Blue-Eyed Beauty

by DragonGoddess629

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

9. Chapter 9

Chapter Nine

I Know Your Secret

A/N: Happy New Year!

Let me give you a chapter I wrote on my phone while being sick and living on the couch. Love and enjoy! :)

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

~ oOo ~

LIZETTE

Work for the next few weeks had been regular, as was school. I had progressed on my thesis, having finished chapter one and was working in depth on chapter two. Oh, this chapter will kill me. School was fine, and work, well…there had been several more interactions between Noda Yoshinori and myself. And he was just as rude each time he was near my desk. He was condescending, glanced at me weirdly, and always tried to get me to talk about what I was working on. At one point, he asked me about school. Then and there, I had to shut him off, stating that I wouldn't talk about my personal life while I was at work.

He was still persistent after that, so I learned to politely and professionally ignore him.

Since the day Noda snooped through my desk, I kept all my paperwork in a binder locked in the cabinet behind me. And to be cautious, I always kept the key on me. I tried giving a copy to Mr. Kaiba, but he insisted I be the only one with access. If that didn't tell me he trusted me, I didn't know what would.

By the beginning of October, I was learning more about the financial discrepancy than before. From my investigations, none of the departments knew the money was withdrawn. Every department claimed they were to receive more money for their projects. They didn't realize that the money was then practically removed automatically. However, it was the same amount each time, down to a single yen. The amount was the same, but the exact amount was bounced from department to department. Each was supposed to receive their grant, never knowing they technically didn't receive it. Where were the withdrawals being collected and stored?

But then I stole a deeper look into each department's financials, going back months. Not only were there deposits and withdrawals, but my records showed multiple deposits followed by multiple withdrawals, all several weeks to months apart. And this had been happening for at least two years. The deposit occurred one day, and the withdrawal happened on the second day. However, these amounts were different. The amount deposited was smaller than the amount withdrawn. Therefore, each department believed they would receive a certain amount of money, only for more to be taken away than they were to gain.

The question that remained was why. Why was the same money bounced around? It was a new money set, but the same thousands of yen for each sector. I knew I was getting closer and closer. But still, who? Who the hell was doing this, and why?

As the phone rang, my head snapped toward it. Knowing it wasn't my boss, I answered and said, "Thank you for calling Kaiba Corporation. This is Lizette, assistant to the CEO. How can I help you?"

"Girly, is that how you sound at work?"

Emiko.

My head shook. "You seriously did not call while I was on the job. You know I only gave you this number for emergencies."

"And this is an emergency!" She cried happily. "A food-related one!"

I nearly slammed my head against my desk. Rubbing my cheek, I stared at the clock. I only had about an hour left of my shift, which meant I was still on the clock. "Ok, ok, I'll bite. What does the great Emiko want to do?"

"Oh, nothing much…except I'm craving teppanyaki. You said your class was canceled, right?" That made me think of the dinner I enjoyed with Mr. Kaiba and Mokuba just a few weeks prior. The thought left me smiling at the time I spent with them, wondering if it would ever happen again. "…hello, Lizette? You still there?"

Shaken out of my stupor, I said, "Sorry, sorry. So, um, teppanyaki. Why the sudden craving?"

She chuckled. "Dad took one of his corporate buddies there for lunch to discuss business. I was jealous, so I thought, 'Hey, Liz would totally go with me!' Well, that and you've been busy with work and school. We barely see each other, except for the occasional Saturday."

Scratching my cheek, I huffed a sad sigh. She was right. She had been equally busy; therefore, our time together shrunk. Leaning back in my chair, I crossed my legs. "Why the hell not? My class is canceled, and I am starving. Sautéed vegetables, grilled chicken, and gyoza." My mouth instantly salivated. "I'm out in less than an hour. I'll pick you up. Office or your apartment?"

"Office. Dad drove me today."

"You got it." My head snapped to the elevator. "Gotta go. I'll call you!" I gently placed the receiver down before Emiko could say anything. She knew why I would have hung up so quickly. Mr. Kaiba came out of the elevator from his recent meeting. I smiled at him. "Evening, sir. Meeting go alright?"

He eyed me peculiarly. "Considering it was with Noda, take a guess at how it went."

My face fell. "Don't tell me he's still against the contract?"

His face said it all. "Oh, yeah. I just…" He huffed, knocking a fist against my desk. "He just doesn't get it." He sighed again before casting his eyes at me. His eyebrow rose. "Did something happen? You look giddy."

"I do?" I felt my cheeks, and they were slightly warm. "O-oh! My best friend and I have dinner plans tonight. Because of work and school, we haven't had much time to see each other. I'm just excited, that's all."

For some reason, that caused my boss to smile, if only a little. No matter how tiny it was, I loved seeing him smile. "And you don't have class tonight?"

"Canceled, thank god." I crossed my arms. "I love school, don't get me wrong, but I'm a little tired of all the units I'm taking." My head lifted when Mr. Kaiba laughed.

"Yeah, I can tell. And you work full time. When do you even do your homework or study?"

"Mostly on Saturdays."

"But you tutor Mokuba every other Saturday."

"Yeah. So what I don't get done on Saturday, I work on Sunday."

Leaning against my desk, Mr. Kaiba did nothing but stare into my eyes for several seconds. Then he laughed again. "Sometimes I wonder who's more crazy with their work, you or me."

That had me chuckling like him. " Maybe we're both crazy."

There was a sparkle in his dazzling blue eyes. "Maybe we are."

I felt a tingle up my spine, staring into my boss' eyes. Needing to end that, I glanced away. "Well." I cleared my throat. "At least your meeting is done, and you can go home soon."

"Not just yet."

A groan left my mouth before I could stop. "Really, Mr. Kaiba? You still have work to finish?"

"I always have work to finish."

Shaking my head, I groaned again. "Can't it wait til tomorrow? Go home and play Minecraft with Mokuba or something. Enjoy an evening off." It was my term to stare - my blue eyes versus his own. I swear, his were majestic, dark and deep. Something in those eyes called to me, and I desperately wanted to know why.

They…looked familiar.

"Fine."

I blinked. "Hm?"

Mr. Kaiba rolled his eyes as he leaned closer. "You win, Ms. Kawasaki. I'll…go home early."

Checking the clock, it was over thirty minutes until 6. Was he seriously going to leave this early? I call that a win. I grinned evilly. "Is that all it takes? Good, because the moment you do, you'll never stay late again."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, sir."

He shook his head. "If I'm headed home, then you can, too. It may only be by thirty minutes," he checked his watch. "But I believe you've earned those minutes." Tapping his index finger, he said, "Give me a moment, and I'll walk you down." Then he stepped into his office.

I breathed quickly. Damn. Why is everything he does so fucking cute?

If he said I could leave early, I would not complain. Quickly, I moved through my routine. Check any last emails; put away the financial binder and lock it; shut down the computer; grab my lunch - done. At precisely five thirty-five, I stood before my desk with my purse and lunch bag just as Mr. Kaiba stepped out of his office.

"What, no briefcase?"

He stopped mid-step and moved backward slightly as if he was going to go back into his office. "You said I should take the night off. I can easily grab my work and take it home."

