Chapter Eleven

The Jackpot

A/N: Not sure if I like the title, but that's what it'll be for now. Please enjoy this chapter, I'm excited to see where this story goes from here!

Disclaimer: Yu-Gi-Oh! does not belong to me. I only own Lizette, other OCs, and my story. Any chapter images I use have been found through Google or Pinterest, and I take no credit for them. Everything Yu-Gi-Oh! related rightfully belongs to Kazuki Takahashi.

~ oOo ~

LIZETTE

"Due to an unforeseen emergency, class has been canceled. Please see my email regarding next week's assignment."

Emiko and I stared at the door to our classroom. Other students were behind us as we read the message taped to the door. Some didn't question the message as they instantly turned and left, while others stayed behind to check their email, curious about what our professor had sent. Emiko and I were among those people as we scoured through our app to see when our professor had sent the notification; it was sent barely thirty minutes ago.

Reading the email aloud, I said, "Students, I apologize for canceling class at the last minute. I have an unexpected family emergency that must come before class. I will send another email tomorrow regarding next week's assignment, but for now, please read chapter eight and prepare discussion questions related to your group project. I sincerely thank you in advance."

All I did was stare at my best friend and smile, who copied my movements. We gathered our computer bags and retraced our steps back to the parking lot without further ado. It was currently minutes before six on a Tuesday evening. I met Emiko at her building across town to pick her up so we could carpool to school. However, our plans have changed since the class has been effectively canceled. The thought was surprisingly helpful as I wasn't in the mood to be in class, primarily until nine, especially after having worked all day. Again, I loved school, but it was getting to be tiresome.

As we approached my car, my best friend instantly sat in her seat while I took several seconds to calm my racing heart. Emiko knew the whole story behind why I needed to take a moment when entering my car - any car, for that matter - and stopped questioning after I was honest with her. Being the best friend that she was, she respected the space I needed in these quiet moments.

Stepping inside, I turned the car on and set the heater on low since the weather outside was now starting to take a drastic turn. The end of fall was happening, as it was the last week of October, but I swear these last few nights have been freezing. I hoped for snow this winter, as I do every year.

Turning to me, Emiko was all smiles. "Since there's no class, does this mean we can get some dinner?"

"I believe it's a sign that we should." We giggled at that. Reversing my vehicle, I maneuvered away from the campus parking lot onto the main street, wandering around until we decided where to go. "The question is: where?"

"What're you in the mood for?" She asked, pulling out the map app on her phone to search for food locations.

"Last time we went out to eat, we were supposed to get teppanyaki." That was the night the puppy died in my arms at the hospital. I tried forgetting such a night, but bearing in mind the emotion I felt the next day with Mr. Kaiba, I almost didn't want to.

Almost.

"I can always go for teppanyaki. It's my weakness, you know that, Liz." I chuckled at her seriousness.

"We could go, or I can make something at home?" I turned to her to see my friend's expression. She tilted her head back and forth, taking in the options I handed her. "But, now that I think about it…" I tapped my chin. "I do need to go grocery shopping." I smiled sheepishly.

Thrusting her finger toward the road, my best friend squealed. "To my favorite teppanyaki we go!"

After thirty minutes, we sat around a booth at Emiko's favorite teppanyaki restaurant. The waitress at the front entrance recognized her, as she eats at the establishment at least every other week, and immediately gave us a seat to eat. We thanked her and ordered fruity alcoholic drinks to enjoy our meal while we decided what we wanted. By the time our drinks were delivered, we were all giggling to the point that I could tell we were probably annoying the patrons around us.

Oh fucking well, I shrugged.

Having decided what she wanted, Emiko turned to me. "I'm getting sushi this time. What about you?"

I was still staring at the menu. "You know me, I have to get the gyoza. I'll probably get two orders of the gyoza appetizer and take one home for lunch tomorrow. As for my meal…I'm feeling the teriyaki chicken." Having decided, I folded my menu and set it aside.

Taking a sip of her colorful drink, my friend asked, "And how's working at KaibaCorp? Your boss treating you right?"

"He treats me the best," I answered honestly. "I told you I'm tutoring his younger brother, right?"

She nodded. "And he's paying you for that? Compensating you for your time?"

"Mhm." I took a sip of my own, my mouth almost puckering at the taste of the alcohol. Based on that, I knew this would be my only drink for the night; I would only consume water afterward until we left. "He pays me well for the tutoring. It's helping me increase my savings, especially after what I lost while unemployed."

Her eyebrow rose at that. "Did you truly lose as much as you say you did?"

I swallowed. Emiko knew nothing of my Uncle Shiro and the monthly payments I made. She knew nothing of our agreement nor the reason why I had been paying him an agreed amount every month for the past four years. This will likely continue in the unforeseen future. That thought made my stomach churn. Uncle Shiro didn't deserve my money. But if I didn't pay him, then he'd…I visibly shivered. If Emiko had noticed, she wouldn't have said anything, probably thinking I was cold.

"Well, I am paying for college by myself and took summer courses this year. That wasn't cheap."

She must have forgotten that part as she hummed and nodded. "Ah, yeah. Tuition doesn't come cheap. Thank god we're almost done." She raised her glass, and we gently knocked ours together, taking a drink of the warm alcohol.

"Yes, thank fuck we're almost done," I answered.

I was about to say something else when our waitress appeared and smiled at us and the other patrons surrounding our large table. As she jotted down everyone's orders, another server dropped off a cup of miso soup, a small salad, and two gyoza to every person sitting at the table. Simply staring at the food before me was enough for my mouth to water, and I consumed almost everything except the miso soup. Something about miso soup bothers me, and I cannot eat it. I handed the small bowl to Emiko, who greedily consumed the liquid. She knew of my aversion to this food and mentioned nothing, especially since she was getting an extra portion.

"So…are there any secrets I need to know about your job?"

My salad crunched in my mouth as I ate it. "Secrets? I mean…I'm the personal assistant for one of the most recognized CEOs in Japan. What's more to say than that?"

My friend nudged my shoulder. "He's also the most eligible bachelor in the country and has ranked in the top five of the most handsome in last year's business model." Now, that was something I knew. I knew going into this position what the country thought of Seto Kaiba. I'll admit, I felt he was handsome before I started working for him. Hell, I still believe that, especially since I was falling in love with the man.

No, I'm IN love with my boss.

I shoved the sudden, intrusive thought from my brain.

