"I can't believe my mother gave you guys keys. I mean, what's the point of living on your own when you have roommates that don't even live here barge in whenever they feel like it."
"To make sure you're still on your toes, Mundane!" Nao announced while making herself comfortable on the couch.
"Don't call me that! And it's Mon, not Mun." Mon shouted. She threw her things in the corner and sat at her dinner table where a bluenette had smiled at her and a chestnut sat beside the bluenette.
"So? Did she fire you? Do I have a chance? Or are you crazy in love yet?" Nao was desperate to know.
"Crazy in love!? Pfft! She's driving me crazy! I swear, the woman is like an out of control roller coaster. She's up, she's down, she's happy, she's mad."
"So…are you fired?"
Mon rolled her eyes. "No Nao, I'm not fired. At least I don't think I am. They took me out for dinner to apologize. But I think it was more so on the Boss Lady's intentions." She said thoughtfully while rubbing her chin.
The subject was changed and they all decided to talk amongst themselves and they say they all had. They laughed in delight while Nao and Natsuki went back and forth about random things. Mon always liked when they would banter like sisters, it was always like that when they first met. Even though neither one would admit it, they both dislike each other, but they do respect each other.
"Not that I'm complaining but, what are you all doing here?" She asked.
All three women had gathered around the table with seriousness on their faces and it was making Mon nervous. Shizuru placed hot tea on the table and served them whether they liked it or not.
"It's about this weekend."
"Oh! Is it canceled? That's fantastic. Now I can focus on my project." Mon felt a rush of relief and one less thing to worry about.
"Not really Tsuna." Natsuki said nervously. "It turns out that it is a business party but, mom and your mom is… kind of particularly using it to find you a suitable partner."
Mon had turned pale as a ghost.
Suitable partner? It's only been three weeks. Why the sudden rush!?
"Why the sudden rush!? Are they that eager to get me hitched?"
"I didn't exactly stay on the phone long enough for mom to finish."
"That's because you hung up on her, you ungrateful mutt!" Nao shot at Natsuki.
"You what!?"
Mon became shocked. Her Aunt can be kind of a psycho whenever she sees fit but, even the brunette knew better to never hang up on Saeko Kuga. The collateral damage will be disastrous. Especially when the culprit is her own daughter.
"Hey! This mutt was nice enough to get you a job. You ungrateful spider!" Natsuki shot back.
Mon didn't have the time nor the energy to deal with her friend and cousin and she was still processing the news that was just presented to her. So she was able to get the chestnut woman's attention and needed her to stop their squabbles.
"Ara. Natsuki And Nao needs to behave like civilized adults or each one will have a punishment given by yours truly."
Shizuru had used a harmonizing tone in her voice. To anyone, it would feel like a soothing melody that would relax the mind and pierce the night sky. But to those that know her well, it was a deathly penetrating stab to the body, mind, heart and soul. With no chance of recovering. Both women froze in their argument and sat back down silently like good children should.
Mon thanked Shizuru with a nod and sighed out her frustrations. "Okay, there's just so much I can take tonight. And right now I just want to take a shower and go to bed. Because I have a feeling that somethings gonna happen and I just want to get through it before this weekend."
Everyone nodded and started to leave the house. Mon walked them all to their cars and hugged them each affectionately.
"You know our mom's are just looking out for you. And so am I." Natsuki said so generously.
"I know, Natsu. And I get why you suggested and agreed with our mom's. I can't back out now."
"Well, if you ever need help just let us know, Mon. I'm sure Mai and Mikoto will join." Nao said as she reassured her friend that she's not alone. Mon appreciated the kindness in her friends and was very lucky to have them.
Mon took her shower and was able to wash the day away. It was reaching the midnight point and she felt too exhausted to wonder about the weekend. Other than that she couldn't help but think about the raven beauty. She wasn't sure but, it looked like Lady Sam was sort of enjoying herself during dinner. Even though certain opinions and unexpected insults were made, Mon had learned that doing so, it was Sam's way of apologizing. Mon had figured out that Lady Sam has multiple personalities. Her employees had known about it but had said nothing. Everyone had praised Mon in their own way because she was the first person who would argue back with the Boss Lady with no fear and it looked like she wasn't annoyed by her actions, but intrigued by it.
I wonder why. Mon thought.
Ding
Just as Mon was about to fall asleep, her cell phone went off and she was getting an incoming text. She looked upon it and recognized the number. Mon groaned while rolling her eyes back and was thinking whether to text back or not. Either way if she did she'll get slammed if she doesn't she'll get slammed. No matter what, she'll get slammed.
Oh, what the hell.
