Disclaimer: Mai-hime belongs to Sunrise.
CHAPTER 4
7:00PM
The raven haired young director was seated in a fine dining restaurant in Tokyo with her orange haired manager sitting opposite her. Their mouth watery exquisite Japanese cuisine dinner was neatly laid on the table before them.
"Wow, Mai. How did you find this restaurant?" the raven haired young director asked her grinning orange haired manager. She was planning on just dropping by at the nearest McDonalds for some drive-thrus. With her busy schedule, she was not one who fancied visiting fine dining restaurants. Her main reason? They took forever to be ready and she needed her food fast and on the go. It wasn't a surprise that most of her food intake was from takeouts.
"I happened to know the owner." The orange haired manager replied shortly, a light blush adorning her cheeks. Before the raven haired young director can further inquired she spoke again. "Let's eat, Natsuki. I'm starving." The orange haired manager retrieved a pair of chopsticks before starting to dig in. "Itadakimasu!"
"Hell, yes." The raven haired director retrieved her own pair of chopsticks before starting to also dig in. "Itadakimasu!"
"Where else can you find the best Japanese food but Japan itself? Nothing beats the original." The raven haired young director can't help but to commend the exquisite taste of Japanese cuisine. It was true that it wasn't her first time to be in one of those fancy Japanese restaurants. Neither was she that deprived of Japanese cuisine. But the food that she was happily devouring now was beyond exquisite. Either this or she was just hungry at the moment
Her mother was in fact a half Japanese but whenever the woman tried to prepare food, they always turned out having no food at all with the rare occurrence of some unscheduled visit to hospitals' emergency room or if they got fortunate, just a few trips to the bathroom. The result was always a kitchen disaster.
After a few minutes of dining, the orange haired manager turned her attention to the raven haired young director who was now chugging down her dark caffeinated drinks with gusto. "Natsuki, I don't think it's healthy for you to be consuming a lot of those." The orange haired manager gestured to the dark coffee in the raven haired young director's hand. "That's your third cup for the night. We've been here for like thirty minutes only." A small frowned marred the orange haired manager's radiant feature as a hint of disapproval laced her voice.
"It helps me think, Mai. Calms my nerves." The raven haired young director replied as she took another sip of her dark coffee.
"Why don't you take tea instead? It's healthier." The orange haired manager offered a suggestion.
"Tea is boring, Mai. It tastes like roots or grass or whatever it is." the raven haired young director cringed as she remembered the last time she was forced to drink all the flavors of tea there was during one of her meeting with a tea-enthusiast Japanese producer. "Never again." The raven haired young director thought when chills ran down her spine as she reminisced the tastes of those tea leaves in her mouth. She retrieved her cup of coffee and emptied its content in an attempt to erase the taste from her mouth like she just consumed a cup of the offensive beverage.
"You should at least lessen your consumption, Natsuki. You're starting to get addicted to that. Before you knew it, you might not be able to go on a day without having that. The withdrawal effects aren't that good." The orange haired manager said, concerned for the unhealthy lifestyle of the raven haired young director in front of her.
"Can't promise you that, Mai." The raven haired young director called for her fourth cup of coffee.
When she noticed the concerned look and the frown forming on the orange haired manager's face which didn't have any intention of vanishing soon, she decided to relent to ease her for the moment.
"Fine. Fine. I'll try, okay? Happy now?" the raven haired young director gave in, rolling her eyes when the orange haired manager in front of her rejoiced like a child brought to a gingerbread house full of chocolates and candies.
"Hmn!" The orange haired manager nodded her head in agreement, flashing her toothy smile to the raven haired young director in front of her. Her cheeks flushed when her eyes caught a sight of a very familiar figure approaching their table from the direction where the raven haired young director's back was turned to.
A black haired handsome young man clad in black business suit was flashing his charming smile as he approached the orange haired manager. Walking beside him was a gorgeous tawny haired young woman wearing a purple dress that hugged her curves perfectly.
"Reito-san." The orange haired manager greeted when the two figures halted on their table.
"Good evening, ladies. I hope our accommodation here is to your liking." The black haired handsome young man politely bowed his head as he smiled at the two diners who were now looking at him. One was glad to see him while the other seemed indifferent with his existence.
