Page 2 of Summer Haze & Tokyo Craze
It's so fucking frustrating. I’m just glad he didn’t snag up Felix before I got to hire him, because I would be absolutely lost without that man.
And I can’t believe I had to run into Adam here of all places and right now of all times.
Someday. Someday I’ll get him. For now, though, I’m answering his question.
"Trouble indeed," I mumble and take a deep breath, squaring my shoulders and straightening my back.
"Are you flying to Tokyo as well?" he asks, and my eyes grow wide. It takes every single ounce of restraint in me to not roll my eyes and stomp my foot to the ground like a little, frustrated child.
Of course, he would be going there as well. I should have known.
The conference itself is super niche – only a few companies have been invited to attend and I know Siren’s Talent is only one of them because Millie and Kayla have great connections.
“It comes with the territory of being pop princesses,” Millie said when she told me about it so I could block the week in my calendar. It wasn’t even a question if I wanted to go, since both of them knew I spent a gap year there after high school and love the city.
From what I’ve understood, the conference is an event to foster internationality in the Japanese music market with the goal to have more artists touring in Japan and opening the door for Japanese artists to tour internationally.
Aside from the fact that going to the conference would allow me to go to Tokyo on the company dime, I thought this would be a great opportunity for Siren’s Talent. I agreed to go more than enthusiastically.
After all, Japan is one of the largest recorded music markets. One of the very few markets where fans still buy CDs instead of only streaming music.
Truth be told, if the current circumstances were different, I would be thrilled about going to Tokyo. Ecstatic.
As is, I’m looking forward to being there, not the getting there.
And had I known that the flight would be downgraded and Adam would be on the same one... No, even that wouldn't have made me change my mind on going to this dang thing.
"I am," I finally answer him, forcing enthusiasm into my voice and mustering up all the calmness I can. “But it looks like the flight was overbooked. I hope your seat is safe.”
No, I don’t. In fact, a petty part of me thinks it would be only fair if he got downgraded as well.
"Oh no, what a shame," he says with a smirk that my hands are itching to wipe off his face. I don’t even think he intends it to be that smug, it’s just as natural to him as that goddamn sexy swoop his hair does to make it always fall perfectly into his face. "I haven’t heard differently, so I guess I'll see you on the plane."
Shooting me a smile, he walks off, right as a melody through the speakers announce a message for the whole terminal. I don’t pay it any attention, until I hear his name called out – even though the voice is static and barely understandable, his name is clear as day.
Uhh, that can’t be good.
Adam stops, a deer-in-headlights look, then he turns around and his head shoots to look at me. And to my shame, I can't stop the smile tugging at my lips in time.
Karma is a bitch.
I can’t help but trudge after him. After all, I need to get to the same gate as him anyway. Also, I’m way too curious.
When he approaches the counter, I watch him as, within moments, his pleasant demeanor and that charming smile that I’m sure got him a bunch of advantage in negotiations toward the stewardess turn sour.
Not that he’s showing obvious signs of it – no, he’s way too classy for that. But I can see a muscle in his jaw twitching and annoyance replacing the smile in his eyes.
Those are not good news. I turn around before he can see me hide a giggle behind my hand.
My luck that just in that moment, Felix is calling me back.
“Please tell me you have good news?” I start pacing the waiting area, carry-on suitcase right at my heels.
“I’m sorry,” he says with a sigh. “No dice. I’ve checked all the airlines, even all the private jets for hire, but there are no other flights that would get you to Tokyo on time.”
I purse my lips and pinch the bridge of my nose, just as a dull pain starts to form behind my eyes.
“Not even with layover?”
