Did... I just see my boss smile so dazzlingly handsome?a.s.sistant Matsuzaki suppressed the urge to rub his eyes. He blinked a few times and indeed, the icy statue boss of his was really smiling to the mysterious woman. It was a really gentle smile. A warm expression that he never witnessed during his service with President Fuse would be forever carved inside his mind.
It was a rare sight!
"Matsuzaki."
"Ye... yes!" a.s.sistant Matsuzaki quickly recovered from his daze. A stern look was directed at him.
Eh? Where did the smile go?
"Bring a cup of raspberry tea with honey for Miss Hanada. Mine would be the usual black coffee."
"Err... yes! Right away!" He immediately left after seeing his boss" annoyed face.
After the poor man left, Ren returned his focus to Tsubaki. She was admiring the interior of his office. He was pleased with her attention. In the five years he had taken over the President"s spot, he never brought any female guest inside. He felt like they were intruding his personal s.p.a.ce. He had regarded the office as his second home.
"Please sit."
Ren lead Tsubaki to the couch. He sat on a single couch while she took a seat on the double couch opposite him. After making sure she was comfortable, he opened his mouth.
"Do you have something important to tell me? I think you"ve said that you"re going to the countryside today."
Tsubaki didn"t expect him to remember what she had told him. She shook her head. "A sudden change of plan. I got a call from the hospital."
Ren"s face changed slightly. "What happened? Did your brother fall sick?"
He had called Satsuki once he landed at the airport but the boy sounded fine. If something bad indeed happened to him, Toshiro would definitely call him.
"It wasn"t anything. I met Dr. Moris.h.i.ta, the chief of the Nephrology department. He told me a good news."
"What is it?"
"My brother"s surgery has been scheduled. They finally found a compatible donour for him."
Tsubaki locked her gaze to his eyes, scanning the emotions laying behind his dark eyes. Ren didn"t say a word when he saw her complicated look. Seemed like this was a really important visit.
"Mr. Fuse."
Ren crossed his slender legs and leaned against the couch. "Yes?"
"I have a question... no, several questions for you. It might sound funny or you might think I"m being full of myself but could you please give me honest answers?"
Sensing the earnest pleading in her voice, Ren had a feeling where this conversation was heading to. Despite that, he didn"t have the heart to lie to her. Especially when she directly asked him to be truthful.
"I"ll be honest, if that"s what you want."
Tsubaki silently appraised the man sitting in front of her. He looked serious, there was no deception or mockery in his eyes. She clenched her hands. Holding his gaze, she opened her mouth slightly. Her voice clearly resounded in the room.
"Are you the one who paid for my brother"s surgery?"
Silence filled the office once Tsubaki asked the question. She patiently waited for him to answer. Her heart was beating furiously, didn"t know which answer she antic.i.p.ated from him.
If no, who was the one who generous enough to help Satsuki?
If yes, why did he help Satsuki? Mr. Fuse had only met Satsuki once. They were practically strangers.
After a long period of silence, Ren nodded. "Yes, I did."
Tsubaki"s lips parted slightly, unable to speak. She stared at the man"s unchanging expression. Disbelief filled her senses. She snapped out of it. She still had another important question that might led her to another questions, depended on his answer.
"Are you also the one who helped my brother finding a compatible donour?"
It was a question that heavily weighed in her mind when thought of what Dr. Sakaguchi had told her before. Satsuki was kept in a long waiting list because there were still a lot of critical patients. So she couldn"t help but feeling that someone of a higher status had helped Satsuki from behind the scene.
"Yes."
He didn"t avert his eyes from her questioning look. He had been lying to her for all this time. He didn"t want to add another lie in their relationship if he could help it.
"Why did you help him?"
"Because he is your brother." Ren answered instantly.
Tsubaki sighed. This wasn"t going anywhere. Even though he admitted to her questions easily but it just increased new questions in her mind.
This man was a stranger yet often she found herself feeling protected and safe when he was near. Her forehead creased and shoulders slumped, she looked small and helpless.
"Mr. Fuse, who are you?"