"I can't believe you won tickets!" Sophie squealed as she dragged Mai around a dress shop. "I wish they'd given us more notice though."
"I told you, the original winners had to pull out, that's why."
"What do people even wear to premieres? I mean, the celebs wear fancy stuff, what do normal people wear?"
"I googled it last night," Mai admitted, "and it said that unless there was a specific dress code, to wear what you want. But most people wore nicer stuff. I was hoping to find a little black dress. Because then I can definitely use it again and it won't look out of place."
"That's a good idea," Sophie agreed. "But we should definitely dress it up with some colour."
Mai hummed in response and continued looking at dresses.
"Do you think they'll let us meet the cast?"
"Maybe, but there will be lots of people there. So don't get your hopes up."
Dress shopping took all morning and so they finished up with lunch from a cafe. Mai had chosen Sophie, her new writing friend, to be her plus one as the through of picking between Keiko and Michiru was too painful. And she suspected Yasuhara might already be going.
"So I'll see you tomorrow evening then?"
"So I don't think we walk the red carpet," Mai mumbled. "It says here we go to the side entrance."
"Over there," Sophie said, pointing at a queue of more normal-looking people.
They weren't far from the red carpet and the masses of paparazzi.
"I am glad we're not doing that," Sophie admitted. "I think I'd fall over just from the pressure of everyone watching me walk."
"Tell me about it."
They joined the queue, entered the theatre and were shown to their seats.
"So the popcorn and drinks are complimentary," Mai explained. "We've got quite good seats here, huh…"
"On the aisle, in the middle? Yeah, pretty damn perfect seats. I'm going to get popcorn, do you want some?"
"Sure."
Half an hour and most of a bucket of popcorn later, some members of the cast — Oliver, Gene and Masako Hara — walked onto the stage. The crowd clapped.
Mai held her breath as Gene produced a microphone. He smiled at the crowd, lifted the mic to his mouth and silence fell.
"Good evening everyone, I hope you're all sitting comfortably. As some of you are no doubt aware, this was our first jaunt into acting, and I have to thank Miss Hara for being such an amazing co-star. She taught us the ropes and made us feel at home on set from day one. Now, this is not the Oscar's — they'd never have this many ethnic minorities on stage at once — so I will not bore you all with lists of thanks."
There was a cautious laugh from the audience.
"I want you all to know that the crew behind this film deserves all the best in the world, and they also deserve far bigger paychecks than they received. I know some of you are here tonight with your families, and you're all amazingly talented."
Another round of applause.
"The author of Disgrace and Deception also wants me to pass on a message before the film starts. And that is that they desperately tried to persuade the director to allow this film to be word perfect to the book, but they lost that battle."
Another laugh.
"I have told them that we will be willing to do their next book as a series if need be."
Yet another laugh.
"Okay, enough of all that. Time for us to get off the stage. We hope you all enjoy this adaptation of Disgrace and Deception."
With a sweeping bow, they left the stage. Mai kept her eyes on the screen, scared that if she looked at Oliver too long that he would make eye contact. She was not ready for that just yet.
The lights dimmed, the crowd quietened and the screen lit up.
Mai held her breath as the soundtrack began.
As the credits rolled, Mai and Sophie, like much of the audience, got to their feet and clapped. Mai had tears streaming down her face.
"It was perfect," she cried.
"I know!" Sophie wailed.
"I felt it! I could feel their emotions in my chest and…"
Mai sank back down into her chair. She had forgotten her troubles. She had forgotten Oliver.
He did not exist on the screen. He was his character.
"Excuse me, Madam."
Mai was shocked from her thoughts as a member of staff appeared in the aisle.
"Yes?"
"You are Miss Taniyama, are you not?"
"Yes? Is everything alright?"
"Quite, perhaps you and your guest would like to follow me to the VIP suite."
"Mai? What's going on?"
"Sophie, grab your stuff."
