Chapter Eight
The Unfortunate Meeting
A/N: I'm sorry this took so long. Work took a lot out of me over the last few months, and I finally found the stamina to complete this. Please enjoy!
Also, Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays! Whatever you celebrate, please enjoy this chapter as my gift to you.
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
Mr. Kaiba, Mokuba, and I enjoyed a lovely evening together. Mokuba's suggestion of teppanyaki was terrific, and the food was delicious. We were there for some time as we enjoyed the performance and the meal, and afterward, Mr. Kaiba treated us to ice cream. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would have seen this side of my boss. Though he seemed like a hovering brother, he was there for Mokuba. He cared. He truly loved his brother and wanted nothing but the best for him. And because of that, my respect for the man increased tenfold.
So did the beating of my heart.
Still, I had to ignore that part. Despite enjoying the evening, I had to consider my uncle's call. The call was disturbing for several reasons, mainly because he increased my monthly payments.
Why the hell would he do that?! Since we entered this agreement, I've been on time with all my payments! The amount on my part was lacking while I was unemployed, but since earning my job at KaibaCorp, I can now pay the appropriate amount each month!
Fuck you, Uncle Shiro.
I tried not to let the call ruin my evening, but it lingered at the back of my mind, ever waiting to screw me over until I was almost in tears.
Mr. Kaiba dropped me off, reminding me that my payment for tutoring his brother would be deposited into my account on Monday. I wished them a good evening and chuckled as Mokuba fell asleep in the backseat. Making my way toward my door, I turned to see that my boss had waited to ensure I had safely entered my residence. The idea fluttered my stomach, and as I was about to close the door, I waved one last time. However, I didn't want to. I wanted to return to the car and ask if we could do something else.
I enjoyed their company. I wanted to be around the Kaiba brothers.
Though, I sighed. It would never happen, and I had to fight back the sudden onslaught of tears threatening to fall.
I woke the following day, the phone call still lingering in my mind. After showering and dressing, I moved into my second bedroom, which acted as my office, pulled out my library books, opened my computer, and…just stared. The lock screen of my MacBook glared at me as if daring me to enter the password. And yet, I continued to stare. I knew I had work to do. Though my primary assignments were complete, I should be working on my thesis. If I did, I could at least write several pages that would put me ahead for the week. Staring at the machine, I opted to do something else. Closing my computer, I sighed, stood, and entered my kitchen.
Fuck my thesis! I screamed in my head.
At least for right now. I enjoyed working on the project, but after last night, I felt I deserved a break. Grabbing a glass of milk and a small - ok, large - stack of brownies, I sat my ass on the couch, turned on my PS5, and enjoyed the next few hours.
So, I played. I played, I snacked, and I played some more. I fucking enjoyed a day off from work and school assignments where I did what I wanted to do. And god, was it necessary. It was fun and aggravating at the same time. I loved playing my games, but as I was a completionist, I grew annoyed with some of the trophies required in some games.
Like the game I was playing. I was still working on earning the platinum in Person 5, and I was so close! All that was left was to complete the last dungeon, defeat the final boss, and then I'd be done!
And then, before I knew it, the platinum trophy appeared on my screen about two hours later. Dropping the controller, I screamed to the high heavens, loving my accomplishment. Checking the time, I snickered that it wasn't even noon yet. Had I really just beaten and earned the platinum before noon? Why yes, yes I did. Because I was that fucking awesome.
In the spirit of wanting to consume my Saturday with games, I took a momentary lunch break. Leaving the PS5 main screen on, I moved to the kitchen where I peered into the cabinets and the fridge. There were still different ingredients for meals I could make, but honestly, I was in a lazy mood and wanted something quick. Pulling out two packets of instant noodles, I added the water the popped them in the microwave. As they cooked, I glanced through my fridge again, remembering the conversation with Mr. Kaiba on Friday.
"If that's your order, then…make me something."
I could easily hear the silkiness of Mr. Kaiba's voice ring in my ears. When we had reached the topic of food as we stood near my desk on Friday, he was serious that I should cook him something for Monday's lunch. If I did so, he promised he would be better about eating lunch as he deserved to do so.
But what was I to make him? Should I make him a traditional Japanese lunch or something American? Would he even like American food? I had no idea about that part, but…just thinking about American cuisine had me drooling for a Chipotle burrito. It had been over a year since I had last returned to the States. I was craving to visit my original home and my best friend. However, as I was ever busy with school and work, that would not happen any time soon. Especially now that I had to double my pay to my uncle.
"Fuck you, Uncle Shiro," I whispered aloud this time.
Staring back into the fridge, something caught my eye. I bought pork cutlets the other day, leaving me thinking of different recipes. Walking down this line of thought unexpectedly reminded me of the recipes my mom used to cook. It was then I remembered.
Katsudon over fried rice.
My mom loved any recipe with rice, but she craved fried rice nonstop and was always making it. The memory of her standing in the kitchen as she made her favorite meal, stealing bite after bite before dinner was served, curled my heart. The tears that hadn't been shed recently were there, but I willed them away.
I will not cry; I will not cry.
And yet, that's what I decided to make. My mom taught me her special recipe, so I would recreate it and serve it to my boss. But not just that. I would also create pork gyoza dumplings served with peanut soy sauce. Just thinking of the food had my mouth watering like a runny faucet.
