The Love Of Money - S02 E157

Story 2 months ago

The Love Of Money - S02 E157

Read Story: SEASON 2 EPISODE 157

Monday, September 16th, 1:30 pm

“I didn’t realize this would be a whole thing.”

Chloe huffed. “What did you think? That me and Tanaka’s security were just going to let both of you walk into a building and have lunch together without making it a whole thing?”

I simply stared back at her.

Her lips compressed into a thin line. “Really?”

“In my defense,” I said, “this came out of nowhere. I wasn't exactly thinking straight when she called me like this?”

“You need to start thinking more about your security. You’ve been lucky.”

“That’s what I pay you for, Chloe.”

She looked at me coolly, but didn’t respond.

Because I was goddamn right.

I hadn’t given Chloe a lot of time to put together a security strategy—whatever the technical term was—for my meeting with Sachiko Tanaka. Still, she managed to pull it off anyway with some additional help from Hannon, who supplied me with most of my security.

The thing was… she wasn’t the only one concerned about safety. It turned out that an impromptu meeting like this concerned the security of every other high-profile person there. Sachiko’s security had coordinated with Chloe to agree on protocols, work with the owner of the restaurant, and check the surrounding area to ensure safety for everyone.

Not only that, but Helen, Erin, Chloe, and I were all screened and searched for weapons before being given the all-clear. According to my bodyguard, Sachiko was receiving the same treatment.

By the time I was escorted into the restaurant proper, I had been notified that Sachiko would be in there with two bodyguards and an assistant. She’d also been informed that I would be accompanied by two bodyguards, an assistant, and my lawyer.

I was able to point out Sachiko the moment they came into view.

She stood at an average height for a woman, with dark, near-black hair. She had Hiro’s sharp, high cheekbones and exotic, upturned eyes. However, that was where the resemblance to Hiro ended.

Her lips were thin, but not unpleasant. Her hollowed-out cheeks, sharp jawline, and carefully-applied makeup gave her an understated, but undeniably beautiful quality. She was like the Asian version of one of those female protagonists in a 2000’s teen movie… the ugly duckling that everyone ignored until they removed the glasses and took down the ponytail.

No wonder Ryo looked like the human equivalent of a six-month-old used kitchen sponge. They were saving all the looks for his sister.

Honestly, I was disappointed. I wanted to needle Hiro next time we talked about how his daughter looked like an absolute troll.

She was flanked by two hulking bodyguards—each wearing wraparound sunglasses indoors like it made them scarier. A mousy-looking young woman stood next to her, holding a notebook in her folded arms. She adjusted her glasses as we approached, watching every move with dark eyes that glinted from under a fringe of black hair cut in a pageboy style.

I stopped in front of her and gave the daughter of my enemy a quick up-and-down glance. “Sachiko?”

She looked smart in a charcoal gray suit and crisp white shirt. Her jewelry was minimal, and she wore flat black shoes. Her hair was the most luxurious-looking thing about her—done in thick layers that had been teased into soft waves that cascaded down her back. Her bangs were swooped to the side in that nineties Disney movie style.

She gave me a closed-lip smile, dimples forming in her cheeks as she took a step forward and offered me her hand. “Yes. Marcus?”

I took it, immediately noticing the measured grip—soft and feminine without feeling limp. “That’s me.”

“Thank you for meeting me on such short notice.”

The non-existence of an accent was throwing me off. Hiro had a prominent one, as did Ryo, even though his was less pronounced. Sachiko didn’t have even a hint of one. She must have been educated here in the States.

Once the handshake was ended, Sachiko walked to the middle of the table, where one of her bodyguards held a seat for her. I did the same, though no one was holding any seats for me or my crew. Instead, I stepped forward and pulled out two of them, one on either side of the seat directly opposite the youngest Tanaka.

Helen gave me a ghost of a smile and dropped into the seat. Erin waited until I was done with the older woman before taking hers, giving me a much warmer and less reserved expression of gratitude.

The waiter took drink orders as I sat down and then backed away, looking briefly unsure about whether or not she should ask the still-standing security if they wanted anything. Seeing them standing perfectly still in intimidation mode seemed to dissuade her.

I turned my attention to Sachiko. “Have you ever been here?”

“I haven’t,” the young woman across the table said, looking at the menu. “I’m skeptical of a place where it’s possible to get an entire meal for less than twenty dollars.”

“You’ve never been poor,” I pointed out.

Without sitting in a taller chair, Sachiko was able to look down her nose at me. “Mr. Upton, I’m not here to discuss my upbringing. I’m here to discuss the release of my brother.”

Right to the chase. Well… I could do that, too.

“Why?” I asked.

She looked slightly confused by my question, so I answered her unasked question. “Why does your dad want Ryo back? I’m pretty sure he hates him.”

“He does. That doesn’t mean he wants his son dead.”

“If he wants him so badly, why didn’t he come see me himself?”

When she didn’t respond, it hit me. The hesitation on the phone… the low speaking volume. The way her eyes shifted when I asked that question just now…

“He doesn’t know you’re here, does he?”

She sighed. “At this point, my father’s too prideful to do this. He’s content to put pressure on you until you either give him what he wants, or he kills you and takes it anyway.”

“So there’s no negotiating with him at this point?”

Sachiko shook her head, glancing at the server as she returned with our drinks. “He’s never been denied anything. Even your grandfather showed him respect.”

I sipped on my drink as I considered that. My grandfather had been one of the wealthiest, most powerful people in the world… and, according to multiple sources, a stubborn asshole who was just as difficult to deal with as Hiro was. If Sachiko was right about Colin Gerrard tiptoeing around Hiro Tanaka, then continuing to butt heads with the old man was just going to get worse for my health. Chloe was right—I’d been lucky to last this long. Compared to my grandfather, I didn’t know what I was doing.