Chapter 10: All Together
"Are you kidding me?" Hitomi said, "What is going on?"
"I was just about to say the same thing" Kasumi said as they all looked away from Hayate and Rye sitting at the table.
"Well this just turned interesting" Kokoro said, "Oh watch out, incoming" she said as Leifang was approaching them.
"Girls, Oh my God, long time no see" Leifang said.
"Yeah long time no see except for the fact that w have seen you because you are all over the newspapers" Kokoro said.
"Oh well you now, I guess it comes with the territory" she said looking over at her fiancé.
"Oh yeah so how did you meet?" Helena asked.
"Well you know my dad is a very aggressive businessman so my dad had him over for dinner and it was love at first sight I guess" Leifang gushed.
"Well we are very happy for you" Kasumi said, "So when is the wedding?"
"Thanks. The wedding is September 15th, it's so close I can't wait" she said.
"Well we hope you have a very happy day and life with him" Helena said.
"Thank you but you all have to come, please give me your address so I can send you your invitations immediately" Leifang told them.
"Oh here you go" Helena said writing it on a napkin and handing it to her.
"So if you don't mind me asking" Kokoro said, "What are Rye and Hayate doing here with you guys?"
"Oh well Hayate is helping us find a house to share after we are married since he is the best agent in the city".
"The city of Boston?" Hitomi asked.
"Yes silly and Rye is the boyfriend of my fiancé's sister; small world huh?" Leifang laughed.
"You have no idea" Kasumi said under her breath.
"You are all welcome to join us" Leifang offered.
"No that is very kind but we are just enjoying our dinner together since it's Hitomi's first night here" Helena kindly turned her down.
"No problem but we definitely need to get together for lunch or something" Leifang said.
"Okay sounds good, we will see you soon" Helena said.
"Okay bye" she said before she walked back to her table.
"Well this night turned out more surprising than I thought" Kokoro said.
"Girls I am so sorry, do you want to go somewhere else?" Helena asked Kasumi and Hitomi.
"No I am fine besides you did not know they were going to be here" Kasumi said.
"Yeah and we can't hide from them forever. Now we are here to have a good time so let's enjoy it" Hitomi said taking a huge gulp of her drink.
"Okay then can we talk about Leifang's love at first sight" Kokoro said laughing and they all joined in.
"Hey maybe she really loves the guy" Hitomi suggested.
"Yeah or maybe they really love that baby she is expecting" Kokoro said.
"So mean" Kasumi said.
"Well nobody meets somebody then not even a month later they are getting married" Kokoro said.
"More like five months" Helena said.
"Okay so they met sometime in April and they are getting married in September. I believe that if you love somebody why not wait before you make a mistake. If you love each other you can wait" Kokoro said.
"That is true but I still don't think that she is pregnant but I guess we will find out at the wedding" Helena said.
"You know what is really weird; the fact that she said Hayate is in real estate. I just don't see him as having a job like that" Hitomi said.
"That was really strange" Kasumi said, "and precisely in Boston".
"Well I will tell you one thing for trying to get away from all this it certainly is not working to our advantage" Hitomi said.
"True that" Kokoro said.
"I need to go to the ladies room. I will be back" Hitomi said standing up and leaving the table.
She walked across the deck and went inside to the bathroom. She looked in the mirror and let out a huge breath. She stood there for a while and touched up her make up before she left. She was looking down putting her lip gloss as she was walking back outside when she bumped into somebody.
"Oh my God I am so sorry" Hitomi said and then she looked up.
"It's okay" Hayate said smiling.
"Oh hi" Hitomi said.
"Hey, how have you been" he asked.
"Good, how about you?" she asked.
"Pretty good so how is your father?" he asked.
"Doing better but he wanted me to go and you know make a life out here. He said he would visit soon".
"That is great, I am glad to hear it".
"Okay well I just get back to the girls" she said and turned to leave but he grabbed her hand.
"Wait, are you sure you are okay?" he asked her still holding her hand.
"Yeah I am totally fine" she lied to him.
