55–Joey
I sat in Yuka’s reception, waiting for Alex. He had a meeting with the Yakuza boss, and then I was going to speak to Yuka about my decision. His offer had been rattling around in my head for the last week and every time I thought I had come to a decision, I would go off in a different direction and would have to sit and think about it again.
The elevator doors opened, and I lifted my gaze to the older woman who came shuffling into the office. Dressed in a traditional kimono, she moved with such graceful little steps, toward the reception desk. She moved behind it, placing her wicker basket on the surface, before finally lifting her gaze and she noticed me. “Oh, dear me.”
1 blinked.
What had I done wrong? I lifted myself slightly and bowed to her. “I am waiting for Alex.”
The woman peered at me, as I stood straighter, and a smirk came to her wrinkled mouth. She opened it to say something…
“Pearl, behave.” Her attention snapped to the side, as Alex stepped out from the doors, he had gone through only half an hour earlier. He looked at me, smiling. “Joey, Yuka will see you now.”
I stood, brushing my hands over my skirt and walked over to Alex, acutely aware of the older Japanese woman watching me. Alex stepped to the side, holding out an arm.
“Just down the corridor and through those doors. He’s expecting you.”
I blinked at the doors looming at the end of the corridor and looked back to Alex. “You’re not coming with me?”
Alex shook his head. “No, doll. I will wait. This is between Yuka and yourself. I will wait out here and keep Pearl entertained.”
“Entertained?” I heard a huff and turned back to ‘Pearl“. “What will be entertaining, is my sandal up your
Alex pushed me forward a little and closed the door behind us with a chuckle. “She’s a feisty one, so if I am not in one piece when you come back out, know that I love you and I am grateful for the time we spent together.”
I stared at him. “Are you kidding?”
He raised and eyebrow and leaned forward, kissing me quickly, before he turned and stepped through the doors, closing them behind him, and all I heard was “Pearl, my sweet, come have some tea.”
I stared at the door for a few more minutes, before I sighed, turned and headed down the corridor and stopped in front of
Yuka’s office.
Alex had run through a few things with me, on our way here.
‘Knock, then wait to be invited in. Only step in far enough for the door to close, and make sure you bow and keep your gaze on the carpet, until he calls you over to sit. Make sure he sits first, and at any point, if he goes Lo stand. you make sure you stand as well. If he offers you a drink, accept, even if you don’t intend on drinking it. And always answer with Yes Sir.”
By the time Alex had explained everything, my head had been spinning. How did he do this every day? Did he ever fuck it
up?
I looked at the doors for at least another minute, before I lifted my hand, and knocked.
“Come in.”
I lowered my gaze to the carpet and entered the room, bowing slightly. “Sir.”
“Oh, not you too.” I could hear a playfulness to Yuka’s voice, and I frowned. “That boy.. Jolene, it’s fine. You can stand straight and look at me. I’m not really a stickler for the old ways.”
I hesitated, before standing straighter and looked over at Yuka Takada. If Alex looked even half as good as this man, at his age, I would be happy.
“Come, sit down. Would you like a drink?”
“Uh.”
“You can say no, Joey. I can call you Joey, can’t I?”
I nodded as I crossed the floor and stopped in front of the chair opposite him. “Yes, sir. You can, and if you have it, some
water will be nice.”
11 Jory
“Please, call me Yukn. Everyone else does. Well, except for Alex.” Yuka laughed, going to the small bar to the left of his desk and he poured me a glass of water. He brought it back to me and 1 accepted it with a slight bow. “The only time Alex calls me Yuka, is when he’s pissed at me.”
He went to the other side of the desk and motioned for me to sit.
I placed the glass gently on the huge desk and sat down, placing my hands in my lap. Why was I so nervous about this?
Maybe because of the YAKUZA clan leader sitting opposite me. Or what it would mean, if I said yes. I would become part
of the clan.
“So, Alex tells me you are staying in New York?
I nodded, smiling. “Yes. Alex and I have decided that we are going to date.”
“Good, good.“Yuka smiled, sitting back in his chair. “About time. Some of the clan were becoming worried.
1 blinked. “Worried?”
“Yes, they thought maybe Alex might not like women.”
It took me a moment to realize what he was saying, before I snorted. My hand flew to my mouth and heat raced across my cheeks. “Oh, I am so sorry about that.”
Yuka laughed at me, and my face reddened further.
