Disclaimer: Author owns nothing. Mai-Hime belongs to Sunrise.
CHAPTER 11
FRANCE
After long hours of flight from New York to Paris, the young director finally alighted the private jet plane, courtesy of the person who requested her present. A black trench coat that hugged her lithe figure just fine was being blown away by the wind, exposing her torso. Her inside dress was composed of a gray loose shirt paired with a tight black jeans and matched with a pair of high-heeled boots. Adding more to her height. The wind was doing the same to her raven mane thus, anyone who would see her right now will not wonder why France's well-respected editor-in-chief would trouble herself with ensuring such luxurious accommodation for a lone individual just for a few days pictorial.
"Bonjour, Mademoiselle. Welcome to Paris." A man clad in black suit approached her as soon as her feet touched the ground. "I will escort you to your hotel." He continued, gesturing his hand to the three vehicles that were waiting a few feet away from the jet plane.
"Does she really have to be this extravagant? I could use a cab, you know." She replied in French to her escort.
"Madam Vi's order, Mademoiselle." The man explained upon sensing the young director's initial hesitation. "She wanted to ensure your safety and privacy. You're quite famous with the press here. Madam Vi doesn't wish you to get involved in any fabricated issue."
"I'm sure she'll take of it if I ever get myself into one." She said playfully before starting to walk towards her ride's direction.
"It is my duty to prevent that from happening, Mademoiselle." The man replied, opening the vehicle's door for her to enter.
After a few minutes of ride, she found herself in one of Paris' luxurious seven-star hotels. Not anymore surprised with her accommodation, she decided to just follow her escort. Fortunately for her, only the first black suited man who approached her was ordered to keep her safety and security thus, she did not have to be bothered being surrounded by numerous bodyguards which she found to be really unnecessary. They were walking on the long majestic hallway when the man halted in front of a unit.
"This will be your unit, Mademoiselle." The man handed her the key card. "I will be back to escort you to the venue tomorrow." He continued before retrieving a small piece of paper and a phone from his coat pocket. "Madam Vi instructed me to give these to you." He said, handing over the items to the young director who retrieved them. "Should you need anything, you can use the phone to contact me. I will take my leave now, Mademoiselle." He announced after giving a curt nod.
"Merci." She replied to her escort who left after uttering a you're welcome in French and offering her a smile.
Opening the note, she read what were written on it. The calligraphy was perfect. What else to expect from someone whose life revolved around art and design?
"Bonjour, young lady! I am well aware of how much you regard your privacy. The phone is safe from wire tapping and your escort will be with you only when I deemed necessary. Have a lovely night and I will see you tomorrow."
The note was signed with a letter "V" written in an elegant manner. She folded the paper and was about to enter her unit when she heard a very familiar voice calling her with urgency.
"NK!" A man gasping for breath halted before her.
"What the hell, Masashi? What are doing here? Don't tell me you're still stalk…"She started but was interrupted when she was shoved inside her unit in a manner she least like.
"I'm not here to stalk you, okay." He said and continued in panic. "Get dressed. We have a race to win." He continued but the young director just stared at him like he had lost his mind. "Look, I know you just came in and it's already past eleven in the evening and that I sound crazy but I will explain everything to you on the way." He explained with urgency and only paused when he started getting out of breath. "For now, get dressed and make sure no one will recognize you. Madam Vi's bodyguards are still around and they can't know that I lost…" he halted, realizing he was being too loud.
"Lost what?" She inquired, brows knitting together.
"Just. Just get dressed okay. We don't have much time." He said in panic, glancing at his wrist watch. "Just do this one favor for me and you won't see my face for a year. I will delete every picture I have of you and I will do whatever you want. That's a promise." He begged furiously.
"Alright, alright. Just get your ass out of here and wait for me outside. I'll be done in a minute." She said, pitying the man whom she knew for quite sometimes. She used to beat the said man on races for countless times when he refused to give up on her. The man was her admirer to put it lightly.