{Why are you texting back? It's late.}
{I should say the same. I was just about to go to sleep.} Send.
Sam reacted and sat up straight. {Don't! Stay and chat with me. Who are you with?}
Mon couldn't help herself. {I am sleeping next to a young beautiful…brunette.} Send.
It took a long moment for the raven beauty to respond. Mon had clearly provoked her boss and decided to play nice. {I'm just joking. I'm alone.} Send.
Sam became happy and satisfied that no one was around or laying beside Mon.
{Well, make sure there's no ghosts.}
Is she trying to scare me? {Remember that ghost that was behind you before you left? Don't look out the window. Goodnight.}
-0-
Mon was walking slowly through the doors of her job when she heard her phone go off, she took it out, but before she answered it, she checked the screen first and the caller had shown a familiar name. She groaned. She pressed her bluetooth device and answered uninterested.
"What do you want?" she said annoyingly.
"Is that any way to speak to your mother!?"
"Only when she's trying to control my life. And don't think I don't know what this call is about. Natsuki explained everything and I'm telling you I'm not okay with it."
"And I totally agree."
"Huh, what? If that's the case then why the big push?"
Naksu had explained the situation more clearly and that the word had gotten out that the Tsunami heir was in search for a suitable companion. Mon was just about to interrupt but was kept silent when Naksu added another input.
"She just wanted you to observe your options in our social circles. I also mentioned that you are not against it or prejudice against any social circles."
Mon sighed in relief. "Thanks for that."
"And just to give you a heads up, The Kanzaki family will be making an appearance. Just so we're clear, Saeko and I do not want a repeat of what happened last time."
"Last time was not my fault." Mon had defended herself but recovered and she didn't want to make a scene. "Well, I'm at work, so I gotta go. I'll see you tomorrow."
"I'll see you then my love." Naksu said affectionately and hung up.
Mon stopped at the staircase and saw the Boss Lady's mugshot picture which it wasn't but it was to her. She giggled at the thought and remembered what she had sent her last night. Mon gave away a small smile and was about to walk the rest of the way upstairs. Until she felt a firm but soft hand forcing her back to turn and pinned to a wall. She looked a little confused, but the raven beauty came close to her and lowered her sunglasses to reveal her undying eyes.
Whoa, she must've not gotten any sleep. Mon thought while holding back her chuckles.
"What's with the dark circles?" Mon was strongly trying to fight back the laugh that wanted to escape. "Didn't get enough sleep?"
"Like you even have to ask. It's all your fault for scaring me." She explained and walked off because she heard voices coming from down the stairs.
Mon scoffed. Thinking that she didn't do anything wrong. She headed off to her station and got started with her work.
Lady Boss had entered her office and tried to see the worst of what her eyes looked like. She couldn't help that the black circles were still forming around her eyes and that she thought back to last night when she texted Mon about the ghost.
{Well, make sure there's no ghosts.} She was so confident about that remark.
Is she trying to scare me? Mon had thought and then she fought back with another text. {Remember that ghost that was behind you before you left my house? Don't look out the window. Goodnight.}
Sam became utterly paranoid. She ran over to the window without looking and shut her blinds. She curiously looked under her bed to see if anything was there. The howling of the neighboring dogs frightened her and ran to her bed. She left her room to gather a totem and placed it next to her bed.
Back to Mon, she had her headphones on and watched her screen, she managed to figure out some of the glitches on the second demo for the VR team. Multiple angles and various components were set and the timing for the music that was chosen were spot on whenever the image would hit its point. The fashion team had prepared a variety of costumes and asked some of the staff to model the outfits. Each one was imaginative and unique. The details on each outfit were percist and spot on. All four characters were creative and matched the profile to the game. Two elves, One Orc and a Knight. They all came out spectacular and were ready to be posted on the Diversity Page. She also had finished her draft content and felt really overwhelmed about everyone's contribution. The month was almost over with three weeks down and she felt unprepared and not close to completion. With so many distractions coming towards her left and right, Mon couldn't focus as much as she wanted to. But Chen and Yha were sitting nearby and could see that Mon had something on her mind.
"Hey Mon, is everything okay? You seem a little distracted." Yha asked when she tapped her friend's shoulder and Mon removed her headphones to see what Yha wanted. "Are you nervous about presenting the first draft to Lady Boss?" Chen asked.
"Ah no. I was just thinking about something else."
"Okay. Because we heard you mumbling about spirits. Like you were possessed."
Mon became a little confused until a thought came to her. She gasped. She figured out why Boss Lady said it was her fault. All she could do was smile and laugh to herself in her own amusement. She must've gotten scared from what I said last night and couldn't sleep. "Well, serve her right." Mon sounded satisfied and went back to work and placed her headphones back on.
