Miss Satomi had barely hung up the phone ending her conversation with Mark when someone knocked on the door to her office. "Come in."
Jessie Martin, Miss Satomi's endlessly optimistic and peppy assistant entered carrying a tray of coffee and pastries. "Morning, Miss Satomi!"
Miss Satomi smiled. "Good morning, Jessie."
"I made you some coffee. Would you like some?"
"Yes, thank you."
Jessie set the tray down on Miss Satomi's desk and poured some of the steaming concoction into a waiting mug. "Are we all set for the start of the season?" Jessie asked, handing Miss Satomi her mug.
Miss Satomi nodded. "Everything should be set and ready to go. Hopefully," she added darkly, knowing full well that a minute later everything could go down the tubes.
She took a careful sip from her mug and pursed her lips as the burning sensation touched her tongue and throat.
"Do you think we can win the championship again?"
"I don't know," Miss Satomi admitted. "But that doesn't mean I don't think we can. With the influx of sponsorships we got in the off-season, it's put us in a better position both financially and cosmetically."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, with the extra money we've been able to stock up on higher quality parts for the mechs," Miss Satomi explained. "Mark and his mechanics have been updating the mechs all during the off-season so we can stay ahead of the other teams when it comes to design and operation of the mechs."
"Didn't Amy's sponsors pitch in a lot more money as well?"
"Uh-huh. Their sales have gone through the roof since Amy and Luca started doing so well and they decided to increase their funding of the team."
"Like a thank you, almost?"
Miss Satomi smirked. "I think it may be their way of telling us that we'd better keep winning races. The extra funds are our incentive to do so and there's no telling what they'll do should we not win again this year."
"So we'd better make sure we win, just in case," Jessie said.
Miss Satomi nodded, taking another sip from her mug. "But overall, it's been a lot less hectic this off-season than in the past. Everything is going well and if that's any indicator, it should be a pretty good season for us."
"I know it will be, Miss Satomi," Jessie responded, showcasing her usual optimism. "I'm sure we'll win the championship again this year."
Miss Satomi laughed a little. "Thank you, Jessie."
Jessie noticed a tabloid magazine sitting on the corner of Miss Satomi's desk. She picked it up and wasn't all that surprised to discover what, or more precisely who, was on the cover.
"Do you think they've had anything to do with the new sponsors we've gained, Miss Satomi?"
"Huh?" Miss Satomi noticed that Jessie was examining a tabloid with Takeshi and Liz on the cover. The headline read:
'IG-1 Season Preview'
'Royal Couple Leads Team Satomi into New Season'
Miss Satomi blinked her eyes and smiled. She set her mug down on its coaster, placed her elbows on her desk and folded her hands. "I personally have no idea," she informed Jessie. "I would like to think it was our performance on the race track the past two seasons…but I'm also not discounting the effect that Takeshi and Liz's relationship may have had on their decision to sponsor us."
"Some of those companies do market their products to teenagers and both Takeshi and Liz have huge fan followings," Jessie pointed out.
"You're right. Maybe it did have some influence over them." Miss Satomi shook her head. "But right now, I'm not going to think about what made them sponsor us. For right now, I'm just happy to have them on board."
"It makes your job a lot easier," Jessie said.
"Yes, it does," Miss Satomi responded confidently.
"You know if we would've known something like would happen if Takeshi and Liz started dating, we should have gotten them together a long time ago," Jessie suggested with a flicker of humor in her voice.
"I don't know if that would've worked as well as you think it would, Jessie," Miss Satomi answered, laughing.
"Well you can always imagine." This time they both laughed.
"They're really lucky," Jessie said later.
"Who? The sponsors?" Miss Satomi inquired.
"No. Takeshi and Liz," Jessie corrected. She spoke dreamily. "They seem to be the perfect couple."
"How so?"
"Well…they just compliment each other so well. You know what I mean. When you have two people that just seem to go together. It's the kind of relationship that makes you say, 'What took you so long?' when it actually comes full force."
"And I'm guessing that you've been in plenty of those relationships, right Jessie?" Miss Satomi asked slyly.
"No, not really. I mean…I've had boyfriends before, but never anything like what Takeshi and Liz have."
"Oh."
"What about you, Miss Satomi?" Jessie asked cheerfully. "I bet there's been someone out there that made you feel like that?"
Miss Satomi offered a courteous smile. "Actually, no. I've never been in a serious romantic relationship."
"What?" Jessie was genuinely shocked.
"You expected me to say yes?" Miss Satomi asked in response.
"Well, yeah. I mean, your family is pretty well-known, Miss Satomi."
"So?"
"I assumed that there must be a number of suitors seeking you-" Jessie was cut off by Miss Satomi's responsive laugh.
"I think you're reading too many fairy tales, Jessie," she answered in between chuckles.
"Well then why haven't you been in a relationship, Miss Satomi?"
"Because I don't have time for one," Miss Satomi quickly answered. "I have a lot of responsibilities here with the team and it just wouldn't leave very much time for personal matters like that. Plus, I just…haven't been interested in anyone like that."
"Maybe you just haven't met the right guy," Jessie suggested.
"That could be," her superior admitted. She started to take another drink. "But I don't know anyone right now that would the bill for a relationship like that."
"What about Mark?"
Miss Satomi had to stop herself from spitting her coffee out. "Mark?" she responded incredulously.
"Well, why not?" Jessie continued. "You both work for the same company. You both love the IGPX. And from the little I know, you both came from the same family backgrounds. It sounds to me like you two have a lot in common with one another."
Miss Satomi once again laughed. "I think you may be looking into this a little too much, Jessie," she said. She raised an eyebrow. "Or are you deliberately trying to play matchmaker with me?"
Jessie smiled and shrugged her shoulders. "All I'm trying to do is help, Miss Satomi."
"I know."
"But if you do ever find someone like that…" Jessie paused as Miss Satomi sighed.
"Don't worry. If I ever find myself in a situation where there's a guy out there who's completely stolen my heart and I would want to be with more than anything in the world…you'll be the first one I tell, Jessie."
"Thank you, Miss Satomi!"
After Jessie took her leave shortly thereafter, Miss Satomi went back to work, analyzing a report she was about to file with the Board of Directors of the company that owned the team.
For some reason however, she kept recalling the topic of conversation that she and Jessie had just discussed. She had said that she wasn't interested in a romantic relationship, but that was only half-true.
While she wasn't exactly seeking such a relationship, it by no means meant that she did not want one. Who wouldn't? The idea of having someone to talk to, someone to spend lonely nights with, someone to just have there. She would have been lying if she would have said otherwise.
Alas, Miss Satomi merely continued with her daily routine and as the paperwork and reports piled up, it pushed the conversation further and further into the depths of her mind.