Chapter Three

It Started With An Interview

A/N: I should have stated this in the first chapter. Considering I have always felt Seto was older than the others, I have increased his and Lizette's age. The other characters from the manga/anime are still the same age, except for these two. Seto will be 20 at the start, and Lizette will be 19. Mokuba will still be younger than Seto, so at the beginning of this story, he is 10, meaning there's a decade difference between the two brothers.

Additionally, this should've been posted almost two weeks ago. But life happens. My husband and I went out of town and enjoyed his week off. Which meant I did not touch my computer once during that time.

Please enjoy!

Disclaimer: Yu-Gi-Oh! does not belong to me. I only own Lizette and other OCs. Any chapter image I used has been found through Google, and I take no credit for it. Everything Yu-Gi-Oh! related rightfully belongs to Kazuki Takahashi.

~ oOo ~

LIZETTE

To say I had been freaking out all morning was an understatement.

My morning class went by so slowly that I continuously checked the time on my laptop every few minutes to ensure I wouldn't be late for the interview. To be safe, I wore my interview clothes to school because I knew I wouldn't have time to race home, change, and then speed toward KaibaCorp. When I walked onto campus, my classmates were confused when they noticed I was dressed in black slacks, a floral blouse, and a blazer with high heels. However, when I said I had an interview that afternoon, their expressions changed as they congratulated me. My classmates and I were close enough because we were in the same program but weren't friends like Emiko and I were.

Still, the thought that they were happy for me was an overwhelmingly sweet gesture.

The clock dragged on, and I barely paid attention to the lesson. It didn't matter, considering I had already read the chapter and completed the week's assignments over the weekend. If anything, this was more of a review than a first-time lesson for me. But by the time class ended right on the dot at noon, I bid my classmates and professor a wonderful afternoon as I dashed to my car. I had an hour to kill, and I knew the smart thing would be to head toward the downtown area so I would be close to the KaibaCorp building.

Driving from the university parking lot, I swallowed the anxiety crawling up my throat. Some of me was still in denial that I had received the call the other day asking for an interview. With all the applications I had submitted over the last few weeks, I had forgotten about this one. I was so preoccupied with summer school and trying to find a job that this one at my dream location was placed at the back of my mind.

Parking across the street, I decided to sit and wait in a comfy location. Ironically, Emiko and I frequent the coffee shop across the street, which is convenient. Walking into the air-conditioned building, I sighed. The summer heat was in attack mode, and I slowly waved a hand before my face to try and cool off. As the door closed behind me, I noticed it was busier than usual. It was probably because it was a Monday afternoon, and people wanted their coffee to survive the rest of the day.

"Hey, it's Lizette!"

Smiling, I made my way forward to the line, waving at Niko behind the counter. The line moved decently, which was fine, as it gave me time to decide what I wanted to drink. I thought an iced coffee sounded nice, but I didn't want the caffeine to affect my ability to perform successfully in the interview. But coffee sounded so good at the moment.

"Yo, Liz, weren't you just here?"

Niko's words left me chuckling. "Hey, you know this is my study location if I'm not at home or school."

He shrugged, smiling all the same. "Where's Emi? She not with you today?"

"Nope, I'm by my lonesome today. Got an interview across the street, so I'm waiting until I need to head over."

The man squealed. "Oh! You finally landed an interview? How exciting!"

I had known Niko for some time. When I moved to Domino City permanently several years prior, I randomly discovered this location and learned he was the owner. I was looking for coffee - anything would suffice - when I stumbled into his shop. It was love at first sight. The drinks were delicious, the atmosphere was comfortable, and the employees were always super friendly. And their sweets.

Oh, damn, their sweets were divine.

"Hey!" Niko pulled me from my thoughts. "Order whatever you want. Drinks on me today."

"Niko! No, you can't do that!" Though I was smiling all the same. That's just the type of person Niko was. He was always considerate of my customers and willing to go above and beyond to ensure they enjoyed their time in his shop.