The beeping of the microwave distracted me. Closing the fridge, I grabbed my noodles and finished preparing the meal. Adding the sauce packets and the dehydrated vegetables, I placed the containers on my couch table, grabbed a soda, and reclaimed my seat.
And that was how I spent the rest of my Sunday. I remained curled on the couch. I beat Person 5 in the morning and earned the platinum trophy; then, I played PowerWash Simulator in the afternoon and earned that platinum trophy. Then, once I had those completed, I inserted Final Fantasy XVI and restarted my old save file. As I had already beaten the game, I was working toward earning the last two trophies: beating the game on Final Fantasy mode to get the platinum, which was the only way to do so. I could only earn the latter if I earned the first. I had a long road ahead of me, but I was excited. FFXVI was a fantastic game, the music was superb, and…I just loved everything about it.
I eventually turned in for the night after preparing what I would need for the next day.
Waking up to my usual alarm, I proceeded to handle my daily routine. Brushing my teeth, showering, finishing my hair, dressing for the day, and finding something small to eat for breakfast. Now fully dressed and ready to go, I stepped into the kitchen to see what I had to eat. There were some leftovers I needed to eat before they expired, but it wasn't something I wanted. Deciding on something simple, I placed two slices of bread in the toaster and waited for them to turn crispy. Another sound erupted from my cell phone as I waited for the toaster to ding. Picking up the device, I was surprised to see it was a school email and not from my private one.
Opening it up, I found it was from my morning professor, expressing their distress that he must cancel today's class due to an emergency. Additionally, the professor stated that since this was personal, he allowed a week's extension on the due homework, which wouldn't be collected until next week.
I laughed at the phone in slight disbelief. I loved school dearly, and all my classes were fine. But the fact that one was canceled? That was something I hadn't expected this Monday morning. Excited, I decided what I should do. Thinking about spending the morning playing a game was thrilling, and I considered the option more and more, but there was a lingering thought in my mind. Instead, I could go to work and surprise Mr. Kaiba.
The smile that graced my face caught me by surprise. Tracing the contour of my lips, I couldn't resist smiling more. A morning off would be a pleasant reason to play more games, but the prospect of seeing my boss was enticing and exhilarating. Taking a deep breath, it was time to admit the inevitable.
I had a crush on my boss.
Squealing into my hands, I was at a loss for words. How could this have happened? Why did it have to happen? But, in all seriousness, how could I not fall for him? He was the CEO of a multi-billion yen company and was only a year or two older than me. That was a feat worth celebrating - and liking. But it wasn't about the money. No, he had achieved something so young and proved he was meant to be in that position.
His being a CEO is one thing, but it was everything else. He treated his brother so lovingly. He was a hard ass at work, but he treated his employees with respect and paid them the money they deserved. Not only that, but he was undeniably handsome. The gorgeous brown locks, the sapphire-like eyes, his physique, the depth of his voice. Everything about him screamed to my core. I don't know if he was my type - or that fact of whether I had a type or not - but I just…
Seto Kaiba was perfect without being perfect.
The ding of my toaster caught my attention. Removing the slices of bread, I placed them onto a paper towel, lathering them with peanut butter and consuming them with a glass of milk. It wasn't a hearty breakfast, but it would keep my appetite at bay until lunch.
Deciding to go in to work this morning, I left my backpack on the table, grabbed my purse, and headed toward my car. It took about fifteen-ish minutes to reach the building, but I felt refreshed and ready for the new week as I stepped out into the parking garage.
Entering KaibaCorp, I waved to the other employees. The ladies at the front desk questioned why I was there so early, and I explained that my class had been canceled. They merely laughed at the fact that I decided to head to work rather than stay home, and I shrugged. Despite the revelations about my crush on my boss, I wanted to work. Though I loved my job as a Legal Assistant, I hadn't enjoyed a job this much before. I loved being Mr. Kaiba's assistant as he allowed me to work how I preferred. Sure, he could be bossy when he wanted something perfectly done, but he also allowed me to take my time to ensure any job was done thoroughly and accurately.
After speaking with the front ladies for several minutes, I rode the elevator to the fiftieth floor and resumed my typical duties. However, my first task was to place my lunch in the fridge in the break room so I could heat it up for Mr. Kaiba at lunchtime. Making my way back to my desk, I opened my email, checked my phone, and momentarily sat there just enjoying the time I spent in this building.
Opening the cabinet behind me, I pulled out the pack of documents I had been scanning for some time. I knew there was an anomaly somewhere in these documents, and though I had found something strange, I was missing another piece of the puzzle. Taking a red pen, I scanned the numbers from the departments. Besides that scrutiny, I found nothing was out of the ordinary. And yet, Mr. Kaiba expressed his concern that something was there. And that something is what I would see; I knew it.
"What're you doing here?"
The voice caught me off guard as I stared into my boss's blue eyes. He had crept up to my desk and leaned against the frame. Somehow, I had not even heard him walk up, as I was so engrossed in my task. Daring to smile, I asked, "What do you mean, Mr. Kaiba? I work here."
He rolled his eyes. "Now you show your sarcastic side?" I stifled a giggle. "You have class on Monday mornings. Why aren't you there?"
"I received an email from my professor this morning saying that class is canceled. Some emergency came up, and he has to take care of it."
