Fuse Corporation.Ren had just exited his office when he suddenly got a call from Akashi. He paused in his steps, getting the attention of Matsuzaki who walked behind him. Matsuzaki peered at his boss" face, he didn"t dare to speak a word when his boss waved a hand and gestured for him to go to the meeting room first. Before he could react, the tall man in the black suit had already closed the door right in front of his nose.
Matsuzaki sighed. With a downcast look, he walked toward the meeting room.
Inside the office, Ren swiped the screen to answer the call. He calmly placed the phone beside his ear. His deep voice echoed in the office as he greeted Akashi, "What"s wrong?"
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He caught the sound of someone groaning at the back of where Akashi was now. There was also the sound of hurried footsteps before Akashi finally answered him.
"I caught Yagi Takashi, he"s trying to escape but I subdued him."
Akashi turned around and looked at the man who was tied up to a chair in the empty room behind him. The older man stomped his tied feet on the floor but Akashi didn"t even bother with him before he left the room.
"As per your order, I brought him to the abandoned warehouse. Your guards have been guarding the area. When would you come?"
"Tonight if possible," Ren pursed his lips into a straight line as he was thinking. He narrowed his eyes, a dangerous glint flashed in his dark eyes. "You could just let him be free in the room. But, if he tried to escape he should bear the consequences."
"Alright, got it. Anything else you want to add?"
"None."
Ren lowered down the phone from his ear, he lazily threw his gaze outside the floor-to-ceiling windows opposite him. The vast sky was clear from thick clouds, letting the light fall over the ground. He didn"t need to guess to know that it was scorching hot outside.
His mind suddenly wandered to his pregnant wife. She said she was having lunch with the daughter of President Esumi. He could roughly guess what she wanted to say to the young lady. Although he felt a bit worried, he should just support her. After all, his wife was already strong enough to read the postcards by herself.
She took the step forward silently without telling him.
Now, only the letter and what Yagi Takashi would spill remained.
In the private dining room, Kanako couldn"t count how many times her eyes widened and her lips agape as she heard Tsubaki"s story. Tsubaki appeared so calm as if the tumultuous story was another person"s. Kanako unknowingly clenched the hem of her skirt, she squinted her eyes as she looked at Tsubaki. The lady who sat in front of her elegantly raised the teacup to her curled up lips.
"That"s it," Tsubaki said shortly. "That"s why I asked for your help before."
Kanako was dumbfounded. In an impulse, she slammed her palms on the table, surprising Tsubaki in the process.
"What..."
"Tsubaki! Are you dumb?" Kanako yelled with the whites of her eyes reddened. They were already glistening with tears. "Why did you just tell me this? I could persuade my Mom better if you did! And don"t act as if it was nothing, okay!"
"You..." Tsubaki"s sentence fell short once again when Kanako suddenly stood up and leaned over the table.
"I don"t know you"ve been keeping such a secret! It"s not a simple one so you don"t have to force yourself to be strong! I..." Kanako finally choked on her sob, her tears had run down her face, smearing her expensive makeup. She suddenly let out an exasperated yell. "Argh! Now I"m the one who"s crying on your behalf!"
"Ka... Kanako!" Tsubaki quickly went to her friend"s side, she was frantically patting her back in an attempt to soothe her. "Why did you cry? I told you my story because I don"t want to hide it from you any longer. Hush... Don"t cry. Don"t let Mr. Saito saw your crying face."
"Don"t talk about him!" Kanako turned her body and faced Tsubaki. She pursed her lips as she tried to regain her calm. "You suddenly told me that you"ve lost your memory for a year because you got into an accident to got to know your parents aren"t your biological ones and now my mother might know one of the ladies involved in your tragic past? Now, you tell me how could I calm down? Your life is full of tragedy yet you act as nothing happened!"
Tsubaki was perplexed. She didn"t expect that Kanako"s reaction would be so intense. Without thinking, she gently hugged her.
"Kanako, it"s not like I don"t feel sad," Tsubaki patted the taller girl"s back, it was the first time she became so close to a friend. "I"ve cried enough already. I don"t want to keep crying and blame my fate. Everything happens for a reason, that"s what I"ve always believed."
"I don"t believe it!" Kanako pushed Tsubaki slightly, she placed both of her hands on Tsubaki"s shoulders. Her eyes were already puffy as tears kept trickling down her face. "You don"t have to pretend in front of me, Tsubaki. Here! You could cry and I"d hug you back!"
By this time, Tsubaki could no longer hold in her laughter. Her melodious laugh danced freely in the private room, startling Kanako who had stopped crying. Tsubaki"s shoulders shook as she tried to contain her laughter but it was of no use.
"You! What are you..." Kanako was at a loss of words. Didn"t they have just talking about a sad story? Why did this woman laugh?
"Sorry! Sorry!" Tsubaki pounced on the taller girl and hugged Kanako tightly. "It"s so good to finally tell you this, Kanako. And it"s so good to have you as a friend."