"I can and I will, missy!" He crossed his arms as if to say the discussion was over. "Now, pick whatever you like!"

Huffing a sigh, I knew arguing with the man would not move him, so I complied. Glancing across the menu one last time, I made my decision. "Let's see…I'll take a grande iced white chocolate mocha with no whipped cream."

The man rolled his eyes. "Ugh, you and your hatred for whipped cream."

"It sucks!"

"No," he scrunched his eyebrows. "You suck."

I pretended to gasp. "Ah! Is that any way to talk to a paying customer?!"

"Only to you, sweetness." Punching in the order into the register, he glanced upward. "Now, what kind of sweet would you like?"

"Oh no, we are not playing this game. I'm fine with you giving me a free drink, but I will not have you paying for my treat; thank you very much!" Stealing a peek at the glass container, I immediately decided. "Hmm, I haven't eaten, so I'd like your turkey ciabatta bites with a brownie on the side."

He punched in those items as well. "The ciabatta bites with one brownie. You got it, missy!" I paid, he handed me my food, and I moved to find a cozy spot in the corner in the plush seat.

And so, I sat and waited.

I knew the time would go by quickly. When I received my coffee, it was half past noon, giving me plenty of time to eat, relax, and wait until my interview. Considering the building was across the street, I would give myself fifteen more minutes before heading over. That accounted for time to walk across the street, reach the front desk, and still have enough time before the interview.

Quickly, I ate my small meal while instantly downing my brownie, which took only a few minutes. I stared outside for the rest of the time, and people watched while I consumed my small coffee.

There were plenty of people outside. It mainly consisted of business workers in fancy suits and dresses, likely walking to lunch or returning to the office. Considering this was the business district of the downtown sector, there were primarily professional-looking individuals, and I wondered if I would soon be one of these individuals.

I swooned at the idea.

The idea of working at a professional company such as KaibaCorp was a dream come true. But the idea of working next to its CEO - Seto Kaiba - was, additionally, another dream come true. I have followed Mr. Kaiba's path upward as the CEO over the last several years because I was fascinated by his work. Single-handedly, even with the vast amount of employees he has at hand, Seto Kaiba turned one of the companies that made deadly machines of war into the most prolific entertainment company. People sought to work for the company as employees and other CEOs fought over contracts to work with them.

The fact that I had an interview was…just astounding. I was still in denial that I was about to interview for the position of Seto Kaiba's assistant.

I checked the time on my phone, noticing it was time to leave. Chugging the rest of my coffee and soon suffering from brain freeze, I waved toward Niko, who yelled, "You're gonna slay!" His words left me chuckling as I felt I was going to slay.

Leaving my car where it was parked, I meandered my way through the crowd, waited at the light for pedestrians to walk, and soon found myself standing before the infamous building. I stared in awe at the structure while giggling at the two Blue Eyes White Dragon statues near the front. I could feel my tattoo roar at the sight as my fingers itched to scratch the fresh ink still healing along my back. The fresh piece of ink was a tribute to Duel Monsters itself. It was a game I held near and dear to my heart. But only a select few knew exactly how much it meant to me.

With a shake of my head, I took a deep breath and then stepped through the taunting circling doorway.

Inside, people were mingling here and there. All individuals were dressed to the nine in business attire and fancy briefcases that screamed they were there with all the money in the world. Making my way through the small crowd, I clutched my modest purse against my shoulder as I neared the front desk. There were three different ladies, separated from each other by about three feet, all tapping away at their computer screens. I assumed the clack of my heels could be heard as the middle female glanced upward, her smile bright as she stared at me.

"Hello and welcome to KaibaCorp! How may I assist you today?"

Swallowing the shaky breath lodged in my throat, I said with as much confidence I could summon, "Hello! My name's Lizette Kawasaki, and I have an interview today at one o'clock?"

