As they walked down the corridor, Isane leaned in close, her voice hushed in a conspiratorial tone. "Always be punctual, keep your desk immaculate, and never wear casual clothes. If you follow these rules, you'll do just fine here."
-"Got it," Rukia replied, her eyes attentive to Isane's advice.
Just then, they were joined by Lisa Yadomaru, who eyed Rukia curiously. "Hey, Isane! Who's the new girl?"
-"Miss Rukia here is the new assistant to you-know-who," Isane replied discreetly.
-"Oh fuck!", Lisa's eyes widened, and she took a good look at Rukia. "Good luck, Rukia! By the way, have you seen Kyoko? She's practically stalking the Kuchikis, all to snag that ring." Lisa's voice dropped to a mocking tone.
-"Shhh!" Isane hushed Lisa urgently, glancing around to ensure no one overheard. "Lower your voice, please. Yes, I saw her."
-"This is her second time this week. Anyway, lovely chatting with you all. Good luck with your job, Rukia!" With a cheerful wave, Lisa turned left in the corridor before the elevator, leaving Rukia puzzled as she stood with Isane.
-"Charming girl," Rukia remarked, slightly perplexed by Lisa's comment.
Isane pressed the elevator button, juggling a stack of papers. "Don't mind Lisa. She didn't mean any harm. You'll do just fine here. Mr. Kuchiki isn't as intimidating as people say."
With that assurance, the elevator dinged, its doors slid open, and the girls stepped inside.
While Rukia meticulously organized files on her desk and prepared a list of upcoming meetings for Byakuya Kuchiki, a familiar voice greeted her from the open door of her office. -"Hey! How's your first day here?"
-"Renji!" Rukia's face lit up at the sight of her friend. "It's going well so far."
Renji walked in, and Rukia rounded her desk, embracing him in a warm hug.
-"Look at you, all dressed up. This is a side of Rukia I've never seen before," Renji complimented, twirling her playfully to get a better look at her outfit. She wore cream pants and a crisp white blouse, her hair elegantly tied up. Her figure was accentuated, and her eyes sparkled with confidence. She laughed at Renji's playful teasing.
-"Entertaining yourselves?" interrupted a cold and intimidating voice.
Their smiles vanished in an instant as they both turned towards the door, where Byakuya Kuchiki stood.
-"Miss Ukitake, walk with me," Byakuya instructed, then turned on his heel and began walking toward his office. Rukia swiftly grabbed files from her desk and hurried to follow him closely.
She didn't need much instruction; she understood Byakuya's expectations. "At noon, there's a meeting with the CFO, and at 2 pm, the board meeting. Contracts have been reviewed and are waiting on your desk for signatures. However, I recommend you give the contract with Eneos Corporation another look. I took the liberty of reviewing it myself and found some last-minute clauses they attempted to sneak in. I believe you won't approve."
Her words flowed seamlessly, as if she had rehearsed them for days. Byakuya was visibly impressed, although he kept his admiration hidden beneath his stoic exterior.
'She's only been here for a few hours, since this morning ,' he thought, slightly surprised by her competence and poise.
-"Oh, and your grandfather is waiting for you in your office," Rukia added as they reached his office door. She looked him directly in the eyes, her hand extended, offering him the files.
'Why does she always maintain the eye contact? No one else does ,' Byakuya wondered, briefly captivated by the intensity of her violet gaze.
Taking the files from her, he reached for his office door. But before he entered, he stopped and, without looking back at Rukia, said, "Excellent work, Miss Ukitake."
With that, he entered his office, leaving Rukia with a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. She wore a satisfied smile on her face as she turned on her heel and headed back to her own workspace, her confidence bolstered by the acknowledgment of the company's formidable CEO.
Ginrei Kuchiki, a man of unwavering respect and firm principles, stood as a titan in the realm of business. His dedication and talent had transformed the fortune he inherited into a sprawling empire, rivaling the most prominent names in the country's corporate landscape. When tragedy struck, claiming the lives of his son and daughter-in-law in a tragic car accident, Ginrei found himself thrust into the role of a nurturing grandfather, his focus shifted to the upbringing of his sole remaining heir, Byakuya.
Amidst the responsibilities of raising Byakuya, instilling in him the values and wisdom essential to the Kuchiki legacy, Ginrei had always held one steadfast belief: the importance of a suitable marriage to ensure the family's legacy endured. Byakuya had dutifully adhered to his grandfather's every command with no questions asked, but only one thing worries him now. Byakuya is 34 now, and he has never had a proper relationship, and suddenly he's avoiding to obey one last thing that he's been asking Byakuya to do - marry Kyoko Kurogane.
Kyoko is an heir of the esteemed Kurogane family, epitomized grace and sophistication. Educated, well-mannered, and hailing from a respected lineage, she seemed the perfect match for Byakuya, a union that would fortify both families' social standing and influence. Yet, Byakuya hesitates, an unspoken reservation hiding beneath his seemingly flawless compliance.
-"Greetings, grandfather. To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?" Byakuya respectfully greeted him as he entered his office.
Ginrei stood behind Byakuya's desk, gazing at the city through a vast glass wall, lost in contemplation. Byakuya's words snapped him back to the present moment.
-"Byakuya, have a seat. I wish to discuss something with you." Ginrei motioned towards a set of armchairs with a coffee table positioned in the opposite corner of the office. Byakuya joined him as soon as he arranged the papers on his desk.
He approached the armchairs after his grandfather, waiting respectfully for Ginrei to take a seat first. "I'm listening," his voice remained steadfast.
