Queen of Love

PART 2

QUEEN OF LUST

Chapter 14

ReunitingwithGenevievein Tokyo should have been under other circumstances – professionally, at work, was not something Aya appreciated right now.

Not with Genevieve dressed like that.

“Wow,” muttered Aya’s coworker, a junior named Okada. “You guys weren’t kidding. She’s… ah, well, let’s get on with the tour.”

He corrected himself before Aya melted him with a death ray stare. I’m the only one allowed to check her out here. Especially with Aya as the senior agent assigned to this client. Even if I weren’t sleeping with the client… come on, Okada. No wonder Takatani had assigned him to lick Aya’s shadow. The president wanted the juniors to learn a thing or two from their seniors about retaining repeat business. Hopefully, Okada didn’t learn the wrong thing. Aya had to be on her best behavior.

“Konnichiwa,” Genevieve greeted with a surprisingly fresh accent. Her smile was the biggest for Aya, whom she hadn’t seen in a week and a half. For Okada, she corrected her countenance until it was nothing but professional neutrality. “Lovely to see you, Ms. Sugiya.”

The switch to English must have been for Aya’s benefit, not that Genevieve was anywhere near fluent in Japanese yet. As soon as Okada’s eyes glazed over, Aya confirmed two things: that he had completely oversold his English abilities when hired, and she would do best to remember her American slang and idioms if she wanted to subtly flirt with her girlfriend under these conditions.

“It is a pleasure to do business with you again, Ms. Liu.” Aya bowed, inciting her coworker to as well. Since he was the junior in this situation and had never met Genevieve before, he bowed twice as far and twice as hard. “This is my fellow agent, Mr. Okada. He will be joining me today in Mr. Ishida’s stead. Besides, Mr. Okada is quite knowledgeable about the Roppongi area. He’s sold multiple properties here in the Roppongi Hills.”

”Is that so?” Genevieve took another look at Okada, who was not prepared to receive the beautiful foreigner’s attention. Especially since he had probably not understood a word Aya said. I’m talking to Takatani about this. Aya or Ishida should be on the next hiring panel to test the English skills of candidates because it could quickly be a liability for the company’s selling points.

Aya motioned to the elevator leading up from the lobby of the residential tower. “Shall we? It’s on the seventeenth floor. Excellent views.”

Genevieve followed them, only one step behind Aya. Were her eyes undressing the woman pressing the Up button? Or was that Aya’s wishful thinking playing tricks on her brain? Yeah, right. More like my crotch. Aya didn’t realize how much she already ached to get back into bed with Genevieve, who stood there in the lobby with her shiny three-inch heels that showed off her perfect legs. Oh, and the pale yellow dress was a nice touch. Made her the easiest woman to spot in the whole lobby.

The last time we rode up in an elevator together, it was to indulge in some of our mutual fantasies. Except they didn’t have a third wheel last time. One who kept staring at his phone as if he were on the train.

Aya knew that Genevieve wouldn’t give two shits about the apartment in Roppongi Hills, a location that had been booming several years ago and had now marked itself as a place for diplomats, foreign money, and the occasional national celebrity. While the views remained to die for, especially if one held Tokyo Tower in nostalgic infamy, Genevieve had made it clear she preferred to stay closer to Shibuya, if not in Shibuya.

Yet, Aya wanted an excuse to see Genevieve as soon as she was back in Tokyo, and instead of waiting until she was off the clock, doing it now was good. Too good. I should have had some time to cool off. Because as soon as Genevieve stepped into the sunlight illuminating the empty living area of the Roppongi apartment, she became an angel. The kind that adorned the churches in Meguro and made Aya think of her religious friends in America.

She was really upset the last time we talked on the phone… Aya couldn’t remember about what now. She could barely remember the sale pitch she was supposed to hurl as soon as they walked into the room.

Honestly, she wouldn’t have bothered if it weren’t for Okada’s presence. She was supposed to be a good senpai and show him the script. Even if he were more enamored with the sight of Genevieve than the papers he carried on Aya’s behalf.

“Everything has been remodeled since the last occupant, who was a diplomat from Belgium, I might add. All of the appliances in the Western-style kitchen are brand-new and stainless steel. Note the marble countertops. This whole island is new since the last occupant.”

Genevieve gave the kitchen a passing glance. “I don’t cook much myself.”

“Of course not.” Aya’s knuckles curled on the counter. Okada yawned out of the corner of her eye. How can you be bored when she’s right here being too much to handle? Genevieve was distracted by something that raced in her head, but Aya was thankful for the white masks on their faces that kept how often she bit her lip away from Genevieve’s eyes. And Okada’s, for that matter. “How about I show you the bedroom and master bath? Okada-san,” she said, switching to Japanese, “please stay out here and put the paperwork together. I’d like to see everything neatly lined up by the time we return in about ten minutes.”

“Ah, hai, Sugiya-san.” Okada moved quicker now than he had any other time that day. He slapped his briefcase on one of the kitchen stools and methodically pulled out papers, complete with numbers and photos of what the apartment might look like if furnished by one of Atsukatta’s affiliates. Never mind Aya had often fantasized about furniture shopping with Genevieve. Because that’s who I am now. I daydream about shopping with another woman.

“If I didn’t know any better,” Genevieve muttered as they walked side-by-side down the short hallway to the master bedroom, “I’d think you were using this as an excuse to flirt with me away from prying eyes.”

Aya left the door slightly ajar and stood right in front of it, ensuring that Okada would see her and what she was doing every time he glanced in her direction. “I wish. I’d be doing a lot more with you if we had this place to ourselves.” Aya turned her head, hiding her willful grin. “Maybe next time.”

Genevieve perched herself on the bench in front of the window. She peered through the sheer curtain that futilely kept some of the warm sunlight out of the room. “Your coworkers often tag along, though, don’t they?”

“I’m senior enough that I might get away with a solo excursion next time.”

“If you were someone I need to impress my mother with, I’d ask how likely you are to become more than senior at your company.”

“I’m not likely to take over anytime soon.”

Genevieve swung one leg over the other. Aya had to double-take.

“That’s right,” Genevieve said with a wink. “No knickers.”