No Strings Attached

Chapter Five

Three weeks later in Tokyo

“Jennie-chan, you seemed very tired. Busy project?” the Japanese lady cooed as she kneaded Jennie’s shoulders. Jennie felt the tension in her shoulders eased a little.

“Hai…” Jennie nodded, accompanied with a long sigh. She had been hard at work on this new project for the past few days and hardly had any rest. Thankfully tonight, she managed to get off work earlier, 10pm to be exact.

“Maybe this would help,” the lady said seductively, planting a trail of wet kisses on Jennie’s right shoulder.

“Why do all Japanese office employees work so hard? Aren’t they tired after working for 12 hours every day?” Jennie lamented.

“Ah, the pressure in Japanese society is very high. Everyone wants to do well, including me.” The lady wrapped her arms around Jennie’s waist, enveloping her in a back hug as they sat on the comfortable hotel bed.

“No shoot today?” Jennie asked, enjoying the warmth on her back. She stroked the pair of smooth fair arms that were wrapped around her waist.

The lady rested her head on Jennie’s left shoulder and shook her head. “That’s why I’m here with you, Jennie-chan. It’s a pity I can only stay with you for tonight. I’ve got to go Hakone tomorrow for filming. I don’t think I’ll be able to meet you again so soon.”

Jennie reached for the two glasses of whiskey on the bedside table and handed one to her companion. “Yuki chan, I wouldn’t be able to finish the bottle by myself. Help me, will ya?”

Yuki chan, also known as TYO in Jennie’s phonebook, was a young actress whose popularity was rising in Japan. They met through an event in Tokyo six months ago and there was a physical attraction instantly. Yuki, being a celebrity, had a public image to maintain and she couldn’t let anyone know her preference for the same gender. The only other person who knew about her dark secret was her stylist.

The two ladies tipped their glasses and drank the cold hard liquor in a single motion. Several drinks later, they collapsed onto the bed, giggling like school kids as they started to peel off each other’s clothes.

An image of Lisa’s smiley face flashed across Jennie’s mind. That thought lasted no more than two seconds when she felt Yuki’s soft lips on hers and it never came back for the rest of the night.

~*~*~*~

During one of the afternoon tea breaks, the director announced there would be a special tea time break. Everyone was held to a big meeting room where there was a long table set up in the middle of the room. There were silver trays and a huge cake stand filled with mini cakes of all colours and shapes.

“As a reward for working so hard for the past week, my good friend Suzuki-san, the famous pastry baker and his protégé got together to prepare this spread of delicious desserts for all of you. Let’s give them a round of applause to welcome them,” the director’s voice boomed across the room.

The main door of the meeting room swung open and a tall middle aged Japanese man dressed in a white baker’s uniform walked into the room. Behind him was a lady also dressed in the same uniform and she followed closely behind. Everyone clapped as they entered the meeting room.

Jennie was staring at the lady the moment she walked through the door. There was an odd sense of familiarity but she couldn’t see her face clearly as she was partially blocked by a male colleague who was standing in front of her.

“Thank you, Nakamura-san for giving me this opportunity to share my desserts with everyone here. I heard that everyone has been working hard on this project. Your energy levels must be low by now and there’re some pastries to boost your energy level,” Suzuki-san said.