Until…
"We have a problem!"
Lady Boss had burst out of her office and was able to catch everyone's attention. Even Mon was able to hear the Boss Lady's loud roar through her headphones and was curious to know what her problem was.
"It seems we have a traitor. Everyone in the conference room. Now." She had demanded and everyone didn't hesitate to oblige her orders.
Mon became curious to what was going on and the rest of the staff were also curious but mostly paranoid. Lady Boss activated the projector and the screen showed a website that was posted by another company known as Nita and that was equally similar to the idea that Mon had created. Which was impossible since the entire page wasn't finished nor was it complete. So how could someone post an incomplete page and still end up with many followers, viewers and sharers? Sam had decided to question everyone out of suspicion. Finally when Mon was ordered for her interrogation she entered the office but stood where she stood.
"Come and sit." Sam ordered and Mon couldn't help but obey. "You are the content administrator. You hold all the power of this project."
"So? It doesn't mean I have anything to do with it."
"How much did that company pay you?" She ordered an answer.
Mon felt insulted. She didn't know what was going on and didn't know what to say, but she wasn't going to stand by and have her boss excuse her for something she never did.
"To tell you the truth, this company was not my first choice to apply for. I have applied to multiple places and each one was willing to hire me because of my experience and talent. And I chose this company because it had so much potential. My efforts had proven exquisitely and not just myself have worked on this project but everyone here as well. And we've succeeded. So why would I risk all that hard work, just to betray you?"
Sam walked around and sat at the front of her desk where Mon had sat.
"Why should I believe you about anything you say?"
Mon looked up at her and was about to lose it but she mentally stopped herself and became reasonable as she spoke. "Because my mother and aunt always said that we should always have gratitude and honesty in life, if we want to succeed."
Sam looked upon her with undying eyes,
"If you are unsatisfied with my answer, I will come up with another content to replace the old one."
What the hell was I thinking? I can't come up with a whole new content. She thought frantically.
Both women were in a staring contest once again. Neither one was willing to back down from the other until a knock at the door had broken their eye contacts. Mon was excused and was able to go back to her station. Once she was there she just looked upon the page that was posted but wasn't sure why someone would post it in the first place. She was feeling very agitated, she ran her fingers through her hair and sigh for the nth time and still couldn't figure out what had happened. After a few moments had passed she was ready to create a new content but was able to keep her own idea since she didn't see any of the VR's and fashion teams creations throughout the posted page. She was determined to do her work and was loyal to her coworkers and boss, but for her to get them to see it was going to be a challenge, a challenge that she will not fail.
-0-
Kirk had just found out about the situation and was able to calm the employees by giving them snacks. He looked over towards Mon and she had a suspicious glare on her. He figured that she knew something was off with him and he tried to excuse himself by going into Sam's office. He tried to reason with Sam that there could be a small glitch in the system and that there shouldn't be mole in the company that would betray her or the business. Kirk left the company and headed off to a new destination. He entered the building and was greeted by the owner…
"You betrayed me!"
"Mr. Kirk I can explain.."
"I invited you to invest in the project. Not to steal it!"
"I am afraid that my subordinates have misunderstood my intentions. I only told them that our company should have the same. But I didn't expect that they would actually post it with nothing on it."
"So you knew that they had done it but you also did nothing to stop it." Kirk shouted angrily.
"I apologize for my arrogance. But what I had noticed, is that Diversity happens to have a new employee that is the brains and creator of the said page." Nita announced. Kirk became pale as he is now. "If I'm not mistaken, she had once applied for my company but she chose Diversity instead. But I cannot recall her name."
Kirk had become silent. He figured that the one Nita was talking about was Mon. He won't deny that Mon was talented and smart in what she does. Even Sam knew that Mon was good at her job.
"I have a new proposal."
"What is it?"
"Your company is becoming nonexistent. If what you said before about the deadline for your project and the creator of the page won't succeed and Lady Sam decides to terminate her new creator, I would like to have that employee work for me." Nita was determined. She also had an eye for spotting talent and the one that she wanted had chosen another instead of her.
Kirk was lost for words. If Mon weren't able to fix the problem then Sam would be forced to let Mon go. But even he knew that Mon was a force to be recon with. She had attitude, energy and stamina and was very prideful. But she also has determination, devotion and loyalty. All that can be done if you focus on the main goal and you'll succeed.
-0-
Sam was just about to leave until she had noticed that the entire office was pitch black. She only saw a small lamp that was on that was near Mon's station. Without thinking, she went ahead and turned it off and realized that the room became as eerie as it was the night before at her home. She was frozen where she stood when she felt a hand touch her from behind.
