A beautiful encounter: Chapter 3: Always on my mind
Title: A Beautiful Encounter
Author: Hikari
Rating: AA
Classification: AU, Fluff, Romance
Disclaimer: Do not own mao or jun
Summary: It's about a love story that begin with a beautiful encounter in Spring this year...
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Chapter 3: Always on my mind
Earlier release:
Prologue : Our first encounter... Chapter 1: I want to see you again...
Chapter 2a: You captured me... Chapter 2b: You captured me...
Date : Morning, Summer, Week 3 2010
Inspiration : Sometimes, we just need that little courage at the right moment neh?
Opening Introduction : After signing the contract, both our leads had been meeting each other almost everyday in the work week. Although Inoue Corp had set up a mobile office for the media team to faciliate team work, but being the director of his own company, Jun is stationing himself at his own office most of the time, unless he is required for project meetings or discussion.
The haughty summer sun was showing off the bright rays proudly as all the accompanying clouds left one after another along with their spring companions, leaving the clear blue sky had the heat penetrating mercilessly with no shields in between. It was only the 3rd week of summer but the heat is climbing up fast on the reading.
Despite the hot and humid weather, Matsumoto Jun had no complaints. In fact, he is humming happily as he locked his apartment doors and stepped out into the still hot air. His working days had never been so exciting ever since his company starts to pick up it’s pace and he had more client meetings to attend. Its not that he did not enjoy his job, on the contrary, he loved the challenge it brought about. Its just that he would preferred to be dressed casually in his jeans and roamed around the cities armed with his Canon SLR , as compared to being wrapped up in a business suit and doing the businessman talk.
Nonetheless, he was very and grateful to have his childhood buddy - Sakurai Sho on board Snapz Media as the assistant director. Sho’s perfect conduct of language and sensitivity to numbers made him an excellent business man. Jun had left most of the business talk aspects of Snapz Media to him while he continued to be more hands on the aesthetic aspect of the company and grooming the talent team. Together with an unspoken understanding, they are quite a formidable pair in the industry.
It was a mere twist of fate when the Inoue case came in, Sho was away for his one month holiday and honeymoon at the States. In fact, Jun had just returned from his wedding when the case arrived at his door steps the next morning. Jun smiled as he recalled his buddy’s grim voice over the phone:
“Tell me you didn’t fly back Tokyo and realized you left your heart with me Matsujun~ because my dear best-man, I’m at my honeymoon now!”
But he went completely ecstatic the moment Jun shared the Inoue Corp proposal with him.
“I said go for it. The terms are good and Kennichi Inoue personally requested specifically for you! I know this not the first time, but this in Inoue Corp we are talking about. This could be the best client we have. Think about the future possibilities of a long term partnership… and…”
Before he starts to get into business talk again, Jun had quickly stopped him.
“Ok, I know what to do. We’ll take it. Let’s talk when you are back. Enjoy your honeymoon… I don’t want Maki to kill me next time I see her… and thanks for calling back so soon.”
“Oh right! My honeymoon… I better go, I think she’s looking for me. Hehe. J.. Wait! I’ll take care of the champagne; you just get the glasses ready. Adious~”
That’s Sakurai Sho - always so out of the ordinary, had his own little ways of expressing his trust and believe in Jun, and he was consistently so over the years.
Jun was glad he did not fail his best partner. In fact, the kick-off meeting was a huge success. Shaking his head with a smile, he step out of the lift and greeted the reception at his apartment lobby.
“Ohaiyo”.
During their kick-off preparation meeting, Kennichi had suggested that both Mao and Jun pair-up to chair the session, leveraging on their natural chemistry with each other to harness better team synergies between Inoue Corp and Snapz Media.
“Mao-chan, did you guys discuss about this before hand? How come Jun seemed to know how you want the whole thing to be like? And Jun… how did you do that??? Frankly, after so many hours of talk, I still don’t quite get it… am I missing something?”
Both Mao and himself would just look at each other and laugh together at the seemingly lost Ken.
At first, he thought it would be difficult to work with her since she would just sent his heart to a halt anytime without warning with her dazzling smiles. However, he soom realized that both he and Mao were not only on the same wave length but consistently hitting on the same spot. This little surprise had leaded him to grow comfortable in working with her as she would always lead him into the topic easily and bring the his focus back on the task on hand.
Just as Kennichi foreseen, the remarkable sparks between the two leads had brought both teams closer. Within just 2 weeks, the project team had accomplished their first milestone - agreement on the advertising themes, concepts and media coverage, which was usually the toughest and the longest stage for most projects.
