-Haruka POV-
"Are you doubting my secretary's abilities, Chief Garnier?" Levi interjects without me even being able to answer. He's glaring at him right now.
"It's not like that, Director. I'm just curious." Mr. Garnier appears to be anxious right now. I know he's actually trying to find any flaws in my work since I never had done it once since I'm started working here. So, things like this always happens when there is a meeting because this is the only time they can voice their thoughts and opinion regarding to my actions.
"Yes, I did offer them something, of course, but surely they will not do any harm to the company. We'll gain more benefits from it, and I already discussed that with the Director." I said that confidently.
"Yeah, that's to be said. I've already read and approved all of Mr. Auclair's proposals. I swear by my position that this project will go well in the future." Levi said it confidently as he tried to wrap up the meeting in a good way.
"Well, that's good, then. With the two of them on this project, I'm sure it will turn out well. I believe I can let you handle them until the end, Levi and Mr. Auclair." The chairman said, looking at both of us.
"You can leave that to us, chairman." I said so and bowed.
"Well then, Mr. Auclair, you may have your seat now." Once again, I bowed to everyone as the chairman smiled.
"Thank you." With that, I went back to my seat beside Levi.
"Well, then, the board meeting is the next meeting. Well, it's not anything serious. Before that, Louis, what did you learn during your three months here?" Out of nowhere, Louis' name escaped the chairman's lips.
"Well, a lot of things, I guess." Louis answered that with his usual tone. Well, I can't say it's a good way to respond to the chairman, I think. But since the chairman is his grandfather, maybe that's okay. But I can see that people are not pleased with the way he talks.
"Louis, answer with respect." Levi warns Louis. I know he couldn't stand someone talking like that to his grandfather.
"It's okay, Levi. Well, since it's a lot, can you tell me one of them then?" The chairman asks again.
"Well, Haruka senpai did teach me a lot these three months. I could say he taught me every aspect, from financials to operations to management. I did learn how to develop and implement strategic marketing plans, too. You could say he's a pro at that." Louis kept praising me, and that made me blush.
"I see. Well, then, Louis, you'll be working as the marketing manager of Department 1 for Ackerman Electronics. And from today on, you'll be one of the board members." The chairman's words clearly shocked everyone.
I cannot blame them. After just three months of work, Louis was promoted to the positions of marketing manager and board member. Honestly, after three months of being his advisor, I don't think he is even interested in doing the company's work, but he is surprisingly a quick learner. That's why I was able to teach him many things, even though he just slacks around sometimes.
"I'm sorry, chairman, does that mean he'll be working under me, sir?" Mr. Alfred John, Ackerman Electronics' Chief Technical Officer, inquired.
"Yes. Is there any problem, Chief John?" The chairman asks him back.
"No sir. I'll do my best to guide Mr. Louis." He said, looking at the chairman anxiously.
"Well, I guess that's all for the meeting today. Keep doing good work, all of you. Oh, by the way, I'm sure most of you already know about this. My granddaughter's wedding will be held this Saturday, and please make time to come and celebrate with her." The chairman said that with a sincere smile and then made his way towards the door to leave the meeting room while everyone stood and bowed.
//SKIP//
Huh. It's just past lunch hour, and I feel tired already. Maybe I didn't get enough sleep last night. I want to go home early and rest. I guess I'll have coffee then.
I walk by myself towards the pantry. Well, to make coffee. I'm too lazy to go down to the cafe and order one. As I arrived in front of the pantry door, I heard the staff talking.
"It must be lucky to be born with a silver spoon and be the chairman's grandson. Being a marketing manager with just three months of experience? That's ridiculous." One of the staff members said. And with just one title mentioned, I know they're talking about Louis.
"I know, right. I had to work my ass up for about 10 years to be one of the executives." And now that I'm confirmed, they must be the board members.
"Right? You can see the way he talked to the chairman. Even if the chairman is my grandfather, I wouldn't dare talk like that in front of the others." The other staff reiterated their point once more. They must hate Louis.
