It's been too long - three months since my latest chapter and I don't know how to say sorry properly to you guys.. It kinda embarassing to update this slow, really. I got a little (well, big BIG) problem with my laptop and my love life and it TOTALLY RUINED my story. I'd made Ashita and Kaede jumped into a WWF smackdown ring but well, you wouldn't read half of it if I did.
All in all, I miss u guys. So please just read this, for me, would u? Enjoy!
Holy Mother's War 6
THE DOLLARS RACE
"The President of Japan Commercial Chamber has arrived. All members please stand up." A heavy microphoned voice of a man was echoing in the enormous meeting room, and all the honorable ladies and gentlemen obeyed the order right away.
"Is there any other seat beside that?" Doumyouji Kaede whispered to Nishida while being escorted to her 'dreaded' seat in the center of that big round table, grimaced as she could tell already who'd gonna be sitting next to her.
"I'm sorry, Mam, that would be the only one," Nishida couldn't trust his ears; a Doumyouji Kaede loathed a hot president seat just because of some silly mothers fight.
But this wasn't going to be just another silly mothers fight.
"Good morning, Kaede-san," Standing on her heels straight and calm, Hanazawa Ashita welcomed her rival. She came all ready and prepared. She even had a team supporting her in the mansion; ready for action on her very first command. But she forgot one thing of all; Kaede was a woman with tons of surprises no one could ever imagine.
"Good morning!" Kaede's cheerful reply startled her. "Oooooh… look at that! What a beeeautiful necklace, Ashita-san! Where did you buy that? Was it on sale?" From Monster-in-Law to Mother-in-Law. By Angela Whitsalley. Lesson One: Take off that iron lady mask. Be cheerful, funny and sweet. Kaede blinked for a second as she tried to remember the second part of that book she had finished yesterday. That poor book had been drowned into her asparagus soup, into the koi pond in her backyard, shoved into the gardener's pants during the lawn-mowing, and pushed into her chicken steak at dinner as Tsukasa almost caught her reading that book for so many times. She'd rather die than had her son figured it out. "Oh come on...won't you tell? You know.. We should go shopping together sometime..hihihiii!" She giggled.
All the meeting attendants stared in horror. They wondered whether Nishida had put some strange African herbs to her coffee this morning.
Moving her face closer, Ashita whispered under her clenching teeth. "What's exactly you're planning here?" It was loud enough only for two of them to hear.
Kaede pulled back; she raised one eyebrow elegantly and flashed her Doumyouji crooked smile. "Hmm.. nothing."
Ashita was frustrated; she's out of Kaede's game zone now.
"All right, everyone.. Let's begin— ooh WHY are you still standing like that? Sit down…. sit down, please!" The room was then filled with the sound of screeching chair wheels against the granite floor, as everyone hurried to sit. "Okay, let's start it gentlemen! Wooo...yeahh! Let's start this fun meeting!"
Nishida spat out his drink to the laptop. All the living creatures in the room were staring at their president. Their mouths opened and brains stopped working; no one had a clue about anything.
"Ehm...ano... I think we may start the uhmm.. fun meeting now. Ladies and gentlemen, shall we?" The chamber secretary sweatily tried his best to get the meeting started and prayed hard that he didn't offend the powerful ruthless lady in front of him who rather acted even creepier today. "We are now all gathered here to discuss the Corporate Social Responsibility issue towards Japanese companies who got unsatisfying rating from the International Chamber last month," He gave sign to the operator to start the screen display, and the list of those bad-rated-companies was exposed in the forum right away. Red faces came into view everywhere.
A 50-year old man raised his hand."I don't think Dozuka group had such an awful grade in CSR. What kind of method do you—"
"This is impossible! On what basis do you include our company into this list?" Another one replied.
"There must be a MISTAKE, I'm sure," A lady in blue blazer stood up in eagerness to defend her corporate. "Zeinka Motor never forget to pay every single—"
"Hakamoto group contributed ONE MILLION dollars to CSR last year! Does it mean NOTHING to you? Have you compare it with—"
" Yes, it is nothing." Kaede shut them all. All protesting mouths closed tight and all hands raised in the air were landing immediately at the very hearing of her statement.
