10 10: The deal

As planned, Raiden's father, Mr. James went to meet a representative from Evo Organization. Hina Corp. did its best to make it look like everything is a 'normal' investment proposal. Both parties met in a high-class restaurant, placed at the top of a five stars hotel. Mr. James came 15 minutes ahead of the set time. He was accompanied by his assistant, who also know the real reason behind the fake deal.

"Sorry for being late," A voice of a man in his 40s said from behind.

Mr. James slants his head then rises from the chair. "No. You're not. I was earlier. Please, have a seat." In a glance, Mr. James scanning the other guy from head to toe.

"Hi. I'm Mr. James Randi, Chief Operation Officer (COO) of Hina Corporation," Mr. James reached out his hand.

The other party grabs his hand, "I'm Hamada Kenji, Executive Director of Evo Organization."

"Do you want to eat first or straight away to the business?" Mr. James asked.

"Well, let's get down to business first. After that, we can eat with ease." Kenji replied. Four of them ordered drinks then proceed with their main agenda.

Kenji flips through the tempting proposal in his hand. He keeps glancing between Randi and the proposal, in disbelief.

Kenji fakes a cough. "Mr. James, may I know what makes Hina Corp suddenly want to invest in our company? I'm sure Hina Corp usually involves in hotel and tourism and also the food and beverage industry. Then why... a pharmaceutical company like ours?"

Randi shows his business smiles. "Our company thinks it is time to expand our service and product line. After years of having the same type of business, we would like to invest in something that we never tried before and we think pharmaceutical is the best choice."

Kenji's mouth slanted slightly. He turns to look down at the proposal again. 'Pharma foods' is their goal. The relationship between health and the foods people eat proliferated in the media. Innovation and expansion of pharmaceuticals products into foods that have even greater, scientifically verified health benefits that go beyond basic nutrition is what they are trying to achieve.

They are generally defined as a food product with a pharmacological additive meant to improve health. Pharma foods aren't just consumed by humans. Companies are also developing pharmaceutical-grade foods for the veterinary market.

Hina Corp's hotels and restaurants are always become the choice for tourists whenever they came. By having a collaboration with Hina Corp, Evo Organization indirectly will be known by foreigners from all over the world.

According to the proposal, the benefits seem to side to Evo Organization. They just need to create pharma foods for Hina Corp to advertise. That's the only thing Hina Corp needs from them. But in return, Hina Corp will provide lots of specialties. Any conference or seminar hold by Evo Organization, the venue and half of the expenses will be supported by Hina Corp. Hina Corp. also will invest a huge amount of money into this project, more than the estimated amount.

Evo Organization higher-ups also will receive special treatment or service whenever they go to any hotel or restaurant own by them. In the future also Hina Corp. is willing to invest more in any projects by Evo Organization.

Kenji lifts his head and looks at smiling Randi. "Mr. James, may I know, why would you propose such amount of benefits for us instead of asking more from us? Don't misunderstand. It's not like I feel ungrateful but this is the first time a big company like yours proposes something like this to us."

Randi smiles faintly. "We just need your company to create the best products for us. What I meant the best is, products that can be sold and accepted worldwide. Hina Corp wished to go global. A product easily penetrates the global market instead of build restaurants and hotels in every country in the world. We might look generous BUT if the product is rejected by the Ministry of Health in any country, we will consider it as a breach of the agreement and you'll need to pay us back."

Kenji swallows his saliva. The other guy in front of him who was smiling from the moment they met suddenly flashed a cold and cruel look on his face. But it was just a split second and Kenji thought it was his imagination. Kenji leans back, he whispers a few things with his assistant. Then he turns to face Randi again. "Alright. We accept this proposal." Kenji said.

Randi smiles even wider, though it was slightly a smirk it wasn't noticed by the other party. "Thank you, Mr. Hamada. We'll transfer the funds as soon as possible."

Hearing about the money makes Kenji's heart leap. But he quickly controls his expression.

Randi takes out another two files and puts them in front of him and another one in front of Kenji. "This is the agreement. Feel free to check it first and do tell us if you found anything that you don't understand."

Kenji immediately checks on every benefit that was stated in the proposal before. After making sure it was the same as the proposal, he directly signs it. Randi smiles faintly. They exchanged the files and keep a copy for each. After that, they continue with lunch. The conversation topic is more casual and non-business related.

"How many kids you got, Mr. James?" Kevin asked.

"I got three. Two sons and a daughter," Randi answered. He doesn't think he needs to hide anything.

