Manipulation

The next day in the office, Emi found herself sitting in the company cafeteria, surrounded by her colleagues, but her mind was elsewhere. The chatter of lunchtime filled the air—laughter, the clinking of plates, and the rustle of papers. Emi absently picked at her rice, her thoughts still swirling around the strange events of the night before.

"Emi?" a voice called out, jolting her from her thoughts.

She blinked and looked up to see her colleague, Yui, staring at her with a teasing smile. "Why are you zoning out so much?"

Emi blushed at the question, her mind immediately flashing back to Ryo—the chase, the love hotel, and waking up next to him half-naked. Her cheeks flushed a deeper red, and she quickly looked away.

"Oh my god, you're blushing!" Yui giggled, leaning forward with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Is someone going through her high school love phase?"

The other women at the table perked up at Yui's words, their eyes sparkling with curiosity as they all turned to Emi. "Love? Who is it?" one of them asked excitedly.

"No, no! It's nothing like that!" Emi waved her hands frantically, trying to dispel the idea, but her heart was pounding in her chest. Her mind was filled with images of Ryo—his intense gaze, his teasing smile, and the way he had looked at her just before whispering that he wanted their feelings to be special.

The women exchanged knowing glances, giggling amongst themselves as Emi tried to focus on her food. As they chatted, Emi couldn't help but fall into her own thoughts again, her mind drifting back to the events of the previous night.

Can this even be considered an official relationship? she wondered, recalling how she had woken up next to Ryo, wearing only her underwear. The memory of his bare chest, and the way he had smiled at her when they woke up, sent a shiver down her spine. We didn't do anything, but still… we slept in the same bed.

"Doesn't that mean we are already in a relationship?" She questioned herself confused about her own life.

She sighed inwardly, pushing the thought away as she finished her lunch. After chatting briefly with her colleagues, she stood up, and quickly gave a slight bow to respect the food. It was time to get back to work, and she had more pressing matters to think about.

As she walked back to her office, her thoughts drifted to the car chase from the previous night. The danger they had been in, the mysterious attackers—something didn't sit right with her. She frowned, her mind racing as she thought about how close they had come to serious harm.

We need to increase security around Ryo, Emi thought, her protective instincts kicking in. She couldn't shake the feeling that Ryo was being targeted, and it wasn't just random.

They had already started searching immesnly for the attackers without even waiting for Ryo's permission because they knew this was not something they could wait.

With that thought in mind, she made her way to Ryo's office, intending to discuss the matter with him. However, when she arrived, the room was empty. Ryo wasn't there, and the silence in the room felt oddly tense.

He must be in a meeting, Emi thought. She glanced around the room, noticing the neat stacks of papers on his desk. Her eyes drifted to a pile of envelopes sitting in one corner—bank statements.

At first, she hesitated, but something in her gut told her to take a closer look. No, I shouldn't... But despite her better judgment, her curiosity got the better of her. Emi slowly reached for one of the envelopes, her hands trembling slightly as she slid the statement out.

Her eyes widened in shock as she scanned the transactions. The amounts were staggering—huge sums of money being spent at luxury boutiques and high-end shops. And all of them were for women's clothing and accessories.

Emi's heart pounded as a flashback of Ryo's words hit her like a wave. "I can't leave her."

Her mind instantly went to Akemi, the woman Ryo had mentioned before. Could she be blackmailing him? Is that why he's spending so much money? The thought of Akemi manipulating Ryo filled Emi with anger, her protective instincts flaring even stronger.

It has to be her! Emi's thoughts spiraled as she remembered how Ryo seemed trapped when he spoke about Akemi. Maybe his family is forcing him to stay with her. Maybe that's why he hasn't been able to break free from her grip.

Her hands clenched into fists as she stared at the bank statements. The anger bubbling inside her was almost too much to bear. She had to protect him. She had to save him from whatever trap this woman had laid for him.

I will rescue you, Ryo, Emi vowed silently, her determination solidifying with each passing second. I won't let her manipulate you anymore.

As she stood there, lost in her thoughts, she was unaware of the quiet figure watching her from the shadows. Ryo had been standing just outside the office, his back pressed against the wall, his eyes narrowed as he observed her every move. A small, satisfied smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he watched her take the bait.

