Life Without You

Chapter 16 - Relocating Back Home

Landing in Osaka made Ariel and Andy feel somewhat depressed as they wheeled their luggages towards the exit of the airport.

"How long will we be stuck in Japan, Mum?" moaned Andy.

"I don't know. It's up to my boss. But see it as an adventure to be in another country," she tried to be cheery and positive.

"I miss home. I miss home food. I miss Imogen. I miss my friends. I miss English being the everyday language," he muffled.

"I understand, darling. But enjoy this moment of staying overseas while you can. It's not every day that you get to travel to another part of the world and live in it," she comforted him, just as the same words comforted her too.

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Mr Fujita rubbed his chin in deep contemplation after seeing the PowerPoint presentation of the multiple locations presented to him during the board meeting with the key directors of his company. Even though the meeting was in Japanese, Ariel could now understand bits and pieces of everyday conversation. However, Hiroshi continued to be her translator and translated her sentences when they took turns to speak during the presentation.

"I've decided," Mr Fujita said in Japanese and referred to the slide with the photos that compelled him. "I like the location that Ariel-san picked. This would be the best spot without too many surrounding competitors, and human traffic is big, so there's lots of potential."

"You win, well done," Hiroshi whispered to Ariel.

Ariel grinned, feeling satisfied with her sense of achievement.

"This will be our first restaurant in the West. Ariel-san's past work with Leon will be a great selling point," continued Mr Fujita. "I'll be relocating Hiroshi-san and Ariel-san back to work on this together." He flashed a subtle cheeky smile as he glanced at both of them.

"You mean, Ariel-san will no longer be needed here in Japan?" asked one of the board members.

"Yes. Her work here is pretty done. I've tasked a Japanese head chef to take over her place in Japan. Also, she is familiar with the culture in the West. Now that she has been well-trained with us, she has the best of both worlds, just like Hiroshi-san."

Hiroshi translated Fujita's words to Ariel, leaving her wide-eyed.

"Y-you mean I can go back home and work there indefinitely?"

"I'm not sure about indefinitely. But it's definitely for now," Hiroshi smiled.

"Arigatou gozaimasu, Fujita-san! I'll put my best to grow Hinata restaurant back home," she bowed in gratitude to the big boss and to the rest of the team.

Of course, Mr Fujita's other reason for getting Hiroshi to follow her was obvious to her. After that conversation with the big boss, in many tasks that he appointed her to do, Hiroshi was also tasked to partner with her.

It was not something she always felt comfortable about, especially when the staff were reeling with gossip about the two of them together often. Hiroshi was a great leader and friend, and a great mentor in her weekly training in Krav Maga. But she wondered if Hiroshi had complicit such arrangements with his dad.

Before working for Leon Waltz, she never thought that she would be desirable again after being a single mother. But life had taken many twists and turns.

The most famous and handsome superstar singer wanted her, millions of male fans fantasied about being with her, and now the son of a billionaire made known his feelings to her. She battled if this was a blessing or a curse. As much as she feared being hurt by a man and after what Darryl and Leon did, she could not deny the need to have someone by her side and it felt good to be wanted, especially now that her friends were attached and spending more time with their significant others.