Single Sashimi

by Camy Tang

  “And I don’t know why I’m taking violin lessons when I don’t even like playing it, but my parents make me take lessons because my cousins all play in regional competitions.”

  Venus was about to say she could relate to that, but remembered to keep her trap shut.

  “And they don’t understand that this is A merica ! Americans don’t eat all that tsukemono and gobo and tako.”

  And tong sui, and bao yu, and lop cheong.

  “I can’t bring home any of my friends to eat that stuff! They’d totally puke!”

  Trust me, honey, if they’re Chinese, they’ve probably eaten worse.

  Mika started off on other things that sounded vaguely familiar to Venus, probably because she’d heard her Japanese cousins talk about them. Being raised mostly by her Chinese father had apparently spared her from horrors like uni and takuwan and obon dances.

  She was getting the hang of this. All she had to do was provide a shirt-sized Kleenex for her tears, an occasional pat on the back, and ears to listen to sobbing and ranting. No advice or solution required of her.

  She was starting to feel like a real girl.

  She heard the side door slam, and she shifted to protect Mika from whoever approached.

  Kat’s voice sounded from behind her. “Venus? Your next bout is ready. It’s against Drake.”

  The primary reason she’d come tonight, to serve him humiliation and defeat on a silver platter. Or at least on a 73-inch HDTV.

  Mika shuddered against her sopping wet blouse.

  Venus hesitated only a half-second. “I’m forfeiting, Kat.”

  “Are you sure?”

  Venus wondered if she could get a friend who worked at Mega-Media to give her a free copy of Xenon’s Revenge when it released next month. “Yes.”

  Kat’s footsteps padded away. For a moment, Venus thought she heard a second set of footsteps. But then the side door closed, and she was left with Mika in the silence of the evening.

  Drake followed Kat back into the church. Venus hadn’t looked around—she had curled protectively around the high school girl who had been clutching at her like an octopus.

  If he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn’t have believed it. Venus, with the nasty reputation of being the most difficult and most successful programming lead in the video game industry, comforting a young girl. Venus, who had kahones of steel that Drake couldn’t even find in other men he’d worked with.

  But hadn’t he seen her change in the months they’d been working with this youth group? Hadn’t he himself felt different as he sat and listened to the boys in his small group answer the Bible questions? They were typical teenaged boys, but their earnestness to do right, their inner confidence, was something he hadn’t felt at their age. He hadn’t even felt it in his early years as CEO of various gaming companies. Not until his heart attack.

  He’d joined this church and this youth group to oblige Gerry, who had insisted he work with her church youth program rather than a local, non-Christian program. He didn’t do much—Herman ran the small groups, asked the questions on the sheets typed up each week. All Drake did was listen as the boys answered. Yeah, the answers were painfully obvious, but the boys loved and respected Herman, loved and respected the words they read in those tattered pew Bibles.

  Drake still couldn’t understand why What was there in those words that he couldn’t see?

  It had something to do with Venus comforting a crying girl, when she could have been inside waiting for their match-up. He wasn’t surprised she’d forfeited, considering the circumstances, but he couldn’t believe she’d been out there in the first place, giving a girl a hug when she barely tolerated being touched in a handshake.

  He wasn’t at the point where he’d answer the next altar call in Sunday ser vice, but maybe he’d listen a bit more to Pastor Lester as he paced on the low dais at the front of the church. The man often spoke so fast he didn’t finish his sentences, but he always had a point—and lately, those points had been uncomfortable barbs in Drake’s side.

  NINETEEN

  What do you mean I can’t take the rest of the day off?” Venus, leaning against Drake’s oak desk, smacked the heel of her hand against it. “I’ve handled three emergencies this morning. Three!”

  “I need you here.” He’d risen from his chair so that he also hunkered over his desk, his eyes darkening to teak and staring her down. Good thing she’d worn her four-inch heels today instead of her three-inchers.

  “I need to take a personal day.”

