including Anthos who are now cutting back staff and freezing hiring going into next year.”
“A bellwether huh?” He replies, as she grins, both maintaining their professional demure.
“Yeah it is…” She turns her attention to the driver in front, as the car pulls over outside of the restaurant. “...Here we are.” She says, opening the passenger door, as Dalens follows, both of them standing on the pavement, as Dalens looks West, with the twilight now fading. Closing his eyes briefly, he inhales through his nose. ***That scent. Thinking to himself, referring to a Proustian memory, usually brought on by alcohol and psychedelics, which evokes a thought of his late mother. Turning, he walks towards the entrance of the restaurant with Bianchi awaiting with the door open.
“After you sir,” she says smiling, as Dalens nods in an appreciative manner.
“Thank you.” Walking into the restaurant, with Bianchi behind him. She’s lusty tonight,* aware of Bianchi’s sexual cues.
“いらっしゃいませ,” a Japanese woman says, as she bows, dressed in a traditional style kimono.
“Arigatōgozaimashita,” Dalens replies, bowing also. As the waitress acknowledges he and Bianchi in a modest way. With her left hand she welcomes them both into the restaurant.
“Table here for you, under name Denise Bianchi. Please, your drink order and jacket,” the waitress says, bowing again, with the same open hand directing them to the table.
“Haku Vodka martini, straight, chilled and stirred,” Dalens requests, as he removes his trench coat handing it to the waitress. Bianchi straightens out her cream colored silk blouse, allowing her cleavage to slightly show.
“I’ll have a Pisco punch...”
Bianchi and Dalens both sit, as the waitress bows again, walking towards the bar area. Leaning back in her chair, she exhales, shutting her eyes briefly, with both hands she pushes her hair back, so that it falls onto her shoulders. “...Long day. Some fashion brand in the city, been around since Two Thousand and Nine, got a heads up that a Hong Kong private equity firm wants to acquire them, so…” She bends down reaching for her handbag, to which Dalens views from the plunge of blouse, her breasts dangling within the white lace bra. “...it’s not the best deal in the world...” Clutching her phone with both hands, she checks for messages. “… Also, what was their interior like?...”
The waitress returns with the cocktails, placing the ordered drinks in front of them both. Bianchi has a sip. “...Hmm, this is good. Nice and boozy.”
“It’s all in the main report with a section specifically on its interior design, type of furniture and layout of the reception and waiting areas. They spent over a Hundred Thousand on revamping their offices.”
Bianchi nods looking around the interior of the Japanese restaurant. “Bytecoin and CubeNet…” She sips from her cocktail again. “...One is an asset with no intrinsic value the other, a glorified database.”
Dalens holds up Martini, sipping from the distilled rice grain vodka. “Yes, there is detailed report on Anthos attempting to set up a CubeNet Bond.”
“Faster settlement times, we have thought of that too. Just don’t have the spare One Hundred million to experiment with it. Plus the regulators aren’t too happy with investment banks skirting around settlement requirements.”
The waitress returns to the table. “Would you like to order?”
“Two servings of Wasabi Tobiko with a quail egg…” Dalens requests, as he is cut off in mid sentence by Bianchi.
“Oh, I have to try this…um. What’s it called? Sea Urchin sushi?” Pointing at the menu.
“Uni Nigiri,” the waitress replies.
Holding up her left index finger and middle finger.** “Two servings and Chef’s choice of Maki platter.”

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Reading: "Dead Cities of the Stars" from RITUALS of the ANTITHETICAL (A.Glass 2023)