Disclaimer: I don't own Mai-Hime/Otome…
Soft rays of light fell upon the pale cheek as the brunette stirred in her sleep. She sighed as her eyes slowly fluttered open, the beeping of her alarm clock only starting to make itself known to her. Shizuru rolled onto her back, gazing at the faded display.
5:30AM.
Time to wake up….huh….
The brunette slowly sat up, stretching her limbs as she slowly padded to the bathroom for a shower.
The brunette stole a few quiet moments while sipping a mug of much-needed green tea. She set the mug down with a soft chink. "Sate to, shigoto ni iku ka." [Well, I guess I should be heading off to work]
"Ara, I can't forget the disguise that Midori-san and Yohko-sensei were to kind enough to help me with, now can I?"
And Shizuru locked the door behind her with a smile.
She hummed as she got into her black BMW M3, fully dressed in her winter jacket and disguise. "Itterashaimase, Viola-sama." The attendant cheerfully called as she scanned out of the underground lot.
"Viola-sama?" Shizuru quirked an eyebrow. The white-haired woman smiled in reply. "Hai. I've been informed by Sugiura-san and Sagisawa-sensei to address you as such until the rooming assignments are finalized. I hope you'll excuse my rudeness."
Midori-san's going all-out huh…well; I have to admit this is fun.
"Ah, it's not a problem at all; it must have slipped my mind when we met last night. I'll be in your care for a short while, Tessa-san."
"Hai~! Good luck at the meeting!"
"Tessa-san's enthusiasm is what makes her cute~. Ookini for the support; I think we'll both need it in the coming future."
"Zettai ni makemasen kara ne!" [We definitely won't lose!] The attendant declared loudly, the white pony-tail braid swaying slightly as her emotions took control of her body.
Shizuru chuckled. "Well then, I'll see you in the evening. Ittekimasu."
"Hai~! Itterashai~!"
"Incoming call from your father, Shizuru-sama." An automated voice softly echoed in the luxurious car.
Shizuru smiled as she pushed the button to receive the call.
"Ohayougozaimasu, Shizuru-ojousama." A feminine voice greeted politely.
"Ohayou, Taka-san."
"Your father would like to see you immediately when you arrive at the office."
"Ah, I understand. Thank you for relaying the message. I will go see him when I get in."
"I will let him know. Dewa." [Dewa = see you then (loosely)]. And the secretary cut the call.
I was planning on seeing him at some point today anyways.
Shizuru thought absentmindedly as she drove the rest of the way in undisturbed silence.
She parked in the internee lot as she usually did, briskly walking into the building with her bag, She made to get onto an elevator but was stopped by the security guard. She sighed as she paused and rustled around for her employee badge.
Well, good to see that it's working…though it might become troublesome later on…Ah, found it.
She retained a friendly smile as the guard approached her. "I'm sorry ma'am, but if you're in need of a visitor's pass, I would kindly direct you to the receptionist to your left."
"Ara, I'm grateful for your assistance, but, as you can see," she handed her badge over to the man for inspection, "I'm fine."
The man paled slightly as he read the identification badge. He promptly handed the badge back to her, bowing his head slightly in apology.
"My sincerest apologies for my rudeness, Fujino-ojousama."
Shizuru waved a hand in dismissal. "It's no problem at all; I realize I am dressed differently than I usually do. I appreciate people who take their profession seriously. "
"Your kind words are wasted on me." He motioned towards the elevator with a bow. "Have a nice day, Fujino-ojousama."
"Thank you." Shizuru smiled as she got onto the elevator, pushing the button for the top floor.
The guard scratched the back of his head when the doors had closed. Can't believe I didn't notice that…I guess I still have a ways to go...
He shook his head as he returned to his previous station. I should've recognized that aura…
Shizuru stood silently as the elevator slowly ascended the floors of the office complex. She politely greeted various workers that got on and off at various floors, though they did greet her as they usually would, proving the effectiveness of her disguise.