Good. She's doing exactly what I expected, Ryo thought, his gaze fixed on Emi as she furrowed her brow in concentration, her mind undoubtedly racing with possibilities. 

"Let's see how far you're willing to go, Emi." 

Ryo had placed those statements on his desk deliberately, knowing that Emi's curiosity would get the better of her. He needed to know if she was willing to cross lines for him—if she would go beyond her duties to protect him. And now, watching her, he could see that she was exactly the kind of person he had hoped she would be.

She's strong, determined, and willing to fight for what she believes in, Ryo thought as he watched Emi's expression shift from shock to anger. But will she fight for me?

Satisfied with what he had seen, Ryo quietly slipped away from the doorway, leaving Emi alone in the office. He needed her to think she was in control, that she was the one uncovering the truth. But in reality, he was the one pulling the strings, setting the stage for what was to come.

***

Meanwhile, Akemi unaware about the woman that was aiming at her neck, as she sat on her plush, velvet sofa enjoying her time.

Her fingertips grazed the rim of her wine glass, tracing it absentmindedly as she sipped the expensive vintage. Her other hand rested gently on her belly. She had been thinking about it more often lately—wondering if after her night with Ryo, something might change. The thought of being pregnant crossed her mind more than once, and each time, her heart fluttered in both anticipation and fear.

She glanced at the television, where some eye catching reality show blasted on, the voices of annyoing drama queens arguing over trivial things filled the room. But her mind was elsewhere.

"I wonder if I'll get pregnant this time," Akemi muttered softly, her fingers lightly pressing against her flat stomach. "It would keep him close… wouldn't it?"

A small, contented smile tugged at her lips, but it quickly faded as her thoughts drifted. She sighed, turning her gaze toward the hallway. Her daughter, Anzu, had been distant lately, and Akemi couldn't remember the last time they had a real conversation. With a glass of wine in hand, she decided maybe she'd go talk to her—see if Anzu had a boyfriend, or something she could pry into for fun.

Standing up, she wandered to Anzu's room and gently pushed the door open, but the room was empty.

"Anzu?" she called out, her voice echoing slightly in the silence. No response.

Her brow furrowed in mild annoyance. Where is that girl?

With a sigh, Akemi turned away from the room, feeling a little deflated. She'd wanted a change of pace, something to break up the loneliness creeping in. Her eyes flicked back to the phone on the table. Maybe her friends would be up for a quick chat.

Akemi reached for her phone and scrolled through her contacts, calling one friend after another. But no one picked up. The cold silence on the other end of the line only added to her growing frustration.

"Ugh! Where is everyone?" she muttered, tossing her phone onto the couch in a huff.

The more she waited, the more her chest tightened. Why wasn't anyone answering? They always picked up her calls—always. The room felt quieter now, the reality show's shallow drama no longer filling the space, and a creeping sense of anxiety clawed at the edges of her mind. Her fingers twitched, and her breath became shallow.

"I swear, it's like they've all forgotten about me..." Akemi whispered, her voice trembling slightly.

Grabbing her phone again, she quickly typed out a message to Ryo.

"Where are you? Are you coming home?"

Minutes passed. No response.

The ticking of the clock became deafening. The walls seemed to close in, and Akemi paced back and forth, her heart racing as the sense of abandonment gnawed at her. No one was talking to her, no one was answering.

"They wouldn't all leave me," she said, her voice barely audible. Her fingers were trembling now as she sent another message to Ryo.

The longer the silence stretched, the more her thoughts spiraled. What if Ryo wasn't coming back? What if everyone was slowly disappearing, just like before?

Tears pricked the corners of her eyes as her fragile mind started to crack under the weight of her loneliness. She couldn't bear being alone.

Just as she was about to throw her phone down in frustration, it buzzed in her hand. A message.

Ryo: "I'm coming home. Be there soon."

Akemi let out a shaky breath, her entire body relaxing as she sank back into the couch. She clutched the phone to her chest, her lips curling into a relieved smile.

"Thank god... he's coming back," she whispered. Her fingers absentmindedly touched her belly again. "He didn't leave me, not like everyone else."

She closed her eyes, the anxiety that had been clawing at her finally starting to fade.