  “To use your own phrase, you’re not ‘bleeding or burning.’ ”

  “It’s called a personal day because it’s personal.” If she told him the real reason, he might blow the top off his salt-and-peppered head.

  “It has to do with your company.”

  Busted. “The system is not going to crash in the next eighteen hours—”

  “I need you here because of our sponsors—”

  “They don’t have to worry.”

  “I need you here today—”

  “We’ll go live in two months, right on schedule—”

  “Venus, shut up and listen to me.”

  She shut up, but she also straightened and stuck her hands on her hips. It brought her eye level with him and a little farther away from his ire-filled glare.

  “Nickelodeon is coming today.”

  “What? I thought they were supposed to come next week.”

  “They called today to reschedule. They have questions about the system and I need you there to answer them.”

  There were some things Drake couldn’t answer for her. “How close to a decision are they?”

  “They’ll decide about sponsorship after we meet with them today.”

  Oh, no pressure at all. Venus walked to the large picture window and frowned at the leafless trees in the tiny parking lot. “Why do the biggest sponsors come on the rare days I actually have other things to do?”

  “What is so important about your appointment?”

  Venus glanced over her shoulder at him, mouth open. Maybe? No. She turned back to the parking lot.

  His long-suffering sigh reverberated down her spine. The creaking of his chair wheels told her he’d sat back down. “I promise I won’t get upset.”

  Maybe he wouldn’t. He’d certainly proven enough times that his volcanic temper had gone at least partly dormant. “I’m meeting with an animator.”

  Drake tilted back his head so he could shoot sparks at the ceiling. “You can’t reschedule that? ” Maybe not completely dormant.

  “She worked with Jaye before. We’re thinking of bringing her on board to help test the tool.”

  “Is she coming from out of town or something?”

  “No.”

  “Again, you can’t reschedule?” Like it was the most obvious thing to reschedule a meeting with a potential business partner in favor of a multi-million-dollar sponsor for his company. Well, put like that…

  “She might be able to get us MoCap data to test the tool with.” Hopefully original data and nothing illegally obtained so they wouldn’t face a lawsuit down the road.

  Drake looked at her as if she’d sprouted a monitor instead of a head. “And that’s important, why?”

  “Considering how hard it’s been for us to get MoCap data, she might be worth her weight in Intel processor chips.”

  A knock on the door. Darla stuck her head in. “Venus, Maria Kress is here to see you.”

  “Show her to my office—”

  Drake shot to his feet. “Nickelodeon is scheduled to arrive—”

  “I’m only going to reschedule, okay?” Venus flung her arms out. Her fingers itched to grab her shoe off and brain him with her heel.

  A brassy voice sounded from the hallway. “I’m here to see Venus Chau.”

  Someone’s soft voice answered, “She’s in Drake’s office, number twelve.”

  A second later, someone shoved Darla aside and knocked open the door. “Venus, I’m Ma
ria.”

  She seemed to pose in the doorway, reminding Venus of her mother at dinner parties. The first thing she noticed was that Maria was practically falling out of her halter top. The next thing was that Maria’s eyes had swept the office before riveting on Drake. Rose pink lips parted and smiled at him. “Hello.”

  Venus mentally flexed her claws. Maria had that indefinable confidence in her sex appeal that Venus had never been able to mimic, that absolute comfort in her own skin which Venus still couldn’t achieve. Venus felt gawky next to her, plain-faced and trying to disguise it with makeup whereas Maria shone with natural color. Venus’s rear end had suddenly expanded another few inches as she stared at Maria’s slim hips and long legs. And Maria’s fresh, friendly smile contrasted with Venus’s dark mood.

  Maria extended a graceful hand to Drake, which he automatically clasped. “So pleased to meet you.” She made it seem like a caress.

  Venus gritted her teeth.

  Drake, however, dropped her hand rather more abruptly than was polite and coolly nodded toward Venus. “Your appointment’s with Venus, not me.” She could almost read his mind—Do I look like a Venus to you?

