Blue-Eyed Beauty

by DragonGoddess629

Seto Kaiba expected perfection, while Lizette Kawasaki just wanted a job. Her life is turned upside down when she becomes the CEO's assistant. Everything starts professionally but soon escalates into something more. How long will it take for these two to realize that they were meant to be? Something that's been in the works for almost five thousand years.

6. Chapter 6

Chapter Six

Helping Can Get You Into Trouble

A/N: Answer me this: aren't Seto and Liz just the cutest? I don't know what it is, but writing their interactions is just so fun! :)

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

The month of July had gone by faster than I expected. However, it made sense as I kept myself busy every day. If I wasn't at work, I was at school; if I wasn't at school, I was working on homework; and if I wasn't working on homework, I was at work. It was a never-ending cycle, but it was one I currently enjoyed. And if I wasn't doing any of those things, I was playing a game. But right now, it seemed that was rare, considering how much was on my plate.

Currently, it was toward the end of the semester, and my fall semester had just started. And with the start of the new school year brought on a pile of homework that left me upset and discouraged. I had to remind myself that I was so close to being done. In just a few more months, I could graduate and put my educational career behind me. Right now, I would enjoy this moment and feel pleased that I am still working for KaibaCorp.

Several weeks into my new job, I learned there were wagers against my position. People had bet money on whether I would survive the first three months of this job. Well, I was in my second month, so I only had one more month to survive. But I was confident. I knew I could do this job, and, on occasion, Mr. Kaiba would blatantly tell me he was impressed with my work. I didn't know why, but my heart would flutter whenever he stated so. And after every time, I knew my face flushed red when I left his office.

Glancing at the clock, I realized I had about an hour left of my shift. After finishing my current task, I worked on several documents that determined the overall budget per department in the company. Usually, the financial office handles these types of documents, but Mr. Kaiba wanted a different perspective from someone outside to oversee such paperwork. Considering my financial background and how I have worked with capital, I assumed he trusted my knowledge and experience.

With a pen in hand, I scrolled through each line, identifying any discrepancies I could find. My task was to ensure that a specific amount of money was allocated per department without excessive spending. Since I had allocated funds as a legal assistant, it seemed simple, but this was a multi-billion dollar company. The thought that this job was riding on my shoulders was enough to cause a wave of anxiety to creep across my spine. So far, I have made no marks on the paper, as everything was correct as initially stated. I knew KaibaCorp was a strict company, and the consistency I saw financially across the departments only demonstrated the value Mr. Kaiba put into his company.

I blinked, lowering my pen toward the paper. Something unexpected caught my eye, and I strained my eyes as I dropped my head to peer closer at the paper. It was small, but there was a space marked 'miscellaneous' with an amount of several million yen that had been tossed around through each department. Interestingly enough, it was the same amount every time. The funds, if they were the same, had been transferred about a day apart, sometimes mere hours. Sales, Human Resources, Research and Development, Finance, Administration, and even Information Technology had this same transfer, all for the same amount.

Maybe it was a coincidence; perhaps it wasn't. Maybe there was a miscellaneous amount of funds that needed to be transferred, and perhaps it wasn't the same funds per department. Biting the edge of my pen, I stared at the paper, lost in thought as I considered the possibility of this being a coincidence or if there was something behind the scenes that wasn't supposed to occur.

After several minutes of consideration, I placed the packet off to the side. For now, I would let this slide but would keep my eye on this discovery until I had more evidence to support that this was something I needed to bring to Mr. Kaiba's attention. Rechecking the time, I realized I only had about ten minutes left. Surprised that I had lost track of time, I went through my checklist for the end of the day: check my email, water the plants, and ensure that Mr. Kaiba had all documents and meetings prepared for the next day. When all that was done, the clock chimed five, signaling it was time for me to go. But, as I did every day when leaving, I stepped into my boss' office and requested an entrance.

"Ms. Kawasaki," he called from his desk as he glanced up. This was something new. Mr. Kaiba usually stared at his screen when he addressed me, but lately, he began lifting his head to stare. I will admit the acknowledgment was nice. "Aren't you supposed to be off?"

"I am, but you know the drill. Anything you need me to prepare for tomorrow?"

He shook his head. "Not today; it looks like you already took care of everything. And the financial document? Were you able to get through it?"

I nodded. "Most of it, but I will have it done by tomorrow."

"Anything unusual?"

Weighing the options in my head, I decided to be honest. "I think I found something, but I'm going to take another look to ensure it's nothing to be concerned about."

"I'll accept that. I trust your judgment, Ms. Kawasaki." Glancing at his watch, he added, "Shouldn't you be headed to school?"

