Golden Star Dreams
Chapter 3: First Day pt 1
The next morning I called my mom with excitement over my accomplishment.
"Hey Mom!"
"Soshi? Is this you? How are you sweetheart!"
"I'm fine… Well I have some news for ya!"
"Really, what?"
As I told my mother about my newest job, I wasn't very surprised when she didn't take to my announcement very well. The entire conversation, I was reminded time after time that college would be the best thing for me rather than chase some silly dream in the city of stars. But what she completely overlooked was that it was a blessing that I even managed to get my food in the door, much less work alongside the mega-famous Sesshoumaru Kenji. Well, the phone call ended with a fight over my future and once again, my spirits were shattered. Somehow, I couldn't help but feel that mom was right after all. One and half years of living on my own and this whole time I found myself just waiting on the doorsteps of opportunity; except it's me knocking instead of the other way around…
One could even guess my occupation by the way my apartment looked; minimum wage waitress-slash-assistant.
'Snap out of it Sosh'! Your mom doesn't know what she's talking about! You're gonna make this work!"
It was Sunday and that meant I had the entire day off so I had made a call to Boss-man at Neon Heights to explain the situation from the night before. Shockingly, he was very understanding and that he would see me at work Monday evening. Boss-man even wished me luck on my second job! My real second job. I was remarkably back in high spirits about my personal success and I would treat myself to a little pampering.
Sitting in the tub, I had submerged my entire body in the water loving the warm to borderline hot liquid soaking my skin. Letting out a relaxing sigh, I sunk deeper into my tub relishing the quiet time I was getting to myself.
*Obnoxious ringtone*
*Sigh…* Damn…
Reaching for my phone, I didn't really look at the number before I answered hoping to just confirm my day off with my coworkers and hang up. But I couldn't have been any more wrong.
"Hello Miss Ariko…"
I swear his voice sounds so familiar… I just can't quite put my finger on it…
I had responded with an unenthusiastic 'hello' and a deep chuckle rumbled through my phone. Goodness I wished he would never laugh like that again; he just doesn't know what effect it has on me. Or maybe he does know and the bastard is exploiting it.
"Well someone sounds happy to hear from me… maybe the offer of doing a porno movie with me might raise her spirits."
"Mr. Kenji!" I shouted appalled by his comment.
"Seems like I was right…"
"Just tell me what you want, I'm busy…"
"That's no way to speak to your boss."
"I'm beginning to wonder if I even want you to be my boss…"
A silence greeted me before I heard him change his voice from player to professional. I won my first argument and in my mind I began doing a little victory dance.
"Well today, I want you to be at the Golden Star building. Today, a limo is to be taking us to the grand opening of a new children's park and I'm supposed to make an appearance there. Be at the agency by 12:30."
"Yes Mr. Ken-…. It's already 12! Why did you call so last minute?"
"First rule of show business Miss Ariko, always make yourself convenient for your boss."
"But, But… I'm in the tub! I won't make it there on time! Hello? Mr. Kenji!..."
He hung up the phone. I was left staring at my cellphone with my mouth agape from the sheer amount of shock I was experiencing. With an angry roar, I left the tub and began getting ready. My first day and already I was starting to hate this job… and it was on a Sunday! Sundays are meant for relaxation and reflection on the past week's events. Such a pain in the ass he was…
~~~~c(^^c) On to the next scene!~~~~
Sesshoumaru checked his watch as he began climbing in the back of the limo. Where the hell was that Ariko chick? Today he had his adoptive daughter Rin with him in hopes she would enjoy the new park while he promoted it in the background. He let out a low, but inaudible, sigh. He never really had a lot of time to spend with Rin between promotions, movie roles, and the countless women he would bring home. She was always in the care of his downstairs neighbor, Kaede whenever he needed to go out for a job, leaving the upset Rin behind begging for just a sliver of quality time together. Unfortunately, with Kaede's age taking a toll on her, Sesshoumaru was in a desperate need of another babysitter and he would shamefully dump the poor girl on his assistants in a poor attempt of getting Rin to adjust to life without Miss Kaede.
