I am Namako Saito
I’m Namako Saito, a 21-year-old New Yorker born during a time when my parents’ love was vibrant and youthful. Unfortunately, their bond was strained and eventually torn apart by cultural differences and the presence of a stepmother who seemed straight out of a fairytale, but in the witchy sense. Despite the turmoil within my family, I’ve thrown myself wholeheartedly into my college studies. Our brownstone in Harlem stands as a testament to my father’s contributions.
On this special day, I’m turning 21, and it’s a blend of anticipation and unease. This milestone represents the commencement of my professional path within my father’s company, Kitsune Real Estate Conglomerate, following my graduation. The origins of the difficulties I face can be linked to a concealed decision my Japanese father made—marrying my African-American mother. His motivations were to assert his independence, validate our family, and seek his happiness. Regrettably, this choice also brought to the surface racial tensions that have added complexity to my life.
Today holds immense importance; it’s the turning point where I put my plan into action. My goal is to protect my father’s company from the clutches of my manipulative stepmother, both before he steps back and, heaven forbid, passes away. This is my time to shine, and I need to execute my plan perfectly to avoid any mistakes. My intention isn’t to cause a scene but to counteract my stepmother’s control that threatens my place in the family. Plus, I’m determined to shield my younger brother from conflicts and stop any attempts to take my rightful inheritance. Unearthing internal theft is another mission, all with the endgame of securing a spot on the board and aiming for the CEO’s seat one day. Love? Well, it’s on the backburner—my ambition and career are my true loves for now. There’s a man I can’t deny wanting, even though he’s from a one-night stand who took my virginity. If only we could meet in different circumstances.
As if in harmony, the familiar beats of a Doja Cat song drift through the air, thanks to my roommate’s musical choice. It’s a mix of eye rolls and affection as I start my day. She’s an early riser, always up by 6 AM. The debate in my head starts: do I have to leave the cozy embrace of my bed? A reluctant “yes” emerges, with the reminder that there’s still a final exam to conquer.
My roommate and closest friend, Naomi Moore, is quite the character. At 22, she’s embraced roles as a former child star, a model, and a self-proclaimed wild child, all while tackling college. We share a similar biracial background. Her Nigerian mother conquered the modeling world, while her British father rocked the ’80s as a music star and record executive. Together, we’re a dynamic duo.
We share our space with another presence, a 28-year-old named William Henry. He’s charismatic, with captivating green eyes and brown hair. But he’s more of a friend than anything else. A man of few words, his loyalty shines through. He serves as our security detail, a safety measure our fathers insisted upon. While he’s here to protect us, he occasionally drives me nuts.
Being the child of a millionaire and a billionaire comes with its own set of challenges, mainly heightened security. Despite my privileged upbringing, I avoid showing it off. I prefer simple clothing and steer clear of flashy displays. My father has done an incredible job shielding my identity, ensuring that even in public, my name and face are kept out of the spotlight. He has been respectful of my desire for privacy, though I must admit that, on occasion, I wonder if his protection stems from a sense of shame or reminders of his past. However, my unwavering belief in his love remains unshaken.
A recent, emotionally charged conversation about the past stirred up words of anger and hurt, leaving me perplexed and longing for answers that my father seemed unwilling to provide. The frustration is palpable. ending Monday’s journal entry
Monday 8 am
Namako, get up, lazy bones; it’s our last day of classes, says my bestie Naomi from across the hall. William is not up yet because yesterday was his day off. I do not know who he spent the evening with. It was either Sophie or Kesha. I do not know about him lately. His love life seemed like the revolving door of multiple women. I thought he would have made a move on my bestie by now. They have been flirting since they met. They may have taken it to another level I would never know. I tell Alexa to play my dancehall playlist which starts sean Paul’s Get Busy I get up with hips sway back & forth to sean pauls melodic sound while heading to the bathroom. I usually do my daily skin routine then hop in the shower. Typically, I find myself allowing memories of my painful childhood to resurface, and this often leads to tears falling.
