Crazy? That's Akio's sister. Who in their right mind would want to get involved with someone like me? And yet, she insisted, over and over again. No matter how many times I refused, she kept pushing, as if my warnings meant nothing.
I made it clear to her. I showed her the risks, the danger that would come if she chose to stay by my side. But she didnât care. She was relentless.
It has only been two weeks since she started as my intern, yet she has already proven her skills perhaps even surpassing her own brother. If she continues like this, she could become a valuable asset, a force that would leave a lasting impact on my empire.
"Hi, Maâam." Sanae greeted me with a bright smile as she handed me a cup of coffee. "You look beautiful today."
And to make things even more complicated, she seems determined to make me hers. She flirts, teases, and does things that stir something unfamiliar inside me. Itâs unsettling.
I have told her before, I do not do love. I have sworn off such things. I have been there and learned my lesson the hard way. And no matter what happens, I will neverâneverâlet anyone get close to me again.
"Sanae, get back to work. Flirting is not allowed. Leave me alone," I said without even glancing at her.
"Have you ever been in a relationship before?" she asked.
I finally looked up at her. "Very interested in me, hmm?"
She nodded without hesitation.
"Yes, I have been in a relationship. But it didnât last," I replied, my voice devoid of emotion.
"Why not?" she asked, tilting her head slightly in curiosity.
"Because she disappeared," I stated simply. "End of the relationship."
Sanae frowned. "She disappeared? Why she just disappeared?"
I leaned back in my chair and let out a sigh. "Exactly that. She vanished without a trace. Do I look like I know why she disappeared?"
She chuckled at my sarcasm. "Youâre being difficult and sarcastic, but I still want you to be mine," she said before walking away, returning to her work.
I found myself watching her as she moved. She is a woman, yet the best word to describe her is handsome. Strong, defined features, sharp eyes there is no mistaking her Japanese heritage. She was seven years younger than me, but what stood out the most is her natural talent. She could pick up anything and master it without help.
Realizing how intently I was staring, my eyes widened. Tssk. I hate this feeling.
Shaking it off, I focused back on the mountain of paperwork in front of me. I was scanning through proposals from different departments when Karla entered my office.
"Ma'am, your father is here."
In her words, my body stiffened. My hands instinctively clenched into fists.
"Where is he?" I asked, already rising from my seat.
"In the conference room. He wants to talk to you," she said.
A surge of emotions crashed into me, anger, resentment, and a cold fear I refused to acknowledge. What does he want now? Why does he always show up unannounced?
"Okay. Let's go," I said, my voice was steady but sharp.
Karla walked beside me, but I noticed Sanae had also started following. She didnât ask permissionâshe simply walked with us as if she had every right to be there but whatever she is under my mentorship anyways.
As soon as I stepped into the conference room, I saw him. He sat at the head of the long table, his bodyguards standing beside him like shadows.
"Never thought you'd be capable of running such a massive empire like this, Ruby," he said, his voice dripping with mock amusement.
I met his gaze, unflinching. "I never thought so either," I admitted, my tone cool. "Yet here we are, twelve years and still running smoothly." There was pride in my words, but no warmth.
His lips curled into a smirk. "Competing against your own family⦠Do you really think you can win?" He stood and walked toward me, his presence imposing.
"Family?" I scoffed. "I donât have one. The only family I acknowledge is my grandfather and grandmother." My voice was sharp as a blade.
I saw his expression darken. Yes. Be angry. Hate me more. The more you despise me, the more determined I am to rise above you. The more I want to see you beneath my name.
"Youâre too arrogant," he hissed.
Then, without warning, he struck me across the face. A sharp sting spread across my cheek, followed by the heavy impact of his cane slamming into my side. The force sent me stumbling back, my knees nearly giving out.
Not from pain, but from sheer, uncontrollable rage.
"Who do you think you are?" he spat. "You're just a woman. No matter how much you build, no matter how much you achieve, you will never surpass me!"
Just as he raised his cane again, a figure stepped in front of me.
The sound of impact echoed in the room.
Sanae had taken the hit.
My eyes widened. "What are you doing?" I asked, my voice ice-cold.
