King's Prize (Kissed By The Baddest Bidder)

Chapter 26: Record of Wrongs

Eisuke opened Samuel Xi's binder and Inui bowed down to him and withdrew.

The old man had been thorough, recording every little detail of every transaction of his mafia life for four decades.

That was all they were to him. A transaction.

Just a record amongst many others in this dirty little binder of his.

Samuel Xi wanted the land his father's business was built on but his father declined selling the land, for it had been in the family for generations. The mobster then bribed Russo Delacroix, his father's trusted employee into stealing the deed of the land and forging his father's signature. Samuel Xi claimed the land was mortgaged to him, producing documents his father couldn't have signed, yet the courts later favored Samuel Xi's claim.

They were thrown out of their own home and this Eisuke could still remember as if it was yesterday.

Devastated and humiliated, his father left them.

His mother died soon after, more due to depression than pneumonia.

Akira took him in, and his sister was taken by another family.

Eisuke closed his eyes and leaned his head back, his jaws clenching.

Samuel Xi did know the family who adopted his sister, but that information was not written anywhere on his binder. 

And the man was dead.

He would've killed him anyway, had he known the mobster had something to do with what happened to his family.

He was sure there was another book like this, something that holds information on his sister, and Samuel Xi's daughter might be the answer.

He took his phone and dialed Baba's number.

***

Honey looked up anxiously as Baba answered the call.

"What can I do for you, Boss?"

"How's the search going?"

"Still nothing, Boss."

"Find her."

"I will, Boss, don't you worry."

Finished. Just like that.

Baba pocketed his phone and Honey sighed, closing her eyes as if she could somehow stop her thoughts. Soryu pulled her close and she held his hand, seeking courage.

They were gathered at the lounge. Even Mamoru, in all his devil-may-care-tendencies, was not puffing away by the window for once; instead he was sitting by the bar with Ota, whose expression was as troubled as the rest of them.

"What did he say?" Ota asked, breaking the silence.

"He wanted Xindy found, of course." Baba paced the lounge.

"She might not know anything about it," Honey whispered.

"What if she does?" Ota answered. "Samuel Xi must've left her something noone else knows, for why else would people want to find her?"

No one answered.

"He'll be colder as hell now," Mamoru commented. "Sending the kid away. Thought I knew what went on in that brain of his. Darn man surprised me once more."

No one had an answer to that, either.

***

"Satine, are you all right?"

I turned my face to my father's worried one, mustered a smile and a nod. I still can't get used to looking at him, like I was looking at a male version of myself. He was staring at me now, not entirely convinced with my smile, though he said nothing and merely settled back in his seat. I turned once again to look outside the window and said goodbye to all the lights of Tokyo.

Not once, after being so happy finding my father, did imagine things to turn out like this.

I kept texting Eisuke all the time we were in Nagoya, but there was not even one reply from him and he wasn't taking my calls either. So caught up was I in seeing my father that I never bothered to wonder why Eisuke wouldn't call back, and so the day passed with me and dad catching up on each other's lives. By afternoon though, I became apprehensive. I would've suggested to stay at a hotel for the night and return to Tokyo in the morning, but I couldn't stop thinking about him that we booked the last flight that night, my father agreeing to everything I said.

As soon as we arrived at Tres Spades though, Mr. Kenzaki met us at the lobby of the hotel and handed me a piece of envelope.

Plane tickets.

For me and my dad.

I wiped the tears that started welling up in my eyes, remembering how stunned I've felt that time. 

That Eisuke managed it for one whole day while I was in Nagoya was proof of his connections, his wealth and his hatred. I didn't understand it at first, and only after seeing Honey's tear-streaked face, after listening to her and Soryu, did I finally realize what finding my dad meant.

I dropped the envelope, and if not for Soryu holding me upright, I would've fainted right then and there.

Honey would've plead in my behalf, but I asked her not to; knowing the gravity of my father's offense, I realized I couldn't face him too. He never even let me say goodbye, and that hurts me more than anything.

Fighting the cold seeping thru my skin, I pulled up the sheets the stewardess gave me earlier. 

My dad reached out, probably sensing me crying, but he hesitated and merely said nothing.

I wouldn't know what to say anyway. Not after all that happened. Not after learning what he did to Eisuke's father. I wanted to be angry with him, ask why he would do such a thing all those years ago, but after hearing his admission on the part he played, and his regrets that what he did then has now ruined what small chance I have at happiness, I found I couldn't stay angry with him for long.

My father betrayed Eisuke's father; the loss of their business prompted his father to leave them, then his mother's death and his separation from his sister.

That he wanted to avenge his family was the reason he dabbled in the black market, building connections.

He could've punished my dad; instead, I was merely told never to come back to Tokyo ever again.

I failed trying to hold the tears at bay and sobbed uncontrollably.

Honey was wrong. Eisuke wasn't inlove with me.

And he will never, ever forgive us.