  “Oh.” Maria’s eyes widened, and she touched the tips of her fingers to her lips, drawing attention to them. She laughed, a self-deprecating yet sensual sound. “So sorry.”

  Drake raised an eyebrow at Venus and jerked his head toward the door. Intend to get her out of here anytime soon?

  Drake wasn’t responding to this woman’s hypnotic spell? Was that even possible? Venus broke from her stupor, but not before exchanging a bewildered glance with Darla. “Maria, something came up—”

  “Actually, I already hired an animator and didn’t tell Venus.” Drake suddenly reached out to reclasp Maria’s hand and gave her a warm, apologetic smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “I’m so sorry. It was my fault entirely.”

  Luscious lips formed a petal-soft O. “Do you still need the MoCap data?”

  “Nope.” With an over-bright smile, Drake darted out from behind his desk and turned her toward the door with a firm hand on her shoulder. He nudged Darla aside as he ushered Maria out of his office.

  “But I came all this way.” Even Maria’s pout was lovely.

  “Sorry about that. I’m a jerk to work for, anyway. Good-bye!” He closed the door as soon as she cleared the threshold.

  Venus and Darla both choked, trying not to laugh while Maria still stood outside the office in the hallway. Then Venus stuck a finger out at him and hissed, “I still need an animator.”

  “You didn’t want her, right?” Drake made sure to pitch his voice low.

  “I don’t have any other candidates.”

  “I’ll help you find one.” He sat back down behind his desk.

  She opened her mouth, but couldn’t decide what to say.

  “And MoCap data,” he added.

  She pulled herself to her full height, arms akimbo. “Why?”

  He leaned back in his chair and crossed one leg over the other. “So that I can decide when you need to take a ‘personal day.’ ”

  Venus seriously considered telling him to take his MoCap data and shove it, but the sad fact was that the man had enough contacts to find her a great animator, and she hadn’t had any luck getting a session at any MoCap studio without flying to the East Coast. She pressed her lips together, and her nostrils flared.

  His bland expression told her he knew of his imminent danger of being strangled but didn’t fear her. “Nickelodeon will be here soon.”

  “Oh!” Darla hustled out the door so she could be at the reception-ist’s desk. Venus took the opportunity to follow her out in a dignified exit.

  Darla had barely closed his office door before smiling at Venus. “Wow, he really has the hots for you!”

  Venus flushed. “Darla, don’t spread rum—”

  “Who does, dear?”

  Grandma stood a few feet away.

  “You look like you need a double-shot of espresso.”

  Esme’s voice jolted Venus out of her reverie as she slowly headed down the hallway “What?” She paused.

  Esme stopped alongside her. “Are you okay? Did the meeting with Nickelodeon go well? You look like you’ve been hit with a two-by-four.”

  She sighed. “Almost. My grandmother is waiting for me in my office.”

  “Chieko Sakai?” Esme’s eyes grew wide.

  Famous, or infamous. Venus nodded.

  She touched her shoulder. “Is there anything I can do for you?”

  Her concern almost made Venus start crying. “No, but thanks for offering.”

  “It’s nothing.” She smiled. “I feel like we’re…friends. Friends help each other.”

  The words warmed her more than coffee. Venus had never had a female friend outside of her cousins. The women in her workplace hadn’t been interested in hanging out with her—possibly because of her aggressive work ethic, and later possibly because of jealousy or cattiness (several had insinuated she’d gotten surgery and was lying about her stomach virus).

  But Esme actually liked her. Venus hadn’t felt this way before, hadn’t ever felt like she had a close (non-blood relation) girlfriend to count on or confide in. She returned Esme’s smile. “Thanks.”

  Esme’s cell phone rang. “Sorry.” She checked the number. “Oh, it’s Lisa, one of the programmers. Hello?” She waved to Venus and hurried down the hallway.

  Venus stood outside her closed office door and sucked in a lungful of air. Maybe Grandma had gotten tired of waiting for her meeting with Nickelodeon to end and left. Fat chance.

  She opened the door.

