Oroshi hopped into his car and headed to the pier. The ferry wouldn’t be there for another hour, but nothing could shake his mood.

  He beamed as he recalled the groveling Gaijin. He wished he could have taken a video of it. He would have made a special showing of it for Kaori in his dungeon. Netflix and Chill, he thought with a grin. No matter. He could find other ways to pass the time. There was so much to be done and now that she was officially dead, he wouldn’t have to hold back. He didn’t need to preserve enough of her sanity to be useful, or to share her with anyone else. She was not just a tool to use to gain leverage.

  He wondered an instant if the Gaijin had told the truth. More than a week spent close together, and they hadn’t done anything? Could he believe that? Maybe. The sniveling moron seemed too much of a coward to dare to make a move. And Kaori? Would Kaori even grace such a man?

  She belonged to him. Kaori was his, and his alone, at his entire disposition, a fantastic canvas for his art. She fought back when she was caught this morning but 2 cc of sedative turned her into a willing puppet and he had his men deliver her to his hotel suite in Phuket.

  He pictured her body, bound and gagged, waiting his pleasure. He would have to keep her gagged, though. The hotel was not a proper dungeon, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t get things started. A professional couldn’t blame his tools or the circumstances, he’d start with what he had now, and when his jet arrived in Phuket, he’d introduce her to the mile-high club. It would only get better from there.

  She was such a lucky girl, to be given the privilege to serve him exclusively.

  He glanced to the pier. The ferry was slowly approaching and he felt annoyed by the delays. He had so many ideas, and he was riding high from finally crushing the bug who dared to defy him.

  When he arrived at the hotel, he hopped out of the car and threw the keys at a valet. He rushed across the lobby.

  “Good morning, Sir.” the receptionist said with a large smile.

  “Suite 2039.” his tone was a bit harsh and he reined himself in, continuing with a charming smile: “If you please.”

  “Certainly, Sir.” she answered, placing the key into his hand, her fingertips brushing his palm. She gave him a suggestive smile. He was rich, handsome and charming.

  All women belonged to him, and the cute receptionist was no exception, but he had something far better waiting upstairs.

  He swiped his key in the lock and walked in his salon.

  This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

  “Ah, here you are, I was starting to wonder.”

  Oroshi froze.

  Masamune was sitting in his chair, feet resting on the low table. Oroshi scanned the room. Kaori was nowhere in sight. Instead, the two bodyguards had taken position behind him. They were Masamune’s men, of course. He forced himself to relax.

  “Here, have a seat, Roshi-kun.”

  Oroshi hated when his father used that nickname. Some people used nicknames as a sign of affection, but for his father, it was a reminder that he still viewed him as a child, to be treated as one. He seldom liked whatever came after “Roshi-kun,” and he felt very sure he wouldn’t like this either.

  “Yes father.” He said, sitting on a smaller chair in front of Masamune. The chair had been chosen on purpose, he knew it, but had not choice on the matter.

  “Well done, it appears you managed to clean up the loose ends. You are to be congratulated for that.” Masamune’s tone was anything but congratulatory.

  “Thank you, father.”

  “We have however not discussed your punishment for causing this entire situation.”

  There it was. Would Masamune kill him now? That’s what he would do in his place, he was becoming too dangerous. Oroshi remained silent, waiting for his father to continue.

  “Since you failed to keep Kaori as a wife when I gave her to you, I have decided that you shall not have her at all. I will keep her for myself.”

  Oroshi winced. He half expected to be killed, but he had not expected Masamune to steal his prey. Not now! He had conquered Kaori himself! She was his! And once again, his father was stealing from him at the last minute. Just a few days ago, he had taken Daisuke’s company right in front of him. Wasn’t that bad enough? And now, his daughter!

  “Didn’t I deliver Daisuke’s company with the merger? Why can’t I have Kaori? She’s no use to anyone and I won her!” he seethed, but managed to control himself.

  “That is exactly why you can’t have her. Don’t you understand? Kaori as your wife was legitimacy. She was the heart of the country, its soul even. SHE was every bit as valuable as Daisuke’s companies. And now that she’s legally “dead”, you turned her into nothing more than a toy, a liability even. And NO, you aren’t getting that toy as a reward for screwing everything up!” Masamune’s voice was hard as steel.

  Oroshi bowed his head. His father was right, as usual. A dead Kaori was only an ornament, a prize. Breaking her would take a few weeks at most, and then what? Fun but ultimately irrelevant, a distraction, nothing more.

  His plans were far greater than some aging movie star and his anger faded as he considered the future ahead of him. Masamune could have her, for now. He looked up, suppressing any hint of defiance from his gaze.

  “Your orders, father?”

  “You will come back with me and get to work with Mashiro Industries. By the end of the year, I want you to know everything there is to know about all of their operations.”