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"I Need No One Else… But You "Written By: Threequartersaiyan Disclaimer: This is just a story I have written. I don’t own the DBZ characters; Akira Toriyama does, and that’s why he’s got money, and I do this for fun.
Notes: Pan is now a grown woman who is graduating from college and will soon be out on her own. In the meantime, the two Saiyans are trying to work out there feelings for each other. After so many rejected jobs, she finds a job at the Capsule Corp. Will anything happen between Pan and Trunks, the new president of the Corporation? Rating: Feedback: A necessity…if you don’t mind…Please?
I Need No One Else… But You
Chapter 3— Pan’s Struggle Pan collapsed onto the sofa in her apartment. After deciding against taking a nap on the couch, she kicked her 3-inch heels off and walked into her kitchen to put on a pot of coffee. She took off her suit jacket and threw it on the kitchen chair. She picked up the remote and turned on the television in the kitchen. Her channel was on the same news station where she left it from this morning. The newscaster said some interesting news that caught Pan’s attention. When she turned around, Trunks’ picture was in the corner of the screen. “And in local news, Trunks Briefs, the grandson of the late Dr. Briefs, announced that he will be taking on the role of president of the Corporation after his mother officially retires from the business.” So, Trunks is taking over the company, huh , she thought to herself. Maybe I could apply for a job over there…Naaaww, I don’t think it would be fitting for me to work over there. Besides, I’d have no chance, not for him, and not for the job. I couldn’t do it. She took her favorite mug out of her cabinet and poured her coffee into it. After stirring in a bunch of sugar and her French Vanilla creamer, she inhaled the aroma deeply and took a big swig. She looked back at her TV screen. The newscaster was still going on about Trunks. “…Young Mr. Briefs had commented on taking over his family’s company.” Trunks’ comments replayed on the TV. There he stood on the screen. To Pan, Trunks is so handsome, so much of a prince, and yet so humble all at the same time. Oh, God he’s hot! “I’m not my grandfather, but I absolutely intend on running my family’s company the same way that he and my mother did. My mother feels as if she’s run the company for a good amount of time and that it’s time for the next member of the family to run the company. I will do that to the best of my ability. No more comments, please, thank you.” The phone rang. Pan picked it up. “Hello?” “Hey girl!” a voice came through the wires. “What’s up? How’s the single life going?” Pan sighed. “Hi, Bulla. It’s okay. Another job turned me down, though.” “Oh, Pan, I’m sorry. How many jobs has it been?” Pan sighed again. “Bulla, honestly, I think it’s been about twenty-five jobs so far.” “Pan, it’ll be okay. And I’m gonna tell you why. I do have some good news for you…there is a job opening for a representative attorney for the Corporation. Trunks wanted me to let you know about the position.” Pan was silent. She took a sip of her coffee. “I don’t think that would be appropriate for me to work with and for Trunks. What if someone catches us after hours somewhere on a desk making out or something?” Bulla ran her hand across her eyes and rubbed her temples. “Pan, look, you have been without a job for almost four months now. You need a job. You’ve got bills and you can’t rely on your parents all your life—“ “Take your own advice, smarty-pants,” Pan interjected, smiling into the receiver. “—Oh, shut up. Just put your feelings for Trunks aside…hang on a second.” Pan heard static on the phone as Bulla covered it with her hand. “Trunks wants to talk to you, Pan, hold on.” She put the phone down. A few seconds later, Trunks picked up. “Hi, Pan,” he said cheerfully. “I’m sorry about your job situation. Did my sister tell you about the job opening at the Corp? This job is open because the original rep is retiring after 33 years. Did she tell you?” “Yes she did, Trunks,” Pan replied. “I’m not a hundred percent sure about this, though.” “Pan, look, I’m offering you a job, not a booty call,” Trunks said. Oh my God, I can’t believe I just said that , he thought regretfully as he mentally kicked himself and ran a hand through his hair. “Oh, Pan, I’m sorry for saying that.” How I wish you were , she thought to herself. “Trunks, it’s okay. Umm, let me see my schedule…” Pan took a look at her calendar on the wall. ”I’ve got about two more interviews, one tomorrow and one Thursday afternoon.” Trunks fell silent. Please don’t let her pass up this job , he silently prayed. ”Okay, Pan, listen, I can only hold this job for you until Friday afternoon. After that, I have to put the job up for grabs.” “All right, Trunks,” Pan agreed. “On Thursday, I will call you to let you know my situation.” She sounds like she’s gonna pass this up , he prayed again. Please, please, please don’t let her pass this up . “Okay, Pan. Make sure you don’t forget to call me, either at home or at my office. Good-bye.” The tone in his voice had dropped a bit, she noticed to herself. “’Bye, Trunks.” She put the phone back on the hook. “I hope these other jobs do reject me,” she said aloud. Pan drank the rest of her coffee and placed the cup in the dishwasher. She picked her clothes up from her living room and kitchen and walked into her bedroom after making sure that her front door was locked. She closed the curtains in her bedroom, shed her clothes, and walked into her bathroom and took a nice, long, hot