The CEO & The Avatar

Chapter 1

"I can't do this anymore!" Asami yelled, banging her fist on the wooden desk. "Listen, Mako..." She continued as she closed the laptop. "When you came to offer help, I was desperate and needed somebody by my side... But I've never expected that we'd have to go through this." She sighed, glancing at Mako who stood next to the desk. "Don't you think it's a little bit too much?!"

"I'm sorry, Asami, but that was my parents' idea and I had nothing to do with it." Mako grinned and lit up a cigarette shortly after.

"You are my boyfriend and my future husband. Maybe it's time you started acting like one!" Asami shifted her gaze from Mako to the portrait of her dad, Hiroshi Sato, hanging on the wall. "You are aware that I don't care who you are with, as long as it stays between you and her or him or whatever it is you like, but what if one day your private life gets outed in public?" She half-whispered, shifting gaze once again. "What would your parents say if they saw you behave this way? You don't care about anyone else besides yourself!"

"My parents are dead." Mako managed to say a few words right before Sato spoke again.

"I'm working for both companies now while you are doing absolutely nothing besides wasting my time with these petty feuds." Asami shook her head in disbelief. "A little support would have been nice, you know."

"Well, here's my support." Mako hissed as exhaled, smoke covering almost the whole room. "Your company and you would have been nothing if there hadn't been me."

"Get out!" Asami shouted as she pointed at the door. Mako nodded, smirk spreading as he left. Sato covered her face, trying to hide tears running down her cheeks. How did things end up this way? Was fame really worth it?.. But she has been working so hard. There was no way back now. Asami wiped away tears, knowing that she couldn't have afforded losing much time sobbing over the man who did little to nothing to deserve her.

A received message on the phone snapped Asami out of her thoughts. She quickly read the notification. 'Did Asami Sato and Mako Sann break up for good this time? Is this the end of the companies' collaboration? See the images by clicking on the link below.' Just when she thought this day couldn't have gotten any worse. Sato rolled her eyes in annoyance and turned swivel chair around, facing the view in front of her. 'Future Industries' main office was located right in the center of Republic City. And her cabinet was at the highest point of the skyscraper. Who could've possibly taken photos of her and Mako up there?!

Asami sighed and turned around quickly, focusing on her father's portrait again. Asami might have been the CEO of the highest ranking company in Republic City, but deep down she was just a teenager who got dragged into this mess because of her father's mistakes. In addition, she had to marry the most egocentric person in the world, who would have reminded her that he was the reason for their success every single day of their marriage. Another notification. 'See Asami Sato's response to the rumors.' Sato couldn't bare the reporters' insolence anymore. She threw away the phone, crushing the device into pieces. A knock on the door... "C... Come in." Asami responded clearing her throat.

"Miss Sato..." Zhu Li, her manager, whispered as she entered the cabinet. "I've read the articles... Is everything all right?!" Zhu Li added and started to move closer to Asami. Zhu Li wasn't just a casual employee for Sato, she was a good friend of hers who always knew when Sato needed support.

"Don't believe in everything you see on the Internet." Asami answered faking a smile. Zhu Li sighed, placing her hand on Asami's shoulder. She looked up at her in response, barely being able to hold back tears.

"Listen, I know when something's off." Zhu Li spoke. "And now... You need to change the environment." She added, softly brushing Asami's curly hair behind her ear. "Go home and leave the rest to me."

"Thank you." Asami's face brightened up. She quickly stood up, embracing Zhu Li in a tight hug. "Thank you..." She repeated once again.

"The entrance is full of reporters." Zhu Li noted, still in shock by Asami's sudden change of mood.

"What would have I done without you." Asami pulled away. Now that Sato knew this, she would have done anything to avoid an encounter with them. Asami sighed as she realized that she had to use an emergency exit... Again...

Rumors involving her and Mako weren't rare so she got used to hiding. A motorcycle was waiting for her in the private garage. Fuel in it was just enough to take her away from this madness and right now, that was all she needed.

And a few minutes later, she was riding her motorcycle through the crowded streets of Republic City.