Business Trip
"What are we buying this time papa?" Serena asked. It had been such a perfect day until now.
"Either oil in Saudi Arabia or Diamonds in Africa."
"There's a war in Africa, so let's go with the oil."
"Smart thinking, Princess." Kenji Tsukino kissed his daughter's head.
"Thank you Papa," Serena responded with her best daddy's little girl smile. He smiled back happily and than he spotted something red on her neck.
"What's that on your neck sweetheart?" Kenji asked moving her hair for a closer look, but she jerked away.
"Nothing papa, I bumped into the door when I was rushing out to get my things, mama said I had to hurry and you know me when I'm in a hurry, I'm a total klutz." She started blushing at the fact Darien had given her a love bite on their first date and her father of all people had noticed. He thought she was just embarressed that she had once again been a klutz even after all those lessons on grace. He smiled and hugged her.
"Well princess we'll just have to buy you a present to make up for it now won't we?" Serena nodded enthusiastically. When they arrived at the airport they quickly boarded their private jet and instructed the pilot to head to Saudi Arabia. He than stayed on the phone for the entire time afterwards.
"Serena whose the new cat enjoying Duchess' usual spot?" Sammy asked.
"That's Luna, she was a stray and I couldn't very well leave her, I knew Duchess wouldn't have wanted me too."
"Oh Serena I hope you had her checked," Ikuko cried.
"Don't worry Serena I had her checked by a vet a week ago," Darien said in her mind.
"Uh...yea of course she's fine." Ikuko nodded trusting her daughter.
"So how's business?" Serena asked as her mother and her lay getting massages. She really didn't feel like talking, but her mother burning holes into the back of her head as she waited for her to speak was killing her.
"Fine, fine all customers are happy," Ikuko replied. Silence returned between them, Ikuko was still staring at her.
"You know I really wish dad hadn't of forced me to do well, I really hate having classes that give extra homework, its so annoying," Serena complained.
"Yes, I know dear, but you'll see one day that it is better this way that you lived up to your potential," Ikuko said with a smile. For years she had thought Serena was a lazy and stupid girl. Now she knew that Serena was most definitely lazy, but she preferred to live in the moment and not worry about the future. She knew her daughter led quite the exciting life away from her father and Seiya's eyes, but than again what rich girl didn't. Ikuko let her have her fun as long as she wasn't out loosing her virginity among other things.
"So um...any business trips coming up concerning you?" Serena asked.
"No, no I'll be at home or at the office for awhile," Ikuko said."Now I'm tired of beating around the bush so who gave you that lovely little love bite I know it wasn't Seiya."
"Boy, what boy?" Serena asked. Ikuko grinned.
"Now, I said nothing about a boy I merely asked who gave you the love bite, so don't try denying there isn't one."
"Well there isn't you know I don't date guys unless daddy approves of them."
"All of them except Seiya and the relationships last a week at best, besides I know what you do at night Serenity Ikuko Tsukino, now your father doesn't know, but I do and I'll bust you out." Serena stared at her mother wide-eyed.
"Would you really even after Hisao?" Serena asked. Ikuko looked at her suspiciously.
"What do you know about Hisao?"
"Trust me when I say I know a lot about Hisao and I've kept my mouth shut."
"Hmph well little girl he won't believe you, so why don't you divulge all that information about mystery boy."
"We'll just say mystery boy is a nice guy and you've got nothing to worry about."
"I'll let you off the hook for now." Serena said nothing as her father walked in.
"Come on ladies we're here!" Kenji exclaimed. They nodded. Both were dressed in matching mother-daughter white dresses perfect for summer. It was tight and showed off all their curves before flowing outward at the waist and stopping just above the knees. They had matching blue sandals.
"Oh man that was such a long plane ride and now its like two hundred degrees out here," Serena whined.
"Oh Serena put some sunblock on and your hat, it'll help,"Ikuko said as they wandered away from Kenji and Sammy towards the market. Men were staring at them in shock, but said nothing to them. Serena never noticed however as she was putting sunblock on and Ikuko was too wrapped up in mentioning all the things they could buy.
"Mom can we go jewelry shopping first, I find its so much easier to match jewelry with clothing," Serena suggested. Ikuko nodded as she paused and tried to guess at what could possibly be a jewelry shop.
"Oh darn, why didn't I make sure Kenji had a guide following us before we wandered off."
"Because papa's suppose to already have that waiting for us when we arrive."
"Oh that's right, well come on let's go back and get his credit cards than for not giving us a guide." Serena nodded with a smile. They turned back and bumped right into some religious police. They started yelling at them and trying to hit them. They screamed for help, but nobody came.
