꩜ — Strictly Business, Perhaps.

꩜ — strictly business, perhaps.

pairings : boss!tenya iida x secretary!reader

warnings : 4.3k words damn (UNRESOLVED TENSIONNN)

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Papers rustle by the glass top of the table, along with the sound of typing on the keyboard. Tenya sighed, clattering his glasses onto the table top, he pinched the bridge of his nose. The documents didn’t seem to end, his stomach was rumbling, churning, and his head was spinning. 

“Goodness..” He complained silently, propping his head upon his hand as his hand ran through his hair. 

The silence of the small office was broken briefly by the glass door opening, then closing again. Your form stood there in a bit of awkwardness, sensing the boss’s not-so-pleasant mood. Clutching the clipboard, you cleared your throat softly. 

“Mister Iida, I-It is lunch time already, would you… like for me to order your lunch from the restaurant on the ground floor?” You carefully asked, keeping your tone hushed.

He sighed, nodding before he stood up while straightening his clothes and his tie. “Please do, y/n. Thank you very much.” He replied, his voice husky and hoarse, while his hand perched his glasses back on to his nose. Tenya cleared his throat once more, and he stayed like that for a moment, while you nodded, turning your back to him as you reached for the door once more. 

But then you turned back around again, “Oh!” Your index finger plucking up to the air. “And, would you like your usual orange juice to go with it as well, mister Iida?” 

And finally, his stiffened cheeks frozen from the day’s work twitched up to a smile, a huff escaping his breath. “Yes please, y/n. Thank you very much.”

˚୨୧⋆.˚

The scent of broth and the steam of rice greeted Tenya’s lungs, warmth replacing the dull cold air from the air conditioner. He smiled faintly, tilting his body to the side from his computer, meeting your form teetering on your feet while you carefully ushered the tray in your hands to his table.

“Thank you so much, y/n. Right on time.” He sighed, clearing the space on his table for the tray to be placed down to. 

You smiled softly to him, chuckling softly as you carefully placed down his lunch in front of him. “Perhaps I know my boss too well.” 

That earned a small laugh from him as he picked up the spoon and fork from the side of the tray, the utensils clinking to each other as he unwrapped the napkin wrapping them. The faint smoke danced around the air, before slowly seeping into his nostrils again, and he could only sigh with a smile.

“Perhaps you do.” He replied, smiling warmly at you from above his glasses, which you only replied with a soft chuckle and a sway of your body.

You cleared your throat, pulling yourself back to the ground. “Is there anything I can help more, sir?” 

He shook his head, already dipping his spoon into the clear broth of the soup. “No, no,”

Then he paused. 

“How about you, y/n? Have you eaten?” His head looked up from his lunch, a finger adjusting his glasses again to see you clearly, his brows furrowed a bit in concern. Which you responded with a nod, “Mhm, already have, sir.” 

He nods, “Good, good.” 

“I’ll excuse myself then, sir?” You reassured again, bowing slightly to him.

Tenya grinned, nodding as his hand gestured for you to exit the room. “Yes, thank you again, y/n.”

˚୨୧⋆.˚

For goodness’ sake, can this project finish itself? Were the man’s thoughts as he typed furiously on the keyboard. It seemed like the proposals needed for the project seemed to be endless, and he couldn’t bring himself to ask any help from you. Though that was what his fingers are twitching to do right now. His thumb hovered over the phone button on your contact as he debated his choices.

On one hand, it’s already almost midnight, and you had gone home way long ago. He needs some help, and Tenya swears if he were to type another letter for another corporation to ask them to sponsor this massive charity project, he’s going to blow his office into shreds. On the other hand, it’s Friday. Which means you’re probably having some week-end routine, which he does not dare to interrupt. 

What if you were on a date? Goodness, it will be such impoliteness to disturb your night.

What if… you were trying to have some fun with your friends? Well he wouldn’t want to barge in now, won’t he?

What if you were already asleep?! Oh goodness that would be such a fuss..

Or– or…

“It’s just a call, Tenya.” He huffed, grumbling to himself while his thumb hesitantly pressed the button. 

It took a couple of beeps from the line to finally connect to yours, and a small shuffling sound was heard before your groggy voice hummed in confusion, answering the call. 

“M...Mister Iida?” Was what you managed to croak out, your voice nervous and hazy, a small sigh of sleepiness could be heard from your side of the line. 

