What was that? Lilli wondered in a daze as she walked back into the small dressing room at the other end of the suite. In the wake of his departure, she felt like a hit-and-run victim. Barely able to stand on wobbly legs. What had just happened? She was only doing this for Doug, so why was she so turned on by what had just transpired—or rather not transpired—in the personal shopping suite?

She sucked in a breath as she pulled her everyday bra back on over seriously pebbled nipples. Why was she still so helplessly, undeniably turned on?

Despite her lingering shame and embarrassment, Lilli wanted to touch herself again. To sink her fingers into her warm pussy and masturbate to thoughts of the man with the obsidian eyes. The one who’d watched her get dressed and undressed like a hawk before she made herself come in front of him. The one who hadn’t touched her today. Not even once.

Had he merely stopped by to tease her. To toy with her like a cat does a mouse?

If so, it had worked.

Fully dressed, but feeling like a live wire, Lilli didn’t even entertain Miyuki’s suggestion that they grab lunch before going to the next shop.

“I trust you to buy everything else,” she told Miyuki. Because there was absolutely no way she was going to put any more clothes on her throbbing body today.

“Can—I mean, may we go home now?” Lilli asked.

“Of course,” Miyuki answered with a bright and cheerful smile. “We will go home now, hai.”

And that was that. Only it wasn’t really. Because in the car, Lilli, who’d never, ever made a habit of being difficult, started to feel guilty. Poor Miyuki was probably starving and it wasn’t her fault Lilli was too turned on to continue.

“You know what? We can still have lunch,” she told Mr. Nakamura’s assistant. “There’s a good okonomiyaki place just below my apartment.”

“Oh, that is not necessary,” Miyuki answered.

“Sure it is! You’ve been very patient and kind with me, and I want you to eat,” Lilli insisted.

“Okay,” Miyuki answered after more back and forth. “But if it is okay, I know another okonomiyaki place. Maybe it is better to you.”

“Oh my God, this so much better to me!” Lilli exclaimed a few minutes later. Mere moments after taking her first bite of the savory cabbage and pork pancake dish. The little restaurant Miyuki had chosen for lunch was fantastic. It was the best okonomiyaki Lilli had tasted during her time in Japan. The menu was reasonably priced, and even better, it was located in the Umeda Sky Building, a two-towered modern glass Osaka landmark building that Lilli had been meaning to visit for some time.

“How did you even find this place?” she asked Miyuki between bites of the delicious fried dish. “You don’t exactly seem like the type who’d eat a ton of okonomiyaki.”

In fact, okonomiyaki wasn’t considered a very high class food, nor was it particularly healthy. One of her black friends at the international school had referred to it, along with takoyaki—a delicious fried, ball-shaped octopus dish, as “Osaka soul food” because of all the batter and deep frying that went into making the dishes.

But Miyuki just grinned, telling her, “I am not always this job, you know. I once was Osaka Charm girl, same as you.”

“No way!” Lilli exclaimed, eyes widening at the reveal, before the assistant’s words really sunk in. “Wait, so you and Mr. Nakamura…”

“Hai, but it is okay,” Miyuki assured her with a wave of both hands. “It was many years ago, when he was first starting in company. He liked my organization most. That is reason he hired me for this position. I am very honored to have this job, but there is nothing between us after six months and there have been many Osaka Charm girls since me.”

Lilli nodded, trying to play it cool. “Okay…”

And Miyuki continued, “You will see how he is, Ana-san. After six months he does not look back, but if you need work, tell him. Riyu and I speak not so good English and maybe he can give position to you. Oh no, I have upset you!”

Yes, she had, but Lilli didn’t realize she had an ugly expression on her face until Miyuki commented on it. The thought of Mr. Nakamura throwing her away like so much trash in six months, of him never looking back on their time together with even an ounce of emotion…it shouldn’t roil her stomach, but for some reason it did.

“No, no…I’m good,” Lilli answered, even as she pushed her plate away. “I think I just ate too much that’s all. I’m starting to feel a little too full and I don’t want to be bloated tonight.”

“Bloated…?”

