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Chapter 27
"I'm worried about Rei."
I shredded a couple of papers, "You too? She's been very quiet these days."
Dana snorted and scribbled down something onto a pad of paper, "Quiet? Try depressed. Ryan, I'm really worried about her."
The morning sun had just peaked out from behind the skyscrapers and Dana and I were on our usual schedule, 6:00 AM meetings. I reflected for a moment on Dana, who had mastered the human resources department with two months of arrival and now had taken over leadership of the business development department after an unfortunate resignation had left us in the lurch. She was working fourteen hour days, and loving every moment of it. And yet, she still managed to find time to find out the nitty gritty things about my personal life. It never ceased to amaze me.
"Do you have any idea what for?"
"Well, I imagine she was disappointed from not getting the maid of honor thing. But I would hardly think that a small thing like that would sink her."
"Yeah, I know. But something is bugging her badly. Can you find out?"
"That depends boss."
"Depends on what?"
"Whether I get my promised raise."
I smirked, "Already ahead of you. I have already authorized a twenty percent increase plus bonus. You also get off 6:00, just in time to catch the tail end of happy hour. I expect results."
Dana sat back, a satisfied smile on her face, "Alright, boss. Tonight we'll see."
"Rei, I need those status reports on my desk in about twenty minutes."
Rei stared forward, not responding to the stimulus.
I leaned forward and tapped her on the forehead. She jerked up, awoken from her trance, "Sorry, Kaitou-san? What?"
I shook my head, "Take the rest of the day off. You're not your usual perky self."
She mustered up enough energy for a smile."Perky? That's Odango Atama, not me."
I shuffled a couple of papers, "Nonetheless. You're obviously not feeling completely well. You should go back home and relax or something."
"No, Kaitou-san. You told me how much you got behind when I left for a week. Would you be willing to risk that again?"
"I would liquidate this business if I felt it would make you smile again." I said with deadly seriousness.
"I-" She choked up a little bit and I smiled bravely, though it hurt me to see her like that, "I guess I'll be heading home. Thanks, sir."
"Thanks, Ryan" I corrected gently, "I do this as your friend. Not as your boss."
Rei cracked a half smile, "My friend wouldn't be able to get my boss to let me go home early."
I looked down at my paperwork, "This friend has undue influence over your boss. Go on, get home or to a bar or something."
As Rei left the executive office area, she heard a voice calling out to her, "Rei-chan!"
She turned and a rare smile blossomed on her face as she saw Dana catching up to her, "Dana-san! How are you doing?"
"Not bad. The old slave driver let me go home early for the day." Dana said jokingly. "You?"
"He said I looked a little down and should go home and rest."
"Bah, you're young. I suggest a bar. Salvation is much better found at the bottom of a bottle."
"That sounds....irresponsible."
"I think we're both entitled to a little irresponsibility after a full day of being responsible corporate citizens. Come on. I'm buying."
Rei smiled at Dana's cheerful insistence, "Alright. I suppose that one could not hurt."
Admittedly, Rei regarded the surroundings with a little bit of apprehension. Dana had driven her into a seedier part of Tokyo (or as seedy as Tokyo can get), deep within the brothel district. There, she had stopped in front of a somewhat ramshackle building. Surprisingly, a valet appeared almost out of nowhere to take Dana's keys.
Dana got out of the car, and stretched before beckoning to Rei. Rei grabbed her purse and followed Dana into the building.
What she stepped into was a pleasant surprise. It was opulent, with warm mahogany paneling covering the entire room. Dimmed lights were suspended from the ceiling and placed at each corner, giving the room a wonderfully subdued glow.
Tables were scattered around the center On the sides were partially hidden booths, covered in deep shadows. A few denizens were already there, along or talking with others in low voices. Dana held up her hand, signalling to the bartender for two drinks to be brought to a sidebooth.
After they were seated, Rei leaned forward and said in a low voice, "How did you ever find this place?"
"It's a good spot for those of us who like to drink in relative silence. Or are prone to getting morosely drunk."
Wryly, "Then it should be perfect for me."
They sat in comfortable silence for a couple of minutes until Dana's order arrived. She sipped at her mai tai and gestured for Rei to start on hers. Rei cautiously took a sip of hers and recoiled slightly, "It's a little strong. I can feel it burning on the way down."
Dana smirked, "That means it's working. Ryan must have indoctrinated you in the use of alcohol as an escape."
Rei frowned, "One of his less savory habits. But at least he stays within reasonable limits. But we didn't come her to talk about Ryan, did we?" Her voice expressed that she had detected Dana's ulterior motives.
"I've been worried about you lately. Ryan's said you've been depressed."
"He noticed..." Rei stared into her drink before taking another gulp.
