The Goroda North-American Branch Office was located in Upperton. This was the glass and steel encasement that John spent most of his time in. Quickly pulling into his reserved parking space for Head of R&D, the graying haired man gave a last glance at his daughters in the back seat.
It was quite the struggle to attend the company New Year's Party, what with each of his girls wanting to 'do their own thing'. Usually he was fine with that, only his wife and himself would attend these things anyways. But this year was different. This year he hoped to get promoted to district manager. The old district manager was due to retire, thus Mrs. Sumire Goroda herself was overseeing the North-American branch. It was obvious she was looking for a replacement manager, and many of his peers were aiming for the job. However he had something that they did not.
He had his daughters.
Right after the Christmas party, the office was on fire with rumors of one of his daughters and the CEO being good friends. How that came to be was any ones guess, but out of every single guest, employee, and shareholder, Mrs. Goroda only talked to his daughter the night before everyone left. John swelled with pride. To think one of his daughters actually impressed the CEO. It was utterly amazing. He was sure he had the promotion in the bag. Sure it didn't make much sense, but hey, this is a Japanese woman, they don't often make sense, he reasoned. Now if only he knew which one had befriended his boss.
“Now girls, I want you all to be on your best behavior,” he glanced at Bonnie for several seconds, “Tonight Mrs. Goroda will be present, and I want to make a good impression.” With that he exited his white SUV and straightened his tie. Walking into the building and headed straight for the cultural hall, he hoped his daughters would continue to impress the CEO, since not many could.
Surely it was Connie that had gained the interest of Mrs. Goroda, he reasoned. Connie was a brilliant young woman, she even graduated high school two years early. Mrs. Sumire must have been scouting his daughter, he thought with pride.
Or perhaps it was Lonnie that had befriended his employer. Lonnie was beautiful and had a witty charm. He could easily see his second daughter being a spokes person for the company. Lonnie was also the same age as the CEO's granddaughter, so perhaps they were friends.
That was very possible, he reasoned. John remembered seeing the pale young woman at his employer's side at almost every company gathering they've attended. However his impression of the CEO's granddaughter was not the best. She was a loner, and had quite the temper, from what he heard. For a moment he doubted his daughter would even talk with such an aloof, violent, and reserved person. But it didn't matter, his mind screamed, Sumire Goroda had taken an interest in his family, and that was good enough.
After all, he was just one of over a thousand other qualified employees gunning for the job.
Sumire was chatting with a few of the stockholders when she noticed John Rockwaller and his family descend the stairs. She smiled at bit as the men around her continued to talk business. She was a little worried that the youngest would not attend. The Japanese woman had taken a liking to the aqua-eyed teen, even though they did not speak much.
Ms. Bonnie was very much like her headstrong granddaughter; Sumire just knew it would be fun to see the two interact. How the sparks would fly, if the anger she saw from being ignored, in those turquoise depths were true. Sumire only hoped to be near when the inevitable confrontation would occur. She had to suppress a chuckle as she imagined the out come.
Quickly scanning the room, Sumire's hazel eyes landed on her beloved granddaughter quietly sipping her champagne by the large bay windows. A small smile crept onto her face as she noticed she was not the only one to see the Rockwallers, if the scowl marring her Shiina's face was anything to go by.
A sharp gasp from the room drew hazel eyes back to the stairs, as Sumire and countless others watched helplessly as the youngest Rockwaller tumble down the hard carpeted steps.
Immediately the young teen was surrounded by worried on-lookers as she laid, sprawled out on the floor. It happened so quickly she was still dizzy from the fall.
“My Gwaad, Bonnie! Are you okay?” Connie asked as she leisurely approached her sister's side.
“You need to watch what your doing, you could have hurt yourself.” Lonnie chided, although the vicious smile she wore said otherwise.
Her father's face was stern and his mouth was set in a thin line. She knew from that familiar look, that he was going to ignore her for the rest of the night. Her mother was still at her husbands side, a hand over her mouth, but she also made no move to help her youngest daughter. Still in shock most likely, Bonnie reasoned.
Ignoring the false concern laced in her sisters voices, Bonnie stood up. She winced as she realized her ankle was more than likely twisted. Waving off the concern of the other guests, Bonnie bit out a curt, “I'm fine.” before storming off, as best she could, to the restroom.
