I Was Abandoned by My Fiancé and Betrayed by My Best Friend—A Story from Rock Bottom - Chapter 26.2

I am Naoya Kiryū.

Executive Director of Luminarie Cosmetics, and the second son of President Kiryū.

But compared to my brilliant older brother and sister, my childhood was miserable.

After graduating from university, I joined Luminarie Cosmetics and underwent what could be called tyrannical training.

I desperately clung on every day, but I couldn’t measure up to my brothers.

Several years later, my efforts finally bore fruit, and I was promoted to Sales Department Manager.

Those around me praised me as an elite, but I couldn’t rest on those laurels.

—The existence of my older brother and sister.

That made me feel inferior.

Even so, I somehow managed to get promoted to Executive Director this year, and things seemed to be going smoothly.

But the responsibility was on a completely different level than before, and I couldn’t perform to my true ability.

Days when nothing went right, when nothing clicked.

Before I knew it, I was drowning in alcohol and living a degenerate life.

Those around me must have sensed something was wrong.

They began to distance themselves from me and treat me with caution.

◇ ◇ ◇

Then one day, in that mental state, a turning point arrived.

I had come to work early and was riding the elevator to attend an important meeting.

I was also on edge because I had to present some data that was somewhat unfavorable to me.

Just as the elevator stopped at my floor and the doors opened for me to exit.

Suddenly, a woman came running briskly into view and we nearly collided.

“…Ah!”

“Hey! Watch where you’re going!”

I couldn’t help but blurt out words fueled by anger.

I hadn’t even checked who it was, and I immediately felt I’d handled it poorly.

Then I took in the situation before me.

An unfamiliar woman was standing there, holding documents under her arm.

In that instant, I felt a shock like lightning striking my mind, and an electric current ran through my entire body.

—A sensation I’d never experienced before.

But the anger I’d felt moments earlier was still in my eyes.

And I was still directing it at her.

It was already too late.

“S-sorry. I was in a hurry…”

Her awkward demeanor.

I immediately sensed she was either a new employee or someone who’d just joined this year.

But I still remember the apologetic look on her face.

More than that, it was a face that somehow brought me peace.

An aura emanating from her entire being—youthful yet encouraging.

I instantly sensed she wasn’t just some incompetent person.

But I couldn’t let her think she could walk all over me.

Helped by the fact that I was already on edge, I ended up scolding her with my emotions riding high.

She must have been in a hurry too, because she firmly argued back.

—And so, in the worst possible way, by clashing in anger, we had our first meeting.

◆◆◆

After somehow managing to get through the meeting, I was in my office checking today’s schedule.

At 1:30 PM, a new secretary would come to introduce herself.

Actually, the excellent secretary who had been assisting me until recently had just left to get married.

That’s why we’d put out a call for applicants in the secretarial department.

I’d been working without a secretary for a while, and it was quite tough.

“Miharu Udo… is it?”

The name listed in the materials.

Apparently, this girl was to be the new secretary.

While checking my other appointments on my phone, she appeared two minutes early.

I was slightly flustered but intended to maintain composure, so I kept my posture as it was.

“Come in.”

I called out in response to the knock, allowing her to enter.

“Excuse me.”

After a brief greeting, the door opened and she came in.

“…Um, I’m Miharu Udo, assigned as your secretary. I look forward to working with you starting today.”

This voice, I’ve heard it before…

It’s the girl from this morning!!

My heart was in turmoil.

She bowed deeply, wearing a crisp suit with perfect posture, radiating a sparkling aura.

As she raised her head, her appearance seemed different from any female employee—no, any woman—I’d met before.

I unintentionally widened my eyes but quickly returned my expression to work mode.

“What! It was you!”

Even so, I couldn’t hide my true feelings, and the words slipped out.

—The worst possible first remark.

I’ve done it now…

To the partner who’ll be working with me every day for our business success, I’d shown a disrespectful attitude.

But the worst part was yet to come.

Maybe the stress from work had been building up.

The next moment, I ended up making a nasty remark to her.

“Section Chief Kawamoto proudly said to expect great things but this is disappointing. I’ll have to file a complaint.”

I was startled by my own words.

What was I saying!

I was losing control of my emotions.

Naturally, her eyes widened, and she openly showed her anger.

“W-what did you say?! How rude! The section chief isn’t to blame!”

Her anger was justified.

Without changing my expression, I apologized to her.

“Well… you’re right. I admit I was rude. I won’t say anything to Mr. Kawamoto.”

“Good, as long as you understand.”

But for some reason, I reacted to those words.

“But who do you think you are? What’s your position here?”

I did it again!

She understood her position and apologized.

But that wasn’t what I wanted.

I should have been the one apologizing.

—I felt like I wasn’t myself anymore.

I resolved to reconsider my emotions and stop treating her harshly.

But shortly after, another thought crossed my mind.

‘Don’t show her a soft face. She’ll look down on you.’

‘Besides, if you don’t train newcomers properly, they’ll be useless.’

For the company’s benefit, and as work partners, it was only natural.

I decided to cool my head.

—From now on, I won’t show this girl a soft face. I’ll make sure she properly learns secretarial duties and raise her to be a partner we can grow together.

At that moment, I resolved this in my heart.

And I acted and treated her accordingly.

—Miharu Udo.

Deep in my heart, I felt something indescribable toward this girl.

But at that time, I didn’t know what it was.

And I still had no idea that this girl would become someone who would change my life.

—This was my, Naoya Kiryū’s, impression of my first day meeting “Miharu Udo.”