Floriography: Red Roses

Chapter 5

Kyoto!

Beautiful city, thought Louis Troy. Incidentally, the area that manager Gracy said was decorated with several cherry trees that were blooming and some of them fell. Every time the wind blew fiercely, those few pink petals flew dancing in the air, carrying a pleasant and sweet distinctive fragrance.

Louis sat on a nearby bench, pointing his camera hanging around his neck to take a picture of Kyoto's scenery on that young day. But he stopped, remembering that he had to take a picture of Gracy if the girl came. Although the purpose this time is only to talk about the contract. But he still has to be on guard. At least to give evidence to Jasper that he had obtained Gracy and published it to the media so that his new project—yah, Jasper project also— will soar successfully. Louis is sure, the participation of Grace on this project will lift his name and the name of Jasper— which has been high floated it— becomes higher.

Louis waited, the sun began to rise slowly, and the air began to heat up. Bored, Louis turned his camera back to whatever scenery he was looking for, even though Gracy Manson was nowhere to be seen. Louis glanced at his watch. It's one o'clock by noon now. Where's that model? They promised to meet at twelve during lunch. His concerns led him to re-contact manager Gracy Manson. The phone was not available, but busy. Louis decided to have lunch at a nearby restaurant whose glass led to the park. And wait there.

But until five o'clock in the afternoon the two people who were waiting for him did not come.  Louis clicked his tongue, then

back calling Gracy's manager, but the results were the same, hectic. A few moments later, a message came to Louis's phone.

From: Manager Gracy Manson

I'm sorry, Mr. Troy, but Miss Grace's schedule moves to Shizuoka. And tomorrow we will go back to Tokyo, for three days and then go straight home. It looks like there won't be enough time for us to meet and talk about the contract. Maybe next time. Thanks though.

Louis clicked his tongue, then stood up in annoyance. Why are these people so easy to cancel an appointment? As if Louis was a free man? Quickly his hand pressed Jasper's number and then pressed the thin phone to his left ear in annoyance.

“Halo?”

“Jas? I'm starting to despair.” Louis walked towards the side of the highway, to hail a taxi.

“What's up, Lou?”

“Gracy can't be found today. I don't know when I can be found. The manager sent me to Kyoto and suddenly said Grace changed schedules and is now in Shizuoka and there is no time for me.”

Jasper sighed, as Louis got his cab and boarded straight for the station. No. gabe. Louis had no intention of giving up. He's going after Gracy to Tokyo.

“Then don't have to force it, Lou.”

“You mean?” Luis' forehead shriveled.

“From the beginning actually I wasn't sure we'd be able to get Gracy Manson. I mean.. well, you know.”

Louis nodded weakly, then rubbed his nape.

“But this could be a great opportunity for us, Jasp.”

“I know. But Violetta is also having success with her brand now, especially later after she took out her kimono collection, and I'm also quite well known to the mass media, you also started to soar her name, too, with the help of one good enough model we are sure to succeed, Lou.” Jasper laughed.

“I know.” Louis laughed too. “Alright, I'll try one more time. But you can't be disappointed if I come to you not with Gracy Manson, okay?”

“Ok. No problem for me.Thanks, Lou. If you're still in Japan on Monday, please let me know. I'll give you a job, so your ticket to Japan is not in vain.”

“Okay then. Thanks too, Jasp. I'll tell you later."

Louis turned off the phone, then stuck the phone on his chin while watching the unfamiliar highway from inside the glass of the taxi.

Louis Troy will try again. Just one more time. But then again they played him like today, and then Louis would stop.

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“This is a great place to write. Where do you know this place?” Tracy stopped typing for a moment

take a little sip of the orange juice. Steve Elmer laughed, he turned his eyes away from the script of Tracy's unfinished book he had read.

“I know. They had a good steak, and a cheap snack. It feels like an expensive restaurant steak, but the price is really far below its quality. Then the place is comfortable and private, right?” Steve Elmer was still grinning, Tracy was smiling.

“Yes, very convenient. It's blue.”

Steve laughed with his voice deep. “What if it's blue?”

“I like all blue colors. Especially baby blue and toska.”

“Oh, great. I also like the color blue. I think all girls like pink.”

Tracy shook her head while laughing, “Hey, don't get me wrong. That pink used to be considered a masculine color."

This time Steve laughed. “Oh, yes, yes, I've also heard of it."

Tracy took a quick glance from her notebook screen to look at Steve with a smile of disbelief.

“Really?”

Tracy laughed.  "Oh, yes. For a moment I forgot that you were a hobby of learning."

Steve laughed before looking down to read Tracy's book.