Tenya scolded himself mentally, chewing on his lower lip in panic as he stammered a few vowels. “Oh goodness, y/n, I-..I’m… so very sorry…” He softly apologized, sighing in regret. “I didn't mean to wake you… j-just go back to sleep, y/n,”

“I’ll inform you about this in Monday..” 

Your voice could be heard mumbling from the other line, chewing your tongue to wake yourself up. “It’s fine, sir… is there anything you need help with…?”

He shook himself, standing up from his seat as if he were to chide you in person. “No, no.”

“Sleep is essential, y/n. I apologize for disturbing your slumber.”

There was silence for a moment in the call, only faint buzzing from the phone repeating upon his ears as he nervously waited for your answer.

“Mmkay sir, g’night…” 

And with that, the line hung up. So did his arm, hung to his side as he sighed to himself, hitting his forehead with his palm repeatedly in frustration. 

“Stupid, stupid, stupid..!” He grumbled, pinching the bridge of his nose. “It’s almost midnight, of course it’s bedtime!” He huffed, straightening his back, tugging down his shirt to straighten it once more as he sat back down to his seat, creaking it in the process.

He propped himself again, hovering his hands over his keyboard, and for a second–he stayed like that, somehow unsure of what to type to the proposal. 

Ahem. 

He propped himself up again, straightening his back, preparing to type. 

…but your voice kept echoing, taunting him from the back of his head. That soft, sleepy little goodnight replaying again and again in his ear, clear as day.

˚୨୧⋆.˚

You walked into the office as per usual the Monday, the few previous night’s little disturbance slipped way out of your mind. But one thing never did; checking in on your boss to inform him of his schedules today. Except… weird.

The disciplinarian Tenya Iida had never been late before, and even if he were ever late, it was late to his own clock. Yet today seemed to be the latter. Tenya Iida, the infamous early bird, your boss, is not to be found in his office. The glass door is still locked, waiting to be opened by his ID card. And so you walked to your cubicle again, placing down your tablet to the table as you rummaged your pocket of your phone, swiftly swiping to his chat room. 

It took him a good five minutes before his typing animation popped by the side of the screen, three little dots jumping up and down before his message got sent;

Weird. You thought again. 

You had been working for this busy man for too long to know the man doesn’t even need alarms to be able to wake up to his schedule. Even if he did, hadn’t his body already memorized the time he has to get up? 

You shrugged it off, fingers already pressing the numbers to the restaurant to order your boss’s breakfast. 

Precise, as always. Ten minutes later, the familiar blue haired man walked into the office, his glasses sat slightly crooked upon the bridge of his nose as he scattered himself into his office. You chuckled at the sight, standing up to catch up to him in his office. With a small knock on the door, it unlocked from inside.

“Good morning, sir.” You greeted, pushing the door with your back as your hands both carried his breakfast; warm egg toast, and a glass of orange juice. “Have you eaten breakfast?”

Tenya stiffens. The sound of his rustling fabric stopping immediately as you greeted him. “M-morning, y/n,” He replied, his slight voice crack immediately covered with him clearing his throat. “I.. have not..” 

Ahem. “H..how’d you know…?”

You chuckled, setting down the meal to his table, before setting your hands to your sides, “I figured it’s hard to think of breakfast when you are running late, sir.” 

Then he grinned. Not the classic professional grin he had always worn, it was… sheepish, almost shy. Tenya’s voice rumbled lowly as he chuckled. “Thank you, y/n.”

With a smile, and a nod of acknowledgement, you excused yourself to take your tablet. As you walked back in, he was still tying his tie, swiftly folding it around his neck while you opened your tablet to swipe to the calendar app. 

Tenya’s back turns away from you as he comes to face you, giving a hum or two as you explained his schedules for today, while sometimes adding somethings in between like; “Oh, that one is cancelled.” or “I think that one is prolonged, y/n. I forgot to inform you.” And you’d nod, typing swiftly on the keyboard or tapping and swiping to edit the schedule for today. So with your morning routine finished, you excused yourself once more, exiting his office to return to your cubicle. 

And now, Tenya was alone in his office, once more. Your steady and intonated voice is gone, replaced by the constant humming from the air conditioner. He glanced at the breakfast you had left him. With awkwardness, he shuffled his way to the table, sitting down to carefully unwrap the sandwich—as if he was being watched. As he chewed, he scolded himself once more. 