"Mother what is there problem?" Serena cried.
'Oh why didn't I read up on Saudi Arabia, I always read up on a country before I go to them, ahhh Serena you truly are an idiot!" Serenat thought.
"Hey get away from my wife and daughter!" Kenji yelled.
"Papa!" Serena exclaimed.
"Kenji!" Soon they heard words being spoken in arabic and the religious police left them alone. Kenji and Sammy helped them up. Serena cried into Kenji's soldier.
"I want them punished!" Serena cried.
"Ok sweetie I'll see what I can do," Kenji said hugging them both." Come on I know what will cheer my two favorite girls up." He took them to the jewelry store and helped them pick out twenty different selections each.
"Are you sure you guys only want twenty different selections?" Kenji asked.
"Papa we don't know how long the business deal will be, so we gotta save room for later," Serena said cheerfully as the man wrapped up their jewelry.
"Dad, I got us matching watches," Sammy said putting his on. Kenji took off his old one and gave it to some poor guy walking outside and put on the new one adjusting it to his liking.
"Nice pick son." Kenji smiled as did Sammy.
"Look Serena watching women's watches, now we all have the same watch!" Ikuko exclaimed as the guy added it to the bill.
"We gotta come shopping here more often," Sammy said.
"Right!" Everyone exclaimed nodding. Kenji's bodyguard grabbed their bag full of jewelry and they left. Their translator directed them to a store for veils so that Ikuko and Serena could avoid more trouble.
"You mean I have to cover up my beautiful golden hair!" Serena cried.
"Yes, I'm sorry pumpkin, but we don't want them to kill you because you like to display that lovely gold hair of yours, do you?"
"No papa," Serena said sadly as she picked out a lacy black veil. After that she cheered up a bit more when she saw all of the stylish fashions. Than to her dismay she had to wear something else called an abaaya to cover it all.
"Well at least when we get back to America you won't have to wear it," Sammy commented.
"Easy for you to say, you don't have to wear this crap!" Serena yelled. Sammy pushed her just because she was his sister. She pushed him back to the shock of some men. Nothing else transpired between them.
"Mr. Tsukino, you must want to sweeten the deal by bringing me two lovely ladies to wed me," the owner of the biggest oil company in Saudi Arabia said. Kenji laughed.
"Oh no, sorry this is my lovely and intelligent wife Ikuko along with my beautiful and intelligent daughter Serena," Kenji stated as they shook hands.
"Well you're daughter would make a lovely bride," He said eying Serena, who had never been more thankful to be covered up in her life. Unfortunately she realized he found this sexy. She made a face he didn't see and started to uncover so she could have a better look around the company as Sammy was. Her guide stopped her and shook his head no.
"Serena's not up for grabs." Kenji put an arm around his daughter protectively."Besides Serena already has a love interest and he's very rich and to my liking. Such a nice young man he is, right Serena."
"Oh yes Papa he's really nice." The man nodded at her perfect obedience it seemed. If he could just have her, he'd be the happiest man in the world, it didn't hurt her father practically owned a gold mind(?) of a fortune.
"Go have a look around, you don't need to stand here listening to us talk." Serena nodded and left with Sammy who took it as an invitation to leave the room and really inspect what his father was going to buy if things checked out. He'd find what was being hidden.
"Ready to do some grade A snooping?" Serena asked.
"Yes, and this time we're going to exceed expectations." Serena nodded. They rifled through documents and made copies of some important ones, they inspected the walls for any type of bad conditions they could without their specilized kit, they spoke to workers through their guides. Got a feel for the liers and honest ones. They took down names of course, so that they would remember.
"We definitely gotta get more women in the work place," Serena commented.
"Yea especially women secretaries there'd be less mistakes on a document," Sammy commented holding up a paper full of mistakes.
"That's the truth." Sammy nodded.
"Well I guess everything checks out, I think we can offer the man two million for the company and a position as the overseer. All important work and decisions goes through papa and he basically makes sure things get done right away."
"Agreed." Sammy turned quickly and saw a rat run by. Serena screamed seeing it too.
"One million!" They declared together. They went back to the office.
"So kids, what shall I offer him?" Kenji asked hearing them enter.
"One million." They stated together firmly.
"Kenji I assure you my company is worth way more than that."
"What did you fine?" Kenji asked. They named off everything they found out in the last two hours.
"Yes, I think about one million sounds about right, I suppose you took off a million for the rats." Sammy nodded.
"We had settled on five million to begin with papa, but closer inspection lowered the value."
"Surely you must be joking, my company brings in millions a year."
