RUSHES
Another day in the life of Ash...another round of rehearsals, promotions, and public appearances for the rising star of Japan.
But for Mimura Aisha, it is not just another day. It is also another day of coping. If not for her busy schedule and demanding appointments she would have gone mad. At least all these took her mind off everything else.
Yet she knew they were not enough; there are those moments during the nights when she was left alone to her own devises inside her bedroom in the swank apartment Artiste had put her in, or in any other hotel room she happened to be.
Then all those thoughts would assail her until she felt like a battered soldier in the middle of a raging war. Only, the enemy is herself?he heart which, even now, calls for that one it holds dear.
She had been this way since she stepped back in Tokyo soil, and it looks like things are not going to change anytime soon.
Maybe soon...but not soon enough.
Aisha dragged her footsteps to the door of her flat, fishing for her keys from inside the pocket of her jeans. She looked up and down the hall, as though expecting someone to appear. Silly, she scolded herself silently. Artiste gave the entire floor of the building at your disposal; who else would be here?
Once again, she is alone.
She sighed and pushed the door open, letting herself into the silent flat. Almost mechanically she dropped her bags on the floor and went straight into her room, dropping down on the bed and putting her arms over her face.
To say she is exhausted would be an understatement; she is dead-tired. This day began in the wee hours of the morning when she had to travel all the way to Kyoto for a small gig. Around lunch they had to drive back to Tokyo for another rehearsal session for the music video that will be released in time for the launch of her album.
She had spent the entire afternoon memorizing dance routines, faltering in some, acing most, and virtually squeezing whatever ounce of energy she has in her tiny frame.
Tomorrow she would be meeting with the President of Hua Ze Industries, Hua Ze Wang himself. She was been told she had been personally handpicked by the board of directors to spearhead HZI's latest advertising program.
Aisha sighed and stared up at the ceiling.
"Lei," she said aloud, feeling thoroughly stupid speaking to someone who is miles away. "I am meeting your father tomorrow. If I break down in front of him...you would forgive me, won't you?"
She closed her eyes and willed her dread to go away. She must not think solely about tomorrow. For the next several days she will be spending them in the recording studios, waxing the final four songs to be added in her album.
She has to think about that. Tomorrow will be just another day.
Shancai could have sworn Dao Ming Si's elegant office has turned into some sort of a mausoleum. They were all quiet and, as she looked at the faces of everyone in the room, they looked like they were mourning.
For once Shage managed to keep still and remain seated at the end of the couch, twiddling his thumbs. Her mother is absent-mindedly staring at the prints of her handkerchief while Shancai's father sat quietly beside her.
By the window stood Dao Ming Si, looking out with his hands in his pocket. He might not look it, but she knew he was tense as well, noting his tie loosened, his jacket discarded and his sleeves rolled up.
It was only Li Fong who looked unaffected by the shadow hanging over them, and for good reason, Shancai decided. The lawyer is not in any way going to be affected by whatever this day might bring.
The day started out tense enough, both she and Dao Ming Si waking up without fully appreciating the beautiful morning outside their home. Throughout breakfast neither of them talked much, left to their own thoughts of foreboding and also to their own silent prayers.
It was only when they were driving to his office that she finally spoke of what lies ahead.
"Dao Ming Si," she said softly. "I'm scared."
Dao Ming Si threw her just one glance and decided to pull up on the shoulder of the road. He faced her, giving a reassuring smile.
"What is this, my tough Shancai getting afraid?"
She rolled her eyes at him in exasperation, knowing he is trying to make her feel better. "You can't blame me."
"You're right." He nodded solemnly and turned to look through the windshield, speaking without looking at her. "If they won't cave, then I will pursue this in court. I don't care how long it takes, or how much...but I will not let her take Sombrero away."
She stared at her husband and noted the intensity of how he spoke, seeing his obvious care for Sombrero and for everything it stands for. It suddenly seemed petty to be worrying over these things when it was he who was in the most uncompromising of situations, having to face off his own mother.
Shancai reached out and laid an arm on Dao Ming Si's hand on the steering wheel. When he finally turned to look at her, she was smiling brightly.
"Let us think positive, then," she said encouragingly.
It seemed to work, because Dao Ming Si nodded and squeezed her hand, then started the car again.
A small sigh escaped Shancai's lips as she gazed at her husband standing stone-still by the window.
They all looked up as the door opened and a hesitant Reeyu peeked in.
"Line 2," he merely said and disappeared again.
Dao Ming Si and Shancai looked at the phone as though they might jump at it any minute, but it was Li Fong who leisurely stood up and strode towards it, picking it up.
