Help! My world is upside down!

CHAP 8. A day at work


“So, Sesshoumaru, what was it you wanted to tell me that Kagome couldn’t hear?”

The young, black haired man set his intense stare at him, his interest glimmering in his bright blue eyes. Sesshoumaru was looking somewhere in the distance. How would he tackle such a delicate subject without causing the wolf before him to become enraged…at him?

“How long have you known Kagome?” Sesshoumaru’s silken voice drifted through the room, the only other noise being the indistinct noises of the office outside the room, but to Sesshoumaru, at the moment, those noises were nonexistent, he was too wrapped up in the wolf’s answer.

The question took Koga by surprise, and with wide eyes the most intelligent words he could mutter were, “Excuse me?”

Sesshoumaru released a frustrated sigh and brought his hand to his face, roughly massaging the bridge of his nose. This was going to be a long and difficult conversation, speaking to a two year old would be much easier. Without looking at Koga he repeated his question.

“Well, we met in college. It was around the same time she met mutt face. We kinda hung out together.” Koga swiftly replied, perplexed by his boss’s questions.

“I understand you dated her.”

A silly grin lit Koga’s face as he remembered good times. “Yeah!” A snort came from Sesshoumaru’s throat, but Koga was too immersed in his memories, and he never noticed.

“Are you on good terms now?” Koga returned form his trip down memory lane and nodded.

“Yeah, we broke up because I was forced to date Ayame. The Council didn’t approve of my relationship with Kagome.” A dark shadow seemed to cover Koga’s face as memories, this time bad ones, entered his head. He remembered being threatened by the Council many times, and even attacked, but not until those attacks were threatened to land upon Kagome did Koga surrender and accept to be Ayame’s fiancée. Then everything went back to normal, no more threats; his father got his job back and life was safe again. Koga told Kagome he had fallen in love with his intended. She understood, as she always did, and took the break up news with a sad smile, but a smile nonetheless. After that, they remained friends, but he always secretly loved her. He eventually mated Ayame, but his heart always belonged to Kagome; although, he learned to love his mate and wouldn’t change his life for anything, now that things had settled. With Ayame, he could be himself, while, with Kagome, he would have to contain himself so as not to hurt her.

“I did what I had to. Her well being was more important than what I felt for her. Besides, I still have her friendship, and a very special one at that.” Then he frowned, realisation hitting him. “Why do you ask, Sesshoumaru? You never cared about my life before.” A vague thought crossed Koga’s mind, “She is not in danger again, is she?” Sesshoumaru averted his gaze from the wolf’s eyes. That was all the affirmation Koga needed to suspect something was wrong. He jumped out of his chair and spread his hands out on Sesshoumaru’s desk placing al of his weigh on them. He snarled, “I demand you tell me everything! Now!”

Sesshoumaru raised his head and fixed a cold, golden glare on Koga. However, the same gaze that had people scared stiff wasn’t affecting the young man. His determined look never left the silver haired man, and so they continued to stare, silence clinging to the office. One stare demanding respect, the other an answer. As if in a staring contest, they remained, frozen in place, for quite some time before the silence was broken.

“Sit down and listen carefully. Do not interrupt me until I’ve finished.”

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Kagome spent the rest of the morning going through files. At some point, she stopped reading and started up her brand new computer. There was so much work that needed to be done! How was she supposed to do it if she lacked basic information, and she didn’t mean numbers, she meant private information. How would she know how to deal with people and clients? She thought as she began to work on her computer, the tapping of the keys ringing freshly through the room.

Soon, a soft knock on her door reigned over the almost-silent office. Kagome raised her head from amidst the pile of binders on her desk to find a smile so bright it was quite possible to use it in toothpaste commercial. Koga had come to pick her up for lunch. Returning the smile, she grabbed up her purse and exited her office, Koga right on her heels.

Golden orbs narrowed at the sight of a male’s arm wrapped securely around a particular female’s back. Sesshoumaru entered the human resource’s office, stopping before the desk of one of the human employees, who seemed immersed in what was on the computer screen.

“Miroku.”

“Sesshoumaru, how nice to see…”

“Is there any rule against employees dating?”

Miroku was caught off guard, his smile frozen mechanically on his face. While he was searching for the answer, he couldn’t help but wonder what exotic bug had bitten his boss and if there was an antidote.

