16 The Truth

Oftentimes, the truth is a double-edged sword. It can hurt you but it also frees you.

Monday, a day that Natsuki always hated but since her friendship with Shizuru blossomed, she began to uncharacteristically come to the office early. She walked inside the Sky Tower smiling occasionally when some good memories from her weekend with Shizuru pop in her mind. However, she also couldn't get away from a lot of puzzling things which brought her brows to furrow deeply. The people who greeted her along her way to her office were baffled why the young executive had different expressions on her face. She seems happy and then a few moments later, she's irritated. She wasn't aware that her mixed emotions were clearly printed on her face and everyone who saw her were sure that Kuga Natsuki was in deep thought about something that managed to make her go crazy.

When she entered her office, the first thing she did was look for Shizuru. She wanted to ask her if she slept well. On their way back, Natsuki let Shizuru drive for a while so she could also rest. They swapped positions on the driver's seat twice to avoid eyestrain. When they reached Tokyo, they were both tired to exchanged pleasantries. Natsuki transferred Shizuru's stuff on her car and then they waved each other goodbye.

Natsuki went to the restroom to find Shizuru and then she went out of her office to ask Maria.

"I haven't seen her yet, Kuga-sama," Maria said. Natsuki went back to her office and decided to check her e-mail inbox. There were a few inquiries from other companies but the first one she opened was the message from Shizuru Viola. She noticed that the report for the monitoring work was attached to the message. "She worked on it last night? But she was tired! Why the hell did she work on something that's not urgent?"

Subject: Visitation and Monitoring Report

See attachment. I can't make it today. I'm sorry.

Shizuru F. Viola

Mobile No: 73840284834

Natsuki quickly pulled out her phone and called Shizuru's number. She stood up waiting for her call to be answered. A few moments later, the line was disconnected. "She's not picking up?" Natsuki was worried but then she realized that maybe Shizuru is trying to catch some sleep since she worked on the damned report. Natsuki sat on her swivel chair while she massaged her temples. She doesn't know where Shizuru's city address is and she felt so stupid. "Her resume! It's in her resume!"

Natsuki stood up and was about to go to Reito's office when Nao walked in.

"Good morning Kuga-sama," Nao said as she looked around obviously looking for something.

"What do you want?" Natsuki replied bluntly. Nao smirked.

"Here's the draft of the program for the company's anniversary. You are expected to do the presentation of products and the company milestones," Nao replied as she handed a folder to Natsuki. Natsuki went over the documents quickly. There was nothing new in it so she thought of immediately dispatching Nao from her office.

"Kuga-sama, is your secretary absent today?" Nao asked. She felt that it's time to carry out the plan that she and Reito conceived. "Perfect! She's not here anymore! It would be easier telling everything to Kuga now. The bitch is still lucky because she wouldn't witness Kuga's outbreak."

"That's none of your business," Natsuki replied but then she was bothered when she saw something on Nao's expression. Nao was obviously worried. It seemed like she was dilly-dallying over something. "What is it?"

"I know it's none of my business Kuga-sama but I care for this company that's why I'm worried that you are with someone that can't be trusted," Nao faked.

"What do you mean?" Natsuki replied, obviously annoyed. Nao was internally jumping with joy but her face only showed her false emotions.

"Can we sit? I'll tell you everything." Natsuki hesitantly led Nao inside the office and she heard the truth and nothing but the truth.

Meanwhile, Reito was in his uncle's office drinking coffee. He knows that any moment soon, the President would come to chat with his uncle and he was right. He planned this after all and failing is not an option. This is his once in a lifetime chance to be seen by the President in a different light. Reito adjusted his tie and smiled at his reflection on the glass table.

The President came in to Vice-President Kanzaki Hiro's office with his trademark attire – a white suit, a white fedora and a polished cane. The President spends lunch at least once a week with each of the vice presidents and occasionally, he also visits the Directors of the different departments when he is exceptionally satisfied with their achievement. Kuga Toushiro was surprised when he saw Reito. "What an irresponsible young man, lounging here during work hours."

"Good morning Grandpa," Reito said with a toothy and overconfident smile.

"Good morning, what are you doing here during work hours? Where's Vice-President Kanzaki?" the old man said as he sat on the couch across Reito. Unknown to the old man, Reito asked his uncle to go to his father's office in the pretext that his father wanted to discuss something. Everything went according to plan. Phase one is for Nao to tell everything to Natsuki and phase two is for Reito to directly tell the President that Natsuki is involve in a romantic relationship with a writer who has a record of busting big companies.

After exchanging pleasantries with the President, Reito smoothly steered the conversation. "I could smooth talk a lot of ladies, why not an old man?" He offered the President's favorite coffee and endured a few criticisms for his performance but in the end he managed to bring up the story about Natsuki.

"Are you sure about this?" the old man said. To say that he is angry would be an understatement. He is furious. He is furious with his son Hayato for not training his daughter properly.

"Yes Grandpa. I feel a bit responsible about this because the application passed in my office but you see now that Shizuru Viola is hired, her immediate supervisor Natsuki is the one who has the right to fire her. I did my best to countercheck the profile of the applicant but she was too good in acting that I was almost convinced that she's just an ordinary secretary. Natsuki doesn't know about this so I told Yuuki Nao to inform Natsuki."