Waving her off, I muttered, "I'm very well aware of what the tabloids say about my boss."

She poked my arm. "They also say he's an insufferable asshole," she spoke bluntly.

I would've choked on my drink if it hadn't been for the conversations I'd had with Roland. He had explained on different occasions the things other individuals in the business world have said to Mr. Kaiba, both to his face and behind his back. Even though my boss hadn't been rude or an asshole to me, I could see Mr. Kaiba had the persona to be one. Now, I refused to call him one to his face. Just like what he'd told me before, I hadn't given him a reason to be one to me. Based on that statement alone, Mr. Kaiba was the type of individual that was only an asshole if need be.

"They say many things about my boss," I offered. "Doesn't mean it's true." I gave her a side glance.

"Ahh," she held her drink close to her lips. "Has my bestie seen a side to the infamous CEO that he doesn't show the world?"

I shrugged, trying to act nonchalant. "Maybe," I offered softly. Emiko rolled her eyes at that.

"Ok, keep your secrets," she stuck her tongue out at me, an action I copied as well.

There were so many things I wanted to tell her. I wanted to tell my best friends about the lingering stares, the sweaty palms I experienced every time he was around, and even the amount of hand-holding we had done in the last few weeks. Then there was almost a kiss on the day he consoled me after the puppy died, and on his birthday over the weekend, with the hug we held. There was so much I wanted to tell my best friend, but I also wanted to protect my boss. I knew Mr. Kaiba was secretive and wanted nothing more than to respect that. It hurt, I was keeping secrets from my best friend, but in this situation, I had to. If there ever came a time when I wouldn't work for KaibaCorp anymore, then I might explain to her some events that happened between us. Or I might just keep them locked away in my heart.

Yeah, that was probably a better decision.

"But…" My friend's voice lulled me from my thoughts as she poked me again. "Even you have to admit that he is incredibly sexy."

Now that I choked on. Coughing slightly, I dared to take a sip of my deadly drink, though it did nothing to stop the rampage of thoughts. This woman would never know just how sexy I thought Mr. Kaiba was. Because I did think he was sexy. I also thought he was handsome and beautiful and nearly perfect.

Shaking my head, I said, "Geez, you just won't stop, will you?" To that, Emiko heartily laughed as she slapped my shoulder. I knew my friend meant well, as she always did.

"But, seriously. Aside from your boss, how is your job going? You being treated alright?" This was the side of Emiko I loved. She was a genuinely caring person once you got past her sassy side. She meant well with her sassy remarks, but underneath, she was one of the most loving people I knew.

"It's going extremely well." I quickly ate the two gyoza. Since I gave Emiko my soup, she gave me her dumplings, which I doused in soy sauce and nearly inhaled. "Everyone is so lovely, and Mr. Kaiba has placed much trust in my intellectual ability. I'm scanning contracts and determining which should be considered and which should not. And - oh!" Turning to face her, I dropped my voice. "Have I told you about the financial discrepancy I've been working on?"

"A discrepancy?" She raised an eyebrow. "You've mentioned nothing of the sort. What's going on?"

"Mr. Kaiba came up to me one day with a daunting task. He gave me some paperwork and said he thought money was disappearing from his company but didn't trust anyone to look into the situation, and asked me, and then - "

"Wait, wait," Emiko held a hand up to stop me. "How long had you been working before he asked you?"

Cupping my chin, I thought. I hadn't really thought about it when he asked me. I appreciated that he asked me to help with such a delicate situation. "Um, I think it was only a few weeks after he hired me? Maybe right before or right after the semester started?"

Her eyes widened slightly. "You mean he asked you to work on such a task when you hadn't even been there six months?!"

I nodded, shrugging at the same time. "Pretty much."

Emiko slumped slightly in her seat. "Fucking shit, Lizette. Does he trust you that much? I mean, even now, you haven't been there six months! And! He's paying you to tutor his brother?!" Grabbing her drink, she gulped down the contents, raising her hand to order another. "I'm gonna be honest, Liz. Either he sees much potential in you, or he has other plans for how he treats you."

My head shook, knowing exactly where she was going with this. "Don't even go down that route," I muttered. "I know what you're thinking, and you're wrong. Mr. Kaiba is not like that, trust me."

"Are you sure?" She grasped my arm. "I don't want to be concerned, Lizette, but I will if need be. I know he sees much potential in you, as you deserve it and are a kick-ass employee. But, can you blame me for thinking such thoughts?"

"Nah," I waved her off. "Don't fret, I'm not mad or anything. I know why you thought that."

"Good." She sighed. "I just…want to make sure you're not being taken advantage of."

"Nothing of the sort is going on." Consuming the rest of my drink, I continued our earlier conversation, wanting to move away from the one we were having. "You said that he's known to be an asshole. He's never been one to me. Trust me, Emiko." I stared her in the eye. "With my position, I see a different side of Mr. Kaiba than most. Deep down, he's a good man with a vision for changing KaibaCorp, and I'm very happy that he chose me to be his personal assistant."

Smiling at me, Emiko wrapped her arm around my shoulder, pulling me in for a side hug. "Aww, keep talking like that, and I'll assume you're falling for him or something."

Laughing, I merely said, "Don't get your hopes up," I said. Little did she know that she was right.

She just didn't need to know that yet.

"So, you're looking into this discrepancy. Any luck with that?" As she asked her question, our chef appeared, the night's entertainment starting as he began cooking our meal, conversing with the other patrons as we talked together.

"Emi, when I say I'm so close to figuring this out, I mean it. I've talked with all the leads of every department in the company. I've scoured document after document from each department to determine where this money has gone. I'm so close I can taste my victory, but I'm right at the end with nowhere to go."

"Then what comes next? Will you go to Mr. Kaiba with this?"

"I've mostly kept him in the loop about what I've done."

"So…what's next?"

"I have one last action I can take. I interviewed the CFO last week, and he…Well, I think the answer lies in the program he uses, considering his position manages the bulk of financial budgeting throughout the company. Why wouldn't such information about withdrawals and deposits throughout the company exist in the program he uses?"

"Have you searched through it yet?"

I sighed. "No, I'm doing that tomorrow. The end of last week was filled with contracts and meetings. Also, I…kinda don't want to? What if I do find something?"

She eyed me curiously. "Do you have any suspects to consider?"

"A few," I lied. "But there's one I'm considering over all others."

