jelma...

Jelma held Chen close. They kissed. Time stood. Chen ran his hand through Jelma's died red hair. She didn't mind it being messed up. They were leant under a cherry blossom tree. Even though it wasn't flowering, it looked eye catching just like the rest of the garden. Darkness was quickly bounding over the sky. Soon it would be night. They took time enjoying each other's company, talking and kissing and walking.

Chen told Jelma all about himself, about his youth, schooling, early business years and family. She was quiet while he spoke and listened to everything. His life was typical of many modern Chinese. A supportive and well off family got him into a good school and college. After years of learning and tuition, a placement in an accounts office taught him business sense but it wasn't the career for him. Yet he needed the skills. When the time was right, he got a grant and set up his own company. His path was a little bit different than Jelma's but they were more similar than not. Both understood, respected and deeply liked one another. They were equals.

In her mind Jelma knew she could do business with the young Chinese fashion mogul. I know how the Chinese mentality works and I have to be careful. What's to stop him ordering several hundred dresses and ripping Kazuki off by making thousands of cheap sub standard copies? If that happened, it's beyond serious. Jelma would order her muscle into Red China on a covert hunter killer mission to terminate Chen and upset his manufacturing base. Was she already part of the underworld? Jelma had already used him once in the gun attack on Washi. She knew if wouldn't come to a big hit but just in case...