28 The meeting

"Araaaaa!"

Asou Chiaki came bouncing towards her as soon as she walked out of the gates. The cheerful young woman automatically gave Ara a bear hug as soon as she reached her.

"Ah, I'm so glad you're all better now. The last time I saw you, you were still bandaged up all over and was still in a coma," she added woefully as if remembering something sad.

Her brother's secretary was already used to her silence, and so she was not bothered when Ara just smiled shyly at her. Asou ushered her into the waiting car and asked the driver to go.

"I'm so sorry I was not able to come to visit you again at the hospital when you woke up," she apologized, and Ara shook her head.

"It's alright. You had to hold the fort so my brother could stay with me."

Asou Chiaki was OIC while Suzuki Aki was on leave to take care of Ara. It was only natural that she was so busy out of her mind to even find time to sleep much less visit her.

"But I'm happy you didn't get any lasting damage – oh and you look prettier now."Asou was not stingy with her compliments or with her criticisms if there were some. She was honest, and so Ara liked her a lot.

"What's that?" the secretary saw the sketchbook. "I didn't know you like drawing."

All her life, it was the first time Suzuki Ara drew something that's not a requirement in class. She was also amazed by her newly discovered ability.

"I didn't know I could draw either," she said, and she let Asou take a look at her drawing.

"Oh my God! You're a pro," Asou uttered in delight. She then turned to look at her watch, then back to Ara. "Do you want to go shopping for art supplies with this big sister today?" she asked, surprising the other.

Ara had never gone out shopping in this world yet, her eyes turned into saucers at the thought, and she nodded excitedly. Without further ado, Asou asked the driver to take them to Shinjuku. In no time, the two of them ended up in a store called SEKAIDO, the biggest art store in Tokyo, where their six-story building was completely dedicated to different types of things every type of artist needed.

"Ah I hope big bro won't mind us going home late," Ara said as she excitedly looked around her.

"Nah, Pres has a very important personal meeting today. I don't think he'd be home soon or that he'd mind if you go out shopping," Asou assured her. "Besides this big sister will take care of you," she continued as she pointed to herself, and so Ara happily explored the building with her.

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Not far in Kagurazaka, Tokyo, Suzuki Aki stepped out of the car, in front of a high class traditional Japanese restaurant. The establishment was one of the most expensive places serving traditional Japanese fine-dining, with an average menu costing around seventeen thousand yen for each person per meal.

The young tycoon studied the exterior of the place as he gathered his bearings. He had been nervous since he received a call from Homura International's CEO, Kazehaya Gin, and it got worse now that he's at the meeting venue.

Oh well…

Swallowing hard, with the documents of the project proposal secured in his briefcase, he finally stepped into the restaurant. He was immediately greeted by the hostesses, and they guided him as he removed his shoes and placed them in a shoebox. He was then ushered into a private dining room.

It was empty.

"President Suzuki, President Kazahaya just stepped out to answer a phone call. He would join you in a while. Please have a seat. We will serve your drinks in a while," the hostess informed him before leaving.

The private dining room was a tatami one. In the middle was a table with short legs that was used while sitting on the floor. Surrounding it were four elegant floor pillow with backrest.

Aki crossed the room and sat on one. In no time, the hostess came back with some appetizers and some alcohol, but he was too nervous to partake.

After a few minutes that felt like a lifetime, the screen door to the private dining room slid open, and Kazehaya Gin in a rose-colored suit and black bow tie entered. "Oh, hello President Suzuki, I hope I didn't make you wait long."

Aki who had quickly stood up upon seeing the other bowed in greeting. "No. I just got here myself," he assured the other with a smile.

In no time, the two of them sat across each other, with the colorful young man helping himself with the food while encouraging Aki to do the same.

"Ehrm…President," Aki began.

In all honesty, he had no idea why he was invited out of the blue. He had brought his company's proposal, but it would be rude to just bring it up without being clear of what was happening.

"Hmmmn?"

"I am wondering why I was suddenly invited today," Aki said sheepishly.

According to what he heard and read about Homura International's CEO, the man preferred it if the other party who spoke to him to be clear and to the point, and so he chose to be blunt.

"Actually, before you called, my company has just finished drafting a proposal for a project. I was hoping to have an appointment with your company to present it."

One chestnut brow arched in interest as soon as Aki spoke. "Do you have it now?" Kazehaya asked, and Aki didn't waste time bringing the documents out of his bag and handed it to the man.

Aki had heard many great things about this particular CEO, and one of them was that in spite of his peculiarities, he was a genius businessman.

The CEO of Suzuki Raiden Group watched in amazement as Kazehaya Gin personally flipped over pages of his documents in record speed, his hazel eyes moving from right to left as he scanned page by page.

In no time, the other had finished reading his proposal and the colorful CEO handed the documents back to him.

As soon as he had the documents back in his hands, Aki felt a bit disheartened. Giving his proposal back was not a good sign. He was already preparing to be rejected when the other spoke again.

"Interesting," Kazehaya Gin commented afterwards. "The proposal itself was not bad, but I'd like you to do an update and be more specific on the particular niche you want to target."

Hearing that, Aki's eyes widened. "Then – "

"Then call me again when you're done, and we can draw the contract."

Aki was beyond ecstatic. "Thank you. I will call Homura International for an appointment as soon as we're done revising."

Kazehaya Gin shook his head. "No need to set an appointment. Just give me a ring anytime – you have my number now right? The one I used earlier, that's my personal mobile phone number. You should save it."

Huh?

Suzuki Aki blinked several times as he absorbed this information. When he did, he was dumbfounded.

HE HAD KAZEHAYA GIN'S PERSONAL NUMBER. HE WAS ASKED TO CALL ANYTIME.

EEEEEEEEEH?!

Suzuki Aki had the shock of his life – or so he thought.

"By the way, it's not me who wanted to meet with you today. I'm just here to assist," Kazehaya Gin informed him casually which made Aki confused and curious.

Who in the world had the guts to make the Kazehaya Gin his assistant?

Aki wondered just as the screen door opened again, and a handsome, raven-haired young man wearing a casual black sweater and black jeans stepped in the room. He had a serious expression on his beautiful face – but his aura and his ice-blue eyes sent chills down Suzuki Aki's spine as those orbs zeroed in on him.

This… This young man…

"Ah, President Suzuki, this is the guy who wants to meet you. He's my boss, Homura House's Koutaishidenka, Homura Ryuu…"

If he was shocked earlier, this time, hearing the Homura heir's name while looking at the man in person made Suzuki Aki internally girly screamed.

KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!