Her voice turned to a whisper. "It's the CFO, isn't it?" Just then, we set our plates out for the chef to place the fried rice and veggies on our plates. Emiko carefully ate several bites before stating, "You emphasized CFO differently when you spoke. Is he a nice man?"

My head shook instantly. "No. Now he's the asshole in the company, not Mr. Kaiba. This man has had something against me since I met him, mostly because of the responsibilities I've been given despite being a lowly assistant."

Her chopsticks nearly fell as she glared at me. "Excuse me? He's had an attitude against you because you're a personal assistant?" I nodded again. "Damn. I better not meet this asshole, or he might see the end of my fist." Emiko was being serious. She rarely threatens with physical violence, but when she does, the woman means business. I laughed at that, taking bites of my meal. Emiko sensed I wanted to discuss something other than work as she moved the conversation to explain what she had been doing for her father's company.

And that was how we spent the rest of the night. Emiko consumed three drinks in total - it took more than three to make her tipsy - and I had water for the rest of the night. We enjoyed our meal, laughed together over inside jokes, and enjoyed our time as best friends. After we had finished and paid, we trekked back to my car. It was just after eight, and I was surprised it was still early, probably because our class had been canceled. As we entered the car, I pulled out my phone and sent a quick message to my bestie Lucas in California.

Miss you sweetie! Hopefully I can take a couple days and fly home for the holidays this year! 333

Considering the time difference, I knew he wouldn't reply for some time, which was ok. Our long-distance friendship had been rocky in the beginning as we tried working out the time difference. But now, after four years, we know what worked and when. I was very rarely able to travel to the US and visit my hometown, but I tried going at least once a year. But, because of school and work this year, I hadn't been able to.

Despite wanting to spend more time together, I dropped Emiko off at her apartment with the promise that we would go shopping over the weekend. She perked at that, knowing she had been wanting to go winter clothes shopping, desperately in need of a new coat - her words, not mine.

By the time I parked in front of my home, it was nearing nine. I turned the lights on as I opened the door and placed my purse and keys on the hook beside it. Locking the door, I inhaled, happy to finally be home. I loved the time I spent with Emiko, but I also wished I could just come home after a day at work and enjoy my evening. I wasn't complaining, but I could still state the truth.

Walking into my bedroom, I carefully tore my clothing off, placing it in the hamper or on a hanger in the closet. Now that winter was getting closer, I slept in sweats, a loose t-shirt, and socks, something comfortable to keep me nice and warm while under my blankets. Now that I was home and changed, I had two options to consider before going to bed. I could either pop in a game and play for an hour or two, or put YouTube on my TV and lie in bed until I fell asleep. Weighing my options, I opted for the second choice. With tomorrow being a work day, starting a game now would keep me up for a while, and if I were being honest, I just wanted to lounge around and do nothing. Turning off the lights in the front part of my house and taking my medication, I crawled into bed, placed a timer on my TV, wrapped myself in my blankets, and started an easy game on my phone. I barely remember anything from what I watched or played on my phone before I was staring at the back of my eyelids.

I woke up the next morning to the harsh sound of my alarms. I needed to be up earlier because today was an early start time. Staring at the clock, I noticed it was five in the morning on the dot, and I groaned. I understood why I needed to be up earlier, but the call of sleep rattled my brain. I knew better, though, grudgingly pulled myself from my warm comforter.

I completed my morning routine: brush my teeth, shower, moisturize my face, do my hair, and get dressed. As I placed my warm cardigan over my black blouse, I turned to stare in the mirror, fixing anything out of place before heading to the kitchen for a quick breakfast. In the mirror, there was nothing I needed to fix; everything was how it was supposed to be. The only aspect of myself I focused on was my hair, noticing how long it was becoming. In March, I had chopped my waist-length hair, and now it was beneath my shoulder blades. I smiled, thankful I was getting my hair back.

I didn't regret cutting my hair. At the time, I needed a change, as I'd always had my hair long, and this time, I wanted to see what it would be like if I had a chin-length bob. I wasn't disappointed by the new cut, but I definitely missed my longer hair. In the past, some people have questioned how my hair grows so fast, but I have never had an answer. It's always been like that. The fun part is that once it's at my waist, it stops growing as fast, just long enough here that I need a trim every few weeks, but that's it. I never questioned it, and as I stared in the mirror, I knew my hair would be back soon enough. I hoped I'd have my length back again by March. And by the time I went for another cut, which would be sooner than I thought, I'd probably ask for some layers, as it felt extremely flat.

Noticing the time on my phone, I shrugged and moved away from the mirror. Heading into the kitchen, I quickly made a bowl of cereal and packed my lunch as I ate. Since I didn't have class that night, I didn't have to bring my backpack and laptop; I only had options for my purse, lunch, and water bottle. Once I had everything, it was just before six-thirty, giving me enough time to reach the office.

Taking my morning medication, I stepped outside after locking the door and approached my car. Placing my items in the back, I stood before the driver's seat, inhaled deeply several times, and then sat down, igniting the vehicle. Traffic was lighter this time of morning, and it was a smooth drive to the office as I parked in the underground garage. There were only a few other cars besides mine, mostly custodians who worked the graveyard shift and were waiting to go home at eight.

Making my way through the building, I traversed the floors in the elevator and stepped out on my floor. The lights flickered on with my movement, and I correctly placed my belongings where they needed to be before sitting in my chair and starting my morning routine. I started my computer, checked my email, and acknowledged my notes from the previous day on what I needed to focus on today. On my note, in all caps and circled several times, it said, "FOCUS ON ZAVA FINANCIALS."

I groaned, knowing it was time I put my focus on the financial program. As I told Emiko last night, there wasn't much else I could do unless I scoured through the program to discover whatever I needed to look for. The thing was that I didn't know what I was looking for. Rubbing my temple, I unlocked the cabinet behind me, grabbing the binder where I kept all documentation regarding the discrepancy and the threatening emails. The credentials Mr. Kaiba gave me to log in were taped inside the cover for safekeeping. Ensuring no detrimental work needed to be completed before my boss arrived, I was careful with logging in to the program. After one attempt, I was successful and smiled, knowing I was one step closer. As the program loaded, my mind reeled upon seeing the hardware before me. I didn't know what to expect, but what was before me seemed different. I hadn't been in this application before, but…was it supposed to look like that?