"Actually you currently bring in on 1 to 2 million dollars a year, but you don't pay your workers the right wages," Sammy stated.
"Well perhaps you would like to see the oil wells?" He asked hoping that would make them pay more money." Kenji nodded and they left. Ikuko never said anything. She never meddled in her husbands work just as he never meddled in hers. Only the children had anything to do with both jobs.
"Another plane ride," Serena groaned.
"I suppose the oil wells being in good condition, we could offer another half million."
"I will accept nothing less than three million."
"Its really not worth 3 million with the conditions you'll be leaving this job in, besides we offer you the position of overseer."
"No, no I am going to retire and I want to ensure a nice settlement for me ridding myself of the oil business. I do have wives to take care of and children."
"Well with your business skills papa I'm sure we can make back whatever we give him tenfold."
"Serena has a point, we're Tsukinos after all."
"Fine, three million it is." The man nodded. Kenji paid him and he handed over all the needed documents. Kenji shut down the whole operation and put the workers on leave with pay. They cheered happily.
"Well family come on we have to get Saudi Arabian ideas," Kenji stated.
"Why?" Ikuko asked.
"It seems we'll be visiting here a lot more."
"Official citizenship papers?" Ikuko asked signing them none the less.
"I want to be sure our business is legitimately accepted in Saudi Arabia now that we own it."
"Well now we have licenses."
"You mean you do, women can't drive in his country."
"No worries Ali here will be your personal driver and translator." Serena nodded.
"I thought people weren't allowed to have multi-citizenships."
"They're not, but we're rich sweetie some rules just don't apply," Kenji replied as Serena checked her cell phone to see if it was working.
"Oh that reminds me, new cell phones are in order."
"Yay!" Sammy and Serena cheered. Soon they had new razor phone and transferred all numbers into it. They labeled their own phones Japan and put it in a compartment with the others. They began calling friends and telling them about Saudi Arabia.
The next day they awoke early to Serena's dismay and went to look for a new house as usual when establishing residency in a new country. Serena yawned as they visited the tenth house.
"I like this one papa, my room would be huge."
"Than this it."
"I like the last house we visited," Sammy said.
"We're getting this one!" Kenji yelled as the two started bickering about which house would be better. Serena stuck her tongue out at him. Sammy frowned. Later Serena went off shopping with Ali to find a present for Darien while her family rested. His birthday was in three months and she wanted him to have an exotic present.
"Do you think he'd like this, I mean isn't it a bit much we've only gone out once?" Serena asked holding up the gold encrusted ipod.
"Yes, and for his birthday I hear men in countries like Japan and America like cologne. "
"Is there a place we can buy it?" Serena asked thinking if she got him new cologne, it would be like her marking him, and the smell would keep other girls at bay. She grinned as she followed Ali out of the shop after buying the gold ipod.
"Oh this one is perfect!" Serena exclaimed. The cologne smelled of Roses and the scent wasn't over powering. It was just so exzotic, she had never found a cologne or perfume that smelled of roses and didn't stink. She got a bottle for herself and a bottle for him except hers smelled of oranges Darien's favorite fruit. Another woman came up to her and Ali blocked her view. They spoke for a few moments and than she switched to English.
"I see you're buying orange passion," the woman said. Serena turned and smiled even though the woman couldn't see it. It seemed her English classes were finally coming in handy.
"Yes, it smells like the real deal." Serena was sure the girl was smiling behind her veil.
"I'm glad you like it, my father tries hard to make his products top notch." Serena nodded.
"He does a very good job."
"Thank you, he'll be pleased to hear that."
"Serena Tsukino," Serena said holding out her hand.
"Adara al Madani." Adara said shaking her hand.
"Please to meet you."
"Charmed."
"So do you hang around the shop all day?" Serena asked. Adara nodded.
"Unfortunately yes, but occasionally I go out shopping with with my mother." Serena was frowning to herself."Do you help your father in his shop?" Serena shook her head no.
"No, my father owns several businesses and usually I inspect stuff he's going to buy and propose prices that's about it. I hang out with my friends a lot." Adara nodded.
"Where do you come from?" Adara asked.
"Japan we live in Tokyo, the capital."
"Cool, I've always wanted to travel as you do." Serena smiled again.
"Yes traveling is fun and when you get the chance you have to visit Spain."
"Spain?" Adara asked. Serena nodded and pulled out her camera. She switched memory cards and showed her pictures of Spain from her thirteenth birthday.
"Oh how lovely and beautiful Spain is." Serena nodded.
"Yes, its so peaceful and the people there are very nice or at least the ones I met." Adara nodded.