"So…" He raised an eyebrow. "You decided to come into work?" I nodded. Why were people so concerned with that aspect? "Couldn't you have stayed home and played a game? What's the one you're playing right now…Persona 5?"
"Not anymore!" I exclaimed happily. "I earned the platinum trophy yesterday! As well as PowerWash Simulator!"
Mr. Kaiba stared at me for several seconds. "You earned two platinum trophies in one day?"
"I mean, I was almost done with PowerWash, so it wasn't that hard. But still! Yes, yes, I did!"
"Then, what're you playing now, if I might ask?"
Happily wanting to answer such questions, I swiveled my chair to face my boss. "I'm playing my second play-through of Final Fantasy XVI. You have to play it twice to earn the trophy."
Mr. Kaiba whistled. "You're on a roll, aren't you?"
"Yes, sir."
"But that still doesn't explain why you're here."
"Well…" Picking up the packet, I faced him again. "This won't get done if I'm home. I know I won't be paid more for being here when I'm supposed to be in class, but I figured you'd need me today. And, besides! Remember our bet from Friday? I was supposed to bring you lunch to eat today."
He narrowed his eyes playfully. "…you did not."
"Oh, yes, I did. As a matter of fact, it's in the break-room fridge as we speak!"
He shook his head. "I can't believe you actually…" Instead of finishing his sentence, Mr. Kaiba offered me a kind smile. "I guess I should be thanking you."
"Now, don't thank me just yet. You have to try my cooking first to enjoy it."
"And you're fairly confident I will?"
"It's my mother's recipe. You, for sure, will love it."
He knocked a light fist against my desk. "Bet," he said, stifling a laugh of his own. "Well, since you're here…" Leaning forward, he pulled out his company card, handing it to me. "Can you go get me a coffee from across the street? You get anything you want as well."
Taking the card, I said, "You sure? Anything I want?"
"Within reason, Ms. Kawasaki."
After giving me a bright smile, Mr. Kaiba dashed into his office, shutting the door quietly as I was left alone. Grabbing my purse, I did as asked and headed across the street. Jeff stood behind the counter and greeted me warmly, stating my preferred order as if he knew that was exactly what I would get. And he was right because that is what I always ordered. Additionally, I placed Mr. Kaiba's order and requested two chocolate muffins. He rang up my total, and I gladly handed over the company card. I was more than willing to let my boss pay for the expense.
Waiting to the side for my order, my mind drifted to the documents on my desk. I still needed to go over and consider my options about what was wrong with the numbers. I thought back to the discrepancy. I found a large, sudden deposit of money into one department that was withdrawn within the next several days. But it wasn't just one department. I noticed the same disparity across several departments, all with the same amount and all withdrawn within the same amount of days.
By the time my order was ready, I had already decided that I would need to visit each area and speak with the department head. This was the only way I could discover what was going on with the money.
Acquiring the two coffees, I walked back to KaibaCorp and quietly rode the elevator. Once back on the expected floor, I set my items on my desk and gently knocked on my boss's door, hearing a quiet "Come in" from the inside. Allowing entry, I walked straight toward Mr. Kaiba's desk, who only lifted his head once I was near. Once he saw the coffee in my hand, the gratitude shone in his eyes. And as he raised his eyes, I noticed something different about how he looked at me. Yes, I saw gratitude, but what else was there? I couldn't decipher and wasn't ready to.
"Thank you, Ms. Kawasaki. Is it as I prefer?"
"Down to the size of the cup, yes, sir." I handed him the small food bag and added, "I also ordered you a muffin. Based on our conversation last week, I'm judging that you barely or don't eat breakfast." The man rolled his eyes as he accepted the bag, glancing inside to see the item. "Hey, you said I could buy whatever I wanted with the company card. Just be happy I didn't buy a car."
His head lifted at that as his eyes narrowed. "You wouldn't."
"Even if I did, you would never know." Adding a swing to my hips, I turned and walked toward the door. Just as my hands were on the handle, I glanced back at my boss, loving the hungry look on his face. "Oh, and Mr. Kaiba? Would it be alright if I left my desk for some time and went to different departments to ask the leads questions?"
He stole a quick bite from the muffin. "Is it about the numbers?"
"Yes, sir."
"By all means, do what you must to resolve the problem." Just as I was about to exit, Mr. Kaiba added, "I trust your judgment, Ms. Kawasaki."
"Thank you, Mr. Kaiba," I somehow said without trembling.
Closing his door, I returned to my seat, wanting to enjoy my coffee and muffin before venturing on my adventure. Taking a delicious bite, I scanned the documents, careful not to spill any crumbs. The numbers were there before me. What was I missing? What could the difference be other than the amount of money deposited and withdrawn? Pulling out a notepad and pen, I began writing down different questions I would ask the department heads when I walked down there. Additionally, I marked each department I would be going to and where they were located. Just because I had been with the company for several months didn't mean I knew where everything was in this large building.
My muffin was warm and delicious, and I enjoyed every last bite. I decided to stay at my desk until I finished my coffee to avoid leaving it, and it became cold. Cold coffee, unless specifically brewed that way, was nasty.
Checking the time, I logged that in my memory before dialing Mr. Kaiba's phone, which connected automatically. "Kaiba."
"Sir, do you need me for anything? If not, I'm headed to the other departments."
"No, that takes more precedence. Do what you must; just be back in time to serve me lunch."
