[Shoko POV]
A delightful ding emanating from the elevator echoed throughout the office. This charming noise was welcoming for most employees as they graced our floors but one quick glance in that direction forced a scowl to befall my expression.
The dog is in early today?
I took a deep breath and steeled myself. He was greeting the other employees on our floor like the charming social butterfly that he was. It was his natural form which made him an efficient salesman at least. However, none of them truly knew the snake that lurked withing the sheep’s clothing. I only hoped he wouldn’t dare pass his glance this way. I was not quite ready for our morning briefing.
At least give me a moment to enjoy a state of normalcy before the beast does away with my sanity.
“My, my, stalking your prey first thing in the morning, are we?”
Haru-san approached me from behind, gently peaking over my shoulder with a sinister smirk across her lips. Her light brown hair featured purple highlights towards the bottom which was supposed to compliment her otherwise gaudy attire. What was supposed to be a simple white shirt and pink skirt had been transformed into something popular teenagers would wear as she adorned herself with several colorful bracelets, a necklace, and large hoop earrings.
You would never know it from her appearance but Haru-san was the most senior member of our team. This was her fifth year with the company but her demeanor and attire appeared to be straight from high school. That of course, complimented her natural strengths and talents. She was, for the lack of a better word, trendy. Her finger was always on the pulse of what was hot and what was not which made my job of providing a proper marketing strategy to our target audiences much easier.
“I am merely measuring how many moments of sanity I have remaining this week.”
“You’re especially cold this morning. Here, let me warm you up.”
She put her hands on my shoulders and leaned into my back in an attempt to rouse my mood even further but I remained resolute. I must admit, despite her outward aloofness, she was quite clever in learning how to get close to someone. Before I knew it, she convinced me to use her given name instead of her family one when addressing her.
I shook my head, turning around and heading towards our team’s workspace.
“Okamoto-san.”
“Yes! Abukara-senpai!”
The chipper young kid sprang from his desk with fervent energy as his eager eyes leered into me. Akira Okamoto was bright employee who was eager to learn and surprisingly a great listener. He took pride in his processional attire and attitude. There wasn’t a single wrinkle in his suit nor in his demeanor. Some of the men in this office could benefit from learning from his example.
Definitely one in particular.
“Have you gathered all of the files I requested?”
“Yes ma’am!”
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He answered me directly with an enthusiastic nod. This kid could do well in this company so long as he was given the proper guidance. His only flaw appeared to be his willingness to please everyone, especially the loathsome dog. If I weren’t careful, he could very well succumb to his fiendish charms and develop some terrible habits.
No, it was my job to mold him properly. I would not allow anyone to interfere.
“Please get them scanned and prepare the presentation. I’d like to review a draft by 4:00 p.m.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
His enthusiasm almost brought a smile to my face but knowing where he was heading broke any will than I had. I made numerous requests to the manger to move the office’s copier and scanner but he insisted on having it near the conference room “in case of emergencies”.
What kind of logic was that?
He never made any sense. And his conflict resolution skills always left me wanting.
Perhaps that was a result of his previous friendship with the dog. I wasn’t too keen on the details, nor did I desire to be, but apparently, Manager Oshiro went to the same university as the dreaded animal. He was one year older than both of us but that didn’t stop his pet from chumming up to him as if they were related by blood.
Thinking about this made me nauseous but I had to remain strong. In a few moments, I would have to perform my due diligence in speaking with the dog and getting him properly briefed on the week’s events. He may have been charming and talented when it came to salesmanship but without us, he’d be lost, chasing his own tail in circles until he inevitable starved to death.
Before I knew it, a smile crept upon my lips as I nearly salivated at that very thought.
“My, my, someone suddenly got into a good mood. I wonder who could be dancing around your mind?”
I let out a series of sharp coughs that I stifled as best as I could by dampening them with my fist.
“Please don’t joke like that Haru-san. We’ve got a lot on our plate today. I’ll need a rundown of today’s trending hashtags and popular topics by lunch time.”
“Whatever you need Shoko-senpai.”
She wafted back to her desk with a smile, drew out her phone and began scrolling. If there was one thing I could count on it was Haru-san wouldn’t let anything popular or trendy slip through her fingers. That knowledge was vital in creating an effecting marketing strategy.
I took a deep breath and steeled my resolve. I’m sure he had plenty of moments to get settled. It was time to give him my weekly briefing and prepare him for what was to come. When we first met he was always paltering my inbox with inane questions that I couldn’t bear to answer so instead, I came up with a weekly briefing that would get him up to speed on what we were doing to get him ready for his sales meetings.
The entire process should have taken no more than five minutes but due to his continued thwarting of my efforts, I’d be lucky if I got out of there inside of half an hour. Nevertheless, our manager wouldn’t be able to say I didn’t put in the effort and at the very least, I’m showing that I am still a “team player” despite his star athlete’s attempts to steal the show.
I began my stride towards the sales workspace. My movements were so calculated that even the normal humming sound of the office environment were drowned out by the clacking of my heels against the hardened carpeted floor.
As I arrived I was both dismayed and yet, somehow delighted to not find the dog sitting at his desk. His two subordinates appeared to be diligently working at a reasonable pace. Perhaps he was more of an effective leader than I gave him credit for.
“Excuse me.”
I tried to be a bit polite and not be too much of a distraction. However, who knows what the dog has barked about me to them behind my back.
“Y-Yes, Abukara-senpa!”
Furukawa-san appeared to be nervous and still weary of me.
What has that animal been saying to her?
“I’m looking for Mizushima. Where has he run off to?”
I tried to be as professional as I could but even saying his name brings out the worst in me. This will definitely reflect badly upon me with his subordinates. No matter, I will take the higher road and set a proper example of how a leader should act.
“He went to the vending machine.”
I could always count on Makino-san for a straight answer. He wouldn’t make a bad edition to my team but his occasional outbursts reminded me of his grotesque superior and I would not want something like that in my proximity for more than a few moments.
Still, it is quite odd. It may seem as if I was prying but it was quite rare for the dog to fetch a beverage this early in the morning. I knew he did not like to have his breath altered anytime between breakfast and lunch to keep up appearances.
Why I retained such knowledge is beyond me. Perhaps I’ve let him burrow too much. I’ll need to tighten that leash.
“I thought Mizushima-senpai said he was doing recon –“
Makino-san suddenly began coughing which was peculiar given he didn’t appear sick nor was he consuming any liquid at any point since my arrival.
“Excuse me.”
His simple words seemed to have silenced Furukawa-san outright. I’d rather not pry any further and drag them into this mess less I give him some ammunition to utilize against me later.
Somehow, this conversation drew my ire more than my curiosity. Perhaps that’s just a result of that beast consistently attempt to sink his fangs into my mood. But, no matter. If he’d rather unload his diatribe upon me in a more private area it was no consequence to me. The sooner we got this over with, the sooner I could resume my work.
“Well then, if you’ll excuse me.”
I mustered as much politeness as I could and headed off towards the break area. Every second he wasted of my time clawed at my patience. He better have a damned good excuse for avoiding me this time.
Sadly, he never had any good excuses which only stirred my indignation even further. I unintentionally began to clench my fists in preparation.
Prepare to be humbled doggy.