"Miss Takashi, your 10:30 appointment has arrived," Her assistant informed her over the intercom. She looked up from her tablet where she was signing off contracts and promotions with the last client and sighed. It never seemed like there were enough hours in the day. Still, she was much happier with things being too busy instead of not busy enough. Her empire was booming, the company had tripled in value, and the patents were solid. Though there were many imitators there was only one inventor and she had the biggest corner on the market that anyone could claim.

"Thank you, Keiko," She replied then pressed the button to end the interaction. She stood up and walked over to the mirror by her door. The office that she held sat at the top of a high rise in the heart of Tokyo, where everything had started. What had once been a medical technology company, based in surgical ointments, medication, machinery, and prosthetics had become the first in history to offer a brand new and healthy diet. One that was not only tasty but trendy. Something that people were throwing money at hand over fist and waiting with their names on a list that currently was over two years long. Taking a look at herself, a chance to breathe and smile, was always important. Even success could be stressful, which was something that almost no one told you before getting into the game of business. She pulled a comb from her pocket to straighten out her hair. A sleek braided bun with a few strands to frame her face. A sharp look that made her appear older and wiser but in a way she could appreciate. Far too many people already didn't take a female CEO seriously, especially not in a place like Japan. Regardless of how competent she actually was to do the job, people always swore she must have gotten it based on her looks, connections, or what she did behind closed bedroom doors.

After fixing her blazer and the blouse underneath, she walked to the door and opened it to see a half-full waiting room. It was around then that she tried to remember who her ten-thirty appointment actually was. Things had been going by so fast it could have been anyone sitting there and she hadn't bothered to actually look at the name on the computer screen before standing up. That had been a mistake. She opened her mouth to address the small crowd when a man stood up upon seeing her waiting there. He was incredibly tall, but almost everyone was when it came to her five-foot and very petite frame. She did recognize him, though, it would have been hard not to. With how hot of a celebrity he was, currently and the fact that he stood out like a sore thumb among the other Asians in the room was a dead giveaway.

“Mister Hellström, glad you could make it.” She said, holding her hand out towards him as he approached. He towered over her as he took her hand to give it a firm shake, looking powerful in his perfectly tailor business suit. His light brown hair pushed back and his green eyes almost aglow with excitement. It was definitely a change to her daily routine talking to someone like him. She welcomed it. “You did not have to come in person, you know. All of this could have been handled over video or-”

“Maybe I wanted to see things for myself. If I’m going to sign up for something like this I would also like to know how it works. Can you blame me?” He asked. She smiled and shook her head, motioning for him to go ahead of her into the office. He smiled back and showed himself in, she was kind of amazed that he didn’t have to duck down to get through the door.

“Not at all. As with all of my clients the laboratories are open to you completely anytime you want to visit. I have nothing to hide.” She replied. “The processing and formula may be a secret but you will be allowed to see and learn about anything that’s not completely patent protected, of course.”

“Sounds good. I guess I’m just a bit nervous jumping into this. I don’t believe that because everyone else has that it automatically makes it a good idea.” He said as he sat down on the couch a few feet from her desk. She was glad to hear what he was saying because he made a good point. Celebrities, especially, were very quick to sign up for her program without considering the ramifications of it. In some ways that was good, because it made making money easier. In others, it was concerning. Only in the way that she knew if she were going to sign up for her own program she’d want to know what it was all about first. In fact, part of her wasn’t sure she’d actually become a client with all she knew. The product was safe, sure, but that didn’t mean there weren’t moral and ethical ramifications for creating it.

“An independent thinker, I like that.” She told him, “Can I get you anything to drink? Coffee? Tea?”

“Bottle of water?”

“Yes, coming right at you.” She said and headed to the mini bar area behind the couch. The office was set up almost like a lounge so when she entertained high profile clients like him they would feel relaxed and comfortable. Even if she was seeking to sign contracts and make a profit she didn’t want anyone to feel pressured. A lot of how she’d gotten business initially was word of mouth from the other big name celebrities that had signed with the company. Creating a stress free environment to discuss such a unique contract was key.

“How do we start this anyway? Is it painful?” He asked. She grabbed a bottle of water from the top shelf of her mini-fridge and headed back over to the couch as she held it out in his direction. He took it from her and she sat down in one of the chairs that matched the couch across from where he was. From the inner pocket of her jacket she removed a purple vaping pen.

“Do you mind?” She asked, motioning to the pen.

“Not at all.” He said, “In fact I should have brought mine, and would have if I’d known.”

“We can share if you’re not afraid of germs.” She shrugged, taking a drag from it before holding it out in his direction. He smiled and reached forward, taking it into his much larger hand making it look as though it were just a regular pen instead of an oversized fancy one that held nicotine liquid. “And to answer your question, no it’s not painful. Just an oral swab and that’s it.” He looked skeptical and took a drag from the vape pen before holding it back in her direction. She took it and tucked it back into her pocket. After a long moment he exhaled.

“Strawberry flavored?” He chuckled, meaning the taste of the pen. She nodded. “Well, in any case that’s interesting. That you can do so much with so little.”

“It’s not about doing a lot with a little. I could never replicate your tissue for this process or anyone else’s without having it first. You are the only source of that very specific DNA and unique flavor.” She told him. He nodded and opened his bottle of water, then he took a few sips before leaning forward and setting it down on the table between them.

“That’s right, flavor.” He chuckled, “Would I be able to have a sample of myself before it’s officially put on the market?”

“Of course. Your own samples will be free to you as well, as many as you want. You’ll just have to give us time for replication and creation. Depending on how in demand your flavor is, it could be a good waiting period.” She said, “In the meantime, I do have other samples ready and available to you now if you’d like to try some. Did you see any names on the list you were curious about?”