So much for a funny sweet mommy, Ashita smirked. She's back to her true form in a blink.
"The amount of the CSR you pay does not reflect your concern to the CSR itself. You can brag one or ten or a hundred million dollars, but it won't be enough unless it worth at least 5-10% of your profit." Kaede put emphasis on the percentage, and many throats dried instantly at the realization of how big the number is. "So, yes, I am very sure that that one million dollars is nothing, Hakamoto-san." She eyed the said Hakamoto; her razor-sharp eyes told him that she knew exactly the nominal of profit his company was making last month.
Many protesting whispers were heard vaguely on some edges of the table, but no one dared to confront her in the face. The number was mean, but they were helpless; there was no space to doubt her. Doumyouji group was nowhere in the list. Kaede might be one cruella devil of a person, but there was no way she'd lose face from ignoring such important responsibility of her company.
"Ladies and gentlemen..ehm.. may I have your attention please? So..as soon as we all agree upon it – the basis to determine the minimum amount of this CSR contribution – we'll propose it to the Parlement so that they may start their discussion on formalizing this into regulations," The chamber secretary stood up for an annoucement. "But as we all know, it might take 6 months to one year for them to finalize this."
"So that rate will be tagged on us for one year? You know this list will go public in no time. It'll kill our stock price in the market!" One man voiced up the worst possibility they had to bear in the future, and supportive arguments were heard everywhere as many agreed to it.
"Let's fix it today then." Announcing her existence in the room, Ashita rose her head and offered an idea. "This morning, I heard that our government is going to rebuild the residence of earthquake victims in Nagasaki and flood victims in Osaka. They are out of money, and supply, in huge numbers. On behalf of this chamber, Hanazawa Group will donate ten million dollars to this project," She announced it soundly, in pride.
Nishida sighed. He knew it'd be only a matter of minute before his Madam jumped in and turned this meeting into a race of numbers.
A matter of heartbeat, in fact.
"That's very generous of you, Ashita-san.. But, I'm afraid such nominal is not sufficient enough to support such a big project.." Ashita narrowed her eyes, and Kaede tantalized her with a smile. "Doumyouji Group will donate twenty million this afternoon." Beat that, you bitch.
Nishida choked. T-T-TWENTY MILLION? He quickly checked the latest company financial report and tried to negotiate. "Madam, I think it's too—"
"Oh I'm sorry.. I'm such a lame announcer! Did I just say ten million, Kareika?" Kareika stuttered as she could tell already what's happening next. "I don't bring my glasses today…well.. Actually it was a five before the zeros! Yes, Hanazawa Group will give FIFTY million this very noon." Ashita crossed her arms and confronted her rival face to face. Come on, evil witch.. Bring it on!
Nishida tried to put some logic into his Madam's burning head. "D-doumyouji-sama—"
"Oh we all do make mistake, ne, Ashita-san? My tongue was a little itchy today..hahaha...it couldn't even spell differently twenty and ONE HUNDRED..hahahaa.." Nishida racked his bag desperately; he needs his heart-attack pills, now. "All right everyone.. So it's settled then.. ONE HUNDRED MILLION dollars from Doumyouji Group!" I'm not losing this, I AM NOT!
As the numbers they announced climbed higher and their excuses became lamer and dumb, their secretaries suffered severe headaches as they simulated the numbers into their laptops and stared at the results in horror.
All the meeting attendants held up their breath and blinked at each other in frustration. No one understood that this wasn't merely a matter of numbers anymore. The ladies there were not fighting for some companies image no more; they were now fighting for one commoner girl's heart by appearing in public as the most generous president on earth, the savior of the poors— the commoners' hero.
Frustrated with the results of their calculation in the laptops, Nishida and Kareika stood up for a forum. "WE'D LIKE TO—" Realizing the coincidence, Nishida let the lady took the honor to speak first.