How could he have been so out of discipline? He is the boss! And here he is, being late.

With a huff, he slapped himself on both cheeks. He chugged down the orange juice, setting the plate and the glass aside to switch the computer on. 

And then he remembered one thing. The one thing he tried to ask of you that night. He needed help typing those pesky proposals, his fingers already felt way too numb on the keyboard, and his head couldn’t even think of any more pleasing words for those sponsors. So he did, with many nerves, but he did. His fingers already remembered your cubicle phone’s number, and it beeped by with ease. Your voice answered almost immediately.

“Hello?”

“Y/n, uh… may I ask for some favor from you?” His tone cautious, almost as if he was concerned he had disturbed your peace. 

“Oh, Mister Iida. Of course, sir. What is it?”

He cleared his throat, swaying left and right on his spinning chair. “Could you please… help me in writing some proposals for the upcoming project, y/n…?” 

“Oh! Of course, sir. Would you need me to come to your office?”

Then he stayed silent. Glancing to the small couch by the side of his office as he contemplated the choice. “...Sure, that would be great, thank you y/n.” 

“I’ll be right with you, sir.”

And right with him you were. With a soft knock, the door unlocked from inside, allowing you to enter in once more. You clutched your laptop in your hand, carefully stepping into the quiet, isolated space. 

Tenya smiled, gesturing his hand to the couch. “Have a seat, y/n.”

“...I’m very sorry for asking your help on such a short notice,” 

You chuckled, waving your hand dismissively as you set down the laptop on the couch. “It’s alright, sir. It’s my job.”

With no further ado, he cleared his throat with a grin, explaining to you what he needed you to help with, as you propped up your laptop upon your lap, typing in his requirements and points needed to be included in each proposal. 

The two of you went on with silence as you both got to work. Broken only by the rhythmical tap of yours and his keyboard, and his occasional ahem’s. You would sometimes peek glances at him from the corner of your eyes, and as the day progressed, his tie loosened more and more. You couldn’t help but smile faintly at the sight. 

Him too, did so. Everytime you would unconsciously hum that one tune from a song, or mumble out the words you were typing in, he’d sneak a glance at you, smiling softly to himself before snapping his head back to the computer. Because God forbid you look this cute up close. Wait what?

By the last ‘thank you for taking the time to read this proposal’ you typed onto a document, the sky had gone dark, and so did the outside of his office. The clock shows 08:45 PM. You stretched your hands up, groaning softly as you cracked your head to the sides. With a stifled yawn, you swiped around your touchpad. 

“I’ll send the proposals to you, sir.” You informed him, your voice had lost its professionalism long ago, now you only had your hoarse and croaking speech to offer. 

Tenya’s head shot to the side to look at you. He sighed as he twitched up a grateful smile. “Thank you so much, y/n. I’m very sorry to be keeping you this late.”

Your lips pressed up to form a thin smile, as you slipped your laptop into its sleeve, standing up from the couch, a small dent left upon it from how long you sat there. “No need to apologize, mister Iida. I am only doing my job.” 

As you slung your bag over your shoulder, you bowed to him once more. “I’ll be excusing myself if you have nothing left for me to help you with, sir.” 

Tenya hesitated. He opened his mouth, then closed it. But then he opened it again, “Wait,” His voice croaked, his hand stiffly reaching out to yours before he stopped it, immediately pulling it to his side again. He cleared his throat, watching as you turned around again from the door. 

“L-let’s walk together to the exit, hm?”

Blink blink.

“Sure, mister Iida.” You smiled.

“Tenya,” He mumbled, walking to your side.

You tilted your head in confusion, “Hm?”

“Tenya, y/n. Just call me Tenya.” He softly repeated, smiling as he tapped his ID card to the reader beside the door, earning a small beep as the door unlocked for the both of you. 

He opened the door wide, nodding his head to the side to gesture you out. 

You smiled, clutching your laptop sleeve as you walked slowly past him, “Thank you,”

“...Tenya.” 

Goodness. A name should not have sounded that good on your lips, but the way you said his made his back stiff and his arms rigid. He couldn’t help but huff out a laugh, cracking out a grin as he closed the door behind him, walking beside you towards the elevator. 

Small silence fell upon the two of you, one that you had grown familiar with. Tenya wasn’t the type to make unnecessary small talk if it wasn’t needed for hospitality. You and him were strictly, professionally business. A boss and his secretary. At times like these, you would sometimes grab the opportunity to update him on his schedule for the day tomorrow. But tonight was different, that silence felt… different. 