“Yes,” He said, “Though not as much as being curious as to why your name isn’t on it.”

“Mr. Hellström-”

“Please, Ryker is fine.” He interrupted. She smiled at him and took a deep breath. He was incredibly handsome in person. Far more than she could have imagined just from photographs so it was hard keeping her cool. There weren’t many celebrities out there that she was even a fan of because she had never seen the point but Ryker was on a whole other level. Maybe it was due to the fact that the vast majority of entertainment she consumed was the horror genre and he was one of the more popular stars within that form of media. Maybe it was just because he wasn’t Japanese, he was Swedish and almost exotic. Whatever it was, there was an energy about him that was almost addictive.

“Okay then, Ryker.” She said slowly, “The reason my name isn’t on it is because there’s no marketability for it. When people see names like Alice Copperhead or David Dufrain…they jump to open their wallets because those people are known to them. Watched on a screen or listened to via headphones. There’s almost a personal interaction between that and the fans. They feel they want to take the next step to ingest the greatness of who they admire. How many people out there do you think want to swallow down any given CEO, not just myself?”

“I guess I get it.” He said, “You aren’t famous to the general public more than you are to the world of business so there’s no point in putting yourself on the menu.”

“No, there isn’t. However, should there ever be a demand for it I’d be more than happy to take the plunge. Profit is profit.” She shrugged. That wasn’t entirely true but she knew if there ever came a day where there was enough pressure put on her she’d probably have no choice other than to put her money where her mouth was. She was lucky that wasn’t the case though.

“People really eat this stuff?” He asked.

“Like crazy. Depending on the celebrity some people are willing to wait years just to get their order filled. You are different because you are here, right now, at the heart of operations. With that I think we should begin the tour, starting in the Cafe and ending in the labs.” She said, standing up. He grabbed his bottle of water and took a few more gulps before capping it tightly and getting to his feet as well. “I certainly hope you are hungry because there is a lot to offer this morning.”

“I’ve only heard great things about the heart of operations here.” He said, “So…I’ve definitely brought my appetite and I’m glad you’ll be the one joining me.” She felt her face get hot as a blush rose on her cheeks. She wasn’t someone easily rattled, never had been, but boy was she falling for his charm and quickly. If any of this reflected what his own personal flavor was like, he’d be a top seller on the market instantly. Even more than their A and B list clients. All she knew was she couldn’t wait to sink her teeth into Ryker Hellström, that was if he agreed to be part of their meat market to begin with.

“I can honestly say that tasted far better than I expected it to.” Ryker told her after finishing up the sample tray that he had been given of the various celebrity flavors they had on hand. It was something that she always had ready to go for investors and clients just to give them an idea of what they would be getting into. She smiled at him, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. She had heard that line before, most people turned up their noses at the thought but once they actually consumed, it was another story.

“What is it that you thought it would taste like?” She asked.

“I’m not sure, just not…good.” He laughed and reached for his glass of wine. He took a sip as she reached for her own glass and raised it for a toast. He saw her and copied what she was doing.

“Well, here’s to new experiences.” She said, “And hopefully new investments.”

“Perhaps relationships as well?” He smirked, chiming his glass against hers. She laughed because she wasn’t sure what else to do. When it came to matters of the bedroom she had always been confident, never shy. She’d have classified herself as a dominant and she was into very unique and even taboo practices. However, she’d never been so blatantly flirted with by someone who was in his social class. Nor had she ever seen someone as handsome try to take an interest in her. It made her suspicious as well as intrigued, but if he thought flirting with her was going to get him something extra he was barking up the wrong tree. She knew how to separate business from personal pleasure. That was for sure.

“A client relationship, yes…unless you-”

“Let’s see where it goes from here.” He cut her off. She nodded and drank down the rest of her wine before setting the glass back on the table. Much like him, she had eaten from the sample tray provided and she was glad that he found it palatable. That was going to be the first step in securing a tissue sample in order to grow a product that was uniquely his own. Something she was sure she could make tons of money off of given his large online cult following.

“You know, when I sent the invitation to your agent six months ago I never thought we’d be meeting face to face.” She told him as she sat back in her chair trying to relax and keep her heart from leaping out of her chest. Just being there with him, across the table, it was enthralling. The way he spoke, moved, and even smelled had her hungry for far more than just a business transaction.

“Why is that?” He asked.

“Most…if not all of the celebrities I have gained samples from, haven’t responded in person. Nor have they wanted to come here themselves. As you know, I’m perfectly happy to entertain if they have the urge but most of them just wanted to sign the paperwork and get it over with. I guess I would say that it’s refreshing you have more integrity in your name than that.”

“I can’t be selling myself as a literal piece of meat without knowing how it works first and who’s going to be handling the cargo.” He said. “After doing my own research on the company, beyond what my people told me, I was intrigued. I’m still not entirely sure that I want to do it but you’re getting me there.”

“Good…good. No pressure either. You don’t have to sign today or do anything you don’t want. You’ll have plenty of time to think it over.” She explained then got up and motioned for him to do so as well. “I’m going to take you to the lab now, where the meat is created from the tissue samples we collect so you can see the conditions in which everything is held.” He nodded and stood up from his seat, tugging a bit on his suit before stepping forward and then following after her as she walked through the busy cafe towards one of the employee only doors.

Where they had been dining was the first floor of the office building where everything was done. The celebrity meats were only the newest invention in a long line of business ventures. It was why the company still held its original name of DTI, far more of its focus was on medical tech. Since this new endeavor had been risky enough she hadn’t already singled it out into its own business yet. The paperwork was being drawn up, though. It wouldn’t be long until she was running two companies instead of just one.

