Sato-sama smiles at me, adjusting her hair. "On the contrary, I'm in love with your drawing. I noticed it a long time ago when it was just a rough sketch on your desk. Does this dragon girl somehow remind you of me?"

"A little... If only a little, I took some of your features, your smile, and your hair..."

"It's flattering, believe me. The perfect portrait of a dragon princess! Don't look at me like that, Hara-san, I know what my subordinates call me behind my back, but it doesn't offend me, it only adds strength."

I stand up and now our faces are at the same level.

"I think this name suits you perfectly. The company's name should reflect the image of its owner."

"You're perceptive, Hara-san," Sato-sama smiles widely. I've never seen her smile so broadly.

"Anooo, Sato-sama, why did you want to see me?"

Sato-sama gives me a sly look and returns to her luxurious chair. Like a real businesswoman, I sit across from her again.

"Hara-san, I'm immensely impressed with your drawing. I would like each box of my cosmetics to have different drawings in your style."

"What?! Really? Please don't joke about it, Sato-sama!"

"Am I known for joking?" She raises her eyebrow.

"No, not at all!" I answer hastily. "I agree, I agree to everything!"

Sato-sama laughs heartily, not covering her mouth, revealing her white teeth. "That's the spirit! You're a wonderful young woman, Hara-san. I imagined our conversation in any way but definitely not like this!"

"Are you going to decorate the next line of cosmetics with my drawings?" I ask, holding a pleasantly matte box with emulsion and cream in my hands, featuring my dragon girl. It's hard to believe that Sato-sama has been paying attention to my work all these three years. I thought my drawing would remain in drafts and never become the new mascot.

"Matsui, of course, draws well, but in her sketches there has long been a lack of former brightness and originality. She is a good marketer and a conscientious subordinate. We've been through thick and thin together. I trust her, but she's afraid to take risks, afraid to deviate from the usual templates. That's why I started hiring more people into her department to bring in new ideas."

"Why are you telling me all this? Sorry if I expressed myself too rudely, but I'm just your worker, and we never had a conversation like this."

"You're right, but despite the fact that we haven't talked like this before, we worked side by side on the same business and, as it turns out, kept an eye on each other's successes. I always notice how enthusiastically and creatively you approach any task, even the smallest and seemingly insignificant one! You're just bursting with ideas. That's why I want to take my product to a new level not only in terms of product quality but also the brand as a whole. I set a goal for this new line of cosmetics to have different illustrations on each package and jar. I want to upgrade the entire style and aesthetics of my company. I'm tired of repeating myself and relying on proven and completely boring templates."

"Sato-sama, wait! There are less than two months left before the release. Can we change everything in such a short time?"

"I'm sure you can, and my team and I will help you. Today, I would like to meet with you after work at six and discuss all the details. I hope you don't mind?"

"I don't mind," I echo.

"Excellent!" Her face, slightly tense due to the brand discussion, brightens and relaxes. "Please, let your parents know you'll be late."

"I was already planning to spend the night in the office..."

"As a good leader, I don't support overworking employees, but as a perfectionist and an enthusiast of my business, I appreciate your dedication, Suzuka-san." She bows to me, and my ears turn red. "How about a little evening stroll to the nearest cafe, 'Dragon's Den'? The Wi-Fi is good there, the atmosphere is quite calm, and the food is excellent. I'll take you home, don't worry. I know the owner; she always reserves a quiet table for me to work."

"Sato-sama, do you believe in past lives and destiny?" I'm amazed at my own question.

"Otto-otto-otto! Just look at the time! So much to do, so much to do!" She shakes her expensive Rolex. "I still have so much to do, so much work! See you in the evening, Hara-san. Let's meet at the main entrance of the building. You can go now! Go, go! Oh ya, oh ya, how busy I am!" Sato-sama dials someone on the phone and doesn't look in my direction anymore. Such a silly way to avoid answering a question is hard to imagine.

❣️ ❣️ ❣️

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