The Beautiful Downfall - An Aiba Masaki Fanfic (Chapter 1/?)
Pairing: Aiba Masaki x Kusunoki Shion (OC)
Rating: R for whole series, PG for Prologue
Genre: Romance, Mystery Drama
Word count: 1,527
Plot: Aiba Masaki (29) is the CEO of Yamakaze Hotels, Japan's top hotel chain. What began as a search for a secretary turns into a life-changing matter when he meets candidate Kusunoki Shion (26). As Shion challenges Aiba to question the only world he's ever known, she keeps to herself a dark secret that must remain undisclosed.
Author's Notes:
Thanks for stopping by to read my fanfic! :D I have two ongoing series: this one, and Eyes Like Honey (Sakurai Sho fanfic). I began The Beautiful Downfall with a clear concept: I wanted to write a dark, DoS Masaki. ;) From there, I jotted down a rough storyline which became The Beautiful Downfall. Each chapter is relatively and deliberately short (under 2,000 words), so they are quicker reads than my other fanfics. Although I'm not sure how many chapters will be in this series, I hope you'll stick around to the end! ❤
The Candidate
“I love you.” I cast a spell onto three, little words.
Her eyes glimmered with hope and filled with terror.
“…What?”
Scoff.
“Is that what you wanted to hear? Did you think I’d entertain you with lies?”
Her upper lip trembled, but I pretended not to notice. With cold, unwelcoming eyes, I stared at her.
“Did you really think you had a chance?”
“I…”
“You know what I hate?”
Looks like she’s having trouble breathing. When will the tears stream down her pretty little face? I already know how this story is going to end. How foolish.
“I hate stupid people, especially stupid women.”
There we go. The tears are welling up in her eyes now.
“Stupid women are a waste of my time. I took you in because you came highly recommended that you wouldn’t fall for my charm. I’m not faulting you. It’s much easier to do what you did, but I don’t need a lover; I need a secretary.”
“S-Sir-”
“Thanks for the past two months.”
“…Wh…at?”
“Congratulations. You lasted even shorter than my previous secretary.” I sighed a deliberate sigh and opened the desk drawer for a box of cigarettes. After placing one between my lips, I reached into my jacket pocket for the lighter. As the tip sizzled with my inhale, I placed my legs on the desk, crossed my ankles, and leaned back in my expensive, leather chair.
She covered her face with both hands as she wept right in front of me. Does she think I’m going to comfort her? I’m the one who purposefully hurt her. If I pretended to be her knight in shining armor now, I would only be hurting her more. Do I really need to justify my actions?
“You’re excused.” I moved my lethargic hand as if I were shooing away an unappetizing meal. She bowed and scurried out of my office.
Sigh.
This is the problem with women. They can’t control their own emotions, so they go to men in hopes that they would be able to fix the issue. Some men find it flattering when women confess their feelings for them. I find it a nuisance. I find it boring. Most of all, I find it to be a complete waste of my time. Love, romance, and those rose-colored things are beneath me.
There goes another love-struck fool. Let’s be honest: who’s the real victim here? Women will tell the whole world when they’re heartbroken and look for poor souls who will join them on their pity train. All I do is express my disinterest. And yet, women will find ways to victimize themselves so they can move on to their next target. At least I’m resolute in my stance. Women these days are so fickle. If being turned down once is enough to make you run, it tells me you weren’t that serious in the first place. It tells me you have no persistence or determination. Most of all, it tells me you’re another stupid woman. Where else in the world are you going to find a man as attractive, powerful, rich, and desirable as I am? They don’t know who they’ve fallen for. If they did, they wouldn’t give up so easily.
--
“Sir, you’re down to your last candidate.”
Sigh. I got up from my seat to stretch my legs. “I should just quit searching and make you my secretary, Matsumoto.”
“I don’t fit the requirements you specified,” he chuckled.
I have high standards. It comes with the territory. My secretary must add value standing beside me while I entertain my clients and patrons, but also be sensible enough to stand away from the spotlight. In other words, my secretary must be a smart, attractive woman who can do her job without constant supervision. But such criteria, I would readily forgo if I could just find a candidate who could promise that they wouldn’t fall in love with me. I’m sick and tired of easy women.
“You’re right,” I replied. “I don’t need a dude with thick eyebrows taking attention away from me. Bring the last one in.”