"I heard he trained under Mr. Auclair. So I thought he would be someone with good manners who knew how to do the job well. It's his first day of working under me, and he's been talking back to me and telling me what to do now!" This time, it's Chief John's voice. Louis did what? Was Louis the one giving him orders on what to do?
"Are you saying the way I teach the young master is wrong? Is someone under my supervision not good to be working under your care now, Chief John?" Now that my name has been mentioned, it's not bad to show myself, right?
"Mr. Auclair, since when have you been there?" He didn't answer me. Instead, he replies to me with that stupid question, looking anxious. And of course, the others are shocked too, seeing me here.
"I believe I asked you a question here." I look down at him and glare. I know he wouldn't dare to defy me right now. Not because I'm the Director's secretary, but because I'm an Auclair and I'm the royal bloodline. And the fact that the vice chairman values my abilities more than his own son.
"I'm…so.. I'm sorry, Mr. Auclair. I didn't mean to be rude. Of course, someone under your supervision would be someone good." He said that with his stuttering voice.
"Well then, so I would like you to take good care of him then. He might be better than you, or maybe he'll be your superior one day, who knows, right?" I smiled at him. Of course, not a sincere smile, but enough to make him startled.
"Will do, Mr. Auclair. I'm sorry for being rude. We'll take our leave now." With that, Chief John and the others left the pantry.
Ugh. Everyone's been talking about Louis lately, but not a single good thing. That made me mad. He's my boyfriend, of course I'm mad. Louis might not show his interest in working for the company. He might be taking that lightly during those three months of his internship, but I know his abilities. He's good at developing strategies, and the suggestions he makes on how to promote something are not bad either. He may not be as good as Levi in every aspect, but one thing I could say is that he actually might be better than Levi on the marketing side. After all, I'm the one who suggested to the chairman that Louis be the marketing manager, and I didn't expect the chairman to agree. I make myself some coffee and go back to my office.
I didn't see Levi enter the office yet. Did he arrive already? Since there's nothing on his schedule this evening, it doesn't matter to me. I didn't have the chance to see Louis either today, except for the meeting. Hmm, since Louis and I just started to date recently, I'm thinking of having dinner with him, but maybe tomorrow.
RING!
The phone rang, and it surprised me. I picked it up.
"Yes, Mr. Ackerman's secretary is here." I answered the phone.
"Mr. Auclair, please come to my office for a while." I can hear Levi's voice over the phone.
Wait, why did he call me through the phone when he could just call me through his door? Tch, that lazy jerk.
"Alright, Mr. Ackerman. A moment, please." I hang up the phone and make my way towards his office. I knock on the door.
"Come in." He said it on the other side.
"What is it you want, Mr. Ackerman?" As soon as I enter the room, I ask.
"What's my schedule for tomorrow?" He asked me. What? Did he just call me here to ask that?
"I believe that's still early for that, sir. Well, nevermind. You'll be having a meeting with Aiden Clarke and Mr. Thomas Ravier tomorrow morning. You'll be having a lunch meeting with CEO Clark to talk about the theme park collaboration. After that, your schedule is clear for now." I explained his schedule for tomorrow.
"Cool. Here, take this." He handed me a paper bag.
"Mr. Ackerman, what is this?" I asked, looking at the paper bag, and took it.
"Something sweet, it's just... I want to thank you for taking me back to the hotel the other day." He said that, but he looks a bit nervous, I can say.
"Well, it's nothing. I'm just doing my job." I said it with a straight face.
"Well, since I'm not that busy tomorrow, Why not have dinner together? As a thank you for taking care of me, He said it to me with a smile.
"I'm sorry, I'm not taking care of you, and I'm just doing my job. I'm afraid I will have to refuse since I plan to have dinner with someone else tomorrow." That's right. I'm going to have dinner with Louis tomorrow.
"Is it my brother? Just cancel it. You guys can have dinner some other time." He said that. And, just like that.
"Sigh. Mr. Ackerman, I'm going to tell you this once only, and please listen carefully. Your brother and I are dating now, so please don't disturb me anymore."
TO BE CONTINUED…