by Imari Jade
His baby had big dark circles around his eyes. “He claims he’s here for our concert and that he’s flying out next Monday,” Takumijo said.
“I don’t think I can put up with him that long,” Terrie admitted. “After all, the two of you were lovers.”
“Were,” Takumijo said. “I’m with you now. That’s why I went out with him earlier, to try and explain this to him.”
“Let me guess…he won’t listen.”
Takumijo nodded. “We’ve been friends since I was born. Osamu just doesn’t know how to let go.”
“So what am I supposed to do while he’s here?” Terrie asked.
“Try to stay away from him,” Takumijo said. “He asked me if he could fuck you.”
Terrie grimaced. “No.”
“I already made myself very clear on that,” Takumijo said. “I would kill him if he touched you.”
“I’ll stay away from him,” Terrie said. “I don’t want you stooping to violence.”
The waiter arrived with their drinks.
“What was Ken doing with you?”
“Being a friend,” Terrie said. “He knows about my problems.”
“I don’t trust you being alone with him,” Takumijo said. “After all, the two of you were once lovers.”
Terrie shook his head. “It only happened a couple of times, a very long time ago. He’s not even my type.”
“I won’t have a problem killing him too,” Takumijo said.
Terrie finished his drink. “Let’s go to our room. You need to work off some of that frustration.”
Takumijo downed his drink. Terrie always knew the right things to say and do.
But the week was just too long for Terrie. He threw himself into his work and spent as much time as he could away from the hotel and Osamu.
Osamu ended up going back to Osaka early and missed the concert because his boyfriend was lonely and threatened to leave him.
Chapter Thirteen
Damien was quite surprised to see the driver, Ikenai Hirogi, standing in the administration office. She was busy talking to Izumi and Izumi was laughing like Ikenai had told her something funny. Neither of the women had noticed his arrival, giving him a chance to check out the tall chauffeur. Today she wore her long raven hair down to her shoulders. She had a pretty nice body, shapely and muscular like she worked out in a gym a couple of days a week and ate right. The black chauffeur’s uniform fit her curves. She carried the matching hat in her hand. She was a whole lot of woman, he mused and she was perfect for handling the members of Kazumi.
“Oh, Mr. Kehoe, I didn’t see you standing there,” Izumi said. She immediately leaped from her chair and bowed respectfully.
Ikenai turned around too and bowed.
“Good afternoon, ladies. You can relax. I just came out of my office and didn’t want to interrupt the conversation.”
Ikenai ran her gaze over him. A flicker of interest appeared in her eyes. “Good afternoon, Mr. Kehoe. Are you ready to go to the television studio?”
He had no idea that he was supposed to ride with Kazumi.
Barbara Peters appeared in the lobby. “Oh, Ikenai, you’re here.”
Ikenai’s eyes changed from sultry to pissed in a matter of seconds. He didn’t think Barbara noticed and he only had because he’d been studying the driver earlier. “Yes, ma’am,” she said. “Mr. Keiichi called and said to pick the two of you up.”
“Yes, he thought it would be nice if we all ride over to the television station together,” Barbara said.
Damien frowned. He had no idea why Barbara was accompanying them. He was Kazumi’s publicist and he had everything under control. He understood that he was new at this, but he didn’t need a babysitter or a bodyguard. “We better go,” he said to the two women. “We have about an hour before the show starts and we don’t know how much traffic we’ll be facing on the way there.”
Ikenai said goodbye to Izumi and led the way to the elevator. He and Barbara followed and entered when it arrived.
“I didn’t know you would be accompanying us today,” Damien said as they rode down to the bottom floor.
“I mentioned that it would be nice to see Kazumi perform and Mr. Keiichi said he thought it was a good idea.”
“So he didn’t send you to spy on me?”
“No,” Barbara answered. “Why would you think something like that?”
Damien shrugged and decided to drop the subject. They walked out of the elevator and then out of the door to the sidewalk. Kazumi’s van was parked at the curb.
