MTLNOVEL Chapter 43: Arrival
AN: Lacking Powerstones guys.
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After 14 hours in the air, Max and Caroline shuffled off the private plane like two disoriented bears emerging from hibernation. They were in Tokyo, and that meant the adventure had officially begun.
Max groaned, stretching like a cat. A series of cracks and pops echoed from her joints. "I think my spine just reset itself. Can we take that massage chair with us everywhere? I'm not sure I can live without it. Ohhh..."
Caroline, still rubbing sleep from her eyes, yawned. "I'm gonna miss that freezer. It was like Narnia, but with tiny sandwiches instead of talking lions."
Max smirked. "Maybe if we ask nicely, Alex will buy us a freezer full of snacks. You know, as a souvenir."
"Yes, because nothing says 'Tokyo adventure' like a freezer. I'm sure customs will love that," Caroline muttered as they dragged their bags toward the terminal.
The airport was bustling with people, a mix of travelers, tourists, and locals weaving through the space with the kind of efficiency that made Max feel like a toddler at a parade.
Max glanced back at the regular customs line where a family was arguing over a bag of questionable snacks. "Man, I almost miss arguing with TSA about why my vibrator is not, in fact, a weapon. Almost."
Caroline shot her a horrified look. "Max!"
Max smirked. "What? You think these airport dogs only sniff out drugs? Please. They can smell desperation. And mine is mint-scented, thank you very much."
A customs officer gestured for them to step forward, and Caroline immediately straightened up, clutching her passport like it might run away. Max, however, offered a breezy wave. "Konnichiwa! That means 'hello,' and possibly 'I'm not smuggling anything,' right?"
The officer's expression remained neutral as he checked their passports. Caroline shot Max a warning look, the kind that said, 'Please, for the love of God, don't get us detained.'
Max whispered, "Relax. I'm being charming. It works on everyone. Except that one guy at the DMV... but I think he was dead inside."
"Just smile and nod," Caroline hissed. "No jokes, no sarcasm. Pretend to be a normal human for five minutes."
Max nodded solemnly, then turned back to the officer and gave him a smile so wide it looked like it hurt. The officer stamped their passports and waved them through, and they both exhaled, relief washing over them.
"See? Easy," Max whispered as they walked away. "I told you. My charm is international."
Caroline rolled her eyes. "Yeah, well, let's just hope it doesn't get us kicked out of the country before we even see Alex."
[Outside the Airport]
They stepped outside into the crisp Tokyo air, blinking under the bright morning sun. Max breathed in deeply, her expression somewhere between awe and jet-lagged delirium. "Ah, smell that? It's the scent of adventure. And possibly my socks. It's hard to tell."
Caroline checked her phone, squinting at the message from Alex. "He said a car is waiting for us. Black sedan, driver holding a sign with our names."
Max's eyes scanned the crowd. "Ooh, I hope it's one of those big signs. Like at a concert, but instead of 'Marry me, Harry Styles,' it just says, 'Max and Caroline.'"
They spotted the driver—a tall man in a perfectly pressed suit, holding a board with "Max Black & Caroline Channing" written in bold letters. The driver's face was stoic, like he had practiced his neutral expression in the mirror for hours. His face screamed, 'I am a professional.'
Max waved at him like he was a long-lost friend. "Hey, that's us! Let's go. I can't wait to meet our sugar daddy."
Caroline grabbed her by the arm before she could cause an international incident. "Just play it cool. We're in a foreign country. Let's not get arrested before we even see the hotel."
The driver, whose name tag read Hiro, greeted them with a polite bow. "Good morning, Miss Black, Miss Channing. Welcome to Tokyo. Mr. Wilson has arranged for your transport to the Park Hyatt."
Max's face lit up. "Did he tell you to say that? Because it sounded like one of those automated voices on the subway. Do you do birthday parties?"
Hiro blinked, his expression unchanging. "If Mr. Wilson requests it, perhaps."
Caroline slapped a hand over Max's mouth. "Thank you, Hiro. We're ready to go."
[The Car Ride]
The black sedan was very comfortable as they had expected. The interior smelled faintly of leather and fresh flowers, and the seats were so cushioned, Max joked they might be made of actual clouds.