"Unfortunately," I heaved a sigh. "I shall see you in the morning. Have a good night, Mr. Kaiba."

"Enjoy your evening, Ms. Kawasaki.".

Walking back to my desk, I grabbed my belongings and approached the front of the building. As I passed by the secretaries at the front desk, I waved to them and others who were leaving. Heaving both my purse and backpack across my shoulders, I walked to my car. Since school was now back in session, I had made it a habit to bring my backpack with me to work. Since it contained my laptop, I didn't want to leave it inside in the potential case someone broke into my vehicle and stole it.

Stepping beside my car, I placed everything in the back. I inhaled a deep breath before sitting in the driver's seat. Taking a few moments to choose a song from my phone, I then maneuvered out of the garage toward the busy street that led straight into downtown traffic. As it was now ten after five, traffic was as busy as usual as most people were getting off work. Seeing as I only had fifteen minutes to get to the university, I opted to skip dinner, deciding to wait until I was home once class was over.

It took some time, but I finally made it to the campus. Parking and grabbing my materials, I moved across the grounds, quickly approaching my specific classroom. Entering, I sighed as I found Emiko up at the front, having secured a spot for me beside her.

Dropping my stuff, I huffed. "I made it."

Emiko glanced up from her phone. "You're here!" She leaned over and gave me a side hug. "You look tired. Everything ok?"

"Me? Oh, I'm fine; work was just long. Good, but long."

She smiled. "Still enjoying it?"

"Yes!" I could feel myself glowing. "Not gonna lie, it's a lot of hard work, but I like it. I'll definitely miss it when I eventually leave."

"Yeah, but that won't be for some time, right?"

"I'm thinking at least two years; could be longer."

Emiko tilted her head. "That long?"

Taking a sweat, I began pulling out everything I would need tonight, starting with my laptop. "I'm just thinking it'll take that long to start my business."

"Yeah…" She moved her attention to her phone for a moment. "It'll all work out." She patted my arm lovingly. "You've got this, Liz. All you basically need are the funds to back everything up."

"That's gonna be the hard part."

"Not necessarily," my friend added. "Remember, we talked about you taking out a loan through me." I smiled at Emiko's generosity. This is where we differed as friends, as people, and in our classes. I was by myself with no initial means to start my business. Emiko was different. She comes from a third-generation company, and her father is grooming her to take over the business shortly. She already had money and a place to go once she graduated; I did not.

Regardless, I loved my friend.

"And as I've said, I appreciate the offer, but I'd rather not take a loan through my best friend."

Emiko was about to respond, but the door to the classroom opened, and in walked the professor. She stepped forward to the front of the room, where she placed her belongings on the desk. "Good evening everyone!"

"Good evening, professor," we responded as a whole.

She first pulled out the required textbook, which was a massive booklet she had designed specifically for this class. "Was everyone able to get a copy of the handbook? Yes, yes?" She saw all of us nod our heads in confirmation. "Awesome." She approached the podium. "Remember, this is your thesis class. Other than giving instruction and guiding you over each chapter, this class is all about the work you put into it. I am here to help, offer advice, and guide you toward completing your thesis." She walked around the room as she spoke. "Last week, I assigned you to come to class prepared with the topic you will focus on for your paper. The goal over the next two weeks is to try and complete chapter one. Remember: chapter one will be the easiest chapter you write, aside from chapter five."

I used my peripheral to glance around at my classmates. Everyone was paying attention as diligently as they could. However, it did make me wonder how many had their topics ready.

"I will be walking around to see where you guys are at, but use this time wisely. The more you do in class, the less you'll worry about at home. You can begin."

The entire class went straight to their computers, creating chit-chat for their friends or partners here and there. I did both as I opened my laptop to life and poked Emiko's side. "Were you able to come up with a topic?"

She furrowed her brow. "I…think so? I have to look at the literature to see if there's enough information I can use. You?"

"Yeah, I think I finalized my research question too."

Emiko whistled. "Damn, you're really on top of this, huh? I bet you'll be the only one to finish before December."

"I…doubt it. I plan to get chapter and most of chapter two done. I want to leave my research in chapter three for next semester."

Pointing her pen at me, the woman smirked. "Like I said, you know what you're doing."

There was another difference between Emiko and me. She practically already owned her company, whereas I would need to start mine from scratch. We both wanted our Master's, but she did it just to add to her education. Additionally, her father said that if she continued, he would supply her with a bonus at graduation. That bonus was a higher-up position in the company before she became the CEO. Whereas I was earning my degree as a backup. The same could be said about our thesis. I've always wanted to create one, just like my dad did. Emiko was the opposite. She could have decided to take the comprehensive exam at the end of the year if she wanted, but she didn't know which one to choose. Instead, she allowed a coin flip to determine her decision.