Inspecting the bruising on her shoulder and forearm, she grimaced; it was already turning a sickly purple. Splashing the cool water on her face, aqua eyes closed as she analyzed exactly what had happened out there.
She was walking down the stairs with her family. Lost in her own world as she tried not to be bothered with missing Tara's party. That was when she felt a piercing gaze on her. Looking around the spacious hall, sea-blue eyes rested on the pale woman. She stood apart from the others, content with herself, as their gazes locked.
A jumble of emotions ran through her before she began to tumble down the stairs.
Not wanting to contemplate the foreign emotions, she analyzed her fall. She was pretty sure she hadn't tripped herself; although she couldn't say for certain. But the thought that she tripped over something did cross her mind. What that something was, she had no idea.
After drying her face, and re-touching her make-up, Bonnie exited the washroom.
It wasn't strange that none of her relatives came to check on her. It only proved how insincere their earlier concern was. Shrugging off the negative thoughts about her sisters, aqua eyes scanned the room for her mother.
The dark haired woman was standing by the buffet table conversing with another woman. They seemed old friends by the way they were talking. More than likely gossiping, the teen thought with a smirk.
Bonnie slowly approached her mother, intent on demanding they leave. Her ankle was beginning to swell, and soon it would begin to hurt more to walk. She had to ask her mother, since she knew her workaholic father would just tell her to sit down, that is, if he wasn't already intent on ignoring her for the rest of the evening. Focusing solely on her only chance at leaving the company gathering, Bonnie didn't notice the regal Japanese woman make a bee line to her.
“I'm surprised your able to walk, Ms. Bonnie Rockwaller.”
Turning to the accented voice, Bonnie looked at Mrs. Goroda for a moment before returning her gaze to the buffet table. Her mother was no longer there. With an annoyed sigh, she greeted the elder woman with a forced smile. “Good evening, Mrs. Goroda.”
Sumire smiled a little wider at the teen's greeting. She liked this girl. “I'm glad you could make it.”
Forcing back the snide remark about being forced, and not having much choice, Bonnie nodded.
“That was quite the nasty fall there, Bonnie.” Connie announced a little too loudly as she approached with Lonnie in tow.
“How embarrassing! Your still as klutzy as ever.” Lonnie said before she turned to Sumire. “Lonnie Rockwaller. Nice party you have here,” she flashed her most winning smile, “Mrs. Sumire Goroda. It's a pleasure to see you again.”
Sumire nodded as the eldest Rockwaller greeted her similarly. She couldn't help but notice Bonnie glare at her siblings before excusing herself. The brunette made her way to the door, and was soon out of sight.
Sumire continued to politely converse with the two siblings for a few minutes, then one of the stockholders waved her down. Nodded slightly as she excused herself from the dying conversation, the aristocratic woman joined a few other business men and women gathering by the windows.
Bonnie had been wandering around the grounds for the past ten minutes. She was irked at her sisters, and even though she was in pain, she ignored it, and continued to walk. Spotting some benches up head, relief filled her. Finally she could rest her aching ankle.
Rounding the hedge, the tanned teen stopped in her tracks as she noticed another had beat her to this quiet sanctum. A low growl escaped her lips as she realized exactly who it was that was parked in one of the stone, back-less, benches facing the fountain.
“Shego.” she faintly whispered.
Bonnie hated how serene the pale woman looked in the fading orange light. She hated that ever since the Christmas party she has been plagued by thoughts of that infuriating woman. Letting out a frustrated sigh, she stomped-hobbled mostly-over to the reclining heiress. Anger flared once again as she was ignored even though she was standing right behind the woman. Glaring murderously at the back of obsidian hair, aqua eyes narrowed as she noticed the white wire connected to the sleek white iPod resting next to the pale woman.
The outside air was cool and the sunlight was fading quickly. Shego leaned back, her arms bracing her, as she listened to her iPod in content. As her foot quietly kept pace with the tempo only she could hear, she didn't notice she was no longer alone.
Just as the music was moving into it's crescendo-it stopped.
