Forced Marriage, True Love

5. Recognition

Taki Tachibana's eyes lingered on me for a moment before his face lit up with recognition. I anxiously gulped as I stood frozen in my place, my grip on my bag tightening. I knew I ruined everything. Not only for me, but for the chief as well. Seeing my scared face, Taki Tachibana gave me a lopsided smile as he tilted his head.

"Didn't Tachibana-san fire you-" His secretary, Hodaka Morishima started speaking, but Taki Tachibana stopped him by raising his hand. Still having a smirk on his face, he moved away, giving me way to enter. On the other hand, I was confused and scared of his actions, that I just stood frozen in my place.

Taki Tachibana raised a brow questioningly as he looked at me. Not wanting to anger him so early in the morning, I made my way into the elevator while the doors closed behind me. I was standing right next to the Dracula boss of mine. Face of an angel, character of a devil, that's the kind of person Taki Tachibana is. He had the looks and money, but in no way does he act the way looks. I'm surprised someone as scary as him has a fiancé, while me, a hardworking employee, didn't even hold a man's hand so far.

Suddenly, Taki Tachibana turned to my side and leaned forward, making me jerk my head to him. So close. So close! My heart hammered in my chest with fear. However, I didn't back away. God knows what this Dracula will do if angered. Taki Tachibana then raised his hand, pinning me to the wall, making my eyes widen in shock. What was happening?

Taki Tachibana wrenched his gaze away from me and pressed a button beside me, making my face heat up. Did I just romanticize our positions when he just wanted to press his floor button? I quickly turned around and was about to press the floor for the jewelry designing studio but Taki Tachibana's hand came over mine and did it for me.

As he did, his fingers ran over mine, sending a shiver up my spine. I quickly retracted my hand and moved to the corner of the lift, my face turning all shades of red. From the corner of my eye, I saw a smirk spread across Taki Tachibana's face as he continued looking at me. And I'd be happy my soul didn't leave my body.

Hodaka was scowling, and I knew why. I tricked his boss, making him fire an innocent person. And now, I fear the consequences. I knew I'd lose this job for sure, but the chief? He has a family and children. I cannot keep him in trouble because of my actions anymore.

The elevator dinged and the doors flew open. Standing on the other side were Tessie and Saya-chan. "Mitsu-" Saya-chan started, but her eyes widened in horror, noticing the man next to me while Tessie's jaw dropped to the floor.

I meekly made my way out of the elevator, my inside becoming a turmoil. What do I do? Once I heard the elevator doors close behind me, I fell to the floor. "Mitsuha!" Saya-chan yelled. "What the hell happened?" "I wanna die!" I cried.

"Crap! What do we do now?" Tessie exclaimed as he held his head and kept pacing back and forth nervously. Suddenly, the elevator doors opened and Saya-chan pulled me off the floor before they could step over me.

"Looks like I have no other option except handing over my resignation letter." I cried. "Do you think it's that easy now after being caught deceiving the CEO?" Saya-chan exclaimed. "I just sneezed." I whined. "It's more than a sneeze now. Go and talk to the chief." I sat up straight and looked at her. "I can't put him in more trouble." "You've already put him in more trouble. Now get up." She ordered, to which I got up wearily.

I followed Saya-chan to the chief's room and on our way, I saw many people sitting on the chairs present on either side of the hallway. "What's going on?" I asked Saya-chan. "Today's the interview for selecting a new secretary for the chief." 

"Wonderful," I said. "I first got the chief fired, now I'm gonna get the new secretary fired as well." "Executives don't get fired that easily." Tessie said. "Although, he would be in big trouble. And you," He said pointing at me, "would be wiped off the face of the earth." I sighed.

Saya-chan knocked the chief's door. "Come in." We heard the chief call us from inside, making all three of us enter the office. The chief smiled as he looked at us before he started speaking. "What brings you here?" He asked. "Mitsuha got caught." Saya-chan said, making me wince at the choice of her words.

The chief sighed. "There's nothing more I can do. We just have to wait for the consequences." "I'm sorry chief." I apologized. "It's okay. You can't hide from him forever. Did he recognize you?" "I think so. He smiled" "He smiled?" The chief exclaimed in shock. "I-I think it's a smirk. I-I... don't know." "Oh my god! Mitsuha! You're in big trouble." "How am... I mean I know I'm in trouble. You-" "When Taki Tachibana reacts to you, that means you're in grave danger."

I sighed. "Okay. I just need to hand over my resignation letter, right?" I nodded. "Hm. That's it. I need to go now. I'm sorry chief." I apologized again while bowing before I sprinted to my desk. I quickly turned on my computer and began typing my resignation letter. My heart felt heavy for leaving this job. But it's at least better than staying here in guilt.

"Are you really leaving?" Saya-chan asked me once she came over to my desk. "Do I have a choice? I don't want to get on the CEO's bad side. I've heard enough stories to know how dangerous that is. Besides, I'm sure I can find another job soon with my qualifications. I mean I'm not-" "Miyamizu-san." Suddenly, our VP called and I looked up. 

"Yes ma'am?" I stood up, looking at her, while she continued looking at me in a weird way while holding the telephone in her hand. "Mr. Tachibana wants to talk to you personally." She said, and my whole body shivered.