A waiter came carrying the raven haired young director's fourth cup of dark coffee. He bowed his head before retrieving the item from the platter that he brought with him. "Pardon the interruption. Here's your coffee, Madam. I hope you enjoy it." He was in the process of placing the item on the table when he felt an unexpected push on his right arm causing him to lose his balance making the cup of coffee topple to the raven haired young director's lap, drenching her denim jeans in the process.
"Ow! Ow! Hot! Hot!" The raven haired young director screamed in her head before she abruptly stood up, screeching the chair in the process. The cup of coffee fell down the carpeted floor. "Holy effin' mother of hell!" the raven haired young director cursed in her head as she glared passed through the waiter, who visibly gulped with fear as his face instantly paled into ghost white, to the smirking tawny haired superstar. "You! I swear I'm gonna kill you, woman. Gaaahh!" The raven haired young director fumed before calming her nerves not wanting to entertain the tawny haired superstar further at her own expense. "No way in hell I am giving you the satisfaction to laugh at me, woman! Never!" The raven haired young director concealed her emerald orbs behind her eyelids before inhaling discreetly and releasing it to calm her raging nerves.
Everyone watched in horror as the event unfold. Well, except for a certain tawny haired superstar who was actually the culprit behind such unfortunate event.
"My, my. Director is surely soaking wet." The tawny haired superstar mused over her little handiwork as her crimson orbs twinkled in amusement, admiring the result of her little antic.
The orange haired manager's eyes bulged as she held her breath, expecting the imminent uproar of a furious raven haired young director. "Natsuki…"
"I a-am s-sor-ry, M-ma-dam! I-i a-apo-lo-lo-gize!" the waiter apologized profusely as he kept bowing his head towards the raven haired young director.
"Just be careful next time." The raven haired young director calmly stated. Her emerald orbs looking at the flustered waiter as she flashed him her polite smile. She picked up the fallen cup with the saucer before offering it to the waiter. "Here, take it with you."
"I am really sorry, Madam! I will just get you another one." The waiter breathed a relief as he took the outreached ceramics from the raven haired young director.
"Do not bother yourself. I am fine. I think I have enough coffee for the night." The raven haired young director calmly stated, looking at the waiter. She turned her emerald orbs to the orange haired manager who sat there dumbfounded with her eyes bulging and jaw dropping to the table, if that was even possible, before grinning at her. "Right, Mai?"
"Eh!? Is the world coming to an end now!? Why is Natsuki not rampaging?" The orange haired manager screamed in her thought upon witnessing a very calm raven haired young director. The raven haired young director was too calm for her taste. She blinked her eyes a few times, not believing what she was witnessing. "Are my eyes deceiving me?"
"Yes, of course." The orange haired manager replied when she was pulled out of her stupor. She stood up and went to the raven haired young director's side to offer her table napkin to her. The raven haired young director took the offered table napkin to wipe her wet hands but not her soaking denim jeans.
"Are you sure, Madam?" the waiter asked once again, really apologizing for what happened and not wanting to lose his job especially when he screwed up big time in front of his boss.
"She's fine. You can go now, Mr." The orange haired manager dismissed the persistent waiter not wanting him to irritate the raven haired young director whom she was sure was using every ounce of control in her body to restrain herself from going berserk.
"I apologize for the unfortunate turn of event, ladies." The black haired handsome young man interjected, looking at the two diners. He casted his eyes to the retreating waiter who looked at him apologetically. "Rest assured that this will be addressed properly to refrain it from occurring again." A hint of awaiting severance from job laced his sweet voice as he looked the waiter in the eyes.
"There's no need to fire him. It was an accident." The raven haired young director calmly stated looking at the black haired handsome young man before turning her emerald orbs to the down casted waiter whose shoulders were slumped down. "I'm sure he'll try to do his job better next time. Right Mr.?" The raven haired young director finished, halting the waiter from his step.
"Well, if that is what you say." The black haired handsome young man smiled before gesturing the waiter to go his way.
"Arigatou." The waiter muttered to the raven haired young director in a tone so low that only the tawny haired superstar and the raven haired young director heard. His head turned towards the raven haired young director.
"Go now." The raven haired young director whispered, nodding at the now smiling waiter.
