Fists and Lipsticks 2: The Silver Crescent

CHAPTER 51: Physics of Trust and Mistrust

CHAPTER 51: PHYSICS OF TRUST AND MISTRUST

I can make it my business.

 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Burgundy Grand Hotel found at the heart of Yokohama and owned by no other than the renowned Empire Business Group was young architect Ayanami Fuuko's destination the following morning. Dressed smartly in her black business attire with matching four-inch stilettos, her Southeast Asian pearls dangling poshly from her earlobes, and her Louis Vuitton bag firm on her clutch containing the precious documents she needed for her much-sought transaction, she descended from her sports car, pushed up her fashionable sunglasses to the top of her head, and handed the car keys to the valet.

Fuuko strutted across the hotel lobby, turning heads of both hotel employees and guests alike. She headed straight towards the main desk, where she was instantly recognized by the receptionist-on-duty.

"Ohayou, Ayanami-san!" the male receptionist wearing a suit with a distinct shade of dark pink bowed in his greeting. "The temporary proprietor is waiting for you. Let me show you to his office, then?"

"Temporary proprietor?" Fuuko raised an eyebrow as she and the receptionist walked side-by-side towards the gold-walled lift. "Where's the old proprietor that replaced Lady Nu and Yoshifumi-san?"

"He's currently out of the country," the receptionist explained. "He accompanied Yoshifumi-san to Europe. It is too unfortunate that they couldn't go back to Japan right away because of the temporary flight suspension order by the prime minister."

Ting!

The receptionist gestured to the double doors of the lift sliding open, "This way please…"

Arriving at the topmost floor, the receptionist led Fuuko into the 'new' hotel manager's office. The frosted glass doors had not been a new sight as far as she was concerned, for she has gone to the same place merely a month ago when she first submitted her proposal to open a food business inside the Burgundy Grand Hotel. Yoshifumi Rei, who was the 'officer-in-charge' then, told her to come back with her franchising documents from Yamada Hidemi along with business permits noted by her lawyer.

After informing the secretary by the door about Fuuko's arrival, the receptionist finally led her into the room.

"Ohayou, Ayanami-san!"

A man in his late thirties greeted her as she motioned into the room, offering a handshake she could not refuse. Smiling marginally, she received his hand before taking the seat he offered in front of his desk.

"My name is Ryuuzaki Kenichiro and I'm the new deputy manager of this hotel. We apologize for the confusion we have caused you with our very inconstant admin for the past couple of days."

"I don't mind at all, Ryuuzaki-san. There are other things more confusing in the world apart from managers that are replaced every week because they're at the wrong place at the wrong time."

Masking his frown upon perceiving Fuuko's outright sarcasm, the hotel manager opted to redirect the conversation back to business, "So, do you already have the documents we need?"

"As a matter of fact, yes – complete and authentic," Fuuko answered proudly, unzipping her Louis Vuitton and pulling out a folder. She placed the files on his desk and pushed it towards him, "Take a look."

The manager's puckered brow vanished the moment she read the documents Fuuko submitted. After browsing each page, he closed the folder with a satisfied smile on his face, once again bending over to offer a second handshake.