As they entered the restricted area, she felt Ryker’s hand on her arm. A firm enough grip to stop her in place and get her attention but not so tight that it was threatening or it hurt. She turned to look at him right when the door clicked shut behind them, tilting her head upward to meet his gaze as he looked down. He may have towered over her but it wasn’t anything she was afraid of. Sure he could probably pick her up and throw her across a room but she didn’t think he would. With the way she held herself there were a lot of times that she became far more intimidating than men his size. It all depended on the context.

“Yes? Did you have a question?”

“How many employees do you have?” He asked. She wasn’t exactly sure why he was interested in that and she wasn’t quite sure she knew the official number.

“For the building or worldwide?” She replied. The high tower in Tokyo was the main headquarters but the company was global. There were headquarters in other countries with other CEOs. She was just the highest ranking because when she’d started there, they hadn’t had other hubs. She’d been the one to expand things enough to be able to build and open them.

“Worldwide…” He whispered his voice getting gruff, even arousing. It only took a few seconds more for her to realize that this was turning him on. He’d possibly come to her in person over this reason. It wouldn’t have been the first time she met a man who was turned on by a powerful business woman and she highly doubted it would be the last. There was a huge fetish for it and she took as much advantage of it as she could. He moved her up against the wall in the narrow corridor where they were standing, pressing his body firmly against hers and there was no mistaking that he was aroused. She was starting to get there too. Watching men get hard for her just over her business leadership was hot. It was much better than the men who believed her to be weak or incompetent due to her gender. “You have a lot of employees.”

“Yes, I do,” She said, licking her lips slowly, “However, we need to get on with the tour. I do have an appointment in forty-five minutes that I have to be ready for.” He grabbed her arm and lifted it, twisting it to look at the watch on her wrist, probably noting the time. Then he brought her hand to his lips, kissing the back of it gently as he stared into her eyes.

“Maybe I want to use my time for something else.”

“And maybe I don’t mix business with pleasure…” She said, gently pulling her arm away from him. There was a soft involuntary groan on his end and he breathed out a heavy sigh before taking a small step back from her. She couldn’t say she wasn’t interested. In her wildest dreams she’d have never guessed that a man, an actor, she’d always been a fan of would ever see her in this way. Now that she was faced with the situation she could hardly contain herself. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to fuck him right then and there or take him to her office and let him bend her over her desk but she knew that she couldn’t. She also was going to have to remain in control, after all, that was one of the things men like him liked the most and why it had been so easy to get him to stop. “That doesn’t mean we can’t do dinner later, have a few drinks. I’m not all business, Mr. Hellström. I also know how to have a good time.”

“I don’t doubt it.” He replied, his voice still gruff, vibrating in a way that it seemed to make her body tingle.

“Then we’ll have to set something up, won’t we?” She smiled and reached a hand up to pat him gently on the cheek before turning to head down the hallway, making sure to swing her hips just a bit more than she normally would as he walked behind her. It was coming together now, why he’d wanted to come see her so badly in person. He should have counted himself lucky that she was of the same mind as him or it could have gone extremely bad on his end. The point was that it hadn’t, they’d clicked on the same level and they both knew what they wanted. She was sure to find a way to make it work out for both of them on multiple levels. After all, it was far more important to gain a new client. Lovers in that city were a dime a dozen but a new partnership with a man like Ryker was worth his weight in gold.

Walking him through the labs as well as the creation process was interesting. She could tell that he wasn’t paying much attention to what she was explaining but he was drinking in all of the confidence she had while explaining it to him. How she motioned with her hands and understood the process just as if she were doing it herself. Most people didn’t know that other than being schooled in business and economics, she had a nursing degree. Not one that she ever practiced with but it helped her to better understand data, studies, medications, and other things that were important in running a medical technology business.

“In summation we grow the tissue artificially. It has amazing taste and the meat is quite filling but no fat and no calories. As to how that’s accomplished, well it’s a trade secret.” She chuckled as she motioned through the last window on the tour. It looked into a lab where samples were currently growing and at various sizes. The labels on them were technical and numbers instead of names but that didn’t mean no one knew who they belonged to. The intent was not to influence guests too much into making a decision on the spot if they didn’t want to.

“No fat and no calories? You mean everything I just ate-”

“All the meat products-”

“Okay, most of it…how in the world do you get that type of flavor with no calories?” He asked, sounding absolutely stunned. If she had an additional dollar for everytime she was asked that same question even after already explaining that it was a secret she could have been a billionaire.

“It’s a secret, as I said.” She repeated herself. “Right this way, Mr. Hellström.”

“I told you already, Ryker is fine.” He said.

“My apologies, being formal is force of habit I suppose.” She told him and used her keycard to open the next door. It took them into the main foyer of the building where the receptionists sat and there were a few people milling around as they got their day to day routine accomplished. They both stopped by the elevators and she used her key to call one down to the lobby for both of them. “I should probably mention that I was a big fan of Luna Cove. Season one, at least.”

“Were you?”

“Oh yeah, it got kinda bad after that then really bad in season three. I kept watching for some reason but…probably only because I liked you.” She laughed. The elevator doors opened and she stepped on first, him following close behind her. She once again had to use the key to be able to press the button for the very top floor. Security was high in her place of work for various reasons. Some of the testing they did was dangerous. Other things were secret and they couldn’t have blueprints copied or stolen. She wasn’t worried about her safety physically as much as she was worried about her empire and profit margins.

