I’M A BRAT AND I’M IN LOVE
(No more broken hearts)
Chapter 16
(Internship at Sato Enterprises)
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Levi jerked awake from his work table. He had been doing some paperwork, and had relaxed on his chair to take a quick rest, and had fallen into some kind of dream. Only it wasn’t really a dream, but a memory that had resurfaced.
He had remembered an event from almost thirteen years ago, the time when Rika was six and had first said she would marry him.
He rubbed his neck.
Why was he suddenly remembering that?
It was something he had had no memory of until now, as the entire occurrence had come flooding back into his mind.
It was so odd.
He now even remembered every detail of that day, including every word of conversation he and Rika had had.
He sighed, and checked his phone.
It was already five am. He had only slept for two and a half hours.
He got up and began to get ready for work, taking a look at his face in the bathroom mirror.
The lack of sleep was really taking its toll, as his eyes were sunken and tired looking, and small wrinkles had forced their way onto his face.
He ran his hands through his hair and began to brush his teeth.
Thr last time he had slept soundly in almost eight months was when Rika had been here, and ever since then, it had been back to his normal routine of insomnia. That was also the day they had almost kssed.
Rika Sato.
Now that he remembered her six year old self and character, he realized how different that person was from the Rika he knew now.
Although it had been almost four weeks since the naked pictures incident, Levi had definitely not forgotten about it.
Rika had made him promise not to investigate, and he would honor his promise. But if things got to a situation where Rika might be in danger, he was afraid that he would have to break his promise.
He sighed heavily. Yuri had said that he had feelings for Rika.
Did he?
It was easy to confuse caring feelings for romantic feelings.
Did feeling the need to protect someone necessarily mean that you liked them r0mantically? He didn’t like to think so.
In his mind, he hoped that the latter was not the case. Because if it was, things would be very difficult for both of them.
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The days after Rika’s graduation were busy. Her mother and father had wasted no time in giving her the schedule of exactly how she would be spending her free time before she gained admission into the University.
“For the next three months, you’ll be starting work as an intern at the company. You’ll be doing this so as to get some work experience, as well as build a good rapport with tge employees, and familiarize yourself with the work environment, so that when you do graduate from college, it will be a seamless and easy process of you taking over the company.” Her mother explained casually as they sat down to dinner, barely two days after her graduation from high school.
Rika was prepared for this, as it was a necessary event to take place for her to strengthen her stand in the company.
She sighed, and nodded in approval of her mother’s words. “Yes, mother.” She muttered as she continued eating. Her mother only ever cared about Sato Enterprises, and how Rika was going to inherit it.
Mrs Sato jabbed her food with a fork angrily, seemingly getting pissed off at Rika’s nonchalant behavior.
“You are to be on your best behavior Rika. Show the employees that you are fit to be the next CEO of that company. Show them that it’s your destiny, and you are not just riding on it being your inheritance.” She paused. “It would also be nice if you would refrain from sleeping around while you’re there, do try to keep your p@nts on. We don’t want another incident.” She added spitefully.
Rika sighed tiredly, then lifted her eyes to meet her mother’s, smiling. “Of course mommy. After all, I have to strive to be just like you.”
Not long after their conversation, Rika started working at the Sato Enterprises main headquarters.
Sato Enterprises was a large company that had their foot in almost every business venture possible. From food production, to insurance, and even medicine, it was no wonder that their influence had spread all over the country, and even aimed to reach the entire world.
She would be interning there Nine to five everyday, from October to December, till she would resume school in January.
“As you all probably know, this is Rika Sato, the daughter of our esteemed CEO, who will be interning here for three months. I will leave her in your capable hands. Please take care of her and teach her the wonderful ways of one of the greatest companies in the country. Not that she needs to no that much anyway. She’s a born genius I’m sure.” The managing director, Mr Obed Williams, stated, addressing the group of employees that stood around he and Rika.
Rika smiled pleasantly at them, and bowed.
“Nice to meet you all. Please take care of me. I look forward to working with you all for the next three months.” She said politely, earning smiles of approval from the employees.
As usual, the good girl act won them over like a charm. She had had her fears that the employees would be hostile towards her especially because of the naked pictures incident, but she had planned to play the nice girl act, and make them feel superior to her, thus making them bring down their walls.
However, all but one of the employees fell for her act, the bad apple being a polished lady in her 30s, she had dark brown hair which she had neatly packed, and the MD introduced her as Miss Veronica Beacon, who would be her supervisor for the three months she would spend.
