Even if Lousie was not an official celebrity in status, Japanese media was entitled enough to show her face just because she had done one interview with Ojiro in the past that was published to be watched publicly to promote the animated show.

They also reported claims from Louise's co-workers saying that gifts have been noticed to be delivered to Louise's desk since she met Ojiro Korishima, and she's miraculously been promoted at work recently in just less than a year of working in the studio.

If there's a thing that can provoke Louise's stress to the highest levels in just a sec, it's her job, so Ojiro calms her down as she flares her nose in anger.

"Those bitches shouldn't be talking about me behind my back; I should have choked them with mochi a long time ago!"

He places his hands on both of her shoulders, caressing it. "My team is working on it now. I'll be meeting them tomorrow, and this time, you will go with me. Is that alright with you?"

Lousie hadn't actually met the team that was working with him other than his securities and Atsushi-san. Deep down in her heart, she just couldn't help but blame herself both times that he missed the jump that he had worked so hard for. The first is when she disappeared during the disaster, and the second is now that the relationship they kept secret for a while is now exposed.

She just couldn't help but to feel guilty that something about her should destroy his focus in those times that he needed it the most, so if she can contribute something to ease the problem, she would gladly help.

"I'll go with you. We'll work on this together,"

***

The scheduled meeting was held in a private hall in the exclusive neighborhood near Ojiro's apartment. He went ahead early in the morning to work on some papers regarding his other businesses, so she still had time to prepare herself.

She has all the right to feel nervous because this is her first time working with people as Ojiro Korishima's girlfriend, and he also didn't inform her elaborately about all the proceedings, and it seems like that part is mostly his team's job to do.

He said they will help her understand more about the situation, and that will make her think more about the cooperation they need from her.

Even if she wanted to wear her fur coat and dark shades to hide from everyone, she chose to wear a simple, modest dress just like what Japanese women wear in work meetings and decided to look like an innocent, pretty angel, so it's easier for her to deceive everyone.

She's still wearing her curlers when she answers the door to Yoshio.

"I'm so sorry for picking you up this late, Louisia-san. Korishima-senshu needs to make some changes to the schedule and the people attending the meeting."

"Oh, alright," she mumbled, even if she didn't really understand any of that.

The place where the meeting will take place seems wide enough for Louise to hold press conferences, and as soon as they arrived, Yoshio introduced her to the two ladies waiting for her outside the door.

Louise greeted them politely just as they did, and she can quickly tell how their eyes look up and down on her in wonder. One of them knocks on the door to let someone know her arrival, and then the lady goes out and approaches her to assist her.

Ojiro opens the door himself, guiding her inside, and as soon as she goes in, she almost steps back outside when she sees that the room is filled with people seated in office chairs at a huge corporate table.

There are some men in suits and ties she didn't recognize, but the rest of their faces were familiar to her as the figure skaters that are cast in the Ice Show.

Kaede Ishioka is the least she expects to see for the day while sitting with them.

The room fell silent at once, their heads turning to her with an eye looking like an x-ray of a predatory hawk the moment she showed up, confirming the truth of the scandal.

She wanted to curse Ojiro for not informing her what to expect, but she remembered what Yoshio had said to her earlier: that Ojiro had to make changes at the last minute.

She doesn't know about these people, but her natural animal instinct screams a red alarm. Panic. Anxiety.

She felt Ojiro's arm catch her, giving her the feeling that it was the only solid thing around her.

"It's alright, they're all on our side," he murmured the words gently, as if that would calm her down.

Louise nods to him, breathing in and out slowly. He then turns to face everyone.

"I know you are already well informed on why I've gathered everyone here, but I want to introduce someone to you formally. Minna, meet my girlfriend, Maria Louisia Diaz."

My girlfriend, Maria Louisia Diaz.

She wanted to rejoice, have the final laugh, and say, "Surprise, mother fuckers!"

Isn't it what she always wanted? To finally get introduced as Ojiro's girlfriend?

But Louise just forces a smile, looking back at everyone's stunned faces. Even though they looked like they had anticipated this to happen, the surprise on their faces is clearly seen, as if he just dropped a bomb of fart or something.

All of them fall into deep silence.