"Ah, I see." She clicked away for a moment at her computer. "I think I found you. Lizette Kawasaki, interviewing for the CEO Personal Assistant position, am I correct?" The other two individuals lifted their heads and stared at one another before sparing me a glance. I kept my head forward, trying to ignore the look they were giving me.

"Yep, that's me!" Ignore them, Liz. You're excited for this opportunity.

Lifting the phone, she held up a finger. "Just give me one second." She waited for several seconds before she spoke again. "Yes, I have Lizette Kawasaki here for her interview. Where does she…? Oh. Oh, I see. Will he stop by and take her…? You will? Ok. Ok, that sounds good. I'll have her wait for you then. Thanks." She hung up the phone and then smiled at me. But I noticed her smile seemed a little too tight for my liking. "A specialist from our Human Resources Department will be down momentarily to take you upstairs." She waved her hand over to a lounge area across the way. "You may have a seat over there."

I smiled in return. "Thank you so much." I gripped my folder close to my chest. Stepping off to the side, I claimed a seat on the couch and crossed my legs, waiting patiently for the person from HR to find me. The sudden ding on the elevator caught my attention as a woman stepped out and beelined straight for the front desk. They conversed briefly before the lady I spoke with pointed toward me. This second female stepped forward, and I smiled as she extended a hand for me to take. I quickly stood, and we shook hands.

"Ms. Kawasaki, I presume?"

"Yes, that's me."

"Thank you so much for making it as this time. I'm Chi, the one you spoke to the other day."

"Oh, yes! Trust me, I am more thankful for you for being able to work around my school schedule."

Chi motioned for me to follow her as we approached the elevator. One opened immediately, and we made our way inside by ourselves. She pushed against the number, indicating which floor she wanted. "We are more than willing to work around those interested in working for the company. Now, school…" She turned toward me. "Are you a student at the university?"

"Yes!" I said excitedly. "I'm in my last year of my Master's Program!"

"Oh! How fascinating! And you're taking summer courses, correct?"

"Yeah. I plan to finish three this summer, which will open up my next two semesters where I can work more rather than be at school."

"Ah, I see. That's very admirable to think in such a way." She peered at the screen above the doors to see which floor we were on. Then I realized we hadn't stopped and had to follow her gaze to the screen. It said we were nearing floor thirty. How had we gotten that high without anyone stopping the elevator from the outside?

"Wow, we're heading pretty high up," I commented.

"That we are," Chi replied. "We're headed straight toward the floor with the CEO's office on it."

"Ah, is that where you will conduct the interview?" She smiled tenderly, though the look she was giving, was she wary, by chance? If so, what was she wary about?

"Oh, I must apologize. Have I not said who you will be interviewing with?" I shook my head, a ball suddenly dropping in the pit of my stomach. "Mr. Kaiba has taken it upon himself to interview those who have applied for this position personally."

"Eh? Mr. K-Kaiba will i-interview me?!"

"Well, of course." She smiled softly at my wide-eyed expression. "Is that alright with you?"

"O-Oh, yes! I'm sorry; I wasn't expecting to see the CEO when I walked into the building today."

"That's good because we're here."

What?!

Glancing at the screen again only confirmed that we had reached level fifty. When the doors opened, Chi stepped out, and I followed diligently. Outside, I was calm. On the inside, however, I was screaming.

Not only was I about to meet Seto Kaiba himself, but he was also the one to interview me. Were they fucking crazy?!

But my internal dialogue would have to wait. We meandered down the short hallway, passed the elevators, and moved to a set of closed white double doors. Chi said with one hand on the doorknob, "Just wait here; I'll only need a moment."

She was gone just as my head stopped bobbing. What was to say I didn't appreciate this being dumped on me? That I hadn't hyped myself up all day in preparation to be interviewed by someone from the Human Resources Department? Oh no. Because I wasn't expecting to be interviewed by Seto fucking Kaiba, of all people!

He's never going to hire me, I couldn't help but think.

But then the door opened, and I refrained from thinking anymore.

