Rupert Heigl got back at the main office four days ago. He was hell as tired from 48 hours of travelling. The direct flight from Germany to Japan was cancelled, and his boss called out for him to be back at Thursday morning. As much as he hated the man, he loved the job too damn much that he'd compromise with the only Japanese prick he resented. He was hoping to be transferred to the core team, where the auto department had all the action going on. He had a slice of what he called heaven two years ago, at Ferrari, where he had to resign due to lack of opportunities and an alleged discrimination. It was a tough job and the people weren't exactly as forgiving. However, he's experience taught him well and right after resigning, he got a call from Chiba Motors, a new uprising car company that wanted to involve itself in the Formula One racing games. The job was pretty simple, assist the marketing department as the new team leader with their latest project in Europe. He'd be their representative until the project would have a firm base in Berlin. He'd be coordinating with colleagues overseas in America, then back at Japan. It was a lifestyle for a jetsetter with all expenses paid by the company, as usual. The perks were endless, but so was the fieldwork. It was a complicated choice and a bit far from what he really wanted.

He applied for a captain position in the racing team six months later. When his boss found out, his current job became twice as tough. Fortunately, the supervising director for their department said that if he nailed his next project right, he'd take him in as one of the managers of the racing team. The catch was that he'd have to play agent and recruit a driver good enough to be a part of the newly founded track team.

With his previous experience, the bosses probably thought he'd be best for the job. The other challenge was that he wasn't alone; aside from being pressed for time, he was competing with a couple others who wanted the same job. Finding a talent and marketing one wasn't exactly as easy as he predicted. He only had three weeks left to arrange everything, and so far, he hasn't even started. Their branch in Germany had a problem so he had to play rescue, but now that it was all solved he was back for the real deal.

With the time he had in Japan, he was able to get contacts from friends and acquaintances that could be of help. It was a good thing that one of them sent him back a reply. He was invited at a racing event to take place at a Monday afternoon in Mt. Jinbu at Kyoto. His contact would accompany him if he would agree to come over. When he got the reply he immediately said yes.

Four days later, he was transported to a place he never thought existed in Japan. Green landscape, pristine ivory clouds, blue skies—it was something. It was refreshing after attending to busy offices and cramped up streets in differing cities. It was like a mini-vacation during work, but what he didn't expect was a prize upon arrival.

Luck finally came his way after all. It was unbelievable, but after watching Haruka's performance, he figured there are such things as miracles. There was a fairly wholesome large crowd that gathered at the base of the mountain. They cheered for their corresponding teams as they waited for feedback through their radios a while back. The computer monitors set inside a van showed Rupert's luck further. The team members of Jinbu team

"That was an incredible performance you did out there."

Haruka paused and squinted her eyes against the glaring light from the sky. A white man was now talking to her amidst a crowd of Japanese. When was the last time that happened?

"You think so?" she asked, walking pass by him and trying to go with the flow, "'Could've done better." She even managed to chuckle.

"Well you know what they say," he followed her, "there's always room for improvement."

Haruka halted and turned around,

"Name's Rupert Heigl. Nice to meet you." He held out his hand and even managed to flash a genuine smile.

"Haruka Ten'ou. Likewise." She curtly nodded her head and folded her arms.

"Listen," Rupert exhaled and scratched the side of his jaw, "I have the feeling you're not the type who loves the chit-chats so, to make the long story short, I'm a representative from Chiba Motors; we're looking for fresh hot talent for the tracks."

"I already have a contract."

"What?"

"With Atsumo Motors. F3."

"Oh... But they're not exactly for F1, are they?" Rupert challenged.

Haruka paused. She didn't know the full story behind this but if he was telling the truth, this was not the kind of opportunity she should ignore.

"Tell me, Ms. Ten'ou," he started, "how many times have you tried out for other racing teams and get repeatedly shun away?—"

"Mr. Heigl," Haruka snapped, "I understand you're in some sort of desperation here. I'm flattered that you spared me a fraction of your time with your lovely observation, based from my 'incredible performance'," she paused, "but I don't need anyone to tell me where I can go from where I am, because believe me, I know."

Haruka shook her head in disgust and started walking away.

Rupert saw this as a waste of chance. He was wrong to take the wrong foot forward, and badly needed to redeem himself.

"Ms. Ten'ou, I apologize." He began, "I don't mean to give the idea of underestimating you, and I absolutely don't. However, I'm in a leash of time here, if I may be so frank. If you turn me down, most likely we won't see each other again." He said. "It's not out of pride, because I need to keep looking for better talents under such a time constraint. I've others listed at the back of my head but I thought I could bend tradition and go for something new."

"New?" Haruka snorted.

"Yes."

"So I'm new." She mocked.

"For F1." He shrugged his shoulders.

"Look," he sighed, "I don't plan to be in the freakin' Guiness World book of records," he snickered, "but I do intend to be in the Formula One industry. You and I both know that the only way to do that is to have one helluva talent. I'm looking at a possible one right now."

When Haruka didn't answer, Rupert decided to break the ice further.

"It'll be tough. I can't even assure you if it'll even be a success. The racing team in Chiba Motors is just newly born, but I can lead them to better heights if I can prove them I've got the talent."

Haruka was both impressed and baffled,

"Who are you really?" she asked.

"I told you, I'm a representative."

"More like an agent."

"That's another way of putting it."

"'Know what," Haruka smiled, "I admire your guts. I do. But I have my own pace. My own connections." He emphasized. "Not that I don't give a damn, but I'm not fond of things or people related to 'Chiba'." She drawled out, "Unfortunately, you are. In a nutshell, I suggest," she continued, walking a few steps closer to Rupert, "that you go over that list in your head and scout for number 2, or whoever the hell is next; because I'm not buying you, your racing team, or anything that has got to do with anything Chiba."

"A grudge perhaps?" Rupert raised a brow, restraining his increasing irritation.

"More than that." Haruka plainly stated and turned her back on him.

Rupert couldn't believe he was watching the back of his opportunity walking away from him. The Grand Prix was suddenly closing in on him. He was never going to reach his goal after all. The cheering crowd was far off. His team would never materialize.

"Ten'ou!" he shouted, not moving an inch from where he stood, "When you finally change your mind, visit me at the tracks." He slammed a palm against the hood of the car, parking right beside him. It was loud enough to stop Haruka on her tracks, "I don't know what you have against Chiba, but I don't give a damn anyway. What I do know is that you can use that company to get what you want. It's none of your business but just so you know, I'm just using them as well. It's a two-way thing. Maybe you should join us, too. Here's my card on this hood. If I don't see you two days from now, I'll assume the wind carried it away to someone else."

Rupert walked away feeling half-confident and contrastingly crushed. He didn't know if it was the right decision, but if it was meant to be, it would be.

Haruka walked back where she stood earlier.

It's been a while since she set eyes on that golden girl who was already taken by a man she presently resented.

Past was past. Today is business.

The card Rupert Heigl left earlier was literally lifted by the breeze. Haruka smiled at the thought of his proposition. She caught the paper easily without even looking.

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AN: Sincerest apologies. I think it's been more than a year since I last posted. There's no proper excuse for my belated update/s. However, I would like my readers to know that I do intend to continue and finish this story. Thank you for reading and watching out for my updates. I salute you.