Okay, this one was fun to write, which I guess explains why I got it out so quickly. And since I have been writing some pretty short, basic plot kind of chapters lately this one is much longer and pretty fun, in my opinion. Thank you guys for being such amazing readers! Hope you enjoy :)
Rukia looked up at the daunting skyscraper before her and took a deep breath.
You can do this, Rukia. It's just another job. You're a Kuchiki, this should be a piece of cake for you.
Rukia repeated those words over and over to herself as she tentatively stepped through the door and into the pristine lobby of the Kurosaki Corporations headquarters.
Today was her first day as an employee at the large company and Rukia was both nervous and full of dread as she walked to the woman working the front desk and told her she was Jushiro Ukitake's new secretary.
The woman nodded in understanding and told her to go up to the seventeenth floor where the floor secretary would direct her further. With a plastered on smile and a quick thank you, Rukia walked into the elevator and pressed the button for the seventeenth floor.
As the doors closed in front of her, Rukia took another deep breath to calm herself down. She couldn't figure out why she was so nervous. She had been immersed in the business world ever since she had first joined the Kuchiki family. This kind of environment had been her whole life until recently.
Rukia's thoughts roamed to her best friend and she thought about what Orihime would be doing right about now. She shuddered when she remembered the conversation she had had with her roommate when she had come home from Ichigo's apartment. She knew she could trust her friend, but she couldn't risk endangering her by letting her know too much, so she was forced to hide the truth.
"You're leaving the coffee shop?" Orihime asked with a sad face that made Rukia's heart wrench.
"Yeah, I am. This is for the best, Hime. Ichigo was able to pull a bunch of strings and get me a really good job at his company. I know I don't like him that much, but this is an amazing opportunity and a good chance to get some experience before I graduate. You'd do the same if you were in my shoes."
"Yeah, I guess," Orihime said dejectedly. Rukia so badly wanted to tell her the truth but she knew it was best to keep her friend in the dark.
She had stopped by the coffee shop on her way to work, as she had promised Orihime she would, to grab some coffee and say one last good bye to her former coworkers. It was so strange entering the place she had worked at only a few days before dressed in a pencil skirt, buttoned up shirt, and blazer. All of her former coworkers greeted her with smiles despite the rush and gave her their best wishes for her new job. Though she had hated working there, she couldn't deny how much she was going to miss the people working behind the counter at the coffee shop. It was a goodbye that was completely bitter and in no way sweet.
Rukia tried to shake the thoughts of her past job and focus on the new one. Even though she only had this job to play a part in a greater scheme, she still knew she had to work just as hard as everyone else to keep her position.
Besides, her brother had always taught her never to half-ass anything. She was going to work diligently and professionally. Just like any other Kuchiki.
The elevator dinged, signaling her arrival at her floor and she gulped before she stuck her chin up and walked into her new workplace.
The seventeenth floor looked just as pristine as the main lobby. She spotted the woman working behind the desk and walked up to her with as much confidence as she could muster.
"Hello, my name is Rukia Kuchiki. I'm going to be Mr. Ukitake's new secretary."
The woman smiled up at her. "Yes, hello Ms. Kuchiki. Mr. Ukitake has been expecting you. Here, I'll show you to his office."
The secretary stood up from her desk and led Rukia into the main part of the floor that was full of people working in cubicles and at desks, answering phones, drinking coffee, and playing solitaire on their computers.
Welcome to the business world, Kuchiki.
The secretary led Rukia all the way down to the opposite end of the floor where a series of office doors greeted her. She stopped outside of one that had Rukia's new boss's name on it and politely knocked.
"Mr. Ukitake? Ms. Kuchiki is here."
A gentle voice from inside the office replied, "Ah, yes. Come on in."
"You can go inside now," the secretary told Rukia before she turned on her heel and walked back to her desk. Rukia took another deep breath and entered the office.
A man with long white hair pulled back in a ponytail and a smile that could warm anyone's heart greeted her when she entered.
"Hello, Ms. Kuchiki! It's such a pleasure to finally meet you. Please, have a seat," Ukitake said as he motioned to the two chairs in front of his desk. He had a large corner office that had an amazing view of the city of Tokyo. She expected no less from the head of human resources at a company as large as Ichigo's.
"Good morning, Mr. Ukitake. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance," Rukia said formally, extending her hand. Ukitake shook it with a smile.
"Likewise. I'm so glad to have you on board. When Mr. Kurosaki told me that you would be my new secretary, I was a little surprised, to be honest. But I know you'll do a splendid job."
"I hope I live up to the expectations you have for me, sir."
"If you're anything like your brother, I know you will," Ukitake said with a chuckle.
"You've met my brother?" Rukia asked.
"Yes, many times. He's such a man of character. I'm honored to have his little sister working as my secretary."