"You'll do no such thing!" I said a little sharply, but my boss merely chucked.

We moved to the elevator, leaving the lights on for the cleaning crew. I stole a peek at my boss, who had done the same. We stared and only glanced away when the doors opened. Mr. Kaiba allowed me to enter first. We stood there in silence, watching as the elevator slowly flew down the floors of KaibaCorp.

"Shouldn't you…" I started to say. "Shouldn't you enter your code to take you to your section of the parking garage?"

"I did say I'd walk you to your car. It's starting to get darker outside sooner, and when it does, it'll only be darker in the parking garage, trust me."

"Oh. Well, thank you," I did my best not to stutter. "I…appreciate it." He said nothing except offering a hum.

The elevators didn't take long to sink to the basement level. Once opened, I was allowed to exit first, followed by my boss. He kept his hands in his pockets as we moved; small talk grew before us as we moved to my car. But as we approached it, my boss whistled.

"Damn. Did you get a new car?"

"No, it's several years old. But I try to keep it in pristine condition."

He nodded in approval. "Well, you do a good job at that. Looks brand new."

I thanked him again. "It is the most expensive object I own. It was my first big girl purchase." I giggled at that.

He smirked up at me, seemingly amused at my words. "And what will your next big girl purchase be?"

Shrugging, I offered, "Dunno, to be honest. I guess you could also add my education, but I feel that's different. Maybe my own house?"

"Didn't you say you wanted to start your own business?" I had forgotten I'd said that in my interview. "That might be your next purchase."

It was a possibility. "Who knows, it might. But…I have to graduate first. That's my main priority."

"Say…" Mr. Kaiba uttered. "What type of business do you want to open? You never said."

I smirked when I opened my back door and placed my items on the seat. "Now that's a secret you'll have to figure out."

He seemed shocked at that. "You won't even tell me?"

"Nope," I said, a little too much emphasis on the 'p.' "At least," I added. "Not yet. But I might." I offered him a cheeky smile. Again, he must've been amused by what I said.

"Alright, keep your secrets, Ms. Kawasaki." Nodding his head, he then waved his hand. "Well…you enjoy your night. I'll see you tomorrow." He then turned toward his private section and walked off.

For a moment there, I stared at his backside a little longer than I probably should have. My eyes lingered south of his belt.

Ignoring my heart, I opened my door, took a deep breath, then sat down. Turning in my car, I turned on my seat warmers and waited for my phone to connect. Once it did, I dialed Emiko, waiting for her to pick up.

"You're off already?"

"Mr. Kaiba let me go, yes."

"Then are you ready to party?!" She nearly screamed.

"Uh, no. I'm ready for dinner if that's what you're asking."

"Eh, same thing. We'll drink and enjoy tonight."

"Emiko, sweetie, it's Thursday. You might want to save that for Saturday."

She huffed, annoyed. "…ugh, fine. Why do you have to ruin everything?"

But this time, I was down the street, about five minutes from her building. "Oh, don't give me that crap. You know I'm right. Besides, I'm almost there. Meet me outside, alright?"

"I'll be out front."

And just minutes later, I was out front just as Emiko bounded from the entrance of her corporate building and into my car. "Lizette!" She reached an arm over and hugged me. "I've missed you!"

"And I've missed you, Emi. Even though we just saw each other in class the other night."

"Psh!" She huffed as I pulled out into traffic. "That was school, this is different!" Her stomach then grumbled as she placed a hand over it. "And, as if you can't tell, I'm hungry. Feed me!"

I openly laughed, carefully maneuvering through traffic to her favorite teppanyaki restaurant. Surprisingly, traffic this time of night was reasonably light, which I found odd. But it didn't bother me. Emiko and I conversed as she told me about her day. Apparently, her father had placed more responsibility on her shoulders in preparation for her to take over the company. Essentially, my friend has been groomed for this position since she was young and didn't mind. If anything, she was made for the corporate world. I, on the other hand, could work in business, but at the same time, it wasn't meant to last, and I knew it.

"What type of business do you want to open?"

I could hear Mr. Kaiba's voice enter my ears from our latest conversation. He seemed genuinely interested in my desire to start a business. But I couldn't tell him. Emiko knew, as did Lucas, but no one else. Unless you count the last guy I dated for several months who laughed in my face, saying it was fucking stupid and that I would fail. I dumped him that night. But since then, I've never mentioned it to anyone. This was my dream, and I would see it through.

"…so what're you going to order?"

Again, Emiko pulled me from my thoughts. I considered the different options. Though I loved sushi, I wasn't craving fish. "I'm thinking the chicken. Hell, I might just order the vegetable entree. The carrots sound fucking delicious right now!"

"Right?!" She quickly agreed. "That's why I called, 'cause I knew you would agree!"

"Then it's a good thing we're not that far."

"How far?"

"Couple miles." I glanced around the surrounding neighborhood. "Maybe fifteen-ish minutes, give or take. Think we'll have to wait long?"

"I don't give a shit, I'm hungry now." Emiko rubbed her belly for emphasis. "I need sustenance."

I smiled at her. "Same. Work was long, and I'm starving too."

She eyed me happily. "You're loving this job, aren't you?"

"I am," I offered, keeping my eyes on the road. "And I wouldn't have landed that job if you hadn't found it."

"Oh, I know. It's all because of my awesomeness." She flipped her hair pompously.

"Uh-huh, let's all bow down to the - "

I never finished my sentence.

Hitting my brakes as hard as possible, I braced my arm protectively in front of Emiko, whose momentum thrust her forward. Her eyes widened at my reason for stopping. A dog had run from the right side of the street directly in front of my car, and I narrowly missed hitting the poor thing.

Gasping, my breath was slight, scared that I almost hit an innocent dog. There were honks behind me, but I didn't care; they could honk all they wanted. I only cared about ensuring this dog was safe and not stuck in the middle of the road. Quickly, I maneuvered my car off to the side and parked as Emiko watched. She knew not to disturb me regarding any animal. Stepping out, I was just about to call for the dog when another car raced from the opposite side, too fast for this particular road. I started screaming at the dog to move, but it turned and merely stared at me. The car raced further until my screams meant nothing.

"NO!"

~ oOo ~

SETO

"Mokuba? I'm home."

The pounding sound of footsteps came from the living room as my younger brother ran and slid on the hardwood floor right into my waist. His tiny arms wrapped around me tightly as I ruffled his poofy hair. He stared up at me with bright blue eyes, and for a moment, I was thankful to my assistant for telling me to go home early.

"Brother! You're actually home!"

His voice had me smiling. Taking small steps away from the door, I gently shut it, carefully prying Mokuba away so I could remove my shoes. "I am. Have you been good?"

"The best! Just ask Himari! She'll tell you I've been so good!"

"Really now?" My eyebrow rose. "So, she'll tell me you've been on your best behavior?" He frantically nodded, causing me to laugh.

"Are you home for good, Seto? Or do you have to go back out?"

"I'm home for good." Kneeling, I grasped his shoulder. "Give me a few minutes, and I'll meet you in the living room. Have you eaten?"

"No! Himari is cooking right now!"

