The months went by quickly. Beginning in the middle of January, the interior of the building was completed by July twentieth. It was within two weeks that they would begin their work to open in the next six months for the upcoming year. Mei stood in front of the large cleaned up building. All her stress and exhaustion leaving her body as she beheld the final result. She was quite proud.
"Good job, Mei." Jasper smiled, standing behind her.
"Let me bask in the glory for just another moment." She whispered, inhaling deeply.
"Mei, did you go through the insurance files?" Yukio's voice spoke out. Mei turned to see her boss stepping out of the limo. "Don't wear that in my presence either." He snapped, walking past her.
Her head dropped at the sound of his voice. She was only wearing a bright creamy yellow sundress with a white cardigan. "What's wrong with her outfit?" Jasper asked, attempting to defend her.
"It hurts my eyes." Yukio said bluntly. "I'll give you twenty minutes to change."
Mei's face shot up with an aggravated look. "Do you know how long it takes to get back to the hotel?"
"Yes," Yukio's lips distorted into a malicious smirk. "I guess you'll have to find a way."
Mei's eyebrows twitched as she closed her eyes. "Alright, sir." She grumbled, turning to the limo. "Shiro!"
The young man stood by the car, signing a check for the original owner, shot his head towards the woman in distress. "Yes?"
She stormed off towards him, about ready to burst. Jasper watched her with a mutual look. "How does she put up with you?"
"When you're in her situation, you have no reason to complain." Yukio said, walking into the building.
Jasper followed after him. "Do you pay her a lot?"
"Only thirty-five an hour." He answered.
"That's an expensive secretary. Why do you pay her so much? I never considered you to be generous." Jasper chuckled.
"She has a debt to pay off. She only really gets twenty an hour, fifteen goes to pay for her debt. And the interest doesn't ever stop."
"Oh?" Jasper raised his eyebrows. "What's the debt about?"
"That's something to ask her."
"So, you're holding her hostage with a debt?"
"As a matter of fact, yes I am."
The building had almost looked completely different from its original dead look. The carpets were torn out and replaced with white and grey tiles. The walls were painted, without a trace of the old color or graffiti, to a pure white color. The building had the modern look to it, exactly as Yukio wanted. He took in the view of the grand entrance.
"Downstairs is where the fashion studio is. Photography, advertisement, digital editing, and other technological stuff are on the second floor. Third floor has conference rooms and your office. And then the roof top is waiting for your opinion." Jasper walked towards the entrance desk, leaning against the white frame.
"Though I wish it was a skyscraper, this will do. Mei did an excellent job." Yukio nodded, his gaze wandering off around the room.
