Coffee Break

Iori sat down watching the rain drizzle outside through the coffee shop's front window. The place was quiet and the faint sound of music drifted over to her ears along with the occasional scent of roasted coffee beans creating an ambiance that put her mind at ease and stirred her desire to write. She slowly lifted her coffee mug to her lips and let the rich aroma coat her tongue and send a rush of energy over to her brain.

This was really the perfect setup to write the scene she'd been thinking about since that morning... If only she brought her laptop with her.

As she kept eying the street before her, she saw a person in a suit running through the drizzle, hopelessly trying to avoid getting drenched to no avail. She followed him with her eyes as he made his way to the cafe's door and swung it open making the bell at the top jingle announcing his entrance to the waiters and staff.

The waiter hurried over to him with a towel and the young man gave him a smile thanking him for it. Then his eyes scanned the coffee shop falling on her, he smiled at her, murmured something to the waiter, and made his way toward her.

"Sorry. I'm late. I know..." He said as a way of greeting and Iori smiled at him.

"It's okay, I was enjoying the solitude for a moment there,"

"Is that your way of saying that my presence wasn't really necessary?" he asked taking a seat in front of her and drying his hair with a towel,

"Not at all," Iori said with a smile and her brother chuckled shaking his head,

"And to think that I came here rushing from court..."

"I thought that you were in your office for the day,"

"Yeah, that was the plan, but there was a last-minute change..."

"Well, thank you for giving me some of your precious time dear brother. I am eternally grateful..."

"Yes, yes. As you should be..." He said thanking the waiter who came along with his coffee before he turned back to her, " So, what made you call me here in the middle of the week? Is there something that urgent that it couldn't wait for our weekly meeting?"

"Actually, I just want some legal advice about my contract with the company," Iori responded knowing that he would start worrying as soon as she said that.

"Is there a problem with it? I thought you were on good terms with the president..." Her brother said concern edging on his voice.

Haruki had always been overprotective of her. And he became even more so over the last few years. She had her hesitations about talking to him about her problems because she knew that he could overreact when it came to her sometimes, but she knew that she had to do it, she just needed to make sure that he didn't overreact...

"I wouldn't say good terms. I doubt anyone would say that they are on good terms with president Satoru Hiiragi..."

"He's an eccentric man I give him that. But, he's known to make results in the corporate world despite his unusual methods... Not to mention that he was the one who brought you back to writing, Iori..." Haruki commented referring to the huge effort the president had spent when he tried to convince Iori to write again.

"I know, and now he's using that very card to guilt into doing his bidding. Well, let's just say that I'm falling victim to his unusual methods..."

"Don't tell me that he came up with another crazy idea to boost your inspiration?" Her brother asked leaning forward in his seat coffee mug forgotten.

"Thankfully, it's nothing like that again. He had this bright idea of having me cowrite a book with another famous author. We don't get along well, that person and I. And we refused at first but the president reinforced the contract clause. So we met and it ended up working pretty well to both our surprise."

"Who's that author you have to work with,"

"It's Jun Kamikoi..."

"Oh," Haruki said leaning back with a small smile on his face,

"what's with that smile?" She asked her brother who was clearly hiding a smile

"Nothing, I was just thinking..." He responded sipping from his cup and avoiding her gaze with a clear curl on his lips.

"That creepy smile doesn't indicate 'nothing', why don't you tell me what you're thinking brother dearest..." Iori said with a pissed-off smile of her own that made her brother chuckle.

Annoying....

"No need to get all worked up over nothing. I was just thinking that it was unusual for you to openly acknowledge anyone when it comes to being a writer. I was sure that you hated his books. You even complained about him to Kaoru and I when you first met him..."

"I did?" Iori asked surprised at not remembering complaining about Jun to both her brothers, "It's true that we rub each other the wrong way. but when it comes to being a professional, I discovered that he can surprisingly be serious and we work together pretty well. As for his books..." Iori paused wondering whether or not to admit it, "As embarrassing as it is. It seems like I judged him without even giving him a chance..."

"Woah. that's a surprise!" Haruki said setting down his cup and watching her intently, " You rarely get like this with anyone, you're unusually emotional when it comes to him..."

"I am?" Iori asked stunned by her brother's comment. She wouldn't have said it that way. Did her brother mean that she lost her calm and rationality when it came to hun? That's impossible, there was something about him that annoyed her each time he tried to tease her but she thought that she didn't get riled up more than she would have if someone else acted the way he did...

"But, more importantly, if things are going well with this person. Why are you worried about your contract..." Haruki asked shifting the subject to its original direction

"I am not asking you this because I wanted to stop the book deal. I am asking this because I'm worried about something that he said in our last meeting. It feels like the president is planning something again and I want to be prepared just in case...