Chi smiled even more brightly than before as she held the door open for me. Gesturing to enter, she said, "He's waiting for you inside. Good luck, Ms. Kawasaki." I nodded in her direction because if I opened my mouth to speak, I felt I would throw up.

Stepping through, she closed the doors behind me, and I had to refrain from widening my eyes. The office was incredibly spacious and so clean! In the middle were two couches facing each other, and a glass coffee table was in between them. Numerous bookcases lined the walls, filled with books upon books. A few side tables lingered along the bare sections of the walls. On the opposite side sat a large desk with an empty seat sitting before it, but the sight that caught my eye was the large bay windows that nestled the entire length of the wall with a grand view of Domino City before it.

"Wow," I couldn't help but breathe. "I bet that view looks spectacular at sunset."

"It's mediocre at best."

My spine straightened within the flash of a microsecond. My head swiveled to the side of the room I hadn't even glanced at to see the CEO himself staring at a piece of paper as he filled a glass with ice water. His head tilted toward mine, and I forced myself from stepping backward, firmly gripping my purse and folder.

It was Seto Kaiba himself.

Holy fucking shit.

He returned to his seat and set the glass down. He approached the empty chair and said, "Take a seat."

I obliged, not wanting to keep my interviewer waiting on my behalf. He claimed his seat as he placed the paper he was reading down over his keyboard. From my opposite side, I could see that it was my resume, and I quickly prided myself in the hard work Emiko did on perfecting that damned document. I placed my purse on the ground and laid my folder on the desk before me, patiently waiting for this process to begin. Since receiving the call, I have practiced answering numerous questions I assumed I would respond to. I had practiced alone and in front of Emiko when she was over last night. By the time she had left, I felt confident in my ability to make it through the interview.

And yet, now that I was sitting before the CEO himself, I could feel my confidence fly out of those beautiful bay windows.

"So, Ms. Lizette Kawasaki…" Seto peered directly at me. His piercing blue eyes were so hauntingly beautiful that I had to catch myself and ensure I wasn't staring too hard. "Tell me. Why do you want to work for KaibaCorp as my assistant?"

~ oOo ~

SETO

I stared long and hard at the piece of paper in my hand.

This woman, Lizette Kawasaki, was to be the following interview I conducted. And that makes the fourth one this week. Sighing, I then groaned as I crossed my arms, and her resume fell upon my keyboard. I watched the piece of paper as if it were mocking me. Two interviewees were passable, while the other was a hardcore no. There was just something these individuals lacked, but I couldn't place a finger on it. Their resumes seemed top-notch, but meeting them in person was entirely different. I knew I could be a problematic person and knew I was extremely hard to impress.

However, I was most impressed with this resume.

Lizette Kawasaki had my attention, but I was willing to bet the interview would go in the opposite direction. That means I would remain in my seat, deny that person the position, and watch them march out of the door enraged. Still, something about this resume said this candidate was different. I didn't know what it was; something was just different.

That was when the knock on my door echoed. "You may enter."

Chi, my head specialist from Human Resources, stepped through and gently closed the door. "Your one o'clock interviewee is here, Mr. Kaiba."

Standing, I grabbed the resume once and moved toward the opposite wall to grab a glass of water for her. "Thank you as always, Chi. You may let her in."

Chi stepped back and grabbed the handle, her eyes seeking mine. "I think you'll appreciate this one, Mr. Kaiba." My head raised toward her, but she was gone as I was about to speak. I could hear her on the other side of the door, letting Ms. Kawasaki know I was ready. Taking a deep breath, I knew this was it. Secretly, I was hoping this interview went well. She would only be the fourth person I met, but I was already tired. I needed a new personal assistant ASAP.

The door opened, and in walked my next interviewee.

I could hear her take a deep breath, knowing she was glancing around the room. "Wow," she stated. "I bet that view looks spectacular at sunset." Something about that line had me chuckling.

"It's mediocre at best," was my response. She turned her head toward me as our eyes met. The first feature I noticed about this woman was her white hair.