The young director found herself in the middle of a crowd and a few meters away from where they stood was race track. She just changed her loose gray shirt into a black tight racer back and topped it with a black leather hooded riding jacket. One of the editor-in-chief's designs especially made for her.
"So, you're saying that you dragged me here because you lost Madam Vi's granddaughter and you just think that she would be here?" The young director said, unbelieving what she just heard from Masashi. "You're not even sure if she's really here. It is just your instinct that says she might be here. Are you fucking kidding me!?" She raised her voice because the crowds were getting louder as spotlights started to dance on the stage. "Why didn't you stick a tracker on her!? That could've have saved you the trouble of guessing, idiot!"
"I did that, NK. But she's a brilliant woman. She had it removed and before I knew it, she was out of my sight. Ms. Vi will kill me if she finds out that I lost track of her granddaughter. So please race on behalf of me. You have a better chance of winning than me." He pleaded once again to the young director who was now pissed off.
"We're not even sure that she'll be part of the race! This is fucking insane and stupid!" She said but was interrupted with the howling of the crowd.
"NK! She's here! I am right. Look." Masashi pointed to the stage where five racers were standing with helmets on their sides.
The young director turned her attention to the stage and her first surprise of the night was presented to her. Standing in the middle of the five racers was a very familiar figure. "What in the world is she doing here?" She muttered under her clenched teeth and her grip tightened around her helmet.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen! Are you ready to see some actions in the race track!?" The announcer started and the crowd got wilder. "I'll take that as a yes. Our rules will still be the same. Winner gets the prize and the privilege to command any loser of his choice with whatever he or she wishes. May I call the final racer to come up the stage now." He finished, looking at the crowd in search of the last racer.
"I'll take care of this, Masashi." The young director announced before she put on her helmet and strode to the stage with a single purpose on her head.
"Good luck. Remember you are M." Masashi yelled at the young director's back.
"Our last and quite mysterious racer is here." The announcer said when the young director had joined the other racers. "I assumed you are M. Would like to show your face to the crowd?" He asked the young director who only answered him with a tilting of her head to signal a no. "Alright, if that's what you wish. We respect each racer's preference here." He turned his attention back to the crowd. "Ladies and gentlemen, let me present to you our racers for tonight!" he yelled to the crowd before addressing the racers. "Racers, you may proceed to the track now. Good luck."
All racers proceeded as instructed. Madam Vi's granddaughter was about to get in her black Ferrari convertible car when she felt someone held her right arm and turned her body around. The young director, with her helmet still in place, wrapped her right arm around the woman's waist and leaned her head towards the woman's right ear before whispering in her unrecognizable muffled voice. "Don't you dare lose to these idiots. I'll wait for you at the finish line." She said before withdrawing herself and grabbing the helmet from the woman's hand before gently putting it on her. She proceeded to the blue Ferrari convertible car that awaited her. Leaving the woman to her curiosity.
"Interesting…" Madam Vi's granddaughter muttered before finally getting in her car and fastening her seat belt.
All the racers were in position, gloved hands were wrapped around the steering wheel and feet were ready to hit on the gas at the signal of the sexy woman holding the checkered race flag. All the six Ferrari cars' hoods were rolled down. It was not an acknowledged race but instead a dangerous drug race organized by a few young sports enthusiasts. Paramedics were around though so, it was safe to assume that the organizers came from well-off family. Suffice it to say that the members of the crowd's financial status were the same with those organizers.
The young director tilted her head to the woman who was on the other end of the track. The woman was still looking at her direction which made her smirked before focusing her attention on the road. Her gloved hands gripped the steering wheel tightly as the countdown started.
The race started and all cars roared in full speed, leaving nothing but smoke behind. Several minutes have passed and they were down to the last and final lap. The weather started to get bad as loud clapping of thunders were heard. Soon enough, heavy downpour came thus, reducing the track's visibility to almost zero. The young director was in third place with the woman in black Ferrari in first place. A racer in yellow Ferrari car was in second place.
