Stay With Me αβΩ

Chapter 22

Kouyou and Ace, the two executives are sitting on their respective chairs around the table waiting for the boss to enter the room. The silence surrounds them and awkwardness starts to spread as the two are never left alone together and don't have anything in common. Each executives has their own specialties, Chuuya is mainly in charge of the jewelry business and the overall mafia operations, Kouyou is managing the high-end Japanese restaurants and hotels, while Ace focuses more on casinos and bars thus the second and third rank rarely speak to each other.

Ace is tired of fidgeting his hands, so he steeples them and looks at the lady across him "So sister how's the business going?" – he asked breaking the thick atmosphere.

Kouyou who sits still and has both of her hands on her lap didn't look at him but graciously answers "I didn't know you're bad at making conversation" – she said as she smiles "I would prefer to keep this encounter in silence"

The other executive scoffs "Look at that, who's bad at making conversation now?"

Another minute of silence and then the huge door to the conference room opens, the boss and his first rank executive enter, both of the sitting executives stand and bow down. Chuuya pulls the chair at the head of the table for Mori then he sits at the boss' right side, next to him is Kouyou.

"It's been a while since the last time I have all my remaining executives be in this room" – Mori said as he leans forward and the other executives sat down.

Remaining executive

That caught Chuuya's attention but didn't react much. For the past few years like Dazai and Oda, he tried to uncover the secrets about the other two executives. It is widely known that Mori has a total of five leaders but only three of them are always visible to the Port Mafia, which baffles everyone.

"Originally I planned to call out all of you" – the boss said.

Ace looks at him in perplex "When you said all of us you are only referring to us three right? Cause the other two never showed up" – he questioned.

Mori smiles "Yes, all five of you"

Everyone looks at the boss intently.

"While we are on the subject I also want to add this question, why their identity is hidden from the rest of us?" – Kouyou asked.

That question made his smile even wider, he knows that the lady executive is asking that information not for her but for the ginger sitting next to her.

"That is actually part of this meeting" – he said and looks at Chuuya who is obviously controlling himself from giving out any expression, he handed out a folder for each of his leaders "As everyone knows, the other two executives almost never interact with any of you because they are originally based in France. The name of the fifth executive is Arthur Rimbaud and the late fourth executive was Paul Verlaine"

Verlaine

That name gives a shiver down to Chuuya's spine, a flashback from the past vividly appears in front of his eyes upon opening the folder that contains the picture of Verlaine—the images of the family who took care of him when he was young—Oda's family are all visible in his mind.

"Hmmmn... their names sound weird to me" – Ace commented.

"You say that but Japanese names may also sound weird to them" – Kouyou mumbled.

"Ohh... so miss high and mighty second rank is speaking to me now" – Ace scoffs with a mocking tone.

Mori leans forward "I didn't know the two of you are very close" – he commented rather sarcastically.