"Oi…"
"Ahh!"
Sam screamed her head off and ran in the direction of the exit. She was being followed but didn't know that the presents that tried to encounter her were not a threat. But she continued to physically assault the said person multiple times.
"Ouch! What the hell was that for!" Mon shouted.
"Go away, ghost!" Sam took a hard book and hit Mon over the head again and hit her nose. Wack!
"Ow! What are you talking about? I'm not a ghost." Mon shouted and held her nose. She removed her hand and saw a splash of blood on her hand. She became annoyed. "Geez, now look at what you did."
"It's because you're a ghost that you look like that!"
"Don't be ridiculous."
Sam recovered from being afraid and retaliated against her composer. "Well, serve you right. Are you hurt?"
Mon scoffed. "Are you blind? Of course I'm hurt. You hit me on my head and then my nose. I'm bleeding!" Mon shouted while holding her head up.
Sam felt a little guilty. "Let me treat you…" Sam offered.
"No thanks. I think you've done enough." Mon started to walk to the bathroom with her head up but was stopped when her arm was pulled back.
"Let me help you. Please?" Sam suggested.
Mon didn't feel like sitting up so she decided to lay down with a new tissue in her nose so that the blood would stop flowing. She felt so comfortable and was about to doze off into dreamland until Sam came back with an ice pack which she had purposely slammed on Mon's head.
"OW!" She shouted while holding her head in pain. She took the ice pack and placed it gently on her head. Mon glared at the raven beauty like she wanted to kill her.
"You shouldn't be falling asleep. You might get a concussion."
Mon groaned under her breath. "I don't like you sometimes. You're really mean." she said so bluntly and enjoyed the coldness of the ice pack to her head.
"You have only yourself to blame. You know I'm afraid of ghosts and yet you just popped out of nowhere just to scare me."
Mon rolled her eyes and pressed down on the ice pack to her head. "I didn't know you were still here. And after all, not all people would jump to that conclusion. You must be really special to think that way."
Sam was silent for a small moment as she watched over the brunette that was in pain and needed to change the subject. "What are you still doing here?" She asked.
Mon sat up slowly and took the tissues out from her nose and noticed that the blood stopped flowing. But she kept the ice pack on her head while still feeling a little dizzy. "I was working on the content."
Sam nodded. "So, you were covering up your tracks so that I wouldn't find you accused of spreading company secrets?"
Mon sighed and was trying very hard not to roll her eyes but the raven beauty was making it hard. "Say or think what you want, it wouldn't be me. And FYI, the page I'm creating is not finished and is secured on my laptop. I change my password every three hours so no one would be able to access it. So it's impossible for anyone to steal it." She groaned again and felt a little more dizzy while trying to explain her case.
Sam was seeing something. Something that she never thought she would see in any of her employees. It's strange to think that this woman has so much determination and also dedication for the company but she could also sense that there's something else that the brunette was hiding. Could she be the traitor? Or could she be the savior?
"I don't know what it is, but I feel like you're telling the truth. Starting tomorrow, you and I will be working together. That way no more secrets will be linked out."
"And why would I do that?" Mon asked, still feeling disoriented but also annoyed.
Sam leaned forward and pierced Mon's eyes, "If you don't work with me, I'll kick you out of the company."
Well that's not nice to say to someone who's trying to save your ass! Mon really wanted to voice her thoughts but if she played into Boss Lady's hand with an insulted remark, Mon would lose and her freedom would be taken away. So she sighed and accepted the deal.
"Deal."
She shook Sam's hand and noticed how soft it was. She gave the ice pack back to the raven beauty, she stood up and stretched out her neck from left to right and rotated her shoulders to smooth out any kinks that were stiff. She looked down and noticed that Sam remained seated with her arms crossed. Mon could tell that Sam was still feeling a little jumpy from earlier or from the text that was still fresh in her mind and wasn't able to get a peaceful sleep.
"You know, if you don't have anything planned after this, would you want to go for a ride?" Mon suggested out of the blue.
Sam was surprised. "And where would we go? If it's anywhere scary so that you can get a rise out of me, you can just forget it." Sam said. She averted her eyes and looked out the nearest window overlooking the city lights glimmering in the night.
After a ten minute drive and another ten agonizing minutes in the parking lot, Mon was able to persuade her stubborn boss to trust her and that she didn't lure her to a place to actually scare her. Soon, Mon had noticed the jacket she once gave Sam to borrow. But decided to keep it to herself. For now.