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Kagome smiled. Not that she was reading some stupid e-mail, no, she was just proud. For the rest of the day, she had been working hard, preparing everything she needed to become the greatest public relations ever. Of course, seeing Koga again had been a plus to her good mood. They hadn’t seen each other for a while and had a lot to catch up on. She was glad her friend was happy with his mate and even happier that their friendship was still intact.

She was so immersed in her thoughts, she never noticed someone at her door.

“We are leaving”

By the time she raised her head to answer, the only thing she saw was a mane of silver hair and an empty space. She sighed; she hadn’t seen Sesshoumaru once since that morning, not even heard him. So, instead of asking her how things had gone so far, he had just given her a command. What if she wanted to stay longer? What if she had plans for the evening? What if she had a date?! Wait! Was he just assuming she didn’t have private life?! Did he consider her so ugly?!

She stood up from her chair, fists clenched; if it was humanly possible, smoke would have been seen spouting from her ears and nostrils. Like a bull, she would have charged, hitting his behind with her horns and sending him flying above the skyscrapers. The image of the stoic, impeccable young man flying above the buildings as if he were a bullet man made it for her, and she barely managed to swallow a guffaw. Pressing her lips tightly together, she closed her computer, grabbed her purse and jacket and quickly left her office in pursuit of Sesshoumaru.

The drive back to the manor was quiet, but Sesshoumaru was finding it hard to contain his ire. That woman better prove she was worth the trouble because the spike of testosterone in the office had almost sent him out of his senses, even Koga had found it difficult to suppress a growl. Old habits never die, and his beast would always see her as his. He had been forced to endure many males’ scents of arousal since the morning, and his beast had struggled to surface and growl at all of them. He hadn’t liked it a bit, and thus he had spent the rest of the day avoiding Kagome because his beast was demanding that he scent mark the woman to show them she had some one that protected her. What made it more maddening for him was the fact that she knew nothing of his problem; she didn’t know he was youkai, that the men she adored so much were youkai too and that she was pack.

Kagome was startled by a loud sigh and turned around to see a troubled Sesshoumaru. His mask was no longer in place and the tiredness on his face stirred something deep inside her, quickly erasing all the thoughts of hate she might still harbour, which weren’t many as she didn’t have a spiteful nature.

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Two days had passed since Kagome began working for Sesshoumaru, and in that short time, she was already proving she was worth the headaches. Tough clients began to soften, and some hotels were registering an increase in booking, some of the older and more loyal clients were calling to congratulate him for such a great hire.

It almost made it worth all the trouble of dealing with the amount of testosterone flying through the air. Not to mention, if his beast wasn’t fighting him harder and harder to mark her, it would be even better.

Kagome felt so proud of herself and so useful. For the first time in her life, she felt worthy. She loved what she was doing; she loved dealing with people and making them as happy as she could. She was beginning to receive compliments on a job well done by clients and partners. Kagome silently congratulated herself for accepting the job; she could never be thankful enough for the opportunity she had been given. Also, Sesshoumaru was proving to be an excellent boss; although, he never complimented her personally, he never interfered with the way she did her job as long as he attained good results, which he did.

No, she had to disagree with people who had told her Sesshoumaru was a difficult boss. He was hard spoken, but one could never call him bad. He always conducted himself with honour, and never yelled or was mean to anybody; he was just unreachable, but that was not bad for some one of his position…it was just lonely. Kagome would not let that happen for too long, as soon as she found his weakness, she would attack like a hawk on its prey.

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Sesshoumaru was leaving his office to get a cup of coffee. He had just turned around the corner to enter the common area when a vision struck him.

There, in front of him, stood that girl with one of his male employees flying around her like a bee around a flower. The man was asking her some question and devouring her with his eyes, while the girl was oblivious to his intentions. Sesshoumaru frowned, was that woman playing the part of the damsel in distress, or was she really that naïve? He decided it was impossible for a woman her age to be so oblivious to a man’s seducing intentions; she had to be acting! He had been right from the beginning. The woman was troublesome. He wouldn’t accept that in his office! That’s not how he did business!

He swiftly turned around, and instead of getting a coffee he decided to go home and have a serious talk to his father and grandfather. That woman had to be expelled from his business, his house, and his life! He hadn’t taken more than three steps when Koga’s voice reached his ears.

“Hey Kagome, can you come to my office? There is something we need to check on about some clients!”

“Of course, Koga. Just give me a minute; I’m talking to Hikaru-kun right now.”