Emerald orbs snapped open and glared at the iPod that was supposed to be resting next to her leg, but it wasn't. Sensing a presence behind her, the pale woman sprang up and quickly turned around. For a moment she was stunned, how and when, did someone manage to sneak up on her?
“You…” Shego hissed. She hadn't thought that she would see this girl again. It seemed like someone was playing a cruel joke on her, what with their meeting so many times. It irked her that her time was interrupted, yet again, by this tanned teen. Forcing her anger back, she exhaled slowly. “What do you want.”
Bonnie narrowed her eyes at the obsidian haired woman before her. They were separated by the stone bench, yet the intensity of those dark-green orbs bore into her like fire. Reminding herself of the many wrongs this woman has done, namely disregard her, she clenched the white iPod in her hand. Ignoring the pounding of her heart and throbbing of her ankle, she spoke with as much venom as a cobra. “Don't ignore me.”
Shego blinked…once…twice, then arched a fine obsidian brow. This girl has got to be kidding her. “What the hell?”
“I said, 'Don't ignore me.' Who the hell do you think you are? How dare you ignore me.”
“And who are you, that I shouldn't ignore you? Why should I even bother having this conversation. Just give me back my iPod.”
“No.”
Shego growled as she watched the brunette fold her arms over her chest and turn her nose up in challenge. Well if this brat wants to fight, then that's fine with her, she reasoned. As she reached to snatch the mp3 player back, the brunette stepped out of the way. The move only further annoyed Shego.
Quickly jumping over the stone bench, and landing in front of the startled teen, Shego grinned wickedly. She would get what was hers by force if necessary. She never turned down a challenge, and she refused to give up to a little girl. Her pride wouldn't let her. Furthermore, that was her iPod.
“Just give it up. Someone as weak as you should know their place.”
The taunt irked her, and Bonnie ground her teeth. “I am NOT weak.”
“Really?” she mocked the girl, “Then you just allow your sisters to trip, and humiliate you in public for fun? You seem pretty weak to me. Unless you get off on that sort of thing.”
That did it. The anger overflowed, and before she knew it, Bonnie's right hand was throbbing with pain.
Slowly Shego brought her hand up to her cheek. It was unbelievable. But the throb and pain, was proof of what had happened. Emerald orbs glared daggers into the teen as she felt her cheek begin to swell.
Bonnie felt a shiver run up her spine as forest eyes bore into her soul. It took all her will not to look away, as she met the other’s burning gaze unflinchingly. A sense of dread washed over her, and her knees began to shake, as her stomach liquefied into her shoes. Without a doubt she knew she was in the presence of something, someone, not entirely human, but she forced herself to stand. Bonnie would not allow herself to back down, she couldn’t forgive herself if she did.
“That’s enough.” Sumire commanded as she approached the two locked in a stare down. She saw Bonnie limp outside by the windows and excused herself. She hadn’t thought the fall was that bad, but seeing the youngest Rockwaller hobble around outside fuming, was enough to worry her.
Although the older Asian woman was standing across the way when Bonnie noticed Shego soaking the last rays of the sun, she didn’t interrupt. Mostly curious, and a bit giddy, about the impending confrontation, she stood back and waited. Cinnamon eyes watched in excitement as Bonnie hobbled up behind her granddaughter, and huffed as Shiina took no notice of her. A smile widened on Sumire’s face as Bonnie picked up the iPod and disconnected the wire. Struggling to stifle a laugh, she watched the argument unfold. When the resounding slap echoed, Sumire gasped. Although she knew it might have happened, her granddaughter was infuriating at times, she hadn’t expected it to happen so soon. Noticing a faint glow emanating from clenched fists, she knew she had to intervene, lest there be one less Rockwaller.
Emerald eyes glared hard at her grandmother for a few heartbeats before she looked away. Stalking off, Shego left the two in her wake.
Sumire lead Bonnie into the infirmary and motioned the girl to sit while she looked for the supplies they needed. The infirmary was small, with only enough room for one bed and two chairs, on one side of the pale blue curtain. A small desk and computer, a wooden chair, and three file cabinets were on the other. Riffling through the overhead cupboards, the hazel eyed woman found the rolls of elastic wraps, and a cold compress in the drawer.
