Chapter 44 Percy
Percy’s POV
Tokyo, Japan
The helicopter touches down on a private helicopter hangar on top of a glass skyscraper in Minato.
Beneath us, Tokyo is a sprawling galaxy of neon and rain. Above us, the blades whir to a stop in the humid air.
Sienna unbuckles her seatbelt first. She looks immaculate, as if she didn't just spend fourteen hours on a plane. Her perfect appearance is irritating, to say the least.
"Welcome to the Compound," she announces, her voice rising over the fading noise of the rotors.
I help Adeline out. Unlike Sienna, she’s tired, leaning heavily on her cane, but her eyes are wide as she takes in the beautiful skyline of Tokyo. I'm going to enjoy seeing the city through her eyes.
"It’s beautiful," she breathes.
"It’s efficient," Sienna corrects. She gestures to the elevator bank waiting for us. "The team workshops are in the basement. The gym and recovery suites are on floors 40 through 42, and the residences are here at the penthouse level."
We step into the elevator. There are no buttons, just a small hole that Sienna scans her retina in. The doors slide open into a living space that makes my very expensive New York penthouse look like a starter apartment.
The decor is minimal, and the floor-to-ceiling windows offer such a nice view of the city that makes one feel like they're right in the middle of the city. A team of staff is already lined up, waiting.
"Adeline, your suite is the Master East," Sienna says, pointing down a long corridor. "I had it prepped with the medical bed. The chef has a recovery meal waiting." Her smile immediately turns tight when she turns to me. "And Mr. Akilov, my driver, is waiting downstairs to take you to the Aman. Your bags have already been sent ahead."
"I’m not going to the Aman," I say calmly.
A flicker of irritation crosses her face. "Excuse me?"
"Clause 4," I remind her. "Adeline chooses her housing, and wherever she stays, I stay." I walk over to the sofa and drop my jacket on it to prove my point. "I’m staying here."
Sienna’s jaw tightens, and she looks to Adeline in hopes that she will contradict me? It's not my fault she wasn't smart enough to read through our counter negotiation.
"Adeline, really," she laughs, but I know she's really irritated. "The Aman is five stars. It’s much more... private. Surely you want your manager to be comfortable?"
Adeline looks between us with a sigh. "Actually, Sienna," Adeline says softly. "I'm going to sleep better with my man here for the transition, you know? He can handle my jet lag." She's being diplomatic, but Sienna seems to buy it.
"If it helps the talent sleep, then it’s a priority."
She snaps her fingers at a house manager.
"Prepare a guest suite for Mr. Akilov. It’s on the other side of the wing." She turns back to me coldly. "It’s a bit smaller than the Master, but I’m sure you’ll manage."
" I’m not here for the view. I'll be fine."
The Tokyo track is a beast. It’s technically a test track owned by another conglomerate, but Sienna has somehow managed to rent the entire facility for the week. The track is on the side of a hill and surrounded by the woods. It's perfect for training and testing out her new gear and getting used to having a proper team.
Adeline is already on the track while I stand back in the pit, monitoring her progress and speed.
"She’s fast," a voice says beside me. I turn to find the head mechanic, a gruff Japanese man named Kenji, also watching the huge screens beside me. "Her corner entry speed is higher than Kael’s," Kenji notes. " She has no fear."
"She has fear," I correct him. "She just uses it."
On the screen, I see Adeline bank into a sharp left turn. Her knee scrapes the ground. It’s beautiful and terrifying at the same time until I hear Sienna’s voice coming through the pit speakers and the private comms channel she insisted on.
"Lean harder, Adeline," Sienna’s voice purrs. "Trust the tires. They stick. Give me more."
On the screen, Adeline adjusts as she speaks.
"Good," Sienna purrs. "You feel that? That’s the edge. Live there."
I grit my teeth. I hate how intimate and controlling she sounds in my girlfriend's ears, as if they're the only ones in the room.
I walk over to the comms station where Sienna is sitting. She’s wearing a headset, staring at the screens like a conductor watching an orchestra.
"She’s pushing too hard for a warm-up lap," I say. "Tell her to back off." She only holds up a hand to silence me.
"Adeline, darling." Her eyes lock on mine as she says so, and I see the challenge in it. "Down and throttle through."
"Copy," Adeline’s voice comes back. I watch as she does as Sienna orders. The bike wobbles, but she shoots through the gap like a missile.
"Perfect," Sienna whispers. She turns to me. "You were saying something, Mr. Akilov?"
"I said she’s pushing too hard," I repeat. " Her leg can't take that kind of force for twenty laps."
"Her leg is fine," Sienna dismisses. "She’s not thinking about the leg. She’s thinking about me." She taps the headset. "I’m in her head now, and have you seen her times? She just broke the track record."
I look at the screen. She's right, my girl just broke the track record by five solid seconds. Before I can say anything else, her bike comes in, and Sienna rushes over to her.
"You were wonderful, Ghost. Come, I have a surprise for you." She helps Adeline off the bike, her hands lingering on Adeline’s waist and her arms as she unclips Adeline’s helmet.
"You were magnificent," Sienna says, wiping sweat from Adeline’s forehead with her own handkerchief.
"The bike felt... twitchy in the rear," Adeline pants.
"We will adjust the suspension, but your line was perfect," Sienna promises.
I step into the circle, handing Adeline a water bottle. "Drink," I order. "You’re dehydrated."
Adeline takes it, smiling at me. "Did you see me? I thought I was going to lose the back end."
"I saw it," I say. "You cut it close."
"She cut it perfectly," Sienna interrupts. She puts an arm around Adeline’s shoulders, turning her away from me. "Come. The physical therapist is waiting in the trailer. I want those muscles massaged immediately."
"I can walk," Adeline says, trying to step away.
"Nonsense," Sienna says. "Save your strength for the track."
She guides Adeline toward the luxury trailer parked nearby. I start to follow, but she stops and looks back at me.
"Mr. Akilov," she says coolly. "The therapy session is private. Medical privacy, you know. Clause 12." She smirks. "You can wait here. Kenji can explain the suspension changes to you. I’m sure you’ll find it fascinating."
She turns and walks Adeline into the trailer, slamming the door in my face. It was embarrassing, but even more embarrassing with Kenji there. He has the decency to look away.
Sienna is isolating her from me, but Adeline is too high on speed to see it.