"Playtime is over, buddy." The young director muttered before hitting on the gas and going full speed but the racer in front of her was giving her no chance. Minutes passed and they soon came to a curvy track.
"Eat my dust." The racer in yellow Ferrari smirked upon seeing the racer behind him slowed down. He was too preoccupied with looking at his opponent on the side mirror that he did not notice the curvy track ahead of him. "Shit! Shit!" He cursed in panic but was too late to drift her car to the right thus, he ended up out of the track. The slippery track didn't help her in any way at all. "Damn." Quickly, he maneuvered the car back to the track but with the time he lost, the young director had advanced.
"That's one down. Now, for the final lap." She said when the screen flashing the words "FINISH LINE" came to her sight. She increased her speed and in a few seconds, she was driving side by side with the woman who was unperturbed by the heavy raindrops pouring on her. She casted glances at her left before turning her engine on full speed thus, leaving the woman behind. Just when she thought she was winning the race, the woman's car started to gain speed.
"Not going to let you have an easy win, honey." The young director muttered before gripping the wheel tighter and abruptly maneuvering it to the left, making the car turned around ninety degrees. Blocking the woman's way with the car's front and at the same time effectively surprising her lone competitor who was just in time to hit the break. "Good reflex there, honey." She muttered when her competitor car's halted just a few inches away from her bumper. Taking advantage of the element of surprise, she hit the gas once again and drove the car backwards thus, reaching the finish line. "Unfortunately, it's game over for you."
A gunshot was fired signaling the end of the race. The young director let go of the steering wheel and relaxed in her seat while gazing upon the furious night sky, allowing the raindrops to attacked her helmet's visor.
"NK! Are you alright? Are you hurt somewhere?" Masashi came in to her side in panic-stricken voice.
To the crowds' perspective, it was as if her blue Ferrari convertible had collided with the black one and was only forced to the finish line with the latter car.
"Yeah. I am fine." She answered before unfastening her seatbelt and getting off the car. "I'll take care of her. Tell Madam Vi that she's with me if she will ask you." She said as she started approaching the black Ferrari car.
Right when she was a few steps away from the black Ferrari car, the announcer popped out of nowhere and grabbed her left hand before raising it to the crowd. "Ladies and gentlemen, tonight's race winner is M!" He announced to the crowd who were unperturbed by the rain. "You may claim your prize later, M but for now…" he started but was interrupted by the young director.
"Actually, I was about to claim my prize but you got in the way. So, if you'll excuse me." She said before proceeding to the black Ferrari car whose owner was calmly leaning on the cars closed hood with her helmet taken off. She allowed the raindrops to pour at her beautiful and delicate face as she stayed there with her eyes closed and her face facing the sky. The young director halted in her steps upon seeing the sight before her.
"I prefer warm shower over cold rain, if you were to ask me." The young director said to no one in particular before removing her helmet and halting a few steps away from the woman.
"Unfortunately, I don't share the same sentiment with…" The woman slowly opened her eyes and was halted in her speech upon seeing the very familiar figure in front of her. "Director Kruger…" she finished, a little bit surprised.
"Your body does, Ms. Viola." The young director said before setting her helmet beside the superstar's trembling body. She removed her black hooded leather jacket and wrapped it around the woman before wrapping her arms around her and closing what little gap their body had.
"What does Director Kruger think she is doing?" The superstar asked stubbornly.
"I am just taking care of my prize. I don't want it to be ruined by the rain nor by its very self." The director whispered as she slowly put on the jacket's hood over the superstar's head and buried the latter's head on the crook of her neck. "Let's get you out of the rain, okay?"
"No, let me go." The superstar protested and tried to wiggle out of the warm embrace but the young director held her in place.