No, it's more like a silvery white, I found myself thinking. Wow, she's stunning.

Swallowing, I turned back toward my desk. Placing the glass of water on the opposite side of my seat, I gestured to the empty chair, indicating she was to claim this spot as hers. She quickly placed her purse on the ground and laid the black folder on the desk, folding her hands neatly.

Crossing my arms, I quickly peered at her resume one last time, despite memorizing every word. "So, Ms. Lizette Kawasaki…" I stared at her as she stared right back. Those blue eyes were large and intriguing as she carefully studied me just as I was doing to her. "Tell me. Why do you want to work for KaibaCorp as my assistant?" She smiled, and my heart nearly stopped.

Get a grip, Seto.

"Why wouldn't I?" That was her first statement. My eyebrow rose in question, wondering what she meant. "KaibaCorp is still a growing company, yet it has the largest increase in sales and revenue Domino City has seen in the last decade, if not more. This company strives for perfection, a trait I think is valuable." I could see her swallow as if trying to calm and pace herself. Straightening her back, she stated confidently, "Mr. Kaiba, I want to work for your company because I want to be part of something greater."

"And what of being my assistant?"

"I'd be able to see firsthand what running a Fortune five-hundred company looks like. I want to know the inside mechanics of running a company in general, and I think working directly beneath you would provide me that insight I desire." That caught my attention. I was about to say something when she continued.

"I can't say whether I'd make the perfect assistant. But what I can say is that what I may lack, I make up for in ambition. You may give me a task that I may not understand at the time, but I do not give in. I never yield because I always push through until a task is complete."

I'd heard the same spiel before; this was nothing new. Waving my hand, I then voiced my thoughts. "That last few candidates I interviewed said the same thing. What makes you different than them?"

"Well, I…"

"This isn't an easy job, Ms. Kawasaki. I'm not an easy person to work with. I expect nothing but perfection from my employees. How can I guarantee you're the best fit to work as my assistant? What can you provide me?"

She merely smiled. "Because I can make things easier. I wasn't kidding when I said I wanted to work under you. I've been following your work for this company for the last several years. I remember when you flipped the original company for manufacturing machines for war into the entertainment conglomerate that it is. That's something I respect because you had a vision, and you paved the way for the vision to become a reality." She took a deep breath. "Well, I have my vision that I want to make happen, but it won't unless I can witness firsthand how someone else has done it. And that someone is you, Mr. Kaiba."

She's been following my company for that long? Since I flipped it? "Ms. Kawasaki…"

"I can sit here all day and explain my qualities, Mr. Kaiba, but you have my resume right before you." She pointed to the paper still sitting on my keyboard. "You've read my qualifications; you know where I come from." Clearing her throat, she added, "I was the sole Legal Assistant at the offices of Nakamura Law for three and a half years. Everything listed under the qualifications for this job posting I have previously done." She counted off her fingers, and the longer she spoke, the more I leaned forward.

If this woman was trying to gain my attention, then, well, she certainly had it.

"I have scheduled many meetings and kept track of the minutes for each." One finger went up. "I tracked the financials per case and was one the who completed and submitted monthly invoices." Another finger. "I wrote, edited, and submitted documentation to the courts." Another finger. "I have management administrative skills, considering I managed the entire office. I can make phone calls and deal with the ones I receive. I can create, send, document, and categorize emails. I can…" She continued to list the requirements she had done that matched perfectly what I needed in an assistant. And the more she spoke, the more I could see this woman fitting the role perfectly.

Not only was I impressed, but I also wanted Lizette Kawasaki to work for me.

But it wasn't just the idea that she fit the requirements. She was speaking to me one-on-one with the confidence I was searching for. The other two passable candidates could not compare to Ms. Kawasaki; they could barely speak forth. They were quiet and timid. I need someone with a strong mind. Someone willing to take risks to get the job done. There was only so much a resume could give about a person, but now that Ms. Kawasaki sat before me, I could see her working for my company.