"To make it up to you ladies, the food is in the house. Do not bother yourself with the bill. Please accept my offer as my sincere apology for the mishap." The black haired handsome young man offered.
"Thank you, Reito-san." The orange haired manager interjected before it can be point blank rejected by the raven haired young director.
"Oh, where are my manners?" The black haired handsome young man brought his right hand to his forehead mocking disapproval of his rudeness. He straightened up before looking the raven haired young director in the eye and flashed his charming smile to her. "I am Kanzaki Reito. I presumed you are Director Kruger? Nice to finally meet you." The handsome young man introduced himself holding his hand out for a handshake. He learned about the orange haired manager's companion for the night from the orange haired manager herself when the latter made her reservation earlier which he personally took care of.
"Yes, I am." The raven haired director took the outreached hand before releasing it.
"And this is my cousin, Shizuru Viola." The black haired handsome young man introduced the tawny haired superstar.
"We know her, Reito-san. Director Kruger will be working with her on a project." The orange haired manager said when the raven haired young director seemed to be indifferent.
"Unfortunately, yes." The raven haired young director imaginarily rolled her eyes. Her emerald orbs were looking at anywhere but at the tawny haired superstar.
"Really? That will be great, Director Kruger." The black haired handsome young man said before looking at the tawny haired superstar beside him. "Shizuru-san did not mention the matter to me. Perhaps she forgot?"
"My, my. Reito-san. Such matter is trivial for you to concern your already busy self." The tawny haired superstar replied before turning her attention to the raven haired young director who seemed not to care at all. "I don't think we have been properly introduced, Director Kruger. I'm Shizuru Viola. Pleasure to be working with you." The tawny haired superstar purred the last sentence as she held out her right hand for a handshake towards the raven haired young director, earning her a low chuckle from the black haired handsome young man beside her.
"Mai, I have to go now. Need to clean up." The raven haired young director turned her attention to her orange haired manager, completely ignoring the tawny haired superstar's outreached hand. She turned her emerald orbs towards the dark haired handsome young man and nodded her head gesturing her exit. "Kanzaki." She then turned on her heels and started her strides towards the restaurant's exit.
Awkward silence fell among the remaining occupants, each not knowing how to initially react.
"My, my. She ignored me again. Well, there's no need to hurry. We have long months ahead of us." The tawny haired superstar thought darkly as evil schemes started running through her mind. She then turned her crimson orbs to the retreating raven haired young director's back. "Until we meet again. I'll make sure you'll have fun working with me, Director Kruger." She finished with a glint in her crimson orbs, promising future interesting interaction with the raven haired young director.
"I'm sorry but I have to go. Reito-san, Viola-san, have a nice night." The orange haired manager bowed her head before walking briskly towards the raven haired young director.
"Already in trouble with the director on your very first day, aren't you Shizuru-san?" The black haired handsome young man chuckled, his eyes looking at the retreating diners.
"You don't have to worry yourself about me, Reito-san." The tawny haired superstar replied as she turned her body towards the black haired handsome young man. "Shall we proceed with our dinner now?" She said as she began moving towards the VIP area.
"Director Kruger seems to be different from your previous 'acquaintances'." The dark haired handsome young man commented as he thought about the recent mishap and how the director reacted to it, not to mention how she ignored the tawny haired superstar's advances.
"Oh, believe me Reito-san when I say she is no different. She will soon yield to me." The tawny haired woman stated with confidence and certainty lacing her melodic voice.
"Perhaps. But you should not keep on playing with dangerous things as your entertainment, Shizuru-san. You might end up hurting yourself." The black haired young man replied, concerned for his cousin's welfare.
"I am just entertaining the director while she is here. We don't want to bore our foreigner visitor, do we now Reito-san?" The tawny haired woman said with a glint in her eyes.
"If that is what you say, Shizuru-san." The black haired handsome young man abandoned the argument, knowing that he can never make his cousin listen to him. "Just keep in mind that I had warned you." He continued before opening the door to the VIP room. "Here we are."
"Thank you, Reito-san." The tawny haired woman thanked the black haired handsome man who held the door for her before sauntering inside.
10:00PM
The raven haired young director found herself following her orange haired manager's red Porsche 718 Boxster S convertible car that was just pulled over near the entrance of a huge building. She dismounted her personalized black Ducati Panigale 959 bike after seeing her orange haired manager got out of the car. She removed her black helmet after shaking her raven mane for any disarrayed one.