Max settled in, pressing every button on the door until the seat started to recline and a footrest popped up. "Oh my God, it's like a first-class seat but in a car. Do you think it also has a massage function? Or maybe it makes coffee?"
Caroline held her forehead. "Max, please don't break the car. We're in Japan. Everything probably costs ten times what we're worth."
Max found a hidden compartment in the armrest and gasped. "Snacks! They have snacks! Caroline, they've got mochi and those little rice crackers with seaweed!"
'How does she eat so much and still maintain that figure?' Caroline sighed. But then her eyes went toward Max's boobs. 'Ah! No wonder...'
She immediately ripped open a pack, shoving a mochi into her mouth. "Mmf... so good. I think I just found inner peace."
Hiro glanced at them in the rearview mirror. "Mr. Wilson has prepared the hotel for your arrival. He hopes you find everything to your satisfaction."
Caroline smiled politely. "Thank you. We really appreciate it."
Max, her mouth still full, nodded vigorously. "Tell him I love him. Like 50% romantic and 50%... Ahem! Nevermind, you know what, just tell him I said hi."
Caroline buried her face in her hands. "We are never getting invited back."
[Park Hyatt Tokyo]
The car pulled up to the Park Hyatt.
Max stepped out of the car, looking up at the building. "Whoa. This place is so fancy. I feel like I should apologize to it for bringing down the property value just by existing."
Caroline nudged her. "Be cool. We're not here as tourists. We're here as... uh, professional people who belong here."
Max threw her an exaggerated thumbs-up. "Professional people. Got it. Should I start calling you 'Ms. Channing' and pretend we're here for a business merger?"
Before Caroline could respond, the glass doors swung open, and Alex Wilson himself came out to meet them. He was every bit as composed as ever, wearing a tailored suit that probably cost more than their rent for a year. His smile was warm, but... Max noticed that look in his eyes... A hint of mischief and something more.
'God save me,' Max blushed.
"Ladies! You made it," he called out, his arms open.
Max ran up to him, wrapping him in a bear hug. "Moneybags! You beautiful, rich, lifesaver! Look at you, all business chic. Did you miss us?"
Alex chuckled, hugging her back. "I did. Tokyo's been a bit too quiet. I needed a little chaos to liven things up."
'Why is it not me? Damn it! Control yourself, girl,' Caroline walked up, her smile a bit more restrained but still genuine. "Thank you so much for everything. The plane, the hotel, the... well, everything."
Alex waved her off. "It's my pleasure. You two deserve a break. Plus, I thought it might be fun to show you around. I've got the next couple of days free before the shooting starts, so I'm all yours."
Max wiggled her eyebrows. "All ours, huh? Careful, Moneybags. I might take you up on that. Hope you're ready for karaoke and street food."
Alex grinned. "Bring it on. I'll even let you pick the songs. As long as I get to choose the food."
Caroline sighed, her shoulders relaxing. "This is going to be amazing. Thank you again. Really."
Alex gave her a soft smile. "You're welcome. Now, let's get you settled. Your rooms are ready, and I've arranged for a tour this afternoon. We'll hit all the best spots, and then maybe dinner with a view of the city?"
Max's eyes widened. "Like, a fancy dinner? Should we dress up? I've got a dress that only has a few ketchup stains on it!"
Alex laughed, guiding them inside. "Then I guess, we'll hit the shopping mall first for new clothes.'
...
The three of them walked into the lobby... Marble floor, glass walls, and a touch of modern and traditional Japanese vibe. The two girls looked around curiously. There was no bustle one expected in a high-end hotel to be found anywhere, no backpack-toting tourists, no businessman yelling into a phone, just some of the staff and some crew from Alex's film, wheeling in equipment and setting up for filming.
Max's eyes widened as she took it all in. "Holy crap. This place is emptier than my bank account before you came along, Moneybags."
Alex chuckled, leading them toward the elevator. "Well, since I own the hotel now, I decided to close it to the public until filming wraps up. That way, we don't have to worry about privacy or interruptions."
Caroline's mouth dropped open. "You mean... this entire hotel is just for us and the movie crew?"