“Alex definitely likes women.” I said, trying not to laugh again. He was going to pitch a fit, when he found out that’s what everyone thought of him.
“Yes, we can see that. Yuka said, his laughter dying down. “Now, let’s get to the crux of this meeting. The offer.”
I nodded and leaned forward to pick up the glass. I sipped at the water, then put it back and waited. Yuka raised and eyebrow and my gaze widened. “Oh, sorry. You’d like my answer?”
He chuckled and nodded. “Yes, that would be nice.”
“Oh, of course.“I gulped and straightened my back. “I would be honored to become the clan doctor in training
Saying it to Yuka, was the first time I had uttered it out loud.
Alex hadn’t wanted to know, until I had spoken to Yuka, telling me it was between us, until it was official
“Wonderful. Let’s go over what you will receive.” Yuka leaned forward and picked up a piece of paper to his left and held it up, “Your training time with Yasu will be a full five years. In this time, if you feel you are unable to continue with the training, your contract and salary will be terminated. You will need to sign a non–disclosure agreement, in which you agree to not say a single word about what you see, or hear or witness, while working with the Takada clan.”
I nodded as he looked up and he returned it, continuing.
“You must carry the mark of the Takada clan, in the form of a small tattoo. If your contract is terminated, the tattoo will be struck through with red ink, and you will be barred from entering East Village indefinitely. If you are found in the Takada clan territory, when barred, your punishment will be swift and brutal”
I gulped as he looked up at me.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes sir. Keep going.”
He nodded and continued. “If you need to leave East Village, you will need permission from the head of the Takada clan. That’s me.” He grinned and I giggled. “If you do not get permission, and you stray into enemy territory, the consequences can be dire. You are to travel with the head of the Takada clan, when they travel both interstate and abroad, as his personal physician, in which you will administer medical aid and medication, where needed.”
Holy shit, I hope I got a copy of this…
“You will be accompanied by a driver at all times and will not need to drive yourself anywhere.”
“Like Sota?”
“Yes.” Yuka put the piece of paper down and looked at me. “Is there anyone in the clan you would like to request?”
I blinked with the question.
*Jolene, you are very popular with the clan and have a long list of soldiers who would be happy to be your driver. You just
55–Jury
have to name someone.”
“Uh..” my mind drew a blank, until I remembered how annoyed Aoto was with Alex last night, and how he’d asked if I was okay. “Is Aoto available?”
Yuka smiled and nodded. “Alex had a feeling you would ask for him. Aoto is extremely protective of you. He would make a great choice.”
He picked up the paper again and read. “Okay, where was I. Oh yes. Driver. Done. Bodyguard.”
Again, the paper lowered a little.
“Someone to be with you pretty much every day. They will go with you everywhere.”
I giggled. “Can I have Alex?”
Yuka tipped his head back and laughed, his whole body shaking, before he lowered his head and looked at me, “No.”
I blinked at how deadpan he was, until Yuka started to cackle again.
“Sorry, Joey. Alex is my head of security. But if you like, I can see if he has anyone spare.”
“Uh, no. It’s fine.” I wracked my brain. “Reiji”
every good.” Yuka picked up a pen and made a note on the page in front of him, “Aoto, Driver. Reiji, bodyguard.”
Putting the pen back, he looked at the paper again and continued. “Salary. Your base rate, until fully qualified and have passed your doctorate, will be one–hundred and seventy–five dollars a year and will increase to two–hundred and twenty–five after you have passed.”
“What?”
Yuka looked at me. “Is that not enough? We can negotiate.”
“No! that’s more than enough. Way more than I was expecting.”
Holy shit, why didn’t I become a Yakuza doctor sooner?
“If, you’re sure.”
*Sir, Yuka. That is more than adequate. Thank you.” I bowed slightly and he smiled.
“Good. Okay, let me get Pearl to type all this up in a contract, and I will have everything sorted for you to sign, by this afternoon.” Yuka stood and I quickly followed. He held out his hand and I leaned forward, shaking it, bowing. “Why don’t you go and get Alex, save him from Pearl, and go for lunch. I will let Alex know when everything is in place, and you can come back and sign everything”
“Thank you, Yuka. You have no idea how much this opportunity means to me.”
“no, thank you, Joey. The clan seems to have a spring in its step again… and it seems to be all down to your presence.” Yuka showed me to the door and opened it for me. “I think you’re going to be a very important part of our world.”