“Um…puffy in the stomach,” Lilli explained, curving a hand over her stomach. “Or I guess I should say even puffier.”

“It is okay,” Miyuki answered. “You are not Mr. Nakamura’s usual girl, but he seems to like your puffy. And you are black girl. You are very new to him.”

Yeah, I suppose that’s one way to put it, she thought, as Miyuki called for the check.

According to the internet, Norio Nakamura had been working for the company since the age of 15, only taking any real time off to get his MS in Robotics from Carnegie Mellon. He was 31 now, which meant this dude had been switching out girls every six months…well, probably since he was in his twenties! So yeah, maybe it was exactly as Miyuki said: Lilli was just a puffy black novelty toy for him to play with for the next six months. Something new and different.

Whatever, Lilli thought, as they slipped back into the town car. Wasn’t it a good thing he’d eventually lose interest? Getting thrown away after six months meant she wouldn’t have to feel bad about spying on him.

Not that she felt like she was doing much spying. She didn’t know what the voice on the other side of the phone expected her to find out, but based on the limited amount of words in the few conversations they’d had so far, it couldn’t be much.

Mr. Nakamura seemed way more interested in the erotic part of their relationship, than he was in actually exchanging words with her. She’d never met someone so coldly quiet, and she doubted there’d be much pillow talk with him…about baseball, business, or anything else.

This should be a huge relief. His lack of fidelity to any of his past Osaka Charm mistresses meant less guilt for her and a painless exit when all was said and done. It should be a relief.

But it wasn’t.

And as the car drove her home, she wished more than anything that she wasn’t so turned on by someone she’d been hired to betray.

Lilli’s relief at finally going home only lasted for a short while. Because approximately ten whole minutes after she got into the car with Miyuki, the driver stopped in front of the Grand Front Osaka. A large commercial complex she only vaguely knew about because it was home to one of the tallest skyscrapers in the city, along with a humongous mall, a five-star hotel, and condos no one but the very rich could afford.

“I thought we were done with shopping for the day,” Lilli said to Miyuki after the driver let them out of the car.

“We are,” Miyuki assured her. “Now I am taking you to your new home, okay?”

Her new home? Lilli looked up. Way up. And that was when she realized they weren’t standing in front of the mall section of the complex. Instead, they were just outside the residential tower—a building full of very upscale apartments.

“You mean…”

“Hai,” Miyuki answered with a grin. “This is where Mr. Nakamura would like you to live during your time together. It is near to his home and office. Very convenient. So he can visit you after his work and then go his own home.”

Okay, wow. Lilli blinked up at the tall building. So it sounded like there would be no overnights. Great. She could definitely live with that. But she wondered, “Where does he live when he isn’t, ah…visiting with me?”

The smile remained on Miyuki’s face, but she lowered her eyes. “That is a secret. Mr. Nakamura has many enemies, and he does not wish for many to have this information, okay?”

“Sure, okay,” Lilli said, thinking she shouldn’t be all that surprised, considering she’d yet to be given any contact information for him whatsoever.

She walked with Miyuki into a lobby that looked like it belonged in a hotel rather than an apartment building. There was marble and velvet everywhere, with a huge chandelier casting light over the whole elegant affair.

So intimidating. But Lilli kept her chin up as the elevator doors whispered closed on them. No, she really didn’t belong here. But for the next six months she’d need to pretend she did.

“And my things?” Lilli asked as the elevator began its rapid ascent. Not that she really cared, considering most of the things that mattered were in the apartment she shared with Doug and Ruby. But it seemed like the logical thing to ask after being informed your living quarters had just been upgraded to a high-end, “ready to fuck you, sir” apartment.

“Everything is already inside for you,” Miyuki answered with a small bow.

The apartment was just as grand, if not more so, than the downstairs lobby. Once inside, they both paused at the marble floor genken to remove their shoes. Then Lilli followed Miyuki across ebony wood floors to tour the remainder of the apartment.

There was a very modern, open kitchen. And beyond that, a well-appointed parlor-slash-dining room with floor-to-ceiling windows that led out to a balcony and provided a terrific view of both the Yodo and Kyu-Yodo (former Yodo) Rivers.