Finding a dorky man grinning back at him from his shinny car window, Matsumoto Jun make a quick check on his appearance and boarded his vehicle.
“Don’t be fool by my sister’s sweet petite appearance buddy. She’s the ice-princess of the family. I’ve lost count on how many hearts she’s broken to date. But despite that, she’s good. Even if she’s not my sister, I would said, she knows her stuff.”
Jun smiled to Kennichi’s comment at the drinking session last night. Mao who happened to saw him whispering to Jun while he sneaked a glance at her on the other side of the table sent him a suspicious yet deadly glare.
“Hey Mao-chan… you got to stop being so fierce. You’ll scare all the men away. Mum and dad are getting really worried if you don’t get yourself a boyfriend soon. I was just telling Jun that you both made a great pair~”
“Neh, Jun? My sister is great isn’t it?” patting on Jun’s shoulder, Kennichi nodded teasingly to him with a mischievous wink.
“Kennichi…!” Mao’s eyes rounded as she looked over to Jun who was equally taken a back by Kennichi’s sudden comment.
But Jun find himself agreeing easily to the sudden comment, meeting Mao’s gaze across the table, he realized both of them are flushing red as their eyes met.
Chuckling inwardly, he must admit, that petite little girl he met at the park was more than she appeared to be. When it comes to work, she is no Daddy’s little girl at all. With a pair of dark rimmed glasses sitting snuggly on her nose bridge, she had showed him her professional attributes - calm but assertive; meticulous and sharp. She captured the team with both her passion and creativity; set the team at ease with her outgoing personality despite she was introduced as the main lead and as the heiress of Inoue Corp. Given the young age in the industry, she was not only capable but talented.
What impressed him the most is how quick, observant and sensitive she is, with only a few words or a simple look at each other, she can voice his idea within a finger’s snap as if she could read his mind. He enjoyed every meeting where they can just keep on building on the ideas with the team; where his creativity and ideas would just flows along with hers, driving the project on path, bringing a huge sense of accomplishment to the team in the end.
He had not met anyone like her before, to him, she’s just amazing. Just like how she had always magically slipped into his mind no matter what he was doing or where he were. He simply looked forward to meeting her again and again, everyday. Humming along with his music player, he turned out from his apartment driveway, wondering what new surprises Inoue Mao would show him today.
Why does my heart always have this burning feeling when our eyes met? But yet it felt so comfortable when she’s around… and I can’t seem to take my eyes and my mind off her…
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Inoue Mao was desperate. Her car had broken outside the junction near her house. She had called the towing company and they are on the way, she couldn’t wait for them as she had a meeting to chair at nine.
It’s the mid-week morning rush and all the cabs are occupied. Beads and beads of sweats can be seen forming on her forehead as time starts to running out, but she had no choice but to continue walking towards the main road in her heels, hoping to find an available cab along the way.
Just when she was at the second crossing, a white car came to a sudden halt next to her, making her jump. She was about to give the driver a good piece of her mind when she saw the driver that it was non-other than…
“Matsumoto-san?”
He pushed down his sun glasses to his nose bridge as he rolled down his automatic window.
“Need a ride?”
Stealing a glance at the approaching vehicles behind, he reached over and open the door of the passenger seat.
“Quick, get on.”
Seeing a few cars approaching down from the slope, Mao quickly hoped on, just in time for the traffic light in front to turn green, and they cruise swiftly into the maid road, without causing any road block.
“That was close. Sorry about earlier.”
“Not at all. Thank you for coming to the rescue. I couldn’t get any cab at this hour.”
“No problem. Heading to office?”
“Yeah, have a 9 o’clock with my team.”
“That’s about 20 minutes later,” peeking at his Prius’s counter’s mini digital clock, he maneuver the vehicle easily to the outer lane.
“Hold on, will be there soon.” He flashed his one-million-watt smile at her as he removed his sun glasses and hang them loosely at his shirt collar.
Gosh. How can it be legal for a man too look so dashingly handsome while he is only driving? Does he always have to look this attractive…
Mao closed her eyes to refrain herself from staring but…
Man… he always smelled so good. I wonder if it’s an aftershave or… cologne? Hmm… I think it’s…
“Inoue-san? Are you ok, am I driving too fast?”
“Eh? I’m fine no worries. I erm… just trying to recall if I… lock my car just now.” Mao stuttered nervously while she scolded herself mentally for wondering off about him again. She’s does realized she’s been doing that a lot lately.
Especially during some discussion, he would come over to her side and go through the adverts sketches together with her. In her excitement she always forgot how close they are until her clumsy hands brushed against his; his close proximity and manly scent would suddenly effulge her and set her mind all blank.
