Chapter Text
If there was one thing that could be said about Asami Sato, it was that she had not had an easy life. Her last name, sometimes a burden, was synonymous with greatness and innovation. It had also meant that people expected great things from her, yet she had always embraced the challenge. After all, Asami knew she was fortunate to have the parents she had. Parents who loved her and who were focused on teaching her everything she needed to know to succeed.
Unfortunately, she lost them too soon— and the protection and normalcy the two of them tried to teach in her life abruptly ended. For you see, Asami's parents had been pioneers in the prosthetic business and had created Sato Corp., one of the biggest and most critical prosthetic companies in the world.
A legacy that Asami was determined to help expand and grow.
Yet, many in the company thought that she got her position because of who her parents were. And while many tried to spread these rumors without her noticing, it was hard not to when she could hear how many claimed she wasn't as talented as her parents were.
As if Asami didn't already feel insecure about herself and her abilities.
Yet an opportunity presented itself when the Board hired Iknik Blackstone Varrick, a renowned scientist from the Southern Water Tribe, who claimed he could replicate and improve on the designs her father had made. Hesitant about approaching him at first, Asami grew less weary when Varrick recruited her to be a part of the project, saying that this was her opportunity to show everyone at Sato Corp. that she was just as good and talented as her parents were.
Asami agreed to help him because she trusted his word and his love of science.
Right from the start, she knew the project would take much work. The Board had tasked Varrick with creating a new prototype for their leg prosthetics line that would use fewer materials and lower the production cost while maintaining the product's good quality.
Theoretically, the project sounded impossible. Her father's designs would need to be modified, hoping they could find ways to replace or exchange materials.
All those long nights she spent with Varrick in the office made Asami realize that she was interested in Varrick as more than a friend. This crush she had was turning into something more serious. And yet, when Asami tried to tell Varrick about it, she was dismissed by him. The priority right now, to both, was to deliver the schematics the week before the Christmas break.
The deadline was today.
"Asami, you need to relax," Mako told her for the fifth time as he watched her pace back and forth across the conference room.
"You keep going around in circles, making me dizzy," Bolin added.
Asami stopped walking.
"I'm sorry," she apologized. "I just… Today is a big deal for me. If they approve the design, it will prove to everyone that I deserve to be in this company. That I didn't obtain my position because of who my father was. That I have the talent to succeed him."
It will also mean that I can finally confess my feelings to Varrick.
"We understand that," Mako smiled. "And that's why we are behind you one hundred percent."
"We are!" Bolin agreed with his brother. "We just haven't seen you a lot since you started the project, and we were, you know, concerned."
Mako and Bolin were Asami's closest friends. Her parents had hired them after the two tried to steal one of their cars. Instead of turning them to the police, her father had seen their potential— after all, very few could claim to have bypassed Hiroshi Sato's security measures— and offered them a job in his company.
While Asami had not approved at first, she quickly realized that her father must have seen the talent and goodness the two men possessed. And, when her parents passed away— Asami knew that without Mako and Bolin's love and support, mourning them would have been harder.
They were the two younger brothers she never knew she wanted but was now grateful to have.
"I know, but we can catch up when this project gets approved! Varrick said that Beifong will most likely approve it, so knowing that makes me anxious."
"Oh really?" Mako said suspiciously. "And how would Varrick know what Beifong thinks?"
"What do you mean?" Asami asked, confused. "Right now, he's meeting with her to discuss our findings."
"Exactly, so how did he know that Beifong liked the project before officially meeting her today?" Mako said.
Asami opened her eyes in shock as she realized what Mako meant.
Varrick had shown Beifong the project before today and had lied to Asami about it.
No, he couldn't have. Varrick wasn't like that. He cared about her and knew what this project meant to her and her future in Sato Corp.
"He probably showed her a small part of it, so she could tell him if we were going in the right direction," Asami tried to convince herself. "He's not that type of person."
"He's an asshole," Bolin grumbled. "Going around the office saying he's the best scientist in London and will surpass Hiroshi Sato soon enough."
"He said that?" Asami whispered. "But he always told me he admired my father and wanted to build a legacy based on his work. He told me he truly admired my vision for Sato Corp."
"Asami," Mako murmured. "It sounds like you care about him."
"I think I like him, Mako," she admitted, looking downwards. "And I know it's not very professional since we're coworkers. But I couldn't help myself."