“I don’t disagree with you there.” He said. “I told them not to change the character so drastically but I was a nobody back then. Still kind of am now.”

“Not after starring in two Stephen King movies and making bank on that Butcher series.” She said, “Working with guys like Matt Masterson and Hugh Darcy? You’re a bigger name now than you think.”

“Am I?”

“In horror, yes, and it’s a pretty big genre. I wouldn’t underestimate the fans.” She smirked. He laughed and ran his fingers through his hair trailing his hand down over the back of his neck which he scratched kind of nervously. There was a moment of silence, his cheeks getting rather red with embarrassment before he turned to look at her again.

“You’re gorgeous, you know. If you don’t mind me saying.”

“Of course I know.” She laughed, “Sorry, it’s just that I figured out why you are here in the hall if you didn’t notice and if I didn’t think highly of myself I wouldn’t still be in this position. It comes with the territory.” The elevator doors opened and she motioned for him to step out ahead of her which he did. She followed after and they both took the short walk back to her private office from that point.

“I could tell you figured it out, I think I’d have been slapped or something otherwise.” He said, “The truth is I was never interested in giving your company a sample as much as I was in just meeting you.” She arched a brow, very amused by that statement and she walked over to the minibar. From there she pulled out a bottle of water from the fridge and motioned towards him with it. He shook his head and she opened it then took a few sips. He sat down on the couch where he had been before and tugged on his suit once again to straighten it out a bit.

“Me? Are you sure you aren’t confusing me with the actual owner of the company? Leila Dawson?” She asked. Even though she was the head CEO and by all accounts in charge of everything in the long run, she did not truly own the company. There was a woman (who also happened to be her best friend) who was the actual heir to the business. However, she’d never wanted to go into running it. From a young age her parents had tried to groom her to take over because she was their only child but she’d refused. She had insisted on taking a career path where she could actually help people instead of wallow in corporate greed. It was why she’d become a psychiatrist and lived in the United States. The thing about her was that she was also very attractive and growing up she drew plenty of media attention for her looks. Since she was so wealthy and by title she owned one of the most profitable businesses on the planet, it wasn’t as if she didn’t get photographed every so often (if she liked it or not).

“I’m not going to sit here and claim Leila is hideous but she’s not my type.” He said with a shrug. She came over to sit down across from him again and removed the vaping pen from her blazer to take a drag. After she did, she held it out to him and he took it to do the same. “I just have a thing for women in power.”

“So is this the part where I should be offended because what you’re really saying is looks aren’t important to you?” She laughed. He held the pen back towards her and she took it, manipulating it through her fingers casually as she watched him squirm. She could tell he was aroused, even still, just not as much as he had been when he’d cornered her in the hallway initially.

“That isn’t what I’m trying to say, at all. You’re gorgeous, you’ve already heard me say it, I’m not just blowing smoke up your ass.” He insisted. She took another hit from the vape pen and set it down on the coffee table between them. He leaned forward and rested his elbows above his knees trying to make direct eye contact with her. She allowed it. “I’ve read about you, Rika, I’ve studied your success. What you’ve done since taking over DTI in the wake of the death of Matthew and Kate is mindblowing.”

“Well finally we have someone who recognizes the genius behind the labcoat.” She snorted. “I’m just kind of surprised that a man like you would-”

“Man like me?” He asked, snatching up the vape pen from the table and taking a pull from it. “Care to explain that?”

“As you can imagine I have met my share of celebrities. Not just through this whole Cafe Idol business but at benefits, premieres, auctions, you name it. A lot of them are more looks than brains. You’re in the business, you should know what I mean by that.” She pointed out and reached for her bottle of water. He chuckled and nodded his head as he took another hit from the vape pen before setting it back on the table where it was before. “Don’t get me wrong, I always knew you were…or rather are a very talented actor but that doesn’t always translate to being intelligent.”

“Tell me about it.” He sighed, “I’ve met more than my fair share of bimbo actresses and though they are fun for a night-”

“They aren’t relationship material.” She said, “Yeah, I get it. I’ve had my share of bimbos and meat heads just for the good time. Money can outright buy you any kind of person you want for a night or two. My sex life isn’t lacking.”

“Nor is mine, physically but the more I read about you and the more I think about it, the more I need to dig a little deeper.” He said. If she was being honest with herself, or even with him, she knew she was already not in the market for a long term relationship. At least, that was how she felt. Since DTI was her number one priority that meant so was her career. She felt that meant if she dated it would be entirely unfair to someone who didn’t understand what her life was or didn’t agree with her level of loyalty to her own hard work. She wasn’t even forty years old yet, and since she never had any desire to have children (or even get married) she believed she was only at the beginning of what was to be an amazing career. If it had been any other man asking for this, or woman, person…whatever…she’d have told them to fuck off. This wasn’t just any person though. It was Ryker Hellström. Few other celebrities ever struck her with as much awe as he did. Even if she was just a box for him to check off on his fetish list, how could she deny it?

“I can’t say that I’m not interested, Ryker. However, I’m a very busy woman and my career comes before anything else. I find that people in general-”

“I’m an actor.” He cut her off, “90% of my year is filming on location and much like you my career is my top priority. We could both make it work if we both wanted it bad enough.” He wasn’t wrong about that, and him being an actor with a schedule like his would only benefit her. He wouldn’t expect her to be with him every night in bed or to always be around for cute couples dinners, events, or even anniversaries. Both of them had their energy built 100% into their line of work which already made them more compatible than anyone else she’d ever tried to pair herself with.

“You drive a hard bargain and I hate to admit it but you’re right. We could make it work if we wanted. The question is…do we want to?” She asked and then took a few sips of her water.