I still found her decision process hilarious, but it was so her.

"What did you decide on?" Her voice caught me off guard.

Taking out my notebook, I opened it up to the page I was working on over the weekend. Pointing at my sentence, I read it aloud. "I want to look at adopting sustainable practices in nonprofit organizations to promote successful outcomes." I finished speaking only to feel my neighbor poke my shoulder. Turning to him, I smiled.

"You already came up with your topic? How'd you know what to choose?"

"Well, I plan on working for a nonprofit once I graduate. Why not research what I'm gonna be working with? I thought that was the best topic to prepare me for after graduation."

My neighbor seemed to consider my advice before they nodded their head. "Hey, that does make sense. Thanks!" They turned back to their work.

"I wish I had your diligent attitude toward school," Emiko commented as she scrolled on her computer.

"I'd rather pass than fail. So…to me, that's motivation enough to keep pushing through."

"I guess. I just don't understand how you make it look so easy."

The conversation dropped off at that. Our class was three hours long, so we put in our headphones and started working.

I pushed through. Chapter one was pretty simple as it presented the research question, including all the information needed for readers to understand the material to be discussed through the rest of the thesis. The purpose of this chapter is to introduce information on what I will be talking about throughout my giant paper.

I lost track of time. With my page document open, I placed music in the background, focusing specifically on Final Fantasy XVI to help get me through the next few hours. I scrolled, highlighted, and sped through my typing as I created each section of chapter one so it would follow the layout from the assigned handbook. Thirty minutes passed, and soon an hour was gone. In that time, I felt accomplished. Glancing through the several pages I had written, I noticed mistakes here and there, thinking for a moment to determine if I should correct my errors or wait until the chapter was complete.

I opted to wait. I'd rather fix all errors at the end to ensure the entire chapter flowed as smoothly as it should.

Despite focusing on my laptop, I found my mind wandering back to work earlier. Remembering the financial document I was in charge of - at least for the moment - I recalled the mysterious transfer I had seen across the document. I wasn't sure what it was meant for, and I wasn't sure if it was something I needed to bring to my boss' attention. Taking a break from typing, I lay my head against the cool table, sighing in relief as I felt a slight headache appear above my eyebrows. Taking a deep breath, I decided that it was something I would look more into the following day. If this was something I needed to report to Mr. Kaiba, I wanted to be prepared with the appropriate information, facts, and evidence that would prove what was happening.

Besides, as new as I was, I had yet to learn what transpired across the different departments inside KaibaCorp. There was enough information I was still learning that this was probably a regular occurrence that I had just stumbled upon in confusion. Ignoring it for now, I continued my work.

Before I knew it, roughly two hours had passed.

My classmates and I were working diligently. Some were talking to their friends as it helped them work. Emiko and I were similar in that we wanted to talk while working, but we knew there were times we would have to take a step back and work individually. Now was such a time. However, what I wasn't expecting was for our professor to walk to the front of the class and call for our attention.

"I've been walking around this entire time, and I've seen some great progress. Some of you were able to do some research and figure out your question, while some of you were able to get one or more pages written." She smiled as we stared across the classroom. "Just remember, this isn't a race. All of you are working at your own pace and will discover what works best for you. Now, I'm really proud of everyone, and since we're still so new to the new term, I wanted to give you guys a small treat. So, I'm releasing you all from class early."

My eyebrow rose. Checking the time, I realized it was only minutes after eight; we still had an hour left.

She must have noticed the looks on our faces. "Don't fret. I won't always do this, but you guys are adults. If you must leave early, you are welcome to do so; just keep working hard on your thesis. Now, I want everyone to have a wonderful night. See you guys next week!"

Not wanting to question her reasoning, everyone quickly packed their bags and left the classroom. Emiko and I stowed our computers away and grabbed our cell phones, walking toward the same parking lot at the same speed.

"Were you able to get much done?" Emiko asked as we walked across the silent campus. It was after eight; most classes were already done for the day.

"I believe so. I did finish some sections, but I was also mainly focusing on getting the format correct for the chapter. The handbook seems particular on how it must look once we're done."

She sighed. "Yeah, I noticed that you. Think you can help me?"

"Of course. This weekend or next?" We were nearing our cars, and, luckily, we had parked relatively close to each other.

