Entrapped

An unexpected opportunity

Yui's brilliance and academic excellence had left a lasting impression on her lecturers during her time in college. They had often marveled at her quick thinking, sharp intellect, and the way she could deftly navigate complex questions during class discussions. Her professors admired her so much that they had quietly agreed amongst themselves that she deserved nothing less than a prestigious, well-paying job after graduation.

Without Yui’s knowledge, her lecturers recommended her for a job at one of the top companies in Tokyo as a reward for her academic achievements. It was meant to be a surprise, a recognition of her hard work and dedication.

After graduating, Yui found herself contemplating her future. She knew she needed a job, but not just any job. It had to be one that would bring her closer to her ultimate goal—avenging her father's unjust treatment and death. As she sat in her room, lost in thought, her phone suddenly beeped, pulling her back to reality. It was an email notification.

"Congratulations…" she muttered as she read the subject line, her heart racing with curiosity. She quickly opened the message and began reading, her eyes widening as she took in the contents. A smile crept onto her face, but it quickly faded when she reached the bottom of the email and saw the sender’s name. It was from Dansat's Winery and Beverages—the very company where her father had worked and where Mr. Sato, the man she held responsible for her father's death, was still in charge.

Yui was flooded with mixed emotions. On one hand, she was thrilled at the opportunity to work for such a prestigious company and saw it as a perfect chance to exact her revenge. On the other hand, she couldn’t help but wonder how the company had obtained her email address. "Is this a setup?" she thought, her mind racing with suspicion.

But then, a steely resolve took over. "Whatever plans Dad's boss has against me will be ruined because I'd destroy him before he actualizes them," Yui thought, her determination unwavering as she replied to the interview invitation.

On the day of the interview, Yui arrived at Dansat's Winery and Beverages with a mix of bitterness and anticipation, though she masked her true feelings with a calm and confident demeanor. The interview consisted of both oral and written components, and although it was more challenging than she had anticipated, Yui gave it her all. She was determined to secure the position, knowing it would bring her one step closer to Mr. Sato.

"Impressive!" her interviewer, a man in his late forties, exclaimed, clearly pleased with her performance. In all his years as the company's general manager, he had never encountered anyone quite like Yui. Even when she made mistakes, her confidence and poise were so convincing that he almost doubted himself.

"It's nice meeting with you, Miss Yui. We'll get back to you soon," the man said with a warm smile as they shook hands.

"It's my pleasure meeting with you, too," Yui replied, flashing a grin of her own.

"It would be a great honor to have you work with us. Have a nice day," the man added, his voice full of enthusiasm.

"You too, sir," Yui responded as she gathered her things and left the office.

As Yui arrived home, she was practically dancing with excitement, the music in her head reflecting the joy she felt. In the living room, Sakura was watching TV but quickly turned the volume down and looked over at Yui when she noticed her daughter's cheerful demeanor.

"Welcome home, mum!" Yui greeted, her voice brimming with delight as she hugged Sakura tightly.

"You look so happy. What's going on? Where are you coming from?" Sakura asked, eager to know the source of Yui's excitement.

"I was invited for an interview at Dansat's Winery and Beverages…" Yui began, but Sakura cut her off mid-sentence.

"What?!" Sakura exclaimed, her eyes wide with shock.

"Surprised? Well, I am too," Yui said, sitting down across from her mother.

"After all these years, you still harbor hatred in your heart towards Mr. Sato? How do you expect me to believe that you were invited for an interview at his company? I'm pretty sure that you went there yourself under the guise of searching for a job just to accomplish your selfish aim," Sakura scolded, her voice filled with concern and frustration.

"That's not true. I can prove it," Yui insisted as she quickly retrieved her phone from her bag, unlocked it, and showed Sakura the email she had received from the company.

Sakura examined the email carefully, still harboring some doubts but eventually shaking them off. "It's fine. I'm sorry for…" Sakura began to apologize, but Yui interrupted her.

"It's okay," Yui said, offering a warm smile to her mother.

A few days later, Yui received another email from Dansat's Winery and Beverages. It was a congratulatory message informing her that she had been offered the position of Accounting Manager. The email detailed her job description, the company's code of conduct, penalties for any infractions, her working hours, salary, and all other relevant information. Yui was ecstatic.

"Everything is working in my favor. Get ready for your downfall, Mr. Daniel Sato," Yui thought to herself, a mischievous smile playing on her lips as she prepared to take the next step in her plan for revenge.

Yui’s first day at Dansat's Winery and Beverages felt surreal. As she was introduced to her colleagues and taken on a tour around the company, she could hardly believe she was finally inside the very walls where her father once worked. The company was impressive, and her new office exceeded her expectations—well-furnished, well-ventilated, and with a view she had only dreamed of. The scent of grape juice and beverages being produced wafted through the air, mingling with the low hum of conversations around her. She took her seat, taking a moment to absorb everything around her, feeling a strange mix of awe and resolve.

Assigned to the accounting department, Yui quickly met her team—a group of young, vibrant individuals who were passionate about their work. They welcomed her warmly, and it wasn’t long before she started to hear murmurs of admiration.

"I love her personality," one whispered.

"She's so calm and humble," another added.

"I'm already in love with her," someone else chimed in.

Though she had only been with the company for a few hours, Yui had already earned the respect and admiration of her colleagues. She recognized a few faces from different departments—people who had been her father’s close friends at work. However, they didn't seem to recognize her. She had grown from the little girl they once knew into a beautiful, intelligent young woman. Yui was pleased by this; their lack of recognition would work in her favor.

"If I want to achieve my goal here, I must keep my identity hidden. No one should know who I really am," she thought to herself, her mind sharp and focused on her mission.

The first five days at the company passed smoothly, but Yui began to grow anxious. She hadn't seen Mr. Sato once, and the absence of her target made her uneasy. Fear began to creep into her thoughts, threatening to unravel her carefully laid plans. Unable to bear the uncertainty any longer, she decided to ask one of her junior colleagues about Mr. Sato while they were busy working on the company's financial records.

"Our boss has been sick for some months now," the young man explained regretfully. "His son has been managing the company in his absence."

Yui felt a rush of conflicting emotions. On the one hand, she was relieved to learn that Mr. Sato wasn’t dead, but the news of his illness also brought unexpected complications. If he was too sick to work, then confronting him directly might be impossible. However, Yui quickly recalibrated her plans.

"If he's indisposed, that's none of my business," she thought coldly. "If I can destroy everyone close to him and everything in his possession, including this company, I will have succeeded in ruining his happiness. Until he draws his final breath, he will live in misery."

Yui allowed herself a wicked smile as the dark thoughts ran through her mind. But outwardly, she remained composed and concerned. "Thanks so much for the information. I wish him a quick recovery. The company needs him. We all need him back on his feet," she said, feigning concern for Mr. Sato's health.

The thought of meeting Mr. Sato’s son intrigued her. Although it was unfortunate that he would have to suffer for his father’s sins, Yui’s thirst for revenge made her indifferent to any collateral damage. In the meantime, she carried out her job with efficiency and precision. Her team members quickly came to respect her for her fairness and leadership, even as she reprimanded them when necessary. Yui was careful to maintain a positive reputation within the company, knowing that being in everyone’s good graces would help her avoid suspicion and ultimately achieve her goal.

All the while, she waited patiently for the moment when she could unleash her carefully planned revenge on the man who had caused her family so much pain.