the group. ‘I have some proposals here that my team and I have been working on. I’d like you to read through them and tell me what you think.’
The collected group proceeded to read quietly through the documents that they'd been given and the only sound that could be heard within the room was the turning of the pages and the occasional cough or sniff. Watanabe examined everyone carefully, on the look-out for signs of agreement or dissention. He had no need to read the document himself – after all he and Kinjo had spent hours putting it together – well Kinjo had anyway! Despite his analysishe could perceive nothing of consequence in the inscrutable faces of the Ryozo.
Eventually after ten minutes or so it was apparent that most of the men around the table had completed their reading as one by one they sat back with their hands clasped waiting for their colleagues. Some took sips of their water, others looked around the room or at each other. The atmosphere was still tense.
‘Of course, we need further time to read through your ideas more thoroughly before we commit to anything,’ said an unsmiling Shimizu directly.
‘Of course,’ agreed Watanabe. ‘That is only to be expected. The purpose here was only to lay on the table the broad areas for discussion. There will be a lot of details that will need ironing out. I’m sure of that.’
‘There is one thing that we would like to add-’
‘Of course, of course,’ said Watanabe warmly. ‘Anything at all.’
The thunderclap burst out of a clear blue sky.
‘We want you to resign as Chairman of your faction.’
‘I’m sorry.’
‘We demand that you resign!’
Watanabe attempted to remain calm. He couldn’t for the life of him understand where this had come from. What on earth were they thinking of to ask such a thing? ‘It’s out of the question,’ he said simply, hoping to avoid a stutter in his voice.
‘Then there will be no deal.’
‘You can’t be serious.’
‘Either you go or we do.’
‘I don’t understand – on what grounds?’
‘We believe you to be a liability and scandals like this hardly help.’ As he spoke Shimizu slapped down one of the many national tabloids ‘ Nikkan Gendai ’ onto the table. In huge script on the front page was the statement, ‘Watanabe sex fiend’ beneath which was a huge picture of Watanabe next to one of a scantily clad young woman.
‘I don’t understand,’ spluttered Watanabe again. ‘What are these fabricated lies?’
‘You deny this?’
‘Of course I do. Who do you take me for? I’m a happily married man. And this paper – it’s a left-wing tabloid. They'd stop at nothing to undermine me, even if it means printing lies. The picture there is a complete invention.’ He looked around his group for some support, but none came, not even from Kinjo, who had turned a pale shade of green.
‘Look! I think in the circumstances we need to adjourn this meeting until I’ve got to the bottom of this… this nonsense!’ said Watanabe slapping the newspaper.
Matsuhiro Shimizu stared coolly back. ‘I agree. Until this is resolved it would be foolish for us to enter into any public agreement with you at this time. I’m sure you understand.’
‘I understand.’ Watanabe gritted his teeth and ushered out the men who not fifteen minutes before had entered the room. Once again his political ambitions appeared to be lying in tatters on the floor around him.
He dismissed the wider team and only Kinjo remained to field his anger.
‘Damn that slut!’ shouted Watanabe kicking the wall. ‘I should have suspected that something was wrong. She was far too eager – far too ready to push herself onto me.’
His mind quickly flashed through the series of events, seeking meaning – or blame.
It had been Kinjo who had introduced them. It had been Kinjo who had pointed him in her direction, or
The collected group proceeded to read quietly through the documents that they'd been given and the only sound that could be heard within the room was the turning of the pages and the occasional cough or sniff. Watanabe examined everyone carefully, on the look-out for signs of agreement or dissention. He had no need to read the document himself – after all he and Kinjo had spent hours putting it together – well Kinjo had anyway! Despite his analysishe could perceive nothing of consequence in the inscrutable faces of the Ryozo.
Eventually after ten minutes or so it was apparent that most of the men around the table had completed their reading as one by one they sat back with their hands clasped waiting for their colleagues. Some took sips of their water, others looked around the room or at each other. The atmosphere was still tense.
‘Of course, we need further time to read through your ideas more thoroughly before we commit to anything,’ said an unsmiling Shimizu directly.
‘Of course,’ agreed Watanabe. ‘That is only to be expected. The purpose here was only to lay on the table the broad areas for discussion. There will be a lot of details that will need ironing out. I’m sure of that.’
‘There is one thing that we would like to add-’
‘Of course, of course,’ said Watanabe warmly. ‘Anything at all.’
The thunderclap burst out of a clear blue sky.
‘We want you to resign as Chairman of your faction.’
‘I’m sorry.’
‘We demand that you resign!’
Watanabe attempted to remain calm. He couldn’t for the life of him understand where this had come from. What on earth were they thinking of to ask such a thing? ‘It’s out of the question,’ he said simply, hoping to avoid a stutter in his voice.
‘Then there will be no deal.’
‘You can’t be serious.’
‘Either you go or we do.’
‘I don’t understand – on what grounds?’
‘We believe you to be a liability and scandals like this hardly help.’ As he spoke Shimizu slapped down one of the many national tabloids ‘ Nikkan Gendai ’ onto the table. In huge script on the front page was the statement, ‘Watanabe sex fiend’ beneath which was a huge picture of Watanabe next to one of a scantily clad young woman.
‘I don’t understand,’ spluttered Watanabe again. ‘What are these fabricated lies?’
‘You deny this?’
‘Of course I do. Who do you take me for? I’m a happily married man. And this paper – it’s a left-wing tabloid. They'd stop at nothing to undermine me, even if it means printing lies. The picture there is a complete invention.’ He looked around his group for some support, but none came, not even from Kinjo, who had turned a pale shade of green.
‘Look! I think in the circumstances we need to adjourn this meeting until I’ve got to the bottom of this… this nonsense!’ said Watanabe slapping the newspaper.
Matsuhiro Shimizu stared coolly back. ‘I agree. Until this is resolved it would be foolish for us to enter into any public agreement with you at this time. I’m sure you understand.’
‘I understand.’ Watanabe gritted his teeth and ushered out the men who not fifteen minutes before had entered the room. Once again his political ambitions appeared to be lying in tatters on the floor around him.
He dismissed the wider team and only Kinjo remained to field his anger.
‘Damn that slut!’ shouted Watanabe kicking the wall. ‘I should have suspected that something was wrong. She was far too eager – far too ready to push herself onto me.’
His mind quickly flashed through the series of events, seeking meaning – or blame.
It had been Kinjo who had introduced them. It had been Kinjo who had pointed him in her direction, or
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