“What’s wrong with having a retainer? I thought Mr. Shindo also served as Satsuki’s bodyguard. Are you going to distance her from the very man protecting her?!” Miharu continued.
“Miharu,” Tsukasa gently chided his nephew’s fiancée pleading so fervently on his daughter’s behalf. Under normal circumstances, he would view this behavior as open defiance against the president of Tsujikawa Corporation. She would have no right to complain if he reprimanded her harshly like at the office. Instead, he looked upon her with kind, gentle eyes. It filled him with joy to know she cared so deeply for his beloved daughter. “Let me put it this way... How would you feel if a young woman was serving at Manabu’s side 24/7 when he’s betrothed to you?”
“Pardon?”
“Imagine if she was a secretary managing all aspects of his public and personal life. Could you find it in you to allow a woman to singlehandedly assist Manabu in every aspect of his life?”
Miharu was unable to come up with an immediate response. There was no way she could possibly tolerate that. Even if she knew nothing was going on between the two, she would probably cast suspicion on Manabu and grow jealous of the woman.
“It’s the same thing,” Tsukasa concluded as he shifted his attention from Miharu to Satsuki. With an uncharacteristically pallid face, she seemed to be holding something back.
“I can’t have a man manage all of my daughter’s affairs once she is betrothed, even if he is her greatest ally. If Mr. Shindo retains his current position, no matter which man Satsuki marries, he will become a thorn in their matrimonial bond. And friction with the very partner meant to help her someday shape the Tsujikawa Corporation would destroy the business,” Tsukasa stressed.
Everyone knew he was right. Simply allowing a strapping young man to serve a beautiful young lady made the two the object of perverse rumors these past few years. Shindo served at Satsuki’s side nearly 24/7 as her retainer. Satsuki’s mind frequently read from those around them that they were viewed in an unsavory light. Just how thoroughly does he take care of her? she would hear people think in their hearts.
If it were anyone other than Satsuki and Shindo, even Miharu might have looked at them with curiosity and wondered, “Is something going on between them?” In all reality, countless others perceived Shindo and Satsuki in that light. If she decided on a fiancé, she couldn’t afford to continue interacting with Shindo on this level. If they weren’t careful, someone could intentionally use it as fodder for a scandal to soil the Tsujikawa name.
Nevertheless, it didn’t sit well with Miharu. Miharu befriended Satsuki when the girl was fourteen. She doted on her as if she were Miharu’s little sister ever since. She couldn’t stand the fact that her darling Satsuki would have to defy her own heart and promise herself to a man she didn’t love. Such outrage was only compounded by the fact that she was being torn apart from the man who stole her heart!
“Satsuki, come here!” Miharu snapped. She dodged around the sofa to stand next to Satsuki before suddenly yanking her up by the arm.
“Huh? Miharu?!” Satsuki gasped in surprise over suddenly getting yanked out of her chair. She had no idea what Miharu was thinking.
“What are you doing?” Manabu demanded as he sprang up in reaction to his fiancée’s crazy antics. Feeling Manabu was on Tsukasa’s side, Miharu shot him a look that could kill.
“I’m going to abandon Satsuki at a convenience store somewhere!” Miharu shouted.
“You’re what—?!” Manabu cried wildly in response to Miharu’s random declaration, his eyes twitching furiously.
Manabu wasn’t the only one surprised. The person in question, as well as Shindo, drew their eyes wide as if to say, “Where did that come from?”
Ignoring the reactions of those around her, Miharu spat at Tsukasa, “I have no doubt Satsuki won’t be able to make it back home. She won’t even be able to fall to the last resort—calling a cab and telling the driver where she lives. Do you know why? Because Mr. Shindo is always at her side. She can’t do the most basic things because she’s never needed to learn how. Mr. Shindo was so observant, he did it all for her! So now Satsuki is helpless without him! Take him away, and this girl will wind up dead!”
She wasn’t wrong. It was taken as a matter of fact Shindo was always with her. He would serve forever at her side, calling out to Satsuki with her hand in his. He cherished her throughout the years more than anyone. As a result, Satsuki would very likely get lost if Miharu actually dumped her at a convenience store. She didn’t know her way around the streets, keep cash on her, and she had almost no experience riding alone in this strange vehicle called a “cab.”
“That’s enough, Miharu!” Manabu shouted in an attempt to rein Miharu in after she threw out such an outlandish threat, but she only shot him a baleful glare in return.
“I can’t believe you, Manabu! Why in the world are you taking part in this?! I thought you knew! Satsuki and Mr. Shindo—”
“Miharu!” Manabu shouted so loudly that Miharu snapped her mouth shut with a jolt. She nearly let the cat out of the bag. Realizing what Miharu was about to say, he raised his voice at her.
They were childhood friends. Yet Miharu could count the number of times he had gotten angry at her on one hand. Working under Manabu as his secretary, she was accustomed to his stern ways in the office. But when he lost his temper outside of work, it always left her speechless.
“Miss Miharu...this way,” Shindo soothed, taking the hand of the woman affected by Manabu’s yell and led her around the sofa. He quietly helped her ease into her spot next to Manabu. “...Thank you...Miss Miharu...” he whispered softly in her ear.
“At any rate...” Tsukasa restarted the main conversation. This wasn’t easy for him, either. However, it needed to be done for Satsuki, which was ultimately for the entire Tsujikawa line. “You will meet the four suitors at your birthday party. After which, you will have one month to decide. Once you make your decision after a month of deliberation, Mr. Shindo will no longer serve as a retainer but as just another attendant. Furthermore, I would like Mr. Shindo to focus more on office work henceforth. Someday I hope to make you Satsuki’s first secretary,” Tsukasa instructed, but his words failed to reach either Satsuki or Shindo.
Like a death sentence, only one fact rung in their ears. Satsuki and Shindo would be torn from one another no matter what they personally wished for...