Office Diaries - Chapter 117

“Please tell little Tohru that my shop will provide a shiromuku wedding kimono for his little bride for free…”

“I have to ask Yanee and Tohru first,” Mrs. James said though she felt her son would agree.

“I’ll add a hikifurisode too,” the manager added which sounded generous.

But in fact, it wasn’t. She’d definitely ask Yanee to tell Ami to advertise her shop and knowing Yanee’s sister’s records, they’d sell more.

“Ah, you really have to ask Yanee or Ami first. I have no power over their business so I can’t make a decision on their behalf,” Mrs. James said cajolingly when the manager looked at her in appeal.

She’s not someone who did not enjoy freebies even if she rolled on money, but she didn’t want to make a decision over something like this, even if she could make a request that Yanee would be pressured to give in. She’s not the type of mother like that and she definitely wouldn’t be the type of mother-in-law like that.

She smiled and patted the manager who was her friend gently. “Why don’t you ask Yanee to ask Ami if it’s alright later?” she suggested, and the other looked appeased.

Several minutes after, when Yanee emerged from the backroom, the ladies were beaming at her.

“Are you going to send your sister the pictures?” Marian asked as she handed Yanee’s phone back to her.

“Yes,”Yanee answered with an embarrassed smile.

She was already used to running errands like that for her sister but she was still shy. In any case, she needed to forward the photos to Ami and then call her for confirmation.

“Ah, Yanee, Shiori has something to ask you,” Mrs. James told her and Yanee paused.

She just sent he photos and was about to call Ami that time, but she quickly put her phone away to talk with the manager.

“Yanee, the photos you have are beautiful. Will you be willing to let us use that for promotion? We will put them in a catalogue. In return, we will give you a big discount,” she said before hurrying to add her other offer. “Also, could you call your sister and ask her if she’s willing to talk to me for cooperation?”

Er…

Yanee had no idea what to answer. She’d been put on the spot. But since they wanted to talk to Ami anyway, she’d just let them discuss this. She didn’t care if people would use her photos if they think they could. But since she’s wearing the kimonos Ami wanted, she needed to ask her sister first.

“Let me call my sister,” she offered and then excused herself as she quickly dialed her sister’s number and went to the backroom to talk in private.

Ami picked up after the fifth ring.

“Sorry, I just finished my meeting,” she said. “What’s up?”

Yanee recounted her conversation with the manager.

“Oh, alright. Let me talk to her,” Ami requested, and Yanee handed the phone to the manager who quickly took it and also went to the backroom to discuss business with Ami.

Left alone, Yanee smiled to the two who had waited patiently for her.

“Thank you so much for bringing me here. Their products are so nice,” Yanee said but Mrs. James wagged her finger at her.

“Don’t sound like a stranger. You’re my daughter, okay?” the old lady softly scolded her and she laughed.

Since it took a while for her to try on the kimonos and the manager was still on the phone with Ami, the ȧssistants served them tea and traditional Japanese snacks. Yanee loved western desserts but there were times like today that she’d savor the traditional snacks.

“Is there anything else you’d like to visit after?” Marian asked and Yanee shook her head.

It’s already three in the afternoon and Yanee felt embarrassed because they missed lunch. She looked worriedly at Marian.

“Would you like to go out and have a very, very late lunch?” she asked.

The ladies seemed to understand that she felt so bad making them miss the meal, but they ȧssured her that they were fine.

“They served snacks to us earlier as well. You don’t have to feel sorry for that,” Mrs. James said but Yanee still didn’t feel alright.

Marian was pregnant, after all. It’s never a good thing for pregnant ladies to skip meals.

“We’re really alright. We ate a lot of snacks,” Marian said. “And I prefer to just nibble something for lunch because it’s the time I feel nauseous. If you want we can have an early dinner out— ah but dad will be left alone and it’s also your last night in Kyoto.”

Huh?

Yanee was dumbfounded.

Last night in Kyoto? But Yanee clearly thought they would be spending a week there. Why was it cut short?

Marian seemed to understand her confusion so she explained.

“I’m so sorry. I think Tohru still hasn’t told you since Jena just sent a message very late last night. She suddenly had a free time so she requested if she can have her interview earlier.”

Ah.

Yes, she and Tohru hadn’t met again since last night when she went to bed. He would probably inform her about it later when he returned.

“I see. Then it’s better to dine with everyone, I think?” Yanee suggested.

If she’d be leaving tomorrow, it meant Tohru would too. She had no idea when his whole family would meet each other again and dine together again so she suggested having dinner together.

“I will make a reservation at a restaurant. We haven’t eaten out for a while,”Mrs. James suggested.

“Why don’t we have wagyu tonight? There’s a restaurant near Cypress that import beef from Kobe,” Marian suggested and Yanee almost laughed at her expression.

She looked ready to drool in anticipation so Mrs. James agreed with her in mirth. The pregnant lady was the boss when it came to dining so the others didn’t have any problems agreeing to whatever she wanted to eat as long as it was not weird.

Mrs. James made a call to someone so she excused herself.

“Sorry. This pregnant lady suddenly had a craving for wagyu beef,” Marian apologized but Yanee shook her head as she laughed.

“It’s fine. I’m not pregnant but I suddenly felt like wanting to eat some wagyu as well. It’s like I could even smell it just by you mentioning it earlier,” she confessed.

Marian laughed. “I might steal your food though. I guess your my temporary victim this time around,” she teased her as she patted her little baby bump.

Yanee already knew her food stealing habit when she’s pregnant as it was Jay who was her victim before on her first pregnancy.

“By the way, who was your victim for your second child?” she wondered, and Marian let out another chuckle.

“You already saw my son, right? Who does he resemble?”

With this question, Yanee was thoughtful for a while before understanding came to her eyes. “Tohru,” she answered as she giggled.

“Yes, that potato prince little brother,” Marian giggled back. “I didn’t only steal his food. I slugged and pinched him too,” she added as she looked at Yanee with mischief.

“Noooooo….” Yanee complained cooperatively and they laughed again.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be gentle with you,” Marian ȧssured her, but of course, Yanee was well aware that she was just jesting pinching her. She knew that she did pinch and slug her own brother though.

Haha

“Yanee, your sister wants to talk to you,” the manager said and Yanee quickly placed her phone on her ear again.

“Sis, I agreed with the cooperation. Get all the kimonos you tried on and then the manager will give us a discount,” Ami informed her.

“How about the catalogue with my pictures she requested. Did she mention it as well?”Yanee wanted to clarify.

“Well, if it’s possible I’d like to have the copy of the catalogue as well so I can bring it to the expo. But…”

Ami’s voice trailed off and Yanee wondered what’s wrong.

“What happened? Is there an exchange for it as well?” she asked.

She’s willing to do it, but if the return would be troublesome for her sister then she’d rather not. But of course, she was thinking too much.

“No, nothing that’s unreasonable,” Ami answered, and before she asked what the matter was, her sister explained. “Rather about her, it’s more about you. It’s your photos after all. It won’t be used by me only. They are asking to use your photos for a catalogue. If you’re not comfortable with that then it’s fine to say no.”

Oh…

True. She’s used to wearing clothes and taking her photos for Ami. But the photos were only for her sister to see what the clothes looked like. She never used it for promotion. Although she didn’t care about it, she felt a bit happy that she’s asking her opinion. After all, her sister was a demoness incarnate. With her personality, she could talk her into doing whatever and Yanee wouldn’t be able to say no. But she didn’t pressure her and she appreciated that.

“I don’t mind…”