Ken Ichijouji was entranced by the brunette beauty before him, and his usual professional demeanor wavered when he caught sight of her hazelnut eyes. Recomposing quickly, a formal bow came from the oddly dressed executive. There was no hiding the wariness in Kari's eyes, but she returned the gesture.
A gentle smile formed on Ken's face. "Let me apologize." He began. "I was working on this extreme trend from Sweden." He placed the whip on the large mahogany table. It was soon followed by goggles, cape, and cuffs. "Rebellious angry children there seem to like dressing in this manner to personify their dissent." He donned a plain gray suit sitting next to him and instantly looked much warmer and welcoming, not to mention professional. "Please, have a seat Ms. Kamiya."
"Thank you, but please, call me Kari." Straightening out her business skirt, she sat down and was welcomed into a very comfortable chair. Ken inwardly smiled. Making people comfortable physically was one of his tactics to put his clients at ease mentally.
"I've got to tell you Kari, when I saw that photo, it reminded me greatly of a time that troubled me and my family." He paused slightly. He noted the pained look in her eyes and knew she had seen something there as well. "But, it also gave me strength. I understand and acknowledge those dark parts of my life, and I have to move forward. And that's what Q is all about, moving forward, the next big thing."
"This photo is one of these rare captures of change and-"
"I-I'm sorry. I have to say I didn't take that photo of the ocean." Kari blurted out. She couldn't sit still knowing she was being praised for this kind of innovation she wasn't responsible for.
Ken was taken aback, not entirely because the girl didn't take the photo, but because she had interrupted him. No one in a very long time had done that. "So you're not the photographer?" He ventured.
"I am. I … I took all the photos except for the one of the ocean. I have no idea how that got there."
Ken inwardly chuckled to himself. If nothing else, she's brave. He glanced briefly at Catherine, who looked surprised. Ken sat back and closed his eyes, silence filling the room. A million thoughts crossed his mind, but none filtered out to his voice until he found the perfect solution. The amateur photographer suddenly felt small and foolish for agreeing to this meeting, her eyes drifted to the photo, amplifying her unease.
Finally Ken spoke. He certainly didn't like it when things didn't go according to plan, but as always, he would deal. "The circumstances' surrounding its creation doesn't matter. Think of it as a discovery. The intent is hardly what people remember. It's the results."
"You're still interested?" Kari and Catherine simultaneously asked, and Ken nodded in response.
"Have you heard of Control Spire?" He asked.
Control Spire the name sake of Q's art gallery exhibition halls. They were springing up at a rate that rivaled the spread of the world's leading fast food chains. Critics lauded the brand as "managing to stay fresh, relevant, and unique at each location". "Of course." Kari answered.
His hand reached out expectantly, and Catherine immediately filled it. Ken put down a flyer and slid it slowly across the smooth tabletop. "Well I'd like to have a show at the Tokyo Bay location, featuring you and your works. July 16th. 6 pm." Kari was mesmerized. There was her name, next to the words "Featured Artist" and logos depicting Control Spire and Q International, and some of her pictures blending and weaving seamlessly in the background. Deep in thought, she was interrupted by Ken. "So, will you help us?" He gently spoke.
"Yes. That would be just amazing." The shocked girl said.
"Great!" said Ken, rising and giving Kari a bow. "Catherine will set up the details." Promptly, Catherine had fetched and offered her card to Kari. Ken was already heading out the door, but he stopped and turned. "And Kari, it was truly an honor to meet you. I sense you'll have a great future with us." With that Ken had left. Kari was surprised to say the least.
The meeting with Ken had taken less than 10 minutes, and yet her life was already turning its latest page. I guess Q takes its motto seriously. She thought. She looked down at the card she had accepted from Catherine. Elegant and refined, just like Catherine. Just like Ken. When Kari's daydreaming stopped she noticed someone had been speaking. "…and you'll meet us one week from today. Understand?"
"Uhh, I'm sorry, could you repeat that."
