“What do you want me to do?” Emi asked eagerly as Jun leaned back taking one more sip from his glass.
He should call it quit. He didn’t want to go back to Iori drunk. He’d been drinking nonstop for hours now. It should be catching up with him sometime soon.
“You and Tohru are still in contact. I want you to lure him into doing something for me…” Jun told her.
“What kind of things?”
“Since he seems obsessed with my father and me. Why don’t you suggest a way to make him dell that kind of information… Perhaps to an interested party…”
“You want him to sell information about you to a publisher?” Emi asked
“Yes, that’s exactly what I want him to do…” Jun answered,
“What if he decides to sell more things than what you’re willing to share?”
“That’s why you’re there. I want you t
Iori was startled when the door keys started beeping. She hadn’t expected Jun to be back for another few hours. She heard the door opening and headed for it to greet him. Jun was leaning against the door his face gushed and his clothes wet from the rain.“I’m home,” he said with a delirious smile making Iori wonder just how drunk he was. She had never seen Jun drunk before.They drank together often especially after a deadline, but he had never gotten drunk. His alcohol tolerance was usually high.“Welcome home. You’re drenched, come in and change out of your clothes before you catch a cold.” Iori told him as she walked toward him.As soon as she got close to him, close enough to reach out for him. He grabbed her around the waist pulling her into him and burying his face into her neck and sighing deeply.“Hey, Jun. Is everything okay?” Iori asked him patting his back.“Everything is
It’s been two hours and Jun’s fever wasn’t going down. Iori wiped away the sweat running down his forehead with a cool towel and sighed. If this goes on like this, she was going to have to take him to the hospital.Iori didn’t know if it was tiredness or the amount of alcohol he consumed but he had been out cold all this time. Not even stirring as the fever ravaged his body. Iori tried to get as much water and fluids into him as well as medicine, but still, his temperature wasn’t showing any sign of going down.Iori went to stand up to change the towel and see if she would find something to bring his body temperature down. But a strong hand grabbed her hand not letting her go.She turned around to find Jun looking at her with half opened eyes,“Where are you going? Stay with me…” He whispered“I’m just going to change the towel and find something to bring down your fever,” Iori said
Jun opened his eyes as soon as he heard the found of the apartment door closing down. The lingering touch of her lips against his and her soft whispered words were like a brand on his mind. Like the remainder of a sweet breeze that was gone as soon as it came leaving him with just a little whiff of the heavenly smell, Iori’s lingering presence by his side was an achng memory that left him with longing every time he turned around and never found her.Jun sat down on the bed his body aching and his head feeling like cotton. Damn him and his drunkard backside. He had been planning to talk to Iori, what was he thinking by drinking as much as he did. He couldn’t even get a single coherent Idea in his head after that much. Not to mention that she showed her an uncool side of himself.Rubbing his face in frustration, looked down at himself. His clothes were changed and he was clean even after running a fever all night. She must have cleaned and changed him too. He
Iori parked the car in front of her brother’s apartment complex and texted him. Haruki would be down within at least fifteen minutes, although he was a lawyer he always managed to be late, Iori didn’t know how he pulled things off with his profession, but, the man was almost always late. Except in court.Iori settled back for the wait, turning on the music and hyping the AC up. It was cold especially since it rained last night and the morning rays had still to shine bright enough to dissipate the chill that still clung to the air.She pulled her tablet out and started organizing what she was going to need when she got back. It was going to be hectic once they got there, Iori could already picture the long days awaiting her.She was getting into her work when she heard a knock on her window. Thinking it was her brother, she smiled turning toward him only for her smile to freeze midway. The person peering at her through the window wasn’t her brot
“Make sure to prepare a special breakfast for uncle Tachiro. He doesn’t eat salt anymore due to his blood pressure,” Iori ordered the cook of their household who was writing down her instructions to the letter.“Father can’t have coffee anymore too, so it’s going to be tea for him. And Asame-san doesn’t like bitter things so make sure that she has orange juice,”“Understood, Iori-sama,” Said the cook smiling at her, “It’s amazing how you still have so many details after so many years had passed.”“It’s only normal,” Iori responded with a smile, “Those things had been ingrained in me. I can’t forget then that easily,” She commented,“Besides, Nanami-san had been of a great help. She sent me so many details about anything that might have changed, She saved my life!”“I have never seen Nanami-san get along with anyo