"Yes, I hope one day my husband has the means to take me there." Serena looked at her confused, but brushed it off.
"You'll have to come to Japan one day too, its very beautiful there too, the wilderness is quite lovely too once you get out of Tokyo, you just wouldn't catch me camping to much." They laughed.
"Adara!" A man said sharply. They talked for a moment before he smiled at Serena and asked if she wanted several more bottles of the perfume and cologne she'd gotten already.
"Just one extra bottle of each," Serena said showing him her purchases. He nodded and went into back. When he came back he talked to Adara for a few moments as Serena spoke with Ali in Japanese about the proper ways for young girls to associate.
"Oh no I couldn't possibly ask her over to the hotel, its just so informal and we just bought the house today," Serena said sadly. Ali nodded.
"Um...Ms. Tsukino," Adara said nervously.
"Please call me Serena." Adara nodded.
"Serena, I know this is a bit short notice, but would you care to grace us with your presence at our party tonight, my father is introducing new scents and since you like his perfumes so much he thought you would like to come." Serena thought about it.
"Only if I can bring my family." Adara spoke to her father who nodded.
"Great, they'll be pleased to attend such a party."
"Remember its formal." Serena nodded as Adara gave Ali the address.
"Oh I hate to go, but I suppose we can chat more at the party."
"Please come shopping with me for a new dress," Adara invited.
"Hmmm...Ali do I have time?" Serena asked. Ali looked at his new watch.
"Yes, your father instructed that I have you call in every now and than to check in." Serena nodded.
"I'll come." Adara was pleased she could tell from her body language. Serena called and checked in with her parents before telling them about the party. Afterwards she went shopping with her new friend Adara. They found Adara the perfect dress and it never once occurred to Serena that she never saw her face. When she did, so they could take a picture together while the men had disappeared off one street she was amazed at her lovely brown eyes and long black hair.
"Wow you're beautiful," Serena said.
"So are you." They smiled at each other and than took a picture before covering back up again.
"You know I thought you were much older than me."
"Why would you think that?" Serena asked.
"Well you just sounded older."
"I assure you, I am only fifteen years old, I'll be sixteen in November, and you?"
"Just turned sixteen this summer."
"How wonderful it must be to be sixteen."
"No, I'll have to marry soon."
"Oh I'm sorry to hear that, but you must come to Japan before you do." Adara nodded hoping her father would let her without a husband. Adara introduced her to other girls, but they didn't connect like Adara and Serena did. Finally Serena was over Adara's spacious and elegantly decorated home. She had tones of brothers and was the oldest of them all except for her brothers Abdul-Fataah and Faisal. They were into the family business, but were not excellent salespersons like Adara. Her father insisted that she always keep that job.
"Oh everyone is so dressed up in exquisite clothing," Serena commented as she looked around the room full of women in the Madani home. Adara nodded and pointed out all the women with important husbands. Through Adara, Serena came to understand some of the Islamic culture. Serena mingled with the women through Adara. Soon her mother arrived and she was introduced to Adara and Adara introduced her as the wife of a very wealthy Japanese business men, which made some of the women perk up and try to show off. Finally though Adara presented the new scents and Ikuko bought a few that were only to be delivered to her and no one else. They were so jealous of her. Unfortunately after the party they had to leave, so they could return to Japan.
"Here is my cell phone number for when I'm here and we're not together and you need to call." Adara nodded as she put it in her phone and labeled it." Ok and here's the number for my cell in Japan, than the one in France, than the one in Italy."
"Is that the last cell phone?"
"Um no here's the American one." Adara put it in her phone.
"Alright now here's my home phone in Japan for when I'm at home."
"Alright well here is my cell number and the number to my home phone." Serena put it in all of her phones as they sat in the limo.
"Some times I go over my Aunts so you'll need her home phone, because she hates when I use my cell phone, oh and sometimes we visit Pakistan so here's the number to that home phone, they have the same service so I don't have to change cell phones thankfully."
"Lucky," Serena commented.
"I know," Adara replied. The limo pulled up at the airport.
"Give me a call some time, and just leave a message if I'm at school." Adara nodded. Serena got out with all of her phones and hugged Adara before Ali took her home. Serena joined her family on the plane for the long ride back home. She couldn't wait to see the girls and most of all Darien.
A/N: Yes, I know she took Luna on the trip with her, but I forgot to add her in, so yea...
SAILOR SAYS!:
"Good friends are hard to come by especially in a new country, so even if you don't speak the same language keep trying to understand each other and one day when you both speak a common language you'll be even closer as friends. You should respect each other's customs and read up on the country they live it. Tolerance makes a good person, Sailor Moon Says!"