VF FIC: FLEETING MEETINGS
3/2/13 04:25![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
nharaChapter 2: Meeting Asami Ryuichi - Satoishi Mamoru
My name is Satoishi Mamoru. I'm standing in front of the club Sion and going to go on a meeting which will define my further destiny.
Everything drove to Hell three months ago, when I received phone call from mom who said that my father is in a critical condition in the Tokyo Hospital. Father had a stroke after the transaction on which it put wellbeing of a family and which appeared to be nothing in reality. And now the company is on the verge of bankruptcy. Old communications started breaking, and nobody wanted to help to 'a ship, which is going on a bottom of the sea'.
Three months ago I worked as the successful manager in Osaka. Probably it was my rebellious protest - to rise, reach recognition without influence of a shadow of my father. Of course it was self-confidently, though there was more then one successful project at my side. But I didn't reach the goal yet. In any case now all this isn't important, and these dreams consigned to the past. And the present in which I appeared, isn't filled with not so bright prospects
Situation in the company is in critical condition. Large number of the people working for my father will end on the street. And I don't know how long our family will be able to hold on the remained means. Hospital accounts already exceeded the sum covered by an insurance.
I considered option which could rescue a situation, there is necessary of one large contract, but any of old father's partners didn't support my project and refused to cooperate
In the morning I was at a meeting with one father's old friend - Kawaguchi Toshiro. I initially knew that the capacity of his company isn't so great to help our firm on the verge of crash, but at the same time decided to agree about a meeting. Never know where good luck can smile. I always considered Kawaguchi-san as clever and kind person. Though my assumptions that he will refuse justified, but also absolutely useless this meeting didn't appear. I received council and small hope. I scrolled conversation around in my mind for an hour.
* * *
"I know you, Mamoru-kun, since your childhood. You are very clever young man, your father is very proud of you. Kazuto came to discuss to me the transaction which in a consequence resulted your company in current state. I told at once that it is suspicious to me and strongly recommended to think and refuse. Your father made the choice and faced consequences."
"Yes, Kawaguch-san, I appreciate that you tried to convince my father. How you consider my offer? Will you be able to help? " - I asked without special hope.
"Mamoru-kun... Unfortunately, your offer very risky, and actually you ask me to risk my company. I am the elderly person and can't appear on the verge of bankruptcy myself. Also I can't leave family with anything. " Kawaguchi Toshiro wearily leaned elbows on a table.
"If the father thought as you - nothing could not happen. I understand you and I won't insist. " I inclined head to overcome a disappointment wave.
"You shouldn't blame father, Mamoru-kun. He made everything for the sake of you and family. I consider the only thing that he hurried and didn't count all possible unexpected situations."
"Yes I console myself with this thought too, but I don't think that this consolation will be suitable for our workers. What should I do, Kawaguchi-san? Everybody refused to help me. If to undertake nothing, next week we can be considered as bankrupts. " I know, I am sure at this moment all emotions of a hopelessness and despair were on my face.
Kawaguchi-san chewed a lip. "I know that shouldn't do it, and I know that your father won't forgive me for it... " From a drawer of a table of Kawaguchi-san took black business card and put it before me on a table. "Try to give a call to this person."
On the business card it was written 'Asami Ryuichi'. I don't know why, but in my imagination I made a parallel between a black card and a Pirate's Black Spot.
"Who is he? And why father will be against?"
"Who? Well I know that he is a businessman, in Tokyo, in all Japan, Abroad. Own corporation, owner of bars, clubs, restaurants, hotels. But there are rumours that it only a surface. I am too old to play with fire to be interested more deeply." Kawaguchi-san shrugged shoulders. "I don't think that someone except him can precisely tell who is he. The only thing that I know for certain that he has great influense, he is very rich and the main thing he is very dangerous."
"And you suggest me to ask for the help at the dangerous person?"
"Yes. But he wouldn't become everything I listed without being thus clever and acute. If your offer would interest him, he might help, but don't try to deceive him. I never heard about people who gave up him, deceived him, threatened him. I suggest you to call, to agree about a meeting, to tell that is necessary for you and to listen that he wants in replacements. If conditions don't suit you, you will apologize and will refuse."
"Sounds simply...."
Kawaguchi-san sniffed. "I wouldn't count on simply too much. If you decide to give a call, you have to be extremely careful, correct and polite. Remember the Devil's offers never have favorable conditions in a result. Think twice over any his offers. Believe me, much better to appear the bankrupt, than a corpse."
"And nevertheless you suggested me to give this person a call."
"...." Kawaguchi-san sighed and looked me directly into eyes. "You need a quick help. It is the only way I see."