They heard a clap from the back, turning their attention from her to it, and it was Nissho. Louise remembered him reading his name in the show's final casts announcement.

"Woooh!" he cheers, standing from his seat and clapping.

Louise just can't help but feel at ease in finding Ojiro's goofy friend among the group. Ojiro motioned for him to sit back, but even he couldn't hide his grin and the blushing in his ear.

And then suddenly, everyone got up from their seats as well, following Nissho's lead and clapping their hands.

"Omedetto!" murmurs of congratulations can be heard in the room.

The two turn to each other, grinning ear to ear like teenagers.

"Suimasen, Jikkun. Can we go on to our business? As much as I wanted to celebrate this special announcement, I'm sorry to remind you that we are following different schedules here, so we need to finish this as quickly as possible," Kaede mumbled.

"Of course," Ojiro nods to her, pulling Louise to sit with him.

Lousie can't help but to throw her a side eye.

Of course, this anaconda always finds ways to ruin the moment.

Kaede introduced herself as Ojiro's current assistant manager, and Minoru-san, his coach, sitting with her as the acting manager.

They informed her that she's meant to meet Sakiko-chan, Ojiro's manager, but they need to change plans at the last minute because she's working a lot with his mom overseas, so Kaede and Minoru-san will fill the role in the meantime.

One of the men introduced himself as Ojiro's lawyer, and the other, his personal mental therapists will explain to her the importance of the forms she's about to sign and offered some counseling to prepare for her mentality now that they are taking their new step as a couple and as a romantic partner to an important person in the industry while prioritizing their privacy the most.

And now, she just can't help but feel a bit more nervous that Ojiro needs to hire all these people just to explain something to a one brained cell being like her.

The lawyer made the staff distribute papers to everyone, including her.

"So, Miss Diaz, this is a non-disclosure agreement, and I'm just going to sum up everything that has been written here. This is a legal contract between you and my client, Korishima-senshu. This agreement is an unliteral NDA or a one-way contract restricting you from disclosing to anyone about your relationship to my client," the lawyer explains.

"You, including the skaters here, are present to sign the same form, forbidding them to disclose any information about you and your relationship with Korishima-senshu to anyone."

They explained to her that the show's production might be in trouble if they don't take action sooner. They have come to the decision that they won't expel Louise from the cast so the fans won't speculate more, and instead, they can still be able to direct the allegation to the show and especially to Kaede and Ojiro's most anticipated program, together with the cooperation of the cast. That's why Ojiro decided to confess their relationship to them.

"In short, it was just a PR tactic so the media would leave you alone for once, Miss Diaz."

"It's so simple. We just need your cooperation. Unless you have something to say about our fake relationship on ice," Kaede said, turning to Louise.

Louise is just lost for words.

She's pretty sure she has heard a lot of stories about PR strategies like this from celebrities, but after experiencing them firsthand, she just couldn't help but get blown away.

And she knows she shouldn't be judging them because they're just doing their job. That it was just an act in front of the camera, and yet...

She just felt so sick in the pit of her stomach.

Now she understands why there is a need for a therapist for this.

"Do you have any conditions, miss Diaz?"

"Nothing. As if I have a choice," she responded, bringing all her strength not to stutter.

"I just want my family out of this and..." she said, glaring at Ojiro. "...and take that ugly photo down, even if it's the last thing you do."

Ojiro nods to her humbly.

The staff distributes pens, and when she picks up one to proceed with signing, she feels everyone's eyes falling on her all over again.

And then it hits her. She get it now.

The sharp look she's getting at the beginning. It was not the "So, she is the girlfriend" look or anything.

It's because they felt sorry for her.

It's a look of pity.

Pity for what hell she's about to go through being Ojiro Korishima's girlfriend. For bringing this retribution upon herself.

She felt all the weight of their eyes on her, waiting for her to curve the sign of her name on the paper.

Her hand started to shake.

"I'm so sorry, I can't do this," her voice cracks, and with that, She pulled back from her seat and flees the room.

--
Please don't forget to vote or leave a comment! This simple gesture deeply motivates me to go on writing so onegaishimasu!🙏

--Ikoma Sensei💋