"Mmmm," she leaned against her expensive car. "Let's do next weekend. I think one more class might help to get us better on track. Sound good?" I nodded, holding my bags close. "Great. You headed straight home?"

"Not yet. I'm gonna grab me something to eat really quick."

She stepped forward and hugged me. "Get home soon and get some rest. You seem like you're exhausted."

I didn't want to lie, so I agreed. "I am, but it's worth it." We said our goodbyes as I walked to my car and placed everything in the back. Something fast seemed appropriate, so I went to the closest convenience store near my house, purchased a sandwich and some gyoza, a drink, and quickly made my way home.

Once home, I stepped through the door and placed all my belongings on the dining table, where they would remain until morning. Taking several minutes, I changed into my pajamas, grabbed a blanket from the closet and my food, and sat on the couch. Since I was released early, I figured that tonight would be the perfect night to play a calming game to relax after a long day's work.

Grabbing my Playstation controller, I turned it on from rest mode and maneuvered my meal on the table before me. I chose a random YouTube video to watch while I ate, then quickly moved to my game once I was done. Currently, I was playing Final Fantasy XVI as I was trying to earn the platinum trophy. Considering how long it would take to earn the last few trophies, I placed that specific game on hold and decided to play Powerwash Simulator for a while. The game was simple and relaxing all at the same time. The game was literally about using a powerwash machine to clean various objects and locations. It was simple and grand and unique, and I was addicted.

There was no dialogue in the game, so I lowered the volume. Using my iPad, I logged on to YouTube, found another video, and placed that on the corner of my table so I could both watch and play at the same time. It was odd, I was aware, but it was relaxing to me, and that's what matters.

Powerwash Simulator was another game I wanted to earn the platinum trophy. I was so close to achieving this trophy, but different ones had…interesting requirements. For one trophy, you had only to use a specific nozzle the entire time; for another, you had to knock over five buckets around the map; and for another, you had to earn 95% of cleaning the object without completing any tasks.

Crazy, but the game was still fun.

And just like usual, I lost track of time. I had played and was in my zen mode when I realized it was nearing eleven. Being a responsible adult, I saved, turned my console off, threw away my trash, took my medicine, and went straight to bed. I was out within minutes of my head hitting the pillow.

My alarms, as usual, went off in the early morning. There were several just in case I fell back asleep, but today was not that day. As we had altered my schedule because the fall term had started, I was expected to be at KaibaCorp by seven once again. I had grown used to it over the summer, so it made no difference. However, since it was Friday, I decided on something different to wear. Though it was still hot outside, I nearly froze daily in the office. Dressing in skinny black slacks, I wore a floral blouse and chose a comfortable cardigan that I considered keeping at my desk.

Seeing as I didn't have a class that night, my purse was the only item I grabbed before making my way toward my car, along with the lunch I had stowed away from two days ago. It was leftovers, but it was still good. As usual, I inhaled a deep breath, preparing myself for the drive over. Since there was more than enough time before my shift, I decided to treat myself to something nice. Parking in the garage, I walked across the street to my favorite coffee shop, surprised that Niko had the day off. Ordering my usual coffee and a scone, I walked back to KaibaCorp, said good morning to those I passed, rode the elevator to my floor, and soon sat at my desk. I still had a few minutes, so I enjoyed my coffee and scone as I started my computer, questioning what emails I had received since yesterday and what I was expected to do today.

There weren't any significant deals or contracts that were in prospect right now. Since we had settled that deal several weeks ago, KaibaCorp had been relatively quiet. However, Mr. Kaiba had told me that he might enter into an agreement with Maximilian Pegasus regarding a project centered around Duel Monsters. The concept intrigued me, and I wondered what they wanted KaibaCorp for regarding the infamous game. KaibaCorp was a gaming industry, but they also developed new and evolving technology to help produce such games. Maybe that was it?

I could only speculate.

Finishing my breakfast, I read the minimal emails I had, one specifically from my boss stating that he wanted me to join him in his morning meetings so I could take notes. Pulling up the calendar, I noted the first meeting was at eight-thirty that morning, with another at ten with a different department. I grabbed my laptop from the bottom drawer of my desk. I mainly used my desktop when seated, but my work laptop went wherever I needed the digital device. Today, I would use it to take notes from the meetings, which I would then send to Mr. Kaiba so he could look them over later.

Mr. Kaiba soon walked in as we greeted each other. He closed his office door behind him, and I decided to spend the next half hour before the meeting working on the document from the day before. I guess I had been so enthralled in my work that, before I knew it, Mr. Kaiba shook my shoulder, stating that we needed to go.

Grabbing my materials, I hastily said, "I'm sorry, Mr. Kaiba. I was working on the document from yesterday."