"I apologize for speaking on your behalf, Ashita-sama..," Kareika bowed before her Madam in the most polite way possible. "It is a bless for this chamber and this nation to have such generous presidents like Ashita-sama and Doumyouji-sama," She flashed her best smile to calm both the fighters down. "But I think it'll be much better if all companies take part in this very important project. After all, it is the reputation of this chamber that'd been put at risk."
Understanding so well that his Madam wouldn't get that easy with it, Nishida bowed before Kaede and spoke up.
"On your consent, Madam, the total amount will be determined by the whole members, and half of it will be paid equally by Hanazawa and Doumyouji Group. And for the courtesy to the two biggest contributors, I suggest that both the presidents will be reserved a slot of publication in printed and electronic media, sharing their concern to help the victims to the world." Serving Doumyouji family for almost half of his age, Nishida knew very well what his Madam exactly wanted and how to make it come true.
While the ideas were being sounded, both the secretaries' quick hands were typing some texts in their PDAs and showed it to their Madams right away.
I've booked Japan Today's tomorrow front page, Japan Times and Business Week for you, Mam, Kareika informed Ashita, and she almost hugged her immediately for giving such an ultra high-speed service to her need.
You'll have interview with Wall Street Journal and Tokyo Post this afternoon, Doumyouji-sama. Kaede's smile turned into a big grin when she read the last one. And you'll be on Oprah tomorrow morning.
My unbeatable Nishida, she spoke to herself as she looked at him with an utmost pride.
"I agree." Both Kaede and Ashita voiced their approval to the ideas, and the majority of the chamber supported them happily. After all, it is not every day you get supported that amount of dollars by other company; it is not every day you find two mothers willing to waste that much in defense of their precious sons.
The meeting continued, but not so smooth though; there were many times where Ashita and Kaede clashed thus frustrated all other participants with their argumentations, but their secretaries always succeed to put out the fire right away.
In the middle of one debate, Hakamoto's secretary came rushing into the room and informed something to his president. Hakamoto's face turned white so instantly and everyone knew it must be one hell of news he'd just heard.
"You have a problem, Hakamoto-san?" Kaede asked in concern, and the room went silent.
He deliberated for some seconds, but gave in finally. "There's a…," He sighed, a long one. "There's a demonstration in front of our headquarter office now. A big one, thousands of people. They've already surrounded the area, trying to barge into the building and attack. My employees can't make any movement to escape," His voice was weak from the worrying of his employees' safety and the shame for admitting such security failing in front of this elite chamber.
"Visuals, please." Kaede ordered, and the chamber secretary put the video streaming of that demonstration onto sophisticated giant laser 3-D display moving in front of each of them. "Nishida, get me General Riyo." He dialed the phone, and Kaede was online with that Police Head of Japan in a moment. Some request regarding the securing mission of Hakamoto employees and building were made, and she shut the phone with a smile towards her poor colleague.
"Don't worry, Hakamoto-san. Everything's under control." Hakamoto thanked her with a smile too, but their smile gradually started vanishing when they looked at the playing video before them.
Under control your octopus hair. Ashita sneered.
Staring into the screen with his thick glasses, Hakamoto saw how some of his employees were trying to escape from the emergency door behind the building with the minimum security guard, in their effort to avoid the demonstrators, but they were poorly caught and attacked from all directions.
"What're they do—..what they..." His breath caught and fist balled up; cursing himself for being so safe in this very room while his staffs were being bullied and tormented before his eyes.
"It's been 5 minutes, where's the rescue team? I'm calling the Minister of Defense." Ashita picked up her cell and was in the middle of scrolling through her contacts, when Kareika whispered urgently in her ears and her thumb stopped in its track. Eyes widening in shock, she shifted her sight to the screen and looked in horror. Her eyes were scrutinizing, and she hesitated for a moment. "Are you sure—" Kareika answered her with a firm nod.