He looked at her for what seemed like forever and finally she pulled her hand away and walked back to the table. The girls ate their dinner and Ryu kept looking over at Kasumi the whole time. What are you doing he thought to himself she is slipping away with every mistake I make. How can I make this right? He looked across the table to Hayate and thought about how he was taking this with Hitomi being here. Hayate looked back at Hitomi and felt happy and sad at the same time. She makes me so happy, so why can't I tell her that. Why am I so stupid, dam it. They continued their diner long into the night as Leifang's fiancé Robert kept talking and talking. Ryu noticed that the girls got up to leave and grabbed their stuff as they headed out. He almost got up to go after Kasumi but his head stopped him and he remained seated.
Helena handed her ticket and a few minutes later her car was waiting for them. Helena tipped the valet generously and they jumped in the car and sped off to Monet. The girls had a great time in Monet with some great drinks and Kokoro enjoyed the company of some boys but she was not alone seeing as Kasumi and Hitomi joined her. When it got to be around 2am the girls when to their car and since Helena was the designated driver she helped them in the car and drove to their apartment. When they got there they were all so tired that they all just went to bed straight away.
….
Morning broke as the sunlight hit Kasumi is her eyes. She woke up and took a shower and a short time after was ready for work in a form fitting charcoal dress and black pumps. She headed to work and got started on her engraving orders.
"Hello" Jack said coming into the store after a coffee run.
"Hey" Kasumi said.
"Some hand delivered things were brought for you earlier" he said.
"Oh?' she said.
"Here you go" he said taking them out of the drawer.
"Thanks" she said looking at them. One was an invitation to Leifang's wedding and Kasumi laughed a little. The other was an invitation to the Major's benefit Gala next week.
"Wow here we go again" she said.
"What?" Jack asked.
"The Mayor's benefit Gala; he has one every season and I go because it is for a good cause but it is basically a fashion show for the rich and famous and before you ask why I get an invitation it's because we have done some pieces for him" Kasumi told him.
"Well of course you are invited, darling you are fabulous" Jack reassured her.
"Thanks" she said.
"So the real question is what are you going to wear?" Jack asked.
"I think that Helena is working on something for us and you know I would much rather wear something she makes for me and I feel comfortable and it gets her name out there you know"
"Yeah I understand plus she make fabulous dresses, I am sure she has something great for all of you. So the second important question is who is going to be your date?" Jack asked.
"Umm I wasn't even planning on going so I don't know if I am going to have a date".
"No date? Listen honey I know that it hurts to hear it but you know that guy of yours, Ryu is going to be there with his girlfriend so you can't show up alone, why don't you show that man what he is missing?"
"I guess you are right but who do I take?" she asked him.
"Well how about that guy that always comes in because he is supposedly ordering something but really he comes in here because thinks you are sexy" Jack suggested.
"Please are you talking about Adam?"
"Umm yes he is sexy and I am sure he is invited, I mean he only owns like all the Mercedes dealerships in the whole state" Jack said.
"Yeah okay like he would ask me anyways, I am not just going to go up to him and ask him to go with me"
"Why not you are quite the chatty when he is here" Jack said smiling.
"Well I am just being a friendly manager" Kasumi said laughing.
"Yeah sure, oh speaking of" Jack said as Adam entered the store.
"Hey" Adam said hugging her.
"Hi, so what brings you in today?" she asked.
"Well I am not here on business. I just wanted to ask you if you would want to go to the benefit gala with me. I just don't want to go though out the whole night without some good company" he said smiling.
"I would love to" she said smiling.
"Great" he said, "Well here is my phone number, maybe we can get together before the gala".
"Okay sounds good" she said.
"Alright I will see you soon" he said and gave her a hug before he left.
"Okay then" Jack said laughing.
"Yeah yeah, get back to work" Kasumi told him.
…..
Helena had been working hard on the girls dresses for the gala and they were finally done so she decided to take them home since the Gala was two days away now. She got home and placed the dresses on the couch in the living room. She sat down on a huge couch and let out a huge breath. She was exhausted from working on her new collection and the dresses from the gala.
