by Lila Mina
“It is difficult to make sense of what are mostly folk tales, with thousands of versions going around. I hope we can find someone with enough knowledge to help you. But whatever can be or should be done, we must wait until the baby is born. Let’s not endanger it more than this.” Lana nodded in silent agreement.
He grunted and headed toward his room, putting an abrupt end to their conversation. “I will call the room service for a change of sheets. Close the door to avoid being disturbed.”
“Ah… Actually…,” Lana called after him. Damn that stammer. “I know my bed is no king size, but can we make do with it, the three of us? It will take them forever to come and do it anyway, and to be honest, tonight I’d rather not…” Face burning with embarrassment at her sudden fears, she stared at her feet.
Honda kept silent for a short while; she could feel his eyes on her. “Of course. We will join you shortly.” Lana sighed with relief.
Light sleep overtook her as soon as her head hit her pillow; but it was only when two warm, loving bodies came to nest against her to wrap her in a protective cocoon, that a profound and thankfully dreamless slumber claimed her.
14 A Ruthless Man
The elevator doors opened on the 30th floor of the Nakazawa Holdings headquarters. The company owned a slender skyscraper in Tocho-mae, in the Shinjuku business district. For all its majestic size, the gigantic twin towers of the Tokyo Metropolitan government building looming on its right side still managed to dwarf it.
Lana indulged herself with the sprawling view of the western suburbs of Tokyo provided by the glass walls next to the elevators. It offered a 180° vista to employees who took a break in a small lounge set up there. The weather was crystal clear, as it usually was the day after a typhoon had swept through the city, and she could admire the majestic and iconic shape of Mt. Fuji in the distance.
Lana shook herself up. It was not the right time for sightseeing. Chin high and with purposeful strides, she approached the reception desk. Behind it, several dozen employees worked in an open space. After confirming her identity and placing a call, the receptionist led Lana to the only closed-door office on the floor and softly knocked on the door.
“Come in!” called the harsh voice of Yuki’s father; the two women stepped inside.
“Sha-cho, forgive the interruption,” the young woman said with deference to the president of the company. “Your 10 o’clock is here. Lana Martin sama.”
“Yes, yes,” Nakazawa replied curtly, not bothering to glance up from his papers.
Against the wall at either end of his desk, sat two sets of samurai armor in glass cases, illuminated softly by integrated lightning. Immediately behind him, three katana blades hung in between on a single wall panel made of rosewood. Lana didn’t doubt their authenticity or the fact that they were his family heirlooms. It was impressive, humbling and exquisite, and said a lot about his mindset.
“Nakano san, tea please.”
“Yes, sir. Please excuse me.”
The employee quickly stepped outside and closed the door behind her. Lana gave a courteous bow to the head of the Holdings but made sure not to make it too deep. He wasn’t her boss. Yet.
“Nakazawa sama, good morning. Thank you for taking the time to see me today.”
The man grunted and waved his hand toward a low coffee table flanked by two sofas. “Take a seat.” He got up and went to sit on the sofa opposite hers. “So, Martin san. What is your answer?” Apparently, polite chit chat was not his forte, or he didn’t think it was necessary with her.
Lana forced herself to relax to project a confident, yet non-aggressive image. “Once again, I would like to thank you for your offer, Nakazawa sama. It was unexpected, and there were many things I had to consider.”
“Yes, yes, and I imagine Honda had something to say as well,” Nakazawa cut in, irritated by his son-in-law’s influence.
“Maybe not for the reasons you think. Of course, Honda sama is aware of what I’m about to disclose. Yuki sama, too.” A puzzled eyebrow shot up at the mention of his daughter’s name.
Right then, Nakano returned with two glasses of iced green tea balanced on a tray. They watched her place everything on the table and then hastily retreat, bristling under the thick tension in the room. Lana gave the older man a thin smile and went ahead as soon as the door clicked behind the receptionist.