"Ah, I get it. So now I've been reduced from assistant to server."
"You're the one who demanded to bring me lunch today."
"Last I recalled, you're the one who made the bet that I bring you lunch for you to start eating appropriately."
He chuckled on the other end. "…you sure that was me?"
Oh, this asshole, I chuckled in my head. "Why, yes, I am. I have the entire conversation recorded. Would you like to hear it?" I was bluffing, and he knew.
"Don't bother, I remember the conversation, too. Just be back in time for lunch. I am…excited to try your cooking."
"And you'll love it. I promise." Ending the conversation, I dropped the receiver. Taking my notepad and pen, I maneuvered to the elevator to begin my investigation.
Several department heads were available to speak almost immediately and were eager to do so. According to several, they, too, felt something was off with their numbers but also couldn't explain what it was. When I stated my reason for being there, they were shocked that Mr. Kaiba had listened to their pleas and emails about the situation. In some other departments, however, I was expected to wait until they were ready to speak, and even then, some weren't very helpful. Based on my interactions with them, as long as their department was performing well, they didn't care. So I asked just that.
"Wait…you're telling me that as long as your department reaches the quarterly and section goal, you don't care about the money allocated to your department?"
The head figure merely stared at me. "And why should I? If my department succeeds, then that means I'm doing something right, and our money is being used appropriately."
"But you're not doing something right if money is being moved around without your knowledge." Cocking a hand against my hip, I was getting aggravated. "You know, your words might just end up reaching Mr. Kaiba's ears. Do you honestly want me to share this piece of information with him?"
Narrowing his vision, this person said, "You wouldn't."
"Sir, it's not a matter of whether I would or would not; I'm doing my job just as you are. My current assignment is trying to uncover a discrepancy across all departments in KaibaCorp. But if you have this attitude, I feel Mr. Kaiba should be concerned."
"Why you - !"
"Show me your lists, and I won't say a thing." I held my hands up, not knowing what else to say. I felt it was a fair compromise. If he didn't want his head boss to know about his slack attitude, then all he had to do was show me what I wanted to see. It wasn't that difficult. After several moments, he obliged, taking me back to his office to show me the numbers.
For the next few hours, I visited every department. Most, if not all, were helpful, expressing concern when I mentioned I'd discovered a financial discrepancy. Several even gave me the time and day to show me their records. However, their paperwork didn't show the errors I found in the documents I was given, which I found concerning. Why did it show on mine and not theirs?
I was away from my desk for over two hours, barely returning before lunch. Stepping out of the elevator, I turned the corner to see a man leaning against my desk, tapping his fist against the wood. Stepping forward, I cleared my throat as he glanced at me, his face seemingly annoyed.
"Good. You're finally here."
My lips thinned. Harsh words. Why was this man speaking to me in such a manner? "Excuse me, sir, how can I help you?" I didn't even know who this man was as I'd never seen him before.
Standing to his full height, I realized he was at least a full head taller than me, though still shorter than Mr. Kaiba. His suit was immaculate, pin stripped, and ironed perfectly. He still tapped his knuckle against my desk as if waiting for me to speak. In just a few moments, I looked at him; I knew I didn't like him. His frown, the lines above his eyes, the thinning hairline. Oh no. This guy was an asshole, and I instantly knew it.
"Where have you been?"
I didn't want to play this game. He wasn't my boss, and I didn't answer to him. "I'm sorry, who are you?" Stepping to my desk, I placed my papers and notepad down. As I did, the man stole a glance at my materials, to which I flipped everything over and huffed.
"You didn't answer my question," he stated bluntly.
"You're not my boss. Besides, you didn't answer mine." Screw being polite at the moment. This man had a snippy attitude and was rubbing me the wrong way. Taking a seat, I moved my mouse to the shared calendar to see if Mr. Kaiba had any appointments. And according to the computer, he had none for the next few hours. "If you're here to see Mr. Kaiba, he's most likely unavailable. He doesn't have any appointments for another few hours."
"Well, I tried calling, but you weren't at your desk and didn't do your job." Having turned around, his, once again, annoyed expression stared me down.
Seriously, what was with this guy?
Tilting my head upward, I tried smiling, though I knew it fell short. "Please tell me your name, sir, and I'll see what I can do."
"…you seriously don't know who I am?" He huffed, sounding aggravated. "And you call yourself an assistant to the CEO," he whispered harshly. "I am Noda Yoshinori, Chief Financial Officer for KaibaCorp." He lifted his head proudly, too full of his ego, while staring me down.
"Ah, Mr. Yoshinori, it is my pleasure." No, it wasn't. "Let me call Mr. Kaiba and see if he's available." Reaching for my phone. Mr. Yoshinori grasped my wrist before I could, though I hastily snapped it back, my mouth having fallen. Snapping, my voice echoed, "Excuse you, Mr. Yoshinori!"
He pulled back, straightening his tie. "This was a waste of my time. I'll head in; he's expecting me." But before he could move, I was already dialing my boss.
"Kaiba," he answered swiftly.
"Mr. Kaiba." I was hoping there was a hint of annoyance in my voice. "A Mr. Yoshinori…" I narrowed my eyes at the male. "…is requesting your time."