I heard the ding from the elevator. Glancing up, I noticed it was Mr. Kaiba staring at his watch. As he walked forward, I glanced at my clock. It was right after seven. What was he doing here this early? "Good morning, Mr. Kaiba," I stated softly. As he lifted his head, I nearly swooned. Mr. Kaiba wore a dark charcoal suit, a crisp white shirt, and a blue tie. He looked immaculate, and I had to do my best to show that I wasn't staring, but that wasn't easy. How could I not? The man was gorgeous, and that tie perfectly complemented his beautiful blue eyes.

My boss cast his eyes toward me. They were slightly hardened, but his lips softened as our gazes met, and a slight grin formed. "Good morning, Ms. Kawasaki. How're you this morning?" He stepped before my desk, leaning against it slightly, having placed his briefcase on the ground.

I shrugged. "Eh, can't complain. My class was canceled last night, so my best friend and I went out for dinner. Because of work and school, we don't get to see each other as much as we'd like." I grinned, too, remembering the experience I shared with Emiko. "It was very much needed."

"I can tell. You seem a little bit chipper this morning."

"Ha, must be the alcohol I had."

His eyebrow rose. "Did you have a lot?" He questioned.

"Oh, no, no. I can't handle lots of alcohol; it was only one drink." My boss nodded at that, seemingly happy with my answer. Returning my gaze to my screen, I pointed at my computer. "But I do have a question. I need to examine ZAVA today, that's my goal. Is it supposed to look like this?" Rotating around my desk until he was behind me, Mr. Kaiba placed a hand on the back of my chair and leaned forward. I could feel the warmth from his body against my back, and I silently sighed. His presence was comforting, leaving me craving more of his touch from his birthday.

"Yes, it is," he answered after some silence. "Your version of ZAVA is going to look different. The credentials I gave you provide master access. You can see everything my employees do when they're in the program."

"Seriously?" My nose scrunched. Was he willing to give me master's access to such a critical application? Was he serious? "And you're okay with me having this access?"

Turning slightly, he cocked an eyebrow. "Believe me, Ms. Kawasaki. I trust you after everything you've done for me since I hired you. I've never trusted a personal assistant as much as I've trusted you." Such a comment pierced my heart. He'd stated such words before, but for him to repeat them left me feeling special.

It was then that I turned my gaze back to my boss. Was he…was his face closer now? It seemed closer to the point that I could feel his breath against my lips. We were so close that if I leaned forward just enough, our mouths would kiss. That's what I wanted, wasn't it? What I've been craving? I wondered if Mr. Kaiba felt the same, yet I knew he didn't. He couldn't; he shouldn't. He was at the top of the business chain, while I could be a disposable employee.

Mr. Kaiba must've sensed something as he quickly pulled away, adjusting his necktie. He cast his face away, but I swore I could see a hint of pink dust across his cheeks.

"Do you want some help navigating ZAVA?" he asked, moving back around to the front of my desk as he bent down to grab his briefcase. I pondered his suggestion, as having my boss near me would be comforting, but ultimately declined. I shook my head, knowing he had enough on his plate if he was here before eight.

"No, I think I can manage. If I don't enter anything or change something, I'll be ok." I gave a nervous laugh, suddenly realizing the power I had at my fingertips. I didn't want to cause any damage to this information before me, but it did scare me that I could make an accidental mistake.

Mr. Kaiba patted my shoulder. "You'll be fine. But if something does happen, come get me immediately; I'll fix it." He rechecked his watch.

"You know," I wondered aloud. "Why are you here so early, if I may ask?"

He groaned, grabbing his nose. "After you left yesterday, Takechi called me personally requesting an informal meeting today to check any last-minute details regarding the contract. Do you have anything planned at nine? Could you step in and take notes?"

I quickly checked my calendar. "I'll be there. The only plan I have for today is to look through this program. Otherwise, I'm completely free unless you ask me to do something." I smiled at him.

"Perfect." He knocked his knuckles against my desk. "I'll be back in an hour, and we'll head to the conference room." I gave him a thumbs up as I turned to my computer while he entered his office.

Once the door was closed, my attention focused solely on this program. I was bound and determined to find something - anything - in this damn application. With all the information I had gathered outside of this, there just had to be something I could find and use.

As carefully as possible, I familiarized myself with the software of this application. Numerous links were based on the type of financial document, and guided sections were split into all the departments within KaibaCorp. It was organized easily enough to understand and guide me where I wanted to go. I decided I didn't need to glance through the departments I'd already visited with the information I received from the interviews I conducted. If needed, I could look through them later. I was determined to find what I needed regarding the CFO, Noda Yoshinori. He used this program for his position in the company. There was someplace in ZAVA that he used for his responsibilities.

As that thought ran through my mind, I found what I sought. A blue folder titled "Chief Financial Officer - Main" made me think I needed this. Clicking on the folder, more appeared in my vision. Some were labeled by year, some by job, and others by contract. My mind was bombarded by everything my eyes could see, and I had to step back. Where did I want to begin? What was most important, those labeled by year, program, or contract? Deciding on the year, since the discrepancy I found went back two years, I first chose the 2024 folder. But, as I was about to click on the folder, I noticed one at the bottom labeled " - ". Once inside, more folders appeared again, and I dropped my head into my hands.

This is fucking bullshit.

Without thinking, my mouse clicked on a random folder, and…I reeled. It asked for a password.

Now, that's definitely interesting. Why would a folder in a company program request a password? Since I had master access, could I bypass such a request? Taking a chance, I entered the password Mr. Kaiba gave me and clicked 'submit.' I'm assuming I was granted access, as it didn't ask me again, and I opened the folder. But -

It was empty.

Backing out, I chose another, another, and finally, a third. They were all empty.

What the hell? Why would there be labeled folders that had nothing inside? If there was nothing inside, what was the purpose of the folder? Unless…

Something used to be inside, but it was now deleted.

Since I had master access, off to the side of the program, there was a dropdown window, and as I clicked it, different options were displayed. Hovering my mouse over them, I noticed different choices for what I could do in the program: delete, new, organize, create, file, and others. At the bottom of the list, there was 'help.' Clicking on that, there were even more options, such as….recover.

Oh shit. Now we're talking.

When I clicked on that option, it asked me to choose a folder. After exiting my folder, I rechecked 'recover' and then chose one of the blank folders. A pop-up screen appeared, stating it would take several minutes to recover the files. I watched the screen, counting the seconds until it was ready.

"Ms. Kawasaki."