Despite her earlier vow to act cool, a “Whoa!” fell out of Lilli’s mouth as she gazed out one of the windows. And that was before she saw the bedroom. It was even larger than the living room, which made it huge by Japanese standards. The large room was located at one corner of the building and was filled with Western-style furniture and décor. A dark brown chaise lounge and glass table sat next to the arched panoramic window, seemingly waiting for someone to take a seat and enjoy the view. And instead of a simple cot, there was a large king-sized bed between two dark wood nightstands.

Miyuki had been right about Lilli’s things. Most of her items from the shared apartment were unpacked and ready for use. And now Lilli understood why Miyuki hadn’t been too upset when Lilli didn’t want to go shopping. There were plenty of brand new clothes in the closets, all more fashionable and expensive than anything she’d ever owned before.

Not only that, but with no apparent self-consciousness, Miyuki began placing all the lingerie her boss had bought Lilli in the top drawer of a giant, black dresser.

“I know this flat is surprise for you, Ana-san,” Miyuki said as she continued placing neatly folded garments in drawers. “But it is for best. This way, no more questions from flat mates…”

There was no television in this bedroom, but that was how Lilli knew for sure that they’d been watching her.

“Do you know how to cook?” Miyuki asked a little later, after showing Lilli the fully stocked refrigerator.

“Ah…um…not really,” she answered, thinking of all the takeout she’d ordered for Doug and Ruby to eat after Ruby’s hundredth complaint about Lilli’s inability to prepare proper Japanese food like her mother. Takeout was, in fact, their biggest expense. “I’m more of a baker, but I could give cooking a try if that’s what Mr. Nakamura wants.”

“No, it is okay,” Miyuki answered. “I will have something sent over for both of you to eat tonight.”

“Great. Thanks!”

A moment passed and Miyuki became uncharacteristically sober.

“Ana-san, I must talk to you now about how it will be with Mr. Nakamura, hai?” She took a notepad and pen out of her designer purse and handed it to Lilli. “There are many rules to go over, maybe you will want to write them down...?”

Wow, she wasn’t kidding! Lilli mentally thanked Miyuki for the pen and paper. By the time she was done, Lilli had a page long list. Shortened forms of commands like, “You must always have your phone on in case Mr. Nakamura wants to spend time with you.” “You must never be late. Mr. Nakamura should never be kept waiting.” “You must never touch Mr. Nakamura in public. That is not his way.” “You must never take a picture of Mr. Nakamura.” “Mr. Nakamura does not wish to spend the night here. Please do not put him in the uncomfortable position of asking.” “Mr. Nakamura will visit you here and only here. You are never to come to his office.” “If you are sick, please tell me right away. Mr. Nakamura cannot spend time with you if you are sick.” “Mr. Nakamura wishes for you to take bath and put on perfume before he comes over.” “Mr. Nakamura will not take you on dates. If you wish to go shopping or eat or see movie with someone, it is best to call me. I will be your friend during this time.” “Please do not bring anyone else to this flat. Mr. Nakamura only wishes for you to spend time here.”

“One thing more,” Miyuki told her at the end of the long and exhausting list. “I have tried my best to help you with clothes and the spa. But you understand you will return to your own flat if Mr. Nakamura decides he does not like you after tonight. You are very nice, but like you say me earlier, you are puffy, and I hope you are not sad if he changes his mind.”

Lilli’s eyebrows jumped because it sounded like Miyuki was preparing her to be dumped if she didn’t quite live up to the standard of Mr. Nakamura’s other lovers. “Okay. Um, has that happened before?”

“Sometimes. But don’t worry, he will still pay you full contract. Only you will have to leave this apartment so another can have it. Usually, this is not a problem, but you are American…”

Wow, just when you think a situation can’t get any stranger, you find yourself explaining to your lover’s second assistant (who, by the way, is one of his former lovers) that you won’t turn into one of those Americans who are always making the Japanese news and have made Cops a perennial hit here.

Thank you for taking it to the next level, Japan, Lilli thought before answering, “Sure, I get it. But trust me, I’ll go quietly if he decides it’s not going to work out.”