Bonnie had crumpled into one of the plush chair by the bed. Her hands were still trembling and clammy from the ordeal. A part of her still couldn’t believe she slap that infuriating woman, not once, but twice. In an effort to quell the movement, she wringed her trembling hands in the white knee length dress she wore.
“Let me see your ankle.” Sumire asked quietly.
The request snapped the brunette from her thoughts, and she stared blankly at the woman before her. Slowly nodding, Bonnie lifted her leg up for inspection, and grimaced at the sight of her swelling and bruised ankle. It looked worse than it felt, but then she had been ignoring the pain for most of the night.
The business woman removed the teen’s shoe and rubbed an ointment around the swelling ankle. Then wrapped the cold compress around the injured joint tenderly. Afterwards she secured it with the elastic wrap before she stood up. Taking note of the pained expression the girl wore, she sighed, and wished she could do more.
“Let me see your wrist.”
The slap must have further injured the joint since it too was turning a shade of dark purple and swelling. Sumire took care of the wrist similarly before she began to search the room once again. Ms. Bonnie will need a crutch, she reasoned, as she entered the small closet. Finding a suitable one, the elder woman handed it to the teen. She smiled reassuringly, and urged the girl to stand.
“It’s hard to believe your related to her.” Bonnie confessed as she stood, although a little shaky, with the one crutch.
Sumire chuckled lightly as she helped steady the younger female. “She looks just like her mother, but she acts as I did when I was her age.”
Bonnie half smiled, but didn’t say anything else as they walked back to the cultural hall.
Shego said nothing as she slid into the back seat of the silver sedan. Sumire sat beside her granddaughter as they waited on the driver to pull out. The drive from the Upperton building was tense, and silent. Shego refused to look at her grandmother and stared blankly out the window. Sumire sighed as she watched the younger woman pout. Although the swelling had gone down, the cheek was still tinged red.
“I wasn’t even the one that started it.” Shego said as she watched the city pass by. Even though she was still mad, it was unnerving to feel her grandmother’s eyes on her. She could feel the disappointment radiating from her Nana washed over her, and it bothered her enough to say something. Although she would have rather not have said anything, the tension was becoming annoying.
Sumire sighed. “I know.” Shego turned to face the older woman then, disbelief in her clear emerald eyes. “I saw everything.” she continued, “But honestly, you had it coming.”
The younger woman exploded. “Ihad it coming? Ridiculous! So I ignored some teenage girl, so what. It’s nothing new. She’s luck I didn’t just kill her for that shit!”
“That is what worries me the most, Shiina. I know you enjoy your shady activities, but where will you draw the line? Would you have really killed her? Does taking a life really mean so little to you? There is no honor in being a murderer.”
Gah, the honor crap.Shego huffed and crossed her arms. “I have yet to cross that line. I won’t soil my hands for some thing so insignificant.”
“Yet? So if the need arises, would you think twice?”
“No.”
There was a heavy sigh as Sumire turned away. The disappointment was great, but deep down, she admired her granddaughter’s resolute decision. “I will not ask you to halt your activities. However, I do hope you remember the value of a life. You were given a second chance, I hope you remember that.”
A tense silence filled the car as both women were lost in her own thoughts. Shego didn’t notice they were in front of her building in Lowerton until the driver opened her door… Nodding her thanks to the man, and casting one last glance to her Nana, she walked towards her building.
It was her building in all sense of the word. She owned the entire three story, red brink, converted warehouse, and although it was covered in graffiti, it was still home. Opening the heavy re-enforced oak door, Shego looked at her grandmother one last time before they drove away.
Trudging up the three flights of stairs and entering the spacious loft, Shego chucked her keys onto the kitchen bar-top. She didn’t want to admit it, but her Nana’s words bothered her. Pushing her thoughts aside once again, the pale woman stalked towards her room to shower. Perhaps given time, the events from this evening would disappear like the swirling water in the drain. At least she hoped.
What a way to start the new year.
AN: Sorry about the wait…this was a massively long chapter, and I had to cut out a few pages. Although I wish I could blame not posting on life, the truth is I've been distracted with catching up on a few fics. (nervous laugh) Anyways, chapter four is half way completed, so I'll be quicker on posting that.