“Bernie…which one?” he asked cautiously, knowing how bad that must have sounded.
She stared at him shaking her head in disgust, and although he couldn’t see from where he stood, he knew she was tapping her foot.
“Which one? Lawd, Master Rosh I thought you changed?”
“I have,” he said quickly in his defense. “I swear I don’t have any new string alongs, and I don’t hope to. I honestly don’t know who you mean.”
She looked like she didn’t believe him, and he felt hurt by that.
“The one that look like duppy. She’s in yuh office now,” she snarled, then twisted herself around and snapped the phone back to her ear, turning her back to him.
How was he supposed to know who she meant by that? Duppy meant ghost. He was trying to think hard who she meant but came up blank. There was only one thing to do. He rushed across the foyer to his office.
The minute he pulled the door open and revealed who was inside he knew exactly what Bernie meant.
Jade Fox sat on the edge of his desk with one slender leg crossed over the other. Even though he’d entered, she didn’t move. She continued to stare ahead out the window at the surrounding buildings that dotted the view.
Her perfect light blonde hair flowed down the full length of her back, standing out against the charcoal gray of her suit. Slowly she turned to focus on him with her piercing ice blue, ghostlike eyes. The sight of her made his skin crawl and the fine hairs on the back of his neck stand up.
It was her eyes. The same eyes that most thought made her beautiful. He used to think so, too, and always felt himself staring.
Hiroshi had known a number of famous, beautiful women, this one he’d known the longest, from when they were kids, because her father was a big investor at Fujita Tech.
Of all the women he’d been associated with she’d been his weakness, the one that could break through any barrier he’d put up. The one he could never say no to. He used to see her all the time, but when her modeling career took off they’d just meet up whenever she was in town. He’d drop whatever he was doing, whatever that was, just to see her.
She was probably the closest he’d come to having a long-term girlfriend, but without having an actual relationship. Whenever he thought about her now, it was to remind himself of how bad she was for him, and that he needed to avoid her if he wanted his life to be different.
“Jade.” He spoke first.
Her smile widened, making her eyes sparkle. “It’s been awhile, Hiroshi.”
A year, give or take a month or two. He was in the initial stages of planning the training center when he’d last seen her. The significant thing about that was, even though he’d sworn off his old life, she’d managed to break through his wall of strength and entice him into her bed.
She slid off his desk and glided purposefully towards him, like a cat would before it pounced on its prey. In her dark red heels she was nearly as tall as he was. Her piercing blue gaze took him in and, like always, paralyzed him. This was the part where she would lure him away with little or next to no words.
Everything had always been physical between them, everything. Just raw passion that worked its way from the inside out until it consumed you. Like a drug.
She took his hand and tugged him towards the door. “Let’s go, our favorite place awaits.”
That would be the Regis Hotel. Yes, that was their favorite place. But, it couldn’t be anymore.
As soon as she touched him, the image of Savannah’s beautiful face flashed through his mind. He could hear her sweet laugh and see the slight hint of color that filled her cheeks when she was shy and nervous around him. His heart warmed just from the thought of her.
These women were complete opposites of each other, both had mystified him like sirens calling you out to sea, but one had done something to him that the other could never have. Savannah reached out to his heart and made him feel.
That had only just become evident to him.
He hadn’t known her very long, but last week seemed to be the start of something amazing. He didn’t need to know her for any length of time to know that, or to know that the attraction he felt for her was turning into something more.
Jade wasn’t a bad person. She’d never done anything wrong to him, but he felt nothing for her. She was just an extremely good tease.
“No,” he told her. She turned back to face him releasing his hand, searching his eyes for an answer for his refusal. “I can’t.” He shook his head.
Had anyone ever said no to her before? He was pretty certain that they hadn’t. This woman wasn’t used to being told no.
“Why?” She looked like she didn’t understand.
He hadn’t really talked about Savannah to anyone, except for Jake. He knew that his mom and Sakiko knew they were spending time with each other, but he hadn’t outrightly said anything.
“I’m seeing someone.”
“That hasn’t stopped you before,” she cooed, lifting her perfectly manicured finger to his jaw and running it along the edge. Her finger felt warm and soft. She moved closer and closer till she was inches away from him.
“This is…” He stopped her hand as she made her way down his chest. “This is different.”
It was a bold statement, considering he’d only been on one date with Savannah. He stepped backwards to give himself more personal space.
“Sounds serious.” She tilted her head to the side with a seductive smile.
“It could be.” He hoped for it to be. He didn’t know how Savannah felt about him, but he hoped for it to be serious between them.
Jade laughed cynically. “She won’t know you like I do.”
That would be a very good thing. Hiroshi didn’t want Savannah to know him the way Jade did. He wanted his past completely behind him.
“Hey Rosh, I got us super mega-sized hot dogs,” Jake boomed heartily, rushing through the door behind them. “Let’s see…” His voice trailed off when he saw Jade and the cheerful expression on his face was replaced with a heavy scowl. He didn’t even say hi to Jade, and Jade returned the same sentiment, looking at him as if he were beneath her.
