Queen of Love

Scoffing, Aya plastered her phone in her face, a solid sign that she was done with this conversation. “Maybe I’ll run off to Singapore and get fake married. Show her.”

She opened the reply from Genevieve.

“It wasn’t as fun or glitzy as Shibuya, honestly. Reminded me of parts of Singapore where you’re expected to simply be rich by being there. I’d like to blend in a bit more. I want to live in Tokyo in ways I can’t live in other cities where I am more recognizable. You know, like without a bodyguard?”

Aya could barely comprehend what it was like to need a bodyguard simply to go shopping or to a public event. Genevieve Liu was not a household name to anyone who wasn’t one of Asia’s mega-wealthy, but to those who wanted some of that money the old-fashioned way… perhaps it was best to have a bodyguard. Women have been kidnapped for less. Aya had recently heard about some American heiress getting kidnapped by a petty crime family. If someone like her could get ransomed for ten million American dollars, then what would Genevieve be ransomed for?

“Have you been to Ueno yet? If you want to go to Asakusa, watch out for pickpockets. Maybe I should go with you.”

“We’ve lost her,” Mari said to her kids. “She loves this woman more than us.”

“I want another drink,” Sho moaned.

“I would love an escort. It’s a shame we can’t go tonight. I’ve been thinking about how you cut one of those business suits.”

”As it so happens, I’m wearing another one right now.”

Genevieve took her time replying. As Aya anticipated what her client might be saying, she caught Mari glaring at her from across the table. “Nani?” Aya asked.

Mari made a kissy face similar to her son’s.

“Un. Tabun.”

“It’s a slow night in Tokyo, isn’t it?” Genevieve texted.

She’s waiting for me to ask her out… Aya understood her client’s position, but this put her in a spot as well.

“The night is young.”

“Do you have another meeting early in the morning?”

“No.”

“So, do you text this woman in English?” Mari asked, interrupting her sister’s thoughts. “If so, I wanna see. You know I can’t read English, so…”

“No way,” Aya said in English.

Mari frowned. “Is that a yes or a no?”

Aya pulled her wallet out of her pocket and placed two thousand yen on the table. “Here. I’ve gotta get going.” She put away her wallet and ruffled the top of Hisa’s head. “Might see you this weekend. Mom and Dad have been whining about how I don’t visit on Sundays enough.”

“I’ll tell them it’s because you’re too busy with some Singaporean lady.”

Aya fixed her jacket as she stood up and almost bumped into the waitress with a great gait. “You do that. Mom will be jealous because she’s always wanted to go to Singapore.”

She said goodbye to everyone before heading out the door and down the steep steps to the busy Ikebukuro street. As Aya leaned against the side of a building and dangled her briefcase from one hand, she read Genevieve’s latest message.

“Where are you? I want to discuss what I found in Roppongi.”

“I just finished having dinner with my sister in Ikebukuro. Do you know it?”

“I’m familiar with where it’s at. Do you think I should live there?”

“I might be up for giving you a tour right now.”

“I’m not sure I want to go anywhere too exciting. Somewhere we can relax would be nice. Just the two of us.”

So, it was that kind of date. Aya looked off into the distance, where neon signs blended together and the raucous sounds of a Tokyo shopping district faded into the background of her overwhelmed mind.

“I know a place that’s up to your standards – and your needs.”