"Good." I nudged him toward the living room and added, "Go find Minecraft. We'll play after dinner."

That earned a smile on my brother's face. "Ah! Ok, ok!" Mokuba then ran off, scurrying into the other room as he left my vision.

Sighing, I grabbed my shoes and walked up the stairs, quickly entering my room to change. Once there, I shut the door behind me. Moving to the closet, I placed my shoes in their spot and began changing. My tie and jacket were first, followed by everything else. Grabbing a new set of pajamas, I put on the flannel bottoms, only stopping when I saw my image in the mirror. I froze.

The scars on my back remained prominent and would most likely stay that way. Running a hand down my spine, I felt each one. The thick scar tissue from them all was rough and jagged. And I remembered where each came from.

Casting my eyes away, I refused to stare any longer. Hastily throwing a T-shirt over my head, I placed my clothing on their hangers before leaving the closet. Entering the bathroom, I grabbed the towel, placing it over my shoulder as I threw cold water on my face. The coolness was what I needed - anything to wash away the stresses from the day. Allowing the droplets to fall, I grasped the counter and stared into another mirror. I saw my reflection, the slight dark circles under my eyes. But in doing so, I found another pair of blue eyes staring back at me. Beautiful blue eyes with silver-white hair.

Splashing my face several more times, I dried my skin and quickly left my bedroom, not wanting to think of my assistant now that I was home.

But how could I not? How could I not think of the woman Ms. Kawasaki was? She was brilliant and intriguing, mysterious and strong. She was, by far, the best assistant I'd had since becoming the CEO. It was as if she was meant to work for me. She was a diligent worker, and everything she claimed in her interview was accurate. She was skilled at this job and provided nothing but positive results.

It wasn't just that.

I slowly walked down to the kitchen, my mind only able to see Ms. Kawasaki. Her smile, the redness of her cheeks, the way she stared at me sometimes when she thought I wasn't looking. Then again, I stared at her when I knew she wasn't either. I wanted to know more about the woman. I wanted, I needed, I had to know. She was peculiar and different. A sense of peace always washed over my skin when she was near, and every time I glanced at her face, I grew calm. What was it she had done? Why…why did I crave being around her?

Stopping at the top of the stairs, I slapped my forehead. Such thoughts about my assistant shouldn't exist. She was my assistant and nothing more.

But I wanted more.

Slapping my cheeks hard, I inhaled deeply. "No, no, no," I muttered to myself. "I will not think of Ms. Kawasaki like that." My attention was needed elsewhere.

Walking down the stairs, I turned and entered the massive kitchen. Standing before the stove was Himari, my chef, maid, and babysitter - everything I needed for Mokuba when I couldn't be home.

She turned her head at the sound of my footsteps. "Well, I'll be," she chuckled, stirring the pot on the stove. "If it isn't Seto himself."

Himari had been working for me long enough that she earned the right to call me by my first name. I was used to it by now, as she, Roland, and Mokuba were the only three to do so. Sniffing the air, I moved behind her. "Dinner smells good. What're you making?"

"I figured something different for once would be good. So, spaghetti and garlic bread was my choice."

Having been to other countries outside of Japan numerous times has elevated my pallet. I loved Japanese food, but sometimes, something different, as Himari stated, was nice now and then. "Traditional Italian spaghetti or American?"

"I followed an Italian recipe I found in an American cookbook, so…take from that what you will."

If there was anything about Himari I liked, it was her sass. "Regardless, I know it'll be good. Your cooking is always delicious."

She knocked a fist against my arm. "It better! Without me, you'd barely eat anything!"

She was right. Work was constantly on my mind, and I had, on most occasions, forgotten to eat. I would forget for myself, but never Mokuba. I always ensured he had something on his plate three times a day.

"You need to eat more, Mr. Kaiba!" I could hear Ms. Kawasaki's voice in my head.

Just several weeks ago, she brought her first homemade meal. Since then, she has made it routine to get me something almost every Friday, something I was deeply grateful for, yet hadn't told her. According to Ms. Kawasaki, a home-cooked lunch was the best way to enter on a Friday afternoon. And considering her cooking was delicious, I agreed. She was right in that I needed to eat. Without that, I couldn't have been as successful as I demanded if I hadn't eaten.

In a way to remove my assistant from my head, I found myself asking, "Is dinner almost ready?"

"I can plate it now, actually."

Knowing she'd done enough, I grabbed two bowls. "Himari, will you be joining us?"

"You're sweet, Seto, but no. My husband is taking me out to dinner, so I must go home."

Placing our dinner into each bowl, I turned to her to grab bread. "Please, leave early."

Her eyes widened. "Oh, no, Seto, I still have an hour left!"

Holding her shoulder, I then said, "Please. You do enough for Mokuba and me as is. Besides, I'm home sooner than you expected."

"But-but the dishes. And the food, I- !"

My eyes rolled. "Himari, I can do the dishes and put the food away. I'm not completely helpless."

She eyed me curiously, gears turning in her head. Crossing her arms, she asked, "You know, why are you home early? This is a very rare sight."

Turning swiftly, I moved so she couldn't see my cheeks turn red. "My…assistant persuaded me to go home early, said I should spend it with Mokuba."

"And she's right!" Himari replied instantly. "You know…" She peered at me curiously as I stole a peek at her. "Her name's Lizette, right? Mokuba talks highly of her. Says he loves spending those Saturdays with her."

"He's mentioned that to me, too." Turning to the fridge, I grabbed Mokuba, some water, and a soda for myself. Taking both bowls, I moved across the room to the small kitchen table as Himari followed me with the drinks and bread.

"She must be a good person if Mokuba likes her."

I scoffed slightly, amused. "Mokuba likes everybody."

"Not everybody, but yes, you're right." She leaned in closer, staring into my face as I tried looking elsewhere. Why was she so close? "Is she a good assistant?"

"The best I've had," I answered a little too quickly.

"Oh?" Himari seemed to love my answer. "The best, you say? And what makes her the best?"

Crossing my arms to match hers, I rotated until I stared down at her. "Shouldn't you be heading home to dinner with your husband?"

"Geez. You're so secretive, Seto Kaiba." Grabbing her phone and purse, she looked at me again. "You sure there's nothing else I can help with?"

My hands shoved into the pockets of my pajama bottoms. "Nah, we're good. Enjoy your evening, Himari, you deserve it."

Stepping forward, she gently tapped my cheek as I huffed. "You too, Seto." She called out to my brother and turned down the hallway to the living room. "Mokuba! I'm headed home!"

"Ok! Bye Himari! I'll see you tomorrow!" There were several more footsteps, a door closing, and Himari was gone.

Head falling, I wanted to growl but withheld. Calling out to Mokuba, we ate our dinner in peace. My brother asked for two more bowls before he declared he was full. Seeing how he's a growing child, it didn't surprise me how hungry he was. Even I consumed nearly two bowls. Himari's cooking is no joke. She always made something delicious, no matter what it was.