She slowed down, having folded her fingers once more as she waited for me to speak. Needing something to fiddle with, I grasped her resume and glanced through it again. There was one piece of information we hadn't discussed, and I needed more information directly from her.

"It says here that you are a current student at Domino University."

"Yes, that is correct."

"How long have you been there?"

"I graduated last spring with my Bachelors in Business, specifically the Entrepreneurship Option. Currently, I am about to start my last year in my Master's Program."

Impressive. "And it says your Master's is in Business Administration?" She nodded eagerly, and I could tell this subject fascinated her. "When are you expected to graduate? You said this is your last year."

She huffed a sigh, scratching at her neck. "Oh boy…If everything goes according to plan and I can write my thesis on time, I will be done by May of next year."

"Your thesis?" She smiled even more. There was something about that smile that was contagious, as I could feel the corners of my lips wanting to lift upward. But, of course, I refrained myself from doing so. I would never willingly do such a thing.

"Oh, yes! Ever since I decided to enter a Master's Program, I wanted to work on and submit my thesis."

"Do you have any idea what topic you will be researching?"

Ms. Kawasaki grasped her chin, suddenly in deep thought, as she looked left then right. "I…have several ideas. However, I'd love to research the business model best suited for nonprofit organizations and how they survive in the modern world."

My eyebrow rose at that. Nonprofit organizations? Then why was she wanting to work under me? "Is there a nonprofit organization you have in mind?"

"Yes…and no. I still have time to think on the matter, but I know I need to decide soon."

"Hmm." I glanced downward, once again reading the paper I had memorized. "Now…according to this, you have more education than we've discussed, correct?"

"Yes. I also have two minors, one in Veterinary Medicine and the other in Business Analytics. My second Bachelor's is also in Veterinary Science."

I suddenly dropped the paper to stare at this woman. According to her application, she was nineteen, about to turn twenty, already had four college degrees, and was about to earn her fifth. She wasn't kidding when she said she had the ambition to get things done.

That's precisely the person I need for my company.

"Then I'm a little confused, so please correct my confusion. What type of industry are you interested in? You have an education that could lead you down the veterinary route, or you could do what you're doing and work for any company with your education."

Chuckling, the woman covered her mouth. "Ha! Well, suffice it to say, I plan on opening my own company in the future."

Oh. Now that I didn't expect.

"So, what?" I leaned forward against my desk, folding my hands just like hers. "You thought you could apply for my company to earn all the secrets just to start your own? As my rival company?"

She leaned forward as well. "Not quite. You are the best in the entertainment and game industry; I'll give you that, Mr. Kaiba. But I don't plan on starting a gaming business anytime, so you don't have to worry about my competition."

My head itched to tilt to the side in confusion. "Then what type of company are you looking to start?"

"Oh…" Her eyes suddenly widened. Mouth opening and closing, I couldn't tell if she was searching for answers or didn't know how to answer my simple question. "That's kind of, well, you see…"

My head suddenly tilted to the right to find my phone began ringing. Glancing at the screen, I groaned in annoyance, knowing exactly who it was. For a moment, I was surprised the call went straight through to my desk, but then I had to remind myself that I was dealing with shit on my own now, considering I was currently interviewing for my assistant. Someone who would handle these types of calls for me.

"Please…ignore that," I groaned, trying to push the annoying tone outside of my hearing. "Let's just…"

"Do you mind? I can answer that for you. Think of it as an assessment of my abilities."

Was this woman serious? But upon seeing the conviction on her face, I gestured to the phone and moved my chair out of the way. She quickly stood and moved around the desk. She took a deep breath and then picked up the phone, holding it close to her ear.

Oh, this ought to be good.

"This is CEO Seto Kaiba's office, his assistant Lizette speaking, how may I assist you?"

Hmm, not bad, not bad.