“Iori! Look at you back at being the true first daughter of our household! This sigh brings tears to my eyes!” He uncle said loudly as he patted her shoulders laughing out loud as if there wasn’t enough noise and the atmosphere needed him to liven it up.In reality, it did need him to liven things up. Iori couldn’t think of family meals without her great uncle’s booming laughter shaking them up every now and then,“Uncle, I don’t think it’s seeing me that’s bringing you to tear, it think it’s the alcohol” Iori commented with a wry smile, “What are you doing drinking this early in the morning?” She asked him and he grumbled under his breath.“You’re starting to sound more and more like my sister,” He complained, “Let me live while I can, that old woman is coming today and I’m not going to get any piece of mind until she leaves again,”&ld
Iori sat down on her desk inside her room and took her tablet out. She only had about an hour before they called for her again to take care of the preparations. She needed to hurry up and read the report before then.Entering the email app, she tapped on her brother’s email ignoring everything else. She would skim over it until she could find what she was looking for.The report quickly showed up on her screen and along with it the crashing truth of what she had been denying since this morning.Jun Kamikoi, 28 years old, a writer. Real name, Jun Hiiragi. Changed around the time he came back from the state around five years ago.Hiiragi… Jun Hiiragi… How strange… It sounded foreign and tasted bitter on her tongue. As if her mouth found it difficult to say the name…Iori leaned back on her chair her eyes welling up with tears. So, it was true. Jun was the president’s son…Iori waited for the anger
Jun made his way out of the elevator greeting his father’s new secretary. Another old lady with a temper worse then Mary’s. Seriously, what was wrong with his father and his choice of secretaries…He opened his father’s office without knocking closing the door behind him.“A door is there for a reason, you know…” His father said as he leaned back on the couch where he was waiting for him.“Yeah, it’s there for your employees to cower behind and wait for you to give them permission to enter…” Jun responded as he made his way toward the bar then stopping midway remembering last night’s misshape. Better not risk a repeat performance for a while.“You’re practically one of those employees…” the old man said and Jun leaned back on the couch in front of him giving him a look,“one with forced labor and no pay…” Jun added and his father c
“How…” She whispered,“I picked him up on my way from the airport. He made his way up the mountain on his own and waited for me to come and pick him up so that he could come in.” Her father explained and Jun smiled.“You went through all this trouble…”“Sorry I couldn’t contact you, there was no cell reception on the way and I couldn’t reach you or your brother,” Jun said coming into the room as her father made way for him and went outside,“I’ve missed you,” He said, “God you look so beautiful,” He added and Iori laughed throwing her arms around him.He was there, he came for her… Iori felt on top pf the world.“How have you been?” He asked her“Fine! How have YOU been! I was worried about you, how did things go?!”“I settled everything,” He said‘What did you exa
Iori leaned against the wooden walls of her room in the mountain estate her eyes on the scenery in front of her, the beautiful cascades of the mountain forest views as they peeked through the misty presence that always seemed to cover the mountain early in the morning left Iori breathless whenever she looked at it.Usually, this view was enough to make her feel so fulfilled and empowered that she could take on anything that may come her way. But these days she couldn’t help but note the loneliness that was taking root in her heart.Her mind kept wandering to Jun and wondering how he was doing, how his meeting with Tohru’s father went. Since he had contacted her to ask if she arrived well there had been no signal from him. It’s been three days since then. Iori’s phone had been taken away two days ago. Her aunt claimed that she needed to disconnect from the city and reconnect with the mountain spirits.In any other circumstances, Iori would
Iori stood beside Jun as he spoke on the phone her hand on his tense shoulders silently reassuring him."So everything is settled? How about Kokuro are they going to plead guilty?" Jun asked and waited for the answer,"If they want to settle things with money drag them on for a bit longer and make sure that they will be under our hands next time. Tabloids can be valuable in the trade for the long term, I don't want to destroy them. Just make sure that they take a big hit... a public one..."Iori sighed, Jun was out for blood, after both the tabloid and Tohru fell for his trap, he was playing with them like a cat playing with his meal until he falls hungry and devours them. Who knew Jun could be so ruthless in business, he surely seems to be his father's son.But, Iori was worried that this was more than that. She was worried that Jun was exercising his revenge in the most rightful way he could find, not even daring to admit to himself that he was taking h