We didn't spend much time with dinner as we nearly scarfed everything down, but as we finished, I instructed Mokuba to start our save file in Minecraft as I cleaned the kitchen. The food was instantly put away, and the dishes were washed. Once everything was done, Mokuba patiently waited on the couch, my specific black controller on the small ottoman. As I had asked, he already had our world up and ready to go along with my character, waiting inside the house we built together.

"Ah, you even loaded my character. Good job."

"We haven't played in a while, and I was excited. Hurry up! We were going to mine for diamonds last time!"

"I remember. Let me get my gear, ok?"

That was how we spent our night. Slow and steady, we played our game, working hard to mine for needed materials, carefully defeated monsters, and eventually gained several Eyes of Ender. Mokuba was bound and determined to do everything in the game, earn all the trophies, and defeat the Ender Dragon at the end. I couldn't complain. This gave us something to do together, and my brother enjoyed it. Stopping momentarily, I peered at Mokuba, loving how focused he was and determined to get everything we needed to complete our quest. This moment was special for me. I knew I'd spent too much time in the office and not enough time with Mokuba. But I had to. I had to put in the extra time and hours to ensure we had enough money to survive. So we could keep surviving.

We spent what felt like years in the orphanage, and though I've never regretted the decisions I made to keep us alive, my only regret is that my bet with the chess game had to be with Gozaburo Kaiba. I would do it all again but with a different man.

I shuddered at the onslaught of memories.

Mokuba must've seen. "You ok, Seto?"

I grabbed the blanket from the back of the couch, wrapping it over our shoulders. "Just cold, Mokuba."

I would never reveal what I suffered through to my brother. He was way too young and innocent to know about the scars, to understand what I went through. I couldn't hide everything from him forever, but I could for now.

"He's such a cutie, Mr. Kaiba."

Again, I could hear Ms. Kawasaki's voice in my head. Smooth, sweet, and angel-like. Why was she always there? Why was she there when I needed a distraction? Most importantly, why was I craving to have her presence near me?

My head shook slightly. I could not think of my assistant in such a way. It was highly inappropriate and wrong on so many levels.

The thoughts wouldn't stop. They circled through my mind on repeat. I could see her working at her desk, the smile she gave me each time I was near, the professional way she dressed, her bright blue eyes, and her silvery white hair, which I swore had a tint of blue to it.

I moved my character to a safe place and placed my controller on the ottoman. "I'm getting something to drink. Do you want anything?"

"Milk!"

Chuckling, I moved to the kitchen. Grabbing a soda for myself, I filled a secure cup with milk for my brother. When that was done, I gripped the counter's edge, trying to clear my mind. But I couldn't.

Even when I closed my eyes, there stood Lizette Kawasaki. She was there in my thoughts. And lately, she'd been in my dreams, though that was rare. I sat at my desk in my office and wondered about the next time I'd get to speak with her. She was an educated, brilliant young woman who refused to quit; the exact person I needed to aid my daily schedule as an assistant. I didn't lie during that meeting with Noda that I trusted her. She had proved her loyalty to the company and to me. Professionally speaking, of course.

I sighed. This growing attraction to my assistant was starting to annoy me as it was something that shouldn't happen. And yet, I could not deny her attractiveness. My assistant was gorgeous, both her outside exterior and her inside. We'd known each other for several months, but something called out to me that I knew her well. Something about her was familiar, though I couldn't place why. And then there were the times we shook hands. I initially ignored the sensation, but the more it happened, the more I grew confused. Such a phenomenon was impossible. An electric current could occur once, but almost every time our hands touched?

Grasping my head, I sighed. I don't think I could deny it any longer.

I was drawn to Lizette Kawasaki, though I doubt it was just an attraction. I was starting to like her.

"Seto? You coming back?" Thoughts snapped back to reality. Grabbing our drinks, I returned to the living room to find that Mokuba had paused the game. Handing my brother his drink, he asked, "What took you so long?"

"I ate some chocolate," was my answer. Just like my past, Mokuba didn't need to know my thoughts about Ms. Kawasaki. He liked her enough as is, and I didn't want his young brain to come up with any crazy ideas.

"What? You had chocolate without me? That's not fair!"

I ruffled his hair, grabbing my controller. "You can have some in a bit, ok?"

That calmed him down. "Ok."

We played for a little longer than we should have. By the time ten rolled around, Mokuba was nearly asleep, his head moving back and forth to the side, trying his best to stay awake. Following our ending routine, I stored our materials in a chest and quit the game. Hauling Mokuba into my arms, I walked upstairs and set him in his bed. He was in a deep sleep when I pulled the covers over him. Moving hair away from his face, I whispered, "Goodnight, Mokuba."

Turning the light off, I left the door slightly ajar and moved to my room, ready to sleep like my brother. I nearly crashed by the time my head hit the pillow, which was different than usual. Typically, it takes me quite some time to fall asleep, and my dreams are usually presented as memories of when I remembered the whip and the dog collar. I would wake up from such dreams in a sweat, generally gasping for breath, doing my best to calm down to gain as much sleep as possible before my damn alarms went off.

Tonight was different. I dreamed of silvery-blue hair and bright blue eyes. I was calm, and everything was serene. When I woke in the morning, I swore my Blue Eyes were roaring in the background, but I had no idea why.

~ oOo ~

When I arrived at the office the following morning, Ms. Kawasaki was not there. Every morning, she was there before me unless she had class. But today was Friday, and she would have had class last night, if not for it being canceled. Confused, I approached my desk and called Chi, who picked up immediately.

"Chi, have you heard anything from Ms. Kawasaki? She's not here yet."

"She isn't? That's odd. No, she hasn't called in sick or anything. Would you like me to give her a call?"

I shook my head to no one. "No, I'll wait a bit and see. If she still hasn't arrived, I'll phone you again."

"Yes, sir."

Placing the receiver down, I turned my computer on, waiting for the machine to boot up from its slumber. Sitting there, I curled my fingers, watching the ligaments and muscles twitch. Why was her absence bothering me to this extent? She's never late. Ms. Kawasaki is as punctual as can be, always waiting for me at her desk with a bright smile.

I'll give her fifteen minutes, and then I'll call personally.

Not even ten minutes later, there was a soft knock at my door. My eyebrow rose as I wasn't expecting anybody this earlier. "Enter," I commanded, staring at my computer screen. The doors slowly opened, and in came Ms. Kawasaki. My eyes lifted to hers, and I nearly reeled.

Her beautiful eyes were sunken and dull, black and coated underneath her skin. The edging around her eyes was rimmed red, as if she had been crying. Though she seemed put together as usual, something was off.

"Ms. Kawasaki?"

She stepped forward and bowed deeply. "I am so very sorry for my tardiness, Mr. Kaiba. There's no excuse, and I apologize."

I was on my feet in a heartbeat. Before her, I itched to cup her cheek, my hand tightening at my side. "I will excuse this lateness as you've never done so before. But, Ms. Kawasaki, has something happened…?"

She was shaking her head before I could finish. She was also avoiding my gaze. "I just…had a rough time falling asleep. It happens sometimes, and when it does, it's pretty bad." Finally, she lifted her eyes to me, and for some reason, my heart broke at what I saw. "I'll be ok, promise."