"Hey you okay?" Hitomi asked followed by Kokoro.
"Yeah just really tired" Helena said.
"Hey everybody" Kasumi said coming into the house.
"Hey" they all said.
"How was your day?" Kokoro asked.
"Great, I have a date for the Gala" Kasumi said smiling.
"Oh do you now?" Kokoro said.
"Yes remember that guy Adam that would always come in the store, well he asked me to the gala" Kasumi said.
"Well good for you, now I have to get a date" Kokoro said.
"Wait you don't have a date? That is surprising" Helena said laughing.
"Yes I know it's hard to believe but I am working on it. Hitomi who are you going with?" Kokoro asked.
"Umm not sure" she answered.
"Well I have that covered" Helena said, "The photographer that helps me with my campaigns is very handsome and available. He is stopping by the shop tomorrow so you can meet him then".
"Okay I guess" Hitomi said.
"Awesome so you all have a date and I don't" Kokoro said and they all laughed.
"So are these our dresses?" Kasumi asked.
"Yes they are" Helena said standing up and distributing them. She handed Kasumi a full length white gown with a tight corset and a flowing skirt and a plunging neckline studded with crystals.
"Oh this is beautiful" Kasumi said, "thank you so much".
"No problem and this way we know that nobody will be wearing what we are" Helena said handing Hitomi a full length one shoulder red dress with a steep cut in the front showing of her legs. Finally she handed Kokoro a deep blue form fitted gown just the way she wanted.
"You have really out done yourself" Hitomi said giving her a hug.
"No problem, just promise me that you are going to have a fabulous time and enjoy that arm candy you are bringing" Helena said.
"Okay will do" Kasumi said and Hitomi nodded.
….
The Night of the Gala
Ryu put on his three piece suit and looked in the mirror. Well it would be stupid of me to wish that Kasumi was not going because I am pretty sure she is going to be there along with the rest of the girls. I wonder how Hayate is taking this. I wish this night was already over he thought looking out of his huge bedroom window and even though it was only five the sky was already dark with clouds. He took a breath and grabbed his cell phone and headed out to pick up Amber.
On the other side of town Hayate was already ready with his all black suit and he was looking outside of his balcony. What is up with this weather he thought so strange. I wonder if Hitomi is going to be there and if she is what am I going to say or do. Nothing because I am a coward, what is wrong with me? Now is the perfect time to tell her something or do something since I left home I have felt free of everything, free to make my own decisions, nobody to hold me back except for myself and I am not doing anything about it. Maybe I should say something tonight.
The girls were almost ready for the Gala when there was a knock on their door.
"I'll get it" Kasumi said being the closest to the door.
"Hello" Adam said when she opened the door.
"Oh hi please come in" she said.
"Wow you look beautiful" he said handing her a bouquet of flowers.
"Thank you so much" she said smiling and taking the flower and placing them in a vase.
"Girls, this is Adam and Adam this is Helena, Kokoro and Hitomi" Kasumi said introducing them.
"Very nice to meet you ladies and may I say you all look stunning" he said.
"Well thank you" Kokoro said and there was another knock at the door.
Hitomi answered and it was her date and Kokoro's date and she let them in and everybody met everybody else.
"Okay I will see you girls there" Kasumi said taking Adam's arm and leaving the apartment.
A few minutes later Hitomi left with Kaleb and Kokoro left with her date Matt. Helena was the last to leave and she locked the door and headed down stairs.
Everybody was beginning to arrive at the Mayor's private estate and the house was decorated with fresh summer flowers and banners of the Adoption Center the benefit was raising money for. Food and drinks where being circulated around the room as well as a huge bar near the dance floor. A black car pulled up in front of the house and a woman stepped out wearing a black dress and made her way to the house. As she entered the house and saw all the guests Ayane said,
"Let the games begin".
What do you guys think? What do you think is going to happen or should happen at the Gala? Let me know what you think. : )