InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Favorite Mistake ❯ The offer ( Chapter 7 )

Chapter 7: The offer

Inuyasha tried to arrange his facial muscles to convey even a measure of pleasantness for the next candidate. Shit. It was only two o'clock but it felt like it was already past midnight for him. This was going to be his eighth appointment for the day; he didn't even attempt to keep count of the number of interviews he's had for the past couple of weeks. However, none of the applicants managed to impress him enough to get hired, and that's what was pushing his patience closer and closer to the edge. As an assistant to the director, the successful applicant should demonstrate flexibility in dealing with both business and social matters. She - or he - must be efficient in arranging his schedule, and need to demonstrate natural tactfulness at attending functions in his behalf at some occasions when Inuyasha himself was too busy to be there. So far, the candidates only seemed adept at one or the other. And even worse, more than half of the female applicants expressed interest in him, damn it.

Inuyasha turned to look at the door, hoping against hope that the next candidate would at least show promise, and saw the last person on earth he was expecting to see again. There, standing in front of him and looking as though she had seen a ghost, was the mysterious girl he had spent the night with. She was just as he remembered: graceful and willowy figure with the most bewitching pair of dark brown eyes. But instead of letting her hair loose at the back, it was now caught in a bun, with a few loose strands framing her face.

After several literally breathless seconds, Kagome's lungs seemed to be gradually resuming its function, but she was still deathly pale. There were millions of people in Japan, millions! Why did she have to see him again, for crying out loud? A vivid image of their night together flashed unwanted in her mind, and Kagome felt her cheeks heating up. Groping for a plausible excuse, she stammered, “I-I'm sorry. I must - I must have gotten the wrong room.”

She could only hope that he had long forgotten her, but she had no such luck. Before she had taken two steps to let herself out, the man hurriedly stood up. “No, wait!” he called, reaching her side in a few strides. “You're the next applicant, right?”

“Y-yes,” Kagome mumbled, staring at his shirt. Up close, his perfume smelled expensive and elusive, like that night. A blush spread across her face again.

Inuyasha grinned. The girl really had an awesome talent for getting into surreal situations. “Well, you're hired.”

Kagome looked up at him, momentarily forgetting her embarrassment. “What?”

“I said, you're hired.”

“But-but, you haven't even looked at my resume yet!” she cried.

Inuyasha deliberately looked down at the paper she was holding, and replied, “I've just seen it.” It didn't matter that the words were upside down, because he wasn't going to change his mind no matter what her resume said. At the moment he was only interested in one thing. “I need to know something, though. This time around, can you tell me your name?”

Kagome still wore her confused expression, but she answered his question, her voice tinged with bewilderment. “Kagome. I'm Kagome Higurashi.”

“Well Kagome, it's very nice to associate your face with a name. At last.” The director smiled and held out his hand. “I'm Inuyasha. Welcome to Takahashi Corporation.”

“Wait, wait!” Kagome said, swatting Inuyasha's hand away and unconsciously reverting back to her normal self. “Isn't it a bit odd that you're offering me the job out of the blue?”

Inuyasha shrugged. “You're the one who applied.”

“I know that! But you didn't even check my CV; how would you know I'm qualified for the job?”

Inuyasha put on his best sincere face. “If you tell me you can handle it, I'll take your word for it.”

“Wow, that's so comforting.” Kagome gave him a dry look, as though his reasoning would only be accepted by a preschooler. “Do you always hire your employees this spontaneously?”

“No,” Inuyasha said. “It only applies to you, Kagome.”

“But-but-”

“Just think about it, okay? The offer stands.” Inuyasha looked at Kagome through his lashes, and she felt her breath quicken. He didn't have to say more; the intensity in his eyes spoke volumes.