Ah, Valerie. She barely makes it to the meeting on time. She said she had a fever last night, but she looks fine now. No, scratch that. She looks like she’s thrown up a time or two this morning. Damnit. I hope I don’t have to send her home early.
Anyway, if Akihiro is the head of the family, then it’s the two female family members who turn that head, but even those two play different roles. Fujiko is old enough to get away with some bad behavior here and there, and she fulfills the role of light-hearted-but-shrewd business mind who smacks sense into her brother. Their niece, however, kisses tons of ass with her soft-spoken voice, bows of the head, and most familiarity with English and American business culture. She’s our main liaison between our side and theirs. Fujiko is eager to talk, but Junri is the one who actually listens.
Which means I have to look all three of them in the eye at once. Akihiro, so he gets my due respect. Fujiko, so she doesn’t feel left out. Junri, because she is the one who has to understand me the best.
It’s exhausting, and aside from the moral support she offers, Kathryn isn’t much help. That isn’t to say I wish she weren’t here. Hell no. I’d trade Valerie in for another Kathryn, and not only for sex! Kathryn’s never been afraid to get her administrative hands dirty, which is a lot to say for a woman born into her kind of privilege, even those that go on to take over companies. Sometimes I think her and Valerie get into competitions over who can take the best notes or relay the fastest information, but don’t tell them I said that. They’d both turn their feminist noses up at me and accuse me of trying to pit women against each other. Nah. I find it hilarious and cute. (Also don’t tell them that, yikes.)
“I’m afraid that twenty-five million is the absolute lowest we can accept.” I’m told that you have to offer (and turn down) something three times before an Asian businessperson will finally accept what you have to say. This is my third time putting this number forward. Hopefully it gets through their skulls this time. “Any lower and we will not be able to renovate the property to the standards our guests have come to expect. I’m sure you understand.”
The Isoyas nod in unison, but none of them are happy about this number. I gesture for Valerie to provide them with the detailed budgets the corporate accountants have come up with. Honestly, twenty-five million is a small investment for the Isoyas. I’ve seen their public portfolios. They’re fucking billionaires and they’re trying to convince me that they can’t pony up that much to get their brand name imprinted on my family’s next hospitality venture? Bullshit and a half, if I do say so myself. That property was specifically picked because it’s next door to one of the Japanese people’s favorite places to play tourist in America. By the time they get around to choosing their hotel, they’ll already have Nippon Royal Hotels imprinted in their brains thanks to the commercials here in Japan. It’s genius, really. We Mathers have to play up our own spin on American hospitality so we can still appeal to Americans, but the Isoyas will pump Japanese tourists into our wallets. Together, we make millions. Honestly, the Isoyas stand to gain more since it’s America they’re looking to branch into.
“Twenty-five million is a lot of money,” Akihiro says with careful consideration of his words. His accent isn’t as stilted as his sister’s, but he does not talk with the same fluidity as she does. “We must have reassurance that your plan can succeed.”
This time Kathryn slides a few papers forward. “The Mathers have used the same budget formula for previous enterprises. You can see the details here.”
I love how the Grand Hotel back home is listed as an example. Working on that project together was how Kathryn and I ended up as a couple. I refuse to sell that property for that very reason. Good thing it’s still making us money.
The Isoyas have seen all of this before, though. Thankfully, I’m used to these useless stalling tactics. Not that I don’t think this family has good reason to approach this deal cautiously. We’re talking millions of dollars here. Except it’s millions of dollars I’m confident my family can turn into a lucrative investment for everyone involved. The trick is to show my American bravado without looking like a foolish ass in the process.
“It will be considered,” Akihiro tells me. “Of course, I will wish to speak of this more with your father.”
You mean the guy looking to retire soon? The reason I’m here with my girlfriend instead of him? My father is currently in Cabo with his newest girlfriend. (At least this one is only ten years younger than him. My mother could take a hint. Her latest main squeeze is younger than me. This time next week I fully expect to walk in on my parents fooling around in my father’s office. Again. They’re hopeless.)