“Okay, I am glad you understand,” Miyuki said with a relieved bow. “Now, do you have piru for no baby, or do you need me to get?”

It took Lilli a moment to realize Miyuki was referring to birth control.

“Yes, I’ve been taking an American brand since I arrived—” Lilli stopped herself. Of course, she couldn’t tell Miyuki her American travel nurse friends in Japan had been kind enough to keep her supplied with higher-dosage pills. And now she had no idea how she’d get those same pills while she was trapped in this elegant penthouse cage for the next several months.

“What is the brand, please?” Miyuki asked, taking out her phone.

Lilli gave her the name. “But I’m not sure it’s available here…”

Miyuki just bowed her head. “That is okay, but can you please tell me if you take your pill today yet?” she asked.

Lilli nodded. “I take one every morning before breakfast.”

“This is very good. But tomorrow I can come and watch you take pill, okay? Mr. Nakamura likes for us to be sure about this.”

“Okay…” Lilli agreed with a nod because what else was she supposed to say?

“Okay!” Miyuki gave her a huge OK sign, circling her index finger and thumb so enthusiastically, you’d think they were talking about a trip to Tokyo Disneyland instead of making a standing appointment for Miyuki to watch her take a contraceptive every morning.

With all that seemingly arranged, Miyuki put her phone away and pulled a bulky, letter-sized red envelope out of her purse, which she offered to Lilli with both hands. “This is for you. For any extra thing before Osaka Charm give you first paycheck. Please, if you need anything more, ask me, not Mr. Nakamura, okay?”

“Okay,” Lilli agreed, receiving the envelope with both hands.

Remembering the cultural training she’d received before starting at the Osaka School, Lilli waited until Miyuki left the apartment before opening the envelope to see what was inside.

It was money. A stack of colorful 10,000 yen notes with a rather stern looking fellow in traditional robes on one side, and a bird that looked like a cross between a chicken and a griffin on the other. Tiding over money, apparently, for her to spend until Osaka Charm dumped the first pile of money into Ana Granger’s bank account.

Strange, she’d forgotten she was technically getting paid to live in this fabulous apartment and tend to Norio Nakamura’s sexual needs for the next six months.

Even stranger, this was when a giant wave of panic finally decided to hit her. Because this wasn’t her. None of this was her. The opulent apartment. The spying. The envelope full of money…

This. So. Wasn’t. Her.

For a moment the panic threatened to overwhelm her. She clutched at her chest, scratching at the last of her cotton bras—the rest, along with most of her clothes, had apparently not made the jump from her old apartment to this place.

But then she noticed it…

The large TV in the foyer…the exact same one that had been delivered to her apartment. And this was his apartment. The one he’d apparently designated for his Osaka Charm girls.

He was probably watching her. Right now.

“You can do this…” she told herself, just as she’d done all those years ago when her mother kicked her out of the house. You can do this.

Just don’t think about the money. All this money he’s paying you, because he doesn’t know you’ve been sent to spy on him.

Okay, okay…before the panic could take hold of her again, she carried the envelope into the bedroom, tucking it away beneath the clothes in the first drawer she opened.

But even with the money out of sight, there were still cameras...

Lilli went back to the well-appointed parlor/living room, turned on the TV, and clicked through the various channels…looking for something to watch before landing on a J-drama. Cute. Poignant. Mostly sexless. And she understood about every other word. It was the perfect way to while away the time.

As for dinner, just as Lilli was thinking about hopping in the shower, her NTTdotcomo phone rang.

“Moshi! Moshi!” she spoke into the phone.

“Hi, this is Miyuki! I am very sorry but Mr. Nakamura can now not come dinner, okay? Can I please order dinner to you?”

“It’s no problem. I’m living right next to a shopping mall now, you know,” Lilli answered with a laugh. “I think I can figure out dinner on my own.”

Of course Miyuki continued to ask her over and over again. Not letting up until Lilli said, “Miyuki-san, while we’ve been arguing about dinner, I’ve been walking over to the mall. And I have now arrived at the place where I plan to eat so I’m going to have to get off the phone.”

“Okay, okay!” Miyuki answered laughing. “You are very funny, Ana-san. Not like other girls at all.”