“What happen? Did your car break down back there? Do you want me to go and have a look after I drop you off?”
“Ah no it’s ok. Thank you. I remembered locking it now. Sorry. The towing company should be there anytime. They’ll call me if anything happens.” she swallowed hard at her own comment.
“You sure? Let me know if you need help, I live nearby, and my office is only 15 minutes away.”
“You’re kidding. You live around there? I’m at Avenue 5, what about you?”
“You’re on Avenue 5? I’m right next to you, Avenue 3! What a coincidence… wait Avenue 5 are mostly executive studios like mine, you are not living with your parents?”
“Haha, yeah. I’ve been in the States for a long time until like three months ago… so I’m kind of used to staying alone. Plus it’s nearer for me to go to work from here than home. So yeah… my parents are cool with it.”
“I see… so you move in here after you come back from States?”
Mao nodded and chuckled with his amused expression.
“…that explains why I have never seen you around before… erm I mean… I’ve been in the neighborhood for quite some time and that day at the park, is the first time I saw you...”
Jun nearly slapped himself for stuttering in front of her again.
But god forgive him, although they had meet almost everyday since the project launch two weeks ago, and work along pretty well and he had been nothing but professional, but being in this small compartment with her and that alluring Jasmine scent of hers is of no help to him at all~ It’s a miracle that he can still remained focus on the road and drove on the right path!
“At the park…?”
“So it’s really you!”
“Then why is it you don’t seem to recognize me when you first saw me at Inoue Corp?!”
Oh no. Inoue Mao’s hand flew to her mouth as she realized what she just said. She needs to dig a hole for her to sound like some accusing girl friend.
Jun nearly stepped on the breaks when he heard that.
Did she just… admit that she remembered and recognized him? And…
With a grin, he chuckled inwardly when they came to a red light in front.
“I’m so sorry about that Inoue-san. Frankly I was completely caught off by surprise when I saw you in the café. However, under the circumstances of a formal meeting… I… did not think it was appropriate for me to… ugh…” Jun looked at her apologetically. He was lost in words.
That’s so lame you idiot… but gosh she looked so cute when she’s embarrassed.
“Inoue-san… I…” his was almost aching to hold her hand as she looked away embarrassingly for questioning a man she hardly knew aside that he is by far a professional business partner.
“I’m sorry too Matsumoto-san, I shouldn’t have…”
“Call me Jun, please… I didn’t mean to…” Jun felt his palm started to sweat as he saw from the corner of the eye that the light is turning to amber. He closed his eyes in frustration.
I can’t fail this.
“Inoue-san, I will never forget about the day we meet in the park.”
That’s it. He said it.
He opened his eyes and looked at Mao in the eye that just turned and look at him. Their eyes met.
“What did you just said… you…” Mao whispered gently as she met the gentle gaze of his. His handsome face was giving her such soft expression that she had never seen from him before, he always exuded a professional charisma that comes with authority when they are at work. She could felt her heart melting under that pair of warm gleaming eyes.
Eyes locking, she found her self returning his smile slowly as her drumming heart starts to fall back to its normal pace. He reached out his hand to her…
“Beep beep!”
They broke off their gaze and Jun swiftly accelerated forward while Mao found her starring into her reddens face from the side mirror of her passenger seat.
Just when she was wondering where she should hide her face, her phone rang.
“Excuse me.”
“Hello, Inoue Mao on the line.”
Jun heave out sigh inwardly as he thought of what just happen, or what almost happen back there…
You got to be out of your mind buddy. You’ll not only scare her away but cause an accident next time if you don’t focus on what you’re doing!
Jun cleared his throat upon hearing Mao clicked off her phone.
“Everything ok?”
“Yup, it’s the towing company, they got my car. Sounds likes it won’t be ready until next week. I got to live without it for the week...”
Mao sighed lightly and she leaned on the window. Wondering what should she do to commute between her work and home; the subway was not exactly her favorite when the stressful images of the morning crowd started to flash through her mind.
“Look, don’t get too upset. It is better that a thorough service and check-up is conducted on your car. Let me know if you need a lift, I’m just around the corner, remember?”
“Really? You would?” Mao eyes begin to shine brightly as she sat up excitedly.
“Yes Inoue-san, anytime. Our office is not that far apart either.” He chuckled at her girlish excitement on a small favor like this.
If that would bring a smile to your face, I would love to chauffeur you around every day.
“How could I thank you enough Matsumoto-san?”
Jun brings the convertible to a gentle halt and turned and looked at the lovely passenger beside him.