“Well, like I told you the other night, I will not be able to work for you overnight. I have to wait twelve months after the termination my contract. The fact is, I intend in any case to take a… one-year break from my current position, starting three months from now.”
“A break? You plan to take a one-year vacation?”
“Well, I don’t want to call it a vacation, but indeed, I will stop working for a while.”
“But what—”
Lana quirked an eyebrow of her own, letting him reach the logical conclusion by himself. The businessman’s eyes fell on the hand resting on her lower belly, a reflex she had acquired as soon as she had learned about her new condition. He inhaled sharply and leaned over the table.
“You are either brave or suicidal to disclose this news to me like this,” he spat. “I will rain hell on Honda, make no mistake!”
Lana didn’t waver and mirrored his posture. “I understand your reaction, Nakazawa sama. Trust me, nobody expected this, much less planned it. However, the three of us — and I insist on the fact that Yuki sama is supportive — have decided to make the best of the situation. We are all very happy.”
“I don’t care for your happiness! This is outrageous, and it’s not you who should be here, telling me all this!” The elder man jumped on his feet to grab his phone on his desk.
“Nakazawa sama, wait! Please hear me out. I’m not married to Honda sama and have no formal ties to your family. I insisted to be in charge of informing you, and to do it today. Right now, I’m the only one responsible for this child and will make all decisions regarding its fate. Nothing you say or threaten to do will affect me in this regard.” Easy… easy now… everything depends on your ability to pull this off. Don’t let him burn them to a crisp because of your smart mouth.
She stood up and smoothed her skirt before clasping her hands in front of her. “Does this change your mind about your job proposal?”
He stared at her, his phone halfway to his ear. Silence stretched between them as he observed her with an unreadable expression; his jaw clenched as he made calculations. She counted on it.
“This conversation is not over,” Nakazawa finally said, putting his phone back on his desk. “You are not out of the woods yet, Martin san, and my foolish daughter and irresponsible son-in-law even less so.”
He walked back to the low table, sat and motioned her to do the same. Reclining on his seat and crossing his arms over his chest, he adopted a less threatening pose, but Lana wasn’t fooled.
“Now, enlighten me. Why didn’t you decline right away my offer in view of your… condition? Do you think it will give you some form of protection, or immunity, against any kind of retaliation, should you perform poorly?” His contempt was unmistakable.
Oh, that’s gold. Not much experience with the thick skin of female managers, right? “Certainly not, Nakazawa sama. Of all people concerned, I’m the one who has the least difficulty compartmentalizing this situation. I intend to keep a strict wall between my private and professional lives. Justified criticism backed by facts related to my work performance is always due and welcome. I will meet personal vendettas and ad hominem attacks with… an appropriate response.”
Lana let her words sink in before continuing. “I’m interested in the growth opportunities that working for your group will offer me. If you hear me out until the end, I have several proposals you might find interesting. Because let me tell you one thing. I will not give up my current position to become a glorified translator or secretary, at the bottom of some nameless department, spitting out reports for your upper management.”
Nakazawa loo
ked like torn between laughing or throwing her out. “This is getting better and better. Go ahead,” he said with a regal hand gesture.
Lana adopted a relaxed and convincing body language, putting aside the tense discussion about the tsunami her pregnancy meant for his family. “Why don’t you start an experiment? Create an internationalization department that answers directly to you, with the goal to make your company truly ready for welcoming foreign investors, and for developing a solid and efficient expansion strategy overseas.”
“Pah! I already have a team for this. There’s nothing new in what you’re suggesting, this is a waste of my time!”
“With all due respect, you have an overseas sales department, yes, but it doesn’t do anything for the internationalization of the Holdings. Your staff analyze and act as if they were interacting with Japanese customers and partners who speak a strange language. Your company is not structurally ready to step outside Japan and negotiate on foreign soil with an upper hand, much less meet the demands of foreign investors. It’s normal. Only a handful of Japanese groups can do that at this point in time.”
