Can I Be Your Girl

19

About eleven in the morning, I descended to the hotel lobby where we had reservations for lunch. Inside the private dining room, which was designed as a Japanese tea house with the balance of the eastern and western style, Mr. Gil and Mr. Lopez already sat side by side around an eight-sitter, rectangular table. The others were yet to arrive as I sat on one head. Folding my legs Indian style, I studied the food on the table: tempura.

Nice...

As we waited for the rest, the three of us merged in a conversation of business for the upcoming meeting with the Mori Group the next week.

"It's not our first time doing business with Mori Group actually. In 2000, they deposited 10 million dollars into the company. Now, investment may reach up to 25 million dollars if the negotiation goes well, maybe even stretch it to a thirty, but that's just perquisite depending on how they accept our visit," Mr. Gil, the company executive, added while setting his wooden chopsticks in his right hand.

"Twenty-five million dollars?" my forehead creased. "Don't you think that's relatively low for the planned expansion? I was expecting at least around seventy," I asked, and the two older men sitting on the left side of the table smiled at me.

"True sir," Mr. Lopez—whose balance-patterned (consisting of the colors white, red, and green bands and dark blue center)side-tie western scarf, in combination with his off white and slightly crinkled, baggy shirt terrorized my eyes—confirmed. "But investment is investment, and money is money. The company needs as much funds as it can get for expansion, or else will either die or become stagnant. The Mori Group proved to be a trusted partner as well, although not being the biggest shareholder."

"So where will we get the bigger amount?"

"From Hunan Holdings sir, based in China. We're on the middle of another negotiation with them as well. We're expecting around 500 million Yuan to 1 billion Yuan out of that deal."

I reached for a glass of water before speaking again. "So basically, this deal is not the main aim of the company."

Mr. Gil nodded.

"It's not as important as the one in China, but again, we need all the money we can get. With a company like Powell Industries, it is impossible to have a time where we won't need money. We have competition. Aside from other private organizations, we have the government who's aiming to take 80 percent of the market away from us. We can't let that happen so we need to develop and improve our facilities constantly."

"Yes, I get your point. But by the way my father delivered it, he made it sound like this is the last string of hope for our company."

I scoffed.

"Please don't lose your drive sir. We have to seal this deal. Please show Ms. Mori a fun time—"

"Excuse, what?" I interjected. What Ms. Mori?

"Uhhhmm... Ms. Mori sir. The daughter of the chairman."

"What's she got to do with this?" I asked, baffled and not liking my suspicions.

"Well..." Mr. Lopez drawled as he pushed his glasses to the bridge of his nose. "Mr. Mori agreed to sign the deal if you, sir, agree to, you know, give her some of your time."

"What the fuck?!" the two men's eyes grew like saucers at my outburst. "Why didn't I know of this?! Dad never mentioned—"

Then it dawned upon me. My father practically prostituted me. Great shit right there dad! Great-fucking-shit right there!

The two men still sat stiffly with their eyes trained warily to me. I sighed.

"This...Ms. Mori—" I groaned inwardly—"how—"