No Strings Attached

Chapter Seven

Lisa knelt down and gave Jennie a quick kiss on her eyelid. "Goodbye. I'm sure we will meet again. Soon."

~*~*~*~

Two weeks later at Jennie's apartment

"How long would you be gone for this time?" Rosé asked, looking up from her iPad.

"Three weeks," Jennie replied. She was busy choosing her clothes from the wardrobe and packing them into the luggage.

"Big project eh?"

"Yea," sighed Jennie. "That Sato insisted on getting me to personally oversee the project though I already have a capable project lead in Tokyo. Fortunately this project is ending soon."

"I'm sure he has a reason for this request."

"Yes. To get me in bed with him," Jennie said bluntly.

"What? You mean he is trying to get into your skirt?" Rosé exclaimed. "Doesn't he know that you're gay?"

"My dear girlfriend, I don't hang a 'gay' tag on my chest nor do I advertise about my gender preferences," Jennie said as she shot Rosé an icy glare.

"Just his bad luck for barking up the wrong tree. Good luck in trying to fend him off."

"Thanks," replied Jennie sarcastically.

"Let me download some good movies for you onto your iPad so that you would have something to occupy your time over there, since you said Miss TYO isn't available."

Tokyo, Japan

Jennie managed to avoid joining her clients on their daily drinking sessions at the local pub near their office for two nights in a row, citing a headache. She preferred casual drinking instead of entertaining clients. Escaping back to the hotel, Jennie changed into casual clothes before heading out to the surrounding area for dinner.

It was unfortunate that Yuki wasn't free during her stay this time around as she had to go Hokkaido to film a drama. Jennie wandered along the streets alone and stopped by a roadside ramen store located outside a train station. She had always wanted to eat at one of these roadside stores after watching various food programmes on cable.

Grabbing a small wooden stool, she gave her order to the old Japanese lady at the store before sitting down. While waiting for her noodles, she took out her phone and started scrolling through her phone list.

Lisa. At our last meeting, she mentioned that she would be in Japan around this period. Wonder if she's around this area. I recalled she stayed a few train stops away at our last meeting. Should I try my luck?

Jennie's finger hovered around Lisa's number, wondering if she should dial it. Just then, the hot bowl of noodles came and Jennie tucked into her food hungrily. The store was getting crowded as more and more people ended work and stopped by the store for dinner. She finished her noodles and thanked the old lady for the meal before heading back to her hotel.

While walking back to the hotel, Jennie saw a brightly lit shop along one of the smaller side roads and decided to take a look since it was only 9pm. It was a quaint little shop selling handmade goods and clothes. She wanted to enter the shop but was informed by the owner that he was closing. Dejected, she stood outside the shop, admiring its window display.

Soon, the store switched off its lights. Jennie decided to return to her hotel and rest. There were not many lamps along the side street, hence it was rather dim as she made her way to the main road.

Suddenly, Jennie felt someone tap her shoulder. She turned around and was startled by a Japanese teenager dressed in a black hooded sweater. She couldn't see the face clearly as it was partially hidden by the hood.

"Hey pretty lady, how about handing over your wallet and mobile phone?" a teenager said in a gruff voice. He was pointing at the bulge in Jennie's jeans pocket.

"No way. Why should I hand it to you? Back off!" Jennie barked.

"You must be a foreigner. Foreigners are rich. Give me your wallet now!" the teenager threatened as he got nearer to Jennie.

Jennie took a step backwards, trying to widen the gap between herself and the intruder. She realised that she was at a dead end, with her back against the store window. She balled up her fist, ready to defend herself. Cold sweat was breaking out at her temples, her heart was pumping very fast and she knew she had to think of an escape plan soon.

"Because...I'll destroy your beautiful face if you don't. Hand it to me, now!" the young man raised his voice. He whipped out a pocket knife from his back pocket and pointed it at Jennie.

Jennie's eyes widened with fear. Now this was a tricky situation. She refused to hand over her belongings though that was probably the best way to escape. The fact that the teenager was trying to rob someone instead of working hard to earn his money irked her.

"You've proper limbs and don't look physically disabled. You ought to be working for your money instead of trying to rob someone," Jennie lectured.

"Hey lady, I'm not here to listen to a talk about earning money. It's my own business how I lead my life. Let me say it for the last time, hand me your wallet and mobile phone else I'm really gonna have to use my knife," the teenager growled.

He was standing right in front of Jennie and his pocket knife was dangerously close to Jennie's face.

His cold black eyes were staring into Jennie's eyes as they met face to face.

Jennie gulped. It seemed like she didn't have a choice anymore. She reached into her jeans pocket for her wallet.

"Hold it right there!" a voice yelled.