"No problem. I said, you'll have to pick out 30 of shots you want to feature. I can't guarantee we'll use them all, we do have standards to uphold, but we will guarantee at least 10 photos will be used. This is after all, meant as a showcase to you, the artist. You'll need to have these picked out for a meeting with Ken, one week from today. Understand?" Catherine repeated.
"Yes, I do. Thank you."
"Hey, don't be so nervous. I've known Ken a long time, and though he's demanding and a bit of a control freak, he's actually one of the kindest men I've ever met." Kari could hear the longing in Catherine's voice and slight disappointment as she continued. "And I noticed that he seems to really like you. The car will take you whenever you're ready. You'll be great. Be sure to go out and celebrate. You're about to be a star!"
Kari was very numb with the events of the day, spacing out on the ride home. Skyscrapers flashed across the window, cars passed, but she stared resolutely at nothing. Though she knew she should be happy with this opportunity that knocked, it all seemed meaningless. Her thoughts kept drifting back to a certain blond and their last interaction. Kari shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts of such negativity. I should be celebrating, like Catherine said. Kari pulled out her phone and digits flew up onto the screen. The familiar ringing sound began to ground her back to reality.
"Hello?"
"Yolei, I've got great news, let's go celebrate!"
Catherine entered Ken's office. It was lit only by multiple screens. They were custom built and designed by Ken himself. There were feeds from all over the world. However, Ken was focused on one screen with a figure cloaked in darkness. Catherine wasn't intimate with the details of Ken's relationship with this figure, known only to her as Symon, but she knew enough to not interrupt.
"And what do you think of the Kamiya girl's prospects?" the gravelly voiced Symon asked.
"It's too early to tell. Give me some time." Ken's uncertain tone surprised all parties. He was a master at spotting talent and it was how he had grown Q so rapidly.
"Of course, you have yet to fail. I expect updates soon." Symon signed off.
Catherine walked up behind Ken and wrapped her arms around his torso. "Are you ok? You seemed rattled."
"There was just something about that girl…"
Catherine thought back to how she had interrupted Ken. "Maybe your comfort strategy backfired on you." She teased.
"Nonsense." Ken knew his was business impeccable. But he inwardly thought, Maybe it's not the business aspect that has me doubting myself. "When is our next meeting?" His voice perked up, excited for the first time in a long while.
"One week. It's set up as you requested." Catherine resumed her professional demeanor. She knew how to read his business or personal state. Unfortunately for her, it was almost all business.
A fist that rushed into the wall made a thump that reverberated around the empty apartment. It hurt a lot more than he expected it to, having seen it done in movies before, but it was nothing compared to the pain he felt inside his heart. So he punched again and again. It was wrong. What can I do now? What can I do? Exhausted emotionally, he ignored the ringing phone and plopped face down into a cold bed.
The answering machine started recording. "Hey TK, its Matt. H…" But TK could hear nothing but the screaming inside his head.
The next morning came and while it was a new week for everyone else, it was a continuing nightmare for TK. He went through the motions, doing the normal things: school and work. But he couldn't process. Losing Kari had been heart wrenching. He had gotten no better on Wednesday. TK was sitting on a bench outside of class, mind blanked.
"Hey." A voice spoke. "Hey… TK?"
He gazed upwards. It was a girl in a gray t-shirt and moderately worn jeans, carrying a book with a bent arm around her chest.
"Ayris?" He honestly wasn't sure of her name.
"Hey, is everything alright?"
Having not talked to anyone, TK felt this pseudo stranger would be the best chance he would have of unloading without any judgment. "I just lost… my girlfriend and I broke up." His voice cracked as he spoke.
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that." Ayris said with sympathy. She sat down beside TK and ran a hand along his back to comfort him, and he, ever so slightly, was comforted. During the school days, Ayris would make it a point to spend some time with TK to free his mind from negative thoughts.
TK's phone chirped. His heart rate quickened with hope that it was Kari. Unfortunately, it was a text message from Sora. She had been one of Matt's friends, and even dated her a few times. Sora was like an older sister to TK.
I heard about what happened. Know I'm available if you need to talk. The text read.
TK began typing out the basic story of what happened and felt a renewed pain in his heart and stopped. Why did I think it would be her? Why did I Hope it was her?