He seemed to chuckle at that, though it was slight and quiet. "I could tell. Anything of interest?"

"I'm going to need to dig a little more to determine an appropriate answer." I felt a ball form in the pit of my stomach that I had slightly lied to my boss. Again, as I had decided last night, I didn't want to present false information to him for something that might be a regular occurrence. So, until I could provide something more tangible, I would keep this information to myself.

Moving to the elevator, we dropped several floors to the large conference room. As he pushed the correct floor button, Mr. Kaiba turned to me. "Does the document make sense? Are you able to decipher it?"

I nodded. "For the most part. It was different initially, but now that I've worked on it for some time, I think I get the gist of it."

"Come to me if you have questions. I know you have a financial background, but companies handle their finances differently."

His words had me smiling. I'd heard some rumors about my boss being ruthless and rude. I could see where those accusations would stem from, but so far, Mr. Kaiba has treated me with nothing but respect. "I appreciate the offer, sir. I will most definitely ask for assistance if I need it. However, was there anything specific you wanted me to look for?"

The man stared forward into the mirror-like doors of the elevator. He was either lost in thought or didn't quite hear me. I would let my question go when he glanced downward at me. "I want you to find any discrepancies."

That was an…interesting answer. "Are you expecting me to find any, sir?"

"Let's just say…I might have a hunch. But with your background, I want a new set of eyes to see what I can't."

He'd said that before. My mouth opened to ask another question when the doors opened. He allowed me to exit first as we walked down the long hallway to the large conference room. Other members were already there as we arrived. Mr. Kaiba claimed his seat at the head of the table, whereas I grabbed a spare chair and sat in the corner behind me. Starting my computer, I opened the necessary document and immediately typed specific notes for Mr. Kaiba.

This was how the next few hours were. I sat patiently and typed as fast as I could during the meetings. I was meticulous with my notes because I did not know what Mr. Kaiba wanted to remember or what he thought was worthy of being important. I included quotes, names, dates, numbers, and anything and everything that might benefit my boss. When the first meeting had concluded, we moved from one conference room to another on a different floor for a separate department. We spent more time in this meeting, but that didn't bother me. This specific meeting was more heated than the last, and Mr. Kaiba raised his voice several times, but for the most part, he was silent as he wanted to listen and gain insight from his employees.

I had blinked, and the meeting was over. Mr. Kaiba was the last to leave as he spoke with me about the meeting and my notes.

"Were you able to get the last few statements?" He asked.

I glanced through what I had written to confirm. "Yes, I did. I included as much information as possible, including the names, as I've done before."

"Good," he nodded curtly. "Keep doing what you're doing, Ms. Kawasaki."

"Thank you, Mr. Kaiba." He allowed me to exit as we walked toward the elevator, waiting for the doors to take us back up to the top level. "Will you be skipping lunch today?"

"Unfortunately, yes. I have some snacks in my desk, but you know the call I have scheduled for this afternoon. I cannot miss that, as much as I loathe the person I have to speak with."

Covering my mouth, I found myself chuckling. I honestly loved my boss' bluntness. It was just…so him. "Excuse me, I don't mean to laugh."

The man dared to smile at me; the beautiful lift of his lips left my heart fluttering. I questioned why but decided to ignore the answer. "Oh, laugh all you want. Even I can admit it's funny." We stepped out to our level. I stepped behind my desk, standing as I placed my laptop where it needed to be. I will work on the meeting notes once I return. But from the corner of my eye, I could see Mr. Kaiba lingering. "And…what of you, Ms. Kawasaki? Will you be skipping lunch today, too?"

My eyebrow rose at that. "You knew I've skipped lunch before?"

The corner of his lips lifted at that. "I'm not blind to my employees, Ms. Kawasaki. I expect that you won't skip lunch again. Do you understand?"

That had me cock my hip as I crossed my arms. "Then the same goes for you, Mr. Kaiba," I challenged. Based on his facial expression alone, I don't think my boss was expecting that answer from me. "I…probably have no right to say this, but you can't keep skipping lunch either. It's not healthy. If you're expecting me to eat, well, then I expect the same courtesy from you." Kneeling, I grabbed my lunch and began pulling out the contents that needed to be reheated before I could eat.

Once I was at full height, I did notice that Mr. Kaiba had mimicked my stance as he cocked his hip against the corner of my desk. "Is that an order, Ms. Kawasaki?"

"Take it as a suggestion, sir."

"Hmm, I see. Well…" His eyes found my lunch as I glanced down, too. "If that's your order, then…make me something."

