dirty little secret - shiu kong
the beginning - part two
content: more work stuff, meeting new coworkers, setting the stage for the next part
a/n: the timeline for this fic came pouring out of me... now to face the task of writing everything...
You were sitting at your desk, working on your idea to improve employee retention when you felt a presence behind you. You turned to see Yuki, eyeing the document you had open on your desktop, a look of interest on her beautiful face.
“That’s something we’ve never considered,” she noted, leaning on her hand as she pointed to one idea in particular. “I think you should draft up a proposal before the next quarterly meeting, this is a much better idea than the idiotic pizza parties we keep having.”
“I think so too, it’s just the logistics of it all that I find myself stuck,” you looked up at her, her blonde hair falling over her shoulder as she tilted her head in thought.
“I’ll introduce you to Utahime in human resources, she’ll be able to help you fully fledge this idea,” she stood to her towering height before sitting herself on the edge of your desk. “The next meeting isn’t until May so you have plenty of time before you have to present anything.”
“Thank you, Yuki, you’ve been such an amazing boss,” you smiled up at her, leaning back in your chair as you mentally noted another person to ask your father about.
“I would be more amazing if I had asked you for your meeting notes sooner, let me see what else you wrote down last week,” she held her hand out as you dug through your desk and pulled out your journal.
Her eyes scanned over your first page of notes, a small furrow forming between her brows the more she read. You could feel your body temperature rising as you wondered what mistake you made, the thought of making a mistake and it getting back to your father was worrisome.
“I’m going to set up a few meetings for you. I think you would benefit from meeting with our Marketing Director Takuma Ino or Sales Director Jin Itadori, you seem to have a basic grasp of acquisitions, but I think you’d benefit from expanding your knowledge,” her eyes continued working down the pages as you sat quietly, waiting for her next comment.
“You’re meeting with Mr. Kong too, your expansion ideas need work, he can help you understand that side of the business better than I can,” she noted quietly.
A passing thought for her that scrambled your brain and made your hands sweat in your lap.
Meeting with Shiu? One on one meetings with Shiu? How you planned to survive those, you weren’t entirely sure.
“I really think you have a great grasp of everything, meeting with everyone will only strengthen your knowledge,” she handed your journal back to you. “Let’s go see Utahime now, I’m tired of being in this room.”
She stood, waiting as you put your things away and grabbed your laptop before walking beside her. She quickly tapped away at her phone, her long legs carrying her to the elevator on autopilot. She absentmindedly clicked the next floor up, fingers still flying over her keyboard.
By the time you two exited the elevator she looked at you with a big smile, “Takuma and Jin will meet with you next week, I’ll add it to your calendar.”
“Thank you,” you smiled back at her, following slightly behind her as she walked into the HR department.
She waved a few people, said a few hellos as you both made your way to the large office on the back wall.
Yuki gave a few raps to the glass door before opening it, “Utahime, I brought you a new friend!”
“Yuki, as much as I love making friends, I’m working,” the woman behind the desk didn’t spare either of you a glance as her eyes continued scanning whatever was on her desktop.
“Well, what if I said I also brought you more work?” Yuki plopped down in one of the chairs directly in front of Utahime’s desk.
Utahime finally glanced up, her eyes half hooded in feigned annoyance as she made eye contact with Yuki, “Am I supposed to jump for joy?
Yuki waved you closer, offering your name to Utahime, “This is my new employee, who had a very impressive idea to improve employee retention.”
You offered your hand, smiling at Utahime, “Yuki flatters me, but I did have an idea I’d like to discuss if you have the time.”
Utahime looked at you, and you took note of her beautiful face, her soft features that were made softer by the scar she had running across the right side of her face.
She shook your hand, offering a smile “Please excuse my attitude, there are few I act like this with and Yuki is one of them.”
“Don’t be mean Hime, or I’ll tell Shoko,” Yuki pouted.
“Leave my girlfriend out of this, thanks,” Utahime glared at Yuki before looking back at you. “I would love to hear more about your idea, we’ve been absolutely failing on employee retention efforts.”
You sat in the chair next to Yuki, opening up your laptop to email Utahime a PDF version of your document, “I emailed you what ideas I have, one of them in the works of being fleshed out. I’m stuck on the logistics and financial aspect of it, though.”
A few clicks and she had it pulled up on her own computer, turning the screen so it would be seen by you both, “This is great, actually. I see where you’re stuck, but it isn’t something that can’t be worked out.”
“Yes, I wondered how we’d transport everyone, if we’d do separate days, and how to get the approval for spending,” you noted.
“Ijichi, the Finance Director would be more than happy to help you with budgeting and drafting the funding proposal,” Utahime noted, jotting a few things down on a sticky note. “I really think multiple days would be best, though.”
“I thought so too, but how do we decide how to split everyone up?” You wondered, holding your finger to your lips in thought.