"Yes?" he said on the phone and this time Shancai felt herself moving towards her husband. Dao Ming Si reached out and held her around the shoulders, looking at the lawyer.
Li Fong's face gave nothing away of the conversation he was having. He was thoughtful as he listened.
"Yes...yes...of course...that is not a problem and you know it." Li Fong nodded at what the other person is saying. "Of course...Alright."
He hung up and everyone was holding their breath, waiting for the lawyer to speak.
Li Fong glanced at the others briefly and settled his gaze on the couple. "That was Mr. Li's lawyer," he said, and Shancai could have screamed because they were all aware who that was.
Apparently Dao Ming Si was getting impatient as well. "Tell us something we don't know, Li Fong."
The lawyer nodded solemnly, then grinned slowly. "I hope you can have the money ready by tomorrow, A Si, because we are in business!"
Dazed, Shancai was not even aware of Shage screaming in glee, or her parents jumping and dancing around with relieved tears on their faces. She felt herself being turned around in her husband?s arm and being held so tight she felt like she would be crushed.
She closed her eyes tight and whispered "Thank you, thank you..." over and over.
Li Fong watched with satisfaction in his eyes and gazed upon Dao Ming Si with more admiration than ever. Quietly slipping out of the room, he reached for his phone and dialed a number in New York, ready to once again make a report.
The meeting went well enough. Aisha, accompanied by Yuki, entered the main offices of HZI and found a few familiar faces from Artiste in there: Artiste's General Manager, the head of the promotions department, even Sachiko was on hand to gather information she would obviously relay to her boss Hua Ze Lei.
Aisha felt at home with these people, except for Hua Ze Wang himself, who entered the conference room quite later, followed by HZI's own marketing team.
She did not have to say a lot as most of the negotiations about contracts and schedules and promotional campaigns were talked about by the professionals. Every now and again someone would ask for her opinion, if she was willing to do this or that, if she could do this or not...
But all the time she felt as though Hua Ze Wang was looking at her with an unfathomable expression in his wise eyes. One time she made the mistake of actually looking in his direction and instantly regretted it when their eyes met.
She was the first to look away.
When they all decided to take a ten-minute break, Aisha excused herself and went out to the hall to get some air. She had heard of how cunning a businessman Hua Ze Wang is, but she also heard of his civility. Among his employees, rarely did he make any show of emotion. He was known for being unpredictable and unreadable, a trait that Hua Ze Lei obviously adapted.
Aisha sighed aloud in the empty hallway and she turned around abruptly when a voice spoke from behind.
"Problem, Miss Aisha?"
It was Hua Ze Wang, his heavy-lidded eyes assessing her. Aisha could have bitten her tongue off.
"S-sir!" she said.
His eyes scanned her face quickly. "Have you been overworked?"
She avoided his eyes. "N-no, sir. Why...why would you think that?"
A brow lifted. "You look so thin. I know that is the trend among you young people nowadays, but it does not suit you. Especially now that you will be the face of HZI, we want vibrance and life." His voice lowered. "Can we expect that from you, Miss Aisha?"
It took her a while to answer him, and when she did, her voice sounded hollow even to her ears. "Yes, sir," she said.
Hua Ze Wang nodded slowly. Then he seemed to remember something. "By the way, I heard you accompanied my son to Taipei a few weeks ago. Why did you come back alone?"
Taken aback by his unexpected question, Aisha could only gape at him. He knows?
After seeing Aisha's reaction, Hua Ze Wang simply nodded again. "I see," he said, confusing Aisha even more.
To add to her puzzlement, the old man smiled in an almost congenial manner. "You have to be ready tomorrow, my dear," he said. "You will accompany me tomorrow."
"Accompany...you?" She was blabbering and she knew it.
"It was already worked out. Your recording session will go as planned. I will only take an hour of your time. Anyway, the presentation will be brief."
"Presentation?" She felt suddenly stupid, not understanding him.
"Didn't you hear?" he asked. "HZI is entering into a collaboration with Japan Airlines, and it was decided that you will be the newest celebrity spokesperson of the airline company."
She remembered hearing about it, but it completely slipped her mind. SHe nodded in enlightenment. "Oh, yes, I remember now."
He nodded. "Be ready tomorrow. You will be presented to the newest manager of Japan Airlines. She's an old friend of the family, so I don't think she will turn you down. Still, you have to make a good impression."
"Yes, sir," she said meekly, already dreading tomorrow when she would have to spend an entire hour with him.
"Don't take this lightly, Miss Aisha," she said softly. "A lady like Teng Tang Jing is hard to impress."
With this he walked back into the conference room.
Getting her bearings back and taking a few deep calming breaths, she went in after him, wondering when this meeting will ever end.