He was about to go to bed when his phone rang on the night stand beside him.

"Lady Seitenshi, what's going on? It's late."

"I know, but I have a favor to ask you. Rentaro, would you accompany me to Dubai for an important meeting?"

"Dubai? What for milady?"

"There's a business deal with a prominent emir that I'm worried about. I go there several times a year, but this time it's serious. It'll only be you and me. I might need you to double as a negotiator."

"So just you and me?"

"Correct," she said. "I have a 16,000 square foot triplex penthouse overlooking Downtown Dubai and the Burj Khalifa. I rent it when I'm not there to cover the cost of ownership."

"You're not worried about Kagetane?"

"No, I have a trusted cabinet member who will take over governor duties while I'm away from Tokyo."

"What is the business deal about?"

"I'll have to tell you in the car due to security reasons. A limo is going to pick you up at your apartment."

Like clockwork, the limo stopped in front of Rentaro's apartment. He hopped in and sat facing Lady Seitenshi, who handed him a glass of champagne.

"My other bodyguards drive me nuts. It's just you and me this time. Trust me, I've taken them to the United Arab Emirates before and they are unappreciative. I've made them get hotels."

"I see, so what do I do with Enju?"

"She'll be fine. Someone will look after her while we're away."

"So what were you going to tell me about meeting with an emir?"

"It's concerning Japan's future with natural gas. Other governors have tried to work out deals with them, but it doesn't go well. Even Saitake has tried, but they are too unlikeable."

"And you think you'll have a better shot, milady? Why the United Arab Emirates?"

Her eyes darted to her right, staring at her champagne glass. The limo was approaching Haneda Airport, although there was traffic.

"I've tried before," she began. "It's a different person every time. I bought a property there a while ago because trade with Japan is very important there and I go several times a year for business, but I am worried about this trip."

"You bought a property there? No way. Dubai is crazy expensive. How did you do that?"

"I had a partner who bought it with me. We each paid for half. It was over 700 million yen equivalent in Emirati dirham."

"So you paid 350 million yen? Insane. I bet gastrea do not like the hot desert."

"They do not. Dubai is one of the few cities in the world that doesn't need monolith barriers. I rent it for 7,000 dirham a month."

The driver made their way through an airport access gate and onto the tarmac. A Dassault 7X awaited them. Once aboard, they taxied to the runway.

"It'll be awhile before we're back," said Seitenshi, adjusting her seat.

"I don't have any luggage. The only thing I have are the clothes on my back, my security badge, and my standard issue pistol."

Seitenshi looked at him from her window seat.

"Don't worry, we can go to a mall. Sometimes I like going to the UAE to get away from everything."

"How do you afford all of this?"

"I get a good pension from the Japanese government and I make smart investments."

It wasn't long before they were soaring above Tokyo. Of course the plane would fly higher and faster than commercial airliners. The only other people aboard were her flight attendant, Hamad was dressed in a white kandura and two pilots. They would land in Dubai in around 9 hours.

Rentaro fell asleep rather quickly, holding Seitenshi's hand next to him. When he awoke, they were over Southwestern Afghanistan according to the flight path map on the wall-mounted monitor in front of him. It wasn't sunrise yet, which meant it was probably close to quarter to 5 in the morning. Hamad served an Emirati breakfast of Balaleet fresh from the galley, an omelet with vermicelli and spices, all drizzled with rose water for flavor.

"This breakfast is common among Persian Gulf nations," said Hamad. "I thought I would give you an introduction to the region, by serving you this traditional breakfast."

"I haven't been outside Japan much. This is a welcome change from what I am used to."

"The United Arab Emirates sees people from all over the world," said Lady Seitenshi. "It's a major transport hub."

"This'll be my first time in the UAE," said Rentaro, eating his breakfast. Seitenshi had the same thing.

"You'll like it," said Hamad, chiming in. "It is scorching hot most of the time, as it is part of the Arabian Desert and it's a playground for the rich and famous. Oil money is big here. I worked in the construction business in Dubai."

"We're meeting with a fuel tycoon in a few days," said Rentaro.

"Is that so? Be careful cutting deals with those guys. They're known to do shady transactions to maximize their profits."

"Thank you for the heads-up. How did you get your foot in the door there milady? I mean Dubai is one of the most expensive cities in the world."

"I got a deal on a penthouse because it cut into the previous owner's bottom line. Believe it or not, it was an American oil executive. They had another place in the region, Doha I think."

"Qatar eh?" said Hamad. "I've been there lots of times. Also expensive."

"If you knew it cut into their bottom line, then why did you take it?" said Rentaro.

"I refurbished it and made it very nice. I ordered a Venetian sputnik chandelier for each of the 5 bedrooms to fit the modern design I had in mind for the residence."

"You said before we left Tokyo that it is 16,000 square feet."

"Yes, it is two levels, the master bedroom is on the second floor, where you and I are staying."

"Hold on a second, you want me to share your bed? I don't know if I can do that. I've never shared a bed with anyone other than maybe Enju. She's not supposed to be sleeping in my bed, but sometimes I let her do it."

"Well it gets lonesome sleeping in a king sized bed alone. It'll be more environmentally friendly too."

He thought about how nice it would be sharing a bed with a woman. It would be a first for him.

"Milady, how do you afford a place like that?"

"The owner was selling it for 22 million Emirati dirham."

"How do you have the money for that?"

"I told you earlier," said Seitenshi, pouring two glasses of french champagne and handing one of them to Rentaro. "I rent it when I am not there. Month to month, and I'm still trying to get the home loan reduced."

"That's a wise business decision. Do you ever host any events?"

"It's not the only property I have. I have 3 more in Auckland, London, and New York. And yes, sometimes I host events."

"Penthouses?"

"I have a luxury villa just outside Auckland, and the other two are penthouses, yes."

"You must be renting them right now."

"Yes," she said, sipping her champagne with elegance. "I have to rent them to stay afloat."

"Then of course you have the palace in Tokyo."

"Of course, although it's similar to the White House in the United States. I do not own it, but my other properties are rented full time until I need to go there. Normally, I wouldn't be getting this specific, but you are my boyfriend and I trust that you will keep it close to the vest."

When Lady Seitenshi looked out the window, she could see the dark waters of the Strait of Hormuz about 45,000 feet below, which meant they had about half an hour of the flight left. The sun was starting to peak over the horizon.