The elevator dinged, and he once again allowed you to enter first. With a nudge to his glasses, he cleared his throat as he stood beside you, subtly shifting his weight from feet to feet after he pressed the elevator button. The faint hum of swing jazz and the aroma of air freshener made it almost dramatic for you to be this nervous. You wanted to open your voice to inform him of his upcoming reviewing deadline, but how the heck do you just call your boss by his first name?! 

“It’s alright to call me by my name, y/n.” He croaked out, his eyes lingering on the elevator buttons as he chewed slightly on his bottom lip. 

You stiffened. “Oh– um… well, …T-tenya,” And he smiled.

“I just wanted to inform you that you’ll have some new… recruits to review, sir.” 

He nodded, his soft smile still not leaving his face as his gaze lingered on you a moment longer, broken by the elevator door opening. His arm stretched out to hold the door, gesturing for you to walk out first, as he mumbled a small, “Alright, remind me that tomorrow, hm?”

You nodded, “I will, sir.”

Tenya’s steps fell soft upon the marble floors as he exited the elevator, and you bowed. 

… “I-I’ll excuse myself then, sir.”

“Tenya, y/n.” He tuts, gently reminding you. 

And you chuckled, almost shy. “Right, right.”

“I’ll excuse myself. …Goodnight,”

“...Tenya.” You softly added, turning on your heel to make your way to the front exit. Your shoes made haste.

All of a sudden, everything felt slightly crooked on his body. Tenya’s knuckle nudged his glasses up his nose, his hand tugged on his coat, combing back his hair, goodness that stupid smile that crept up his mouth from the moment you turned away even felt too wide now. 

He cleared his throat again, drifting his body’s direction to the parking lot, a hand over his mouth, and the night’s cold air had never felt so warm on his face. 

Stop it, stop it, stop that, Tenya!

This is your secretary you are smiling about! Your secretary!

His steps quickened to the parking lot, his loafers trudging about onto the concrete floors as he rushed to his car, beeping it twice before he entered it like a man trying to hide from his assassin. 

Hands gripped onto the steering wheel, and with a long sigh, he started the engine. The car chirped around as he turned the key, and his radio switched on automatically. Sure, he wasn’t the type to listen to songs that much, yet this one just crept up into his ears. An old love song with its classic guitar melodies, lounging on about love is unexpected.

˚୨୧⋆.˚

At last! All the months of preparation and lobbying guests around the building, typing out proposals after proposals, staying back at the office until a few extra hours, the project’s done. It was the day. A charity event, held to fund scholarships for students around Japan. To say it is a success would be an understatement. The event had made itself known to the news, being casted upon to multiple news stations. 

Safe to say, Tenya was beyond proud that his hardwork now paid off. He grinned widely. Upon his hand, perched up a small champagne glass, swirling around with his small motions. 

“You look dashing tonight, Tenya.” You called from behind, cutting through his thoughts.

He immediately spun around, eyes wide and scattering as it looked for you. When they did find you, he may or may not have forgotten how to breathe for a moment. If having you in blazers and loose collared shirts wasn’t enough to make him short circuit, this definitely does its job. The way you had done your hair so effortlessly, yet so enchantingly, and how the soft glimmers from the chandelier made your eyes sparkle, not to mention the formalwear you had chosen for tonight fit a little bit too good on your body. His smile came out strained.

“Ah, thank you.” ahem. “You look… incredible tonight, y/n.” He managed to reply. 

And then you chuckled, and goodness it sounded so melodic to his ears, breathless and light. 

Tenya’s hand pushed his champagne glass to his mouth, sipping the clear bubbling liquid into his mouth to distract himself from the rising rhythm of his heart beat. 

“You look super proud tonight.” You teased, a small smirk as you nudged him lightly by his arm. 

This time it was his turn to chuckle, pursing his lips into a smile. “I couldn’t have done… all of this without your help, y/n.” He said, motioning his hand to the lively ballroom.

Before you could even reply, Tenya was barged around by his friends, congratulating him on his accomplishment of successfully hosting the event. As his hand got dragged away by them, he casted one last look to you, pressing up a pitiful grin as a silent apology, which you replied with a chuckle and a wave of your hand. 