Encouraged by that nod and her own motivation, she shifted in her seat and raised to stand up. If Kareika was right, she had to leave this room this very second. "Ladies and gentlemen I'm sorry—"
"I apologize for my Madam's immediate leaving."
Ashita jerked her head. It was Nishida, apologizing for—Wait, wait a minute…what's going on?
All eyes turned to Nishida, and Ashita's mouth gaped at the fact that Kaede was nowhere in the room; her seat was already empty. How did she—Ooooooh..I'm going to FRY THAT BITCH!
"Our young master got a serious incident during his breakfast this morning," Nishida informed the forum. "Kaede-sama values this meeting to be a very crucial one for Japan's future, but our heir is in the emergency room now and Kaede-sama's company is very important to him. Please accept our apology on this short-notice leave, ladies and gentlemen." Nishida did one deep bow as he excused himself from the forum, and the whole meeting attendants approved his leaving and were left wondering what might screw up the breakfast of the mighty Doumyouji Tsukasa they knew.
While all her partners seemed to buy the story, Ashita fought an urge to puke. She loathed on how polite his bow was and how very convincing his statement was heard. What a specialist. Liars. Well, her credit for Nishida was nothing compared to what coming next.
"Oh, I'm sorry I forgot something." Nishida was back in the room. Everyone wondered. "Since the president isn't here, our honorable deputy will take over this meeting on forward to lead the forum. Hanazawa-sama, time and place is yours."
Ashita was too surprised to respond that she gave no respond. He—he's trying to lock me up here!
"Thank you, Hanazawa-sama." He closed the deal and left the room to catch his Madam's waiting helicopter on the rooftop.
In the helicopter
"Nishida."
"Yes, Madam."
"Could you make a more idiot scenario?" Kaede's eyes bored into Nishida's while her hands were taking coffee from the flight crew.
"I'm sorry, Mam. That's the first thing came into my mind."
She took a big gulp, seeping it through her dry throat. "Then you better had started cleaning this mess." Ooh.. that was one hell of a fight.
Nishida sat tight. "Don't worry, Mam. Everything is under control."
"GET OFF ME YOU BASTARD! GET ME NISHIDA!"
"Young master, please—"
"YOU ALL GONNA PAY FOR THIS I SWEAR! TAKE THIS OFF! TAKE-THIS-…HEY what're you doing— wait— WHAT …"
"Young master, it's only for a day. There was a mistake in the meeting—"
"DON'T PUT THAT MASK ON ME! I'M NOT MECHANICALLY REPAIRED YOU MORON!
"You mean mentally impaired, young mas—"
"SHUT UP!"
"Oxygen mask is not for crazy people, Sir.." A beautiful nurse tried to calm him down, while all the SPs struggled in sweat to keep that powerful 'patient' stay in the ambulance. "And you're not hospitalized for such cases.. You were choked by a fork, Sir." She gave him a very soothing smile.
—cho-cho..CHOKED by a FORKKK?
He was literally choked now.
Grabbing her collar, he jerked her harsh. "Listen you ugly BITCH. I was SITTING with my friend, in my café, sipping my coffee, and you all suddenly dragged my ass to this damn ambulance and you said I got choked by a FORK? WHO WOULD DRINK A COFFEE WITH A FORK YOU IDIOT! Are we shooting some comedy scene or what, 'cause apparently you have no idea who you're dealing with."
She trembled with fear, but suppressed it anyway. "Yes, we do have, Doumyouji-sama. That's why we give you sedative."
He stared at his wrist. A tiny drop of blood made it clear that a syringe had been there; hit him some damn second ago.
"Sedat-t-i-i- v v e….?"
Although the headache was unbearable and the vision was getting more blurred with every second, Doumyouji Tsukasa was always a man of defense. He blatantly succeeded giving a nosebleed and a severe bruise to two of his men, before the last drop of the sedative in his blood finally took his last consciousness and collapsed him into the awaiting arm of those bruised guys.
Reviews please? Onegai..?
HMW 7 coming in shortly. This time I won't fail- I won't!
BlackRoseFromParadise