“See you around Hiroshi.” Jade turned, focusing her ghostly gaze on him. It sounded like a promise, one that gave him a wary feeling in the pit of his stomach. Hiroshi watched her slip past Jake and go through the door. He looked to Jake who was already eyeing him up apprehensively.
“Rosh,” Jake began.
Hiroshi knew him so well that he knew what he was thinking. But then anyone who knew his history with Jade would have come up with the conclusion that they were together in some way.
“No,” Hiroshi said without waiting for the question. He went over to his desk, shrugged out of his jacket and threw it over the back of the chair.
“You don’t know what I’m going to say,” Jake protested.
“Yes I do, and it’s no.”
“That was Jade Fox,” Jake pointed out. His features had softened and seemed less ridged now.
He came over to Hiroshi and handed him his hot dog.
Screw smelling like food at the meeting. He had to eat this.
“That was Jade Fox,” Hiroshi repeated. “And I told her no.” He lowered to sit on the edge of his desk and ate the hot dog while he stared at the buildings outside from the floor-to-ceiling windows.
“I know Savannah is my sister, and it might be weird talking to me about this, but that was Jade Fox. The one woman who you…couldn’t say no to.”
Hiroshi continued to stare out the window. He and Jade had been messing around for at least ten years. But that was all it was, messing around.
“Are you okay man?” Jake asked.
“I’m fine.” Hiroshi nodded, but he wasn’t so sure that he was. It wasn’t simply just refusing Jade. It was embracing something new. Something new that he had no control over. He looked at Jake and was grateful for the concern on his face. He hadn’t even eaten his hot dog yet.
“You don’t l
ook fine to me,” Jake noted. Hiroshi shrugged sheepishly. “I’m probably biased because I hate Jade and I think she’s an evil bitch, but you did the right thing. She was the last link to your craziness, and seriously the way you two were couldn’t last. You would have had to cut ties with her at some point. She’s like a freaking banshee, and it’s bad she thinks she can just turn up and drag you off when she feels like.”
That was all very true, but that wasn’t what concerned him. “It’s just made me realize…” What? That he never expected to feel the way he did about Savannah? A swirl of thoughts zoomed through his mind.
“Savannah’s pretty something, isn’t she?” Jake stated, drawing Hiroshi’s attention back to him. He seemed to guess his inner conflict.
“Yes, and I don’t want to mess things up.”
He thought back to what happened at the tracks when Mizuki kissed him. These women kept popping up out of nowhere, and he had no control over what could happen. He didn’t want Savannah to think he wasn’t serious about her, or that he was anything like how he used to be. Imagine if she found out what he used to be like. He felt disheartened by the thought.
“Then don’t,” Jake offered with a reassuring smile.
He would do everything in his power not to, but having people like Mizuki and Jade pop up would undoubtedly mess things up for him. And there were others.
A woman like Savannah wouldn’t hang around for too long if these women kept showing up, and worse, like Mizuki, just kissing him as if that was normal.
But Jade was the worst. There was an evil streak in her. Bernie wasn’t exaggerating when she called her the devil.
“You know what Jade is like.” While he might have said no to her just now, he knew she would never just take that for an answer. Jake had come in before he’d gotten into actual conversation with her, and she only left because Jake came in.
“You just let her know where you stand. She probably won’t turn up again.”
That was the problem, Jade just turning up.
Jake shook his head and waved a dismissive hand, but that gut feeling in the pit of Hiroshi’s stomach only intensified. Like he said, he’d been messing around with Jade for at least ten years. He knew she’d definitely turn up again. It was just a matter of when.
* * *
It was late on Saturday when they got back to Japan, and with the amount of traffic on the road, they got back to the manor even later.
It was just after eight, so any plans of going out with Savannah were slim. He was hoping to see her before making his way over to the lake house for the fundraiser, but his father approached him just as he stepped out of the car. With him was a lady he’d recognized as Rangiku Kurosaki, president of the University of Tokyo.
“President Kurosaki, meet my son Hiroshi. This is the man you need to speak to,” his father spoke with vibrance. Hiroshi had never seen him look so alive and so pleased. It was almost hard to believe he was the same person.
“Pleased to meet you, President.” Hiroshi put out his hand to shake hers.
Jake gave them a polite nod as he got out of the car. “I’ll leave you fine folks to talk business. My entourage awaits,” he declared with a bright smile, referring to the host of admirers he’d gathered over the years. He then walked away doing his Denzel Washington strut.
Hiroshi turned back to his father and President Kurosaki. “Hiroshi, your father tells me great things about you,” President Kurosaki stated with a wide smile that made the fine lines around her eyes more pronounced. Hiroshi looked to his father, wondering what he could have said.
“Thank you,” he replied. His father nodded and looked at him with pride. Not with that cold, dismissive look he usually had, but one of respect. Something Hiroshi had desired for so long that he could hardly believe it when he saw it for himself.
“I’m proud of the work Hiroshi has done, and the recent developments made for his training center,” his father expressed.
Hiroshi was stuck on the word proud.
“Of course. It’s very impressive,” President Kurosaki commented.