Taka-san casually glanced at Shizuru's state of attire when she stepped off the elevator at the top floor.
"Your father has been expecting you. Please head in."
The fact that Taka-san immediately recognized her didn't surprise the brunette; it was her job, afterall. Shizuru was very well acquainted with her father's assistant; she had, on many an occasion, substituted for her father's presence at…lesser social events.
"Ookini, Taka-san."
"I'll have the usual ready when you're finished, ojou-sama." Though the words were spoken stiffly, the hint of a smile graced the stoic woman's features.
Shizuru simply smiled as she pushed the heavy oak doors to her father's office open.
"Good Morning, Father." Shizuru greeted as she walked into the luxurious office, seating herself in one of the leather chairs and setting her bag down beside her.
The grey-haired crimson-eyed man spared his daughter a glance before turning back to his monitor, finalizing the details of the afternoon event as well as preparing for a lunch meeting.
"Shizuru. I trust you're familiar with the business partners' names that I sent you last night?"
It was like an argument had never happened.
"Yes, Father. I plan on reviewing the information when I reach my office." Shizuru calmly replied, crossing her legs comfortably and resting her hands on her lap.
There was a silence as the company president turned to a notepad on his desk, diligently writing something down on it.
"Will you be attending the networking event in that attire?" The man removed a file folder from his cabinet, setting it on his desk, leaning his elbows on it and his chin in his hands as he peered once again at his daughter's disguise.
"Yes, Father. After discussion, Sugiura-san, Sagisawa-sensei, and I determined that it would be in the corporation's best interest as well as my own to disguise my identity at least during the initial meetings."
Shizuru's gaze never left her father's as she continued to speak. "As I am sure you are well aware, it would not be in the Fujino Corporation's best interests to monopolize the networking meeting, as my understanding that a secondary goal of this event is to promote friendly relations among businesses through this corporation-sponsored event."
Stern crimson irises bored into Shizuru's as he intently listened.
"In the matter of my roommate, also, I would like to reduce the possibility that I would be rooming with an unmotivated individual who may be biased on my appearance, as I am sure you have seen."
The man sighed. "Very well; your logic is sound. I'll trust that your judgment is for the better of the Fujino Corporation."
"As it is always, Father." Shizuru got up to leave.
"Oh, Shizuru," The man stopped her as she got up. "I have something for Midori later. She'll need it for the event. I'll have Mizuno deliver it to your office later."
"Of course, Father. I will make sure to hand it to her this afternoon." And the door silently closed behind her.
As if on cue, Mizuno was setting down a tray of freshly brewed tea onto the outer area's coffee table as Shizuru walked out of the office.
"How'd it go?" Shizuru let out a small sigh as she sat down onto the leather couch. "Alright."
And the two conversed over a few cups of calming milk tea.
"Then, I shall deliver the folder to your office later today, Shizuru-ojousama." The assistant bowed politely as Shizuru walked onto the elevator.
"Ookini, Mizuno-neesama." Shizuru waved as the doors closed, taking her down to the intern floor where she would be mixing in with the other business partner's interns.
It was empty for the moment, save for the receptionist whom Shizuru was well acquainted with. The long black-hair blue-eyed woman waved enthusiastically. "Oh, Fujino-ojousama! Good Morning!"
"Good Morning, Sorata-neesan. Oh, but I guess you'll be calling me 'Viola-san' for a while, ne?"
The black-haired woman rubbed the back of her head sheepishly. "Ah, that's right. Sumimasen, ojou-sama. Er, I mean, Viola-san…"
Shizuru giggled softly. "None of the other interns are here at the moment; when it's just the two of us, ojou-sama is fine."
A light embarrassed blush came onto the woman's face. "I'll try to remember that. But even so, isn't this floor exciting? It comes with individual offices and a conference room! I'll be the head receptionist here, so if there's anything you need, please don't hesitate to ask!"