Upon return to the office I collected thoughts and dialed number. After couple of beeps I heard a deep baritone
"Yes."
"I'm Satoishi Mamoru. Am I speaking with Asami Ryuichi-san?"
"Yes. It would be me."
"Kawaguchi Toshiro-san did give me your business card. Also he told that possibly you will be able to help me."
"Probably. I just thought when you would give me a call."
This statement took me unawares.
"You knew, what I will give a call?! How?!"
"Oh, as well as 'all roads goes to Rome', also majority of people in Japan who faced with difficult business situations someway come to me." I felt amusement in a voice.
"...."
"At Seven this evening, Sion club, on an entrance say your name and show my business card you got." Man in a phone continued without waiting my answer. After that I heard beeps.
* * *
In three hours I stood near an entrance and was trying to gather determination. Huge line of elegant people before an entrance to Club didn't help to get rid of my nervousness at all. I made some deep breaths and went to a door, protected by huge security guards. There is no time for expectation, there is time for actions.
At entrance I didn't meet any problems and doors of the most prestigious club in Tokyo opened before me. The interior really impressed with luxury. Not too far from entrance I was approached by man wearing glasses.
"Satoishi-san, I am Kirishima Kay and I'm Asami-sama assistant. Follow me, please." Man made a gesture in the direction of elevators, a little inclined head in inviting, then without waiting my reaction took a step forward, it didn't remain anything else how to follow him. In the elevator I felt as nervousness rolled with a new force.
"Em, Kirishima-san... " I began uncertainly.
"Yes, how I can help?!"
"Am I... Am I need to know something before a meeting with Asami-san?"
My question probably was little unexpected.
"I'm sorry?! I didn't really understand... reasons... of the matter to give you a correct answer..."
"I'm sorry. For my part it turned out tactlessly. To tell the truth I tried to find out whom I will meet. Opinions were inconsistent. But all refer in one that Asami-san is dangerous person... " I murmured the last phrase and lowered a look.
The silence lasted some seconds, but it seemed to me that during this time before my eyes were carried by at least twenty various violence scenes and beatings. Importunate background music of the elevator only aggravated my panic.
"You don't need to be afraid of anything for now." Man near me said accurately and separating each word.
I don't know, whether this phrase according to Kirishima-san had to calm or terrify me. In ears the word 'for now' on which the assistant placed the greatest emphasis in a voice pulsed hard. The answer was unambiguous, and my sources were right. Elevator announced that there is no way back already, and I surely will have a meeting. It stopped and with characteristic sound having flung the doors open
* * *
Office premises of corporation Sion weren't less impressive, than Club downstairs. At the end of the hall I saw two-parts door made from dark tree. I wondered were they doors to a Hell.
At a rack of secretary Kirishima-san has braked and asked me to wait for a minute before he report about me Asami-san.
I looked back on the elevator. The button of opening of doors caught my look. I almost jumped up on a place when my shoulder was touched, sharply turned back and met Asami-san's secretary. I went so deeply to my thoughts that didn't notice how she called me before. The elderly woman knowingly smiled to me and told that I should go into room. I moved my gaze to door where Kirishima-san was standing. I swallowed and with indecisive gait went in that direction.
The office was twice bigger then office of my father. Chocolate colored leather, on shelves various of books, small bar, a massive table at which Asami-sam set. To my astonishment man wasn't old fart what I imagined him. The man looked at me from the table was in his late thirty, without gray hair, on how I could judge with a sports constitution, in perfect three-peace suit. When I raised eyes, I was surprised by a color of his eyes, probably it was a play of light, but I was met with surprisingly light brown eyes, almost golden-yellow.
I inclined head in a greeting:
"Good evening, I'm Satoishi Mamoru. It is nice to meet you."
"Good evening, please, sit down. Kirishima fill three glasses and sit down too."
"I wouldn't like to drink any alcohol." I murmured sitting down in one of leather chairs before a table, nervously solving where should I put my case with documents.
Asami-san grinned.
"Even it will be clear to the blind man as you are strained. It isn't interesting for me to deal with rabbit. You will drink, you will relax and then we will pass to the reason of your visit." During this phrase Asami-san took cigarette and lit it.
Kirishima-san in the same time put a glass before Asami-san, then returned near a bar and captured two more glasses and went to my side. I accepted one and the assistant sat down in close to me chair. I was a little surprised, because he accepted rather free pose for a business meeting.
Asami-san I took glass from a table and lifted it on eyes level, so light went through liquid
"Try. My small wife says that a bit of this drink is the best way to remove stress. I don't think that you will get drunk with a quarter in this glass." Then the man took a small sip.