“First, call me Jun. And…”
“… let me buy you dinner this Saturday.”
“No buts…” he had added on when he saw her red lips forming a “but…”;
“I’ll let you know my reasons when we have dinner… ok?” He added with another smile when he saw her forming a “why…” with her big brown eyes staring surprisingly back at him.
Swiftly, he unbuckled his seat belt and alighted.
Mao was blushing sweetly by then… She glanced through the window, watched Jun skirt around the vehicle to reach her side. Giving her a wink when he caught her looking at him…
*thump*
The wild tempo in her heart started beating off again.
This guy… how did he… he is just so irresistible… she’s completely defeated…
He opened the passenger door and gestured with a light bow for her to alight, treating her like a princess.
Playing along, she walked ahead with both her hands holding on her bag behind her, hiding her smile. She turned around to face him after she heard the door shut with a soft thud behind her.
“Thank you for the ride…” she said as she looked at him mischievously.
“…” “… Jun-kun.”
She couldn’t help but burst out laughing at his crest fallen face when she purposely dragged and put on a short pause before the last two syllabus.
He laughed along with her while cocking his head aside… wondering how he can be such a dork.His heart nearly drop into cold ice when she didn’t even addressed him as Matsumoto-san. But she was good, she caught him.
Catching her smiley eyes, he closed the gap between them and held his gaze on them.
“So… dinner this Saturday?”
“Uhnn…” Mao nodded shyly as she felt his tender gaze looking through her own.
“Can I pick you up at 7pm, Inoue-san?” his heart was racing.
“…” totally drawn-in by him, she simply nodded at him slowly without breaking off the eye contact.
“Ja… I’ll see you then… Inoue-san.”
Jun gave her a light bow and as he reluctantly took a few steps back to his car without turning away from her with his gaze fixated on hers, and beaming happily at the beautiful angel before him.
“… no. Wait!”
“What? You change your mind?” his heart soaring heart just drop and went hanging in the mid air.
“What? Yes… No, I mean… Inoue-san is too formal. Just call me Mao … if you don’t mind…”
“And here’s my mobile phone number… it’s not on the card.”
He was completely frozen as she stepped into him, took his hand and scribbled her number on his palm. She was so close to him that he could felt her shallow breath on him…
“There you go. Thanks again for the ride. Bye.”
As quickly as she can, Mao waved goodbye to Jun and headed direct to the lift lobby without lifting her head or turning back. With lightning speed she zoomed right into her office and closed the door behind her. She held her bag tightly on her chest as she felt her thumping heart beat.
I can’t believe I just said yes! I did not just give him my private number; I did not just take his hand and… and…
We are going on date… a date~
Hitting with realization, she felt her whole body burning with an excitement, and she can still feel the warmth of his hand on her own…
“See you soon… Jun.”
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Jun found himself alone in his car holding onto his steering wheel. He can hear his own heart beat pounding in his ears.
Did I just ask her out for a date?
He released his hands slowly and looked at the string of blue numbers on the heart of his sweating palm.
He was totally giddy right now.
“Yes!”
He pulled his right knuckles towards himself; showing off his signature victory move and hurriedly keyed in the number in his phone and took another glance at the empty passenger seat.
“See you soon… Mao-chan.”
Just as he stepped into his office, Yamada’s voice can be heard from his private line.
“Matsumoto-san, Kennichi Inoue-san on line 1.”
“Put him through.”
“Morning Ken, what can I do for you?”
“Morning Matsujun. Glad to have reached you. This might sound a bit pre-mature but the warehouse five I told you about yesterday? My team just confirmed that it can be made available for your team to setup the studio on mid July. I’m quite sure it is more spacious than warehouse three.”
“That’s great. When can we have a look?”
“That’s why I call. The movers are going to start moving the stocks to number three, so it would be great if we can take a look before they start. Do you think you can meet me at Inoue Corp tomorrow morning at 830? We can go together after breakfast. It’s quite a distance from the office.”
“Tomorrow morning… let me see… looks good. I just need to be back for a lunch meeting. So breakfast on you Ken?”
“Anytime, anytime. Haha. I’ll get Mao along. See you tomorrow. Bye”
Matsumoto Jun did not expect himself to be seeing Inoue Mao so soon after he picked her unexpectedly this morning.
He grinned to himself and took out his mobile phone and key in his appointment.
“Breakfast meeting at 830… which means, she would probably need a ride from me in the morning…” grinning to himself he was about to send her a text when his secretary voice came through again.
“Matsomoto-san, Sakurai-san on line 2.”
"Put him through right away."
Ah... I’ll ask her tonight then.
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