Rukia had never really heard anyone call her brother a 'man of character'. She knew it was true, but people usually identified Byakuya Kuchiki as a cold and calculating leader rather than a man of character.
"Now, down to business. You'll be doing the basic things secretaries do. Answering phones, taking messages, filing papers, things like that."
"Sounds easy enough."
"Yes, it should be no hard task for you. My last secretary left all of the information you'll need on your desk outside my door. And if you do for some reason need any help, you can always ask Kiyone and Sentaro."
Rukia looked confused for a moment before Ukitake pressed a button on his phone and within mere seconds a large man and a small, boyish looking woman burst through the doors.
"You rang, sir?" they both said simultaneously before turning and giving the other a glare.
"The boss rang for me, idiot," the woman said, causing the man to bristle.
"No you moron, he rang for me."
Before the two could get further in their argument, Ukitake cleared his throat and they both stopped what they were doing and snapped to attention.
"Kiyone, Sentaro, I'd like you to meet my new secretary, Rukia Kuchiki," Ukitake said.
"Hello, Ms. Kuchiki, it's a pleasure to meet you," Kiyone said before Sentaro shoved her out of the way and extended his hand to Rukia, who had no idea what to think of the crazy pair.
"It's more of pleasure to me to meet you, Ms. Kuchiki," he said. Kiyone glared at him.
"Stop trying to suck up to her Sentaro," she said.
"You're one to talk!" he retaliated.
Ukitake cleared his throat again, causing both Kiyone and Sentaro to quit arguing yet again.
"You'll both be responsible for helping Rukia as she adjusts to her new position. If she needs any help, you'll be the ones she calls. Understood?" Ukitake asked, completely at ease, despite his employees rather heated bickering.
"Yes sir!" they exclaimed in unison.
"Alright, you can both get back to work."
They nodded and walked out the door, glaring at each other the entire way out. Rukia watched them leave in silent disbelief. She turned back to her new boss uneasily.
"They're…interesting," was all she could manage to say.
Ukitake laughed at that. "Yes, they're both a little competitive."
Rukia didn't think she would describe their relationship as only a little competitive.
"Now, before I let you get to work I'd like to show you around a little bit and introduce you to a few people you need to get to know. Does that sound good?"
Before Rukia could answer, the phone at Ukitake's desk rang. He excused himself quickly before answering.
"Jushiro Ukitake…yes, hello sir…why yes she is. In fact she's sitting right in front of me…sure, we can do that…alright then, I'll see you soon…yes, goodbye sir," Ukitake said before he hung up the phone.
"That was one of my superiors. Apparently there are some higher ups that are very interested in meeting with you. Do you mind if we take a quick field trip?"
Rukia was curious as to who would want to meet with her, but she shook off the curiosity and answered her boss. "Not at all."
"Good, let's get going then," Ukitake said before he stood up from his desk and led her out the door. He closed the door to his office, led her across the floor, and back into the elevator. Ukitake pressed the button for the top floor and the elevator whirred to life, taking them to the highest part of the building.
The floor they exited onto was even cleaner and better looking then the floor she had come from. This floor didn't have a whole slew of cubicles and desks surrounded by offices, though. There were a few desks scattered about a large lobby and a row of offices along both walls that led to two double doors at the backside of the floor. Rukia figured out pretty quickly whose office those doors led to.
A woman sitting at a nearby desk wearing glasses and a disapproving look greeted the pair as they exited the elevator. She paged someone using her phone and waited until a door to what looked like a nearby conference room opened and a young man with orange hair entered the main area.
Rukia's stomach dropped.
Oh god. Already?
"Hello, Ms. Kuchiki, Mr. Ukitake!" a very chipper CEO greeted them as he walked up to his two employees.
"Hello, Mr. Kurosaki. How are you this morning?" Ukitake asked.
"I am doing wonderful, Ukitake. Especially since this lovely lady has come to work at my company," he said with a smirk as his eyes trailed back to Rukia. It was becoming a very intense struggle for her to try and keep the glare of hatred from appearing on her face.
"Yes, I really do appreciate you finding such a gem to be my secretary, Mr. Kurosaki. I know she'll do well here," Ukitake said with a smile as he turned toward his new employee, giving Rukia a millisecond to stop giving Ichigo the stare down.
"Oh, I have no doubt about that. So, Ms. Kuchiki, have you enjoyed your time at the company so far?" Ichigo asked cheekily. Rukia just knew he was toying with her. That bastard.
She answered with the closest thing to a smile she could muster. "Well considering I've only been at this company less than an hour, I don't have much to complain about."
Except the CEO.
"That's good to hear. I won't keep you long since I know you have work to do, but I do have one request."
Oh god. What does that fool have planned for me now?
"What is it?"