I couldn't tell what Asari Takechi was saying on the line, but I could see the annoyance across her face. She glanced down at the phone and then quickly pressed the speaker button, which allowed me to hear the entire conversation. She seemed pleased as she gently set the receiver on the desk.

"I apologize, sir; I think there was a glitch or something with the phone. Can you please repeat that for me? I want to do my best to assist you."

"Oh my, are you kidding me? Geez! I said this is Asari Takechi from Takechi Enterprises. I need to speak with Mr. Kaiba. We have a scheduled phone call for one-thirty this afternoon."

Glancing at my watch, I could tell it was nearing our appointment. Honestly, I didn't think this interview with Ms. Kawasaki would last this long. To say that I was impressed was an understatement.

"Ah, I see. Unfortunately, Mr. Kaiba has stepped out of his office. Something urgent has taken his attention, and he will be out of the office for a little while. I apologize for the inconvenience, but - "

"Excuse me? That is unacceptable! I scheduled this time with him, so do your damn job and get him on the phone!"

I held my hand over my mouth to stop from smiling. Glancing at the female, I was slightly shocked to see her calm and collected. She did say she worked in a law office. I bet these were the types of clients she dealt with daily. Drumming her fingers against the desk, the woman thought briefly before speaking.

"Hmm, yes, I understand, sir. But you see, Mr. Takechi, as I said, Mr. Kaiba stepped out of his office for an emergency regarding his company. As a businessman such as yourself, you are aware that emergencies do happen, aren't you?"

"D-Don't you insinuate what I do and do not know, young lady!"

She completely ignored his immature remark. "Of course. However, since I'm the one you're speaking with, wouldn't you want me to give my boss the message you called? I mean, you did state you scheduled this appointment with him, not the other way around. The way I see it, you're the one who needs to speak with Mr. Kaiba."

"What're you - ?"

"This can go one of two ways, Mr. Takechi." It was highly amusing watching this woman virtually corner this man. Mr. Takechi was known for treating his female employees differently than the men, which extended to any female he worked with. But knowing that Ms. Kawasaki was holding her own was stirring. She cleared her throat. "Either you cut the rudeness and wait for Mr. Kaiba to return your call, or I simply could not tell my boss that you called on time for your scheduled appointment. So…how would you like to play?"

"Excuse me? You can't do such a thing! Do you know who I am? I hope you know I'll have your job for treating me in such a way."

I continued to watch this woman as she merely stared at her fingers, not even slightly intimidated by how he spoke to her. "Mr. Takechi, I can't stop you from speaking about me to Mr. Kaiba. You go ahead and do what makes you feel better. Just know that all incoming and outgoing calls from this building are recorded for quality purposes. So make sure you tell Mr. Kaiba the truth." When the other line fell silent, she continued, "So…would you like me to pass along the message to my boss that he should call you back?"

I could hear the man growl on the other line. He was seething. "…that is acceptable."

"I appreciate your acceptance. When Mr. Kaiba returns to his office, I will pass along the message you called. Until then, please have a wonderful afternoon, Mr. Takechi." The line ended before she could finish her sentence. She huffed before placing the receiver back on its dock. She turned toward me, a victorious grin plastered on her face. "Well?"

Never had I seen one of my assistants stand up to another company figurehead the way Ms. Kawasaki had done. Giving her a small clap, I motioned for her to reclaim her seat. "You did exceptionally well."

"I apologize if I went overboard. But I've dealt with people like that in the past where they think they can walk all over you and - "

I held my hand up for her to stop. I didn't need an explanation. "No, you handled that quite well. Now. We've discussed your education and the fact that you're in school. What will your next semester schedule look like?"

"Ah! Oh?" Quickly, she opened her folder, pulled out a printed copy, and handed it to me. Taking a gander over it, the paper was set up to represent a typical weekly schedule, and I could see the blocks where her classes were. Ms. Kawasaki must've had the mentality of keeping her days open to work because her classes were either in the morning or in the evenings.

"This is your fall semester schedule, correct?"