shower. The mirror was fogged up when she stepped out. She wrapped her wet body in her towel. She walked into her room and released the tie from her hair. Her long black locks cascaded to her shoulders and back. Pan unwrapped the towel from her still-wet body and dried off. After putting on her underwear, she decided on a blue tank top and a pair of capri pants. She couldn’t decide what to eat for dinner and she didn’t feel like cooking a big meal so she opened up a can of New England clam chowder soup. She sighed as she thought about the upcoming interview. **Thursday afternoon** “Even though your background is in one of the best shapes I have ever seen, there is a downside. I’m so sorry, Ms. Son, but you’re a little bit too young for this firm. Our licensed age is 23. I would hire you, but the rules and regulations are the rules and regulations. Unfortunately, I can’t hire you. We’re sorry,” the executive apologized. “Thank you for your time anyway, Mr. Brown,” Pan replied. The two of them stood up and shook hands. Pan picked up her briefcase and opened the door and walked out. Sighing heavily, Pan got in the driver’s seat of her car and brushed her hand across her face. She knew that even though she had her degree, it is still a rough world. Pan also knew that by getting her degree at twenty years old, even though she was now twenty-one, her age and her looks played against her like a bad hand in strip poker. Once she got home, she immediately got on the phone and called Trunks. She accepted the job at the Corp. Trunks told her that she would start the next Monday. Lucky for Pan, she didn’t have to go on another interview. ~~0~~0~~ Trunks hung up the phone with Pan. He turned his attention back to his desk. To make sure he had it, he found her contract and then placed it in the middle drawer of his desk. No matter how hard he tried to ignore it, his heart was overjoyed to hear from her lips that she would be working with him at the Capsule Corp. To distract him, he looked at his watch. 5:30. Hmm , he thought. Only a half-hour to go until it’s time for me to get outta here . Guess I’d better finish signing this paperwork. Once more, Trunks turned back to his desk. He looked at the proposals and patents and the other mess that smothered it. He looked over them and applied his signature of approval. He glanced at the clock on the wall. 6:30! “Oh man!” Trunks swore aloud. “I should’ve been left!” He rolled over to his computer desk and shut down. Picking up his briefcase, turning out the light and locking the door, Trunks exited the Corp., noticing that everyone else had already left. In the fall, it was already just about dark. Trunks looked around, took to the sky and flew home. Yes! Pan’s gonna be working here! Trunks thought to himself. His heart rejoiced as he continued to think about Pan coming to work for the Corporation. ~~0~~0~~ As soon as she hung up with Trunks, the phone rang again. “Hello?” “Hi honey,” a sweet voice said. “How are you doing? Have you found a job yet?” “Mom!” Pan was shocked to hear her mother’s voice. She and her mother haven’t talked for a couple of weeks. They were always playing phone tag. Their answering machines were having a better relationship. “I’m doing fine and actually, I have found a job. I’ll be a representative attorney for the Capsule Corporation.” “Congratulations, honey! I’m so proud of you. So, you wanted to be closer to Trunks, huh?” Well, jeez! It’s like my mother can read my mind or somethi ng. “No, Mom,” she replied. Even though she hated lying to her mother, she thought that her relationships were her business, until she wanted to make it public. “Trunks and I are just friends.” Videl slyly smiled at her daughter through the receiver. “Okay, honey. Whatever you say. Look, what are you doing next Saturday?” Pan thought for a moment and then checked her calendar. “Nothing, Mom. Why?” “Well, your father and I wanted you to come over. We know how you’ve been eating at home so, we wanted you to come over to our house for dinner.” “Oh, well, gee, thanks. What time should I come over?” “About 5:00 should be good. Okay?” “All right, Mom. Do you need me to stop at the store and pick up anything?” “No, Pan. Your father and I will be taking care of everything. Just bring yourself.” “Okay, Mom. Love you!” Videl smiled through the phone. “Love you, too honey! ‘Bye!” “’Bye!” Pan hung up. ****Monday afternoon**** “Ms. Son?” her intercom in her office chirped. She straightened up from the floor and pushed the button. “Yes?” “Mr. Briefs would like to see you.” Pan sighed. “Tell him I’m on my way.” Pan looked around her office. Everything appealed to her: the mahogany wood throughout the room, the leather chair, the golden nameplate that sat on her desk, endless bookcases with naked shelves that longed to be filled, the bright windows that would need curtains and the flat-screen computer, printer, and fax machine. Reluctantly, she removed her body from the plush swivel armchair. On her way out of her office, she closed the door and smiled at her secretary. Luckily, as she walked down the hall, most of the people were friendly to her, especially since it was her first day. She smiled and said hello. Pan walked past his secretary’s desk. She glanced at Pan and smiled. Trunks’ door was closed when she reached his office. She gently knocked. “Come in,” he called through the frosted glass door. Pan softly opened the door. “You, uh, wanted to see me, Mr. Briefs?” “Close the door, Pan,” he replied as he swiveled around in his own leather chair. “Loosen up, will you? And would you just please quit calling me ‘Mr. Briefs?’ You will be the only one that can call me Trunks, until we just so happen to be in a meeting.“ A reluctant smile crossed Pan’s face as she closed the door. “I’m sorry…Trunks.” “Grab a cup of coffee before you sit down.” Pan walked over to the counter, grabbed a mug and made her coffee the way she liked it: black coffee with six French vanilla creamers, sugar, and a shot of vanilla. Trunks happened to look up at her as she was fixing her coffee. “Do you think you added enough stuff to it?” Pan smiled with her mouth in the mug. “Yeah,” came the muffled reply. He smiled at her. “How’s your first day been so far?” In mid-sip, Pan gave Trunks a thumbs-up. ****Two hours later**** “And if we take this in the opposite direction, you may get a bigger tax return,” Pan concluded. With a broadening smile, Trunks looked up at Pan. “I’m glad you’re working here. I’ll give this a try.” With a longing sigh, Pan ran her fingers through Trunks’ hair. Trunks turned around to face her. “What’s the matter?” “I like this look with your long hair…I mean, it’s okay, but, just out of suggestion, I like the look better when you had short hair.” Trunks had fallen silent for a few moments. He took his glasses off of his face. “Well, Pan, uh, everybody’s gone. I’ve got time to spare, how about you? Pan thought for a moment. “Yeah, uh, why?” Oh my God, is he getting ready to ask me out? Trunks turned to face her. “I know that after working so long you haven’t eaten since lunch. Would you like to go out for dinner with me?” Pan’s heart and stomach cartwheeled in symphonic rhythm over and over again. “Uh, sure. Let me just lock up my office.” Pan walked out. As she exited his office, Trunks’ eyes were right behind her. He shook his head and got up. After he straightened up his desk and locked up his office. Pan shut everything down, turned all of her desk lights off, and locked up her closet. “Ready?” Trunks stood in her doorway, legs crossed, and briefcase in hand. That masculine frame of his accented the mahogany doorframe even more. Pan could feel her legs getting weaker the more she thought about it. “Yeah,” Pan replied. I hope I can make it to the door. “I’m ready.” As she walked to the door, she hit the switch and her office darkened. Pan closed the door and locked it. She and Trunks walked out of the Corp and headed to dinner. ****The next day**** “Hey, you cut your hair!” Pan exclaimed quietly when she walked into the office. “Yeah,” Trunks said sheepishly with a smile as he ran his fingers through his hair. It instantly returned to its normal state as if undisturbed at all. “When it came down to it, you liked it short, and, when I thought about it, it’’s short.” “Where did you find someone to cut your hair that late last night?” He grinned sheepishly. “If I told you, you wouldn’t believe me: Bulla did it for me, when I called her after dinner.” “It looks good.” Pan commented as she walked around to the back of Trunks’ desk. “Anyway, let’s go over these files.” After working on the files for a few hours, Pan leaned back in her chair and looked at the clock. 7:45 p.m. “You wanna call this a night?” Trunks stretched and yawned. “Sure. We can finish this up tomorrow.” As Pan moved to get up, without realization, her foot got caught in one of the many wires on the floor. When she started to walk, she pitched forward. Like lightning, Trunks shot to her aide. He grabbed her by the waist with his forearm before she hit the floor. He caught her so fast he lost his balance and twisted. Trunks hit the floor behind his desk underneath Pan. The two adults laughed. As he moved to rise from the floor, Pan turned her head back toward him and Trunks’ lips brushed against hers. Her eyes widened and she immediately lowered her lips back on his. Trunks was shocked at first that she made the first move, but he welcomed the kiss. Hands began to move. After a few moments, Trunks and Pan broke apart for air. They got up off the floor. Clearing her throat, Pan straightened herself and gave Trunks one last kiss as she walked out of his office. “See you tomorrow,” she said, standing in the doorway with a sly smile on her face. After she left, Trunks rubbed his hand over his face and exhaled deeply. The president of the Corporation locked up his office and flew home. He found that Pan had already left. I love her so much, Trunks thought. If only she knew how much. As Pan drove along, she thought about what happened. I am in love with Trunks Briefs, she thought to herself happily. After that day, Trunks and Pan spent a lot of time together. No one else in the corporation noticed, except for one person. On Friday night, she and Trunks went to the movies and had a late night. They sweetly kissed goodnight in her apartment. ****Saturday afternoon**** Pan’s eyes opened and she felt funny; groggy, and something else that she couldn’t put her finger on. Sated? Possibly , she thought. She slept later than she meant to and groaned. I have to be at Mom and Dad’s later on , she thought. I still feel funny. Hmm, that’s odd. My legs hurt a little; I haven’t been exercising, so what’s going on? When Pan looked at her alarm clock, it said 12:48 p.m. As she moved the comforter aside to get up, she felt the pull of cool sheets against her. She looked under her covers, and to her surprise she had no clothes on. She felt something else there as she looked down. A creamy colored yet muscular arm had her by the waist. She turned over and to her surprise Trunks was there next to her, a very happy look on his face. She smiled, laid herself back down in his tight embrace, but then blinked. |
