[47]

                                    

                                          
She was alone at the rooftop, leaning against the railings, eyes wandering aimlessly over the wide expanse of Gotham. A cigarette dangled from her fingers, by the looks of which it seemed as if she had been smoking for a while now.
                          
Her head was crammed with everything that had happened earlier that day and she had no idea how to respond to it. And since those cramming thoughts were suffocating her from the inside, she had decided to go to the roof to clear up her mind. 
                          
When she had returned from work, she was surprised to find a man she had never seen before, dressed fully in a formal suit, waiting at her doorstep.
                          
He had introduced himself as Daniel Sanders, the caretaker CEO of her father Jack Drake's firm.
                          
Apparently, the nearly bankrupt Drake Enterprises had regained their shares in the stock market and was eventually getting stable. She was surprised how the firm was still up and running to which he had replied that he visited Jack often regarding the vital decisions taken for the firm. So even if Daniel was the caretaker CEO, the real power still laid in Jack's hands.
                          
And on his recent visit when he had informed Jack of the elevating condition of his company, he had asked him to transfer the post of CEO to Sayuri since she was the most rightful candidate for the post and there would be no further objections from the law regarding that either.
                          
Sayuri had been shocked, to say the least, but Daniel assured her that the particular topic had been under discussion ever since she returned to Gotham. Jack couldn't be out himself for another five years, but he wanted his daughter to take over his company in his place.
                          
He himself thought that it would be for the company's benefit if she accepted. But Sayuri knew the post came with great responsibility so she had asked for some time to think from him. She had told him that she would meet her father first and then let him know of her decision. 
                          
And now that he had gone leaving her in a dilemma, she had looked for the easiest escape thus she went to the rooftop, rethinking the offer. She needed some time to herself to figure it all out.
                          
Sayuri wasn't a habitual smoker either. It was just a habit she had picked to calm herself down whenever she felt too overwhelmed or anxious.
                          
And in such a state when she was clearly uncertain of what to do next, a few hours of smoking seemed like a temporary exit route to her.
                          
The cigarette in her hand had almost finished but she didn't notice as she was lost in thought, wondering why would her father want her to take up such a big responsibility. She had no experience nor qualification to be a CEO except for the fact that she was the daughter of the company's owner. 
                          
"Want another one?"
                          
She was shaken up by a rather familiar voice and looked up to see Jason perched up on the railings beside her.
                          
He was in his Red Hood suit and his helmet was held under his arm. Though he was holding out a newly lit cigarette to her.
                          
Knowing that it was dangerous to be so lost in thought that she hadn't even realized how long he had been there, still she took the cigarette, throwing away the previous one.
                          
"Now that's worse than I expected," he remarked, lighting up his own cigarette and taking a long drag from it.
                          
"What could be more worse than your presence here?"
                          
"Haha, downright hilarious," he rolled his eyes sarcastically, "I meant you. You're worse than I expected."
                          
"Excuse me? Just because I didn't throw you down these railings, doesn't mean you have the right to say that to me."