So now here you are. In a bar. In between these people you barely know. Sure, some of them were actually your friends, but they were too busy celebrating the success. Others? Eh, maybe you greet them in the hallways in the mornings and evenings, but that was all. They laughed and giggled drunkenly. Singing and dancing together with their blazers loose, while some of the women only chatted by the counter. 

By the edges of the laughing men, there Tenya sat, his tux already disheveled, his hair loosen down to his flushed face as he laughed about some joke that probably wasn’t that funny. Then his eyes spotted you, making him stumble a bit until he reached you, grinning from ear to ear.

“Goodness, y/n…” He slurred out, leaning against the counter. And you couldn’t help but laugh, seeing your usually strict and discipline boss now all loose and giggly. 

Then he leans. Perhaps a little too close to you. Yet you didn’t mind. You didn’t mind when he swayed, pointing to your face, smiling stupidly with his alcohol reeked breath. “Youu…”

“You are… so amazing, you know that…?”

Hm? 

Come again?

You waved your hand as you chuckled, looking away to hide that small flush of pinkness on your cheeks. “I think you’ve had way too many for tonight, sir.”

“S’ Tenyaaa,” He whined, leaning closer to you. “Stop calling me sir, y/n…” 

You stifled back a laugh, rolling your eyes as you sighed. “Fiine, fine,”

“Tenya, I think you’ve had your fair share of alcohol for tonight.” 

He leans his head to the side, pushing the counter with his weight. His eyes downcast and hazy, he smiled softly to you. “You think so?” 

A small chuckle escaped your lips as you shook your head. “I know so, si—Tenya.”

The table scraped softly as you pushed a small glass of water to him, clinking the glass with the back of your finger. “Maybe some water would do you good.” You smiled, nudging the glass once more to get his attention to it.

Then he smiles, leaning his head upon the counter with his arms below his chin. His eyes hazily looked into yours, as if he was…admiring you. His smile grew before his hand reached out, moving away a loose strand of hair off your face. It was soft, gentle, tender. Something you would never expect from the stiff and professional Tenya Iida. From your own boss. 

His touch lingered a moment on the side of your cheek, he tucked his hand away again beneath his chin before he spoke, “You…”

“How are you this radiant…?” He murmured quietly, head tilting just slightly as he narrowed his eyes in awe. 

The loud and chattering bar seemed to quiet down at that moment, while the heat in your cheeks rose up. You cleared your throat, pushing the glass towards him again with your face turned to the other way. “Drink some water, Tenya.” You reminded, brushing him off. 

A low chuckle was what you heard, along with fabric shuffling softly as he stood up again, still leaning to the counter top. “You’re ignoring me.” He said, amusement lacing his tone. 

“No, I’m reminding you, Tenya.”

“...You’re caring for me,” He smiled. Sure, you weren’t looking at him, but that small change in his tone was recognizable. Yet this one wasn’t really heard much by you. It was small, subtle, yet there was a tone of admiration in it. Like someone saying ‘Aww’. 

You scoffed, turning your head to look at him again. “I always do,” Well maybe you shouldn’t have said that. 

…

…

Ahem! The bar stool croaked through the floor as you stood up, collecting your bag and coat. 

“I’ll be calling that a night, Tenya.” You slipped out a small greeting, smiling to his still-leaning form.

His face dropped to a small frown, almost a pout. “You’re leaving…?” His question sounded more like a weak plea. Disappointed and sad about your farewell. 

You chuckled as you zipped your bag up. “Yes, Tenya.”

“Tomorrow I still need to be in the office.” You teased, tilting your head slightly as you smiled at him. 

“...I also need to be in the office, I’m your boss.” He scoffed, his tone cocky and proud.

“Exactly,”

Putting your coat back on, you rattled the keys of your car in your hand, sinking it into the pockets. You clutched your bag, straightening up your posture while you brush yourself off before bowing to him. “Goodnight, Tenya.”

“...Get home safe, okay?” You smiled, turning away to walk towards the exit. 

Darn you and your soothing voice. Darn you and your smile. Darn you. His gaze stayed pinpointed on you even as you opened the doors of the bar to exit it, walking with that pace he’s grown to know too well. Steady steps with sureness, like you always had somewhere to be. The smile crept back onto his face. His gaze drifted back to the glass of water as he huffed a chuckle, grabbing it into his hand before sipping it. 

With a slow shake of his head, he let out another chuckle, softer this time. 

“Little minx.."

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