My head tilted in confusion. "E-excuse me?"

"You heard me," he stated slowly, lips curving upward. Was…this Mr. Kaiba before me? He seemed different and…I liked it. Yes. I found that I genuinely did like the demeanor of this man before me. "If you bring me something to eat come Monday, I'll work on setting aside time to have lunch, just like you."

Quizzically, I stared at the man. Was he being serious? Was that all it was going to take? So I asked him. "You're being serious?"

"I'm always serious, Ms. Kawasaki."

Considering the notion, I said, "So…I'm to bring you a meal on Monday, and you'll eat lunch every day? Just like that?"

He shook his head gently. "I can't promise every day, but I promise to be better. This isn't the first time you have expressed concern about me not eating." He eyed me curiously. "Well? What do you think, Ms. Kawasaki?" The man extended his hand for me to shake, and I admit, I stared at his chiseled fingers longer than I should have. Without a second thought, I firmly grasped his hand, and we shook on the deal.

But, it wasn't the fact that I had shaken his hand. No. Something sparked in the way our hands touched. The moment our skin connected, my body jolted. Daring to spare a glance upward, I found Mr. Kaiba was already staring at me; those beautiful blue eyes were slightly widened. Upon realizing we were staring, we quickly let our hands go. I brought mine together as he crossed his arms again.

Deciding to avoid what had just occurred, I smirked at my boss. "Do you consider this a challenge then, Mr. Kaiba?"

He seemed to catch on my words. "I would say yes, Ms. Kawasaki."

"Then challenge accepted, sir."

He seemed content with my answer as he stepped toward his office. Just as he was about to enter, Mr. Kaiba turned back and said, "I look forward to my meal come Monday, Ms. Kawasaki."

As he closed the doors, I whispered to myself. "It'll be delicious."

Taking a deep breath, I finally glanced down at my hand, inspecting each finger. I had no idea what happened when he touched hands, but the most curious word that entered my mind was that it was magical. I felt a surge between our linked hands. Something…seemed familiar in that touch. Swallowing my confusion, I grabbed my lunch, deciding it was time to eat.

Quickly, I reheated my meal and walked back toward my desk. I was given an hour for lunch daily, which was more than enough time to eat. Typically, I used this time to relax, and, on occasion, I brought homework with me to finish. An extra hour at work doing homework was an additional hour I would save at home.

Eating through my leftovers, I enjoyed the rest of my lunch. It was simple yet delicious. Just enough nourishment to tide me over for the rest of the day until I could make it to the grocery store after work. I should have made a home-cooked meal in the last week as I decided to live off what I could scavenge at home, something from the convenience store or a fast-food restaurant. Still, sometimes food was food, and with my busy schedule with work and school, sometimes I had to make a quick decision about what I should or should not eat. Regardless, I enjoyed my lunch and spent the rest of the time scrolling through my phone to find something funny that would make me laugh.

It wasn't until the end of my lunch that I heard the elevator ding and the bush of black hair step out. Smirking, I could quickly tell it was Mokuba who was struggling to carry his massive pack across his shoulders. Standing, I met him across the foyers and grabbed the sack from his arm. "Here, Mokuba, let me take that."

He sighed out of gratefulness. "Thank you, Liz."

Setting the backpack beside my desk, I resumed standing as I watched Mokuba. We had grown close in the last few weeks. He often visited his brother throughout the day when he wasn't with Roland or his best friend, Kenji. However, since his second term at school had started, now that summer was over, Mokuba was always here after he was let go for the day.

Which made me cock my head. "Mokuba, it's still pretty early. Shouldn't you be in school right now?"

He shook his bushy head, the black strands bouncing back and forth. "We were let out early. The teachers had a meeting or something."

I smiled at that. "Well, it's always good to see you here, Mokuba. You're looking for your brother, right?"

"Yeah, is he here?" He stepped toward the office doors, but I shook my head.

"He stepped out a little bit ago; I don't know when he'll return."

"Oh," the child's face fell slightly. "Then…can I hang around with you until he gets here?"

"Of course! You're always welcome to, Mokuba. Wait here." Stepping to one of the conference rooms down the hall, I snagged a spare chair and brought it over for Mokuba to sit so he didn't have to stand. "Will this be ok?" I placed it beside my desk. It was long enough, so he had a small corner.

He nodded again. "What're you doing right now?"

"Well…"I glanced at the clock just in time to see my lunch was over. "I was on lunch, but I need to get back to work. You might be here awhile. Would you like some paper to draw on?"

"No, brother says I have to do my homework as soon as I'm home before I can do anything else."