"Yes." She pulled out another piece of paper and handed it to me. "This is my current schedule for summer school, which is over in about four weeks. I have one class in the mornings from eight to eleven on Mondays and then two night classes from six to nine on Wednesdays and Thursdays." I kept my gaze on the papers to analyze them, but I knew she was watching me. "Mondays may seem inconvenient, but I'm willing to stay past five on those days to make up for the time I'd miss."

"You're…serious about your education, aren't you?"

She nodded again. "I was taught from a young age that people are more successful when they have an education beneath their belt. It doesn't matter the education. Just the fact they tried to better themselves is what matters."

I didn't need to hear anything else. Setting the papers aside, I asked, "So, when can you start?"

Her head lifted sharply. "E-excuse me?"

I shook my head. "One thing you'll learn, Ms. Kawasaki, is that I don't like to repeat myself. When can you start?"

"W-Well, honestly, I can start first thing tomorrow morning!"

"Good, that's the answer I wanted to hear. Because you're hired." I stood and extended my hand, waiting patiently for her to follow, and she did not disappoint. Standing, she grasped my hand, her handshake firm as she smiled sweetly at me.

"T-Thank you, Mr. Kaiba! This is - I can't believe - !" She tried to think of something to say. Instead, she cleared her throat and said, "It'll be a pleasure to work with you, Mr. Kaiba."

"Hopefully, you'll still have that attitude if you can survive the next three months." Pressing a quick dial button on my phone, I quickly called HR.

"Yes, sir?"

"Chi, can you meet me in my office?"

"I'm on my way, sir."

I ended the line and resumed my seat, and Ms. Kawasaki followed suit. "You won't regret hiring me, Mr. Kaiba."

Leaning back in my chair, I studied this woman. The white hair was still throwing me off, and for some reason, I couldn't help but wonder if we'd met somewhere. She seemed…familiar, but I couldn't grasp it. "Don't make me regret it, Ms. Kawasaki, and we should have a positive work relationship."

"I expect nothing less from the best in the business."

There was a knock on my door, and I knew who it was. Chi entered, but I wasn't surprised to see her this quickly. She stepped inside the door and said, "Yes, Mr. Kaiba?"

Standing, I motioned for Ms. Kawasaki to follow as we approached my HR Specialist. "Chi, I'd like you to complete the application paperwork and get Ms. Kawasaki in the system by the end of the day."

"By the end…? You mean you finally filled the position?" She seemed pleased at that, potentially thankful the position was now filled, and she didn't have to worry about it any longer. She turned to Ms. Kawasaki. "Congratulations is in order!"

She beamed. "Thank you!"

"Yes, Mr. Kaiba is correct. We must get you in the system and complete your company ID. Do you have any time available right now, by chance?"

"I am free for however long you need me."

Chi beamed, too, as she stared at me. "Oh, you picked a good one, sir. Alright, Ms. Kawasaki, follow me."

Just as they were about to leave, I called on my new assistant. "Ms. Kawasaki."

She turned, smiling brightly at me. "Yes, Mr. Kaiba?"

"Meet me here at eight tomorrow. We will discuss your schedule then."

"Of course, sir. Thank you once again!"

The two of them left, and I stepped back to my desk. I debated taking a seat but meandered toward the windows and stared outside. The white hair and blue eyes. I couldn't get them out of my head. Maneuvering my way toward the table off the far wall, I poured myself a drink, slowly inhaling the brandy. Why I suddenly needed a drink eluded my senses. But I knew, I just knew, there was something different about Lizette Kawasaki.

Even though I knew there was something different, I still couldn't decipher what that something was.

Taking my glass with me, I glanced outside toward the windows. Even I had to admit that it was a beautiful summer day. I was thankful I was inside with the air conditioning on, but it was a day that Mokuba would definitely be spending outside with his friends.

Taking another drink, I said, "Even I have to admit. This view would look spectacular at sunset."

~ oOo ~

And she got hired!

What trials await her next?

DragonGoddess629 :)