“But it’s all his doing, President. Remember that. He didn’t want us holding him back.” His father actually laughed and rested a hand on Hiroshi’s shoulder. “Let’s walk and talk.”
The soothing sound of the soft Jazz music filled the function hall as they entered. It was packed with all sorts of people, there were more people here than at last year’s event. This year his mother was raising money for cancer research, she supported a different charity every year.
He spotted her at the top of the hall surrounded by a bunch of women. She looked beautiful dressed in an emerald green kimono with her hair neatly placed back in a twisted roll, which highlighted her slim face. There was his uncle not too far from her. He’d gained a substantial amount of weight since the last time Hiroshi saw him. Over by the far right corner of the hall were Kaito and Shinji. Yep, he would avoid them for sure.
His father left them to talk, and talk they did. As Hiroshi hadn’t spoken to many academic people, it was great to speak to her and gain some more insight and ideas. One of which was a potential scholarship program, definitely something he’d want to do.
After a while, he grew aware of the time and stole a second to look around the hall for Savannah. Neither she nor Sakiko were there yet. He’d messaged on his way from the airport to let her know he was going to be a little late, but didn’t get the chance to let her know when he arrived.
He’d been here for at least half an hour now, and as much as he loved talking to President Kurosaki, he really wanted to see Savannah and spend the rest of his time with her. Hiroshi was already tired, and the thought of tomorrow’s flight back to Washington just made him cringe. At least he knew that when he came back to Japan, it would be a long while before he’d have to make that journey again.
“Have you thought about the full curriculum as yet?” President Kurosaki asked.
No, right now he was thinking about how soft Savannah’s skin was, and her hair that smelled like warm honey and vanilla.
“I have a rough plan, but it needs to be organized.” That was the best answer he could give right now. “It would be great if I could meet with you when you have the time.”
“Yes, that would be perfect,” she nodded with enthusiasm. “It goes without saying that our university would love to invest and definitely have our students join you.”
Hiroshi was glad to hear that. “Thank you. I would love that.”
President Kurosaki smiled. “I could arrange for the head of our computer science and engineering courses to be at your disposal. Just call the office and we’ll book a meeting.”
“Thank you.” He was grateful, extremely grateful.
But, the worry over the time crept back into his mind.
What time was it? It was at least nine o’clock now. He glanced at the clock on the wall, not wanting to appear rude by looking at his watch. It was actually nine fifteen. Maybe Savannah wasn’t coming. He was about to turn back to the president again when he froze.
Dressed in a white silky one-shouldered dress that accentuated her tiny frame and drew every ounce of your attention away from any and everything was Savannah. She stood at the top of the entrance looking like a goddess.
Against the warm color of her skin, the dress stood out making her look even more stunning. It was complemented by her straight, glossy-black hair that was gathered across to the side next to the dress’s tiny strap. Her hair ran down to her elbow and ended with one curl that held it neatly together.
Hiroshi’s heart lifted and stilled, all at the same time.
She was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen in his life, and right now…
He could almost laugh at the thought. He was nervous.
Him.
So nervous that he just stood there staring, taking in her beauty. He watched her as she looked around the hall. Her eyes rested on him at the same time that Sakiko came up behind her. Sakiko whispered
something into Savannah’s ear but she never took her eyes off him. She continued to gaze at him even when Sakiko left her.
From the part of his brain that still worked, he remembered his manners and turned back to President Kurosaki to say, “I’ll definitely be in touch.”
“Good. Great speaking with you.” She raised her glass to him and gave him this knowing look that told him she’d seen the way he was looking at Savannah. She chuckled to herself and moved in the opposite direction, giving him the chance to turn back to Savannah.
He allowed his legs to take over, moving towards the woman that lured him to her. She moved to him, too, gliding towards him as if in a dream. The cherry red of her lips and the smoky color over her eyes enticing him with each step.
Hiroshi focused on those beautiful lips he was going to kiss. The lips he’d missed so much all week. He could almost taste her, and he didn’t care that they were in a hall filled with well over a hundred people. Whoever knew he was dating Savannah, then good for them, whoever didn’t was about to find out.
Besides, he was done here. He was sure they could find better use of the few hours they had left of tonight. He maneuvered his way through the crowd of people. Closer, he was almost with her. He reached out and just managed to brush her fingertips before someone swooped in front of him bumping right into Savannah and blocking his path to her.
Shock gripped its claws into him as he looked down and found himself staring into Jade’s ghostly pale eyes.
His blood froze.
Chapter 16
Her eyes pierced into Hiroshi, numbing him.
“Hiroshi, there you are.” She rested her hand on his chest seductively. “My gosh, I’ve been looking everywhere for you. My dad wants to talk business with you.” Jade stood in front of Savannah acting like she hadn’t just practically smashed into her, and like she didn’t exist.
Hiroshi was about to answer, but Savannah beat him to it.
“Excuse me,” he heard her say.
Jade didn’t move. “You know what he’s like, always interested in a good business venture when he hears of one. I meant to tell you when we met up in Washington.”
I Only Have Eyes For You Page 21