Nakazawa growled, anger clouding again his face. “Such typical foreigner arrogance…”
Lana shook her head. “I know how it sounds, but the rules out there are too different for you to ignore. It’s not enough to have English-speaking employees to tackle that. So, why don’t you set up a new department and put me at its head. I will combine my experience in handling a Japanese team with my multicultural background, knowledge of foreign business cultures and decision-making processes. Give me the leeway to create my team with people from inside and outside your company, based on their competences and not seniority.”
Nakazawa burst out laughing and it wasn’t a reassuring sound. It was more a bark than anything. “Come on, this is ridiculous! I thought you knew a couple of things about Japan!”
“Oh, this sounds… like a mutiny, all right. Actually, I expect resistance, and even downright sabotage. Frontal and indirect attempts at undermining my authority and efforts. But give me a chance to implement an international mindset without making a full corporate revolution rejected by your senior and mid-level management staffs. Let me set up specific plans over six, twelve and eighteen-month periods, with clear targets to meet. If I fail, I will walk out on my own.”
The older man leaned forward and for a few, long minutes scrutinized her in silence. To her satisfaction, she didn’t falter under his ruthless glare.
“Self-confidence bordering on blind arrogance, a sharp mind and boundless ambition… the perfect combination for upper management. Yet, you’re a woman,” he smirked, eyes raking her body with the clear intent to make her feel uncomfortable. “You don’t need this to go... places. But I fear you aren’t in the right bed for this. A problem I can easily fix.”
You petty, low-blow, demeaning motherf… Lana killed the incendiary thought. Honda’s warning and stern orders rang in her head. He knows which buttons to press. Sorry pal, no BJ for you.
She allowed a pleasant smile to bloom on her lips although it hurt more than words could say.
“Oh, I know exactly where I want to go, and those are the only things I need. Whose bed I’m in is… irrelevant.”
Nakazawa moved to her side of the table and sat next to her. She barely had the time to catch his lightning-quick hand and stop a bony manicured finger right before it touched the upper button of her silk blouse. Time came to a standstill; complete silence filled the room.
Heart beating hard in her throat, Lana called upon all her self-control to keep a normal pressure on the old man’s wrist, and above all to not get up, and storm out of his office after punching him in the face. She kept her eyes fixated on his finger.
“No, it isn’t. Are you wise to deny me, woman?”
“Nakazawa sama,” she whispered. “We know why you’re doing this, but let’s be honest. This will not end well and not just for me. The only reason your wrist isn’t broken is because I was specifically told not to do it. They’re aware of their duty toward you and your family. But,” she locked gazes with him, “don’t underestimate the value I hold to each of them, and what they would do to protect it. And… do not assume my sense of self-preservation cannot override my ability to follow strict orders.”
Nakazawa chuckled, and his breath tickled her ear. “You’re the one assuming a lot. For starters, that my ambitions for my company would trample my need to keep my family in check and allow disruptive elements to bring down decades of hard work. My daughter and her useless husband have a new toy? So be it. A baby in a childless marriage… is something else.”
He moved even closer, but their bodies didn’t touch, except for her hand on his wrist; a hand that now trembled with her repressed urge to maim. She increased the pressure of her hold. He didn’t seem to notice though.
“You’ll work for me, all right. I’ll back up this little experiment of yours and crush any attempt of rebellion from weaker people than you. The thing here, woman, is that as smart, strong and skilled as you are, you’d better learn to not assume for one second your position is safe. I know where your loyalties lie. But… I’d rather have you close than hidden somewhere by that irreverent tool. So, you and I, we’ll get to know each other over the coming months and years. And one of these days, you’ll see where your real interests are, and you’ll come to me. Willingly.”