“Normally I would say no, I’m surprised you are entertaining the notion and aren’t already taken, to be honest. Coming here was a random whim and taking it this far was just a shot in the dark. I’m not going to turn back now, though. That would be stupid.” He laughed. She nodded and picked up the vape pen from the table. If he was feeling what she was at that moment then they were both on the same level. She didn’t believe she’d ever met anyone like him willing to be as understanding.

“Miss Takashi, your 11:30 is here.” Keiko said over the intercom before she was able to respond with what she had to say. She took one last hit from the pen and held it out towards him. He looked confused.

“Take it, I’m sure I’ll have it back by morning.” She said. The grin that spread across his face was beautiful, especially with how it made his eyes light up. She walked over to her desk and grabbed her card and an actual pen. On the back she wrote her personal phone number then turned back towards where he was seated and he was already up and moving towards her. As he took the card from her hand he leaned down to kiss her firmly on the lips. Only for a split second before breaking the touch to step away towards the door.

“I’ll be calling you, you know.”

“Of that I am sure.” She said with a nod. With a smile on his face and a bit of bounce in his step he opened the door and walked out of there. As soon as it was shut behind him she breathed a loud sigh of relief and leaned into her desk. Her legs a bit wobbly and her heart pounding. Was this really happening? Could a man like Ryker Hellström really be that into her? She guessed she would know if and when he followed through with his promise to call her. She had no way to contact him and even if she did she wouldn’t. He could either make the first step or hold his peace. She had business to attend to and as much as she did like him, she wasn’t ever going to allow romance to be a distraction from her work.

By the time she arrived home that night from work she was kind of exhausted. Her day had been so busy she’d nearly forgotten about Ryker and what his whole deal was until she sat down to look at takeout menus. There were a lot of things she was good at in the business world but it had never left her with time to learn how to cook. She had a luxury penthouse where she lived, in the city. It was within walking distance to her job (should she ever want to do that and on nice days she did). The only staff she ever had was a cleaning service that came once a week and whoever it was who stocked her fridge and cupboards with food. She did hire professional chefs for dinner parties or any event she threw there but she didn’t have one on call all the time. She didn’t see the point when takeout food was quick and easy or she could always just microwave herself some soup. She wasn’t that much of a picky eater and she preferred western cuisine far more than anything Japanese. Her stomach growled as she thought about the last time she had a good cheeseburger. It had been months ago when she was in New York visiting Leila and taking care of some business at the DTI headquarters on the east coast of the states. There was one on the west coast as well, it was in downtown L.A. She guessed maybe it wouldn’t be that hard to keep up a relationship with Ryker since she always had excuses to travel to various countries.

Her phone rang, knocking her out of her little daydream about good American food and secondarily, Ryker. She pulled it from the pocket of her blazer and set it on the black marble countertop in the kitchen to answer, putting it on speaker. Since it wasn’t a number she recognized (nor did she have already programmed in her phone) she answered in Japanese.

“Uh…Rika?” It was Ryker’s very confused voice on the other end.

“Oh, hi there.” She laughed, speaking in English, “Sorry, I didn’t know this number and we are in Japan so…”

“Makes sense. You’ll probably catch me answering in Swedish from time to time. I know how it is.” He replied, “You mentioned something about drinks or dinner…” He was right, she had said something about getting together and it had been her little test to see how bad he wanted it. He was to call her and he did, ironically right when she was looking for food to order.

“Why don’t you come here? I mean, if you feel comfortable. We can order out.” She said, “I’ll treat.”

“You don’t cook?”

“Do you?”

“Not anything more complicated than cereal or soup.” He laughed.

“I’m kind of the same.” She said, “But, there are a ton of takeout places around here that are fast and good. I’m sure we can find you something you like. If you haven’t already eaten that is.”

“No, it’s why I called. I was hoping to eat with you, maybe get local cuisine or something I’ve never had before.” He said. It made sense, since she had lived most of her life in Tokyo she knew all the good spots and bad ones. Though she was in a bit of a rut ordering from the same ten or so places over and over again they all had extensive menus and amazing food. They were places that a guy like him would probably not find on his own and if he did, he probably wouldn’t find anyone who would speak English to him.

“Smart.” She said, “Well just text me your hotel information and I can have an E-car sent to pick you up.”

“Are you sure you want to pay for-”

“My city, my treat. Just remember that when I come visit wherever it is in Sweden you hale from.” She said, he laughed again and her phone buzzed with a text message alert. She switched over to look at it and found his hotel room and address. She assumed that the number he had used to call her from the phone in his room as it had a Tokyo area code. She would hopefully be changing that soon and getting his personal number, if things went as well as she anticipated during his dinner visit.

“Fair enough, but I’d rather treat you if we are ever out in L.A. I’m not sure you’d be very fond of traditional Swedish cuisine.” He replied. She snickered as she switched to the app she used for E-cars and started to enter in the data for his location. She opted for a luxury cab because it was larger, nicer, and would be more comfortable for him to sit in than one of the eco E-cars that ran throughout the city.

“I’m an adventurous eater but nothing about Swedish cuisine sounds appealing to me. No offense.” She said.

“None taken, trust me. I prefer American food much more even if it’s almost blasphemy to admit that.” He replied.

“Then we are on the same page with that. Give me a pizza or cheeseburger any day of the week.” She told him and finished the process to send a car to him with the push of a button on the app before her. “Car is on the way, the ETA is about ten or so minutes. It says it’ll take about fifteen to get to my place because of traffic. I’ll see you soon then?”