I eyed her carefully. She didn't seem ok to me, and that was concerning. "Ms. Kawasaki, I…"

"I'm fine, Mr. Kaiba. Promise," she repeated.

One last look in her eyes told me she wasn't. It wasn't a matter of disturbed sleep. Something had to have happened after she left work last night. She was to eat with her friend, was it that? I guess…there's no reason to speculate. Huffing a sigh, I pulled out my wallet and handed her my card. "At least grab us some coffee."

"Mr. Kaiba, you don't - "

"I do. You look like you're about to drop, Ms. Kawasaki. Allow me to do this for you." She hesitated momentarily. After glancing into my eyes, she took the card, our fingers briefly touching. Even from that minimal touch, I could feel the warmth of her skin.

"Ok," she whispered. "Your…usual?"

"That and a muffin, please. You know what I like."

Her lips lifted slightly, though I wouldn't call it a full smile. "Yeah, I do." Stepping toward the door without glancing back, she said, "I'll be back swiftly, sir." And then she was gone. I stood there dumbfounded, watching the spot she just occupied.

What the hell was that?

Stepping back to my chair, I watched the computer screen, though nothing visible made sense. This was not the Ms. Kawasaki I knew. Her demeanor was completely off. She was sad and seemed heartbroken. But from what? Seriously, what happened last night? Did I need to call someone to question why my assistant acted the way she did?

The ding from my email had my head snap upward.

Getting back to work should have been my priority, but Ms. Kawasaki remained in my mind.

She eventually returned with my coffee and muffin, as requested. When she returned my card, she said she had also bought her some breakfast and would pay me back. I scoffed, stating I would not accept payment for everything she'd done for me. She seemed surprised, but I earned a soft smile in return. That pierced my heart, and I desperately wished to see it again. But in a swift motion, she was already out of my office.

The rest of the day flew by in a blur. Emails, meetings, contract signatures, phone calls, I suffered through them all. Despite how busy I was, I wanted nothing more than to speak with Me. Kawasaki. So, I made excuse after excuse to check in on her. Did you receive that email? Go make copies of this quickly. Can you get this for me? All of which could have been over the phone, but I needed to see her physically. I needed to know she was alright.

But she wasn't alright. I noticed her eyes were darker, more red. Had she been crying while out here, and I hadn't noticed? Also, I noticed she was sloppy. Her work was mediocre; her desk was messy. She wasn't herself, and I think she knew as well.

When it came to lunch, my calendar dinged, telling me to eat lunch. I had been better at doing so, per my bet several weeks prior, that I would be better at eating. Locking my computer, I exited my office and leaned against my assistant's desk. Knocking on the wood, she jumped in her seat, head snapping at me. I raised my hands in defense.

"Mr. Kaiba!"

"I'm sorry. Did I frighten you?"

She forced a chuckle. "Slightly. I'm sorry, I was too deep in looking at the numbers again."

"Anything of concern?"

"I feel like I'm close; I'm just missing something." She sniffled. That caught my attention; I chose to ignore it.

"I know you'll uncover whatever is happening. But, um…" I drummed my fingers on the wood. "I'm headed to get some lunch. Would you like anything?"

She peered upward at me, looking so tired. "I'm thankful for the offer, but I brought something today. You go enjoy your lunch."

My heart fell. "You'll be taking your lunch soon, yes?"

"As soon as I'm done writing these notes, I will."

"Good. You need to eat. That's an order."

Her cheeks bloomed red. "Yes, sir."

I bid her goodbye as I rode the elevator down to my car. I returned to the cafe where I had taken Ms. Kawasaki on her birthday, enjoying a simple sandwich in peace. I sat in the corner, contemplating what I should do. Should I call someone? Should I speak with Ms. Kawasaki again to uncover what was wrong? This was deeply out of character for her. At this point, I had to admit I was worried - I was worried for her.

Though delicious, I finished my meal quickly, desiring nothing more than to return to the office and make a phone call. As swiftly as possible, I raced back to the office, determined now more than ever. Reaching my floor, I noticed Ms. Kawasaki was not at her desk, leading me to believe she was in the break room eating her lunch. Stepping into my office, I was dialing the phone before I sat down. I called Chi down in HR.

"Yes, Mr. Kaiba?"

"I need Ms. Kawasaki's personnel file."

"O-oh, is everything alright?"

"Yes, I just have some questions I can answer with that."

"Of course. Printed or emailed?"

"Printed, please. I'll shred it when I'm done." Minutes later, she arrived with the paper, offering me a smile without questioning why I needed the file.

Flipping through the pages, I soon found what I was looking for: her emergency contact. But as I read it, I discovered there was only one person listed, and this individual wasn't listed as a parent but as a friend. Why didn't she have her parents listed?

Staring at the paper, her emergency contact was one Emiko Takahashi. Was this the best friend she's mentioned several times? Shrugging, I noticed two numbers listed: work and personal number. I decided to call the work number first since this would technically be a business call.

I dialed the number and waited. It rang three times before someone answered. "This is Ms. Takahashi speaking."

"Emiko Takahashi? This is CEO Seto Kaiba from Kaiba Corporation."

"M-Mr. Kaiba?" She stuttered. "To what do I owe this honor? Were you trying to reach my father?"

"No, I called you for a reason. You're listed as Lizette Kawasaki's emergency contact, correct?"

"…yes? Is everything alright? Is she ok?!"

"Yes," I said quickly. Needing to stand, I paced around the room, walking from corner to corner. "I apologize for calling out of the blue, but I have a specific reason. And…I was hoping you could help."

"I…I mean, I can try. Is this about Lizette?"

"Yes. I've noticed…a change in her demeanor today, and I called to ask if you knew why. Ms. Kawasaki is acting differently than usual, and it is a cause for concern, seeing as how she has never been like this in the few months she has been employed here."

I could hear shuffling on the other end as Ms. Takahashi sighed deeply. She was quiet for some time. "Mr. Kaiba, Liz…" She fell silent. Inhaling deeply, she continued. "What is your plan if I tell you?"

"Ms. Takahashi, I'm concerned about the well-being of my employee. If I need to know something to help, I am asking politely. If she needs some time off to take care of personal matters, I can grant that. But Ms. Kawasaki won't tell me; she says everything is fine."

"Of course, she's saying that," Ms. Takahashi whispered. "She…" She groaned. "…she spent most of the night at the vet hospital."

"The vet hospital? I didn't know she had a pet." That was news to me. Then again, I didn't know much about my assistant besides what she shared.

"Liz doesn't. We…we were on our way to dinner last night, and she picked me up after she left work. We were almost there when a dog ran in front of her car. Luckily, she stopped in time. But Liz stepped out to get the dog off the street when…" She inhaled again. "The dog was hit by an oncoming car."

Oh. That…I wasn't expecting that. "Why does that concern Ms. Kawasaki? Shouldn't you have just gone to dinner?"

"No, Mr. Kaiba. There's something you need to understand about Lizette. She loves animals just as much as she loves video games, if not more. Animals are her entire life, always have been. She…when the dog was hit, she immediately tried saving the dog, but it was badly hurt and was bleeding everywhere. We never made it to dinner."

"What happened after that?"