Nine-Year-Old Namako flashback
I wasn’t thrilled about the upcoming trip to Japan; in fact, I had a bit of an outburst about it. Going to Japan to visit my dad for the summer made me a tiny bit nervous. You see, my mom, Aniyah Grace Dubois, is this super smart detective scientist, like the lady on TV in that show called “Bones.” I’m really proud of her, but I wish she could be home more with me.
Instead, I’m going to stay with my grandma, Georgina Marie Dubois, but we all call her mémé because it sounds fancy. She’s looking after my great-grandma, Anais LaClaire Dubois, who’s almost a hundred years old!
A while ago, my great-grandma had a fall in her garden, but she’s like, “No way, I’m not going to the doctor!” She’s super stubborn. So now, mémé has to take care of her, and my mom said she can’t take care of both of us at the same time. I really wanted to stay with mémé and arrère-grand-mère (that’s fancy for great-grandma), but my mom said I have to go to Japan because it’s the law. It’s kind of tough, but I get why she’s saying that, even though I’m going to miss my family a lot.
Earlier today, I overheard my mom talking to my dad on the phone, which I know I’m not supposed to do because it’s grown-up stuff. But I couldn’t help it, you know? I just had to know why she was crying. Then, oopsie, she caught me eavesdropping! She gave me a little scolding and told me to go to the kitchen with my grandmother because grown-up talk can be really complicated, especially when it’s about love. I told my mother I did not want to go to Japan.
Aniyah Grace Dubois
I’m genuinely concerned about how my child will be this summer. Sato has reached out to me and is making threats about taking our custody agreement from the divorce to court. After discussing it with my child, I’m even more anxious about the situation. It’s honestly quite surprising that Sato, who was involved with his childhood friend, has the audacity to use court threats against me. It’s clear that Ming Li has always had this intense fixation on Sato, and her behavior is becoming increasingly concerning. I just don’t understand why Sato can’t see the danger she poses. During my time at school, Ming Li began a pattern of visiting Sato every summer. However, her behavior was marked by a demeanor resembling that of a scorned woman, constantly vying for Sato’s attention at the expense of me and our child. She displayed a facade of friendliness towards me, all the while probing into my personal life with Sato, delving into intimate topics including our sexual relationship. Despite her attempts to appear amicable, I was never able to fully trust Ming Li right from the start. Her obsessive tendencies become apparent when she doesn’t get her way, and she seems to believe that Sato belongs to her. I recall the last time she came to visit; it resulted in a physical altercation. I confronted her about some inappropriate behavior involving Sato, my husband at the time. Her facade of trying to be my friend crumbled when she offered me money to leave Sato. I declined her offer, and she expressed that she should be Sato’s lawful wife and not considered some opportunistic person from the bayou. When she insulted me like that, I couldn’t help but react, and I ended up slapping her. It really got under her skin, and she seemed to get even more furious, as if her figurative claws were coming out in response to my actions. Before any significant harm could be done between us, Sato intervened and put an end to the fight when he returned from work. She attempted to apologize, but Sato stood by my side, supporting me. Despite his support, I couldn’t shake the feeling of being belittled and disrespected.
She treats me as if I am worthless, beneath her. She also dismisses my daughter, treating Namako as if she’s not Sato’s child or a part of the Saito family. To complicate matters further, she has somehow deceived Sato into having a child with her and manipulated her way into his bed, even though I know he only engages when intoxicated. She cunningly tricked Sato into breaking up our once-happy home. The details of her scheme remain unclear to me, but I believe that time will eventually unveil the truth behind her actions. I arranged for Sato to hire a nanny for Namako, and it wasn’t just anyone; it was someone handpicked by Sato’s grandmother, Asuka, rather than Namako’s stepmother. I’m aware that Namako’s great-grandmother, Asuka, does not truly care for me. However, her undeniable love for Namako, her “Little Fox,” remains unchanged, even if her feelings towards me are different. Her love for Namako is undeniable and unwavering. Entrusting my child’s care to her, I can’t help but feel uneasy about potential schemes to remove my child, who holds Sato’s heart. At the age of 80, Asuka holds the esteemed position of matriarch within the Saito family. With her guards and immense resources, I am confident that she will ensure the highest level of care for Namako. Sato Saito, a tall and handsome 30-year-old Asian man, exudes a captivating swag that intrigues me. He is the love of my life, though he shattered my heart when he failed to fulfill his promise of resolving the arranged marriage situation between our families and Ming Li’s.