"Why are we here, Mai? Aren't we supposed to be looking for a hotel to check-in for the mean time?" The raven haired young director asked as she followed her manager.
"We don't have to do that, Natsuki. Our accommodation here in Japan was already taken care of. This building is where the people involved in the project will stay for the entire duration of the movie production." The orange haired manager said glancing at the raven haired young director who was waiting to her left. "I think it's efficient. Keeping the actors, actresses, and crews together. Everyone goes to the taping venue together, avoiding unnecessary delay for the taping that may result due to tardiness." The orange haired manager explained as they strode towards the reception area.
"So, we will be stuck here for ten months, huh? Sounds like a prison to me." The raven haired young director commented, looking at the orange haired manager.
"It's not that bad, Natsuki. Their amenities here are good. At least that's what they say. Now, why don't we just see it for ourselves?" The orange haired manager said as they approached the reception area.
Three beautiful young women clad in purple business suit were seated behind the reception area. Three flat screen computer where installed inside the star-shaped reception desk where the three young receptionists were settled behind.
"Good evening, Director Kruger, Ms. Tokiha. Welcome to SFV Entertainment Company Residences!" The receptionists greeted in unison, expecting the two foreigners' arrival.
"Good evening, too ladies." The orange haired manager greeted back, smiling at the receptionists while the raven haired young director just nodded her head.
"Here's your proximity card and your access key to your unit, Ms. Tokiha. The red card is your proximity card that will allow you to gain access to the other common areas in the building aside from your room. The purple card is your access key to your unit in room 12 found in the 26th floor Building A." The receptionist who was positioned in the middle of the other two receptionists retrieved two cards and held it out to the orange haired manager.
"Thank you." The orange haired manager replied as she took the cards from the receptionist.
"You're welcome. I hope you enjoy your stay with us, Ms. Tokiha. Feel free to call our help center for any concern. Our valet will guide you to your unit." The receptionist smiled as a valet dressed in velvet red approached the orange haired manager.
"This way, Ma'am. Please follow me." The valet gestured towards the elevator.
"I'll wait for Director Kruger." The orange haired manager announced.
"Director Kruger's assigned unit is in the annex building, Ms. Tokiha. It's the opposite building." The receptionist informed.
"Go ahead, Mai." The raven haired young director urged her manager.
"Okay. I'll see you tomorrow, Natsuki." The orange haired manager said, before following the awaiting valet.
"Director Kruger, your assigned unit is Wing B Penthouse in the 27th floor of the annex building. Here's your proximity card and your access key to your unit. The red card is your proximity card that will allow you to gain access to the other common areas in the building aside from your unit. The purple card is your access key to your unit." The same receptionist explained as she held out a set of two cards to the raven haired young director.
"Thank you. What room am I in?" the raven haired young director inquired when no room number was mentioned except the building floor. The two cards were already held in her hand.
"You're welcome. It is the 2nd room that you will see to your right upon entering the 27th PH floor, Director Kruger. There are only two units in the 27th floor." The receptionist replied. Then, remembering something she continued. "Ms. Armitage requested us to give you the access key to Wing A Penthouse in the 27th floor. It is the unit opposite yours. She also left a note. Here." The receptionist retrieved another purple card and a white folded paper from her desk and offered it to the raven haired young director.
"Thank you." The raven haired young director retrieved the note and card.
"You're welcome. Our valet will escort you to your unit, Director Kruger. Should you have any concern, please feel free to phone our assistance desk. I hope you enjoy your stay with us! Have a nice night, Director Kruger." The receptionist finished as another valet approached the raven haired young director.
"Hmn." The raven haired young director nodded her acknowledgment.
"This way, Ma'am. Please follow my lead." The valet ushered the raven haired young director towards the opposite direction where the orange haired manager was guided to.
The raven haired young director opened the note and read its content in her mind. "It's the duplicate access key to Viola's penthouse unit. You'll be needing that. Good luck, Director. –H. Suzushiro."
"Huh? Why would that loud mouth manager give me that woman's access key? The last thing I wanted is to be in her presence if I have the choice." The raven haired young director thought as she followed the valet's lead.