Dana picked up on the slip and peered at her over her reading glasses, "That's it. I'm tired of not knowing. What's going on between you two? He's managed to dodge every single question I've thrown at him, so I've come to you. Is that why you're depressed? Is he treating you badly? That bastard, I'll kill-"
"No, no...it's nothing like that." Rei cracked a smile, "Besides I wouldn't want you to kill him over me. Not when you have so many better reasons."
"Too true. But seriously, what's happening between you two?"
Rei shrugged helplessly, "Kami-sama, it is hard to explain."
"Try me."
"Dana, he's just such a wonderful person. Like the time he stood up to Fukui-san. He let a deal fall through because he knew it would be wrong to continue."
Dana chuckled softly, "That's Ryan for you. Stubborn as a mule and ethical to a fault."
"I was surprised men like him still exist."
"At times, I feel that he's a dinosaur, a deliberate quotation of another age. He's a rare bird. Almost like he has something to prove by it."
"-and sometime right after, I just began feeling all this strange feelings of warmth around him. He has those quirky smiles, like when he knows something that you don't. Or when he winks at you in the middle of department meetings at how boring they actually are. Or when he's giving a speech and looks at you straight in the eye and you know he's speaking to you at that instant."
"Oh, you LIKE him, don't you." Dana grinned lopsidedly.
Rei flushed, "Wait, no...I mean, no!"
"Aww come on, you can admit it to me. I'll even admit that he's really, really cute."
She looked flustered and even a little pained, "I don't know how I feel about him. Sometimes he's just so distant, like a boss. But other times, when he holds me....I feel like he's all mine, if only for an instant."
"And that's why you've been so moody lately. Because you're in love with him."
Rei gulped down the rest of her drink and looked close to tears, "I just don't know....it's so hard to figure him out."
Dana took Rei's hand in hers and smiled bravely, "I've been Ryan's friend since I got out of college. I know most of signals, secret signs, the meanings of his grins. But in my years, I've never seen him act like this."
"What does it mean, then?"
"Why the simplest explanation of all. I think he's in love with you, just doesn't know it yet."
Rei sighed, "How do you know? What if it's just a dream on my part?"
Dana smirked, then softened it into a smile, "If it is, then he doesn't know what he's missing. But, I would be greatly surprised if I was wrong. Come on, I'll take you home. You can sleep on it."
Rei got up shakily, drained and slightly intoxicated. Leaving behind a mostly full drink, Dana signalled to the barkeep to put it on her tab and helped Rei out the door.
"There seems to have been a lot of alcohol in those." Rei slurred at she was helped through the door, "And why is it that you don't seem to be affected?"
"High tolerance. Come on kid."
I was actually home early finishing up a speech to be given at a meeting of business software companies in California. It would not be for a couple of weeks, but I wanted to be ahead of schedule on something for once in my life. But as with many things in my life, it was not going well. Recent consolidations had erased ten percent of the membership and not enough startups had survived the last economic implosion to make up for the loss. But, an old classmate was president of the industry association and had pegged me as the keynote. It would have been difficult to refuse.
Yet, that was not the reason why I found it difficult to write. Dana had promised to visit at 9:30 and I wanted to be in a place with much alcohol within easy reach. The door chimed insistently and I carefully saved my work before answering.
The door swung open and Dana tossed her purse onto my couch, "Hey boss."
"When did I give you my key?"
"You didn't, I made a copy when you were in the office. Always convenient being able to search your home at will."
"Whatever. What did you learn?" I flopped down onto my easy chair.
Dana took the time to pour a drink and hand it to me before sitting down herself.
I gulped and set the alcohol aside, "Should I be worried?"
"Not really, but I figured that you hadn't had your nightly fix yet."
I placed the drink on the able beside me, "Not quite yet, so what have you learned?"
Dana shrugged, "She's just been feeling under the weather lately. Nothing to worry about. I would be extra nice to her though. Buy her some flowers. Take her out for a nice dinner some time. She's really very fond of you."
"Will do. I feel terrible that she's been down so much lately, especially with her friend's wedding coming up."
"Hey, there's an idea. You should ask her to dance a couple of times. No reason that such a pretty girl should go unaccompanied to a wedding."
"But she's a bridesmaid. She'll have an escort."
"Steal her away. I'm sure she'll appreciate it."
"Whatever you say, Dana. I want to make her feel better."
Dana exited the apartment, begging off staying longer with the excuse of needing to sleep. He hadn't completely believed her, but that didn't matter too much. After she escaped to the elevator, a curious smile crossed her face.
In his own way, Ryan was far too easy to manipulate into doing things. But, she reflected with a cheerful smile, it would be used to a good cause this time. It was a somewhat dishonest, but occasionally such things needed to be done in light of a greater cause. Getting Ryan and Rei together certainly qualified.