Lana clenched her jaw and breathed through her nose. Don’t… don’t lash out… don’t rip his eyes out… you can do this, he won’t touch you unless you beg him to… it would be too easy otherwise… raise to the challenge… don’t cower…
Face smooth and a fleeting smile on her lips, she let his hand go and stood in a fluid move. She stepped away from the sofa before he could do anything else. Spine straight, she locked eyes again with him, repressing waves of cold fury.
“Well, duly noted, Nakazawa sama. I consider myself… warned. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to advance in my career. Before I forget, here are the rest of my conditions, but they aren’t so important at this stage,” she said, placing a folded paper on the table in front of him. “We will meet again soon, won’t we? So, if you would please excuse me…”
With a smug look, Nakazawa gave her another regal nod. Lana bowed with as much respect she could muster and walked out, not sparing a glance for the curious receptionist. It was only when she stepped outside the building, under the hot noon sun, that she let out a long and shaky breath. Unshed tears burned her eyes.
Such humiliation… I couldn’t imagine… and now… now I’ve stepped inside his lair.
15 Bitter Disappointment
Dark thoughts swirling in her head, hands still shaking and nausea making her stomach churn, Lana went home without paying attention to her surroundings. Her tense confrontation played in loops on the back of her mind. She had lost control of the situation where she should have kept the upper hand. But maybe she had none in the first place? Upset with herself, she gnawed at her fingers all along the way.
In the street leading to the Honda estate, she came to a halt in front of the gate.
How can I go back and face them? He warned me, they both did, and I thought I could do better. I bet and lost, and now what. Is the baby safe? Are we? But can we even be in security unless I… let him have his fun with me? But he’d make sure they know about it. Tape it. Show them. The full picture in technicolor. His revenge. And it would destroy Honda, destroy them, destroy us.
Stifling an enraged sob, Lana crouched down on the road, face in hands. Why did I bother with keeping myself in check? I should have slapped his smug grin, knocked his denture off, crushed his —
“Lana san.” The rumbling voice of the one person she wasn’t ready to face sounded from somewhere on her right.
Damn those security cameras. She remained prostrated.
“Lana san!” Honda’s louder bark rattled her. Fists clenched, she slowly straightened up. “That bad, uh?” She looked up only to find him at the s
ide door of the entrance gate, face unreadable. Her only answer was a low hiss and bared teeth. He was on her in two strides.
“Did he touch you?” The fury in his eyes mirrored her own.
“Pah! Do you think I’d be here if he had? Don’t worry, I never raised my voice, even when he cornered me on his sofa. Oh, and I still got the job, isn’t it grand? He’s beyond furious at you and Yuki sama, but now I’m under his paw, and that he’s sure I’ll end up in his bed, we should be fine… unless of course he decides one day we aren’t!” She grabbed his lapel and pulled herself up. “I want to hit someone or even better, kill them,” she growled. “Do something!”
She crashed her mouth on his with all the frustration that had piled up for the past hours. With a furious groan of his own, Honda dragged her back inside the property, shut the side door, and slammed her against it.
“Be silent now.” His angry whisper brushed against her lips, while his hand moved under her skirt, ripped away her panties and roughly rubbed her clit. Lana grunted and pressed her pelvis against his fingers. She bit his neck hard, drawing blood, and in one thrust, he was inside her. A shout of relief escaped her.
To her bafflement, once sheathed deep inside her, he stopped moving. He had her pinned against the door; both were panting hard, out of boiling anger. Unable to sort out her tormented emotions, she whimpered and moaned.
Although she was squeezed against the wall, she ground herself against him even more, searching for the blissful friction that would release her. But he didn’t follow through. His dominance and position reasserted, Honda brushed aside her hair from her neck to lick her skin.
“This will not do, Lana san. I… have to concede there was no other choice. You were right. Now that you have taken this step, that the board is set, you— we must make all efforts to give him no more argument, no more weapon to strike us with. This includes our rightful anger against him. We cannot afford to disperse our energies. As dangerous as he is, let’s not forget the real threat we face.”