"Never let this old man lay a hand on you inside your own empire," she said firmly as she helped me stand. Her voice was steady, her grip unyielding.
My fatherâs gaze shifted to her. "And who the hell are you?" he demanded.
"Someone who respects her," she answered without hesitation. "Unlike you."
His expression darkened further. "How dare youâ"
"You cannot hurt her here," she cut him off. "And you cannot insult her. This woman, the one you look down on, will be the one to destroy you."
His nostrils flared, his anger rising to dangerous levels. "You insolentâ"
"Enough," I interrupted, my voice slicing through the tension.
I turned to Karla. "Call security."
She nodded and left the room immediately.
I faced the man who, unfortunately, was my father. "From this moment forward, you are prohibited from stepping foot inside my empire. You, Zack, and every single person in your so-called family. I am nothing to you. I carry your surname, but I will never belong to your family."
His face contorted with rage. "You think you can cast me out?"
"The only people welcome here are my grandmother, grandfather, Aunt Kaira, and Uncle West and Lesley. You have no place here."
"You are an ungrateful brat!" He grabbed my collar, yanking me forward.
I smirked. "Youâll fall before I do."
At that moment, the security team arrived. "Escort them out," I ordered.
The guards moved swiftly, forcing him and his bodyguards toward the exit.
"Youâll fail, Ruby!" he shouted, his voice filled with fury. "One day, this empire will crumble!"
I stepped forward, lowering my voice just enough for him to hear.
"If I fall, Iâll drag you down with me."
With that, he was dragged out of my empire, my legacy.
And I would make sure he never set foot in it again.
____________________
I saw her get slapped. I saw that old man strike her with his cane. And yet, she barely flinched. She didnât react, didnât resist, I just stood there as if it were nothing, as if this kind of treatment was normal for her. The lack of emotion on her face was unsettling. It was as if she had trained herself to endure every cruel word, every blow, without even a flicker of pain crossing her features.
My fists clenched at the sight. Anger burned in my chest. She had taken so many lives without a second thoughtâwhy hadnât she included that old man among them? My thoughts were cut off when a sharp pain in my shoulder reminded me of my own injuries. I instinctively reached up to touch it.
"Take off your polo."
Her voice broke through my thoughts. I turned my head to see her standing there, holding a small bottle of ointment.
"Why?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.
She let out an exasperated sigh. "Can you stop asking why and just do what I say?" Her tone left no room for argument.
I hesitated for a second but ultimately obeyed, removing my polo and exposing the bruised skin underneath. She knelt beside me, poured some ointment onto her palm, and started massaging it into my aching shoulder.
"Youâre so reckless," she muttered under her breath. "You went and got yourself hurt when you didnât even have to."
I scoffed. "I couldnât just stand there while that old man insulted you in your own company. Itâs ridiculous. I know you donât care about what people think of you, but that doesnât mean you should let them treat you like that. And besidesâ¦" I hesitated before adding, "heâs your father, isnât he?"
She didnât respond immediately. I closed my eyes for a moment, focusing on the sensation of her hands working over my sore muscles. Her touch was light, gentle, but somehow, I felt like I would heal faster just from her presence alone. Her hands were soft, soothing in a way that made something inside me feel unsettled. What was this feeling? Whatever it was, it couldnât happen. I couldnât allow it.
"I have no father," she finally said, her voice cold, detached. "I have no family."
There was finality in her words.
"That was the last time Iâll ever see him. Thank you for standing up for me, but donât ever do that again. Donât you dare risk yourself for me," she continued, her tone firm as she placed the ointment in my hand. "Itâs done. Hereâapply this yourself so your injury heals faster."
She stood up, ready to walk away, distancing herself once again.
I watched her for a moment before speaking. "Is this how you are with everyone?" My voice was quieter this time, almost hesitant. She stopped but didnât turn to face me.
"You keep pushing people away, even the ones who actually want to protect you?"
She was silent for a long moment before she finally answered.
"Everyone who has ever wanted to protect me⦠ended up leaving me behind." Her voice was calm, but there was an underlying bitterness beneath the words. "Iâd rather have them learn to live without me, to go about their lives as if I was never there, than let them stay, only for them to leave me in the end."
And with that, she left, her footsteps fading into the distance.