Chapter 123 - Turning Her Down

When Ashley heard grandmother Hanada's offer, she suddenly raised her eyes, and it shined like a bright star in a dark night.

Excitedly she asked, "Really? Can I go to work at your company?  I'll do anything, and the position does not matter to me." Ashley's response quickly, who sounded so excited like a child.

"Of course! We will go right after we eat, get dressed, and we will go to the company. Let's ask what kind of position they could give to you." Grandmother Hanada was excited to see what her grandson would do once he finds out what she's planning on doing.

Ashley found her appetite after hearing what Grandmother Hanada said, and she began shoving food after food into her mouth.  From the way she was eating, others would think it's her last day on earth. 

Grandmother Hanada saw this underneath her eyes but did not say a word.  She was afraid that Ashley would fell embarrass again and would stop eating.  Shortly after that, Ashley excused herself to Grandma Hanada so she could get ready. 

Grandma Hanada also stood up to get ready. As she was walking towards her room, she was mumbling to herself. "Be prepared, my handsome grandson, for the job that I plan on giving her is to be your cousin's assistant.  Let see if you don't die from jealousy..."  She smiled, mischievously of her idea.

A moment later, they were ready to go to THJ Headquarters.  When Ashley came out of the room wearing gray color dress pants with matching suits and a white sleeveless shirt inside that has a collar. She looks magnificent.  She completed it with a four inches heels that made her looked like six-footer. She looks so professional from the way she carries herself.   

Grandmother Hanada gives her a thumbs up.  While in her mind, she was thinking... 'Look at this girl, who would say that she came from a humble upbringing from n the Philippines.  Her family must have good genes.  She looks so classy, besides being pretty, she's also sweet and kind. My grandson sure is a fortunate man!

"Ary you Ready?!" Asked grandmother Hanada to Ashley as she approaches.

"What do you think, grandma? Is it good enough what I'm wearing? I figured since I'm going there to look for a job, I must look professional."  She twirled around to show off as she shyly asked grandmother Hanada for approval.  She didn't want to embarrass the old lady to the person whom she's recommending her for a job.  

"Do you think this is good enough? Do you think they would accept me if I wear this?  If not, I could change to a much simpler outfit?" She curiously asked her eyes, showing concern.

Grandma Hanada just smiled. "Child, what are you worried about, didn't I told you that no matter what position you want, I can give it to you as long as it is not your husband's position. If you want me to make you the president of the company, I could do that too!" Grandma Hanada joked while she has a serious look on her face.

"Thank you very much for your confidence in me, but no, thank you! I'm well aware of my capabilities, grandma.  A secretary is good enough for me. I will be delighted if I'm given that position.  I promised you. I will work hard." Ashley responded firmly and confidently to herself.

"Alright, Alright! Let's go! Let's get out of here so we could find out what's available." But in grandmother Hanada's mind, she already knew what position she was going to give Ashley before they even left the house. 

===

Meanwhile, Tanaga has been busy in the office ever since he arrived. It's already passed the afternoon, and he had not eaten lunch yet. The food that the chef prepared for him stayed at the table and now cold. 

His desk was filled with doc.u.ments that needed his attention.  Because of the unexpected honeymoon that they did, his works file up, and his secretaries don't know which one they would give to him first for his signature.

"I really can't understand why sir Jones doesn't get an assistant.  This way, when he's out of town, he would have someone to organize his schedule." Complained of one of Tanaga's female secretaries.

"Shhh! Do you want to get fired? You know no assistant could endure his working habit — too much of workaholic. I was surprised to find out from someone at the hotel in the Philippines that he had arrived without notice — one secretary's whispered.

The two were having so much fun gossiping when their head secretary Mr. Seto came. His face was hard to paint as he approached. "It's a vicious life! What did I do to deserves this? Why I'm I the only one getting punished? Why doesn't he get an assistant! My God !!!!" Shouted Mr. Seto, the head secretary in front of  Tanaga's six other secretaries.

He was about to say something else when the phone suddenly rang on his desk.  He has no choice but to go and pick it up.

"Hello! Head secretary Sato here, how can I help you?" The line is just for the interoffice calls. That means the person calling is from another department.

"Sato san, this is Hiro, the HR Manager. I'm sending someone up there with the recommendation from someone at the top to be sir Jones's assistant. What do you think? Will Sir Jones accept this person? Can you ask him if it's alright?" Pleaded the HR Manager with concerned in his voice.

"Well, if we ask sir Jones, of course, he won't accept that person. But since he needs an assistant, why don't you go ahead and send the person and let see what happens." Sato replied nonchalantly.

"Are you sure? I don't want to get scolded by the one who recommends the one I'm sending you.  Because it's a significant person." The HR Manager replied who was worried that Tanaga would not agree and send the person back down.

"I will take care of it, just send that person here first and let me check him/her out," Sato replied to Hiro, then quickly hang up the phone.

"There! You guys spoke with the tongue of an Angel. Someone is coming with the recommendation of one of the higher ones for Sir Jones's assistant. You guys help me convince sir Jones if I am not one of will become his assistants!" He threatened his colleagues.

"Absolutely! Thank you, we hope sir Jones would accept this person, for I don't want to become that devil's assistant. His too much of workaholic, and a mean!" Said one of the secretaries while happily preparing the paperwork that needed to be signed by Tanaga.

While Tanaga's secretaries were eagerly waiting for the elevator to open, all of a sudden, they heard Tanaga yelling out loud and hit the table. He was mad at whoever he is talking to ... 

"Who the f * ck gives you the right to send someone up here to be my assistant? If you don't want me to fire you, asked that person to go back to whoever you are sending here. do you understand that?!" Tanaga was scolding the person he was speaking with, then he hangs up the phone at the same time, slamming it very loudly.

Just then, the head secretary's phone rang again. "Hello! Head secretary Sato speaking, how can I help you?" The head secretary already knew who the caller, it's the H.R. Manager, but he still answered it professionally.

"This is me! When the person that I sent there arrives, just send her back.  I'll just send her to another department. I'm sorry! Madam ordered me to call sir Jones and let him know. Now, if sir Jones doesn't want to accept her, I will give her to COO Koji Hanada." The HR Manager said.

"Ah! Is that so? So, the one who recommended this person was Madam Hanada herself. Oh, all right, when she gets here, I'll send her right back." The head secretary calmly hangs up the phone. 

In less than a few seconds, the elevator opens, and Ashley comes out with a beautiful smile on her face because her husband is going to be her new boss… Unknown to her that it would only break her heart in the process once she enters his office.