Jumping in my seat, I nearly squealed. Turning to my right, I found my boss covering his mouth as he tried to withhold a laugh, though he was failing miserably as it leaked through his lips. I held my heart, trying to calm my breathing. "Mr. Kaiba!" I hissed, though I still smiled. "Why do you keep scaring me?!"

He smiled, too. "Oh, you make it easy to do so. You were so occupied with your work that you didn't even hear me knock on your desk."

"I just…hmph." My smile turned to a frown, but the smile returned the longer I stared at my boss. His eyes were glowing with an emotion I couldn't read, but I knew it was positive. "Well, even I must admit you got me good." Checking the time, I realized it was ten till nine. Had I been so busy with my research that I didn't know the time? Damn. Grabbing my iPad out of the bottom drawer, I returned the binder to the cabinet behind me, locked it, and turned the screen off on my monitor, knowing the files would still recover even with the screen off. Standing, I asked, "Ready?"

"As long as you are."

Taking a good breath, I replied, "I am now." We started walking side by side, but I could feel Mr. Kaiba's stare at me. Turning my stare toward him as we maneuvered the long hallway, I asked, "Can I help you with something?"

"Mmm, no, just curious if you'll squeal like that next time I scare you."

"Oh, there's going to be a next time, is there?" I raised my eyebrow in question.

He chuckled softly. "There has to be a next time. You make it so easy to scare you. I like it; it's cute." I would've frozen in my spot if we didn't have somewhere to be. My boss's comment caught me off guard, seemingly doing the same to him. Mr. Kaiba grabbed his tie and adjusted it, squirming his neck.

There's that blush on his cheeks again.

I giggled on the inside at that.

"I-I'm sorry, Ms. Kawasaki, I shouldn't have - "

I didn't allow him to finish that sentence. Knocking my shoulder against his arm, seeing as my shoulder didn't meet his, I giggled outwardly this time. "Don't worry, I won't let it slip that you think me being scared is cute."

Beside me, I could feel my boss relax. "Thank you," he stated quietly. And I left the conversation at that.

But I didn't stop the thoughts rampaging through the inside of my brain.

I was cute. He actually said I was cute!

No, Lizette, he did not say that YOU were cute. He said that you being SCARED was cute.

After that, my brain shut off, knowing it was right. As soon as the thoughts entered my mind, loving that my boss had commented, they were gone in a flash. And as we approached the door to the conference room, our silent conversation died.

The Zoom meeting with Takechi lasted about an hour as I sat to the side, documenting notes and outlines of what was discussed between the two businessmen. Though I attempted to pay attention to the conversation, I couldn't. My mind still thought back to what was said in the hallway; I couldn't get it out of my head. No matter how much I told myself that Mr. Kaiba held no romantic feelings toward me, hope still blossomed in my heart. I wanted to believe he could, but I knew the truth. By the end of the meeting, I decided that Mr. Kaiba's comment was nothing more than a slip of the tongue.

Yeah, that was definitely it.

It was just after ten when I returned to my desk. My first task was to organize and format my notes, save them as a PDF, and email them to Mr. Kaiba for future reference. Once that was complete, I maneuvered back to ZAVA. I wasn't kidding when I said this is what I could work on most of the day. I was fucking determined to find the culprit who had been embezzling money for the past two years. As I reopened the program, I discovered that the recovery option worked, and several files appeared in this folder that had once been empty.

And their labels were…interesting. There were no words but numbers instead.

Swallowing, I knew I needed to investigate, so I clicked on the '#1' file.

The document loaded quickly, and inside, a paragraph appeared before my eyes. Quickly reading it, I realized it was more of a diary entry than company-related. I read it silently several times, trying to understand what it was saying.

Went down to Mr. Kaiba's office because his fucking assistant wouldn't pick up his phone. When I got there, the desk was empty, but after several minutes, the elevator dinged, and out came a gorgeous female holding a stack of paper in her arms. I questioned where she had been, and her response surprised me. She had the audacity to question me instead of answering what I asked her. She may have been beautiful and was feisty, but she was a bitch. Come to find out, this Ms. Kawasaki is the new assistant to Mr. Kaiba. What the fuck is that about? He hired another female? Didn't he learn anything from the last four female assistants he hired? They were all shit. How long until this bitch is fired? I give her three more weeks at best. If anything, she at least provided me with some interesting information. After my meeting, I stepped back to her desk to find her absent again, so I decided to snoop. I wanted to know who this female was and, lo and behold, on her desk were papers regarding some missing money in the company. Heh, she won't discover who has all the money.

My eyes widened at the last part.

So…the assistant this person is talking about is me. It has to be. I checked the document for a date, and when I dug deep into the settings, I discovered it was written only weeks prior. Even without the person stating who wrote this document, I knew who it was because I remember such a meeting as if it were yesterday.

Noda Yoshinori.

Quickly, I printed the document and placed it in my binder.

Then, I moved on to the following folder and copied the same movements I made with the first. I clicked the recovery button, waited several minutes, and read the writing on the document. Each folder recovered one document, and they were all the same. Each one had one paragraph, all discussing something from Noda's day.

But I wondered why he was using ZAVA for his entries. Why was he typing such information into a company program and computer? I knew he had some concerns, but didn't think he was this stupid.

Altogether, there were seven document entries in total, and I printed every single one. All documents listed a nameless assistant to Mr. Kaiba - except one. The last one. Noda was stupid enough to state my name and provide specific details about my most recent meeting with him, just last week.

Just received a call from Ms. Kawasaki. Why does such a beautiful woman have to be such a bitch? Oh, the things I want to do with her. I'm so confused by her presence. One moment I want to fuck her; the next, I want to smack her for her filthy mouth. But she called requesting a meeting, which I denied. But then she had to put the 'I'll tattle on you to Mr. Kaiba' bullshit. Of course, I agreed to have a meeting with her. She's on my tail; if I'm not careful, she will uncover my secrets. She demanded my help because of some discrepancy she found in the company. Fuck, she's on my tail. I have to do something about the situation. For now, I'll stop moving the money around and make sure she leaves the company before I continue taking what's mine. She will pay. I don't know what I'll do to her, but Ms. Kawasaki will pay.

