Chapter 09

With her hand on the telephone hook, Naomi, was wondering what to do with that USB flash drive. When it came to her mind that she could go to Tatsuo, and try to make a deal.

" That's all… " Naomi said suddenly. "Maybe I can negotiate with Tatsuo, I can offer him the flash drive and the information that he was DF's contact in exchange I can get him to protect me." enthusiastic. " Okay, let's go."

Naomi quickly left the phone booth, and thinking of possible places to meet him, his house would be a good place. But she had no idea how to get there, as she was carried away with a bag over her head.

The Avant Kaisha company would be the best option, and its location was very close to where Naomi was, since Tatsuo is a public figure in the business world, and would not get involved in a scandal over a small thing.

From where she was it would take her a few minutes to walk to the company headquarters where Tatsuo might be. Following the avenue, Naomi barely noticed a car pull up beside her.

☸☸☸〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰☯⚛☯〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰☸☸☸

Minutes earlier, inside the car, Tatsuo looks out the window as he listened to Satoru dictate his entire agenda that would be done during the day. Suddenly he caught a quick glimpse of the small figure of Naomi crossing the street. And suddenly he said:

"Turn around and stop near that store across the street."

Surprised, Satoru immediately asks him:

"Sir, what's going on? We're going to end up being late."

"Satoru, change of plans. I saw something interesting, you will see."

Confused, Satoru looked at him silently and suspiciously as the driver followed the detour to the boulevard. Tatsuo gave a restrained smile.

☸☸☸〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰☯⚛☯〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰☸☸☸

When the unknown car stopped very close and suddenly the car door opened, Naomi and jumped aside frightened to see that it was Tatsuo who was inside the car. And before she could sketch any reaction, Tatsuo said:

"Hello, how long are you going to keep running away from me?"

{...}

Naomi stared at Tatsuo, took a deep breath and said:

" I will not run away anymore..."

Tatsuo was surprised and smiled, while Naomi continued saying:

"I have an important matter to discuss with you.

"Hmm…" Tatsuo held out his hand to Naomi. "Since it's an important matter, we should go somewhere else, don't you think?"

Naomi looked at the hand held out in front of her and wondered if she was doing the right thing by accepting it. However, she had nothing to lose, if she didn't have their protection, she would be killed.

"Whew!" Naomi sighed. "There is no other way." And accepting that continued outstretched hand. "Yes, let's go somewhere else."

Getting into the car, Satoru cast an icy glance, and said:

"At least this time, it seems more docile to me."

"Well, Satoru, she came of her own free will," said Tatsuo. "I will listen to what she has to say when we reach the place of our destination. But first, Satoru, you have prepared what I asked you before."

Satoru rummaged in his suit pocket.

"Yes, sir."

"Please do the honors."

Naomi was looking at Tatsuo, confused by that conversation, when Satoru said:

"Miss Naomi, I hope you understand."

"What?" Naomi said confused.

Then Satoru took out a handkerchief from his bag and with a quick movement covered the mouth of Naomi's nose, who had no chance to struggle and soon fainted, and as she fell, Tatsuo held her and put her on his lap and said:

"What a naive child."

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With her eyes still closed, Naomi felt like she was lying on something soft and pleasant and asked:

"Huum ... How soft. Where am I?"

Naomi stretched her whole body, her eyes wide open, she noticed a certain dimness around her, when a voice said:

"Finally, the sleeper woke up."

At that very moment, Naomi remembered what had happened and said:

"Where am I?"

Emerging from the darkness, Tatsuo said:

"We are in one of my hotels."

"Why did you do this to me?"

"humm..." Tatsuo did. "You know, I don't trust people very much, and you're very skittish, and I can't afford to let you run away again. Like last time."

"I'm not going to run away." Naomi said.

"humm… " thought Tatsuo. "That's great! But then, what business did you want to discuss with me?"

Searching through her pockets, Naomi pulls out a crumpled envelope and shows it to Tatsuo, who looks confused, as Naomi says:

"Inside this envelope is a flash drive with the information we form stolen." Seeing Tatsuo's suspicious expression, she decided to explain further. "My partner left this at my house this morning. And there was also a note with a cell phone number, but it was probably discarded after I called."

"So, you will give it to me without asking for anything in return?" asked Tatsuo.

"No. In return, I want you to protect me."

Hearing those words, Tatsuo was surprised to see Naomi attempting a negotiation with him and couldn't help but become more and more interested in her.

"Who exactly do you want to protect yourself from?" said Tatsuo curiously.

"Of the two contacts, my partner was negotiating. A Chinese group and a Russian group."

Tatsuo remained silent for a few minutes, analyzing Naomi, when suddenly he pushed her back on the bed, leaving her unresponsive, and got on top of her holding her wrists together against the bed, and looked her straight in the eyes saying:

"You attract a lot of trouble, almost like a magnet."

Without reaction, Naomi remained silent, trying to understand the situation and automatically looked away, and with her face flushed like a tomato, she said shyly:

"L-Let me go..."

Tatsuo smiled, while with one of his hands caressing Naomi's face who was trying to let go, he said:

"There is something about him that intrigues me, but I still don't know exactly what it is. Maybe it's his insolence, or his naivety..." he paused for a short while and then continued by saying "But if we make a deal, how should we seal it?"

"Hã? seal it?" said Naomi.

Tatsuo's fingertips ran across Naomi's face until they met her small, harmonious, half-open lips. A strong impulse made him want to feel them against his lips, and without realizing it all that separated them was only an inch, but soon it ceased to exist.

Without mercy Tatsuo kisses her, as if savoring Naomi's lips that could not resist the attack, and whispering between kisses Tatsuo said:

"...but I will give you my protection..."

☸☸☸〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰☯⚛☯〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰☸☸☸