Chapter 27
"I'm worried about Rei."
I shredded a couple of papers, "You too? She's been very quiet these days."
Dana snorted and scribbled down something onto a pad of paper, "Quiet? Try depressed. Ryan, I'm really worried about her."
The morning sun had just peaked out from behind the skyscrapers and Dana and I were on our usual schedule, 6:00 AM meetings. I reflected for a moment on Dana, who had mastered the human resources department with two months of arrival and now had taken over leadership of the business development department after an unfortunate resignation had left us in the lurch. She was working fourteen hour days, and loving every moment of it. And yet, she still managed to find time to find out the nitty gritty things about my personal life. It never ceased to amaze me.
"Do you have any idea what for?"
"Well, I imagine she was disappointed from not getting the maid of honor thing. But I would hardly think that a small thing like that would sink her."
"Yeah, I know. But something is bugging her badly. Can you find out?"
"That depends boss."
"Depends on what?"
"Whether I get my promised raise."
I smirked, "Already ahead of you. I have already authorized a twenty percent increase plus bonus. You also get off 6:00, just in time to catch the tail end of happy hour. I expect results."
Dana sat back, a satisfied smile on her face, "Alright, boss. Tonight we'll see."
"Rei, I need those status reports on my desk in about twenty minutes."
Rei stared forward, not responding to the stimulus.
I leaned forward and tapped her on the forehead. She jerked up, awoken from her trance, "Sorry, Kaitou-san? What?"
I shook my head, "Take the rest of the day off. You're not your usual perky self."
She mustered up enough energy for a smile."Perky? That's Odango Atama, not me."
I shuffled a couple of papers, "Nonetheless. You're obviously not feeling completely well. You should go back home and relax or something."
"No, Kaitou-san. You told me how much you got behind when I left for a week. Would you be willing to risk that again?"
"I would liquidate this business if I felt it would make you smile again." I said with deadly seriousness.
"I-" She choked up a little bit and I smiled bravely, though it hurt me to see her like that, "I guess I'll be heading home. Thanks, sir."
"Thanks, Ryan" I corrected gently, "I do this as your friend. Not as your boss."
Rei cracked a half smile, "My friend wouldn't be able to get my boss to let me go home early."
I looked down at my paperwork, "This friend has undue influence over your boss. Go on, get home or to a bar or something."
As Rei left the executive office area, she heard a voice calling out to her, "Rei-chan!"
She turned and a rare smile blossomed on her face as she saw Dana catching up to her, "Dana-san! How are you doing?"
"Not bad. The old slave driver let me go home early for the day." Dana said jokingly. "You?"
"He said I looked a little down and should go home and rest."
"Bah, you're young. I suggest a bar. Salvation is much better found at the bottom of a bottle."
"That sounds....irresponsible."
"I think we're both entitled to a little irresponsibility after a full day of being responsible corporate citizens. Come on. I'm buying."
Rei smiled at Dana's cheerful insistence, "Alright. I suppose that one could not hurt."
Admittedly, Rei regarded the surroundings with a little bit of apprehension. Dana had driven her into a seedier part of Tokyo (or as seedy as Tokyo can get), deep within the brothel district. There, she had stopped in front of a somewhat ramshackle building. Surprisingly, a valet appeared almost out of nowhere to take Dana's keys.
Dana got out of the car, and stretched before beckoning to Rei. Rei grabbed her purse and followed Dana into the building.
What she stepped into was a pleasant surprise. It was opulent, with warm mahogany paneling covering the entire room. Dimmed lights were suspended from the ceiling and placed at each corner, giving the room a wonderfully subdued glow.
Tables were scattered around the center On the sides were partially hidden booths, covered in deep shadows. A few denizens were already there, along or talking with others in low voices. Dana held up her hand, signalling to the bartender for two drinks to be brought to a sidebooth.
After they were seated, Rei leaned forward and said in a low voice, "How did you ever find this place?"
"It's a good spot for those of us who like to drink in relative silence. Or are prone to getting morosely drunk."
Wryly, "Then it should be perfect for me."
They sat in comfortable silence for a couple of minutes until Dana's order arrived. She sipped at her mai tai and gestured for Rei to start on hers. Rei cautiously took a sip of hers and recoiled slightly, "It's a little strong. I can feel it burning on the way down."
Dana smirked, "That means it's working. Ryan must have indoctrinated you in the use of alcohol as an escape."
Rei frowned, "One of his less savory habits. But at least he stays within reasonable limits. But we didn't come her to talk about Ryan, did we?" Her voice expressed that she had detected Dana's ulterior motives.
"I've been worried about you lately. Ryan's said you've been depressed."
"He noticed..." Rei stared into her drink before taking another gulp.