-"I'm aware of the workload on your shoulders, so I'll be brief," began Ginrei. "Kyoko. How are things progressing with her?"
-"Splendid," a hint of sarcasm tinged Byakuya's words.
-"Splendid?" Ginrei's voice rose. "Don't jest with me, boy! You're wasting my time by not taking concrete steps towards your marriage with her."
-"I apologize, grandfather," Byakuya straightened in his armchair. "I have arranged dinner this Saturday with her."
-"Stop fooling around! You've been courting this woman for two years, and you're still at dinner dates with her, and nothing more. Her father is concerned about the lack of progress in your relationship. My time is running out, and I expect you to announce your engagement with her by the end of next month. Or with any woman, for that matter."
Byakuya was losing his patience, although he concealed it well from his grandfather. He was seething inside, feeling betrayed that his grandfather, who had always emphasized the importance of maintaining the company's excellence above all else, was now pushing him into a hasty marriage. As his grandfather started to rise from the chair, it was a cue for Byakuya to stand up too. "Is marriage all you want from me?"
-"That's correct! I want you married to ensure the continuity of our lineage. I have no choice but to resort to drastic measures. You wouldn't want an ultimatum, would you?" Ginrei walked towards the door, preparing to leave the office.
-"Of course not, grandfather," Byakuya said, his gaze fixed in Ginrei's direction, although he looked through him.
-"Good. Now, do as I've instructed, boy."
Having left the office, Ginrei closed the door behind him, leaving Byakuya standing in the same spot, his gaze fixed on the vast space his grandfather occupied just a second before. Inhaling deeply, Byakuya closed his eyes for a fleeting moment, gathering his thoughts, before elegantly striding back to his desk.
His finger glided gracefully over the intercom button, activating the line. "Yes, Mr. Kuchiki?" Rukia's voice, crisp and professional, echoed through the speaker.
-"Miss Ukitake, please arrange a dinner reservation for two at Aragawa restaurant this Saturday. Send an invitation to Miss Kyoko Kurogane," Byakuya instructed, his tone carrying a subtle undertone of mention of the name ' Kyoko ' triggered a faint recollection from Lisa's conversation earlier that morning, a detail that lodged itself in the recesses of Rukia's mind.
-"Um... Aragawa restaurant? This Saturday?" For the first time that day, and therefore in her entire tenure at the company, Rukia sounded genuinely surprised, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
A thread of annoyance slipped into Byakuya's response. "Was I not clear enough for you, Miss Ukitake?" His words, though controlled, held a note of expectation, demanding flawless execution.
-"No, I apologize Mr Kuchiki, but the restaurant is usually booked months in advance. I'll try my best, but I cannot guarantee availability on such short notice.", Rukia's voice still gave away a slight shock.
-"Make it happen, Miss Ukitake. I wasn't asking," Byakuya's tone was stern and unyielding. But before Rukia could say anything else, he disconnected, and settled into his chair, returning to the papers he previously left on his desk.
Rukia was screwed. After multiple failed attempts to secure the reservation at the Aragawa restaurant, a desperation etched on her face, she slumped in her chair. Her first day at work has turned into a nightmare already.
A familiar voice broke her despair. "What's up with that sad face?" Lisa's head popped into the room. "Aren't you done for the day?"
Rukia pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration, "I have to arrange a table for two at Aragawa restaurant, and it must be for this Saturday!"
Lisa's smile faded as she grasped the gravity of Rukia's situation. "Oh man," she muttered to herself, "I really meant it when I said 'good luck.'"
Rukia groaned, burying her face in the desk. "Maybe I'm not cut out for this job. I'm just wasting everyone's time and space," she lamented, her words muffled by the desk.
-"Oh, c'mon now, don't be so dramatic. You're too hard on yourself. And you're starting to sound like your own boss," Lisa tried to inject humor into the situation, succeeding in eliciting a small chuckle from Rukia.
-"Listen, I might know someone who can help you with this. Since it's the end of the working hours, you should hurry to catch her in her office. Her name is Yoruichi Shihouin, and she's almost as important as you-know-who. She might have the right contact at the restaurant for the reservation," explained Lisa.
Rukia lifted her head from the desk, a glimmer of hope in her eyes. "Where can I find her?"
-"One floor down, the right corridor from the elevator, the last door at the end," Lisa replied.
Without wasting a moment, Rukia dashed out of the office, her heels clacking hurriedly against the floor. As she almost sprinted down the corridor, she accidentally collided with Yoruichi, who had just exited her office. Relief flooded Rukia as she quickly explained her predicament, detailing her futile attempts to secure a reservation and how mentioning Byakuya's name had yielded no results. She asked Yoruichi if she had the restaurant owner's number, hoping he might make an exception for Byakuya Kuchiki. Yoruichi listened intently, making a few playful jabs at Byakuya before giving Rukia the much-needed phone number. Rukia bowed respectfully, expressing her gratitude, and hurried back to her office.
It was late that night when Byakuya finished his work for the day and noticed a voicemail left on his phone. It was from Kyoko Kurogane, her voice bubbling with excitement as she raved about receiving the invitation for dinner at Aragawa restaurant this Saturday at 8 pm. She went on rambling about the exclusivity of the venue and how delighted she was that he had secured a reservation at one of Tokyo's most prestigious restaurants, and that she expects it all means something grand. She eagerly anticipated their dinner, her words filled with anticipation.
However, Byakuya's attention wasn't on Kyoko's words or her voicemail that was playing on his phone. Instead, his focus was on the fact that Rukia had indeed managed to secure the reservation. A faint, barely noticeable smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
' She really did it. '