"Mai?"
"Come on!"
Mai picked up her jacket, bag and Sophie's hand. She dragged her friend from the seats and together, they followed the member of staff.
"Mai, where are we going?"
"The VIP suite."
Sophie stifled a scream of excitement.
"Are you serious?"
"Of course I am."
"But who's there?"
"I don't know," Mai lied. She had a pretty good idea of who would be there. "Perhaps some of the cast?"
They were shown up some stairs to a balcony that overlooked the stage and screen.
"In here, Madams."
Mai and Sophie entered.
"Ah, Mai!" Gene exclaimed.
"They know your name!" Sophie squealed, grabbing onto Mai's arm.
"I won the competition, Soph, that's likely how they know," Mai said loudly and pointedly.
Gene caught on.
"Of course, the organisers like us to know so it seems more personal. But I did not get the name of your guest?"
"This is Sophie," Mai said.
"Oh my! I just!"
"Masako," Gene called, "why don't you come over here and meet our guests?"
Mai swallowed. Masako Hara — Masako Hara! — was walking towards her.
"I have loved everything you have ever been in!" Mai blurted. "Honestly, your performance in this! You had me in tears! It was beautiful!"
"She was blubbering like a baby," Sophie agreed. "Honestly, they could not have cast better."
Masako Hara smiled behind the sleeve of her dress.
"Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed the film. Can I interest you, Sophie, in a drink?"
Sophie almost choked but nodded.
Masako Hara offered Sophie her arm and led her away from Mai, who looked back to Gene.
"I guess I have to face him now, huh?"
"What are you worried about?"
"Last time I saw him, we'd just escaped being kidnapped," Mai pointed out. "Sophie doesn't know anything."
"I guessed. A competition was a good cover though."
"Thanks, I thought of it all by myself."
"I can offer you a drink if it would help?"
"I think I should stay sober, just in case. Sophie is a lightweight and…"
Gene took Mai's arm and led her over to where Oliver was conversing with Lin. The two men looked up.
"Hi."
"Lin, would you like to get some food with me?" Gene asked.
Mai closed her eyes and grimaced.
"Sure," Lin said, then turned to Oliver, "do try not to get kidnapped this time."
Oliver rolled his eyes. Lin left with Gene.
Mai sat down in the seat that Lin had just vacated.
"Hi."
"Hi."
"You brought a friend," Oliver commented."
"Yeah, Sophie, she's from this writing group I joined."
"Hmm…"
Mai had not brought herself to look at him. She kept her eyes focused on a half-finished bucket of popcorn that sat on the table.
"Mai… I am sorry for not telling you the whole truth about my work. Though I never intended for it to hurt you in the way that it did, it did hurt you. If I had been more honest, that might have been avoided. Or at least you could have made a more informed choice…"
Mai bit her lip to stop herself from crying.
"I did not expect you to come, though I figured a chance at the premiere would be a pretty big bribe…"
"Yeah," Mai agreed, choking with emotion. "Couldn't miss out on that."
"What did you think?"
"It was perfect, really, it was… It kept the same emotion the book made me feel."
"I'm glad I did not ruin it for you."
Mai half laughed.
"I forgot it was you. I could not see you, only your character."
"I think that is a compliment."
"Yeah…"
Mai turned and looked out over the theatre. The audience were slowly leaving.
"Do you want to get out of here?"
"What?"
"We could just leave. You and me. Go to a drive-thru and talk about economics…"
"But—"
"Lin is somewhere with Gene. Your friend looks pretty enamoured with Masako. And I haven't caused anything like a scandal since we fired my father."
They locked eyes for a moment. Mai broke the gaze. She looked around the room. Everyone else was busy...
"Okay."
"What?"
"Let's go."
Author's note: Again, this was not edited. One of the reviews I received last chapter suggested that maybe Oliver and Mai should not get together and you know what, I'm contemplating it... What do you all think?