"Stay still, Shizuru." The young director said which effectively halted the superstar's movement. Surprised with the director's way of addressing her in such a familiar manner. She held the superstar's neck and looked into her eyes. "Look, I am sorry. I didn't know and still don't know anything about you. I was an idiot and I am sorry." She yelled over the pouring rain. "But please stop doing this to yourself." She inched her face closer before once again talking. "Please stop ruining your life. You didn't lose everything, Shizuru. You still have your grandmother. Your cousins and friends are still there. Please stop making them worry about you." she paused, looking straight into crimson orbs.
"I didn't ask them to…" The superstar stubbornly fired back but she was silenced by a pair of soft lips. The kiss was gentle and not dominating which was in direct contrast to their first encounter. The young director gently held the superstar's head in place. There was resistance at first but the latter gave in later on. The superstar closed her eyes and followed the young director's gentle and slow rhythm. Soon, they ended the kiss and the director planted a kiss on the superstar's forehead before whispering in a reassuring voice. "And I am here now, Shizuru." She finished before gathering the superstar in her arms once again.
The superstar melted into the warm embrace and allowed herself a moment of weakness when she let her tears fall freely on the young director's strong shoulder. The heavy rain veiled them from the inquisitive eyes. The young director just allowed her to cry her heart out and soon the sobs subsided.
"I'll take you with me, okay?" The young director said, wiping the superstar's face with her thumbs. "You're grandmother knows that you're with me. So, you don't have to worry about ditching Masashi." She smiled to the superstar who seemed surprise.
"How did Director Kruger know my grandmother?" The superstar inquired.
"That's a long story for Natsuki to tell, Shizuru. For now let Natsuki take you to a safer place where we can talk without letting ourselves killed by being struck with lightning." The director said as she started leading the superstar to the driver's seat of the black Ferrari car. It was her way of indirectly introducing herself to the superstar.
"I'll be driving. Get in." She commanded which was gladly obeyed. She closed the door and jogged to the other side of the car.
"I will use the hood. Will you be alright with that?" She asked the superstar to her right who seemed hesitant. "I will try to get there as fast as I can, okay." She added and the superstar nodded her head, still a bit hesitant. She started the engine then, reached for the superstar's hand and gave it a little squeeze. "You'll be fine." She finished before maneuvering the vehicle to their destination without letting go of the superstar's hand.
Soon enough, they reached the hotel. They were lucky that only a few souls were still awake at that hour. Mostly were hotel staffs which mean that they are quite safe. The young director adjusted the superstar's jacket hood before entering the hotel.
"Good morning, Mesdemoiselles." Two staffs approached them and handed them towels.
"Merci." The superstar replied with a curt smile after retrieving the towel.
The staffs just gave a court nod before proceeding their way.
"Come, Shizuru." The young director guided the superstar to the empty elevator.
In a matter of seconds, they reached the young director's unit.
"You go in first. I will take my turn after you." She said, gesturing to the bathroom's direction.
"Thank you, Natsuki." The superstar said in her melodic voice which halted the young director. It was the first time that the woman had called her by her first name. For some reasons unknown to her, it felt and sounded right.
Minutes later and the superstar came out of the bathroom, just in time when the call that the young director was taking ended.
"You take the bed. Don't wait for me." She said before entering the bathroom, knowing full well that she usually takes longer than necessary.
After more than forty minutes in the bathroom, the young director came out clad only in a black short and loose white t-shirt. She didn't expect to see the superstar elegantly cocooned on the couch despite her instruction.
"Stubborn as ever. Aren't you, Shizuru?" She said, sighing, before carrying the woman and taking her to the bed instead. She was about to proceed to the couch to take her much needed rest when she heard a small whimper and saw the superstar's pained expression.
"Okaa-sama." The superstar called in her sleep.
Deciding against her initial plan, she settled beside the superstar and gathered her in her arms. She planted a soft kiss on the woman's forehead which effectively calmed the latter. Sooner, she herself succumbed to sleep.