Kendra hopped in the car and sat in a seat across from the actor. Once again, she was on her phone; scheduling and scheduling without his consent, sucking away even more free time from his daughter. Yep, Kendra was on hell of an agent…
Rin shot the light-brown haired girl an ugly glare before she nuzzled against Sesshoumaru embracing her arm in a rather possessive manner. Kendra stopped mid-sentence during her conversation and raised an eyebrow before finishing the rest of the call and hanging up. Once again, Kendra had on a huge grin and she clapped her hands together.
"Alright Mr. Kenji, today we're going to cut your appearance at the park a little bit short and then we'll be headed over to a bar in need of boosting sales. Also, how about this-"
"How about you go away forever you hag!" The little girl cozying up to Sesshoumaru shouted with a squeak.
"Rin… behave." Sesshoumaru said calmly.
"But she's always taking you away from me! On my eighth birthday, she tried to book you to go sign autographs at some other kid's birthday! How fair is that?"
"I know Rin… but that day I didn't go. I stayed."
"Only because the kid got sick that day and cancelled their party just minutes before mine!"
An awkward silence befell the three. It seemed like it was the same routine every other day. Kendra starts booking jobs, Rin complains, Sesshoumaru tries to defend his agent's actions and then Rin makes an argument winning point before the eminent silence overtakes their entire conversation.
"Well kid, think of it this way; your private school, your clothes, your piano lessons and food are all paid for thanks to your daddy. But with more credit going to me because I make sure he goes to these little jobs so he can have a nice, fat paycheck to your little disrespectful ass off the streets!"
"Kendra! Keep in mind that I am the one who pays you as well. I give you money to bring me jobs, I get paid for doing said jobs, and you get paid from the money I make. It's like a nice fancy circle. You need me just as I need you…" said Sesshoumaru coolly.
Kendra bit her tongue and nodded keeping her last few thoughts to herself. Looking out the window of the passenger's seat, the green-eyed woman flashed a smile before checking her watch.
"Well, well… 12: 27. She made it on time. Good for her." She said; the last part being laced with sarcasm.
~~~(v^^v) POV CHANGE!~~~
I was hoofin' it down the concrete sidewalk when I finally saw that the limo was still there. If I could, I would have sighed with relief, but my lungs were working way too hard to even utter a victory chuckle. When I got the vehicle, I threw open the door, dove headfirst into the backseat and managed to bowl over poor Kendra to get into my seat. I fixed my messy hair, but by the way everyone was staring at me, I knew I looked a lot worse than what I thought. I looked down to see if my outfit was in check, but it wasn't... My shirt was on backwards, my jeans had a few rips in them and my shoes were mix-matched sneakers. With a nervous smile, I scratched my head sheepishly before I was suddenly handed a few papers. It was a to-do list of everything I needed to do once we arrived at the park.
"Um… Miss Ariko, since this is your first day, I'll let this little… wardrobe malfunction slide, but next time dress in casual business attire. We're trying to be professionals here." Kendra said quietly to me.
As the limo was driving us to our destination, I read through this supposed to-do list that I had in my hands.
To-do list:
Make sure security is heavily surrounding the area
Check
Make sure paparazzi are taking pictures ONLY; no interviews
I can do that
Take Rin to play in the park
I guess I can do some babysitting
Take Rin to apartment where another to-do list will be waiting for you
O…K…
"Is something wrong Miss Ariko?"
His voice snapped me from my reading and I looked to Mr. Kenji who was staring at me with intent eyes; analyzing me. I nodded my head and continued to study the four-line list in my hands. Was it really this easy? Why did all his other assistants quit then? Suddenly I felt the seat next to move and I shifted my gaze to the most adorable looking, brown-eyed girl I had ever seen in my life. She stared at me. I mean really stared at me as if she was searching my soul or something. She was kind of freaking me out, but I stayed silent so as not to offend the actor I was sitting across from.
"Are you my father's new assistant?" She asked me simply.
"Y-yes… Yes I am."
"Well I don't like you and I never will."
I was a little stunned by this sudden proclamation and I wondered if I had met this little girl somewhere before and did something to piss her off. She continued to stare at me to the point where she was leaning in to my personal space. I didn't know what she was looking for, but if she saw a pimple or food on my face, I hoped she would tell me.
"Hmm… you're definitely different." She finally said.
"Huh?"