Dana picked up on the slip and peered at her over her reading glasses, "That's it. I'm tired of not knowing. What's going on between you two? He's managed to dodge every single question I've thrown at him, so I've come to you. Is that why you're depressed? Is he treating you badly? That bastard, I'll kill-"
"No, no...it's nothing like that." Rei cracked a smile, "Besides I wouldn't want you to kill him over me. Not when you have so many better reasons."
"Too true. But seriously, what's happening between you two?"
Rei shrugged helplessly, "Kami-sama, it is hard to explain."
"Try me."
"Dana, he's just such a wonderful person. Like the time he stood up to Fukui-san. He let a deal fall through because he knew it would be wrong to continue."
Dana chuckled softly, "That's Ryan for you. Stubborn as a mule and ethical to a fault."
"I was surprised men like him still exist."
"At times, I feel that he's a dinosaur, a deliberate quotation of another age. He's a rare bird. Almost like he has something to prove by it."
"-and sometime right after, I just began feeling all this strange feelings of warmth around him. He has those quirky smiles, like when he knows something that you don't. Or when he winks at you in the middle of department meetings at how boring they actually are. Or when he's giving a speech and looks at you straight in the eye and you know he's speaking to you at that instant."
"Oh, you LIKE him, don't you." Dana grinned lopsidedly.
Rei flushed, "Wait, no...I mean, no!"
"Aww come on, you can admit it to me. I'll even admit that he's really, really cute."
She looked flustered and even a little pained, "I don't know how I feel about him. Sometimes he's just so distant, like a boss. But other times, when he holds me....I feel like he's all mine, if only for an instant."
"And that's why you've been so moody lately. Because you're in love with him."
Rei gulped down the rest of her drink and looked close to tears, "I just don't know....it's so hard to figure him out."
Dana took Rei's hand in hers and smiled bravely, "I've been Ryan's friend since I got out of college. I know most of signals, secret signs, the meanings of his grins. But in my years, I've never seen him act like this."
"What does it mean, then?"
"Why the simplest explanation of all. I think he's in love with you, just doesn't know it yet."
Rei sighed, "How do you know? What if it's just a dream on my part?"
Dana smirked, then softened it into a smile, "If it is, then he doesn't know what he's missing. But, I would be greatly surprised if I was wrong. Come on, I'll take you home. You can sleep on it."
Rei got up shakily, drained and slightly intoxicated. Leaving behind a mostly full drink, Dana signalled to the barkeep to put it on her tab and helped Rei out the door.
"There seems to have been a lot of alcohol in those." Rei slurred at she was helped through the door, "And why is it that you don't seem to be affected?"
"High tolerance. Come on kid."
I was actually home early finishing up a speech to be given at a meeting of business software companies in California. It would not be for a couple of weeks, but I wanted to be ahead of schedule on something for once in my life. But as with many things in my life, it was not going well. Recent consolidations had erased ten percent of the membership and not enough startups had survived the last economic implosion to make up for the loss. But, an old classmate was president of the industry association and had pegged me as the keynote. It would have been difficult to refuse.
Yet, that was not the reason why I found it difficult to write. Dana had promised to visit at 9:30 and I wanted to be in a place with much alcohol within easy reach. The door chimed insistently and I carefully saved my work before answering.
The door swung open and Dana tossed her purse onto my couch, "Hey boss."
"When did I give you my key?"
"You didn't, I made a copy when you were in the office. Always convenient being able to search your home at will."
"Whatever. What did you learn?" I flopped down onto my easy chair.
Dana took the time to pour a drink and hand it to me before sitting down herself.
I gulped and set the alcohol aside, "Should I be worried?"
"Not really, but I figured that you hadn't had your nightly fix yet."
I placed the drink on the able beside me, "Not quite yet, so what have you learned?"
Dana shrugged, "She's just been feeling under the weather lately. Nothing to worry about. I would be extra nice to her though. Buy her some flowers. Take her out for a nice dinner some time. She's really very fond of you."
"Will do. I feel terrible that she's been down so much lately, especially with her friend's wedding coming up."
"Hey, there's an idea. You should ask her to dance a couple of times. No reason that such a pretty girl should go unaccompanied to a wedding."
"But she's a bridesmaid. She'll have an escort."
"Steal her away. I'm sure she'll appreciate it."
"Whatever you say, Dana. I want to make her feel better."
Dana exited the apartment, begging off staying longer with the excuse of needing to sleep. He hadn't completely believed her, but that didn't matter too much. After she escaped to the elevator, a curious smile crossed her face.
In his own way, Ryan was far too easy to manipulate into doing things. But, she reflected with a cheerful smile, it would be used to a good cause this time. It was a somewhat dishonest, but occasionally such things needed to be done in light of a greater cause. Getting Ryan and Rei together certainly qualified.