Chereads / I've Loved You From Afar / Chapter 8 - Breakfast and tea (4)

Chapter 8 - Breakfast and tea (4)

Victor couldn't believe the text he had received from Takeyasu, "…. Talk me up to Miss Akiaya.." it was ludicrous. Akiaya was the epitome of mousey women in his eyes, but she had managed to capture Takeyasu attention, his best friend who happened to ooze sex appeal. Maybe she was more unruly outside of the office than he realized. Victor always thought she was quiet and reserved seeing as she pushed herself to be promoted from a mail clerk to assistant to the CEO in just a short two years. That or she used her feminine wiles on her bosses then black mailed them afterwards. No, she's too innocent to be that way in his eyes.

Victor gathered his things and headed for the elevators. He had been hoping that with all the hours he'd been investing into the company, that old man Geun Hye would turn the company over to him, but short of marrying Akiaya; something he didn't want to do, he could only work hard and hope that Akiaya gave up on the business. His assistant got in the elevator with him, Tye, rattled off his schedule. Mentally victor was thinking of what he could do to make Chun-Hei happy. Knowing that Akiaya threatened him the night before, startled him into wondering how else does she differ from the mousey persona she portray at the company versus when she's out and about, and does it differ due to Chun-Hei being family.

The elevator dinged, just as Victor and Tye were about to walk out he seen Akiaya. Remembering the message from Takeyasu, he stopped in front of her. "Could we have lunch together. It's important." He walked away making sure his assistant moved around his schedule. Tye was puzzled by the change in the schedule but knowing that his boss was going to talk with the CEO's daughter it was a valid reason to reschedule his lunch meeting.

After rescheduling his meeting with a prospective client to a dinner meeting, Tye sent a message to Chun-Hei letting her know the plans have changed. Putting away the phone they went through their meetings until it was lunch time. Victor wasn't familiar with Akiaya phone number so he had Tye send her the address to a Japanese restaurant. Victor looked at his assistant and spoke with him in a quiet voice. "I won't be needing you here with me. It's a private matter between Miss Akiaya and myself. You are free to enjoy your lunch break." Tye gave him a confused look but shrugged his shoulders. Internally the assistant was very happy. It had been a long time since he had been able to enjoy his lunch without having to work through it. Tye bowed immediately before turning to leave. Victor hadn't been paying attention when Tye bowed. When he looked back to say something to him, Tye was already gone. Victor couldn't help but chuckle at the quickness of his assistant.

Victor had waited for nearly thirty minutes before he seen Akiaya walking in front of the windows. He was perturbed by her tardiness. The wrinkle in his brow deepened by the time she reached the table. The grip he held on the menu turned his knuckles white. Victor took several breaths before greeting her. "You may be the owner's daughter and assistant but your tardiness without an explanation is rude." He watched her take her seat across from him with a bashful look on her face.

Victor called for a waiter to take their order. He didn't allow Akiaya to look over the menu, instead ordering two sashimi platter with miso soup. After the waiter had left, victor placed his forearms against the table clasping his hands together. He thought for a moment on how to bring up Takeyasu. He thought it was best to find out if she ever met him. Victor knew it was true but didn't know the extent of their meeting. "So, Miss Akiaya are you involved?" He mentally slapped his forehead at his choice of words. "What I mean is are you seeing anyone? Do you have someone you have feelings towards?" He silently berated himself for going straight in for the kill. normally he is composed and like anything else he should have treated it like a business meeting but subconsciously he knew she would be family and couldn't bare to take it easy on her. Once he finished speaking he felt that explanation sounded much better than his initial question.

Akiaya wasn't sure why Victor had wanted lunch with her. The only reason she could see was because of Chun-Hei. She knew her cousin could be fickle at times, and it had been some years since they last spent time together, but Akiaya knew her the best in a sense. So Victor asking her to lunch didn't feel like a bad thing after she had thought about it.

It was nearly time for lunch when Geun Hye needed her to place his order for his meal with the cafeteria. Having a gourmet, five star, chef working there certainly made the breakfasts and lunches taste far better than what some people would have had at a different company. On top of the best chef, Xeno Ash a world class chef skilled in western foods and Asian foods, each employee would receive a cafeteria voucher for 178,702.37 won every month.

Akiaya personally went to meet with Chef Xeno about her father's lunch request. "Bonjour Chef Xeno, Papa Eum wants to have American style Hamburger, with lettuce, tomato, mayo, mustard, ketchup, four slices of crispy bacon and Swiss cheese on a sourdough bread paired with crinkle cut fries and a dill pickle on the side. Also, he says he wants a chocolate milkshake topped with whipped cream and rainbow sprinkles." Relaying her dad's order, she put her head in her hands, not only does he like super sweet frilly drinks he also eats like a gluttonous thirty year old American. Chef Xeno only laughed knowing exactly where her mind went. "Mademoiselle Akia, tis fine. Papa Eum lunch will be the finest of 'amburgers." He gave her a smile. Akiaya felt relief at his words. Chef Xeno was after all the only person in the entire company that knew the dirty secret about her dad and his ridiculous eating habits. It didn't take longer than 20 minutes for the lunch to be created and blessed by Xeno. He would never allow something unappealing to the eyes to be placed in front of a customer, it was against his very nature. Akiaya took her time walking to the elevator, because his meal towered over the plate, she didn't want anything to cause her to drop his food. After all Xeno did give it his stamp of approval. By the time Akiaya had delivered his lunch it was a quarter after noon. She was supposed to meet Victor directly. Grabbing her bag, Akiaya rushed out of the building. Tye had sent her detailed instructions for her on how to get to the restaurant, it only took an additional fifteen minutes to get there.

Akiaya could see the scowl on his face, it must have been something very important for him to look at her that way. Just before she could actually tell him what happened he spoke rather harshly to her. "You may be the owner's daughter and assistant but your tardiness without an explanation is rude." Akiaya looked taken back and blushed at his tone. She had seen him call over the waiter and order their meal. She didn't hide the disdain that felt from his callous tone. "Well Mr. Executive director Victor Johnston. I maybe the owner's daughter but I am his assistant first and if my father wanted me to go an place his lunch order then I will make sure that it is completed to MY SATISFACTION. As for me letting you know I will be late, I didn't think I was to, be honest. Now where's Tye?" She had looked around the restaurant to see if he had been in a different part. When she saw he was not around, her nerves started to get to her. It didn't seem that Victor heard her question about Tye, instead he asked her one of his own. "So, Miss Akiaya are you involved? What I mean is are you seeing anyone? Do you have someone you have feelings towards?" Akiaya just looked at him dumbfounded. "Huh?!" The very idea of him asking about her personal life never was a thought that crossed her mind. "Why are you even asking? I really don't think my personal life is any of your business. If that's what this lunch is about I will be informing Chun-Hei that you're being …. Well a cad." Akiaya started to stand up in a hurry. "If that's all you have to ask me then you have a nice lunch."