Ikenai opened the door for them. Barbra entered first and Damien followed her inside. The members of Kazumi and their manager Maki Gato were all present and wearing their new outfits that Keiichi had commissioned for them.
Damien greeted them. “Ohayou.”
“Ohayou,” the young women said to him.
Damien sat next to Barbara and strapped himself into the seatbelt.
Ikenai got into the driver’s seat and started up the van. Moments later they were in a lot of traffic heading toward the central business district and the television station where the young ladies were to perform on the early morning newscast. Ikenai put on the radio. The news came first, followed by the traffic report. Music finally played as the station returned to the disk jockey show.
The young women seemed very excited but weren’t talking to each other as much as they normally did. To Damien, that was a good thing. If they weren’t speaking, they weren’t arguing either.
Ikenai finally got them out of traffic and drove directly to the studio. She parked in one of the visitor’s parking spots.
Damien got out first, followed by Barbara, Maki and then the members of Kazumi. Ikenai remained behind while he led the women into the building and to the administrative office of the studio where he was told to be. The secretary said good morning to them and then the girls were whisked off to makeup while he, Barbara and Maki met with the station manager and the show’s director of entertainment. Damien knew both people from being there with Cristal and Aomori. Now he was in charge and had no problem communicating with everyone before the show began.
Kazumi went on at eight and they performed two songs. After that, all three girls were interviewed by one of the news anchors. Damien thought they did real well. No one missed a step and they lip-synced the songs because the show was live and they didn’t have a band with them. All three young women were on their best behavior and no one tried to steal the limelight from the other like he feared Manami might do.
Damien took everyone out to breakfast after they left the studio. The young women were more talkative now and excited about being on television. “You all did well,” he said to them as they sat at a big table eating their food. “I hoped Mr. Niigata was watching the show.”
“I wasn’t nervous,” Kana admitted. Normally, she got a case of stage fright in front of big audiences.
“That’s because there were only a couple of people watching you,” Barbara said. “You have to get over your stage fright if you plan to continue singing in this group.”
Kana frowned. “I bet you’d be afraid too if you had thousands of people watching you.”
“I’m not an entertainer,” Barbara said. “And crowds don’t make me nervous. It’s just a mind thing. Just ignore the audience and you should be fine.”
“No one asked you for your opinion,” Manami said to Barbara. “What are you doing with us anyway?”
“Now ladies,” Damien said trying to nip the upcoming argument in the bud. “Miss Peters is correct. Kana will have to get over her stage fright before you get on stage with Notorious. Crowds frighten me sometimes. But I plan to introduce all of you slowly to bigger venues instead of tossing you to the wolves, so to speak.”
“Don’t baby them,” Barbara said. “Being in show business is a huge responsibility. They are going to be responsible for the salary of hundreds of people who are working behind the scenes to make them a success. If Kana can’t handle it
maybe it is time to replace her.”
“You won’t have to do that,” Kana answered angrily. “I will work hard to get over my fear.”
Damien didn’t think the speech was necessary even though Barbara spoke the truth. Everyone went back to eating, and he couldn’t help but notice Manami staring daggers at Barbara from across the table.
“Are you going to let her talk to Kana like that, Damien?” Manami asked.
She was back to calling him by his first name. In Japan that would mean that the two of them were either related or had a close relationship. They had neither. “Has she said anything that isn’t true?” Barbara had spoken out of line, but she was right with her assessment of Kana.
“No,” Manami said. “But you are our publicist, not her. And this is hardly the proper place for this discussion.”
“I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings, but her lack of nerves will hurt you two as well. Maybe you can work with Kana to help her deal with her problem,” Barbara said.
Damien was glad when breakfast finally ended. He got everyone back into the van and Ikenai dropped Kazumi and their manager off first before taking him and Barbara back to the office. Damien couldn’t help but see the glare in Ikenai’s eyes when Barbara stepped out of the van. The driver kept her cool and went off until she was needed again.
Damien escorted Barbara back into the building and into Keiichi Niigata’s office.
“Kazumi looked great,” Keiichi said once they had all sat down. “I think the three of them are our next big stars.”
