Seventy-Four

At Work

      I nodded to Quatre, “Yeah, I’ll have it shortly...” He’d just asked me to check on some things and print out a letter.
      We were still paying extra attention to things, but as much fun as the vacation had been, Quatre had a facility in this city. He had to do some work...which meant that I got to do some work as well.
      None of it was hard, and it wasn’t like he was asking much...looking up articles and pushing the print button weren’t large tasks...I knew that once we got back to L-4 I’d get to field calls...and press...and larger things like that...I wasn’t intimidated by the job, but I wasn’t looking forward to it either.
      We were in his office now, and I was sitting on his desk.
      It was amusing, I’d noticed that he had a slight peeve about that...people sitting on his desks...but until he said something, I didn’t realize...I smiled.
      Heero and Sam had went shopping...I still couldn’t help but grin at the look he’d given me when Sam’d told him her plans for the day...he and Duo were the lucky escorts of the three, Sally was going to manage the console, and that left Wufei and Trowa...who were going out to a base...I was wearing my walkie...
      Wufei started laughing suddenly and I managed not to jump as he and Sally started talking.
      “Can you check my schedule too?” Quatre asked, looking up from the report he was reading for the briefest of moments...ignoring the walkie.
      I nodded, and started printing the articles.
      That done, I accessed his schedule, “Time?”
      “Hmm...” he looked up.
      “Time?” I repeated.
      “Oh...huh...” he thought a second, “Next.”
      “Mmm...they want you to attend a meeting.”
      “For what?”
      “You’re productions company came up with a movie idea...” I was reading the summary, then thought about that, “You have a production company?”
      He grinned, setting the report down and laughing as he stretched, “Yeah...” he sighed, “That surprised you?”
      I nodded.
      He shook his head, “What time?”
      I looked at my watch, “In thirty minutes.”
      He nodded, “You’re coming.”
      There was a slight knock and the door opened.
      I looked up to him without even noticing the door...I had been double checking the letter, “What...Quatre...”
      Whoever was at the door cleared their throat, “Huh...Mr. Winner...”
      Quatre looked around me as I turned, “Yes?”
      “I...uh...brought you some...uh...tea...” he crossed the room and handed Quatre the steaming cup, trying not to look flustered as he had to lean over my lap.
      “Ah, thank you, Thomas.” he accepted the cup and sat back.
      I could see the amusement in his eyes as the man turned to me an almost pointed gesture.
      “Nikki, this is Thomas Blare, Thomas, this is Miss Kaze, my new personal assistant.”
      Thomas accepted my outstretched hand and kissed it, “I’m honored...” he bowed slightly without letting go.
      I inclined my head, trying not to laugh, “It’s nice meeting you also.”
      He looked to Quatre, “Anything else I can get you, Mr. Winner?”
      Quatre shook his head, “But you could bring Miss Kaze here a Pepsi. I’m sure she’d appreciate that.”
      I nodded as he looked to me.
      “Anything else?”
      “No thank you.”
      He nodded to us in turn, then left.
      I turned and gave Quatre a look, my mind returning to him making me join him for the meeting.
      “He’s smitten...” Quatre was smirking.
      I rolled my eyes.
      “You’re going.”
      “Why?”
      “Because...” he used the tone of explaining something obvious, “You need to be a familiar face. People need to connect you to me...you need to start catching up on my businesses, and I don’t want to suffer alone.”
      “Tcch...you’re an ass...”
      He laughed as there was another tap and Thomas entered, “You’re Pepsi, Miss.”
      I inclined my head again, “Thank you.” I met his eyes.
      The only problem with Quatre pointing out that he was...‘smitten’...was that my reaction was to lead him on...I smiled sweetly.
      Quatre bent his head in a pretense of taking a drink, but I could see him smirk.
      “I appreciate it.” I looked him over without moving my eyes.
      “Are you sure there’s nothing else I can get you?”
      I nodded, continuing to smile, “Yes. Thank you.”
      He nodded to Quatre, “Mr. Winner...”
      Quatre nodded in return, trying not to choke on his tea.
      “Miss Kaze...call me if you need anything...”
      I nodded, “Thank you.”
      The door shut and Quatre started laughing, “My poor staff...”
      I smacked him in the arm, “You are an ass!”
      He grinned, “So I’ve been told. Have you printed out that letter?”
      I gave him a level look, “Yes. In triplicate. And those articles you wanted as well. Do you want me to read them for you?”
      He smiled, nodding.
      I gave him my sweetest smile, “Sorry, it wasn’t in my job description...”
      He laughed, “You didn’t get a job description...”
      I gave him another level look.
      “...All right, seriously though, if you could read’em...I’d...appreciate...it...” he was watching me expectantly...hopefully...amused.