"Would you mind too terribly if I asked you to have lunch with me this afternoon?"
Rukia had to stop herself from rolling her eyes. "Isn't that a little unprofessional, sir?"
Ichigo knew she was being cynical, but he couldn't deny how much he loved it when she called him 'sir'.
"It's just lunch. It's not like I'm asking you out on a date," he replied with a smirk.
If Ukitake hadn't been standing right next to her, she would've strangled him.
I can't believe I'm working for this bastard.
"I'd really rather not go out somewhere to eat on my first day."
"That's fine. We can just eat in my office."
Rukia narrowed her eyes at him ever so slightly. That jerk knew exactly what he was doing. She hated to admit it, but he was damn clever. He knew that he had promised not to try anything on her so he could pass off a lunch date as completely innocent. And he had cornered her into saying yes, considering her new boss was standing right next to her.
Goddammit. "Fine," she said shortly causing Ichigo to grin.
"I look forward to it."
Back in the elevator, Ukitake glanced over at his new secretary and smiled. He could tell she was angry. He didn't quite know how the Kuchiki heiress and his boss knew each other, but he could tell they had quite an interesting relationship.
The first half of Rukia's day went by smoothly enough. Being a secretary wasn't that hard and she had only had to go to Kiyone and Sentaro twice to ask a question. Both times they had completely overwhelmed her when they kept trying to one up the other with their help. Rukia figured the less she had to ask those two, the better.
Eventually the clock on her computer indicated it was time for her lunch break and she groaned. She had been dreading this all morning. But, she figured she might as well get it over with and move on with the rest of her day.
She begrudgingly rode the elevator to the top floor and greeted Ichigo's secretary, who she had found out from Ukitake was named Nanao. Nanao told her she could go on ahead to Ichigo's office and, after taking yet another deep breath to calm herself, she opened one of the two doors and walked inside.
Ichigo's office was about as large as she expected it would be. The entire backside was just one large window that displayed a breathtaking view of the city. There were various pieces of furniture strewn about along with a large bookcase and desk. Ichigo sat behind the desk with his legs resting on top.
"Ah, so nice of you to drop by, Ms. Kuchiki," he greeted her with a smirk.
"Drop the act, Kurosaki. I'm here to eat and then I'm going back to work, got it?" she said as she walked up and sat in one of the chairs facing his desk.
"Fine. I'll just enjoy the company while it lasts."
Rukia noticed that there was a whole array of food on his desk. "Where did all of this come from?"
"I say the word and I can get anyone I want to bring me something to eat."
"You really are a tyrannical king, aren't you?"
"Not really. Just putting the interns to work. This is what they're for, after all."
Rukia rolled her eyes at that as she broke apart a pair of chopsticks and dug in.
"So, how's work been?" Ichigo asked her as nonchalant as ever.
Rukia swallowed her food and answered, "Good, I guess. Haven't had any trouble so far."
"That's good. Have you met anyone besides Ukitake?"
"I've met most of the people working in human resources. Ukitake said he would introduce me to some other executives at some point but he needed me to actually do my job for most of the day."
"I see. I wonder who he wants to introduce you to."
"You got me. Chances are I've probably actually met some of them before."
"When?"
"At various dinner parties and galas and such. Byakuya used to always make me go to those things and talk to all his business partners."
"I see."
"Just so we're clear, Kurosaki, I won't be doing this every day. I'd rather not announce it to the entire company that we know each other outside of work."
"Why not?"
"Because people talk! Can you imagine the rumors that would swirl if I came to your office every day at the exact same time to 'have lunch'? There are enough rumors going around about how I got this job in the first place."
"Wait, what are people saying?"
"What do you think they're saying? They think I slept my way to this job or something." Rukia shuddered at the thought.
"You just need to learn to ignore them. People have been spreading rumors about my morals since I got this job."
"How do you deal with that though?"
Ichigo chuckled. "I let the numbers speak for themselves. People can say what they want about my methods, but they can't argue with my results."
"I wish I had your confidence. I'm just so sick of people staring at me everywhere I go. I got enough of that at my brother's company."
"I can shut them all up if you want me to. I have that power."
"I don't need you fighting my battles for me, Kurosaki. Yes, it's irritating, but I can handle it myself."
"Whatever you say. Just know I'm always here to help."
Rukia looked up from her food and eyed the CEO curiously. She never knew what to expect from him. One minute he was taunting her with that annoying smirk of his and the next he was smiling ever so softly and offering her his help. She was having a hard time keeping up with his apparent mood swings.
Suddenly the door to Ichigo's office swung open and Uryuu waltzed inside and up to the desk, immediately making his own plate of food.
"Goddammit, Ishida. Don't you ever knock? And who said any of this food was for you?" Ichigo said thoroughly irritated to have his alone time with Rukia cut short.
