I Unintentionally Became Her Kitten

Chapter 36: Angela

Kanagawa’s was at the top of a skyscraper. The full name was just “Kanagawa” but so far I had heard everybody refer to it as Kanagawa’s. There was an elegant lobby area as we stepped out of the elevator. A stonework accent wall was lit up with Kanagawa spelled out in black rocks. Some Koi fish swam in a small fountain beneath and I was very grateful I had accepted this dress from Alisha. No one was dressed casually and everything about this place felt expensive. Tye had snapped even more into bodyguard mode, keeping an eye on us as Alisha led me inside to the hostess stand.

There was barely even a look exchanged before the hostess came around and held an arm out welcomingly and led us to a table in the back. There were tall windows next to it and the extent of the downtown city blocks were easily viewed.

I could faintly hear club music booming from the floor below, our corner quiet and secluded from the other diners. On the table, there were three place settings and Alisha claimed one in the middle, offering me the seat to her side. Tye took a position along the back wall, watching over us as things got settled. A single pair of black chopsticks sat in front of each table setting. The table itself was a light wood pattern but under my fingers had some kind of varnish or coating that made it shiny and perfectly smooth. The menu was a small sheet, printed on thick paper.

“It's a set menu,” Alisha explained.

I didn't know what that meant but nodded.

“Are you allergic to anything at all?” she asked.

“No, I don't believe so.” The menu listed three food items: Vegetarian Course, Pescatarian Course and Omnivore Course. The rest was drinks. More notably was the lack of prices.

“I suggest, Kitten,” Alisha said quietly, “that you do drink some water or tea. We will probably end up splitting a bottle of something.”

“Okay,” I agreed. There was already some water being poured at a side table next to us and a glass was set in front of me, a paper thin slice of cucumber and lime floating among ice cubes.

I took a small sip, finding it beyond ice cold.

Alisha's eyes flashed viciously as she spotted someone. I followed her gaze to a middle aged or maybe a bit older woman. It was hard to place exactly since her makeup was done very thickly but also very well.

I swallowed as we made eye contact and she smiled, her lips painted bright pink.

This was Alisha’s mother, I followed. They had the same cruel icy blue eyes. Her mother’s hair was also bleached and lightened but it wasn't as pure white as Alisha’s. More of a rosy blonde that was all the rage in older women. It was also cut short at her chin.

When she was close enough she held out a hand to me. I stood uncertain what the gesture meant but she openly pulled me in for a side hug. There was a thick perfume on her that made my eyes burn a little. It smelled like… cherry blossoms I wanted to say but the pungeance was so much it was hard to identify it as much other than perfume.

She released me finally.

“Hello,” she said happily. “Are you the little doll my daughter has claimed?”

I nodded. “It's nice to meet you,” I managed, trying to project some amount of sophistication. “My name is Kit.”

“It's a pleasure to meet you, too,” she said. “I am Angela, Alisha’s mother, though she might not act like it.”

Alisha scowled in her chair as I was finally directed back to my seat as Angela took hers on the other side.

There was a tiny part of my brain that urged me to look over at Tye and found him joined by two other men in similar suits and with similar body language.

So Angela had her own security with her, too. That made sense.

It was still a bit of a shock that Angela was so polite and kind so far. I thought she disapproved of me but I wasn’t getting that impression now.

Alisha still hadn’t said a word to her as she looked over the listed drinks. 

“Let’s split a bottle of junmai,” Angela said.

Alisha nodded, agreeing to this.

Angela put a finger in the air and a waiter responded immediately and leaned forward to listen to her.

“The junmai daiginjo. Whichever you have tonight,” she explained.

“Right away,” he said and slipped off around the wall.

I had never heard of junmai. If we were splitting a bottle it was probably some kind of wine, though.

Alisha was frowning again as Angela looked down at her phone briefly to respond to a message.

“So how has it been, darling?” Angela asked, letting her phone drop into a purse that looked quite expensive.

“I'm fine,” Alisha said. 

“Mmhmm, I heard you and Sergei have been hashing it out quite a bit lately.”

“Sergei’s been disorderly. So yes, I have had to take corrective actions with him,” Alisha explained. 

“Has Nicco made any comment on it?” Angela pressed.

“Nicco doesn't need to know.”

Our waiter reappeared and elegantly set down a small tray with a small bottle of sake and three sake cups.

I swallowed. Sake was strong and I did not have much food in my stomach.

Alisha picked up the cups as Angela was gazing thoughtfully at her. 

I watched too as she poured out the alcohol and first gave me a cup, only half full and then filled her mother's to the absolute brim before passing it to her.

I took a tiny sip, expecting the burn of rice wine but instead found it very smooth and fruity.

I could easily get trashed on this stuff.

Alisha’s cup remained empty until her mother reached over to take the bottle and poured it for her.

My brain understood immediately, this was a different type of manners than I was used to. I looked at my own cup. Had she half filled it because she knew I couldn't drink much or because I was less important? There was too little information to decide. And it was not a good idea for me to drink too much of this. Getting sick at Alisha's house was one thing but getting sick in a restaurant like this would be humiliating.