Despite my hopes, he didn’t take the necessary steps, and I ultimately had to let him go. I, at 36 years old, possess a striking beauty, with long legs and beautiful caramel skin. An educated black woman, I am determined to heal from this experience and move forward. We will adhere to the terms of the custody agreement and make an effort to co-parent effectively. I needed to go downstairs and confront my strong-willed child, whose attitude seemed reminiscent of their great-grandmother’s. My hope is that I can handle the situation without losing my temper. We are committed to following the custody agreement and working together to co-parent successfully. I must go downstairs and address my determined child, whose attitude echoes that of their great-grandmother. I sincerely hope that I can manage the situation calmly and avoid getting angry. I ask for strength and guidance from the higher power, in Jesus’s name, amen.
Sato Saito
My daughter is set to visit Tokyo this summer, and I’ve been longing for Namako’s presence. Regrettably, ongoing family conflicts have hindered my ability to travel to America. Ming Li’s conduct has been quite troublesome; she appears intentional in keeping me apart from my child, often oblivious to the consequences of her actions. Despite my best efforts, my arranged marriage seems destined for failure. Ming Li seems to believe that I’m unaware of her hidden agenda, persistently pushing for trips to America during my regular visits with my daughter. Her aim is not to strengthen her bond with my child but rather to prevent any rekindling of my relationship with Aniyah.
Ming Li’s insecurities have led to conflicts with my ex-wife and our daughter, creating additional challenges within our family. I was forced to resort to legal threats to secure visitation rights for Namako this summer. In hindsight, maybe I shouldn’t have taken that route because the existing arrangement was ideal, and Aniyah never hindered my access to our daughter. Aniyah believes that I allowed Ming Li to interfere with my relationship with Namako, and there might be some truth to her concerns.
Until recently, Ming Li never wanted to accompany us on our visits when I was in America. However, the past couple of visits have been disastrous due to Ming Li’s behavior, which didn’t go unnoticed, especially when it comes to our daughter’s safety. Typically, Aniyah accompanies Namako on her travels, but I’ve been advocating for Namako to visit independently. Fortunately, Aniyah agreed due to her assignment on a Japanese island, where she’s engaged in the identification of World War II soldiers’ remains. This also allows her to be close enough to reach our daughter if necessary.
This became possible because Aniyah’s mother had to step in to care for her grandmother after an unfortunate incident in their garden. During Aniyah’s assignments, she often relies on her mother and grandmother to look after Namako. Given these circumstances, Namako couldn’t come to me this summer unless I made arrangements, such as hiring a nanny through my grandmother, who adores my daughter and ensures that Ming Li is never left alone with her. Ming Li wouldn’t dare harm my child, knowing it would provoke my strong reaction.
I’m eagerly looking forward to having Namako here with me. Aniyah has been committed to providing Namako with a normal childhood, away from the influence of my wealth, as my sources have informed me. Currently, I find myself in a state of misery due to the decisions I’ve made, which disrupted my family in pursuit of capital for a business takeover—a choice I initially believed would protect them. I also wish that Aniyah could join us, but she is a renowned forensic pathologist, frequently traveling to authenticate relics and identify human remains from various historical periods. I’m aware that Aniyah has moved on and is engaged in a long-distance relationship with Professor Sam Martinez, whom she met during an excavation at a Mexican temple. I deeply regret the pain I’ve caused her and remain determined to win her back, although I’m still in the process of formulating the right plan. My ultimate objective is to reunite my family.”