Mr. Kaiba sighed heavily, and I could imagine him rubbing his temple. "…you have got to be kidding me." The tapping on his computer entered my ears. He huffed another sigh. "…fine. I guess I have time for him. Ms. Kawasaki, do you mind stepping in too?"
"Oh?" That caught me off guard.
"I'd like your presence to take notes of this meeting."
"Of course, sir. We'll be right in." Dropping the phone, I hastily grabbed my iPad and stood. Pointing to the door, I said, "Please, follow me." And, of course, he stepped before me and instantly opened the door without knocking. I rolled my eyes - such audacity of this man.
Closing the door gently as we stepped in, Mr. Yoshinori stepped to Mr. Kaiba's desk. They shook hands as he sat down, turning his head to eye me the entire time. Standing off to the side, I waited. Mr. Kaiba didn't seem to have that. Standing, he quickly moved and grabbed the second chair, pulling it beside him and giving me the last remaining section of his desk to use. My eyebrow rose.
"Please, Ms . Kawasaki, take a seat. This might be awhile."
"Ah, t-thank you, I appreciate that." Taking the seat, I crossed my legs, opened my iPad to the appropriate tab, and correctly labeled the date and who the meeting was with. The entire time, I could feel the CFO's eyes on me. I tried my best not to shiver.
Turning to his CFO, Mr. Kaiba leaned against his fingers. "Noda, what can I do for you today?"
"You haven't responded to my email. I'm here to discuss the sale contracts with Takechi Enterprises. Is this the move we need to make? They're still a small company. I don't believe such a move is worthy of KaibaCorp."
"Noda, they may still be an indie company, but they deserve this contract. Our input will benefit their growth. And because of that, we'll be able to continue doing business with them in the future."
Mr. Yoshinori leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. Was he always like this? Was this man indeed the Chief Financial Officer of the company? I was sorely disappointed. "Mr. Kaiba, let's be real. A move with an indie company will only taint KaibaCorp's image. We deserve something positive, and this will only bring us down."
"Are you sure about that, Mr. Yoshinori?" I found myself speaking without realizing it. Covering my mouth, I gasped. Turning to my boss, I apologized. "Mr. Kaiba, please excuse me."
But he shook his head. "No, I want to hear what you have to say. Besides, you're the one who saved the contract deal between our companies."
"Wait a minute." Mr. Yoshinori leaned forward on his knees. "You're the one who finalized the deal? An assistant?"
I narrowed my eyes. "Yes. I may just be an assistant, but I have more experience dealing with contracts than you think." Clearing my throat, I added, "I agree with Mr. Kaiba. This deal will strengthen the company rather than weaken it. Going through this shows the outside world that KaibaCorp is willing and able to work with the smaller groups to bring them up." I sat straighter. "KaibaCorp may be a large conglomerate, but that doesn't mean we can't help the smaller ones." Smirking, I said. "It's called networking, Mr. Yoshinori. You work with others, and they'll be willing to work with you again. They might even put in a positive word to other companies we might not have worked with before." My boss smirked behind his hand, eyes glancing between us.
"You have quite the attitude, don't you, Ms…Kawasaki, was it?" I didn't like the way he said my name.
"I apologize; I meant no harm." I continued typing the entire conversation on my computer without glancing up. I may have apologized, but I didn't mean it. This man's demeanor was rude, and I didn't appreciate how he spoke to my boss. And he thought I was rude? Peering upward at him, I smirked. "I only speak the truth when asked."
His lip curled, eyes narrowing at me. I believe Mr. Kaiba noticed as he tried reeling in the conversation. "Noda, I understand your concern but am siding with my assistant. She's put in the time and effort to save this deal, which I believe will be beneficial. Give Ms. Kawasaki the benefit of the doubt. Without her, this contract and others would have fallen through in the blink of an eye."
He seemed interested in that. "So…the assistant is proving herself valuable."
Slightly snapping, I muttered, "This assistant has a name. Please use it."
He held his hands up. "Then I apologize." Turning his attention to Mr. Kaiba, the man grinned. "And you're sure about this."
Mr. Kaiba cast me a look, and I could instantly tell he was thoroughly annoyed by this conversation. He sighed. "Noda, we are not having this conversation. What's done is done. You are good at what you do, glancing over all the financial duties for this company. Such decisions will fall to my shoulders, and…" Holding his hand toward me, he said, "I will now be consulting Ms. Kawasaki in such matters when it deems fit."
Mr. Yoshinori raised an eyebrow at that. "Is that part of her job description? Hasn't she only been here for several months?"
"True, but as she has shown, Ms. Kawasaki can make such decisions. She has brought in a different insight into what this company serves than my previous assistants ever did. I trust her judgment, and," Mr. Kaiba leaned forward. "My word goes." I winced.
That felt personal. And I think Mr. Yoshinori knew it as well.
Rubbing his chin, the CFO merely stared. "I see. Well," his attention glared at me. "What knowledge could a mere assistant have for a gaming company?"
I bit my tongue from snapping. "One that a gamer would have, Mr. Yoshinori."
"A gamer, you say…A girl, nonetheless?"
It was my eyebrow that rose next. I could taste the sexism from his comment. "Is there a problem with that?"
He raised his hands. "Oh, no, no. I just find it different. With KaibaCorp's products, we don't see many females enjoying our games."