“Miss Beacon here will show you around for today, to get you accommodated with the office environment. I’ll leave you in her capable hands.” The MD said, and left the two of them alone. Rika smiled sweetly at the lady, but she just kept on scowling.
“Miss Sato. I’m afraid I’ve had the unfortunate privilege of knowing exactly the kind of person you are.” She said blankly, and Rika made an innocent face.
“What do you mean ma’am?” She asked sweetly.
Miss Beacon closed the gap between them, giving Rika a spiteful look.
“You’re the typical rich kid. Entitled, proud, feeling like the whole world owes you some kind of favor. Almost everyone in this office knows about your naked pictures scandal Miss Sato. You are just an irresponsible teenager, who is trying to ruin the hard work your father had put into sustaining this company with your reckless behavior.” She scoffed.
“You may have fooled everyone with yiur good girl act, which I know you’re only doing so that you can get our approval at the end of the three months when we turn in our reports to your father about your conduct. Not that anything we say will matter anyway. You’ll still be made CEO once you’re done with school. Honestly the system of hierarchy in this nation is so backwards. Someone shouldn’t have irrevocable rights to anything just because they are the owner’s spawn. Someone like you shouldn’t get into power. You’ll just bring this company down.” She spat out finally.
Rika feigned a hurt expression, then a slow, scornful smike spread across her face, surprising the woman before her.
“If you already knew all that, then why did you bother having this conversation with me?”
Rika asked, cocking her head and smiling sweetly.
Miss Beacon looked taken aback at Rika’s sudden change in attitude.
“Oh, maybe you thought your words would hurt me in some way.” Rika chuckled as she continued, looking down at her supervisor with condescending eyes.
“What an utter waste of your time. Miss Beacon, you can do whatever you feel is right. I won’t judge you. After all I only started working at this company and you’ve been here for what, six, seven years? You should know better right? But whatever you do….. don’t get in my way. Know that I don’t deal kindly with people that irritate me. And also keep in mind that you’re speaking to your future boss. So mind your tone.” Rika said, her voice a sweet rumble, as she patted the woman on the back, then gave her a very cheerful smile.
“Now, I believe you were going to show me around? Or do I have to find someone else to do it?”
Miss Beacon frowned deeply at her, before leading her out of the office, Rika rolling her eyes as she followed.
Later that night, once Rika settled into bed, she dialled Levi’s number to tell him how her day went. He hummed in response as she narrated, until she got to the part about Miss Veronica Beacon.
“You didn’t say anything stupid did you?” He asked casually and she laughed.
“I just tried to ease the air between us, that’s all. Don’t you trust me?” She replied sweetly.
“I trust you with myself, but not with other people.” He replied frankly and Rika chuckled again. There was a short silence.
“I remembered something recently.” Levi stated, breaking the silence.
“Oh yeah? What?”
“When you were six, and you said you would marry me.”
Rika smiled. “Really? You did say you couldn’t remember it at all. Haha. Maybe I’m not the only one who wants that then.”
Levi scoffed. “It’s weird. I remember every detail. Even your favorite storybook. The princess in the glass castle. Do you remember?”
Rika froze. Her blood ran cold and goosebumps formed on her skin.
“Uh…I don’t….. remember.” She choked out, rubbing her skin.
“Really? Thats odd. How come I….”
“I said I don’t remember. Let’s drop it.”
There was another silence. “Alright.” Levi muttered.
He sighed. “Are you free this Saturday?”
“Yeah. I don’t work on weekends. Why?”
“I….want to take you somewhere.” Levi replied, his voice low.
Rika felt her cheeks grow hot. “What’s this Mr Akabane? Are you asking me out on a date?”
She heard Levi click his tongue.
“Call it whatever you want. Are you gonna come or not?”
“Yeah I’ll come. I wouldn’t miss out on a chance to go on a date with the man I’m cr@zy about!” She added teasingly, and Levi scoffed again.
“But why this Saturday out of the blue?” Rika asked again.
Levi paused. “No reason. See you then.” He said and quickly ended the call.
Rika was not satisfied with that answer. She was sure there was something about Saturday that he wasn’t telling her. She asked Greta the next day before she left for work.
“This Saturday? That’s the…… fifth of this month I think. It’s Señor Levi’s birthday.”
Rika gasped.
It was his birthday?
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