“They had fun,” Damien said. “I am proud of them.”
“We need to replace Kana,” Barbara said. “She still has stage fright and doesn’t seem to want to get over it.”
Keiichi looked bowled over by her outburst.
Damien cleared his throat. “That is not your decision. Kana will be okay. She is not the first idol suffering from stage fright.”
“What has brought this on?” Keiichi asked. He had a different way of doing business than his father. The elder Mr. Niigata would have sent Barbara packing for such behavior.
“It started after the show,” Barbara said. “Miss Muira had mentioned that she didn’t feel nervous during her performance at the television studio.”
“Well, isn’t that a good thing?” Keiichi asked.
“No,” Barbara answered. “She didn’t have anything to be nervous about because there were only a couple of people watching her this morning. Their next performance is at the grand ballroom at one of the local hotels where there will be many people in attendance. What will happen if she suddenly gets scared and runs off stage?”
“You have no way of knowing that this will happen,” Damien said. He knew it was a bad idea to bring Barbara along with them. He did understand her concern and as upper management it was her place to inform Mr. Niigata when things weren’t going right, but he didn’t need her interfering in the way he handled his group. “If it does then we will take the necessary action to correct the problem. She’s been practicing just as hard as Manami and Hoshimi and deserves a chance.”
“And speaking of Manami, I don’t like the way she speaks to me,” Barbara said. “She’s very disrespectful and she calls Damien by his first name.”
“Is this true?” Keiichi asked Damien.
“Yes, sir. I have told her not to call me by my first name, but she is a grown woman and has a mind of her own. As for the other thing, well, I think that she was just sticking up for her band mate when Miss Peters chastised Kana in front of everyone.”
“Maybe I need to have a long talk with your group if you can’t handle them,” Keiichi said to Damien.
“That won’t be necessary,” Damien said. He was angry at Barbara for starting this conversation and would tell her to mind her business once they were alone again. “I can handle Kazumi. You are much too busy dealing with the other entertainers.”
“Miss Peters is here to make my life easier and I value her opinion,” Keiichi said. “You are still new to all of this and you might feel that you’re helping Kana by not addressing her faults. I am going to assign Miss Peters to be your backup until your management skills improve.”
How humiliating to be dressed down by the boss in front of another employee. “Yes, sir,” Damien said. “I look forward to working with Miss Peters.”
“Is there anything else?” Keiichi asked.
“No, sir,” Damien said.
“How about you, Miss Peters?”
“No, sir, Mr. Niigata. Thank you for the opportunity.”
“This is only temporary, Miss Peters. You will still have to do your management job. You will work with Mr. Kehoe only after you are through taking care of things for me. Do I make myself clear?”
“Very clear, Mr. Niigata,” Barbara said. “I don’t think I will have any problems handling both of these responsibilities.”
Keiichi dismissed both of them.
Damien walked out first, heading to the employee’s lounge for a cup of strong black coffee. He heard Barbara’s heels beating a path on the ceramic-tiled floor behind him. She caught up with him near the coffee maker.
“I think it’s exciting that we’re going to be working together.”
“What was that shit?” Damien asked her.
Barbara stopped in her tracks. “What are you talking about?”
“You know very well what I’m talking about,” Damien said. “That shit with the boss just now and in the van with Kazumi. What right do you have to interfere in my business?”
Barbara frowned at first and then she regained her composure. “I was only trying to help.” She poured herself a cup of coffee and added sugar to it. “I didn’t mean any harm.”
“Kazumi is my group,” Damien said angrily. “And I don’t appreciate you throwing me under the bus in front of Mr. Niigata.”
“I wasn’t trying to do that,” Barbara argued back. “I was just trying to nip a problem in the bud. That is what I’ve been hired to do. It is not a smudge on your character. I think you are a great publicist and you will continue to be one.”
Damien sipped his coffee. “Thank you.”