I also took a small sip. Though I happened for me to try cognac before, but what I tried now didn't come close to be compared to what I drink now.
"It is cognac. Strong. I like this brand. One of the best. You see as light plays. " Asami-san took one more sip and continued. "Boards for cognac barrels make of strictly certain part of trunks of 100-year trees. Before the barrel will be created from boards, it should maintain in the open air within 3 years. Otherwise wood will give bitterish smack. Barrels are exposed to special procedure of roasting. It is very important for future taste of cognac, and exactly thanks to roasting wood gives to cognac a note of fresh bread. Term of endurance of cognac about two years. However the majority of drinks ripens much longer terms – sometimes many decades. The one you're drinking is ten years old. When you drink it with small sips, you feel as heat goes on a body."
"Yes it is valid, unusual pleasant taste. " Small lecture about features of alcohol and a glass of cognac really helped to remove stress. Heat spread on my body.
"So to business."
I got from case set the document with the project on firm rescue, in secret I was glad for my foresight and took five sets. Kirishima-san took two sets and one put before Asami-san. Within an hour I told about a situation in the company and possible option of a solution and actually the help for which I came here. During my story Asami-san asked questions and Kirishima-san did marks in iPad. I was impressed by these people. They weren't obliged to penetrate so into a situation. All people with which I talked before, simply listened, nodded, took day for more detailed consideration of my project, and then refused.
In an hour when the stock of my words expired, Asami-san lit next cigarette, leaned back on a back of a chair and in a thoughtful voice asked:
"Satoishi-san how do you in general estimate reality of your idea?"
"Well from good luck shares I think this project is possible."
"Ah! There your main mistake is."
"... I don't understand you... " I looked with surprise and the chill crept in heart , as I got feeling he will also refuse to help me.
"Luck... You have no such luxury how to wait luck. It doesn't say that the project in a whole is bad. It only testifies to lack of experience at you. Therefore it is reason that everybody turned you down. " Asami-san moved hand with a cigarette and left a trace of smoke. "Your firm on the verge of bankruptcy. You have to have accurate program guaranteeing an unambiguous outcome, without taking chances. Accurately counted courses, without possible serious deviations. Good luck often means bigger injection of money without any guarantee in your case on which the majority of the companies won't go."
"I believe you are right. It means, what you will refuse to help me too? " I asked carefully.
"I didn't say this, but with such project without changes I wouldn't begin to work. With certain changes it is quite possible to conclude the bargain." Asami-san extinguished a cigarette in an ashtray. Kirishima-san brought him one more glass of cognac and two for us.
"And what you want for the help? " I carefully continued.
"Ha, an utter nonsense! Forty percent from profit and service of you in the future." Asami-san grinned and I felt a dirty trick.
"Why I feel a dirty trick? " I regretted that words at once as they jumped out of my mouth. I swallowed.
"What does give you suggests, that there can be a dirty trick?" Asami-san changed his rather friendly and business voice to a dangerous tone from which on my body poured wave of fear. I grabbed a glass which was brought to me before and drank in one go. Asami-san raised eyebrow, it seems that such reaction was unexpected, but I already couldn't stop myself.
"Part with service sound as the deal with a Devil..."
Asami-san chuckled.
"Devil? ! My small wife says that he was my father. I don't think that you want to deal with this part of me. But service can be any, simple, difficult and in any unexpected time for you."
"Asami-san I don't want to deal with a crime, and I want to solve problems of my firm in a lawful framework." I answered and looked directly at his eyes. I couldn't understand what this person thinks, but probably, what he saw in my eyes in Asami-sans opinion was acceptable.
"What are you talking about Satoyshi-san?! I'm just a businessman. Nobody can give charges to me in such claims." On Asami-san's face played small grin.
"If in the our deal there is nothing criminal, I would like to consider with you a bargain. "I lowered a look and inclined head a little in a nod.
"Then further you'll discuss project points which demand processing with Kirishima, and I hope tomorrow by the evening you decide on a final version of acceptable project. As soon as I will receive it we will sign the remained documents. And now excuse me, but I have to be in other place soon. Kirishima inform Suoh to wait me down with a limousine."
* * *
Kirishima-san led me to a meeting room and told that secretary will bring me tea and snack, excused himself and said that he will join me in fifteen minutes. When doors were closed behind the man, I failed in a chair, from my shoulders fell down huge weight. The person who hasn't need to deal with such small person as I, decided to help me. Asami-san has the aura of greatness, questions which he had asked me spoke about his professionalism. And crime? ! Who knows... Everybody have a finger in the pie... And the skeletons in wardrobe...
