Work Text:
-------- ≪ °✾° ≫ --------
“Beidou,” Ningguang spoke. The mere mention of her name fades all hope for the woman being merciful.
In front of Ningguang, Beidou was unkempt on all angles. The suit she normally wears was barely ironed, a case of bed hair, and all the minor but obvious marks on her nape. A mess, rather. And it just sends the wrong messages from people passing by.
Assuming seiza at the door of her office—the same exact spot she planned to stand to report for her shift, only for Ningguang's gaze to pin her like a butterfly.
There were times Beidou couldn’t be the wiser woman to wake up and be on time, least be the first person to be awake in Ningguang’s estate. Her contract stated she is to be with the CEO at all times as her bodyguard, one that is meant to be her reliant trouble-chasing dog. With Ninguang’s rise and eventual growth, surely trouble would’ve been rowdy to make sure she’s got her hands full.
And this time, maybe Ningguang lost her mood to be patient and let Beidou’s streak of being late wane itself off. The brunette barely spoke, not wanting to be the receiving end of her boss' bite in words, watching her every movement.
"This is the tenth time—already," the white-haired woman almost left a sigh. Her faint smile never made its way, but subtle displeasure. "And yet you just look like you're the one in trouble, coming to me so I can save you from it."
What am I even going to do with you… she almost followed. Almost comprehending she can handle a mutt like Beidou who's not in a good pedigree, nonetheless, she was pleased by her bodyguard's look of remorse. It seems she’s understanding how upset her superior is.
Ningguang slid a finger through her paperwork to read it off, leaving Beidou to mentally beg her boss to chew her out, if it just meant she could finally stand up. Her legs are aching, eyes ready to tear up from staring at the tiled floor for too long. She wanted her shift to start and try preparing more before the same thing happens.
After all, the first time is a mistake, but when it happened more than that?
It’s just stupidity.
A long pause came between them.
"Beidou, look at me."
She lowered the papers. Beidou looked up.
"Do you know how many minutes have you been too late?"
The hands that touched Ningguang so lavishly in bed trembled to fists. Beidou sucked in a breath, appearing to look neutral, but the words and smooth, cold voice Ningguang’s speaking left a flush on her collar. Excited one at that.
"Five," Beidou bit her lip. "Five minutes, of course."
Five more minutes…
That was said an hour ago. Now get up, before I just leave you.
H-Hey, wait!
“...that’s not your worst one, do you know that?”
Beidou’s brows pinched. “I do.” That record was two hours being late. Beidou had too much fun and alcohol, suffering a hangover before pushing herself to still work. Ningguang insists she rests for the day, even almost threatening Beidou she’ll drive her back to the estate herself.
“Right now, you’re doing a good job.”
And it’s gonna be something not good.
“A great job in making my day start so badly.”
For just someone being late, Ningguang had to ask her secretary Ganyu to make some… minor changes to her schedule for the day. Ganyu would normally think there were some circumstances, and just did so. She wanted to never do that, just with the “do I have to? For fuck’s sake” sort of feeling. Ah shit, I fucked up, that’s what Beidou might be thinking. So many people will be displeased now that they too must adjust, begrudgingly. All for just being late. The consequences drew to a line, and Beidou’s close to toeing it over.
"It's your fault that I moved a meeting just to meet you. Maybe I should give you more training in your free time so you can distract yourself over to jump on my bed.”
It just makes Beidou hot. Any mention of the words bed and Ningguang, feverish to return back to where she truly performs the best in.
In the surface, she wants it over with, but the appeal of Ningguang snapping with brutal honesty towards her slacking attitude with that voice, her embrace to casual sex with the white-haired woman regardless of their ranks had riled Beidou with depraved energy. If she focused it onto work, would Ningguang finally be pleased of her outside of bed?
“I’d hate to tell Xiao you need more discipline that he can do so well.”
No, not at all. Please just stop. I’m really gonna do better this time, alright? Don't tattle this to him, you don't need to. Beidou gulped. Xiao isn’t the happiest if he receives word of it. Namely, he oversees the bodyguards yet couldn't bring himself to give one a talk down about their behavior they should've been aware that it's so unpleasant to others.
Beidou remains happily quiet, but her insides cooperated with the lurching guilt and made her hunger worse. She could’ve whimpered, like any dog would do after being given a scolding. Ningguang would've went on and on to just further dampen Beidou's day and mood. Below her knees, Beidou felt a numbness to it.
Ningguang huffed. “You're still a dog nonetheless. Always running to her master even when she carries a mess.”
And it’s adorable you smile that way, even if you’re an idiot, Ningguang wanted to add. But not now. She needs to study for the meeting soon.
“Now report to me—after your appearance is proper."
Beidou cracked a grin, feeling Ningguang hand comb her hair. “Sure thing, boss!” Energy bounced her legs to stand upright, open the door like a proper professional and leave—
“Ah, Beidou, by the way—”
—the latter turned back to the door, almost annoyed. It’s a half-hour drive to get to Ningguang’s estate to the company building, what could she even want at this time?
“What is it?”
“I might let you have a piece of me if you arrive before my first meeting.”
Excited, Beidou smirks with a brow cocked. “And when is that?”
“...one hour.”
Beidou rushes off, now offered with an incentive she likes the most, she couldn’t just shout her gratefulness to Ningguang, let alone waste time. The bone so cordially presented, that is of Ningguang needing that little stress relief every now and so. It’s the little offers such as this that make her job better, one that she won’t have any consideration to withdraw.
As the CEO made her way to the conference room, Ganyu beside her, now her composure almost impenetrable like the fog of no ends, her day can continue well. Maybe an apology with a gift should do to those who have to deal with the new adjustments. They'll have to double their weight in the meetings.
"My apologies for the sudden rescheduling, let us commence this meeting..."
-------- ≪ °✾° ≫ --------
"You have a new meeting to another branch, Lady Ningguang."
"Ah, Keqing's?" Ganyu flushed at the mention of her girlfriend's name. "I'll get to there immediately, come with me."
"Certainly."
Outside, they're met with an escort car, matte black in its glory with suited bodyguards exchanging nods. Beidou appears, finally prim and proper.
"After you two," she says, opening the car door. Ganyu went inside first, taking the window seat from the other side before Ningguang closes it.
There's no need to check her watch for the time Beidou appeared. Her other secretaries reported Beidou's time in the estate to be less than twenty minutes and she arrived with ten minutes to spare. How lovely it just sounded, but this was just day one. Maybe Beidou won't do the same the next day, but if something will make her continue this productive use of time and professionalism...
"Good, good girl," Ningguang chuckled, headpatting Beidou. "You arrived very well, ten minutes early before that meeting."
"B-Boss!" Beidou huffed, flustered. "Not now!"
She stops stroking her hair. "Oh, you don't want your pending bone served? We can do that, Beidou."
"Nevermind. Are you gonna give it to me for real? You better be." If Beidou had a tail, she'd wag it. A lot. No shame.
"I will, don't worry."
With this done, Ningguang enters the car. Beidou walked around to sit beside the driver, telling him of the destination. Within seconds, the car purred ahead on the traffic, the afternoon sunlight of Teyvat so mellow and warm.
A dog that has yet to reach perfection, but this is why she’s so special, Ningguang knows that much so. Beidou learns fast when talked enough with reason, even she would continue habits. But it feels refreshing to be given an escape from this blank, boring slate that is of her facing people who couldn’t be lively in this world and stick to their stone-cold masks. Someone should tell them they’re not pressured to be not themselves, to just take it easy, Ningguang scoffs at the thought.
Beidou will always be her good girl .