"We took the dog straight to the vet hospital, where we stayed for hours. The dog was taken to emergency surgery, but…he didn't make it. The dog died while in recovery after surgery."

"And Ms. Kawasaki, she…"

"She was devastated. Mr. Kaiba, Liz blames herself. She feels she could have done more to save that dog's life."

Now, it was making sense. Her demeanor, the defeated look in her eyes. "She said she had a hard time sleeping. What time did she finally get home?"

"After taking care of some paperwork and the bills, I would say probably after midnight, maybe later. I offered to stay with her, but she refused, wanted to be alone. Knowing my best friend, she must've been up all night crying herself to sleep."

I stopped pacing, tightly gripping the back of the couch. "All this over one dog?"

"As I said, Mr. Kaiba, animals are her world; they mean everything to her. You know she has a degree in veterinary science, right? She almost became a vet."

I'd known that, but not for this reason. What stopped her from pursuing such a profession? "Then why go down the business route when she could have done that?"

"…it's not my place to say. If she wants you to know, she'll tell you." There was a knocking on the other end, followed by several voices. "I'm sorry, Mr. Kaiba, my attention is needed elsewhere. I hope…I hope you use this information to help Liz and not ridicule her."

I was offended at that. "I would never ridicule her, Ms. Takahashi."

"Then prove it if you want to help her, Mr. Kaiba. If you need anything else, all you need to do is call." The line ended.

Placing the receiver down, I reclaimed my seat, thinking over everything Ms. Takahashi explained. So, my assistant was bothered by the fact she couldn't save a dog. Having never owned a pet before, I didn't know what it was like to love an animal. But for Ms. Kawasaki to be this disturbed over an animal meant there was more to it. But what more would that be? Knowing I needed to speak with her, I dialed her phone with the designated button. She answered instantly.

"Can you come see me, Ms. Kawasaki?"

"Of course, sir."

She opened the door seconds later, and I swore she had been crying. Holding my hand to the seat before my desk, I silently asked her to take a seat. She complied, crossing her legs as she did so. Now that she was here, I didn't know what to say. How should I console my employee? Why did I even want to in the first place? Though I treated my employees as best I could, never had I wanted to ensure they were cared for during a time of need. That is, until Me. Kawasaki entered my life.

"Is there something you need, sir?"

She sensed my silence. I leaned over and crossed my arms, wondering what to say. "Ms. Kawasaki…I want to discuss your performance today."

She winced, bowing her head. In a quiet voice, she muttered, "I'm aware I've been lacking today, sir. I…I promise to do better. I apologize."

"I don't want an apology, Ms. Kawasaki." She winced again, and I knew I should have chosen my words better. Biting my tongue, I said, "I've been concerned about you all day, Ms. Kawasaki. You said you were fine this morning, but we both know that was a lie. You're not fine, Ms. Kawasaki. Something is bothering you, and…" She glanced up when I stopped. "I brought you in here because I want to help."

Her tears were almost instant. I noticed one fell and then a second before she did anything. When she realized several were falling, she used her hand to clear her face. Her voice was shaky. "Y-you…Mr. K-Kaiba, I appreciate the thought, but…" I placed the box of tissues before her, and she grabbed several, dabbing at her eyes

"I called Emiko Takahashi."

Her wet eyes widened at that. "You…what?"

"I wasn't kidding when I said I was concerned about you, Ms. Kawasaki. I called your emergency contact, Emiko Takahashi, to see if she could tell me what had happened."

She slumped into her seat, keeping her arms close to her body and clearing her face occasionally. The air was tense with emotion, and I knew I had most likely made it worse. Would she dislike that I called her friend? Would she hate that I was meddling?

"…so you know what happened," was all she muttered.

I nodded. "Ms. Takahashi explained everything."

Ms. Kawasaki glanced off to the side, facing the windows. The afternoon sun was bright against her skin, and her tears glistened brightly. I wanted to run to her side and use my hands to clear her face. I wanted to run my thumbs along her cheek to take away her pain. But that would never be me. She would never want someone like me.

"…I thought…" Her voice pulled me from my reverie. "The dog was so young, maybe a year or two old." She kept her gaze away from me, one hand over her mouth. "I honestly thought I'd be able to save him. But the car that hit him just…" She then turned to me. My heart shattered at the look on her face. "The fucking car took off!" She screamed, and I slightly wavered. Never had I heard my assistant speak in such a manner. "They fucking left and didn't even take the time of day to check on the dog! The poor thing was lying there in the middle of the street with gashes and broken bones bleeding everywhere!" She dropped her head into her hands. Whatever she felt finally broke as she gasped, choking on her tears. Hiding her face, her voice was muffled. "The poor thing was hurt so badly, and it wouldn't stop whimpering. I-I…!" She inhaled as best she could. Her tears were prominent now, flowing past her fingers.

I fought with myself, needing to stay in my seat and running to her side to hold her in my arms.

"I-I took him to the vet hospital where they instantly took him back, eventually saying he needed surgery. But he couldn't be claimed because he had no collar and wasn't tagged. So I stayed. I s-stayed to make sure the dog would be alright. I thought he would make it, t-thinking we got there in time. B-but we didn't." She still refused to move her hands, preferring to hide her face from me.

All I did was sit there. I would sit in this spot as needed until my assistant felt better. I doubt she would wear a smile for the rest of the day, but I at least wanted her to know that I would listen to her - anything to try and get that smile back.

"But…it didn't matter. Nothing I did mattered. The vet came out hours later, stating that the dog barely survived and that this first night would be sketchy. They…" She swallowed. "They didn't think the dog would survive the night. Since he had no owners, they allowed me into the back to be with him. Emiko and I sat there for several hours, petting him and talking, trying to make his pain easier. But…" That's when she lifted her head. The stare we shared was difficult to maintain, but in my eyes, I hopefully gave her what she needed. "The poor thing died in my arms."

"Ms. Kawasaki…" I found myself stating her name, but nothing would come of it.

"I-I tried…I tried! But I couldn't even save one animal!"

I was up and out of my seat. The sound of her voice was too much to bear. Kneeling before her, I placed one hand on her shoulder, the other cupping her cheek. At the moment, I was not her boss, and she was not my employee. Hopefully, she saw me as a friend, someone who wanted to help in her time of need.

"Ms. Kawasaki…" She slowly lifted her gaze to me, unfazed that I was touching her so. Her skin felt so soft underneath my fingers, just like I imagined. "Do not sell yourself short. You did everything imaginable to save that dog. Unfortunately, its injuries were too severe to be saved." She heaved at my words. Grabbing a new tissue, I gently cleared her face. She lifted her eyes the moment I did so. "But you gave that dog a chance of life. While others left and didn't care, you gave him a chance. You took him to a hospital where the vets did all they could to save him. If not for you, that dog would have died alone on the street. Instead, he died in your arms, probably the safest he had felt in a long time."

She leaned into my hand, surprising me. "You…you really think so?"

I nodded instantly. "Yes, I really do."

Her eyes suddenly widened. Slowly, she moved backward, my hand falling from her face. She must've sensed that I was touching her and grew uncomfortable. The thought saddened me, but I understood. There was no way my assistant felt the same emotions I felt when around her. There was absolutely no way.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Kaiba."

