in sight. Usually, this area was sprawling with soot covered men in overalls.

"Valese, I'm going to need you to not allow anyone down here," Bulla commanded. "Send an alert to the rest of the company…everyone must evacuate the building now."

Valese took a step back, her eyes flying open in shock as she looked around, seeing a green gas emerging from the pipes. "You got it, what do I report to your mother?" Valese said as she pulled her phone out to send an alert to the security systems.

"That doesn't matter right now, focus on the task at hand," Bulla shouted back. "Get on it now."

Valese stood back, watching as Bulla ran into the fray with nothing but a gas mask and her fashionable clothes as protection. Bulla truly was amazing. The brunette was utterly in awe, stuck to the floor as she felt her heart skip a beat from the bravery. It took her a moment to regain her thoughts, as her mind fixed on Bulla for just a moment before turning to complete the job.

"Goten!" Bulla shouted, her eyes scanning the ground level and the thick mass of gas that covered the room. Bulla was silently cursing herself for allowing to leave him alone to complete the construction himself. He has the handyman skills to complete it, and the strength of a thousand men, but damn it– this was plain dangerous!

Bulla ripped her red suit jacket off, tossing it to the side as she tried to hone in on Goten's ki. He had to be somewhere in this mess?! It was difficult to concentrate under the conditions she was in. The toxic gas would soon fill the building if Bulla didn't find a way to stop the machine. It was evident from the creaks and groans that an explosion of some kind occurred – and even if Goten was half Saiyan like her – would he be able to withstand such a thing? Her own father was injured from such a thing in the past.

And then, there he was: lying perfectly safe and sound on the ground. His face was just as peaceful as she recalled it being. "Goten!" She screamed as she knelt down to him, trying to detect his energy. He was simply unconscious, but the sight itself was enough to elicit tears from the usual composed bluenette. She didn't care if her pants were now covered in soot and grime, all she cared about was finding him alive.

"You idiot," Bulla mumbled, a fist pounding on his chiseled chest. "Why did you insist on doing this?" she said between sniffles. The pounding on his chest was enough to wake up the wild black-haired man.

As he opened his eyes groggily, he glanced up at the sight of a blue haired creature with a gas mask over its face, barely recognizable to the Bulla he knew. His throat was dry, a burning sensation coating his throat as words hardly came out. All he could hear was the berating words of Bulla Briefs under her gas mask.

A dizzying, lazy grin on his face as his eyes rolled back into his head. Floating in and out of consciousness, trying to fight the drowsy feeling that overcame him. Bulla sighed as she hauled him up on her back. His overbearing weight from the muscle was not anything to scoff at…but Bulla was strong enough to endure it.

She began to float towards the emergency exit, her eyes scanning the ground for potential employees who could have been caught in the mix, but nothing was seen. She looked over her back to a Goten who stirred in his peaceful slumber.

There was more than met the eye to their strange relationship, more than any employee…or god forbid her brother knew. And even here, where she saved her male damsel in distress, she could feel as her heart pounded against her chest – a dangerous feeling to have.

Bulla wouldn't lie, they shared chaste glances at one another. A blush here, a compliment there. Nothing more, nothing less. She always tried to keep things professional between him and her. But the panic that grabbed hold of her made it clear, her childhood friend, her brother's best friend – and one of her closest confidants was someone she must steer clear from.

As she made it outside, she found a sprawl of employees pouring out into the streets. Security attempting to keep them a safe distance away from the building.

And her mother standing right at the gates, her arms crossed with a gaze that could pierce through any soul…her brother standing cockily beside her.

Great…

AN: GASP!!!! See, I told you a short and sweet chapter 3 I will have more soon but for now. Dulcet Shoujo signing off