A few days later Iori walked out of the elevator with her brother walking beside her. Haruki nodded at the slightly surprised secretary and they went straight for the office. Then they went inside without knocking.Inside, the president sat alongside Jun as they talked. Iori and Jun’s eyes met for a brief moment but Iori quickly averted her gaze from his. She wasn’t there to exchange gazes with him, she was there for a reason and she couldn’t afford to let her feelings for Jun be in the way of what she needed to do.“Iori, I know we had an appointment but I didn’t know that you were bringing a guest,” Satoru said with a welcoming smile his poker face ever-present.“Since I came to the conclusion that you can’t be trusted, our meetings can’t go on unwitnessed anymore so I brought my lawyer with me to ensure that everything is legal here,”“Don’t you think that’s
Jun guided Iori toward the side of the terrace and they descended down the stairs that led to the Japanese style garden.“No one will bother us here,” He said and Iori smiled up at him.Jun led her toward a bench where he leaned and spread his arms for her to lean on him and she obliged relishing in the comfort of his arms around her.“Are you cold?” He asked as she snuggled into him.“No,” Iori answered her eyes closed as she breathed in the scent of his perfume. A scent that became so familiar to that she would sometimes miss it at night whenever she’s alone.“Back then all I could think about was how if I hadn’t wanted to become a writer none of this would have happened” She finally said and Jun squeezed her tighter and she felt his protest before she heard it.“There’s no way that any of tat is your fault,”“I know now… But back then it was
“Where are you taking me?” Iori asked Jun as they walked toward the center of the room.Jun grinned at her and she looked up at him in confusion. A small smile broke on her beautiful rosy lips making Jun want to wipe the make-up off them with one fell swoop of his mouth.He had been trying to hold back since the evening started, but he was reaching his limits. He wanted her more than anything, so at least he could have her all to himself for a few short moments like this before she had to return to her duties.“May I have this dance?” Jun asked her extending his hand to hers.Without hesitation, Iori put her hand on his which made him inwardly smile. Iori never hesitated to take his hand anymore, no matter the reason, Jun was always sure that she would reach out back to him if he extended his hand.It may seem like a small gesture, but to Jun it meant much more than that. Iori’s honest and instinctive reactions to him
“I would like to announce approaching retirement from my position as the second clan leader,” Akagi-sama said and a wave of gasps filled the room.Iori felt calmness fill her, she knew this was coming and she couldn’t describe how nervous she had felt when Akagi-sama had told her about her plan when she arrived the previous day.She had agonized over whether she was ready or if she was going to be enough, but, when she felt the moment come, all f her doubts disappeared and she felt herself being surrounded by a calmness that felt ethereal.This is her duty, the role she had been ready for for a long time. There was nothing to be scared about, there was nothing to fear because she was born to be the mountain clan’s leader. More importantly, she was born to be the priestess of the mountains.“I had been the leader of the mountain clan for such a long time that I feel that it’s long overdue for me to leave my place to some
Silence reigned over the room as soon as Akagi-sama stood there in front of them her presence reassuring and welcoming, yet at the same time overwhelming and imposing.It’s been a long time since Iori felt as if her aunt’s presence was imposing to her. Her training and frequent contact with the older woman had assured that Iori doesn’t view her aunt like the others do.Rather than saying that Iori got used to her presence, it was rather that Iori began to look at her aunt like an equal and sometimes a rival. And without the respect that had been ingrained in her back when her mother was still alive, she would have overstepped the bounds with her aunt long ago.That’s because that’s how things were supposed to be in their case. They may be mentor and disciple, but they were also a leader and her successor. And a few clashes between them were inevitable.Iori knew that her aunt liked her, she even considered her like the daught
“I hear your talk with akagi-sama went well?” Haruki said as he made his way toward them with Rina by his side.They both looked like a couple out of a spy movie, both tall and elegantly dressed. Her brother and his fiancée may have a peculiar relationship, a relationship where it was hard to decide whether they were together because it was decided for them or because they were the only compatible people who could put up with each other. But there was one sure thing, they both suited each other to the point of it being even perfect to look at.“Gee, thanks for the support,” Iori mumbled under her breath and Rina laughed,“Oh come on Iori! We all know that no one is willing to confront Akagi-sama other than you. I face cold blooded criminals on a daily basis and I can’t stand to have a talk with that woman for longer than necessary. She sends chills down my spine every time she looks at me with that piercing gaze o