Sam had figured that the destination would have an atmosphere full of darkness, but once they had entered the building, Sam noticed a courtyard with a small waterfall flowing into a small pond that was flowing in a stretched stream that was surrounded by a variety of plants and trees. Everywhere was illuminating with dashing lights, Sam couldn't help but observe the area and could feel her stressness disappearing while she felt entrance by such beauty.
"Do you feel a lot better now?" Mon asked out of concern and with sincerity.
Sam had noticed that there was not a hint of sarcasm in the question, but she couldn't force herself to look at her without having to embarrass herself by saying a rude comment that would make the brunette upset. So she continued to look at the lights in the trees and loved to listen to the sound of the waterfall splashing into a small pond.
"I feel so relaxed whenever you are near." Gasp. Shit! I said that out loud didn't I!?
From behind, Mon couldn't help but smirk at that comment and chuckled a little. So, she likes it whenever I'm around huh? I wonder what else she likes about me… Mon thought.
So, she likes it whenever I'm around her huh? I wonder what else she likes about me… Mon thought.
Sam turned around and was hoping that the brunette didn't hear what she had said. But the grin on Mon's face was enough for Sam to confirm that she did. Mon knew that the raven beauty was about to retort to some offensive gesture, so she was fast enough to intervene and come up with something to keep her from being…well, in the obvious terms, mean.
"I brought you here so you can relax. I have multiple places that I go whenever I'm stressed. You know, from work." She grinned. "But I like coming here because it's quiet and soothing." Mon walked around and admired the beauty that such a place of tranquility could ever exist. "And to apologize for scaring you last night. It wasn't my intention to do so" Both were quiet for a long moment until Mon took her phone out and…
Snap.
She had surprised Sam when a flash of light had blindsided her, breaking her out of her thoughts. Sam looked infuriating but all Mon did was grin at her.
"Stand by the waterfall I wanna take your picture."
"No, I don't like taking pictures."
"How is that possible, your face is all over the tabloids. And of course your smile isn't real to fool certain people but at least pretend that you wanna be here with me."
Wow! I actually do want to take a picture of her. Okay she does have a cute face and an even beautiful smile, especially when her guard is down.
Mon stood close to the raven beauty with a grin. "Boss Lady, you have to smile when someone points a camera at you." She said while holding her phone up to take a selfie with the both of them. Sam refused but was able to oblige Mon, but only for a moment.
"Come, sit there." Mon asked. Sam sat at a nearby swinging bench and looked uninterested when she saw the phone being pointed at her. "Please smile." She asked politely as she held back a grin.
Mon had taken multiple pictures of Sam, for whatever reason she had done it was just on instinct. But as she scrolled through the photos Mon had noticed that each one held a different expression or different emotion. But all were like scowls or pouting or just plain uninterested reactions.
Mon scoffed and was a little agitated because of the photos. "Seriously woman, what do I have to do to get you to smile?"
The two women were standing very close. Mon had no idea until she looked up from her phone and gazed into pitch black orbs. It was like she was taken back to when they first crashed into each other on the first day they met. Sam couldn't help but stare back into those ocean eyes, her mind and heart were like playing with her. Her heart was pounding at a rapid pace and her mind was replaying images of the several times they were in close conduct.
What is this feeling? It can't be…can it?
Sam panicked a little but recovered just as easily and decided to change the outcome.
"Let's go. It's getting late." She demanded and started walking to the entrance.
Mon sighed deeply. And there's my Enigma. Whoa, wait! Did I just say my? Okay shake it off Mon.
The brunette was a few feet behind the raven beauty and announced her farewell.
"I hope you enjoyed the short time we were here."
Sam became thoughtful, she wasn't sure how to respond to the comment and thought of the first thing that came out.
"Get home safe and…don't forget to send me the photos."
Mon mounted her bike and placed her helmet on. But before she started to leave, she pulled out her phone and sent out a text. She waved to Sam and rolled out of sight. Sam watched as Mon disappeared into the distance. She wouldn't admit it but the brunette did look rather dashing and… sexy on the motorcycle. She couldn't get that feeling from before out of her mind or stop the beating in her heart. What does it all mean for Sam? She had felt this feeling before and it never ended well but something felt different when the raven beauty was with the brunette. Could she be slowly falling for…
Ding.
Sam got an incoming text. She opened it and what she saw was a picture of her with Mon that was taken a while ago.
{Enjoy the rest of your night. And have a relaxed weekend. Work on your smile so I can't take a better picture. Sweet dreams.}
By some miracle, Sam's facial features were starting to react. No one was around so she purposely showed off her pearly whites and enjoyed the feeling that just by a simple text could make her smile for real.
I guess tonight wasn't so bad at all. She thought and finally headed off home.