“Sounds good.” He replied and hung up. She smiled and walked over to the wine cooler built into the island counter of her kitchen. From there she pulled a nice bottle of red wine that she’d been saving for a special occasion. After opening it she grabbed two glasses from the rack hanging above and added a bit of wine in each. That would give it sufficient time to breathe before Ryker arrived. Leaving them in place, she hurried towards the stairs and up to the bedroom, she needed to shower and change into something much more appealing before he arrived.

*****

When she heard the intercom start ringing she walked over to it and looked at the security camera to see who was there. Though she wasn’t expecting anyone other than Ryker she didn’t want to let a complete stranger into the building, but it was him. He was holding a bottle of champagne. She smiled, even though she couldn’t see the label on it she assumed it would be nice and she pressed the button to open the door for him. He pulled it open and waved at the camera as he passed by it, out of sight and into the nearby lobby. They would direct him on how to get up to the penthouse suite where she lived. After unlocking the door and opening it a crack so he knew he was welcome to just come on in if he wanted she went to the kitchen to grab her glass of wine.

She’d gotten changed into a red silk negligee that was so short it was almost more of a shirt than a nightgown. Under that she wore no bra but a pair of matching silk panties and garter belt. With that she’d pulled on black thigh high silk stockings and slipped into a pair of black stiletto heels. Then she put her robe on. It was a kimono inspired design, also silk, completely black with red embroidered flowers entangled around it. It was tied at the front but left a bit loose up top to give some teasing imagery underneath for what might be to come later that evening. She absolutely wanted to give him the message that she was ready to play but did not want him to think that he was in control of her. It didn’t seem that he wanted to be in control to begin with, but with men like him it was hard to tell. Either he had the fetish for powerful women because he liked to submit or because he liked to break them. Both ideas intrigued her but she had never found anyone she felt comfortable submitting to. Even if she wasn’t opposed to the experience, it had yet to happen and she didn’t think Ryker would be the first but only time would tell with that.

“Hello?” He called out from the front door. She came around the corner to see him, taking a sip of wine as she did. He smiled as he poked his head inside and let himself into the foyer. She motioned for him to take his shoes off which he did, and it left him in his socks. He looked at the wrack of slippers across from where he stood, they were meant for house guests after all but it was Japan and he was over six feet tall. She didn’t have anything close to what his size would be. “So should I cram my feet into something that doesn’t fit or-”

“Socks are fine,” She laughed, “Remind me to pick up a larger pair that might actually fit you for next time.”

“You already think there will be a next time?” He asked, coming towards her and stopping mere inches from where she stood, looking up at him with her wine glass in hand. She smiled and took another sip before running her free hand over his chest and the three buttons of the black waistcoat he was wearing. He hadn’t worn a blazer making the look a bit more casual but she hungered for him anyway. Men in perfectly tailored waistcoats always got her going for some reason. It was the perfect look in her mind.

“I know there will be.” She told him then turned and started to head back towards the kitchen knowing that he would follow her. When she got there, she grabbed the second glass of wine from the island counter as he set the bottle of champagne nearby. She held the glass towards him and he took it.

“To new beginnings?” He offered a toast, lifting the glass slightly.

“To new beginnings.” She agreed and chimed her glass against his. She took another sip of her wine but he downed what was in his glass in one gulp. To be fair, the thing hadn’t been nearly full; it was just supposed to be a taste as she didn’t know ultimately if he would like it or not.

“Good wine,” He said. “So…about dinner.”

“We can order anything you like.” She said and pulled her phone from the pocket of the robe she was wearing. She unlocked it and turned it towards him, the app for delivery services was already up and running. “Take your pick, don’t worry about price.”

“What if I’d like to start with you?” He asked, as he took the phone from her hands. It was cute how they were so huge the phone looked tiny as he held it but in her own hands it looked huge. She was loving the size difference between them, it would make things all the better when he ended up on his knees begging for mercy. She was guessing that if he were to kneel it would bring him down to almost her exact height or just below it. He was definitely over a foot taller than she was.

“You do realize that what you want is very different from what you need and certainly not nearly as close as what you’re gonna get, right?” She asked, “Now, be a good boy and order some food. Just, no sushi for me. I don't like it.”

“No sushi? But-”

“But what? I’m Japanese. I know I’m Japanese. Not all Japanese people like sushi. No one said you couldn’t have it.” She reached up and patted him on the cheek and headed over to the couch to sit down. It took him a few moments to process what she had just said (she assumed) before she heard him coming in the same direction. He took a seat next to her so she could see the phone as he was looking through places to eat at.

“You choose, you’d know the places around here better than me anyway.” He said, holding the phone out towards her. She arched her brow and took it from him. It was hard to tell if he was just trying to be a people pleaser or skip right to the sex he thought he was going to have but it wasn’t too hard for her to choose pizza. She got something a bit more traditionally Japanese than American, figuring that he would appreciate the experience even if all she really wanted was a burger and some fries. He could deal with eel and mayo pizza. It was her favorite when she was in Japan anyway. She turned the phone off and placed it on the coffee table along with her glass of wine.

“Pizza, it’ll be here in thirty minutes or less. The place is close.” She explained and stood up. “Let me show you around while you’re here and feel free to make yourself at home if you want. My place is your place, if you make a mess the cleaning service will take care of it. Within reason.” She chuckled, but she was happy with the service she had found because they didn’t ask questions and they didn’t spread her business around. Something which was important for someone who was as kinky as her. It meant that things could get messy from time to time and she absolutely loved it.

“I can tell this is a penthouse, it’s amazing by the way.” He said as he followed after her.