Tracy went back to her laptop. Whenever he felt obstructed, his eyes would rise and stare at Steve. The man has been taking her to lunch or dinner lately. Well, since that time alone, there's been a little confession going on. Trace smiled a small smile. Sooner or later the man will know too that Trace is unemployed like she is unemployed Trace. But Trace was embarrassed to admit it.

After all, the man seemed very happy to drown himself in Trace's works. Trace's new series also runs more smoothly due to Steve's whereabouts. Trace glanced at the notebook screen again. His words ended in the words of Troy, the male lead of the story. He then recalled that he had told Violetta that he felt unable to realize the feelings of his characters because he had never dated like his characters. But that's not really the question, which is true, Tracy hasn't found a man who looks like Troy. Spontaneous Trace again raised her head to look at Steve. Can the man be realized as Troy?

Trace smiled faintly once more. If so, he must sooner or later date Steve. Hm, what better be that?

“Is there anything interesting from my face?” Steve suddenly asked, still looking at the script in his hand. Trace was surprised, then laughed awkwardly.

“I'm trying to realize the main character of my novel as you. I mean I've never been able to imagine the real male character in my story, and I'm having trouble typing this story.”

This time Steve turned to Trace, then looked at him with that gaze. Yeah, that one. Who could look at his heart and wash himself right there.

“What's the character like?”

“Hm.” Trace with chin support. “Troy wise and patient man. But he can lose his mind if he sees someone or something he loves hurt. And he knows, sure of what he wants, he will try to get it, and will not stop before getting it.”

Steve smiled, did not grin, noted, then chuckled before looking down at the script. “Then it fits perfectly right with me?”

Trace laughed, her face heated up. What does that guy mean?

“Absolutely you are as wise and patient as that?” Trace quipped.

Steve laughed, still lowered his head and looked back at Trace. “Well, not really. But the rest really fit in with me. I'm a guy who knows what I want and I won't let go before I get it.”

Trace's heart was beating hard. Trace felt as if the sentence was meant for her. Right at that awkward moment, Trace's phone shook. The name ‘Violetta’ was plastered on her screen, and Trace quickly picked up the phone.

“Halo?” Trace looked at Steve and whispered ‘seventh’ to him, who was replied with a small nod before the man also took out his phone which he had been getting rid of for quite a long time.

“Tracy, I know this is sudden, but have you been busy this week?”

“This week..” Trace stared at the ceiling of the cafe, remembering the shape of his usual calendar he marked full of his schedules.

“As usual, Vi, writing. Why?”

"Hm. You know that modern collection of kimonu that I'm going to show in Tokyo next week?" 

Tracy nodded. "Yes, you told me about that. Why?"

"My introduction in Kyoto asked me to also do a presentation in Kyoto, because Kyoto was my birthplace. So the date is advanced and I'm with my team to leave tomorrow. Unfortunately, my journalist typhus, he just went to the hospital. I know my request may be excessive, but can you come to Japan with me tomorrow?"

Tracy was silent for a moment. It's a big offer! But there's a lot Tracy needs to think about before she leaves.

“This...aku...how about the plane ticket, Vi?” For a while the number of numbers was on her ATM screen when Tracy hit the amount of the balance in her head. Expensive impromptu tickets. Especially to Japan. Tracy will not.

“Don't worry, there's a party that will take care of.” Violetta answered quickly. Tracy actually knew, she would not be able to refuse Violetta's offer if this girl was sure of what she wanted.

“Then what do I need to do later?”

“I will do a press conference after the fashion show, I need you to record the questions given by the journalists present and also my answers. This article will later be published in Naka Fashion Magazine, and I will also need you to write down all the opinions of journalists about some of my best clothing choices. Your name will be listed below your article of course, and my management will pay you for that article.”

Tracy gulped. Violetta had really thought of everything.

“How long will we be there?”

“Well, actually quite a while. We'll be 4 days in Kyoto, then 3 days in Tokyo. The routine is the same, only in a different city.” Tracy had just opened her mouth to complain about the long duration, but Violetta seemed to have read Tracy's mind and quickly added. “Kyoto and Tokyo are beautiful cities Vi, after all the fashion show only takes 1 day, the rest is just me who will be busy and you can freely explore Japan. We have also charged your accommodation, you also have a voucher for 2x meals every day at any restaurant you want. Maybe with this chance your novel could be even better, Trace.”

That wasn't enough to tempt Tracy. Actually this offer is tempting, but somehow, he felt that if he left Steve now—when he was building their relationship—when he returned from Japan, everything would change.

“Oh, and you know what? Jasper said Grace was working in Japan. You might have a chance to meet Grace.”

Tracy's eyes lit up. Any man would certainly not be able to compare to the opportunity to meet Grace.

That simple sentence managed to make Tracy convinced.

“Ok, what time do we go tomorrow?”