  Grandma glanced up with a warm smile as she sat in the chair opposite Venus’s desk, her legs crossed and a slender ankle bobbing up and down. Venus sighed as she sat down at her chair—Grandma hadn’t kicked off her brown pumps, and Venus didn’t quite have the courage to slip off her stilettos. Grandma’s neat Chanel suit made Venus feel rumply in her Calvin Klein, especially since she’d been creasing her skirt under the meeting room table while talking with the folks from Nickelodeon.

  “Did the meeting go well, dear?”

  “Yes, very well.” She tried to infuse cheerfulness in her tone, but couldn’t quite hide her apprehension. “So, Grandma…”

  Grandma reached into her purse and handed her an envelope. “This is your invitation to the Christmas party.”

  Yes! Venus resisted the urge to raise her arms in a caveman gesture and instead gave a polite smile. “Thanks, Grandma. I’m looking forward to it.”

  “Hudson Collins will be there.” She looked down, uncrossed and recrossed her legs. “I had lunch with him yesterday.”

  And hopefully chatted up her brilliant granddaughter and the breakout development tool she’ll unveil in a few months.

  “I mentioned your name, and he seemed a little concerned.”

  No! Venus folded her hands on her desk so she wouldn’t pound them against it. “Concerned?” Her voice was pitched a bit higher than normal.

  “Apparently your name came up a week ago when he’d had drinks with Yardley.”

  Rat slime fink turd worm scum cockroach. “What did Yardley say about me?”

  “Hudson wouldn’t say.” Grandma’s eyes found hers, hard as obsidian in contrast to her gentle smile. “I hopefully alleviated his fears.”

  “Thank you, Grandma.” But she knew that wasn’t all. Grandma had said something more, she could feel it.

  “He seemed interested in your new position here.” Grandma glanced around her spartan office. “He seems to hold Drake and his family in high regard.”

  Score one for me, right?

  “He’d be impressed if the Yu family were also behind your project.”

  Venus frowned. “I don’t know Drake’s family as well as you do, Grandma.”

  Grandma waved a languid hand. “Oh, I wouldn’t ask you to talk to them. I’m good friends with Paul and Diana.” She regarded Venus with a steady gaze. “But it would certainly
help you if Hudson could see that you also were friends with Paul’s children.”

  Venus clenched her stomach against a twisting cord of nausea. “I go to church with Gerry.”

  “And you work closely with Drake.”

  Venus pressed her lips together for a moment. “There’s nothing inappropriate, Grandma.”

  “No one’s saying anything like that.” She leaned forward in her chair. “But there’s nothing wrong with being seen outside of work in social situations.”

  She didn’t want this. She did. She knew she shouldn’t feel this leap and heel-click of her heart.

  Grandma positively beamed. “I think you should attend my Christmas party with Drake as your date.”

  Drake had never before been attacked as he approached his parked car, but Venus did a good impression of it.

  “I need your help.” She appeared out of the shadows and mauled him.

  He grabbed her wrists and plucked her hands from his jacket lapels. Her scent—breezy, exotic amber, and very expensive—made him want to keep her close, but he also knew she’d slam her heel in his instep if she felt trapped. He nudged her away—but not too far. “Are you bleeding? Burning?”

  “No.”

  “Car problems?”

  “No.”

  “Am I going to like this?”

  She opened her mouth, then closed it.

  Not a good sign. “Just spit it out, Venus.”

  “I need you to be my date for Grandma’s Christmas party.”

  The first word he heard was “date,” but the unromantic “I need you to” made his heartbeat restore to normal tempo. “Why?”

  “Grandma did some damage control for me with Hudson Collins.”

  “Damage control?”

  “Yardley slandered me to Hudson. Grandma set him straight, but she also played up my relationship with you.”

  “We have no relationship.” Although he’d like to change that.

  “But Hudson doesn’t know that.”

  He crossed his arms and took a step away from her, regarding her with narrowed eyes. “I’m starting to feel like a hired escort.”