I printed the last entry, nearly shoving it into my binder along with the other six. I knew this was incriminating evidence against Noda Yoshinori, but I knew there was more I could find. Knowing I received everything this nameless folder would give me, I meandered back to the beginning to start again. Next, I decided to click the folders labeled with years, curious whether this was where Noda kept the financial information regarding KaibaCorp's financial situation for the year. Inside were maybe a hundred folders, all labeled with a different year, going back right after Mr. Kaiba took over as CEO. The earliest year must've been when the company hired Noda. The other folders were titled different things, such as budgeting cuts, salaries, hired employees, yearly budgets, department budgets, etc.

And again, I scoured through all the folders until I reached the bottom. And, once again, there was a folder titled " - ". Knowing this was most likely the one I needed, I clicked on it, not even surprised it requested a password. Inserting the one I did before, I was given access, and inside, there were three folders labeled differently. One had last year's date, the second had the year before, and the third said 'total.' I accessed the first folder, which had only one document. Opening it, there were tables listing the different departments within the company, along with dates. And, not so surprisingly, there was a list of deposits to each department and withdrawals from each, all matched with the dates I had discovered as well. Once again, I printed these pages, a total of five; I stapled them together and held them on my desk.

Leaning back in my chair, I took a moment to breathe. This was precisely what I was looking for. This was the evidence I needed; the only missing part was something I could tie to Noda Yoshinori. Nothing so far had anything connected to his name other than these documents being placed inside the program he would use inside ZAVA for his position as CFO. I needed to continue, I pushed myself closer, knowing I shouldn't cast my eyes away.

Moving back, I opened the following folder to find another single document. Opening it, I saw that this was the same as the only one I had just printed, but for a different year. Again, everything I found matched the information I received from each department, my interviews, and my investigation. Everything matched perfectly, even the dates.

Returning to the main folder, I opened the third. This time, instead of documents, I found numerous PDFs. About twenty-five PDFs existed. Twenty-four were all dated, one per month, all dated back for the past two years. The twenty-fifth wasn't labeled, so I ignored that one for right now. Swallowing, I opened the first at the top with the furthest date.

My mouth fell to the ground at what I saw.

The PDF was a scanned check for the amount of money taken each month. The best part?

The check was made out TO Noda Yoshinori.

I didn't recognize the name of the person who signed the check away, but if the money came from KaibaCorp, this was most likely an employee of the company, probably someone in Human Resources.

I grinned. But this wasn't just any old grin. No, this was a Cheshire grin, wide and bright and utterly creepy as it reached my ears. I had landed the jackpot of all jackpots. This was the evidence I needed. There was probably more in these folders, but I believed what I found was enough to indict Noda Yoshinori for embezzling money and grand theft. At least, that's what he could be charged with in the United States; I didn't know what he could be accused of in Japan, but I was hoping it was something similar.

Deciding to look in the last folder labeled 'total,' I wondered what this would hold. Inside, one document existed; as I clicked it, there was another table with numbers and dates. I quickly scanned the information and found that it listed all the money deposited and withdrawn over the two years. At the end, my mouth fell again as I covered my lips, a gasp escaping simultaneously.

Over two years, Noda Yoshinori embezzled just over one hundred and fifty million yen. In US dollars, that's equivalent to just over one million dollars, in just two years.

I…I can't believe this.

I found what I was looking for - all the information I needed to give Mr. Kaiba was right here. Checking the clock, I noticed it was half past ten. My stomach suddenly twisted in knots, and I needed to be quick. Printing everything necessary, I organized the evidence, stapled, paper-clipped, and ensured Mr. Kaiba could understand the madness I created. Everything I discovered in ZAVA was before me. And, as far as I was concerned, everything was ready and prepared to present to Mr. Kaiba. He needed to know about this as soon as possible.

To be safe, I logged out of ZAVA, put all the documents in my binder, and placed it on my desk. Smoothing my pants, I knocked softly but firmly on Mr. Kaiba's door. I could hear my boss grant me entrance, so I stepped inside. Sitting at his desk, he was clicking away on his keyboard, and as I approached, he held up one finger, asking for a moment. Patiently, I waited, and precisely one minute later, he ceased typing and gave his full attention to me.

"What can I do for you, Ms. Kawasaki?" His face was soft and gentle, and as much as I wanted to ogle his beauty, I shook my head, focusing on my task.

Taking a second to think, I realized I hadn't checked my boss's calendar, meaning I shouldn't have asked to meet with him regarding this topic at that moment. So I asked, "Mr. Kaiba, do you…by chance, have some time to talk this afternoon?" Yes, that was what I needed to ask. I didn't want to press the issue right now. I was too hyped up, with adrenaline running through my veins. I needed to be calm and collected when presenting such information and evidence to him.

He tilted his head slightly. "I might. Give me a moment." Scouring through his computer, I knew he was looking through his calendar. After that moment, he turned his attention back to me. "I have an hour available after two. What do you need to discuss?"

"Oh, um…" I needed to be careful with my wording. I didn't want to pressure Mr. Kaiba to meet with me now if he was busy.

But, it wasn't just that…for some reason, I wasn't prepared to give this information to him. My stomach was still flipping inside my body, and I couldn't place why. Something about having discovered that Noda was behind this was unsettling. "I'd like to sit down and discuss what I've found so far with the discrepancy."

"Have you found something else?"

"Um…kinda? It's difficult to explain unless I show you, so I'm asking to meet with you. I know you're fairly busy today."

Mr. Kaiba studied me. My stance was typical. I stood straight before his desk and clasped my hands together. I would've preferred to cross my arms for comfort, but that wasn't professional, and I still wanted to maintain that side of me in front of my boss.

Suddenly, Mr. Kaiba turned back to his computer and quickly typed away. "Alright, I've scheduled you in. If something comes up, I can excuse myself to be with you. Will two o'clock work for you?"

I tried my best to smile. It must've fooled my boss as he returned it. "That would be perfect."

"Good, I'll wait until we can meet. Until then, I have phone meetings between then, which will occupy most of my time. But, would it be too much to ask if you could get me something to eat for lunch when the time comes?"

How could I not genuinely smile at that? "Of course, all you gotta do is tell me when and where."

"I'll text you."

"Perfect." Bowing slightly, I stepped back toward my door when a sudden thought entered my mind. "Mr. Kaiba?"

"Hm?" He lifted his head back toward me as our gazes met. "May I step away from my desk for a bit? I need to go speak with Mr. Yoshinori."

My boss's eyes narrowed slightly, and I couldn't tell if that was directed toward me or my words. "Has he agreed to meet with you?"