      I rolled my eyes, “Since you asked so nicely...”
      He laughed, “And because I hold your pay-check...”
      I laughed at that, “Quatre-dear, I don’t need your money. I have plenty...I’m working for you because you’re my friend.”
      He laughed, picking up his report and starting to read it again.
      Yes, he was my employer, and yes, he was letting me live off him...but to treat me like that...
      I leaned forward so he had an ample view when he looked up, my face inches from his, “Anything else?” I allowed my hair to fall over my shoulder so it dangled on his hands as I inhaled, tilting my head as if about to kiss him.
      He couldn’t sit any further back, so instead he met my eyes determinedly, “Keep an eye on the time.”
      His desk here was completely cleared. There was a box in the corner, and the computer on that same side, but only the phone on the other.
      I swung my legs over the phone and put one foot on each side of him, leaning forward a little lower than before, “Anything else?” I changed my tone slightly.
      “Sam is going to kill you.”
      His eyes looked like they were trying to travel lower, but I couldn’t tell if that was feigned or not...that was one of the fun things about Quatre...he liked to play.
      I laughed, sitting back, “No, dear. She won’t. I told you not to treat me like an employee, and for the last few days you haven’t, but today...” I shook my hair back.
      He grinned, “You’re my subordinate. If any of my employee’s see you treating me like an equal they’ll...”
      “Treat you like you’re human, Mr. Winner?”
      He laughed, “Call me that again in private, Nikki-dear, and I’ll kick your ass.” his eyes focused past me, “Now, someone is coming...so move before they get ideas.”
      I chuckled, scootching from in front of him and lifting one of the articles from the printer...it was conveniently below the desk on a shelf...convenient for someone sitting at the desk, that is.
      I managed to sit up in time and situate myself before the tap.
      “Come in.” Quatre called, returning to ‘Mr. Winner’.
      A woman entered wearing a suit, “Mr. Winner, you have a call on line three from someone named...” she searched her memory quickly, “Duo...I think he said. He told me that you would know him, shall I tell him your indisposed?”
      Quatre ignored my look to him as I picked up the receiver.
      “No, that won’t be necessary.” Quatre murmured, ignoring me.
      I hit the buttons, “Mr. Winner’s office, Nicole Kaze speaking, how may I help you?”
      “Thank you.” Quatre finished at the same time as I talked. The lady’s eyes went wide as saucers while she watched me.
      Duo started laughing at me...hard, “Nikki? What the hell are you doing answering to me like that?” there was a pause, “I asked for Quatre anyways...”
      I waited for the door to shut before laughing myself, then pretending to become serious, “You don’t love me anymore?”
      Quatre looked away and Duo didn’t respond immediately...
      There was something about that tone...
      I laughed again, “Just kidding. I was fucking with the secretary. Why didn’t you call the cell?” I hit the buttons to make his picture come up.
      “It’s off.” he blinked, “What are you two doing, cheating?”
      Quatre laughed as I dug out my cell-phone, “Sure, Duo. I feel the need to cheat...and we both know that Nikki does...” Quatre had dug out his cell phone too, turning it back on.
      Duo laughed, “So why’s it off?”
      “I didn’t want to talk to anyone this morning...” Quatre responded, then he looked to me questioningly.
      I shrugged, “It’s on.” I looked at Duo.
      He shrugged, “I didn’t think about calling you...”
      “You don’t love me...” I used the meek tone again.
      “No...” Duo protested when he looked back to me, “It’s just...”
      I rolled my eyes, “Nevermind. What’s up?”
      “Lunch?” he seemed glad to move on.
      I looked to my watch, “We have a meeting to go to first...”
      Duo nodded.
      “We’ll call when we’re done.” Quatre said, focusing on the door, “God damn it, why won’t they leave me alone...I’ll call you back in five...”
      Duo nodded and the line went blank.
      Thomas knocked and entered as we turned to him.
      “I brought you that report you asked for this morning...and was wondering if you were planning on attending the meeting in ten minutes?”
      Quatre accepted the report and made a pretense of thinking about it, “Sure, why not. Please be sure there’s enough room for Miss Kaze as well.”
      Thomas nodded, “Very well.” he nodded to both of us, “Miss Kaze.” he left.
      I sighed, “This is going to suck...” something occurred to me, “Do any of them know who I am?”
      Quatre gave me a mock shocked look, “Conceit, Nikki, from you?”
      I gave him an arch look, “I just want to know if they’ll treat me like a child or a bed-warmer...or both.”
      He thought about that, “I’m sure a few of them know you. There is one computer specialist who was in the war...I’m sure he does...other than that...” he shrugged.

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Kyeian