I reached for the remote on the counter and flicked the TV on, flipping to the news channel she’d probably preset. The screen lit up with the morning broadcast. A polished anchor talked about stock movents and corporate rgers. I left the volu low, just enough to catch the headlines while I slid onto the stool in front of her, watching her chow down everything on her plate.
Mizuki kept eating, posture perfect even while shoveling fried rice into her mouth like she hadn’t seen food in days. Every few bites, she would sneak a glance at the screen, sharp eyes scanning for the segnt she wanted to see.
I rested my elbow on the table, chin in hand, acting like I couldn’t care less about the TV. Hearing it was enough. Or so I thought.
“There,” She said suddenly, nudging my thigh with her bare foot under the counter. “Turn it up.”
I grabbed the remote again and raised the volu just as the anchor’s tone shifted, sothing about ‘a stunning turn of events in the Mitsui Group succession race’.
The screen cut to file footage of Mitsui Kyoka at so gala last year, all sleek black gown and that icy smile that seed to freeze the n around her.
Then it shifted to a press conference from yesterday, Kyoka again, this ti in a sharp white suit, standing at a podium with the company logo behind her.
“Sources confirm that Mitsui Kyoka has officially been nad as one of the candidates for the chairmanship, citing it was a decision left behind the will of the forr Chairman. Through this move, she bypassed the succession ladder that was only reserved for the main family. Reportedly, the son of the leading candidate, Mitsui Aruto, has expressed strong disapproval, calling the decision ‘a betrayal of tradition’ and vowing to contest the will in court.”
I raised an eyebrow. “So the prodigal cousin finally made her move. What about Hassen? Where is he in the picture?”
Mizuki humd around a mouthful of egg roll, swallowed, then dabbed her lips with a napkin like a proper lady even while her eyes glead with pure glee. “Oh, him? He’s the younger brother. He’s now stuck between a rock and a hard place. On one hand, his father is the leading candidate before the pronouncents. On the other hand, the older cousin, his Ane-san and the woman whom he probably likes. Tell , Ruki. What can he do in his position?”
Oh. So that’s why, huh? He was probably just as shocked to hear that Mitsui Kyoka had suddenly sprang up to be a candidate, the sa as his father.
What a timing. From the news, there was also a segnt about the funeral of the forr Chairman. He actually didn’t die from a natural cause, he got involved in an accident. Sothing like... his spine broke during intercourse.
Yup. Absurd, right? I don’t know how old that old man was but he seed to be too active in bed. Even with his age, he seed to have a lot of mistresses whom he regularly visited. Like a king with a royal harem.
Of course, as soone with that kind of identity, it was more common for them to not be satisfied with just their wife. That eccentric old man of the Kaneko Family was just built differently. He was still devoted to his wife even after her passing.
And well, although I don’t have their identity, I also have a lot of won. Of course, I won’t dare call them mistresses in the future. They’re my wives. That’s the difference. And there’s also still a huge difference in terms of assets.
I need to work harder to give them the best life.
“Anyhow, his little cousin won’t be able to help her. She’s also burning the ladder behind her. The old man’s will was airtight. Apparently he’d been grooming her in secret for years. Haruto’s faction and the other factions created by shareholders are screaming bloody murder, but they can’t touch her legally. Not yet. The will of the late chairman is in effect. They’ll have to fight to get that position.”
She popped another eggroll in her mouth before leaning forward, looking way too pleased with corporate warfare before nine in the morning.
“That’s where you will co in,” She continued, voice dropping to that silky, scheming tone she used when she was about to suggest sothing I would scratch my head on. “Mitsui Kyoka contacted last week. Officially, I’m advising on ‘youth market integration’ for their new luxury brand. Unofficially...”
She let the silence hang, watching with those sharp athyst eyes.
“Unofficially, you’re the one she contacted because she couldn’t reach . Was that it?”
But still, why ? Was she that thoroughly impressed by the advice I’d given Hassen before? It’s not like I did sothing impossible. The problem he had was too simple.
Mizuki smacked her lips together and lightly clapped once, like she was applauding her own brilliance.
“Close, but not quite,” She said as she once again picked up her chopsticks, “She contacted first. I’m the one who told her, ‘If you want real leverage that no one else can copy, you need Onoda Ruki.’”
She let that sit there, smug as hell, watching my reaction like a cat who’d just knocked a vase off the shelf and knew I couldn’t even get mad.
I blinked. Once. Twice.
“...You sold to Mitsui Kyoka?”
“Sold? Never. Leased is the correct term,” She corrected with a grin.
“Short-term contract, renewable if you behave. And before you pout, the fee she offered was obscene. Enough to buy a stupidly overpriced espresso machine for Sister Miwa café and maybe everything she needs to open it. In cash. Up front.”
I opened my mouth. Closed it. Opened it again.
“You’re unbelievable. I only just dipped one foot into your world, and you sold my service at that high a price?”
“Thank you.” Her grin beca more smug as she lifted her chin proudly, “I know.”
Then she straightened up, all business again, and pushed her empty plate aside as the conversation had just moved to the next agenda item.
“Listen carefully, idiot. Kyoka doesn’t want advice on branding or whatever bullshit she put on the contract. I’ll do that part for her. That’s why I’m quite busy these days. Instead, she wants you to break Hassen for her. Quietly. Permanently. Without leaving fingerprints.”
I felt my eyebrows curl into a frown. As expected, confusing. If he’s a woman, then that’s easy. But he’s a guy, you know? If I can break him, it will be through stealing Kyoka from him.
Right?
“Break him how, exactly?”
Mizuki tilted her head, expression unreadable except for the dangerous little glint in her eyes.
“Whatever you’re thinking, that’s not it, idiot Ruki.” She paused for a mont to down the remaining milk in her glass, “Hassen can sway a decent chunk of the neutral shareholders. He’s young, handso and successful at his young age. Other than that, everyone still rembers him crying at the old man’s funeral like a tragic prince. If he publicly backs his father, Kyoka’s road gets ten tis harder. If he backs her... well. Ga over for the old guard.”
“I see. And the fact that his success was also because of her advice, he will beco a great weapon for her.”
I could finally see the clear picture. They wanted to convince that guy, huh?
How should I do it? I don’t know. I only know how to handle won. If it’s a guy, it’s either a kick, a punch, or emotional damage.
“Think about this, Ruki. This is going to be another step for you into that world. Our foundation will start from here. For the record, my service will give us enough to open our own firm. Consulting firm for now. But it will be ours. Not my parents, not the main branch of Hasegawa.”
With that as her final pitch, Mizuki crossed her arms like she’d just laid down a royal flush and knew well I had nothing to beat it. The smugness radiating off her was almost visible. A faint shimr in the air and those athyst eyes dared to argue.
I exhaled through my nose, rubbed the back of my neck, and stared at the empty plate she’d demolished in record ti. My mind was already spinning.
“...So let get this straight,” I started, “you pimped out to a corporate ice queen so I can sweet-talk her lovesick little cousin into betraying his own father, all while you rake in enough cash to bankroll Miwa-nee’s café and kick-start our own consulting empire. Did I miss anything?”
Mizuki’s lips curved into that razor-thin smile she wore when she knew she’d won three moves ago.
“You missed the part where your girl is a genius and you love for it,” She said sweetly, “Also, the part where you literally cannot say no, because you hate seeing any of us struggle. Especially .”
“Ruki, three years is too long if we have to wait until you graduate. We have to get your na out there as soon as possible.”
Damn it. She really did have read like an open book. And I know for a fact that she’s only doing this because she truly believes in my ability.
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