“I honestly think we got lucky with Mr. Kujo’s demise,” a man said. Although he was being inappropriate, the man asserted himself with a smile as he merrily talked with his hands. “With him out of the picture, there is one less rival to worry about. Of course, it’s awful he got in that terrible accident, but I personally view it as an opportunity more than anything.” Forming fists with both hands, his words were empowered with boundless confidence.
Resting his arms on the large chair’s armrests, he turned diagonally to face Takemi for affirmation. “How about it? Aren’t you of a similar mind, Mr. Kaido?”
Takemi gave an amused sigh and took a sip of his coffee before sizing up the man with a bemused gleam in his eyes. “Mr. Hakamada, you certainly aren’t afraid to speak your mind.”
“Ha ha! Is that a fact?” The man who responded with a triumphant grin was the twenty-nine-year-old Shinichiro Hakamada.
He was the grandson of Dietman Hakamada, a veteran in the political world with experience as a Prime Minister. At present, he was serving as the first secretary for his father, who was also a politician. It was already fixed so that he would become a third-generation Dietman in the upcoming year’s election. Due to his upbringing and promised future, he was bursting with self-confidence. This confidence gave him drive. With a strong competitive streak, he was an exceedingly shrewd man. Not to mention he was also one of Satsuki’s suitors.
“But if you put it that bluntly, well, see the dirty look the young lady is giving you?” Takemi made his hands into a steeple as he indicated the other man should direct his attention to the sofa. Satsuki was sitting upon it with a somewhat perturbed grimace.
“For the record, I agree with your opinion that one rival is out of the picture. But wouldn’t it be wise to avoid saying things that could get misconstrued as ‘I’m glad he died’ before a young lady so angelic she couldn’t even kill a fly?” Takemi pointed out.
Satsuki’s frown only darkened. She could sense unpleasant undertones in his “couldn’t even kill a fly,” which grated on her.
“Really? Jeez, I’m sorry, Miss Satsuki,” he apologized. Is she too soft to handle cutthroat business talk? But I’ve heard Miss Satsuki is a clever woman ready to take over Tsujikawa Corporation in a heartbeat.
Hakamada offered the apology readily enough, but Satsuki effortlessly undermined it with her smile. “Oh, think nothing of it. You won’t make it big in the business world if you can’t make plans to topple a rival behind a smile. Isn’t it the same in the political world?”
“I can tell you’re the Tsujikawa heiress! You really do get it! Mr. Kaido, it looks like you were worried for nothing!” Hakamada exclaimed. This woman isn’t just some overprotected princess after all! Behind that pretty face, she’s as vicious as any viper! Although he didn’t mean it maliciously, Satsuki’s eyebrow twitched over how inappropriate it came across.
All Monday morning, the drawing room in Tsujikawa mansion was occupied with Hakamada, who came to “curry favor with Miss Satsuki,” and Takemi, whose coinciding visit seemed concerted.
There were only two weeks left for the suitors. The loss of one rival truly was a golden opportunity for the survivors. Despite work scheduled that morning, Hakamada went so far as to take time off to come pay Satsuki a visit.
“Miss Satsuki, you sure are vicious! You’re not just some pretty face! Dang, you’re scary!” Takemi said to Satsuki with a chuckle. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Hakamada jump.
Of course the man jumped! Takemi just said almost exactly what he was thinking. Hakamada was so rattled, he failed to get a good grasp on the coffee cup and knocked it over.
“Youch...!” Hakamada quickly pulled his hand away as he jumped up, but in his haste, his hand knocked over the saucer. The spilled coffee fanned out and splattered on him. Since he was standing, the coffee consequentially sprayed onto his pants, albeit only lightly.
“Are you okay, Mr. Hakamada? Did you get burned...?” Shindo asked.
Satsuki hastily rose from her seat, but when she saw Shindo rush over from his place by the window with a cloth in hand, she sat back down.
“Honestly, this is more embarrassing than anything,” he said with an embarrassed laugh as he hid his face behind one hand.
“Was it hot? Fortunately, it doesn’t look like much got on you. I’ll help you clean it off if you will follow me to another room...” Shindo offered as he swiftly placed the cup upright and wiped up the spilt coffee. He moved with such speed, Hakamada had to look twice. “Your pants appear to have gotten dirty, so if you would follow me,” Shindo repeated.
“Oh, right...” If it was his jacket, he could have taken it off and given it to Shindo, but that wasn’t exactly an option with his pants.
With the sullied cloth and cup in one hand, Shindo turned to Satsuki and said, “I will escort Mr. Hakamada to the powder room. Another attendant will be here to replace me shortly.”
Once Shindo left to escort Hakamada, Satsuki would be alone in the drawing room with Takemi. It was customary for an attendant to wait on hand to ensure “the Miss never suffered for want.” However, Takemi voiced his grievance with Shindo’s statement. “Now hold on! You make it sound like you’re sending someone in because you’re afraid I might do something!”
“We are under strict orders from the master never to leave the Miss unattended,” Shindo replied to Takemi’s objection with a bow before motioning Hakamada toward the door.
Watching how Shindo managed the whole situation, the future politician exclaimed, “Wow, that was impressive! I’m amazed how quick you move. I see Miss Satsuki’s personal retainer truly is one of a kind.”
But there are some unsavory rumors about you two. There isn’t any funny business going on, is there? Even if there is, I’ll send you packing with a wad of cash soon enough. His vicious thoughts that went down a slightly different vector than questioning her relationship with Shindo made Satsuki furrow her brow.
“That politician boy sure is nasty! The easy answer to any problem is always money!” Takemi said with a heavy sigh as he sunk into his chair after Shindo led Hakamada out of the room. He was able to read the man’s mind just like Satsuki.
“If acting like a civil being is so exhausting, why don’t you give it a rest?”
In front of the other suitors, Takemi played the role of the “Kaido’s prim and proper fourth son.” In response to Satsuki’s snarky comment about his charade, Takemi softly chuckled as he rose to join her on the sofa. “We couldn’t have that, now could we? You wouldn’t want people laughing about how the Tsujikawa princess picked a man the polar opposite from the attendant providing sex ed, would you? I’m only pretending to be a proper gentleman for your sake.”
“And you seriously think...I’ll choose you?” she retorted. Caught in the heat of the moment, she glared at Takemi. But the moment she did, he grabbed her by the shoulders and slammed her against the seat of the couch!
“You can’t choose anyone else,” he snarled.