"Pretty much," Alex said with a casual shrug, as if buying an entire hotel was just another Tuesday. "It also makes filming easier. No need to negotiate time slots or work around guests. Plus, you two get the VIP treatment."
Max twirled in the middle of the lobby, her boots squeaking against the polished floor. "So, we can, like, run down the halls in our pajamas in the middle of the night and nobody would care?"
Alex grinned. "You could do cartwheels in the lobby if you wanted."
Max's eyes lit up. "Oh, don't tempt me. I did gymnastics for a whole summer in third grade. I still remember how to fall with style."
Caroline shot her a look. "Or, we could enjoy this amazing hotel like adults. You know, use the spa, maybe get room service, take in the view?"
Max snorted. "You're no fun. I bet if I jumped into the fountain, you'd pretend not to know me."
"Correct."
The elevator arrived, and the doors slid open with a soft chime.
Ting!
They stepped inside, and Alex pressed the button for the top floor. The ride up was silent and Max's fingers brushed against Alex as she tried to act normal and Alex squeezed her hand softly with a warm smile.
"Your rooms are on the top floor," he explained. "There's a shared living area, a private kitchen, and the best views in the city. Plus, a small team on call for anything you need."
Max leaned against the glass wall, her face inches away from the view outside. "Are you serious? Like, we can order room service at three in the morning and ask for... I dunno, lobster mac and cheese?"
Alex smirked. "If that's what you want. Though, I was thinking more along the lines of sashimi or a midnight ramen run."
Max's stomach growled audibly. "Stop. You're gonna make me drool. I'm basically one good meal away from marrying you, and I don't think I can afford the prenup."
Caroline giggled, her own eyes drawn to the glittering skyline outside. "I still can't believe this. A few months ago, we were scraping together rent, and now... we're here."
The elevator dinged, and the doors opened to reveal a private hallway. Soft lighting and the carpet underfoot was so plush that Max half-expected to sink into it.
[Suite]
Alex took them into the suite, and the view that met them was nothing less than stunning. The room was huge with floor-to-ceiling windows displaying Tokyo's cityscape. The interior was contemporary but cozy, with neutral colors, comfortable seating, and artwork that likely cost more than their entire bakery.
Max dropped her bag by the door, her jaw practically on the floor. "Is this what it's like to live inside a Pinterest board?"
Caroline moved further into the room, her hand trailing over the back of a leather couch. "It's beautiful. I could get used to this."
Alex moved to the window, his silhouette framed by the cityscape. "Make yourselves at home. The bedrooms are down that hallway. I made sure each room has a view, and there's a balcony if you want some fresh air."
Max darted off to explore, throwing open doors and peeking into each room. "Oh my God, Caroline! There's a bathtub with those custom water massage thingy. And it's big enough for, like, three people. We could host a pool party in there!" She wriggled her eyebrows. "You know what I mean..."
Caroline blushed, nudging Max as she passed by. "Okay, let's maybe not do that. But I'm definitely taking a long bath later."
Alex went into the kitchen area, opening a sleek fridge stocked with drinks and snacks. "I thought you might want to settle in for a bit, then maybe I can take you on a little tour of the city?"
Caroline leaned against the kitchen counter. "That sounds amazing. I've always wanted to see Tokyo in person. I mean, I came here before with my father but never got the chance to explore the city. The temples, the gardens... even Shibuya Crossing."
Max reappeared, her hair a little wild and her eyes bright. "Yes! Let's go out. I wanna eat all the weird street food and maybe buy one of those cute cat plushies. You know, the ones that wave at you?"
Alex poured them each a glass of sparkling water. "The Maneki-neko? We can definitely find one of those. And if you're up for it, I know a place that makes the best taiyaki in the city."
Max accepted the glass, raising it in a toast. "To taiyaki, to Tokyo, and to our very own hotel! I feel like a queen. A sarcastic, underdressed queen."
Caroline joined the toast, her expression soft but genuine. "And to you, Alex. For making this happen. You have no idea how much this means to us."
Alex clinked his glass against theirs, his smile warm. "I'm just glad you're here. It's going to be a great two days. I promise."
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[7 advance chs] [All chs available for all tiers]
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