The Nail That Sticks Out

Chapter Sixteen: Gentleman

Olivia Mei Sasaki

I arrive at the headquarters in Roppongi at a quarter to four. Women in black pencil skirts and stilettos scurry across the halls with books and papers in hand. A couple men walk by in their uniform black suits in a hurried pace. 

I stop at the front desk and the lady behind the counter looks up before confusion washes over her face, no doubt wondering why a girl in a tank top is in the headquarters of one of the most highly acclaimed hotels in Tokyo.

"Dareka osagashi desu ka?" (Are you looking for someone?)

"Hello, I'm looking for Kenzo Sasaki."

Her eyes noticeably widen but she quickly recovers and asks me to wait while she phones someone.

"Forty second floor, please," she finally says. 

I nod and head to the elevators. When it reaches the lobby, a woman in uniform leads me inside and asks for my floor. I tell her 42 and she presses the key before stepping out and bowing as the doors close. 

My ears pop as the elevator takes me up. Oh, how Kai would love to be on the roof of this building. 

I feel the nerves kick in as soon as the elevator rings and I step out. Another secretary greets me outside the doors and leads me through the grand hallway. At the very end, she knocks twice before pushing the doors open.

My father sits at the end of the room at his large desk. His piercing eyes flits up to catch mine and he extends a hand towards an empty seat in front of him. 

I notice another man sitting adjacent to the empty seat. When he sees me, he stands and smiles. He's handsome and much younger, perhaps in his late twenties. His suit is in a navy blue color and stands slightly taller than my father. With a sharp jawline and fair skin, he looks like a Japanese model. Reminds me of an older Noah. 

I walk over and quietly pull out the chair before sitting down.

"Olivia. This gentleman is Kimura Haru. Kimura-kun, kochira wa musume no Olivia desu." (Kimura, this is my daughter, Olivia.)

The young man turns to me with a warm smile and nods his head in greeting. "Nice to meet you, Olivia-san."

I visibly reel back when he speaks fluent english with a smoother accent compared to my father.

"Kimura-kun has worked closely with us over the years, both locally and overseas" my father explains. "He runs Agrume, our partners in the Food and Beverage sector. You've grown up having Muses gourmet, haven't you? All of them are run by the Kimura family."

I don't tell him that I don't recall ever eating at the hotel restaurants. I'm sure I have, but it'd be a miracle if I remembered the taste.

I nod politely instead. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Kimura."

"You can just call me Haru, Olivia-san" he beams. 

"Then you can just call me Olivia," I reply. His smile is charming and I find myself slightly nervous. 

"Now that we've all met, let me get straight to the point," my father says. "Olivia. Have you officially transferred your studies to Hospitality Management?"

I feel my heart race and my throat goes dry. 

"Father," I start. Thank god I rehearsed these lines on my way here. 

"I have studied biology for two years now. I spent all my time in the summer taking courses, and I've even made meaningful connections with alumni who are willing to offer internships in the future."

"I've invested so much into becoming a researcher and I...I'm not ready to throw it all away and start a new path. I'm more than grateful that you want me to learn about your business but I'd like to stick with my current major. If you'd really like me to, I could do a minor in business."

I pry my eyes up to meet his and I'm not surprised to see his look of disappointment. He takes a deep breath and runs his hand through his hair. 

"Is this about your mother, Olivia?"

My breaths shallow dramatically and I suck in a lungful of air. 

"Yes," I reply quietly.

He frowns and looks at me for a moment. Silence falls in the room and I just look back timidly at my father as he stares. 

"Well." Haru's voice breaks through the thick tension. "Let us respect Olivia's decision, Kenzo-san. Biology is a well-revered field of study. I am sure that a woman as intelligent as your daughter would do wonderfully as a researcher."

I look to him and feel a sense of relief, knowing I have someone else on my side. Haru just looks at my father with a pleading smile. 

"And besides," Haru continues. "We have other arrangements, no?"

Other arrangements?

My father nods slowly and turns back to me. 

"If I'm honest, Olivia, I'm thoroughly disappointed that you've decided not to move forward in the hotel industry. If it were up to me, I would have you study for six years before working as an apprentice for the position of CEO. But I know you have other plans and your mother was dear to me too. So I will not have you unwillingly change your field of study."

I should feel relieved, but I've just disappointed my father. Right when he decided to finally come back into my life. I feel like crying but I force myself to remain professional. I can't break down in front of Haru. Or my father, for that matter.

"As I've said before, Kimura-kun has been working with us for many years. And before then, his father and I were close partners." He sets his elbows on the desk. "Olivia. I am growing old. Muses must be in reliable hands when time comes for me to step down."

I knit my brows, trying to understand where this is going. 

"Kimura-kun may very well become my successor. Now that you have decided not to study Hospitality Management, the odds are much greater. I only have one condition. One request."

I nod my head, following his words carefully.

"The Sasaki bloodline must remain in close relation with Muses Corporation. If only," he bangs his fist on the desk, startling me. "If only...you could take the company and carry our assets for yourself, Olivia."

He expels a heavy breath and looks up. "But no matter. There is another way."

He returns his sharp gaze to me. "Kimura Haru will take your hand in marriage and our name will carry on as Kimura-kun runs Muses as my successor."

A/N:

WHAT?

I mean I saw this coming obviously before writing this book but WHAT? 

Things are starting to get complicated for my girl Olivia. Give her all the strength by hitting that vote button <3

Happy Reading!

Mia