"I see. Fire the woman. Since she managed to get into the company legally we can't file a complaint against her. Also, I read The Rising Sun and this writer is really good. But we cannot allow her to mess with our company. I'm so disappointed with Natsuki. I need to straighten her out. I was expecting that if she decides to be in a relationship, it would be with one of the children of potential business partners. You too Reito, take your sister's example. I don't know how she managed to charm the heir of the Tokiha Royal Holdings. It was a big surprise. I actually thought about putting the project on you that time but your sister was one smart woman."

Reito was annoyed at how the President brought out the topic about his sister's success while he rots in his office with nothing to be proud about. "No, I shouldn't be irritated. This is my day. I managed to push away Natsuki from Grandpa's favorites. That's my accomplishment."

The old man declined Reito's offer for lunch because he didn't want to be seen with an incompetent person. His view about Reito never changed. He was the one who hired the undercover writer who is most like very beautiful that she managed to catch Natsuki's attention. "I have to talk to Hayato. I can't let my granddaughter fool around with a middle-class journalist. I have big plans for her before I retire."

Back in Natsuki's office, she was left staring on the monitor of her laptop specifically on Shizuru's e-mail address – . "F" stands for Fujino. She is the same person. "She knows that I liked Shizuru Fujino. I wonder if she knows about me."

She doesn't know what to feel anymore. "Did she really toy with my emotions just like Yuuki said? But if she did, do I have the right to be angry when I am the reason why she lost her father? Did Sayako obaa-sama know about me? Wait, she gave me her number…It means she's expecting that I would know soon and it's okay for us to talk."

Natsuki pulled out her phone and she tried to reach Sayako's number. She walked while waiting for Sayako to pick up until she was standing by the glass window overlooking the city. A few more rings and finally, she heard the voice that reminded her of Shizuru.

"Ara, what a surprise Nat-chan. We've just seen each other yesterday and you miss me already?" Sayako lightheartedly said. Natsuki was caught off-guard by the teasing and she immediately blush.

"Uhm, hello Sayako obaa-sama, I-uh…I found out something," Natsuki stammered. She was fidgeting with her hair and she was utterly lost. She was hoping that her conversation with Sayako Viola would at least enlighten her a bit.

"Okay, I'm all ears, Nat-chan," Sayako calmly replied.

"Shizuru left me and I found out today that she's a writer of The Rising Sun and I was told that she was here only to gather information which may be of use to her," Natsuki began.

"Ara, so are you mad at her?" Sayako quickly responded.

"A bit maybe but we could have talked it out. She shouldn't just leave," Natsuki reasoned. She raised her hand and then brought it down as if she's talking to Sayako in person.

"But that's how her job works, Nat-chan. I'm surprised you said you're just a bit mad. But there's one thing I'm sure about, Shizuru didn't want to hurt you," Sayako said. "Before you left here, she told me she's in big trouble and this is the first time she hated her job. It seems to me that she became emotionally attached to your family which made it difficult for her to pull out earlier."

Natsuki heaved a sigh of relief. At least, that means Shizuru didn't just pretend to be nice to her and their interactions were all sincere. Natsuki knew that she couldn't take it if Shizuru would tell her that it was all an act.

"She should have just told me, Sayako obaa-sama," Natsuki repeated.

"You couldn't say that for sure Nat-chan. If she told you in person, you may have been shocked and you may have been very angry. You may have felt deceived by her. Feelings are quite difficult to hold back. I know this may sound bias to you but I trust my daughter's decision," Sayako explained.

"I see. But that's not all Sayako obaa-sama. There's something else that I wanted to talk about," Natsuki continued. Sayako felt that the young Kuga has discovered something about the past that was long forgotten. She stopped spraying the orchids and focused all her attention to Natsuki's voice.

"Do you know me Sayako obaa-sama?" Natsuki slowly said. She was hoping that the elder Viola got the message.

"Yes," Sayako honestly replied. There was a moment of silence. Natsuki quivered and began to sob which was heard on the other line. "Nat-chan, we can't talk about this on the phone. I'll fly to Tokyo tomorrow and we can talk. I think it's about time. I'll call you tomorrow and you should bring your father too. Do you understand?"

"Yes, gome. Gomenasai, Sayako obaa-sama. It's my fault-"

"Shhh, Nat-chan. By the way, don't tell your father that it's me you'd be meeting tomorrow okay."

"But why?"

"It's better that way."

"Will Shizuru be there?"

"I'll try to bring her, okay?"

"Okay."

The call was ended and Natsuki wiped her face with her hanky. She went to the restroom to freshen up and then she decided to read Shizuru's last report. As expected of Shizuru, it was well-written and if she presented it to the President, he would surely be impressed. Natsuki smiled. It was a sad smile because she felt alone in the office. She stared at Shizuru's empty table. She stood up and opened the drawers but she found nothing. Apparently, Shizuru has emptied her desk before they went to the plantation. She was really planning to leave. "She left. I didn't mean anything to her but it's okay I guess. I don't deserve to wish for such a thing."