Episode Twenty-Four: Ultimatum
I was quiet the next day.
Naozumi never brought up our little make out session in front of my apartment and neither did I. But, by Thursday, we apparently had to have at it.
It happened kind of abruptly too. I mean…of course I was waiting for the other shoe to drop. To have a little powwow. Whatever. But part of me just really wanted to avoid the conversation completely. In my mind, I had resolved that even with Naozumi's affections, I was still hung up on Akito. My mind and heart just wanted him and him alone. So I would have to verbalize that to Naozumi had some point.
It was just a matter of when.
And, when happened to come during our interview and photo shoot with Extra! Entertainment for our '90's teen star special.
"Okay, now turn ever so slightly and… stop! Right there!" Takumi Yamazaki, Extra's head photographer, commanded when the lights were flashing and Naozumi and I were being photographed in front of a white screen backdrop. We were all made up and clothed in designer clothing that I hadn't been caught in since I was younger. I really liked my outfit today: a pastel sweater with lace collar, adorable skater skirt, and heeled booties. Naozumi had a white button down shirt on—unbuttoned at the top and black trousers with loafers. We posed together according to Takumi and would be featured on the cover as well.
A few more shots were taken and then we had solo shots too in different outfits that would be cluttered on our centerfold article and after a half hour break, we prepped for a quick location shooting nearby.
By the late afternoon, we wrapped up the photography portion of the day. And, went on to interview with Mayu Ishii, the highest paid writer for Extra's magazine.
The day was going really well—so I thought and I was actually enjoying the pampering and the free food. All up until, Mayu left us for a moment to take a business call.
"Sana," Naozumi said. His tone unclear and I just turned to him as he was sitting next to me and smiled.
"What's up?" I asked.
"We have to talk about the other day. I…um, I want your answer," Naozumi explained in a slightly stiff voice.
"Oh…Nao…I still…I'd like to think about it," I offered, sounding as if I was avoiding the whole thing.
Which I totally was.
It wasn't my fault! It really wasn't. It was so hard to be clear in the head when I had decided solely I wanted Akito. The man who didn't even want me.
"Okay, Sana," Naozumi sighed, rubbing the back of his neck in that way that men do when they seem stressed. "But, I'm not going to wait around forever." He brushed part of his signature hair with his hand and just took a bit to stare at me with those remarkable and uniquely blue eyes. I couldn't help but return his gaze, and gulp nervously. Then, Mayu returned and resumed asking us her load of questions for the interview.
It was around 8pm when we wrapped for good with Extra! I had stopped near a cute café shop modeled after a Parisian café and ordered a café au lait and a chocolate tart for the road, when my phone rang.
I saw his name, Akito Hayama, in black block letters on my screen.
I tensed for a second.
My feelings rushed back to me at once. My coffee in my hand almost slipped as the nerves set in.
"Hello?" I said, lowering my head and in an almost whisper.
"Hi…Sana," Akito replied and I tensed again at his voice. I hadn't heard it in such a long time. We mostly conversed through email or messaging, so hearing his voice was shocking.
"Everything okay?" I asked. "Need me to do something for you?"
"Umm…" Akito hesitated. A weird reaction on his part.
It kept me thinking…
Akito Hayama had surveyed his surroundings. The empty office. No happy go lucky, peppy assistant next door. The sun setting deeply under the buildings that he viewed from his massive office window. With the blinds up and curtains drawn, Akito kept his head pressed against the glass and his eye trained on the throngs of buildings and the miniscule looking cars, buses, and bikes lining the streets. Wondering one thing: where was Sana Kurata? In Tokyo. With another man. So many stories up, he was on top of the world.
Except…he had felt so low. Beneath anything he'd ever felt.
It was only days ago, he rejected his assistant.
No.
She wasn't only an assistant.
She was…special. And he let her go.
All because he was being foolish and his insecurity kept inhibiting his feelings. He didn't think they'd work together. For real. He wanted to keep things where they were. Plus his track record wasn't really helping his cause.
In his mind, he thought all that happened was wrong. He made countless mistakes. And kept making them time and time again. If he got into an actual relationship with her…what would his own staff think? His father? The rest of the world?
He worried…it would taint his reputation. Indefinitely.
"Damn it," He muttered and poured himself some aged scotch that sat at the end table near the window. He drained the glass nearly instantly and then picked up his phone. Dialed her number.
Could he make amends? Could he really fix this? No.
But how would he? He couldn't even begin to decide.
He definitely had to do something. And, maybe, he finally have a solution. The way to fix all this and make everyone…happy.
"Akito? Are you alright? Are you still there?" I asked again. I almost thought I lost him until I heard him breathing through the phone. A few gaping sighs. Nothing long winded.
Just thoughtful.
"I want to promote you, Sana. You'll become a manager here at Hayama Talent," He explained. "I'll provide you clients, benefits, everything. Just…come back."
I bit my lower lip.
Saw Naozumi's limo waiting patiently like the man inside.
"Come back to me," Akito said. His voice now hoarse. "I…I forgot something the other day when you confessed your feelings. Something truly important."
I refused to speak til he finished. I wanted and needed to hear it all.
"I hadn't meant to. But, it's just…" He paused, taking in a deep breath. "I love you."
Then, he released that breath.
And, I did too. At the same time.
"Don't speak. Just…if you want the job. And, me…Come back. That'll be my answer and if not, then we can go back to just being boss and assistant. And there won't be hard feelings if you decide to part with the company also. Just…" Another hard breath. "Come back. I need you."
"I..." I mouthed but the word didn't come out. I was speechless.
"Speak soon," Hayama said and then I heard the line go dead.
I had never heard anything like this before. Not from past boyfriends. Not from Naozumi. And, especially nothing of the sort from Akito. My eyes watered at his words. Something unfamiliar to me. When I checked my wristwatch moments later, I rushed out of the café and to the car.
"You okay?" Naozumi asked with worried eyes.
"Yeah, fine!" I shook, secretly still reeling from Akito's words.
"Look—Sana, I don't mean to sound rash but, I want to offer you more than just my affections for you. Be my manager. The salary is fantastic and I'll take care of you and we can go on holiday together. I…I've always loved you, Sana. I promise to protect you. I know you've been hurt. I could detect it in your voice when I phoned and asked you to take Maeda's place for the week. But, whomever hurt you…I promise I won't ever hurt you in any way," Naozumi explained.
Two promotions, two heartfelt confessions…in one day…to one me. Oh jeez. My mind was basically exploding from all this.
"Wha—what about Maeda-san?" I ended up asking. But for serious. What about that man's job!?
"I've lined him up to work with Rin—she's in need of a new manager and with Shouta Narita," Naozumi explained. Narita had just risen to absolute stardom from this breakout film. He was one of the most wanted males in the Japanese Celeb-Universe.
"Oh," I said quietly.
"Just…give me your decision. Tomorrow, at most. I just want to hear it from you soon," Naozumi said and gently kissed my cheek. With that, we drove through the streets of the city and I gazed out my window. The thoughts of what would happen next…what would I decide…and who did I want to be with wracking my brain and tugging at my heart.
A/N - This is the second to last chapter of the story. :)
It's kind of bittersweet, but we're almost at the end and again, thank you to all the readers who have stuck with me until the very end. This story definitely took longer than I thought when I began writing it but I just wanted to let you guys know that for now-this will be my last fanfiction for a while. I don't know when I'll be writing again. But, I just wanted to thank you all for the reviews/viewership and of course, your support. Thanks and have a happy Christmas and holidays!