A compliment, Lilli supposed with a small smile as she hung up. And then she sighed, because right now, Norio Nakamura’s second assistant was the closest thing she had to a friend.

She’d only been on this secret assignment for two weeks, but she already missed her old life. Doug and Ruby, the friends she’d made at the international school, her student patients.

And try as she might, she couldn’t stop feeling guilty about the entire situation. Because who the hell did that mysterious voice belong to? It was obviously someone with enough power to renew Doug’s contract, so maybe one of the front office executives? But why would a baseball executive care about a guy in the Robotics Division, even if he was the son of Nakamura Worldwide’s director?

Lilli lingered at the little overpriced ramen shop for much longer than she’d originally intended. Partly because she’d gotten caught up in a game of HungryMaster that Miyuki had downloaded onto her NTT phone, and partly because as nice as her new apartment was, the creepy feeling of being watched every second far outweighed its luxurious appeal.

But time passed a lot faster than Lilli realized, because the next thing she knew, a text from Miyuki popped up over her HungryMaster game: He coming now.

Oh fuck! Lilli quickly threw down two 1000 yen notes, not bothering to ask for the bill and change.

Then she ran out of there like a bat out of hell, all of Miyuki’s rules running through her head.

She had to get showered, perfumed, and dressed in something that wasn’t a Japanese XL HelloKitty t-shirt and jeans. Lilli hadn’t gone too far from her new digs, but it was far enough. It felt like the run back to her tower apartment from the mall took three times as long as the walk there.

So long, she didn’t even bother to take her shoes off in the genken entrance. Ignoring Japanese custom, so she could rush straight down the corridor, and into the parlor, which connected to the bedroom—

Lilli stopped short just inside the parlor doorway, because that was when she realized...it was too late. Mr. Nakamura had already arrived.

He’d chosen to sit down in the parlor’s dark brown overstuffed slipper chair, which unlike the couch, she noted, was all the way out of the TV camera’s field of range.

He still wore the same blue suit from when she’d seen him earlier that day, but now, for whatever reason, he reminded her of a soldier. Face hard as granite as he watched her enter the room a literal hot mess. Sweaty and dressed, not in pretty lingerie, but in jeans and a t-shirt, along with the same sandals Miyuki had warned her against wearing to his office the first day of their original interview. Hell, they probably wouldn’t even have made the trip over if she hadn’t worn them out of the house that day.

So many rules broken, she realized, as she stood frozen in the doorway.

But then she looked at him. Really looked at him. Beyond the hard granite of his posture to his eyes, which were no longer intent as they had been earlier in the day, but had gone cold.

No, not cold, she realized, taking a curious step forward. Remote. And she was reminded of a few of the Japanese kids who’d come to see her. The ones who’d told her with vacant eyes that they were too sick to take a test, but in the end were simply afraid of disappointing their parents.

“Is everything okay?” she asked him, her shoes and appearance forgotten.

“You kept me waiting,” he answered.

“Yes, I kept you waiting. I didn’t mean to, and I’m sorry about that, but…” Her nursing instincts took over as she walked further into the room. “You’re not just upset about me being late, right?”

He looked away, his face a hard blank, and she noticed his hair wasn’t quite as contoured as it had been before. Whatever he used to keep the long top layer sculpted back must have lost its hold, because a black lock was now hanging over his left eye.

She couldn’t help herself. She bridged the distance between then and reached out to scrape the lock out of his face with a gentle nurse’s touch. “It looks like you’ve had a bad day. Did something happen?”

He looked at her for a long, quizzical second, and then said, “This small talk. It is not required.”

Lilli tilted her head, still stroking his hair even though she’d already pushed it back in place. It’s texture was a soft surprise beneath her fingers, and she found herself unable to pull away.

“Not required or not wanted?” she asked him.

“Either.”

But he didn’t push her hand away, she noticed. Didn’t make her stop stroking his hair.

“Okay,” she said, eyes tipping away, and then returning right back to his. Connecting with him, despite his words to the contrary, still stroking his surprisingly soft black hair. Waiting for him to tell her to stop.