"Your brother is a smart man." I watched as Mokuba pulled out several books, a notebook, a pencil, and an eraser; he quickly set to work. "When you're done, I can print out an activity or something you can work on. Deal?" Mokuba eagerly nodded, and I chuckled at his childish antics.

And that was how we worked. Mokuba sat beside me and moved from one subject to the next. The boy was diligent with his work, probably something he gained from his brother. He was quiet, as was I. The only sounds were the squeak of his mechanical pencil and the clicking of my typing against the keyboard. As the meetings this morning were the most crucial aspect of my work day, I pulled out my laptop and immediately worked on organizing the notes so they were prim and proper to give to Mr. Kaiba. I was already particular when I took notes; it didn't take me that long to make any edits I needed to. Saving a copy in our shared folder, I printed it and quickly placed it on my boss' desk.

Once back at my desk, I pulled the financial documents out to glance thoroughly through the pages. If Mr. Kaiba were assuming there was something I needed to find, then I would do my best to uncover that something.

Before I knew it, an hour had gone by. Mokuba was still quiet, but from my peripheral, I could see he was stuck on a particular assignment and had been for some time. Glancing at his paper, I could see that it was a math worksheet. "Whatcha working on, kiddo?"

He glanced up at me. "Math…" He replied sadly. "I just…I'm not getting it at all!" He was growing frustrated as he huffed.

Staring at the paper, I could tell why. They were working on percentages and fractions. It was an interesting combination to do at the same time, yet they were connected. Staring at my papers, I decided to take a risk. Pushing aside the document, I rotated my chair toward Mokuba. "Would…you like some help?"

His eyes widened at that. "Would you? You…don't mind?"

"Oh no, sweetie, I'm glad to help. Where are you stuck at?" He pointed to the first question. I'm guessing he's been stuck the entire time, considering all the questions were blank. "All right, explain it to me. What're you confused about?"

Mokuba was silent momentarily as he moved his attention to stare at the paper before moving back to me. In a small voice, he whispered, "…everything." He seemed too shy to answer but continued before I could say anything. "I just…I don't get any of it!"

Patting his hand, I was gentle with my words. "And that's all right, Mokuba. It's perfectly fine not to understand something the first time you learn it."

"But…but Kenji understands this!"

Ah, so that was it. "Hmm, ok, well…is there a subject that you understand that Kenji struggles with?"

The boy took a few seconds to think before he eagerly nodded. "I think I'm better at Japanese than he is…"

"See? You're stronger at a subject than he is, while he might be stronger in math than you are. But we won't let that stop you from learning, will we?"

Mokuba considered my words. "What if…what if I never understand math?"

I hummed. It was such an honest question, one I had also asked myself many times before. "I'm going to help you, so there's no need to worry. Do you trust me to help?"

"Yes!" The child automatically replied.

"Then let's get to work. Remind me what you learned today, and we'll go from there."

Mokuba then pulled out his notes from class earlier that day, explaining as best he could the material his teacher gave the class. Even going over his notes, Mokuba seemed to understand the concept of the lesson, but it was the practical application that confused him. He could explain it, but applying it on a worksheet was different.

Not wanting to decorate his homework with notes, I grabbed a spare sheet of paper, borrowed his pencil, and set to work. We went through question by question and broke down each one. In the best way possible, I described the problem with hints on how to solve each, but I left the remaining questions up to Mokuba. He needed to understand how to achieve the answer himself without being told the answer. We worked on the first few questions together. By the fifth, he asked for hints several times, but by question eight, he was answering them all on his own, and he was answering them correctly. Roughly forty minutes had passed, and we had completed the worksheet.

Staring at the paper, Mokuba was smiling so widely I bet his cheeks hurt. "This is…I-I finished it!"

Clapping him on the shoulder, I smiled, too. I was proud of Mokuba for putting in the effort to try. Though I helped, he's the one who did all the work. "And it was all you, Mokuba. You did all this."

"I…I did." He seemed to understand what I was saying. "I did it!" Dropping the paper, Mokuba grasped me around the neck and hugged me as tightly as ever. Chuckling, I returned the hug before pulling back. I loved how eager Mokuba wanted to learn and how much he wanted to prove himself. It made me question how he was as a student in class; I wanted to bet that he was terrific.

"What in the hell are you doing?"

Glancing upward, I noticed Mr. Kaiba standing right before my desk. Roland stood several feet behind him. I swallowed, my eyes searching for the time to see that I should have been working.

"Big brother!" Mokuba ran from his spot toward Mr. Kaiba and hugged his waist as best he could, considering their height differences. Though he gently touched his brother's shoulder, Mr. Kaiba stared me down. Not knowing what else to do, I stared back, suddenly fearful of what he had to say.