“I just want to help out and be a part of the team. Those young women think that it is okay to treat you like an equal. You’re a gentleman and you don’t know that you’re being manipulated by them. I’m a woman and I know how women think. Kana is just being juvenile and looking to get some attention from you, and Manami is just a bitch. Hoshimi, I’m afraid is the best of the lot and she’s not even a lead singer. In order for them to be a success you have to get rid of the issues up front before they become problems.”
“I understand,” Damien said. Maybe he wasn’t as great a publicist as he thought he was. And he could take constructive criticism better than the next guy. It just hurt that the boss had no faith in him.
“I know you miss Cristal, but she has enough on her hands with Aomori and Distraction. Let me be her replacement. You and I will take this group to the top. I will be there for you even if Tricia isn’t.”
Barbara was right. The two of them had fun together most of the time outside of work so he didn’t see why they couldn’t work together with Kazumi. He sipped his coffee. It left a bitter taste in his mouth. “Come to my office. I’m interested in hearing your thoughts on the matter.” He walked away and Barbara followed him. No man could be in charge without a competent first lady behind him to make sure he didn’t fail. His phone rang after he and Barbara were back in his office. It was his father inviting him to dinner tonight. “I might be too busy,” Damien said. “Miss Peters and I are trying to put together training for the group I’m promoting. His father suggested that he bring Miss Peters along. “Who else is going to be there?” Damien asked. Just Amaya and maybe Kevin if his brother didn’t have to work. “Okay, what time? Eight. Okay, I’ll try to be there.” He disconnected the call. “Sorry about the interruption,” he said to Barbara.
“Was that your father?” Barbara asked.
&nbs
p; “Yes. He just invited you and me to dinner tonight.”
“How nice,” Barbara said. “I’d like to thank him again for bailing me out.”
“He wants us to be there by eight,” Damien said. It was nearly lunch time and he still had so many things to do. Kazumi would be performing at that hotel in a week and he still had to finalize the paperwork.
“I have no plans,” Barbara said. She looked at her watch. “It’s nearly lunch time. Why don’t the two of us continue our discussion over a meal? My treat.”
He was still full from breakfast, but he needed to get out for a couple of minutes to breathe. “Okay, but we can’t stay too long.”
Barbara stood up. “Just let me get my purse and we can leave.”
Damien watched her walk out of the room. The one thing he had learned from his father was that it was okay to love a woman just as long as you didn’t trust them.
Chapter Fourteen
Something smelled good and the aroma was coming from the kitchen. Kevin got up from his computer where he’d been working since he got home from work and walked toward the center of the apartment. He found Tricia busy cooking dinner for them. She looked up and smiled at him.
“What smells so good?” Kevin asked.
“Lasagna,” Tricia answered. “I know it’s your favorite.”
He hadn’t eaten anything since breakfast and he was starving.
“Everything is ready if you want to eat right now,” Tricia said to him.
“Just let me shutdown my computer and wash up first,” Kevin replied.
“Okay, I’ll finish setting the table.”
Kevin dashed off to his home office, shut down his laptop and used the bathroom. When he returned to the kitchen he found Tricia pouring some sparkling soda in two wine glasses.
“I’m sorry it’s not the real thing, but you’re still a minor.”
“Only in age,” he assured her as he held out her seat for her. Tricia sat down and he went over to the other side of the table to his seat. “Everything looks so delicious and American.” He was tired of eating Japanese cuisine and welcomed the change. Tricia had gotten off of work early and insisted on making him dinner. He wasn’t crazy enough to pass up a home-cooked meal. He looked down at the spread. Besides the lasagna there was a leafy green salad and freshly baked rolls. Kevin sampled the lasagna first. It had the right amount of basil and Italian seasoning, and the cheese had melted perfectly. He’d bought a couple of those frozen lasagnas before but they were always watery and bland tasting. Normally, Japanese apartments did not come with ovens, but Kevin had sprung for a confection one shortly after he arrived. Not having a dryer in the place posed other problems. He had to get used to hanging his clothes on a rack out on the patio to get them to dry after he washed them. Electricity was expensive in Japan and everyone tried to conserve energy.