“I knew you’d come to your senses.” After a brief moment, I heard knocking at my door. I called for them to come in. Matsumoto opened the door for a slender woman dressed impeccably in a light blue blouse tucked neatly into a navy blue pencil skirt. Half of her hair was pinned back to keep stray strands away from her face.
First impression: not bad.
“I assume the others didn’t make the cut, considering I’m your last candidate and you’re still making time to see me.” She stood beside the seat in front of my desk and spoke in a dry, uninterested tone. Yet, her sentence told me two things: that she had deductive reasoning skills, and that she valued my time. I walked over to my side of the desk and sat back down.
“Have a seat.”
She didn’t. Her hawk-like eyes followed my movements but her expression told me nothing. I couldn’t make out any emotion from her face.
“Did you not hear me? I said, have a seat,” I ushered with my hand. “I hate repeating myself.”
She didn’t.
Instead, she made her way beside me and stared down.
“Excuse me, sir.”
Her slim fingers reached down toward my torso. What the hell…?! I instinctively smacked her hands away. Without changing her blank expression, she turned around and took her seat.
“Subordinates do not get to touch their master.” I placed my arms on the armrest and slammed my feet on the desk. It was then I realized something had changed. My jacket felt less restrictive.
“I understand you only wear the best suits money can buy.”
“You’re not helping your cause.” If you knew that, you wouldn’t have so casually touched it.
“Yet clearly, you don’t know how to take care of them.”
Second impression: offensive and impertinent.
“Please don’t ever sit down again if you aren’t going to either, a) take off your jacket, or b) unbutton it. You’re stretching out the delicate fabric.”
Who the hell does she think she is? I felt my right eyebrow twitch.
“Also, you have dirt on the sides of your leather shoes. Did your previous secretary not know how to take care of your footwear, or did you not let her touch those, either?”
Oh, you’re pissing me off. I got up from my chair and this time, I stood next to her seat.
“Do you know who I am?”
“Of course. That’s why I expected better from you, Aiba Masaki-sama.”
I grabbed her wrist and yanked her up onto her feet. My fingers easily wrapped around it. In fact, I could probably snap her arm in half if I gripped tightly enough. I may be misogynistic, but I’m not heartless. What’s the fun in physically hurting a woman? I instinctively loosened my grip but she didn’t free herself.
“Of all the worthless candidates I’ve had to interview today, you are by far the most detestable.” I stared down at her expressionless face with rage.
“Would you rather a secretary who agrees with everything you say? Wasn’t that the problem with all your past secretaries?” she tested with cold eyes.
My hand tightened around her wrist for a moment but she didn’t flinch an inch.
“I prefer that over an arrogant, emotionless woman.”
“You should have had your sea of women to choose from, then. Why did you decide to see me, anyway?”
“Because none of them met my requirements.”
“Because they were all stupid. Am I right?” She made a fist with her fingers and her wrist twitched in my grip. The words ricocheted inside my head. Without knowing, I had loosened my hold and her arm swung back to her side.
“What’s your point?” I tried to keep control of the conversation.
“You know what I hate?”
“What?”
“I hate stupid people, especially stupid men.”
A dry laugh escaped my lips.
“I know you’re not stupid, Aiba-sama, which is why I know you know I’m not, either.”
This was true. She was unlike any of my prior secretaries, and certainly nothing like any of the other candidates I saw today. I didn’t want to admit it, but she was right. About everything.
“And you would be stupid not to hire me.” Her piercing eyes looked like darts aimed at an enemy.
Scoff.
“Try telling me that again in two months.” I stuck my hands in my pockets. “That is, if you last that long.”
“Please don’t compare me to your previous secretary.”
Huh. She’s quick on the uptake.
“Then, you also understand why she’s no longer here?”
She straightened her back and looked straight into my eyes, still expressionless and lacking interest. “Please don’t compare me to your previous secretary.”
“Let’s see what you’ve got, then.”
I refastened the top button of my suit jacket and called for Matsumoto.
“Yes, sir?”
“This is my new secretary, uh…”
“Kusunoki.” She bowed her head politely toward Matsumoto.
“Ah, so you’ve made your decision, Young Master.” Unlike her, his expression was warm and welcoming. “Welcome to Yamakaze Hotels, Kusunoki-san.”