"No," I answered slyly. "I figured a surprise visit could be better."

The man rolled his eyes. "Do what you think needs to be done. But play nice."

"Only if he does," was my last response before I exited his office. Standing outside, I leaned against the doors, breathing slowly. Was what I was about to do the best option? Should I even go forward with it? Stepping to my desk, I traced the cover of my binder, and the longer I did so, the more I ground my teeth. This needed to be done, and I felt I was the only person who could do so.

Grabbing a folder to play smart, I placed my phone in my pocket and stepped into the elevator. Stepping inside, I pushed the correct number, waited patiently, and then stepped out on the correct floor. Heading down the hallway, I was met with Noda's assistant, who raised her head at the sound of my heels clicking against the floor.

"Ah, Ms. Kawasaki! What a nice surprise this is! How can I help you?"

"Well, I'm here to meet with Mr. Yoshinori. I know nothing is scheduled with him, but I need some papers signed for Mr. Kaiba. Is he available?"

She nodded. "He is; give me one second." She grabbed the phone and dialed a number. "Mr. Yoshinori? Ms. Kawasaki is here to see you. She has some documents that Mr. Kaiba needs to sign." She fell quiet. "Yes…ok…I'll send her in." She hung up, hand outstretched to the door. "He's in there."

I nodded at her. "Thank you so much."

Approaching the door, I quickly inhaled before opening it. Again, I was met with a messy office and cringed on the inside; how the hell his secretary put up with this was beyond me. Stepping forward, Mr. Yoshinori was staring at me through his peripheral vision, and once I stood before him, he gave me his full stare.

He stared with narrowed eyes. "And what can I do for you, Ms. Kawasaki?" After reading the entries from ZAVA, I felt even more uncomfortable in this man's presence. He had admitted and written some things about me that were disgusting and vulgar, and I tried not to repeat them in my head, especially the part where he went into detail about wanting to commit sexual acts with my body.

I shivered as I remembered that.

When I didn't answer, he pressed on. "Excuse me, I don't have time to waste."

"Sorry, I'm too disgusted by the state of your office." I realized what I said and wished I hadn't. Then again, with what I discovered about this man, I also didn't give two shits. He was about to speak when I held up a hand, knowing what I came here for was incredibly stupid, but I felt it was something I had to do. "Look, Noda, I'm not here for you to sign some contracts. That was a lie."

He leaned back in his chair, mouth falling in a straight line. "Hm, well, that's interesting. So you thought you could barge in here and, what…?"

"We're just going to talk." I stepped closer, dropping the empty folder on the desk, almost slamming my fists against the wood. Leaning over the desk, I stared the man in the eyes. In a deadly whisper, I said, "I know what you've been doing, Noda Yoshinori."

He raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And what would that be, Lizette Kawasaki?" Just the way he said my name had ants crawling across my skin that I so desperately wanted to scratch.

"You mean you don't know?" I could feel another Cheshire grin appear on my face. "You don't remember the money you've taken from KaibaCorp over the past two years?"

He tried hiding that his eyes widened, but I could tell. His pupils shrunk slightly as he cocked his head. Noda started stroking his growing beard, ever watching me for my reaction, but I had none other than my smile.

"And, pray tell…why are you accusing me of such nonsense?"

"Nonsense?" I was baffled by this man. "You mean to tell me that you deny having stolen money from underneath KaibaCorp's nose for the past two years? Having placed deposits into every department each month, only to withdraw them days later? You know nothing about that?"

His immediate response was to sigh. But then he raised his head, and I almost reeled back. If looks alone could cause a murder, I'd be dead on the floor right now. "Again, where's your proof? You're coming here and accusing me of something I haven't done."

"Why do you think I don't have any evidence? You knew I was looking into that financial discrepancy. You've known since the day you snooped through my desk that day weeks ago. Do you think I don't know about the diary entries you entered into ZAVA? Because I know everything." Noda was glaring at me now. A vein in his temple was pulsing with rage. If we weren't at work right now, I bet he'd attack me right here and now.

"Hmm, such lies, princess." Standing, Noda moved around his desk until he stood before me. I was about to retort when his hand stretched and grasped my arm. I instantly stepped backward, but his grip was so firm and hard that I was forced to stand. Leaning toward until we were nose to nose, Noda growled. "You think you've figured everything out, haven't you?"

I tried prying his hand off me, but he wouldn't move. If he didn't release his hand soon, I would have bruises lasting for several days. "I have," I growled through clenched teeth. "And you can't stop me."

"Is that so?" He muttered slowly. Finally, he released his hand and stood straight. "Well, I wish you luck, princess, because there's nothing you can do to pin me to such a crime that I did not commit."

"Oh, you did, and I have the evidence." Again, his eyes gave way to his lies; he just didn't know it. "And because of that, you have two options, Noda."

"And what would that be, princess?" Oh, I really hated that nickname. It made my stomach churn.

"I have a meeting with Mr. Kaiba at two today. You can approach him and explain everything, or I will show him all the incriminating evidence against you so you can face the full extent of the law."

Noda stepped back to this desk, reclaiming his seat. He stared at his computer for a moment before turning back to me. "You think you're so smart, don't you?" He whispered in a deadly voice that I didn't recognize. "I'd like to see you try locking me up."

"Bet," I said confidently. "You'll find out after two o'clock this afternoon." And with that, I turned on my heels and stormed out. As I exited, I gently shut the door and relaxed my face, not wanting the secretary to think something terrible had happened, even though it had.

She turned to me. "Did you get everything signed?"

"Yes, I did. Thank you so much for your help!" I stepped toward the elevator as she waved, quietly riding the device up to my floor. All the while, my heart beat so hard against my chest, and I swore my ribs would break.

Why the hell had I done such a thing? Why would I approach him and admit that I had evidence? Why couldn't I wait until I met with Mr. Kaiba?!

Well, I could do nothing now other than wait until two.

Once back at my desk, I sat down. I inhaled and exhaled deeply, needing to calm my anxiety from the conversation I just had. Eyeing the binder before me, I traced the edge like before. Everything I needed was safe here, and I knew nothing could stop me from meeting with Mr. Kaiba. Unless I were held at gunpoint and escorted out of the building, I would remain safe here. I heard the office door open as I glanced toward it.

"Ms. Kawasaki?" I saw Mr. Kaiba step out, wallet in hand.

"Ah, Mr. Kaiba! I'm sorry. Did you message me about lunch?"