"Hmm?" I watched as she dried her face, a smile slowly appearing back on her face.

"Your words…they mean much to me. Thank you."

My lips lifted because of hers. "Of course, Ms. Kawasaki. My only wish is that you'll heal from this. I hate to see you so upset." There was a slight confusion on her face, and I suddenly wished I hadn't spoken those words. Though they might be true, I shouldn't have said them.

"If no one's ever told you, Mr. Kaiba…you're very sweet."

Now, it was my turn for my eyes to widen. Should she have said those words? Probably not. But I wanted to hear more. "Heh, I think you have the wrong person. Most people would think I'm an asshole."

This time, it was her hand to cup my cheek. "No. Anyone who thinks that is the asshole. I mean, you can be mean, but I wouldn't necessarily call you an asshole." Even her fingers were soft. "You need to remember, you're a young CEO of a major conglomerate. Even if you are an asshole, I think you have a right to be sometimes." She finally smiled. "But you've never been an asshole to me."

"I could never, Ms. Kawasaki. You've never given me a reason to."

I was blessed with her laughter. She sniffled, clearing her nose as she went for another tissue. "I'm sorry for today, Mr. Kaiba. I didn't think I would be affected like this; it's just…" She looked at me. "I deeply care for animals."

"I know. Your friend told me."

"Of course, Emiko would tell you that."

"She thought it was important."

She fiddled with the tissues in her lap. "I'll…" she started. "I'll be better come Monday. That I can promise."

"I never doubted you, Ms. Kawasaki. Even though you were off your game today, you still worked hard. That I can appreciate."

She suddenly gripped my hands tightly. "Thank you, Mr. Kaiba. Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to hear me talk about a trivial matter like this."

I felt my fingers grip hers tighter. "Don't say this was a trivial matter. Anything that's this important to you isn't trivial. Ms. Kawasaki, I'll always lend you mine if you ever need a listening ear."

If she was surprised by that, she didn't say or show it. But her next words surprised me: "As I will do the same for you, Mr. Kaiba."

She was so beautiful at this moment: the sun sparkling against her skin, her growing hair - which I swore had grown inches since she was hired - and her blue eyes despite the surrounding redness. She was a goddess in human form, and I was unconditionally smitten with her.

"Mr. Kaiba…?"

I hadn't realized my head had leaned forward. Then again, I'm unsure whether Ms. Kawasaki knew hers was leaning toward mine. Everything grew quiet. All that existed was us as I stared at my employee. The employee I was attracted to. My assistant, with whom I was infatuated with. Ms. Kawasaki, that I liked - more than liked.

The phone began ringing, snapping my attention back to reality. Our heads reeled backward slightly. Her cheeks grew red, and I could feel mine burning. Hastily moving to my desk, I kept my back to my assistant.

I was snappy when I answered the phone. "Kaiba."

Of course, it had to be Noda Yoshinori.

"Me. Kaiba, has your assistant taken the day off? I've been calling for the past twenty minutes to schedule an appointment with you."

"She's been in a meeting with me, Mr. Yoshinori. I'll have her call you when she's back at her desk. Does that work?"

"It does," he said, though he sounded offended. I had no idea why.

"Good. She'll be back at her desk in a moment."

"Also, did you see the email I sent? We need to discuss the financial logistics to move forward with the Takechi contract."

"No, I haven't seen it yet. Give me some time, and I'll reply. If we need to meet, I'll let you know, and you can schedule that with Ms. Kawasaki."

"Appreciate it." He ended the call.

I put the phone down and breathed. Turning back to my assistant, I noticed she was standing, her hands close to her chest.

"I need to get back to work."

"Ms. Kawasaki, would it help if you took the rest of the day off?"

Her head shook. "No. Working has helped, even if it doesn't look like it. I'm…" She bowed again, just like this morning. "I'm sorry for any trouble I have caused. But speaking with you has…alleviated some things I've been harboring. So I thank you."

"I meant what I said, Ms. Kawasaki. I'm here if you need me."

"I believe you, Mr. Kaiba. And I am truly thankful." She offered me a smile and was soon out my door.

As it closed, I slumped into my chair, questioning what the hell could have happened if Noda hadn't called. Was I seriously about to kiss Ms. Kawasaki? And if I understood the situation correctly, was she about to do the same? There was no point in being conflicted about what might have happened when nothing did occur.

I cradled my head. Thinking back on the last twenty-ish minutes, I replayed the entire scene, from when Ms. Kawasaki walked into my office to when she left. She had been utterly heartbroken when she told me what had happened last night, and her heartbreak nearly tore me in two. I hated seeing the look of defeat on her face. I hated the tears, the choking, and the pain. I never wanted to see her in such a state again.

My head snapped forward as my mouth fell. It was then I knew.

I didn't just like Ms. Kawasaki.

I was starting to love her.

~ oOo ~

LIZETTE

I stepped out of Mr. Kaiba's office and immediately clutched my heart. One hand held my chest while the other covered my mouth.

Were we about to…kiss? Had I been the only one to lean forward? Was Mr. Kaiba doing the same thing?

Oh. My. God.

My cheeks were cast aflame, and they burned extremely hot. Taking a seat, I grabbed a random folder, quickly fanning myself to cool off. Not only did that happen, but my boss also listened to me about what happened last night. He sat there patiently and listened. He actually listened! To all the rumors I'd heard about Mr. Kaiba, I wasn't telling a lie when I said he was sweet. Because he was; he was no asshole. At least to me, he wasn't.

"Oh my god…" I whispered. "I actually said to him that he's sweet…!" I smacked my forehead. "Fucking shit, I shouldn't have said that!"

Dropping the folder, I knew I needed to get back to work. I told my boss that I was capable of finishing the day. And for him to listen to me like he had, I wanted to prove the truth in my words. Harshly rubbing my cheeks, I returned to work, the first task of which was to call Noda. Picking up the phone, I dialed his number.

"This is Noda."

"Mr. Yoshinori, this is Ms. Kawasaki. Mr. Kaiba explained that you needed to speak with me?"

"Good, you're back," were his first words. If only he knew the reason I was away from my desk. This again, he probably would've laughed in my face. "I need to schedule an appointment with Mr. Kaiba, considering he won't see me whenever I wish anymore," he growled slightly.

Quickly opening Mr. Kaiba's calendar, I scoured through to see what was open. "Um, let me see…Mr. Kaiba has a two o'clock availability on Monday. I can schedule that for a thirty-minute meeting or an hour. Which would you prefer?"

"Schedule me for an hour, just in case." He was quiet for the moment as I typed in the meeting on the computer, securing this time slot for tomorrow. "So…" He began, and my ears perked. "You had a meeting with Mr. Kaiba. Was that scheduled into his calendar? Or does he make specific time for you without doing so?"

What the hell was he insinuating? "Mr. Yoshinori…Mr. Kaiba needed to speak with me about a project quickly. Unfortunately, short meetings like that do happen."

"Ah, so you get special treatment."

