I Was Abandoned by My Fiancé and Betrayed by My Best Friend—A Story from Rock Bottom - Chapter 23

The next morning.

I arrived at the secretarial office earlier than usual and was organizing documents.

“Ms. Udo.”

My heart skipped a beat, and I instinctively straightened my posture.

“Y-yes!”

Hearing my own high-pitched response, I thought “oh no” as I turned around.

Mr. Kiryū was looking straight at me as he spoke.

“You’ll accompany me on external visits today. Please prepare.”

“Eh, m-me too!?”

“We have several important negotiations today. I think having you there would be helpful.”

His calm tone made my heart pound louder.

“…If I can be of use. Understood.”

Though I still felt the fatigue from yesterday’s “Reika-san shopping spree,” this wasn’t the time to mention that.

As we got into the car, Mr. Kiryū suddenly looked at me and said.

“I heard… you were dragged around by Kujo yesterday. Were you alright?”

“Y-yes… well. Honestly, various things happened, and I was completely exhausted.”

When I answered while looking down slightly, Mr. Kiryū softened his expression just a bit.

“I see… That must have been tough.”

Even though they were just those few words, strangely enough, my heart felt lighter.

◆◆◆

At our first client visit.

Mr. Kiryū proceeded with negotiations in front of the managing director.

“Regarding the wholesale price for this section, how about this figure?”

Mr. Kiryū pointed at the materials and gauged the reaction.

But the other party’s expression seemed somewhat reluctant.

“Hmm, well now…”

(What should we do? This atmosphere…)

Just as I thought that, I noticed something odd about the amount in the materials.

Summoning my courage, I whispered quietly to Mr. Kiryū.

“Um… about this amount here, the digit…”

At my whisper, Mr. Kiryū checked.

Was it a human error…? The number was indeed wrong.

“Ah… This part contains a recording mistake. My deepest apologies…”

When Mr. Kiryū corrected it on the spot, the other party’s expression softened immediately.

“I see, with this we can proceed with discussions. Good catch – it seems you have an excellent subordinate.”

The managing director said with a smile while looking at me.

A warm sensation spread through my body as blood rushed through me, and I felt slightly embarrassed.

—The negotiations concluded smoothly.

The managing director’s atmosphere became calm and gentle too.

When the negotiations ended, the managing director exchanged handshakes with Mr. Kiryū, smiling.

“Let’s continue our good relationship going forward.”

After leaving the room, bowing, and closing the door—

Mr. Kiryū murmured.

“Udo… well done.”

Just a brief remark.

But within me, an indescribable feeling sprouted, and the depths of my chest grew warmly.

“Yes. I’m glad I could be helpful.”

Feeling slightly embarrassed, I smiled back at Mr. Kiryū.

◆◆◆

On our way to the next client visit.

Suddenly, the car navigation system froze.

Mr. Kiryū pulled over to the shoulder and stopped the car.

He stared at the navigation screen with a stern expression.

“This is bad… What should we do?”

I opened my mouth without thinking.

“I think we should take the narrow road ahead. The main road seems like it might be crowded…”

“…Basis?”

Isn’t it obvious!

“Intuition!”

Even I thought it was a reckless answer.

Mr. Kiryū furrowed his brows but eventually let out a small sigh.

“…I’ll trust you, I suppose.”

As a result, we arrived at our destination slightly late.

“I’m sorry. I said something irresponsible…”

“Don’t worry about it. More importantly, let’s hurry.”

Feeling guilty, I hurried to the client’s representative with Mr. Kiryū.

“I apologize for our lateness.”

Mr. Kiryū bowed deeply and explained the situation.

But the negotiation partner answered with a slight smile.

“The main road? Ah, it was closed due to an accident. If you’d come from that way, you would have been an hour late. You’re lucky it was only this much.”

We looked at each other, surprised.

The negotiations proceeded in a consistently pleasant atmosphere.

And as we were leaving, Mr. Kiryū murmured.

“…Your intuition is nothing to scoff at.”

I felt like my ears were turning red, and I unintentionally turned my face away.

When we returned to the car and started the engine, the navigation system had revived.

“Capricious for a machine… It’s like ‘a woman’s heart and something-or-other.'”

At Mr. Kiryū’s rare remark, I couldn’t help but burst out with a “pfft.”

◆◆◆

When we arrived at our final client visit, the entire staff was in a huge commotion in front of the factory.

They were taking turns loading cardboard boxes onto trucks one after another.

“Sorry you had to see this. Our deadline is approaching! But we’re short on hands…!”

At the desperate voice of the client employee explaining the situation, my body moved reflexively.

“I’ll help too!”

“Wh— Udo!”

Not even hearing Mr. Kiryū’s voice, I picked up cardboard boxes and joined the line.

Working while drenched in sweat and calling out to each other, the work gradually became smoother.

The employees looked at my nimble movements with surprised eyes as they worked.

Even Mr. Kiryū ended up helping, and before I knew it, the work seemed to be completed earlier than scheduled.

“Luminarie really saved us!”

The person in charge expressed their gratitude.

Seeing their relieved smiles, a sense of fulfillment welled up throughout my body more than the fatigue.

◆◆◆

In the car on our way back.

Unable to resist the pleasant tiredness, my eyelids grew heavy.

Before I knew it, I had dozed off in the passenger seat.

From the driver’s seat, Mr. Kiryū glanced over at me briefly.

“You must be tired after all… Really, you’re a strange one.”

His matter-of-fact voice melted into the car interior.

But I couldn’t overcome my sleepiness and barely caught his words.

When we returned to the company, Mr. Kiryū said briefly to my sleepy-eyed self.

“You did well today. Good work.”

“Yes. You worked hard too, Mr. Kiryū.”

As I watched his back returning to the office, I made a small fist.

(I’m glad… I want to try harder. As a secretary, to be useful to Mr. Kiryū)

Further determination sprouted in the depths of my heart.

—And so ended a day where both my heart and body were kept on edge.