Golden Era (Book 2)

39. No Love

Hurtling into Kyoto station's arrival lobby, Noa discovered with dismay that the train was fifteen minutes overdue: she'd missed her father.

But it wasn't exactly game over—she had another way to intercept him.

To avoid repeating the same mistake, she headed straight to Granvia—an extravagant hotel where her father's business conference was held. Planting herself in the lobby's conjoined coffee shop, she waited, determined to catch him on the second attempt.

It was three hours later when Ami Akio emerged from the main elevator. During this time, Noa had skipped four lectures, downed two cappuccinos and been hit on five times. When she finally spotted him walking out, she leaped up and sauntered towards him, "Dad!"

Akio's eyes widened before breaking out a grin. "Noa! What are you doing here?"

"Oh, I just happen to be here for a meeting, too," said Noa with a shrug. "You mentioned you'd be in town today, so I thought I'd check. Who knew we'd actually bump into each other!"

"Well, it's a pleasant coincidence, isn't it?"

Noa nodded like a bobblehead. "Are you staying in town for the night? We could have dinner in Gion and maybe go see a kabuki show—"

"I'm sorry, Noa. I have to be back in Tokyo before six. Our London partner's flying in to discuss a case."

"Well, okay." Trying to conceal her disappointment, Noa went on salvaging the day, "How about having high tea right here? Granvia has the best view of the entire city!"

Seeing hesitation cross her father's face, Noa brought out her last ammunition, "Please? It'll just be an hour. I haven't seen you since we got back from France. You did say you want me to be more literate about investment. I want to hear about your recent deals." 

At last, Akio demurred. Noa secretly cried for victory, knowing her father could never turn his back on finance talk. 

***

Atobe Keigo was answering a question when a flint of red caught his attention.

He was ferried to Hotel Granvia after the kickoff meeting at Hikari. Having recently acquired another company for the Atobe conglomerates, he was being briefed on its quarterly performance this afternoon. Just as he was close to being bored to tears by the droning associate, through the lounge door entered the last person he expected to see.

Atobe took a sip of water to verify his suspicion: indeed, it was Ami Noa and her trademark hair. This time, she was with a middle-aged man who repeatedly glanced down at his wristwatch.

This is why she was gone in a hurry, he thought.

Setting his glass down, Atobe instantly recognized the man: noted for his foresight and poise, Ami Akio was a magnate in the investment world. He was an encyclopedia, a wizard when it came to deciphering market trends and building financial models. Not only was he the head consultant to the federal treasury board, but he also managed major hedge funds in Europe and the U.S. If Japan had its own oracle, it would be Ami Akio.

Watching Noa settling down across from him with an unusually animated expression, Atobe was astounded. No wonder Noa had been so astute with numbers and financial assessments. He'd been so distracted by the Saint-Tropez incident that he failed to make the connection: Ami Noa was Ami Akio's daughter.

***

Noa ordered a tea set for two and instructed the waiter to prepare Akio's favorite sencha while he tapped away an email on his phone.