“Thank you. I oversaw the decor myself but I also hired a decorator I liked so I guess I can’t take too much credit for it.” She said as they passed by the kitchen to an area that was far more like a bar and lounge. The floor hardwood, the furniture spread out with black leather covering. Behind the bar were mirrors and glass shelves backlit with ultraviolet bulbs making it seem to glow. It was supposed to mimic having her own private night club and at times it was exactly that depending on who she had to entertain.

“Woah,” He said once he saw the room with the lights dimmed to the proper level to make things seem as if they were floating on the shelves behind the black wood bar. The stools were covered with a blood red leather and attached to the floor. Two sections of the wall in the corner were all glass and overlooked the rest of downtown Tokyo. “Club Takashi I take it?”

“Oh yeah and shit can get wild up in here depending on the night, or the mood I’m in.” She said, turning her head to look up at him. “Which reminds me, we probably need a safeword. What do you usually use?”

“I don’t, I’m usually a dominant.”

“But you sought me out? Did you expect me to submit?” She laughed, the idea was quite absurd. She was no stranger to fetish men (or women) who got off on the power she held but it was rare she came across anyone who believed they were going to get something different than a dominant.

“I was hoping for at least a bit of a fight.” He shrugged. She laughed and turned around completely, putting her hands up on his chest. He was muscular, something that wasn’t easy to see because of his tall, lean form but as she placed her hands against him she could feel it. His pecs, his abs, her fingers traced downwards towards his pants.

“What if I told you to get the fuck out of my house instead?” She asked, glancing up at him. He grabbed her wrists in his hands tightly and she gasped. He started to walk forward which only forced her to walk backwards, stumbling over her heels until she fell backwards with a loud cry, landing hard on one of the leather chairs that sat on the outskirt of the dance floor. He got over her, straddling her but still standing. One hand switched to hold both of her wrists for just a moment before his free hand snaked back to grab her tightly braided bun like a handle.

“You won’t.” He hissed, looking right into her eyes as he said it. She was beyond mad, furious even, and yet she knew he was right. Well, if this was how it was going to be and he wanted a fight then there would be one. She wouldn’t hold back for him either. He would learn very quickly that challenging Rika Takashi was something one shouldn’t enter into lightly and by the time he left the next morning it would certainly be a lesson well learned.

“Kicking you out or not we still need a safeword.” She told him, her hands gripping his arms, sliding up his biceps to his shoulders where they stopped so she could dig her nails in sharply. He hissed in pain and dug his fingers deeper into her hair, pulling back and tightening his grip as they both stared each other down, neither one of them willing to relent just yet. It was going to be one hell of a fight but she was looking forward to it.

“Tacos.” He said. She laughed, but that kind of made it the perfect safeword. She was fine with using it if that was what he wanted.

“Tacos it is then.” She agreed, and there they stayed, frozen in place, her eyes staring deep into his as she not only contemplated her first move but what his next one might be as well. He had the upper hand with how his body was straddling hers and the leverage he had with her hair. She knew she could play it dirty and knee him in the groin or something but she was trying to play hard to get, not ruin a good time. “Let go of me.”

“Why?”

“Because I fucking said so.”

“Make me.” He challenged. She growled, lifted her high heel clad foot and moved it around until it made contact with his skin. She didn’t do it roughly or with intent to hurt just enough to show him what she could do if she wanted. The end point of the stiletto came to a rest right under his knee cap and she slowly began to apply pressure. “You wouldn’t dare.”

“Wouldn’t I?” She asked and pulled her leg back abruptly like she was actually going to kick him. He flinched first and jumped back, letting go of her hair with a yelp and a breathless laugh, even though she hadn’t made contact with him, nor had she intended to. Luckily he hadn’t called her bluff, but that was only because he didn’t know her. Sooner or later her little tricks weren’t going to work on him but on the upside, his tricks would stop working on her once she learned them. “What now?”

“Run.” He whispered. No sooner than that had she gotten up and ran out of the room with a smile on her face. Already he was much more fun than the usual people she had over for a sexy rendezvous. She turned a corner and made it to the steps where she kicked her shoes off and ran up to the bedroom. Just as she was turning around to shut the door (trying to do it quietly) it burst in and she stumbled back. He caught her arm to keep her from falling back and flat on her ass, only to bring her in close and tight like a restraining hold.

“Fuck.” She muttered.

“What was that? Was that…fuck me master? Hmm?” He asked.

“You fucking wish.” She snarled. He laughed then easily picked her up and tossed her onto the large four post bed as easily as if she were a pillow. Probably to him she was because of their size difference. This didn’t stop her from sitting up and attempting to crawl off the bed but in a heartbeat he was on top of her, pinning her into the blankets on her stomach, one of his knees in the small of her back as he pulled her wrists behind her. “Let go! I will so make you regret this!” She warned, wondering what he would do. She was the type to keep going and going until she heard the safe word (that was if she ever did). Some people thought it was too much when she said let go or no or stop. She didn’t see it that way, they had established a safe word for a reason and as he continued to tie her wrists behind her back with the tie that was formerly around his neck she knew that he was going to be a great partner.

“Well, I’m sure you’ll have time to make me regret this eventually. Just not tonight, little bitch.” He whispered in her ear. She squealed, trying to kick at him as he lifted her again and laid her on her back. Her wrists tugged and pulled at the makeshift restraint around them but they were good. She wasn’t going anywhere. He stood up next to the bed, breathing heavily as he unbuttoned the cuffs of his shirt and started to roll them up to his elbow. She watched him, trying to catch her breath and figure out her next move. He hadn’t tied her legs down or together. As he took his eyes off of her to fasten the second sleeve in place just above his forearm she pulled herself up by rocking forward and using her muscular legs. Before she could even take a step she was grabbed by her arm and thrown back down like a sack of grain.

