As the cold and calculating gaze of the hitman diced up my innards, I backpedaled, near tumbling again, as I scoured the crowd for Jack and Natalya, only to find them gone. This was turning into a nightmare!

  Running back upstage in delirium, I slipped behind the red velvet curtain, entering a wave of noise and celebratory cheer, as random personnel came up to me, clamoring over the high amount on my successful bid. It felt like I looked through a fish eye lens, the maddening feeling warping all sense of being.

  I nodded and tried to look as gracious as possible, my face contorting cartoonishly whilst fearing that my life was coming to an untimely end, scouring the exits for a quick escape.

  “Ms. Starr!” Yanni cut in, pushing past the others, “you're a star!” He embraced me and kissed my cheek. “Never have I seen such a wonderfully charitable donation from Nanamin-san before. You must have really made an impression.”

  “Th-thank you,” I stuttered, floundering under all the attention, while swiveling my head alertly in my hunt for Jack. “Have you seen...um, my employer?” I asked timidly.

  “Pshh,” Yanni brushed the question aside, “He knows where you are. You've nothing to worry about!”

  “Eh, heh heh,” I forced out an uncomfortable chuckle.

  “Come,” Yanni continued, “let me introduce you to Nanamin-san!” He wrapped his arm around my waist and ushered me away.

  Yanni swept me down multiple hallways, my head ever bouncing back and forth in a daze, I watched for my impending harbinger of doom to strike me down from any and all angles. At least I looked good though...I guess.

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  Finally, Yanni led me through a gold trimmed set of double doors into an ornately dressed lounge, where the proudly dressed Nanamin-san sat kneeling before a low table upon a neatly placed tatami mat. An impressive set up, to say the least.

  A sake cup was steaming, cradled between his thumbs, while his gaze turned up to meet me.

  Yanni bowed halfway, and I followed suit.

  “Nanamin-san, I present Stacy Starr.” Yanni motioned to me.

  Nanamin-san gestured for me to kneel across from him. I looked at Yanni , before awkwardly taking my spot.

  Yanni reached across the center of the table and picked up a larger steaming sake cup, before placing a small one before me. “Sake?” He asked.

  “I'm fine, thank you.”

  Yanni hesitated, looking nervously back at Nanamin-san.

  “I insist,” the honorable strain of Nanamin-san's voice came through, demanding.

  I looked back and forth between the two men. I didn't want to ruin my chances, but I dared not drink with a killer on the loose! “I appreciate the offer, but I maintain my stance.”

  Nanamin-san looked back coldly, while Yanni sweated profusely at the brow. Finally, a crack came upon Nanamin-san's lips, a thin smile gracing his time-worn face. “A woman who stands with her feet firmly entrenched in the Earth. Strong willed, but fearing not the showing of weakness. The Sakura Tree. Delicate, yet strong.”

  Yanni exhaled loudly after holding his breath, his cheeks abrasively coming together into emotional ease.

  “Leave us,” Nanamin-san waved Yanni away.

  “Very good, sir,” Yanni responded, whisking himself away, and closing the double doors behind him.

  We sat for a moment, my nervousness permeating my skin, more so with awaiting the hitman to burst in at any moment and take my head.

  “Lionel,” Nanamin-san started up.

  I was startled to awareness, shaking my head in confusion. “I'm sorry?”

  “You look just like him...”

  I sat stunned for a moment, suddenly feeling my eyes widen with recognition, as his all knowing expression followed.

  “Your Father.”