Conquering the Great King

𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘵 42

Iwaizumi blinked down at his email. "Come by my office after lunch," he mumbled to himself. From Irihata.

Iwaizumi frowned. If he told him to squeeze in another client he was going to light the whole conference room on fire.

He made his way to his office and knocked lightly.

"Come in," Irihata's voice called from the other side.

"Good afternoon sir," Iwaizumi greeted, quietly shutting the door behind him.

"Afternoon Iwaizumi-kun. Have a seat."

Iwaizumi's face twitched. Seats were no good. Seats meant heavy conversation or extended conversation, and he wanted neither.

Irihata was pouring himself a glass of water. "Water?" he offered, throwing a glance over his shoulder.

"No thank you."

"So, you did an excellent job with that client, just as I expected," Irihata started, moving to sit down behind his desk.

"Thank you sir. It was the entire team."

"Sure," Irihata said, and for some reason that small dismissal irritated Iwaizumi. "But you were at the helm. Your author was very pleased and impressed, as was our sister publisher." Iwaizumi blinked at him, but before he could form the words of another 'thank you', Irihata was continuing, "I told you when all this started that it would open the door for opportunities for everyone."

Iwaizumi nodded, "I remember."

"And you succeeded. You blew them away."

Iwaizumi opened his mouth--

"They want to offer you a job."

Iwaizumi froze.

Irihata was grinning, "I told you their lead editor left the company after his main client dumped him. They're looking for someone to take his place. Someone who can actually handle the job."

Iwaizumi couldn't move. His mind couldn't put together cohesive statements.

"I tell you Iwaizumi-kun," Irihata lamented, "I've been trying to find better ways to reward you for your work, since I know a normal promotion would take you out of the department you love."

Iwaizumi wasn't sure if he hadn't blinked since the words left Irihata's mouth or if he had been blinking overzealously. He blinked again just in case.

"This would give you a chance to stay in editing, but they can afford to pay you more, and you would have bigger, more important clients."

Iwaizumi opened his mouth but no sound came out.

"We both know that in this business," Irihata went on, "that the best way to get a raise or a promotion is to move to an entirely different company. And while I love having you, you could move on to bigger and better things while still staying within the same nest of publishers. It's a win for everyone."

"Sir--"

"You could promote one of your editors to your spot, or they have an editor who would be willing to move to take your position."

"Why," Iwaizumi finally croaked, "wouldn't they just promote him, then?"

Irihata stared at Iwaizumi like it was obvious, "Because they want you."

Iwaizumi closed his eyes. That was neither here nor there, anyway. He would never bring someone in from the outside when he had Kunimi in his department.

"So," Irihata said, leaning back in his chair and grinning, "what do you say?"

Iwaizumi was expected to talk. He was expected to... answer? "Uhm," he started dumbly, because that was the only sound he could make.

"You look shocked," Irihata said, looking pleased with himself.

"I am... definitely that," Iwaizumi responded.

"I knew this offer was coming, I just had to try and keep it to myself while you were working through that client."

Iwaizumi's skin felt hot but his blood felt cold. Or was it... the other way...

"How about it?" Irihata asked again.

Iwaizumi finally moved his gaze up to him, "Can I think about it?" he asked.

Irihata's face immediately furrowed into confusion, "Well, yes. You have a few weeks to think it through."

Iwaizumi looked down at his lap.

"Frankly, I'm surprised though." Irihata tilted his head to look at Iwaizumi, "Isn't this publishing house the one you originally applied to? And they didn't have any spots so they sent you to interview down here?"

Iwaizumi swallowed hard, "Yes," he answered quietly.

Irihata laced his fingers together, "I suppose you built a life here for a long time. It would be a jump. I just expected you to leap at the chance."

Iwaizumi didn't look at him.

"Well let me know. I'm in contact with them often."

"Thank you, sir." Iwaizumi stood to leave.

"And Iwaizumi-kun."

Iwaizumi turned to look back at him.

"Try not to look so grim. You just got offered a reward for being amazing at what you do."

No matter what Iwaizumi did, he couldn't make his lips move above their downward tilt. "Right," he acknowledged.

He opened the door and left the room. His mind was careening off balance, moving back and forth too quickly to consider anything properly at all.

He was flushing with nervous heat. He could feel tension prickling under his skin and making his fingers jump.

"Hey, Iwaizumi-san."

Iwaizumi paused to glance at Daichi.

Daichi's face immediately fell upon seeing his expression, "Woah, what's wrong?"

Iwaizumi blinked slow and eventually exhaled. "Can we talk in your office?" he asked.

Daichi nodded and they moved toward Sales.