"Ms. Kawasaki, I asked you a question. What the hell have you been doing?"

"Mr. Kaiba, I…" Swallowing again, I decided to face the truth. There would be consequences, that I was sure, but I'd rather be honest than lie to my boss. "Mokuba came in looking for you once he got here after school and needed help with his homework."

The man raised a curious eyebrow at me. "He needed help with his homework," he repeated my words. "And that gave you the excuse to stop working your job to help my brother?"

Standing, as it felt wrong to sit there, I nodded. "That is the case, sir. I….I apologize. I stepped out of bounds, and - "

I could quickly tell my boss was seething. He took a moment to collect his words, and I feared this was the end of my employment at KaibaCorp. He was about to speak when Mokuba grasped his hand and pulled sharply. "Not now, Mokuba."

"But…but brother! Don't be mad at Liz! Please!" Leaving his brother's side, Mokuba returned by me and grabbed my hand. "She really was helping me!" Grabbing his worksheet, he returned to his brother's side to show him. "Look, just look! I already finished my math homework!"

Staring at me, Mr. Kaiba did a double-take as he glanced at the paper and then back to me before returning his gaze to stare at the paper. "Your…wait, what? What're you talking about?" Taking the paper from Mokuba's hand, my boss stared long and hard, his eyes seemingly softening the longer he stared at it. "This is…you did finish this." But then he scoffed. "How many questions did Ms. Kawasaki answer for you?"

"None, I swear! We worked on the first few questions together, and then I answered the rest myself!"

Taking another look at the paper, Mr. Kaiba said softly, "You…understood the lesson from today? Your answers are all correct."

"Mhm!" Mokuba beamed back at me, and I suddenly wanted to hug this young boy. He was standing up for me to his brother, and it meant the world that he was trying so hard. Mr. Kaiba took a moment to stare at his brother. Turning to Roland, the assistant seemed to question the ordeal as he shrugged.

"Roland, can you take Mokuba into my office briefly?"

"Yes, sir." Grabbing Mokuba's hand, Roland gently guided him into the office. I waved at the child as he stared at me sadly, but I nodded. Once the door was closed, my boss stepped forward and lifted the paper.

"You swear that he did most of these himself?"

His question caught me off guard, but I nodded swiftly. "Yes. Mokuba was working on his homework while I was working. I noticed that he was struggling with math, and I admit I was the one who asked if he needed help. But…Mr. Kaiba. I couldn't just sit there!" Taking a deep breath, I continued. "He seemed so hurt that he didn't understand the lesson today. But the moment we started working on it together, he just…" Casting my eyes off to the side, I sighed. "He seemed so interested in learning, and by the end, he couldn't stop smiling. I wanted to help Mokuba." I took another deep breath, prepared myself, and then returned my attention to my boss. Had his glare softened? "I'll face the consequences. I wasn't trying to avoid my duties. I just wanted to help."

I instantly cast my eyes away; my cheeks were burning with embarrassment. I had never seen Mr. Kaiba as angry as he had been when he glanced at me. His demeanor screamed he was beyond pissed off, and yet, his eyes. It was his eyes that spoke differently. It was like he didn't want to be mad. It wasn't easy to tell, but there was something I couldn't discern again about my boss.

The tapping of shoes caught my attention, and then a hand was on my shoulder, causing me to glance upward. Mr. Kaiba had stepped forward, and his expression had now changed again. "Ms. Kawasaki," he began. "I…am sorry for the tone I had with you. That was not fair. But there is something you must understand. When you are on the clock in this building, I expect all my employees, including you, to do your job. Do you understand?"

"I do, sir. And I am sorry." Was he going to fire me? Please, I really need this job!

Mr. Kaiba was quiet for a moment. We stared at each other as he huffed, glancing off to the side for a second before stepping backward. "Mokuba's…never been good at math." I tilted my head. That was not the sentence I expected him to say. "I work with him every night when he has a math worksheet, but no matter how I explain it, he doesn't understand. I wanted to hire a tutor to help him after school, but now…"

Curious, I asked, "Now…?"

He suddenly smirked. "I'd like to hire you, Ms. Kawasaki."

Blinking, I didn't know if I heard my boss correctly. "H-hire me?" I slightly squeaked.

Holding the worksheet up for me to see, Mr. Kaiba, with an adorable smirk, asked, "How would you feel about being Mokuba's math tutor on the weekends?"

~ oOo ~

As always, comments or questions? Until the next update!

DragonGoddess629