“We could do it by department,” Yuki threw out.
“Most people have friends in every department,” Utahime thought aloud.
“I don’t think we should do it by hierarchy, having all the C-Suites together would defeat the purpose,” you added.
“Letting people choose their groups also defeats the purpose,” Utahime sat back in her chair, her fingers drumming on her desk.
“We could pick one person from each department, and scramble the hierarchy,” your mind started rolling with the thought. “Since there’s more lower tier employees, we’ll just have to figure out a ratio and go from there.”
“Perfect, that’s actually perfect,” Utahime smiled. “We’ll get the mix of departments along with the hierarchical mix to help foster relationships across the board.”
“I told you she had an impressive idea,” Yuki leaned back, crossing one of her legs over the other. “I also think she’ll have Takuma and Ijichi wrapped around her finger by the end of their meetings.”
“Yuki, I’m the HR director, have more tact before I have to report you to myself,” Utahime huffed, her lips twitching at the corners as she shared a knowing smile with Yuki.
“Whatever, at least you two can be friends now,” Yuki gestured between you both. “I know we’re older than you, but we still know how to have fun.”
“I’m sure you do,” you laughed lightly. “I would love to be friends, but don’t we have a policy against that?”
“Nope,” Utahime popped the p. “We got rid of the anti-fraternization policy about five years ago. People wanted to be friends, and date, so it seemed like the right decision. We actually saw a boost in retention rates around-”
“Hime, you’re spewing HR facts,” Yuki noted, an endearing smile on her face.
“Right, well, we could all be friends and no one would bat an eye. Really the only stipulation is if you’re dating someone, you have to disclose it to me,” Utahime concluded.
You could be friends with anyone, date anyone you wanted. And no one would bat an eye. You weren’t sure why you were so focused on that small piece of information, so you brushed it aside.
“Then let’s be friends,” you smiled.
“We usually go for drinks Friday after work, I’ll let you know when and where if you ever want to go,” Utahime smiled back at you.
“You can meet my boyfriend and Hime’s girlfriend if you go,” Yuki added in an enticing manner, as if you hadn’t already agreed to being friends.
“I really look forward to it then,” you looked over at her, feeling a wave of warmth surge through you. She really was a great person, having her as your first boss was something you swore not to take for granted.
Her phone pinged in her lap, she quickly glanced down to read the notification, “Mr. Kong can meet with you Thursday!”
The blood rushing in your ears was entirely too overwhelming as you forced your face to remain still, “That’s great.”
“He told me to send you his number, the two of you can coordinate your meetings from now on,” her fingers worked quickly, your own phone buzzing in your lap shortly after.
“Thank you, Yuki,” you answered, looking down at the phone number that was glaring up at you.
“Of course! Anything to help you grow,” she rested her hand on your shoulder, squeezing gently.
“I’ll set up an appointment with Ijichi, if you get my number from Yuki, I’ll text you the details,” Utahime nodded at you, before turning back to her computer. As she straightened her monitor she said as seriously as she could manage, “Now get out and go back to work.”
“Bye Hime!” Yuki stood quickly, waving at her over her shoulder.
“It was nice to meet you,” you smiled before turning and following behind Yuki.
“Make sure you text Mr. Kong so he has your number,” Yuki commented as the two of you headed back towards the elevator.
“I’ll do that now,” you answered, keeping your voice calm and level as you stared down at the blank message.
Your fingers hovering over the keyboard as you debated what to send him.
Looking forward to Thursday? Too enthusiastic, and way too much of a lie.
Hi Shiu- absolutely not, you stopped that thought before it developed further.
A small introduction paired with Yuki gave me your number? Too many words.
You settled on something simple.
YOU (10:27AM): this is [name], what time are we meeting Thursday?
You slipped your phone back into your pocket, exhaling a breath as you stepped on to the elevator. Yuki was back on her phone, her fingers flying over the screen again as you descended.
By the time you stepped out your phone buzzed.
MR. KONG (10:29AM): 10AM, doll.
The nickname had your heart beating in your throat, as your breath stuttered. You quickly tucked your phone closer to your chest as you worried that Yuki could easily peak over and see what he said.
You sat at your desk, your phone resting against your fingers as you thought out what to respond.
YOU (10:32AM): I believe we should address each other in a more formal manner, Mr. Kong.
MR. KONG (10:32AM): That’s what you believe, but is that what you want?
YOU (10:34AM): I’m not answering that.
MR. KONG (10:34AM): That’s what I thought, doll. See you Thursday.
You set your phone face down on your desk, letting out a long breath through your nose as you wondered how you were going to survive these meetings with him.
His number alone was taunting you, the thought of having another form of connection with him unable to leave your mind as the days passed by. Despite wanting Thursday to be further away, it came sooner than you expected.
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a/n: shiu kong the trifling yet so very hot man that you are...