"Actually…" I said swiftly, quickly typing on my screen. "If my most recent research into the company's demographics for our buyers would indicate…" I ran my hand down the screen. "According to this, at least forty-seven percent of those who buy our products have identified themselves as female through our surveys." I glared at this man. "Female gamers nearly dominate the market, Mr. Yoshinori, and I am proud to be one of them. Have been since I was a little kid."
He was momentarily silent, analyzing me as he took my little speech. He then moved to speak, but Mr. Kaiba beat him. "As I said, she has a valuable insight into our products."
"…so I see." Taking a moment to glance between us, Mr. Yoshinori stood, straightening his tie as he did so. "Well…it seems my discussion has been answered. As usual, thank you for your time, Mr. Kaiba." He merely stared at me as he moved to the door. Just as he was about to open it, my boss called out.
"Noda, please schedule an appointment with Ms. Kawasaki next time you need to speak. She'd be glad to help you." I gave the man a small smile to add salt to the wound. Based on his eyes, he did not appreciate that.
"I shall remember that for future endeavors, Mr. Kaiba." And then he left, the door shutting softly behind him. The moment he was gone, my boss groaned. I knew he was displeased.
His following statement surprised me. "…that man irks me."
I finished typing the end of our conversation before saying, "Oh, really now. I couldn't tell."
"…was it that obvious?"
"Slightly. Maybe not to him, his egos pretty high up." I spared him a glance. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't be saying such comments, but Mr. Kaiba, he irks me, too."
He found amusement in that. "That doesn't surprise me. There have been several comments from other employees who have expressed their…ill content with Noda. But, nothing serious has come out that could lead to him being let go."
"What, he's that good at his job?"
He nodded. "He was the best at the time we were hiring."
I shook my head. "That's unfortunate. He's rather rude." I didn't even want to mention how he harshly grabbed my wrist before we stepped in. Staring down, I'm glad nothing came of that. At the moment. Mr. Yoshinori scared me. He quickly grasped my wrist, his arm moving swiftly over my desk to hold me. If I hadn't pulled back…I didn't want to think about it.
Mr. Kaiba's chair squeaked as I glanced up; he leaned backward, his eyes wandering across my face. "You're bothered by what he said."
"Hmm," I needed to be careful. Though Mr. Kaiba has stated, he trusted me today and on several other occasions, it didn't mean I could speak ill will about other employees. "I…it made me uncomfortable, I won't lie. But I don't think that makes him a terrible person. A terrible attitude, yes, but not a terrible person."
He nodded. "I'm glad you think so. He…trust me, Noda can have a nasty attitude, but when I said he was good at his job, I meant it. He's difficult to handle but does good financial work for the company."
"Every company sometimes needs an asshole." My eyes widened as I slammed a hand against my forward. "…please excuse that."
Mr. Kaiba chuckled. "No, I agree, Noda can definitely be an asshole." Peering over at his computer, he clicked several times with his mouse. "I see…that it is lunchtime. And what does that mean, Ms. Kawasaki?"
Now I was chuckling. "It means you get a free lunch."
"From you," he added with an evil smirk.
"Yes, specifically from me."
"And you promise you're not trying to poison me? Trying to take over my company?"
I pretended to gasp. "Now, Mr. Kaiba, are you trying to guess my sinister plans?"
"Can't be too careful," he shrugged.
Standing, I smoothed my shirt. "Give me about ten minutes, and I'll bring you your delicious lunch."
"I am looking forward to it."
Dropping my iPad off on my desk, I moved to the break room, popping the safely packaged meal into the microwave for several minutes. I prepared my meal next as I waited. All in all, it did take roughly ten minutes to heat his meal and mine together. Once they were done, I placed mine on my desk, knocking on Mr. Kaiba's door before entering. When he allowed me entry, I stepped forward, holding my hands slightly high for him to see as he watched me walk toward his desk.
"As stated, I bring the delicious goodies."
Eyeing me as I placed it before him, he smiled. "At least it looks appetizing. But does its taste match its appearance?"
I smirked. "You'll have to find out."
He watched me carefully. "So, you made katsudon over…fried rice?"
"Yes, sir."
"Was this all cooked by you?"
"Yes, sir," I copied. Slowly, Mr. Kaiba claimed a bite with his chopsticks as I had already pre-cut the tender meat. He grabbed a small bite of meat and some rice and placed it in his mouth. Whatever initial thoughts he had did now show on his face. Whether he liked it or not, he would be verbal with his answer. He swallowed.
He then returned for several more bites before speaking. "Mmm," he said, holding a finger against his mouth. I could finally see some emotion crawl across his face. "Ms. Kawasaki, this is…absolutely delicious."
Swinging a slight fist before me, I accepted my victory. Being snarky, I commented, "Heh, told you so."
His eyes lifted to mine. "Yeah, you did." He took another bite. "You said…didn't you say this was your mother's recipe?"
"Mhm. My mom loved to cook as many homemade dishes as she could. I have all her original recipes."
"I hope that you'll cook me more in the future." Placing his chopsticks down, I watched Mr. Kaiba clean his face with a napkin.
Don't look at his lips. Whatever you do, don't look at his lips.
"You…" My eyebrow rose. "You'd like more?"
"Of course." Chuckling, he glanced off to the side for a moment before returning his glance to me. "I guess our bet is solved. What, I said if you won, I'd make more time for lunch?"