"Wow! Then it must be fun playing with your grandchildren."

"Well, I got two from my first daughter and one from my second son. My first son...he's married but still no kids. How about you, Mr. Hamada?"

Kenji huffs. "I only have one daughter and she's still not married. She said she wants to wait for her prince charming, which I don't know when she's going to meet. She's too spoiled and I'm tired of listening to her whines every day."

"Well, we need to be strict with our children. Sometimes, people said children reflect their parents. We as a parent, need to show them what they can or can't do, what they should or shouldn't do. Besides, we also need to do good deeds in our lives. Because, if we did something bad, it might not be affected us but our descendants. We thought even if we tyrannize someone else, nothing will happen to us. Yes, but karma might come looking for our children," Randi said calmly while slicing his steaks. He didn't notice the tensed expression on Kenji's face.

Randi smiles and faintly laughs. "Sorry. Sorry. Seems like I was talking too much. No need to care so much about what I said. It was just my rumbling." Kenji smiles stiffly.

As soon as Randi entered his car after the meeting just now, he makes a phone call to his son. He tells him everything that happened during the meeting and asked Raiden and Kevin to plan the next step. He'll do whatever they have in mind. He's gonna act as the middle person.

"Nice. The first step is done. We'll wait for him to create the products first. After that, we'll proceed with what we've planned," said Kevin.

Raiden nods. Then he steals a glance at Kevin. "You...haven't told Yuki about this?"

Kevin shakes his head. "I don't want him to know. Anything that reminds him of them will trigger his trauma again so I'll never bring up his uncle or that organization in front of him. Plus, I don't know to what extent he hates his uncle. He might hate him for what he did but maybe he doesn't want to see his uncle drop dead somewhere or sent behind the bars."

Raiden nods, agreeing.

People said blood is thicker than water. No matter how much we hate our relatives, in the end, we're still bonded to each other. We might hate them but at some point, we didn't bear to see them suffer. Especially, someone like Yuki who treasures family bonds than anything else. Even if one day, his uncle pretends to apologize after all he did, Yuki surely will forgive him.

"But maybe you can ask Yuki. Who knows, he really hates his uncle so much that he wished for that old man to be punished for his wrongdoings. If he knows you're doing all these for him, he might fall hard for you," Raiden wiggles his eyebrows.

Raiden's suggestion sounds tempting and Kevin almost swayed but then he vigorously shakes his head. "No. No. No. I can only do that after I make sure how he feels towards me. If he trusts me hundred percent, then I'll tell him. If not, we'll carry on this plan without his knowledge," Kevin squinted, sending a warning to Raiden not to spit out anything to Yuki.

Raiden huffs. "Fine." Then, he frowns when he sees that Kevin already packing up his stuff. "What are you doing?"

Kevin blinks his eyes. "H...home?"

"It's just 15 minutes before five. Can't you just wait for a while?" Raiden sounds slightly annoyed. He knows the reason Kevin is so eager to go home must be because of Yuki.

"Because IT IS JUST 15 MINUTES. It doesn't make any difference if I go back a little bit earlier. I've promised Yuki to buy something from the bakery and I don't wanna be late. So...bye!" Kevin walks out of the room, leaving Raiden dumbfounded.

Raiden sighs and shakes his head. "He's head over heels for that boy. Why don't they just date?" Raiden mumbles.

All the employees who were whining because they still got a lot of work to do but it's almost go-home time, gaped, looking at their boss walking out with his briefcase with a faint smile on his face.

The men are like "Damn! Lucky you're the boss! You gave us all these works then you easily go home whenever you want!"

Meanwhile, the women are like "Oh God! The boss is smiling! My heart can't take this! He's so handsome! Wonder what makes him smile like that?"

The guy who has become the center of attention of the employees didn't even know and care what they're talking about him. He quickly starts the engine and speeds up to the bakery. He leaves early because he knows the traffic is going to get jammed after office hours.

He reached one of the most famous bakeries in the city. Seeing a handsome guy entered the shop, all the female inside the shop turn their head. Kevin went directly to the cake display rack. Today, Yuki had an exam so he wants to buy something sweet for him. He pointed at the red velvet cheesecake, black forest and chocolate mousse cake. He bought one piece of those. Then, he picks a box of creampuff before paying at the counter.

He arrived at the house around the same time he usually did. His smiles never ceased but then he feels weird when Yuki didn't greet him at the door as always. He went to the kitchen and only found Aunty Emma.

