Chapter 5: Taste of home
1466 Words
When Zoe woke up she found herself in a beautifully decorated room. The walls were red with golden birds on. The furniture was ornately carved.
“Somebody misses home” Zoe muttered as she got up and stretched. She noticed her bag by the side of her bed. She got changed and walked around until she found the kitchen. The delicious smells made her miss her home. She saw an old man over the stove cooking and humming.
“Hello?” Zoe said quietly
“Ah Hello! You must be Zoe! Come, come sit down and have some tea. Akihko will be back, he is just running some errands. My name is Ena” Ena said happily.
“Please to meet you Ena, I am Zoe Lewis but I guess you knew that already” Zoe said and Ena smiled as he poured two cups of green tea. Zoe sipped it and it brought tears to her eyes. It tasted just like her Mum use to make it before she died.
“Are you OK?” Ena asked concerned
“Yes, sorry this tea just reminded me of someone very special” Zoe said drying her tears.
“Ah someone special who has past over” Ena said softly.
“Yes, my parents were...have past over and my Mum use to make tea like this” Zoe said. Why was she telling this man things close to her heart? Zoe scolded herself.
Zoe heard the door open and Akihiko walked in with a large bunch of flowers and a bottle of rice wine.
“Ah you are awake Zoe, did you have a good sleep?” Akihko said with a dashing smile.
“How on Earth you get a Goddess like this on such a small Island? She is beautiful and kind, and by some miracle likes you. I would hurry up and marry the girl already” Ena said in Japanese. Akihiko blushed and Zoe laughed out loud.
“I think getting married on the second date is a little quick don’t you? But thank you for saying I am beautiful. I am not kind, especially if that is Shabu Shabu I smell cooking!” Zoe said in her perfect Japanese. Shabu was an Japanese hot pot and was one of Zoe’s favourites. Her Mum always made it when she was feeling down.
It was Ena turn to blush and look shocked.
“You speak Japanese?” Ena said
“As well as English, you i***t. Please forgive the old man, he can be a bit blunt sometimes. There are for you” Akihiko said passing the large bunch of flowers uncomfortably. It was clear that he was not use to doing romance of any sort.
“My God, did you buy half the shop? They are beautiful and Ena is lovely” Zoe said and Ena grinned
“I like her! So tell me child how come you know Japanese and about out food?” Ena asked
“I was adopted when I was a baby by two Japanese parents in California. They made sure I was bilingual and taught me Japanese cooking” Zoe explained
“How delightful! But Lewis does not sound Japanese. Is it your birth mother’s name?” Ena said casually. Zoe’s face dropped.
“Interesting” Zoe said
“What is interesting?” Akihiko said his eyes narrowing.
“Nothing. Yes it is my Mother’s Birth name” Zoe said with a smile. Akihiko gave Ena a look to say, don’t push any further.
“Well I best get the Shabu Shabu sorted! Why don’t you take Zoe to look at the views out the back whilst I get things sorted here” Ena said. Akihiko nodded and smiled at Zoe.
“Shall I give you a tour of the land, my Lady?” Akihiko said with a bow. Ena was shocked he had not seen the fun side of Akihiko in years! Yet here he was playing like a puppy!
Zoe chuckled and said “Why not kind sir!” whilst getting up. Akihiko offered her an arm and she took it, much to Akihiko’s pleasure. Ena grinned as they walked out the door. The good feeling he had about Zoe just grew 10 fold.
“So this is the garden I been working on, I just finished the decking over there” Akihiko said as Zoe looked round.
“Is that Kinmokusei, I mean Orange Osmanthus?” Zoe said going over to the plant and Akihiko nodded. Zoe bent down and smelt the organge flowers, sighing in contentment.
“You like Kinmokusei?” Akihiko asked, it was a fairly common plant in Japan.
“Yes, but I not seen or smelt one since I left home” Zoe said. Akihiko saw a distant glazed look in her eyes suddenly, as if she was remembering something.
“Zoe?” Akihiko asked softly. His voice brought Zoe back round.
“I am sorry how rude of me! Well shall we continue the tour of the land?” Zoe said a little too cheerfully.
“Zoe, why are you here?” Akihiko asked
“What do you mean? I here to have dinner of course!” Zoe said with a chuckle.
“You know what I mean. A women with your qualifications..” Akihiko said
“Oh don’t listen to Dave, he smokes weed most days” Zoe said dismissively.
“So you don’t have a Master’s from Yale?” Akihiko said in a accusing manner.
“What is this? An interview? Why does it matter? Especially when I don’t even know why you are here or even your second name. So do you know what that makes you? A hypocrite!” Zoe said folding her arms.
Akihiko was a silent, not sure what to do. He had never really had to deal with women standing up to him, they normally did what ever he requested or required.
“I have my reasons Zoe” Akihiko snapped
“As I have mine! What makes your reasons more important then mine?” Zoe challenged.
Akihiko wanted to say because he was the Chairman of the Japanese syndicate, leader of the fearsome Blood Dragons and multi millionaire. But he didn’t, instead he just said “You have a good point. I just so keen to learn about you!”
“Why?” Zoe asked
“Isn’t it obvious? Akihiko asked surprised and Zoe looked confused. “Zoe, I like you and I ...want to see where it goes. Do you?”
Zoe eye’s widened in shock and was about to answer when Ena shouted “Dinner!”
Akihiko could have killed Ena at that precise point in time. Zoe shouted “coming!”
“Zoe..” Akihiko said
“We will talk later, promise! But it would be rude if we keep Ena waiting” Zoe said as she started to walk up the Garden path.
The meal went well and Zoe eat probably more then she should have done.
“Ena, that was the most amazing meal! Thank you so much!” Zoe said feeling slightly drunk on the rice wine. Dave definitely should get some for the bar! Zoe thought.
“It was no trouble at all child. Would you like some more wine?” Ena said
“Nope!! I should be getting back!” Zoe said a little slurred.
“Nonsense, you must stay as a guest tonight. The room is all prepared!” Ena said refilling her glass.
“I shouldn’t !” Zoe said taking the glass and having another sip. The conversation continued for another couple of hours and everyone’s sides hurt from laughing.
“Well I must really go to bed” Zoe said.
“Of course, you have work tomorrow. Akihiko will you show our guest to their room?” Ena said. Akihko gave him a sideward glance, Ena was a sly old fox.
“Of course, come Zoe. Let me show you to your room” Akihko said as he helped Zoe up. Zoe leaned in on him when she got up.
“Thank you” Zoe mumbled as they walked to the guest room.
“Come now, lay down on the bed and I will get your shoes off” Akihko said and Zoe fell on to the bed. Akihko took her shoes off and gently put a blanket over her.
“Yes” Zoe said
“What?” Akihko said confused
“Yes, I ..want to..see where it goes. ...I like you too” Zoe said slurred
- Writer