When she decided to tell Kanako the truth, a seed of fear started budding in her heart. She was afraid if it would make Kanako view her as someone unworthy as a friend. Kanako was the heiress of a large conglomerate while she was just her, an ordinary woman. Even though she didn"t think much of her inferiority when she was with her husband, it was different when she was with Kanako. After all, Kanako was her first friend after she stepped into high society.
She didn"t want to lose a friend like her.
"Kanako, it"s true that I"m sad over this matter yet I"ve cried enough," Tsubaki gently pulled away from Kanako. She raised her gaze to meet Kanako"s puffy eyes. There was no trace of fear or doubt on her face as she continued to speak, "My husband is with me throughout this journey. I"ve shed so many tears until I decided that enough is enough. I couldn"t step forward if I remained sad. I might cry again when I"ve finally gathered all the pieces but for now, I refuse to cry over this matter."
Kanako listened to Tsubaki"s words silently. She turned her head slightly and started to dab her face with the tissue she pulled from the exquisite tissue box placed on the table. She let out an exasperated sigh.
"It"s your fault my makeup is ruined!" Kanako suddenly said as she tried to cover her embarra.s.sment. The tips of her ears were red as well as her slender neck. "I didn"t expect to hear such a sad story today. If not, I"d wear my waterproof makeup."
Tsubaki giggled, she was relieved because Kanako was no longer crying.
"Please cover your makeup well, don"t let your Mr. Bodyguard think that I have bullied you," Tsubaki tilted her head, her face was all smiles as she eyed the lady standing before her. "I don"t want him to be mad at me."
"Even though he"s mad it"s just because he is my bodyguard, nothing more than that," Kanako mumbled, she was feeling disheartened as she thought back of the rigid man.
Tsubaki smiled, she let Kanako vent out her frustration.
It was already 4 PM when they exited the restaurant. They would just part their ways here since Kanako suddenly got a text from her mother. Both of them stood beside the entrance of the restaurant, bidding their farewell.
"I"ll contact you if I could persuade my mother," Kanako said firmly. "You don"t have to worry, I"ll help you."
"En!" Tsubaki"s face brightened. She nodded with a soft smile on her face. "Thank you, Kanako."
Kanako returned her smile. Both of them turned away from one another as they began to part. Maybe it was because the place was a bit crowded, someone had suddenly collided into Tsubaki as he walked in a hurry.
"Ah!"
"Madam!" Kaede yelled in surprise. She had been standing a distance away from Tsubaki when she saw the incident.
Tsubaki was shocked as she stumbled forward. Her right hand stretched out as she tried to stabilize herself while her left hand wrapped around her tummy protectively. A sense of fear flashed in her eyes. As she closed her eyes, a strong arm caught her waist.
"En?"
Tsubaki blinked. She raised her face to one side, trying to see who was the one helping her. A pair of cold eyes akin to winter wind was looking at her in silence.
"Oh!"
It was Saito Hajime!
The man straightened her body properly before he withdrew his arms from her waist. He took a step back from her, maintaining a respectable distance. His deep voiced resounded as he spoke, "Are you okay, Mrs. Fuse?"
"I"m... okay...." She was still in a fright, both of her hands were placed over her tummy. She didn"t dare to think what would happen if she had really fall down.
"Tsubaki! Are you really okay?" Kanako quickly went to her side. She peered at Tsubaki"s dazed face. "Are you hurt? Should we go to the hospital?"
"Eh?" Tsubaki snapped out of her trance. She waved her hands, rejecting Kanako"s offer. "No! There"s no need! I"m fine, really."
Kanako sighed in relief. She patted her chest a few times before she added, "Thank G.o.d you"re okay. I don"t want to be blamed by your husband if you got hurt during an outing with me. For sure he"d skinned me alive."
Tsubaki was speechless. Did you think my husband was some sort of flesh-eating monster?
After making sure Tsubaki was indeed okay, Kanako bid her farewell. Tsubaki walked slowly with Kaede by her side. Her bodyguard had repeatedly asked for forgiveness because she didn"t react swiftly in time. Tsubaki calmed her down as it was just a small incident.
Once she sat in the car, Tsubaki slumped on her back. She closed her eyes as a headache started threatening her head. Her fingers slowly pinched the s.p.a.ce between her brows.
Tsubaki opened her eyes suddenly. She opened her handbag with the intention to send a message to her husband. Once she got a hold of her phone, her eyes landed on something unfamiliar within the enclosed s.p.a.ce of her handbag.
What is this?
Tsubaki placed her phone on the car seat before she reached out for the small paper placed above her pursed. There was a neat handwriting on the white paper. It was only a brief sentence.
Don"t seek for the truth.
Tsubaki"s eyebrows knitted together, her eyes narrowed as she read the paper over and over again.
When did she receive this note?
And from whom?