Forced Marriage, True Love

2. Noticed

Taki Tachibana tilted his head as he looked at me. Our gazes locked for a moment, and I felt breathless as I looked into those dark blue eyes, drowning in them. Taki's face held no anger. His face was blank, just like everyone had said. A man void of emotions. And then it happened again. I sneezed.

I covered my mouth while my eyes became as big as two stars with shock. My god! What have I done?! Taki Tachibana raised an eyebrow as he looked at me, while I shivered under his intense gaze. I could already see the result of my actions. The HR would call me soon enough to get the resignation letter.

"Taki-kun!" A high pitched came from the hallway, making Taki Tachibana tear his gaze away from me, his eyes turning red with anger. "Honey! Are you there?" A tall, beautiful woman came running, her heels clanking against the marble floor wearing a rather tight and inappropriate dress for work. "Oh dear. I didn't know you were in a meeting." She said while giggling, while Taki Tachibana looked annoyed.

"By the way," She approached him, "I got two dresses, and I didn't know which one to wear for today's dinner-" "Take her away!" Taki Tachibana barked loudly; anger laced in his voice. Everyone present shivered while I unconsciously moved away from him, gripping my chief's chair in fear, my whole body shaking.

My chief slowly turned to look at me and ever so slowly patted my hand to calm me down. I preferred Taki Tachibana's cold and stoic face over his anger. Looks like I already had my doom impending over me. I'd be more than happy to receive a call than be at Tachibana's mercy.

Several people came and dragged the woman away, who kept shouting and yelling, demanding to be released. After the door closed, Tachibana-san sat on his chair and started the meeting.

I helped my chief with the files, while he kept giving me looks of sympathy. Looks like me being fired is confirmed. Well then, I can say bye-bye to all my dreams.

Tachibana Industries is one of the highest paying companies across Japan and it's an honor to be employed here. They only choose the best, and I was a lucky one. But now, a damn sneeze ruined it all.

How can life be so unfair?! I couldn't help but curse my fate. The meeting was over in one hour, and thankfully, Taki Tachibana didn't glance at me even once. He spoke very little and mostly listened to what others had to say. I didn't understand why, but it could be because he was bored of meetings.

I was trying to mentally prepare myself for the call. But it was hard to bring myself to leave this job. After all, I have my friends here and it's a high paying job. I honestly didn't want to leave. In the end, I sighed and went back to my desk to finish my design with a dejected look on my face.

My friends came over soon enough. "How'd it go? Did you see the hottie?" Saya-chan asked me immediately. I nodded. "I sneezed in front of the hottie." I said to which Tessie laughed. "That's a good joke." However, I neither smiled nor laughed, simply having the same dejected look on my face.

Seeing my humorless face, Tessie leaned forward on his chair. "Wait a second. You really did?" I sighed and nodded. "What do you mean you sneezed?" Tessie asked while getting up from his chair. "I sneezed means I sneezed." I replied, to which Saya-chan smacked my head, making me jerk forward.

"Are you being serious?! Why would you do that?" She asked angrily. "What do you mean 'why'? It was too bright in the room, so I sneezed. You both know I tend to sneeze whenever there is a bright light." I said angrily while trying to defend myself. "Besides, it's not like I wanted to. It just happened."

Sayaka sighed. "You know you're going to get fired, right?" I sighed again. "I know. I thought I could become rich if I come to Tokyo and start my own business one day. Who would've thought it would turn out like this?" Tessie scoffed. "Start your own business. How? By getting fired." I couldn't help but pout.

Tessie sighed and put on his earphones. He was just about to select a song when our VP bellowed. "Katsuhiko! Are you listening to songs?!" Tessie hastily pulled off his earphones. "No ma'am, I was just... video calling the sales department." Everyone in the room laughed while the VP's nostrils flared.

"Do you take me for a fool Katsuhiko?" The VP asked angrily. "No ma'am." "Then get back to work! Calculate the budget for the next campaign product and send it to me in one hour!" Tessie's eyes widened. "One hour?" "Yes!" "But we haven't discussed anything!" "Just do as I say!" The VP screeched before storming out of the office, her heels clanking against the floor.

"She can pass for a banshee." Tessie said annoyed, making me laugh. I honestly wasn't in the mood to work, since this was my last day. Nevertheless, I pulled myself together. Better to leave with a good impression, right?

I spent the whole day running from the marketing department to the finance department and design department. At the end of the day, it was nothing splendid. A typical, sad leaving. Since I still didn't receive any call, I think I might get it in the evening or tomorrow morning. Nevertheless, it's the same. Me dropping down to jobless.

I was packing my things when I heard one of the employees speak up. "Hey. Did you guys hear?" He said while panting. "Hear what?" Sayaka asked. "Mr. Tachibana fired our chief's secretary."