"What? I figured you two weren't quite to the office sex stage yet so I thought it would be safe to come on in."
Rukia almost choked on her food at that comment. "Please don't ever say anything like that again."
Uryuu only laughed and sat in the chair next to Rukia's. "As for the food, I didn't think Ms. Kuchiki here would gobble all this down herself and I was hungry, so here I am."
"Hey, don't underestimate me when it comes to food."
"She's right. You should've seen the steak she scarfed down on our date."
Instead of thinking about their date and the surprisingly good time she had had on it, Rukia said, "Hey, I have a fast metabolism. Might as well take advantage of it."
"Ugh, I envy you," Uryuu said before he dug into his meal.
Rukia lightly laughed at him and the three lapsed into silence as they ate their lunches.
Eventually, Uryuu decided to break the silence and turned toward the woman sitting next to him. "So, Ms. Kuchiki, have you found any important information so far?"
"I've only been here half a day."
"True, but now you have access to important resources. Like Ukitake's schedule. Does he have any interesting lunch meetings coming up?"
"No, I don't think so."
"Has he mentioned anything about Gin Ichimaru or any of his other partners?"
Rukia immediately tensed at the name. "No, and I don't think he would if he had the opportunity."
"Why is that?" Ichigo asked.
"Ichimaru is the one directly responsible for the take down of my brother's company. They used to be friends until Gin betrayed him. I loathe that man with a passion."
"Oh, I didn't know that," Uryuu said.
"So Ukitake is friends with him?" Rukia asked.
"I wouldn't say they're friends, but they've had a few meetings together which Ukitake has always raved about," Ichigo answered her.
"And you two didn't feel like mentioning that to me?"
"We didn't know the role he played in bringing down your brother's company. And even if we did, it wouldn't matter. I don't think this makes you any less fit to be Ukitake's secretary."
"Maybe not, but it sure does lessen my opinion of the guy. Geez, and I thought I could trust him."
"Don't discount him yet. Ukitake is a smart man. I wouldn't be surprised if he has a reason for all this," Ichigo said.
"He better."
"Maybe you could find a way to bring this up with him, Ms. Kuchiki. That way we can know for sure what his intentions are and if we need to do anything about it," Uryuu said.
"I'll see what I can do. And by the way, you can call me Rukia, you know. It feels too formal when you call me Ms. Kuchiki."
"Fine. Noted."
"You know what, boys, all this talk has made me lose my appetite. I think I'm going to get back to work," Rukia said as she sat down her plate of food and gathered the things she had brought with her.
"You sure you don't want to stay any longer?" Ichigo asked slyly.
She rolled her eyes at him. "No, thank you. The quicker I can get back to my desk, the better. See you guys later." And with that, she was gone.
Uryuu turned toward his friend and watched in amusement as Ichigo looked at the place Rukia had just been with a goofy smile.
"You're pathetic, you know that?" he said.
"I prefer to think of it as romantic."
"Call it whatever you want, it's still useless. We have a job to do, Kurosaki. Keep your hands off of her until we're finished."
"I'll try my best."
"Maybe having her work here wasn't a good idea after all," Uryuu said nervously as he looked at his friend.
"Are you kidding me? This is so fun."
"Yeah, that's why I think it was a bad idea."
"Relax, Uryuu. I can control myself when I need to."
"Good."
"But," Ichigo added as an afterthought, "that doesn't mean I won't say no if she comes to me."
"And what possible evidence do you have that would make you think she'll come to you?"
"I can't really explain it. I just know that something has changed in our relationship. Before, she was rude and sarcastic because she was genuinely angry with me. Now, I think she's just toying with me. Like this is all a big game to her. And I just so happen to be an expert at this particular game," Ichigo said confidently.
"That so? Well, I wouldn't discredit Rukia, then. She also seems to know quite a bit about this 'game'."
"Yeah, I know. That's what makes it so fun."
"Well, you can have all the fun you want outside of work. But right now you have other things to focus on."
"Yeah, yeah. I got it."
"I'm serious. Don't let Aizen use her against you unintentionally. You never know when or how he can strike."
"Yeah, I know," Ichigo said much more seriously this time.
After a few more minutes of idle chatter, Uryuu finished up his food and made to leave. On his way out, he paused at the door and turned back to his friend. "Stay smart, Kurosaki. Rukia isn't the only one who's playing a game with you."
Ichigo eyed his friend and then shook his head in understanding before Uryuu walked about the door.
How different those two games were. One for pleasure, the other for potential financial ruin. He would have to stay on his toes and play the game right in both cases to get what he wanted.
He hoped he was smart enough to win.
So lots of things to think about for the future for sure :) Thanks for all the reviews as always! Let me know what you thought of this one and I'll try and get the next one out pretty soon as well.