"Yuki stays inside your room. After Mr. Alex went home, he went inside your room and didn't get out until now. Aunty thought he was asleep that's why I left him alone," Aunty Emma said.

Kevin leaves the cake on the dining table and running towards his room. He slowly pushed open the door, "Yuki?"

Kevin's eyes widen when he saw Yuki is sitting on the floor, staring into nothing. He quickly runs to his side.

"Yuki? What's wrong? Why are you sitting down here?" He caresses Yuki's face then touching Yuki here and there, checking if he's hurt somewhere.

In a trembling voice, Yuki says, "Wh- What is this?" He holds up a file. A file that contained all the information about the Evo Organization and all of the people working under it, including his uncle. Kevin shuts his eyes tightly. He was careless. He accidentally left this file at home. He never thought Yuki would notice it.

"Kevin...tell me. Wh- Why do you have this? What i- is the meaning of all these?! Are you also one of their investor? Or you're working for them?" Yuki's voice trembles. His eyes are watery.

"Yuki, listen up. Let me explain everything to you. So, please calm down first, okay?" Kevin pulls Yuki to the bed and they sit side by side.

Kevin takes the file from Yuki's hand. "I- I did some background check on them."

Yuki tilts his head, "Background check? Why?"

Kevin sighs. "I did it for you. I want to protect you. I want to take revenge on your behalf. I want them to suffer from what they did to you. I don't want you to keep on living in their shadows. I don't want to see you tremble when I mention them or when you accidentally met them outside. I want you to be free and go anywhere you want without any worries."

Yuki was taken aback. He never thought Kevin was thinking about all those. He keeps staring at Kevin without saying anything.

Kevin sighs again. "If you don't want me to hurt your uncle, I won't do anything to him. I'll just destroy the organization without dragging him. I know, no matter what he did, you still consider him as your uncle and for sure you don't want him to be jailed."

"N- No! That's not what I mean. I hate him. I really hate him to the core! I'll never forgive him for what he did to me," Yuki replied in haste.

"What I don't understand is...why are you doing this for me? I'm no one. I have nothing that I can give to you and I'm not even sure when I could repay for everything you did for me," Yuki felt his lowly self can never deserve to stay with someone like Kevin.

Kevin smiles and gently caressing Yuki's face. "I did everything on my own, no one asked me to do it. You don't have to repay me. You don't have to do anything for me. I did all these because I want you to live happily. That's all I ask for," It's not that Kevin doesn't want anything but the thing he wants is almost impossible to get from Yuki.

Yuki pounce on Kevin, making him almost stumble back on the mattress. He hugs him tightly. "Thank you, Kevin. Thank you so much. Pl- please tell me, how can I repay you? It's too much for me to receive so many from you but I didn't give anything in return."

Kevin was about to say "no need" but Yuki quickly cuts him off, "Please...tell me..." With his round eyes and pleading voice.

"Th- Then...ju- just one thing ma- maybe you can give me..."

"What is it?" Yuki asked happily.

They stare into each other's eyes. Without saying anything, Kevin lifts Yuki's chin and he leans closer. Yuki stays still and blinks repeatedly when his lips were captured. He doesn't know how to respond but his heart is thumping loudly. Kevin nibbles on Yuki's lips lightly before breaks the kiss. When he saw Yuki's blank face but slightly frowns, he knows he's fucked up.

"I- I'm sorry. I didn't know you hate it s- so I won't do it again," Kevin rubs his nape. He was about to get off the bed but Yuki pulls his wrist.

Yuki clenches his shirt, looking down, "I- I don't hate it. I- I just don't know wh- what to do..." His ears turn red.

Hundreds of fireworks were lights on inside Kevin's mind and heart. But his face remains calm. His lips twitched as he was holding from smiling too much. "Really? You don't hate it?" Yuki nods.

"Then, can I do it again?" Yuki slowly nods.

In one pull, Yuki is sitting in princess style on Kevin's lap. He was too shocked so he lifts his head and now they're eye to eye. Using his thumb, Kevin touching Yuki's cheek. Then his hand slowly moves to behind Yuki's head, pulling it closer to him.

After a minute of light kisses, Kevin tried to pry open Yuki's mouth. When accessed given, his tongue explores inside.

Yuki can't help but let out light moans. The kisses feel so good. Hand from clutching on Kevin's shoulder, slowly he moves them and circles around Kevin's neck.

Both of them enjoyed their first intimacy and won't stop until almost half an hour passed.