With an impatient tone he insisted once more on his request of a meeting, and something inside her brain clicked. Was she being a fool again and not noticing? She looked at Hikaru and suddenly noticed his wolfish eyes; why hadn’t she seen that look before? Damn it, she was still so naïve! How long would it take for her to avoid unwanted advances of males she had no interest in?

“Yes Koga, I’m coming!” She sent Hikaru an apologetic smile and followed Koga. She passed by to Sesshoumaru, who hadn’t missed a thing, and was wondering why Koga had interrupted her and Hikaru.

Curiosity was stronger was stronger than his desire to get to his father and grandfather and speak his mind about the troublesome woman. He just had to listen to what Koga wanted to tell Kagome so badly he couldn’t wait until she finished her conversation with Hikaru. Fortunately, his office was next to Koga’s, and although he had learned to suppress his hearing in the modern times for the sake of intimacy, he was now going to use it. He just wasn’t going to miss how his attorney put that woman in her place. He made it to his office in time to hear the whole conversation.

“Oh, I messed up again, didn’t I?” Kagome sighed, “I don’t know what’s wrong with me! I swear I don’t do it on purpose Koga. I know me!”

The man didn’t let her speak anymore as he enveloped her little frame with his powerful arms while resting his chin on her forehead.

“I know, Sugar.” They both smiled in reminiscence at the name. He used to call her that when they were together, and the nickname seemed to have a comforting effect on her. “But you should be careful. You are not a kid anymore; you are a grown up, and a beautiful woman. If I wasn’t happily mated, I would try and get you back. You have to toughen up. You keep letting men around you too easily; you let them get the message that you are available and easy, while you aren’t.”

“I’m so sorry. That isn’t my intention.”

“I know, Sugar, but I won’t always be there to help you. You have to do something about it, toughen up, girl!”

Her carefree laughter filled Sesshoumaru’s office, causing his heart to clench. Her true laughter, he had never heard it before. It was such a beautiful sound.

Between laughs, she spoke again.

“That’s just how Inuyasha would put it! You have always imitated him so well! I miss him so much! I wish we could hang around as we used to!”

“I can’t say I miss him, but for you I would put up with him for a few hours!”

“Oh Koga!”

Sesshoumaru got nervous as silence was made in the next room and then Koga’s voice was heard again.

“Always the kisser, Sugar. I missed that!”

“Thank you for being such a good friend. Oh, and I gladly accept your invitation to dinner on Friday”

Sesshoumaru heard footsteps leaving Koga’s office before he heard his voice again and his body stiffened.

“You can come in Sesshoumaru.”

Of course, Koga being a youkai had known he had been listening in. He sighed as he left his office to enter Koga’s.

“Sit down Sesshoumaru. If I can trust my senses, you were upset when you saw Kagome in friendly terms with Hikaru. Am I correct?”

Sesshoumaru kept his blank mask on, never looking away from Koga’s eyes.

“You should know that Kagome is such a nice person she never mistrusts anyone. Not even what you told me Naraku wanted to do to Kagome would make her not trust males. That is her nature. She puts others first. It has always been like that and always will. Your brother and I made it our duty to protect her from herself. Even when I broke up with her, she never got angry nor stopped seeing me and always continued to treat me gently. She is so sweet and loving she deserves the same returned tenfold. I don’t know if you get my point.” Koga said with a sigh.

Sesshoumaru was listening carefully. To be honest with him, the woman was most disconcerting, but he had to admit Koga had a point there, she was a very kind person, and the rest of his family already loved and trust the woman.

“And I’ll protect her even from you.” Koga’s words caused an immediate reaction from the stoic lord. Sesshoumaru stiffened and then frowned.

“I don’t intend to harm her; I have honour. I don’t hurt women, even if they deserve to be punished.”

“Maybe you wouldn’t attack her like Naraku did, but you despise humans, and you don’t seem to trust her. I don’t know what makes you be like that with her, but I’ll be watching you.”

Sesshoumaru tried to suppress his anger at being scorned by his employee, no matter how an old friend he was.

“You are dismissed.” Koga blinked twice, making Sesshoumaru’s anger surface causing him to yell, “Get out of my office, now!” Koga wasted no time in rushing out of his boss’s office, more than a little frightened of what would become of him if he didn’t.

Here is another chapter. I hope you enjoyed it. Don't forget to drop some lines telling me what you think.