"So, how's Tokyo for you?"
Anastasia rolled her eyes and sat on the bed, looking at the video transmission that was showing up on the monitor of her small computer. With a cup of coffee in her one hand and with a quickly made sandwich in the other, she shrugged a little as if thinking about the answer.
"Crowded."
Her husband laughed. "Of all the things that you could've said.. "Crowded"? Really?"
"I'm just saying how it is. I've only been here for two days. I'm still having trouble adjusting to the time difference."
"And the interview?"
"In two hours. I've already checked on the web where I have to go, so I shouldn't have a problem with this, at least. And my motorcycle was brought here last night, so I'm good."
"Call me when you know anything."
"I will."
"And, Ana? Don't get into trouble."
***
She should've known it was all too good to be true. As the man walked with her, showing her the building and even their labs, Anastasia glanced at his face from time to time. There she saw everything she needed to. They wanted her skills and they wanted her help, but what they really didn't want was to let the world know she was working with them. Well, she couldn't blame them, now could she? After all, her last steady job was back at the hospital, years ago. Since then, it was jumping back and forth between tasks for her.
And to think that it was enough to ruin it all for her just because of one, single moment where she didn't manage to keep her cool.
All in all, the offer was amazing. The woman felt her fingertips tickle a little when she thought about the technology and the labs that she would be able to use once being a part of the company, even if that part would be rather shady and not exactly well-known. It was almost sickening how much Anastasia wanted to work here, but at the same time, it was just humiliating how they wanted to push her away from the public eye. No, she wasn't having any of it. Pressing her lips together, she kept quiet for now - no matter her opinion about the matter, getting a tour such as this one interrupted in the middle would be a waste.
When the man - his name was Hiroki as far as she could remember - led her back to the office they talked in before and sat down in his chair, sending Ana a perfect smile, she furrowed her brows.
"I would happily agree to all of your terms-" she started, and Hiroki's face brightened up. Without a second of hesitation, he reached to the drawer and proceeded to check the documents.
"The company will be pleased to have you here, mrs Green-"
"-but I'm not convinced about the nature of the employment - by the way, it's Husher-Green? - are you expecting me to keep quiet about the job?"
Hiroki's smile slowly started to leave his face, but the man noticed it in time and brought it back. Anastasia looked at him. Calmly. No matter how pissed she was about being treated like that, she wasn't going to show any of it. Once was enough - and the consequences were more devastating than she could ever imagine. The man cleared his throat and looked down, on the desk.
"The possibilities are almost endl-" he started, apparently trying to push the conversation onto some safer ground. Anastasia sighed. Well, there goes her Tokyo dream.
"Agreed. The only possibility I won't have is to sign the work with my own name. You won't find many scientists willing to do the work and then release it anonymously." Anastasia crossed her arms. Ah, screw it - she was probably on her way to not getting the job anyway. "You don't have to explain anything; I'm just trying to say that as much as your offer interests me, I'm not going to accept it the way it is now."
"That can be discussed later-"
"Good" Anastasia continued in the same voice, feeling her cheeks get warmer. "For now, let's define 'later'. Mister Hiroki-" she stood up and reached her hand to the man. She was probably breaking some weird Japanese rule again, but heck, she didn't care at all. "It's not a secret - I'm trying to get my name back in the business. It's worth it. The contract doesn't allow me to do that, so I'm afraid I'll have to say no."
Hiroki didn't look surprised. In fact, if she could decide, he looked more like an owner of a dog that he taught to do tricks and the pet just did one. Paradoxically, it angered her even more.
"The company could really use your talents, mrs Husher-Green. I'll talk with my supervisors and we'll contact you. I'm sure we can come to an understanding."
***
Understanding her arse.
Anastasia stood in front of the company's building. It was dark and quite cold, but the street seemed lively for such a late hour. The woman snickered quietly. Now that she realized Hiroki's intentions, it didn't seem so odd the interview was so late. Good thing they didn't tell her to come in a trenchcoat and a fedora on her head to keep people from seeing her around. Ana closed her eyes and took a deep breath. The air smelled.. Well, actually, it smelled better than what she was used to back in England. But it didn't help her mood at all.
The phone started vibrating in her pocket, but she didn't reach for it. If it was her husband, she would have to listen to his sincere, though annoying "They don't know what they're losing" or "Don't worry" stuff. Maybe in the morning she wouldn't mind it - but not now. Curling her lips into a smile, she walked to her motorcycle and looked up, hearing a voice.
"...suspect is on the run from officials..."
"Lucky guy. At least you're noticed" she murmured to herself, putting her helmet on.