"Most of daddy's employees insult me back after I tell them I'll never like them. That and nearly all of daddy's assistants were men; far more short tempered than women…"
I halfway smiled at her feeling even more awkward than ever. What was this kid's deal? The limo suddenly came to a stop and the muffled noise of cheering women quickly grew into a loud roar of screams and declarations of love for Sesshoumaru Kenji as soon as the door opened. One by one, we all hopped out the back seat of the limo with me being the last one to leave and I immediately went to work on my job.
Security guards at each station? Yep.
Paparazzi? Nothing in sight at the moment
Now for little Rin. I looked around searching for the brown haired child when I saw her being peeled from the leg of her father by Kendra. Slowly I walked over, watching the scene sadly play out. Rin was begging to stay by Mr. Kenji's side while Kendra was having the hardest time trying to coax her into playing on the park grounds.
"C'mon you little brat!" Kendra said through clinched teeth.
"Never! Dad has to come with me to push me on the swing! He promised!"
"Your father is a very busy man… promises must be broken in order to make the cash!"
"Shut your mouth you wrinkle-infested witch!"
"Why you little bit-"
I quickly cut between the two and kneeled down to Rin's level before Kendra could finish her last offensive statement. The little child was crying her eyes out clenching onto the pant leg of her father and hanging on for dear life. I could hear a stressed out sigh leave my new boss and my heart nearly broke in two from the sight. My first instinct was talk Rin out of leaving her father to go play, but a new idea formed in my mind. I stood up and shoved my to-do list in Kendra's hands before grabbing a nearby mega-phone and used a park bench as my podium. Clearing my throat and tapping on the microphone and calling the whole crowd's attention.
"UM… HELLO? CAN EVERYONE PLEASE SETTLE DOWN FOR A MOMENT? GUYS?"
Frustration…
"CAN EVERYONE JUST SHUT THE HELL UP FOR ONE DAMN MINUTE! I HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING SESSHOUMARU KENJI!"
To my fortune, the overly loud screams from the fangirls were silenced except for the occasional laughter at my ridiculous outfit. Kendra, Mr. Kenji and Rin all focused to me with Kendra in shock and Mr. Kenji nearly shooting me death glares. I hoped this idea of mine would work.
"Um… In order to promote and prove that this new park is a family-friendly environment, Mr. Sesshoumaru Kenji and his daughter Rin Kenji will demonstrate by spending some quality time on the playset and the swing. During this time, I ask that you all please refrain from bothering the two and I would also like to request a few guards stand near the father and his adorable little daughter Rin. C'mon guys! Let's open this park with a positive first start!"
I was amazed by the amount of cooperation I received from the guards as a couple of them made their way to surround Mr. Kenji and the overjoyed Rin. As I watched the father and daughter engage in a touching moment of family bonding, Kendra climbed on the bench with me and began directing the crowd to the mayor and the park maintenance crew if anyone had any questions or wanted to meet the makers of this beautiful project. She patted me on the back with a firm strike and nudged me in the sides with her elbow.
"Wow… Miss Ariko, I'm impressed. Promoting the park while at the same time keeping the boss and his kid happy? Hmm… I'm getting the feeling that I made the right choice after all. Even if your clothing choice is a little… off.
"Thanks Ms. O'Conner. I only aim to please."
"Well keep on aiming… you'll hit the target more times than you think."
I looked back over to Mr. Kenji who was pushing his elated daughter on the swing. From a closer observation, I could see that he was smiling; a genuine smile that only a parent could wear once they are united with their young ones. It was a smile that looked as if it missed the face it was planted on, never once wavering from his lips He suddenly turned to lock eyes my charcoal black irises and his heartfelt gratitude could be felt without him even having to utter the words, 'thank you'. I was happy to do it. It was my job.
To-do list:
Make sure security is heavily surrounding the area
Check.
Make sure paparazzi are taking pictures ONLY; no interviews
Check.
Take Rin to play in the park
Task performed above and beyond expectations.
Take Rin to apartment where another to-do list will be waiting for you
I still need the keys…
Such a great way to start off my first day! I still have the second half left.
~~~(^.^)^ Kirby says, "Thanks for reading!"~~~
This is me... hoping that I pulled this chapter off. Well how are you guys likin' the story so far? Keep looking out for the next installment!