Crossing my arms, I nodded. "If I recall correctly, yes, you did." Victoriously and smugly, I said, "Pay up, Mr. Kaiba! Looks like you'll get to eat lunch now! Ha!"
My boss shook his head. Pushing his meal aside, he quickly typed something into the computer before asking me to glance at the screen. On it, he showed me our shared calendar, where he had placed an event for every day at the same time: his lunch. "Does this appease you, Ms. Kawasaki?"
"It'll only appease me if you actually eat something. Otherwise, that defeats the whole purpose."
He shrugged. "I lost, meaning I am man enough to admit that." Though he was still tall in his chair, he lifted his head to me. A slight smirk grew, one that hurt my heart in a way I adored. "Please excuse my selfishness, but would it be possible if…you cook lunch for me some other time?"
"You…" I was surprised. "You liked it the much?"
"Yes, more than I thought, if I'm allowed to be honest." He noticed the look on my face. "I'm sorry, I just…I'm very wary about who cooks my food. I'm even skeptical of restaurants sometimes."
"I…I can understand that. Can't be too careful." Feeling as if I had been here too long, I stepped back around his desk. "Here, you enjoy this time and finish the rest of your meal. Let me know when you're done so I can take that back. I'll go and eat my lunch to get back to work."
He understood my meaning. "Were you able to find anything?"
I shrugged. "I'm…not sure. I found more questions than answers, but…you asked this of me, so I'll do what I can." Leaving it at that, I stepped toward the door when he called my name. "Yes?" I said, glancing back.
"I…truly appreciate this, Ms. Kawasaki. I…" I think there was something he wanted to say, but then retracted speaking his words. "Never mind. Please go eat your lunch; you deserve it." Nodding at that, I opened the door and left.
Only to find Mr. Yoshinori scooping through the papers on my desk.
"Excuse you!" I hissed sharply. Moving quickly, I grasped the papers from his sticky hands and held them close. Peering at what they were, I was surprised he was staring at my notes from my meetings with the departments this morning. Why was he so interested in that? Why the hell was he even snooping around my desk?
"And what's this? A little…sneaking around the company, are you?" He sneered.
Damn, this man was ugly. Both inside and out.
"You have no right being around my desk! I'm kindly going to ask you to leave." Moving before him, I used my hip to gently shove him out of the way, cleaning up the mess he had made of my organized piles. Papers were thrown over my keyboard and across my desk. What the hell was wrong with this man? For fuck's sake.
Mr. Yoshinori barely moved, just enough that he was right beside me. A little too close for my taste. "Does Mr. Kaiba know of this little excursion of yours? That you're searching for a money discrepancy within the company?"
"It's none of your business, Mr. Yoshinori. This is a matter between Mr. Kaiba and me." Peering upward at him, it was my time to sneer. "You have no business behind my desk. You're done with your meeting, please leave. I will not ask you again."
This time, he moved before my desk, leaning against the wood, staring at me. "You are…quite different than the other assistants Mr. Kaiba has had in the past, aren't you?"
My head hung low to fix my papers; I tried ignoring him. But the way he spoke, those words crawled underneath my skin and bit. "I have never met Mr. Kaiba's previous assistants, but by the comments he has provided me," I stared upward. "I would say I'm a better fit for this position than they were."
"And, by chance, what was your profession before this, Ms. Kawasaki?"
"Wouldn't you like to know."
He scoffed. "I am genuinely curious. As you quoted earlier, you are fairly young to be an assistant to a CEO for a major conglomerate. Say, you must be at least twenty-two, twenty-three?"
Now he was guessing my age? What a creep! "My age has nothing to do with my professionalism to the company. Now, Mr. Yoshinori," I nearly slammed my hands on the desk. "I'm going to ask you again; I'd like to eat my lunch in peace." In a louder voice, I stated, "Please leave!" Mr. Kaiba's doors suddenly opened, viewing the spectacle before him as he stepped out from the doorway.
Great. I did not want to have to explain this to my boss.
Eyeing us cautiously, he stepped forward, arms crossed. "And may I ask what is happening out here?"
I didn't spare him a glance, embarrassed about my attitude. I knew I should not have treated Mr. Yoshinori the way I was, but he started it first if I was allowed to be childish. "E-everything's fine, Mr. Kaiba. I apologize if we were too loud."
He didn't believe me. "No, I don't think so." Stepping forward, he peered at me and only me. "Ms. Kawasaki, what has happened? You're flustered."
My peripheral turned to the other male. Was I to state the truth or lie? If I performed the latter, this would be the first time I lied to my boss. Inhaling deeply, I said, "Mr. Yoshinori was…messing with some papers on my desk that I did not approve he could look at. I merely asked him to leave so I could eat my lunch."
Mr. Kaiba's lips thinned. Turning his head, he asked, "Noda, is this true?"
"Psh, she jests. I was merely picking up papers that had fallen to the floor; I was trying to help. Can't blame me for having a messy assistant."
Judging by my boss' expression, he didn't believe his Chief Financial Officer. Holding out his hand for me, I handed him the papers. Glancing through them, Mr. Kaiba recognized they were my notes and markings for the assignment he had given me. Handing them back, Mr. Kaiba crossed his arms. "Noda, leave Ms. Kawasaki's belongings alone. She is under strict orders of mine to search for something specific in this company, and I want no others looking into this matter. If I find you snooping around her desk again, we'll have a long, hard talk. Do you understand me?"