"Homani ookini, Sorata-neesan. There are still a few things I need to unpack in my office before the event, so if you'll excuse me."
"Oh, Fujino-ojousama, I'll bring some tea and lunch for you in a few hours! Nee-san said she'll join us down here; it seems like the folder she needs to drop off should be done around lunchtime."
"That sounds lovely; I'll look forward to it, Sorata-san." Shizuru politely took her leave, pushing the door to her new office open.
Shizuru sighed as she finished hooking up her computer. It was smaller than her other office, she reasoned, but it couldn't be helped if she was to effectively mingle with the batch of incoming interns. My old office was rather oversized to begin with anyways.
A soft knock came on the glass door. Shizuru looked up.
"Come in." Shizuru smiled as the assistant pair came into the room, one rolling a cart of tea into the office, the other carrying a take-out bag in one hand and a folder in the other. "Irrashai, Mizuno-neesan, Sorata-neesan. It's not much, but please make yourselves comfortable."
The trio set up lunch on the office coffee table and couch, the three having known each other for years.
"These offices aren't too bad, huh…" Sorata commented as she took in the small yet comfortable office space, having finished pouring the tea.
"Well, it is the Fujino Corporation's internship protégé floor." The older woman replied, setting the carry-out bag on the floor. "Oh, Shizuru-ojousama, here are the documents your father wanted to you to pass on to Midori-san." She handed the thick folder to Shizuru, who set it on her desk, writing a sticky note "for Midori".
"I appreciate it, Mizuno-neesan. Ara, shrimp scampi; what's the occasion today?" Shizuru's accent betrayed her surprise as she walked back to the coffee table.
"A late birthday lunch?" Shizuru quirked an eyebrow. "And for the success of the inconspicuous mingling?" Mizuno joked as she finished setting the plates up.
The two assistants both glanced at Shizuru's attire before the three of them shared a laugh. "Well,"
The three raised their water glasses in a toast, "that sounds fine to me." And the three women conversed cheerfully as they ate.
"But really, Shizuru-ojousama, I'd have to say that your disguise is really well done," Sorata sat back, chewing thoughtfully on a piece of garlic bread.
"I must agree; did Sugiura-san and Sagisawa-sensei help you with that?" Mizuno asked as she took a sip of her tea.
"Indeed. They also helped me come up with the 'Shizuru Viola' name. I had my doubts about leaving my first name, but it seems like most people will be referring to me as 'Viola-san'; it appears that 'Shizuru' isn't that uncommon of a name for my generation either."
"Hmm…that's true…" Sorata took a sip of her tea.
"Ah, it looks like my lunch hour's almost up. I need to head back to your father's office. There are some last-minute details for the event I need to confirm."
"I should probably get back to my desk also; I'll be working on office assignments." Sorata started placing things back onto the cart she had rolled in earlier.
"I'll help clean up too," Shizuru offered as she joined in.
..
"Thanks for bringing and having lunch with me, Mizuno-neesan, Sorata-neesan." Shizuru stood at the door to her office as the pair made their way out.
"I'll see you later, Shizuru-ojousama." Mizuno bowed as she made her way to the elevator. "Ah, Shizuru-ojousama, I'll be at my desk after I clean this up if you need me!"
Shizuru sighed as she ran over the list of business partners one final time before the networking event. She stared out the window of her 10th floor office. The sun was beginning to set. She checked the time on her watch. I should head down soon. She sighed as she stood up, grabbing the thick folder on her way out the door.
"Fujino-ojousama, are you headed down to the event?" Sorata inquired as she rounded the corner.
"Yes, I am. I don't think it would hurt to be early."
"In that case, would you mind if I joined you? I'm in charge of checking-in the interns." Sorata stated as she gathered some papers and pens.
"I would be glad to accompany you."
A/N: Third chapter up tonight too~ phew I'm tired… The new semester starts tomorrow….so scary~! Well, hope you enjoy reading!
-YH