“SHIT!”

“Did you really think that was going to work?” He chuckled, quickly getting on the bed and over her, his large hand coming up to cup her cheek. She growled at him and he slapped her hard enough to turn her head to the side and create a real sting. Part of her was surprised and even pissed off that he would do that but a bigger part of her was aroused as hell.

“Having me tied down and unable to move doesn’t mean I’m submitting it just means you managed to properly restrain me.” She said,

“True but it’s a start. It’ll get you used to being put in your place.” He laughed and untied the belt around her waist, the one holding the robe shut. He wrapped the end of it around his hand and yanked quickly, pulling the whole length of it out at once. She cried out, annoyed, trying to kick at him but couldn’t get enough leverage. He yanked the silk robe open to expose the mini negligee, garter belt, and thigh high stockings. “Looks like you were ready for at least something to happen.”

“Bite me.” She snapped but he only laughed and then leaned down, using most of his weight to pin her there before biting into her shoulder hard enough to tear open the skin in a few places. She screamed out, half in pleasure and half in pain, her eyes rolling back into her head. His large hands were on her breasts next, massaging them through the soft fabric of the nightgown before moving lower. Once they got to the hem he shoved up the negligee to expose her belly. Shifting back, he sat down on her legs as best he could only to lower his head down to her stomach, licking and nipping at the skin above and then around her belly button. She hadn’t been this level of aroused in a long time and she knew it. Even worse, she had no way to touch him or grab his hair to make him do what she wanted.

“Seems that I’m winning.” He breathed hotly into her skin, “You aren’t struggling anymore.”

“Maybe I just know when to save my energy.” She replied. He glanced up at her with a smirk, grabbed her panties in his hands and literally ripped them open and off of her as if they were nothing but a thin wrapper. She gasped, surprised that he was strong enough to do something like that, a spark of arousal shooting right from her heart through her stomach and ending between her legs. “This doesn’t mean you won.”

“The war? No, but I did win the battle. Going to have to be quicker next time, Rika.” He snorted then easily flipped her onto her stomach, pulling her hips up towards him as she squealed and once again attempted to struggle (even if she could also admit it was a very lame attempt. He slapped her ass on one side then the other, and he wasn’t being playful or gentle about it either. “Calm down you fucking slut.”

“Make me!” She dared him, turning her head to the side so her cheek could rest against the pillow. He leaned forward and grabbed her hair again, shoving her face down into the bed as he shifted around behind her. She could hear him unzipping his pants and the rustle of fabric as he got his cock out. Though she couldn’t actually see him doing any of that she knew the motions and she knew the sounds. With his large hand still pressing her head into the pillow underneath she felt the tip of his hard cock teasing the wet folds of her cunt.

“You really want me to make you?” He purred.

“Give it all you think you got you fucking bitch.” She yelled back at him. He laughed, sounding very amused before he slammed into her from behind. She screamed out in pain and pleasure again. Though she wasn’t sure how big his cock actually was she was not used to this size (on an actual human, her toys were a different story). “Fuck!”

“That’s right…gonna give you a nice…good…fuck,” He panted jerking his hips and punctuating each word with his movement. She groaned then whined, hating that she had lost but loving it as well. Her only consolation was that he really hadn’t gotten her to be a submissive; he had just gotten her into the right position. He started to rock against her, thrusting in and out, moving roughly and quickly. The bed under them started to move and shake until it was banging as rhythmically against the wall as his skin was slapping against her own. She could feel the moisture of her arousal sliding down her thighs. His moans almost eclipsed hers as he rode her like a dime store pony. Hard enough that she feared the bed may break.

“Oh fuck…oh fuck!” She cried, her bound hands curling into fists, her perfectly manicured nails digging into her palms as she drew closer and closer to climax. He leaned over her to get his mouth and perfectly luscious lips near her ear.

“You gonna cum for me? Huh you little cocktease? Cum all over my cock like a naught little bitch?” He growled his breath hot on her skin. She couldn’t even answer, all she could do was scream as she hit her climax, starting to buck up towards him jerking heavily as he continued to slam into her. At some point his hand finding her clit to massage it and aid in far more than just one orgasm. It kept hitting her, the pleasure like a brick, slamming into her body, over and over and over until she heard him roar out as well. The motion of his hips became erratic, frantic even, and then they started to slow as he rode out the pleasure of his own orgasm. Once he was finished, she felt his cock slip out of her and then heard him collapse on the bed next to her. She opened her eyes and with a groan she managed to maneuver herself onto her back then roll to her side to face him, inching closer and closer until she could put her head on his chest.

“Okay that was really good.” She said her breathless voice against the fabric of his shirt. She glanced up at him to see a big dumb but satisfied smile looking back at her. He sat up just a bit and reached around to untie her wrists before laying back on the pillow like he had been. She slid a hand up over his chest then kissed him on the cheek. That was when she heard the buzzing of the intercom and the announcement of the food arriving (in Japanese). “Perfect timing…I’m starved.”

“That’s the food?” He asked.

“Mm hmm, can you do me a favor and go get it while I clean myself up?” She asked. He smiled and kissed her on the cheek before sitting up.

“No problem. I could eat after that.”

“Well don’t eat it all without me.” She told him. He patted her on the head in an oddly endearing way then got up from the bed and made himself decent before leaving the room and shutting the door behind them. She couldn’t help but smile to herself as she headed into the bathroom to get clean even though she knew she had to hurry. A guy that size would eat fast and most certainly not in small portion sizes.