The look on Mr. Yoshinori's face was priceless. For a moment, he seemed shocked his boss would speak to him in such a manner. Then he glanced at me, his eyes narrowed. Not knowing what else to do, I glared back. If he wanted a challenge, I was willing to fight. I wouldn't risk it more than necessary, but it seemed Mr. Kaiba already had my back regarding this man.
Finally, Mr. Yoshinori relented and nodded. "Of course, sir. I was merely trying to help." Tilting his head, he turned toward the elevator as it magically dinged. "Have a good day, you two." He stepped inside and was gone.
I sighed heavily when he was out of sight, nearly slamming my papers on my desk. My anger and upset grew as I glanced around. My perfect piles were thrown everywhere. All that I needed was in piles by department and by their leads, with my appropriate notes to accompany each. Mr. Kaiba sensed my uneasiness, landing his hand softly on my shoulder.
"What can I help with?"
I didn't spare him a look. "I…nothing, Mr. Kaiba. It'll only take me a few moments to sort this out." I'm not sure whether he believed me or not. I was telling the truth that it wouldn't take too long. I was more pissed off at the fact this Noda Yoshinori had the balls to go through my paperwork.
But my boss relented too as he dropped his hand. "Are you sure?" He asked gently.
That gentleness tugged at my insides. Sparing him a glance, I forced a smile, but the longer I stared, the more it became strong and genuine. "I am fine, Mr. Kaiba, though I appreciate the help. I…" rubbing my cheek, I said, "I just didn't expect him to be out here."
"Neither did I," Mr. Kaiba admitted. "That's what concerns me. But, are you alright? You did yell at him at one point."
"He just wouldn't leave!" I snapped, exasperated. "He wouldn't move from behind my desk! I had to nudge him even to move an inch. I swear, if he comes near my desk again, I won't be so nice."
Watching me from his position, I didn't know what to make of my boss' expression. After a moment, he spoke. "I believe you, you know." I tilted my head. He believed me? For what? He must've seen my confusion. "I believe when you said he was snooping around. It's obvious he was lying; you're not a messy person. You are one of the most organized people I have working for me, and that also speaks for Noda, a notoriously messy individual." He spared a look at the papers in my hands. "Did he find anything we should be concerned about?"
"I-I don't think so. The main document you gave me is locked in that cabinet," I pointed behind me. "These papers are memos of mine and documents I received from each department. I hadn't had a chance to glance at them, so I'm unsure what information Mr. Yoshinori would have gotten from them."
"I think we should keep these locked up as well." He gave me a concerning look. "Ms. Kawasaki, I wasn't joking when I entrusted this task to you. I firmly believe someone is stealing money from this company, and I deserve to know who it is."
That was a lot of pressure falling onto my shoulders. And he trusted me this much after having only been here for almost four months? The thought both concerned and impressed me. If Mr. Kaiba believed in my abilities that much, I wouldn't prove him wrong. "I've said this before, but I will do my best. You know that, Mr. Kaiba. I won't let you down."
"I know. You're…" I watched him swallow. "You're the only assistant I've trusted this much.
Holy shit.
In a quiet voice, I muttered, "T-thank you." Why was I always stammering when he gave me a comment?
Taking one last look at my pile, Mr Kaiba said, "I guess…I'll leave you to it. Please," he placed an arm on my shoulder. "Please make sure to eat your lunch before it gets colder."
"I will. Promise." I gave him a reassuring smile as he walked back into his office, the door shutting softly.
Glancing at my desk, I huffed an annoyed sigh. Taking the stack I had, I placed them elsewhere, wanting to eat my meal in peace as I had already stated. Taking a seat, I inhaled my katsudon and fried rice, barely able to enjoy the tastiness of my meal as I was stumped for words. Noda Yoshinori…who the hell was this guy? And what was his attitude toward me? There was something off about that man, and though I didn't want to know why, part of me needed to. I hadn't met him since being hired, but if any future endeavors were to be like today, I wanted to be prepared to be around him.
I still found it appalling he was snooping through my desk. What gave him the audacity to do so? Even that, why would he do such a thing? He was probably skeptical of me, especially the faith Mr. Kaiba stated he had in me.
That was probably it.
Mr. Yoshinori probably didn't like that his boss was starting to trust a new hire or someone still seen as a newbie. Whatever his reason, he needed to back off. I didn't suspect anything from the CFO, but I would if he continued to act like he did to me today. He didn't seem suspicious, just annoying and furiously stupid. But again, why look through my documents?
After eating my meal, I was left stumped. With nothing else to do, I sat there for some time, contemplating this most recent information. This whole episode needed to be placed behind me so I could continue working on the task. Considering I met him today, I don't believe the CFO was a suspect. But that did mean I would keep him on my radar. I could consider him for something else if I didn't suspect him for the financial discrepancy. Whatever that something else was, even I had no clue.
For now, I would work and continue going to school. Though I didn't know what information I had gathered today, I knew there was something in my paperwork. I felt I was one step closer to finding the information I needed to give to Mr. Kaiba. If someone within the company were embezzling money, we would find them. I would discover who they were. I wasn't sure how, and I didn't know when, but I wouldn't give up.
Ashe said, Mr. Kaiba entrusted this task to me. I didn't want to let him down.
~ oOo ~
DragonGoddess629