"Not yet. I figured I would check to see if you were back before I did so. Would you be able to grab me something to eat now? I have another meeting in ten minutes, which might end by the time you come back."

Standing, I took the credit card my boss held out to me. "Anything for you, Mr. Kaiba. What would you like?"

"Something simple, like a sandwich, and for some reason, a donut. You know the place I took you for your birthday? The one you've been to before?"

"Yep! They have great sandwiches. Can you text me what you want?"

"Of course, and per usual, you can also get yourself something to eat." I was shaking my head before he finished.

"Nah. I thank you, but I have delicious leftovers from last night. Fried rice, teriyaki chicken, and gyoza." My mouth was watering, remembering what I would eat for lunch. Because of that, I decided I would eat as soon as Mr. Kaiba had his food.

He chuckled at that. "You and your gyoza, I swear." Patting my arm, he said. "Give me a moment and I'll text you." He then stepped inside, and I was left to grab my purse.

The trip took about forty-five minutes, but I didn't mind. I'm not an avid music listener unless it's soundtracks from my favorite games, which I listen to nonstop when I need background sound or work on my homework. Currently, I'm listening to the Final Fantasy XVI soundtrack in preparation to replay and beat the game a second time. The music was exciting, invigorating, and thrilling all in one. The composer, Masayoshi Soken, did a fantastic job. I listened intently on the drive there, enjoying the rise of the beat and the beautiful melody that melted my ears with joy.

Having just left the sandwich shop with food in hand, I meandered back to my car, taking a deep breath, and stepped inside. Traffic wasn't too bad on this side of town, since I wasn't as close to the downtown district, but I knew it would increase the moment I grew in proximity to KaibaCorp. But, even then, it surprisingly wasn't that bad, and I could park in the same spot as earlier. Walking into the building, I waved to the ladies at the front desk and rode the elevator to the fiftieth floor.

As I deposited my purse in its designated drawer, I kept my phone in my pocket, knocked on the office door, earning an 'enter' with the infamous click, and stepped inside. Stepping before my boss's desk, I waited before he lifted his gaze to me, which brightened when he noticed the food in my hands. Since I won the bet weeks ago, Mr. Kaiba has promised to eat lunch while at work. I was happy he had listened to my words.

"Your lunch, sir, per your request." Handing him the brown paper bag, our fingers touched slightly as he grasped it. It took all my power not to gasp at the touch, his silky fingers grazing mine. But it wasn't just the touch, it was the damn energetic zap of electricity that transpired. I still didn't know why such a phenomenon occurred, and it boggled my mind each time it happened. Mr. Kaiba, whether he sensed it or not, didn't change his facial expression.

"Thank you, per usual, Ms. Kawasaki. My stomach was growling the longer I was on that damn phone call."

I snickered at that. "That's what happens when you eat when you're supposed to, Mr. Kaiba," I was snarky with my comment. But, as I realized over the last few months, that was the relationship I had developed with my boss. I could be politely snarky, and he would respond in kind. I hoped our relationship wouldn't change in that aspect. I loved our conversation; it made the work day easier and fun.

He rolled his eyes at my statement. "Yes, yes, you were right that I needed to start eating lunch. And I've been keeping my promise, have I not?"

"Yes, you have, and it's made me happy."

"Well now, we don't want an unhappy Ms. Kawasaki, do we?" He smiled, and I nearly swooned.

"No, you do not want to see me unhappy, because I get mean."

Mr. Kaiba tilted his head at that. "Maybe I do." He grinned devilishly. Correct me if I was wrong, but was my boss…flirting?

No. There was no way he was flirting.

Ignoring what he was doing, I smiled back, though I could feel it was tight on my lips. "Is there anything else you need before I break for lunch, sir?"

Opening the sack, he glanced around his desk. "You know…I could really use a coffee." He stared at me with a slight puppy-eyed look. Again, I wanted to swoon. Who wouldn't with such a lovable look? As if reading my mind, he stated, "No, you don't need to go across the street. I just want a simple black coffee from the break room."

"Are you sure?" I questioned. "I don't mind going back out to get what you want."

He waved off my comment, leaning back in his seat. "I couldn't ask you to do that. Besides, I'll need the black coffee for my next phone call." He groaned at that.

I smiled all the same. "You'll survive. You always do." Stepping toward the door, I glanced over my shoulder. "Give me about fifteen minutes and I'll be back with your coffee."

As I stepped through the door, Mr. Kaiba said, "Thank you, Ms. Kawasaki."

Walking down the wall to the break room, I decided not to grab my lunch as I first wanted to make the coffee. Peering inside the cupboard that held numerous coffee cups, I reached to grab a simple black mug when I noticed my special mug. It had a PlayStation 5 controller in the middle with the quote, "I paused my game for this?"

It was perfect.

We had an incredible coffee machine on the counter, so I used that as best I could (Mr. Kaiba didn't usually request a simple cup of black coffee as he preferred one from the shop across the street). I placed my boss's favorite brand of ground coffee beans, inserted the cup, ensured there was a fresh batch of water, and clicked the start button. The machine came to life, and after a moment, it began pouring the caffeinated liquid into my mug.

As I patiently waited, I leaned against the counter and crossed my arms, thinking about what I had found. Tilting my head against the cupboards, my eyes closed, seeing my computer screen on my eyelids. Everything I had been searching for the last two, maybe three months, was in ZAVA, and it had been there the entire time. Still, even now, I couldn't believe Mr. Yoshinori's stupidity in pasting all the evidence that could incriminate him inside a company program. Was he hoping that it would be a ruse? A strategy that, if he were ever caught, people wouldn't consider looking inside the program he used for his job?

Well, guess what, Mr Yoshinori, I bested you at your own game. I found what you'd been hiding for two years, and you are going to pay.

The beep from the machine jerked my head toward it, seeing as how the cup was full of the black liquid my boss craved. I couldn't process how he could stand straight black coffee, but he did. In times of great need, it was his weakness, and I had to assume that after his lunch, as he stated, he would desperately need it. Glancing down at my reflection in the liquid, I smiled. Knowing the cup would be too hot for me to hold, I decided to wait several minutes.

I didn't hear the door creak until it was too late.

"Well…look who I found here, princess."

~ oOo ~

I planned on adding more, but I decided to be evil and leave this chapter on a cliffhanger. Comment if you want more! :)

DragonGoddess629