Sickly Sweet

CHAPTER 2

Satō had left her experience at Princess Imperial far behind her despite it only being a couple of weeks since she worked there. So, when she received a voicemail from the newly appointed manager, she couldn't help but grimace at the notion of reconnecting with the business. But as she listened to the voicemail the words of compensation her mood changed and she grew curious about the meaning.

"Are you miss Matsuzaka?" Satō Matsuzaka snaps her out of her reflection that brought her here to a local dinner to meet with this so-called manager. Almost on cue she innocently tilted her head coupled with a cute smile that would charm anyone. "Yes, it is very nice to meet you." "May I sit?" This manager said in a collected calm tone. Satō smiled and nodded motioning to the open seat in front of her. As this jet-black-haired woman in business attire sat down, she looked at her scrutiny and overlooked her features. She was a cool mature beauty that for some reason she couldn't help but already have a poor opinion of. She seemed to have a grace that made Satō feel annoyed and wanted to end their interaction quickly.

Konishi sits down and gets straight to business taking out a file folder from her bag. "Thank you for meeting me. I hope I don't take too much of your time." The manager says routinely. Before Satō could reply, a young chipper woman approaches their table, "Can I take your order?"

Konishi looks to the waiter and with a soft smile, she orders a black coffee to go, thanking the waiter who blushes once she meets her eyes. "Of course, I'll get that out to you as quick as I can!" "Thank you." It took a moment before the waiter turned to take Sato's order and she orders a small, sweet drink. Once the waiter rushes off to place the order Satō replies to Konishi's comment. "Not at all."

"Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Masaki Konishi. I work at the Imperial Princess café. I believe you worked there for some time until a month ago." "Yes, I did. Is something the matter?" Konishi hands her an envelope somewhat discreetly. Satō looks confused and doesn't take the envelope. With them seemingly in a standoff, Konishi looks her directly in the eyes and much to Sato's surprise gives in. "I can see your reluctance so let me explain, I was going through some old documents, and I found an anomaly. I believe this is yours." Satō takes a moment to think over the other woman's words carefully until she became shocked at the implication of the envelope. Konishi smiles, "I do hope you won't think badly of the Imperial Princess café in the future." The waiter comes back and delivers the beverages eagerly trying to garner praise.

"Why are you giving me this? Are you trying to bribe me?" Satō says eyes narrowing. The waitress's face grew nervous when she hears this and looked back and forth between them. Konishi laughs and smiles, "I am merely doing my job and cleaning up the mess from my predecessor. I was hired by an investor in the café as a favor and have no ties to the previous manager." After hearing this the waitress relaxes and excuses herself with a nod. "Now then if you'll excuse me." Konishi begins to leave packing up her documents and items picking up her coffee. "So, you're the new manager at the Imperial Palace, then?" Konishi simply nods. A preying feeling that nagged at Satō lingered from their brief interaction and she couldn't help the darkening of her eyes as she asks, "What happen to the previous manager?" She wasn't she why she asked exactly but perhaps it was because she wondered what this new manager knew or because she found her annoying enough that she desired to slip her up.

The question catches the woman off guard, her smile falters and she abruptly grabs some creamer on the table pouring it into her once-dark coffee. This abrupt movement slightly catches Satō off guard and before she could say anymore about her inquiry Konishi speaks almost in a monotone before liveliness is found in her words again, "For what I can recall she had a family emergency and had to attend to it. Were you close?" For a second that almost seemed like a trick of the light, Satō saw a darkening of the manager's eyes as she took a sip of her newly sweetened coffee. "No." "Is that all?" Satō smiles in response and Konishi responds in the same manner before she bows saying, "Have a good rest of your day Ms. Sato." And she turns to leave the restaurant, without any concern for the young woman she just met.