“If Nicco were to find out, what would you tell him?” Angela asked finally.

“The truth. He was having some hormone issues so I reduced the amount he was getting supplied. If that's going too far, then I don't know what I can do for him. Dogs that can't be controlled are put down.” Alisha took a sip of the sake then, waiting for her mother’s reply. She really did cut out one or more of Sergei’s balls.

Angela’s smile thinned. “You really do treat your people like garbage, don't you?”

“I gave him more than enough chances to correct his behavior,” Alisha stated. “He didn't listen to my warnings so there had to be a punishment.”

“I'm talking about Nicco. For being your advisor, you don't talk to him much.”

“We talk all the time,” Alisha said. “I just don't have time to sit about and chit chat.”

“Which is why you should just pick someone to be your second-in-command. You could free up so much of your time that way.” Her mother sipped the sake thoughtfully, a smudge of pink left behind on the glass after.

Alisha shook her head. “I'm comfortable where I am,” she stated.

It hadn't occurred to me that Alisha should have an underboss, someone that would probably take care of some of the workload.

Angela sighed and took her time drinking before continuing. “At least if you chose one, you'd be more free to have some fun on the side.” Her gaze wandered over to me briefly. “As it is, my best hope is that you'll wake up and find a husband. Let him take over the family business and give you some heirs.”

Alisha remained silent, the angry furrow in her brow deepening.

Angela turned to me. “You’re very cute, but you understand we're talking about politics right now.” There was a familiarly demeaning tone in her voice I recognized.

I didn't know what to say so instead I nodded. I did understand this was the kind of consideration Alisha must have gone through before she even met me, and made her decisions back then.

“You don't need to bring her into this,” Alisha stated calmly.

But Angela was already ready with her own remark. “Does she know what you do for a living?”

“I do,” I spoke up.

“But do you really?” Angela pressed. “Have you watched her shoot someone? Or cut off their fingers or, my personal favorite, throw someone in a barrel of acid so they get dissolved alive?”

I winced a little at the last one. “I–not everything,” I managed.

“Mother–” Alisha started warningly.

“And do you know the people she's done this to?”

I swallowed. I wasn't sure if I should refuse to listen as Alisha was clearly trying to steer her away.

“There’s no one safe,” Angela explained. “Not even her own family.”

“Mom,” Alisha finally snapped and then took a measured breath as Angela finally turned her gaze to her.

The dance beat continued to pulse underneath us as they stared each other down.

“That's not relevant,” Alisha said finally.

It was confusing in my brain. I was under the impression her mother was her only living relative.

“So you haven't talked to her about that,” Angela said. “I see. Family means nothing to you, does it?”

“Family isn't determined by blood alone,” Alisha said darkly. “There are plenty of people I would break myself for.”

“And none of them are the right choices,” Angela stated.

“Maybe to you.” Alisha stood finally, looking more than a little annoyed. “We're done here,” she said.

“Don't walk away from me,” Angela ordered. “What kind of daughter does that make you?”

I hurried to follow as Alisha gathered her purse and gave her mother a death glare that even sent a chill into me. “I'm an independent woman,” she said icily. “And I don't have to go running to my husband every time I want a new pair of shoes. From now on, I'm not giving you money. If you want to deal with the family, talk to Nicco, but I'm done with you.”

Angela opened her mouth to say something but Alisha whirled on her heels to walk away.

Tye saw us departing and split away from the other group to follow.

I tried not to let my feelings show. There was pain and embarrassment in me. This was another one of those times my presence in Alisha’s life was causing significant complications for her.

I couldn't help but feel responsible.

I focused on following that ornate knot in Alisha’s hair. We passed the hostess stand and the woman there looked up.

“Oh, is everything alright, Ms Takeno?” she asked.

Alisha glanced at her. “It's fine,” she grumbled and proceeded to push through the door.

I gave the hostess an apologetic smile as she was still staring after Alisha with a stunned expression.

Tye slid her something over the counter and then hurried after us.

Once we were in the elevator, Alisha sighed and folded her arms.

I didn't know what to do so I went to lean my head against her just to have her take a step away. Her entire body was tense, ready to spring on the next thing that inconvenienced her.

She was mad at me, I realized. This whole situation really was my fault and she knew it, too.

My heart beat faster as the elevator descended. I kept myself together at least as we left the building and crossed the street. Tye opened the car door for us and Alisha climbed in, dropping her weight down on the seat before ripping the hair pin out and pulling the knot free.

I got settled next to her, taking to staring at the seat in front of me. I did want to comfort her. She was wound up in ways I could relate to but I wasn't sure she'd let me try to help.

Tye got in the driver's seat and started the engine before pulling away.

“Can you take us to the batting cages?” Alisha asked quietly.

“Sure,” he answered.

“Thank you.”

She held her hair pin in her hands, turning it this way and that so it caught the light at different angles. It was a very pretty hair pin, with a short silver chain hanging off to hold a gemstone that might've been a real diamond.

I had never seen her so despondent.