I was seething. "Mr. Yoshinori, I do not appreciate you stating such words. I do not receive special treatment from my boss. I do my job day in and day out. If he requires my assistance, I stop what I am doing to go to his aid. Today was such a day. If you have any concerns the next time I am away from my desk, please share them with Mr. Kaiba directly. If there is nothing else, please have a wonderful rest of your day."

He was quick with a retort. "You're a snarky assistant, aren't you?"

I was thoroughly pissed off. "How dare you speak to me in such a way."

"Oh, and the way you speak to me isn't the same?"

"I've never spoken to you like you have spoken to me, Mr. Yoshinori."

"And you're ignorant, too. Are you ignorant about your job, as well? I believe his previous assistants were better than you. Your work is barely passable, and I have no clue what the CEO sees in you."

"Regardless of what Mr. Kaiba sees in me is up to him, not you. Remember, Mr. Yoshinori, I work for Seto Kaiba, not you." My tongue tingled when I said my boss' name. It was the first time I had done so since working here. Wanting to push his buttons because I could, I smirked at my following words. "Are you, by chance, jealous, Mr. Yoshinori? You wouldn't happen to dislike the amount of trust Mr. Kaiba has placed in me, would you?"

He immediately scoffed. "Jealous? Of you, an assistant? Not likely, Ms. Kawasaki. There is nothing to be jealous of. You're nothing but a pathetic assistant."

"You know…" I crossed my legs, leaning back against my chair. "I'm glad these calls are monitored and recorded. I would gladly provide a copy of this phone conversation to Mr. Kaiba to gain his perspective and see how you treat other company employees."

"His company…right, right." He didn't seem fazed by my open threat. "You think about that, Ms. Kawasaki. Think on that long and hard and determine whether you'll still have a job after doing so."

"I work for Mr. Kaiba, not you, Mr. Yoshinori. Please remember that."

"I remember that, Ms. Kawasaki. But remember this: you may work for him but also for me."

He hung up the line.

What the hell did he mean by that? I was hired as the CEO's assistant, not the CFO. Placing the phone down, I stared at the device. Shivers crawled up my spine as my body spasmed. I hated talking to the CFO. He was creepy and gave off negative vibes. How the hell he was the Chief Financial Officer for KaibaCorp was beyond me. But, Mr. Kaiba claimed he did excellent work. But what kind of exceptional work garnered that he has an offensive attitude?

If you ask me, Mr. Yoshinori was the asshole of the company, not Mr. Kaiba.

Shaking my entire body of the recent conversation, I set to work. I had a minimal stack of contracts to review by next week, and I also needed to solve the financial discrepancy. I was so close that I could nearly taste victory in discovering where this money was going. I would find where it was going and uncover who the mastermind behind it all was.

Moving my mouse to my email, I opened the application to see several new emails that needed my attention. One was from Mr. Kaiba, a few were from the department leads asking if there was anything else I should need, and another was from…I don't know who the sender was. Was this spam? Was this something I should open? I considered deleting it and calling the IT Department if not for the subject line.

I KNOW YOUR SECRET

My secret? What secret? After clicking the application's spam option, I ran the email through a specific program to determine if any viruses were attached or if anything could harm my work computer. I didn't want to take any risks, but the spam detection came back negative. Taking a sharp breath, I clicked on the email. Everything inside was in caps, and it was threatening.

I KNOW WHAT YOU'VE BEEN SEARCHING FOR. YOU WILL NEVER FIND WHAT YOU SEEK. STOP THIS PETTY CAT-AND-MOUSE GAME, AND YOU WON'T BE HARMED. CONTINUE THIS GAME, AND YOU'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS TO ASSISTANTS WHO MEDDLE IN AFFAIRS THAT DON'T CONCERN THEM.

I moved away from my computer. What the hell did I just read? What was this crap? I merely stared at the screen, trying to discern this message. Did I need to take this seriously? Different questions entered my mind, but after several minutes, I realized something.

Whoever sent me this email knew I was searching for transferred money within the company. That could only mean one thing: this person was someone I had talked to about the situation. But, if it wasn't someone I had spoken to about this, it was someone who had snooped into my project.

My hands started to shake. Why had I received such an email? Before I could panic, I grasped a steady breath. There was no point in freaking out about this now. Though this email was sent specifically to my work email, this person had access to corporate information that was only stored through the IT Department. They had access to vital information about the employees. I never used my work email to contact anyone outside the company; that was explicitly saved for my personal communication.

I was clicking the print button before I knew what I was doing. I stared at the words once the warm paper was in my hands. It wasn't necessarily a menacing email, but it was slightly threatening. It stated that if I continued, I would be harmed. Harmed how, and to what extent? Pulling the binder from the cabinet, I hole-punched the paper and placed it in the back, seemingly to be forgotten in the meantime. I knew that I wouldn't be able to ignore this email, not in the slightest. It wouldn't haunt me, but it would be on my mind for some time. Closing the binder, I breathed. This wouldn't deter me. I would succeed, and whoever this asshole was, they better be prepared.

This only confirmed the person who sent this email had to be someone within the company. There was still the possibility that this might be from someone on the outside, but the most probable answer was someone who worked for KaibaCorp. It just made sense. If it were someone from the outside, they would have just taken the money at the first chance. But to move a set amount from department to department while withdrawing a more considerable amount? No. This was someone from the inside.

And I would find them.

"Ms. Kawasaki, do you have a moment?"

My head snapped to my boss' doors to see his head sticking out. "Yes, Mr. Kaiba?" I placed the binder in the cabinet.

He held his company card in the air. "I am in need of another coffee. Would you mind…?"

I offered him a smile. "Of course, but only because you asked so nicely." Standing, I took the card, staring at the plastic as Mr. Kaiba stared at me. "Do you require a muffin as well?"

He smirked. "Surprise me."

"Alright," I grinned more. "A new car it is."

He rolled his eyes. "You wouldn't."

"We've been over this, Mr. Kaiba. You would never know if I did. But, I think a coffee would suffice."

"Now that you may buy." He then disappeared behind his doors.

Grabbing my purse, I moved to the elevator; my breathing had slowed since I saw the email. As I stepped inside and clicked the main floor, I watched my reflection in the elevator doors. My eyes were still red from the crying I had done. Mr. Kaiba had taken time to hear me out, which eased the pain in my heart. I would be upset for some time, yet his encouraging words were precisely what I needed to hear. I knew I'd done everything I could to help that dog. But it wouldn't stop there. I would pursue and continue to help animals in any way I could.

Taking another deep breath, I stepped onto the main floor, waving at other employees as I passed. Stepping into the outside world, I merely stood, allowing the warmth from the sun to heat my cold skin.

I would succeed in this job. Despite what the email threatened, I would pursue it. Mr. Kaiba entrusted me with finding the money, and I would do so. Emails didn't scare me. This asshole didn't scare me. I was prepared, and I would face whatever obstacles came before me. Maybe it was the love I felt, but I wanted to make Mr. Kaiba proud.

Wait…love?

Halting my steps before the street, I had to admit the truth. I didn't just like my boss.

I was falling in love with everything about Seto Kaiba.

~ oOo ~

Did I leave you craving for more? Let me know! :)

DragonGoddess629