Mako and Bolin gasped when she said that, moving closer to her.
"Asami! How could you?!" Mako exclaims.
"How could I what? We spent a lot of time working together, and we realized we had a lot of things in common," she explained. "I don't know, I just fell for him."
Mako closed his eyes, groaning.
"Why is that so wrong?" Asami asked, and this got her surprised looks from Mako and Bolin.
"You mean you don't know?" Bolin whispered, ready to say more before being interrupted by Beifong, who must have finished her private meeting with Varrick.
"Everyone! Your attention, please," Lin Beifong said as she waited for the room to quieten. "Many of you are aware of Mr. Varrick's hiring in hopes of updating our prosthetics line to more accessible and durable materials. Many of us expected Mr. Varrick to say he could not find a solution. Yet, I have the approved designs for our new prosthetic line in my hands!" she proudly smiled at the congratulations and claps being directed their way. "Mr. Varrick, we are delighted with the changes and improvements you have made for the leg prosthetics, and we are excited to apply these new designs for our new line of 202X."
"Asami, you did it!" Mako said to Asami while squeezing her shoulder. "Congratulations!" Bolin hugged her tight.
"Thank you." Asami smiled brightly.
We did it.
"Thank you all. Mr. Varrick will say a few words to the staff about what to expect of the new design."
"Of course," Varrick stepped forward, meeting Asami's gaze and winking at her. "As Miss Beifong said, I didn't think I would be able to find a way to improve Mr. Sato's already exquisite designs," he explained. "But after many restless nights and many trials and errors, I was able to come up with a design that not only saves on materials but also allows users to customize their prosthetic to their wishes."
Why… Why is Varrick not crediting me? Why is he saying that he is the one who came up with the customization idea? I was the one who had the idea, Asami thought as she watched Varrick smirk and smile at the attention he was getting.
"But! None of this would have been possible without the support of an extraordinary person! This person was my pillar and my solace during the long nights. My confidante and my number one supporter. The one who told me not to give up and to keep trying to find a solution."
Finally… Asami smiled, ready to stand up and move next to Varrick once he called her name.
"My wife, Zhu Li!" he exclaimed as Asami watched a short woman with glasses make her way to the front of the room.
A wife.
He had a wife.
He lied to me.
"Asami," she heard Bolin's concerned voice ask, and it was all she could listen to before rushing out of the room into one of the many empty offices.
She was not going to break down. She was not going to give Varrick the satisfaction of watching her cry.
No way.
Closing her eyes and doing her best to count to ten, Asami used one of the many techniques her mother had taught her to control her temper.
"Do not speak when bad emotions are in your head, Asami. Take deep breaths and count to ten. And if that doesn't work the first time, count again."
Varrick had lied to her. He had stolen her design and claimed he was the only one who did it. Not only was that wrong, but the truth had been the opposite. Many of the ideas that made the final draft were ideas Asami had.
And to see him take credit for them so bluntly…
It made Asami's anger rise even more.
Knock, knock…
"Give me a minute," she says and counts to ten one more time before standing up and opening the door, only to see Varrick smile at her and make his way in.
"My dear Asami," he happily said. "We did it!"
"From what you said earlier, everyone thinks you did it alone," she growled.
"Oh, you know, I did it that way in case Beifong didn't like the design. That way, your name and reputation were not on the line."
"Bullshit. You knew the design was good. You lied to me and showed it to Beifong before today, so you knew it would be approved. You just wanted to take the sole credit for it," Asami accused him.
"Oh, Asami, don't say things like that. You know I'm only protecting you. Besides, this was the first design. It won't be the last. And next time, when I'm the one supervising the job, you'll get the credit." Varrick smirked. "Today was my turn. Tomorrow will be yours."
"You lied to me," Asami whispered. "About everything. You didn't even tell me you were married!"
"I didn't?" he gasped. "It must have slipped my mind."
He's lying…
"You know, Asami, we worked really well together. Beifong was happy with the product and promised to send more designs soon. I hope that in future projects, you will be as involved as in this one," he said as he grabbed her hand, Asami doing everything she could not to flinch at his touch.
She pulled her hand away, not wanting anything more to do with him and his lies.
"Never," Asami whispered as she left the office, barely managing not to punch the man in the face.
Asami had been played, and she had lost.