(BL) Mafia Love; He who falls the hardest loses-Chapter 174: New Plan?
"Oh! So soon?" the man on the other end laughed. "I like that. I wanted to protect you but when I faced death, I knew there was no need to act all righteous when I could just get what I wanted."
The more the man spoke, the more Haruki felt the urge to throw his phone into the glass before him. It would be best if the window broke and let the phone drop dozens of floors down.
"I see you are coming around but . . . I can’t but feel sad knowing you are doing this to save your lover."
"I will see you tomorrow," Haruki said firmly. "Where do we meet?"
"I will hold a party tomorrow. Such development deserves one. I want you to look your finest. I want to show off what I spent years trying to score."
The joy in the man’s voice was so evident. Haruki couldn’t imagine the humiliation he would experience during the party. He had no choice though. It was all aligning with his plans, it was best to dance to the tune played.
"Tomorrow at ten pm at my house."
"Sure."
"Let’s celebrate your birthday too. It . . ."
Hearing the man mention his birthday gave him enough courage to pull the phone away and end the call. The last person he wanted wishing him happy birthday was this man.
He expected Aiichiro to call him again angrily but the man must have known he crossed a line, he didn’t call him back.
He only hoped Kataro wasn’t badly injured. He had no feelings for him but he could understand Kataro’s anger. The young man had sold his body, endured all the pain of being with someone like Haruki just to avenge his brother.
He had made up his mind to kill Aiichiro which would give Kataro the vengeance he wanted. Shinya died because of him and he felt the need to take responsibility for the death of his lover.
He called for Satomi. A knock came on the door less than a minute later and he invited him in. Satomi stood behind Haruki as Haruki continued to stare outside the window.
"I need a favour from you," Haruki said calmly. At this point, he was almost certain that there was no amount of financial compensation he wanted to give Satomi that could be comparable to what she had done for him.
"Say it," Satomi’s voice came smaller than usual.
Haruki hesitated but he turned the chair to face her. "I am sorry," he apologised as soon as he noticed how pale she had gotten. He could see the wetness in her eyes. He could understand her feelings but this was no time to pay it any heed.
"I need you to announce our breakup. You can be as cruel as you want to be, I will face the backlash," he told her as warmly as he could.
She looked down at her hands clasped and shook her head. "I will announce it. There is no need to feel guilty. I knew this was going to happen."
"Regardless of that, I have not been the kindest to you and your family. I will apologise to your father sincerely for all the disrespect. But I really need it to be announced today."
She pressed her lips tightly together before raising her head to meet his gaze. Her eyes held determination and her eyes were calm and void of emotions as she said, "I will do that immediately."
"Thank you. As soon as I handle what I have to, I will ask you for whatever you want. Take this time to think of the compensation you deserve."
"My father might not be very kind with his demand though," she said a small smile lifting a corner of her lips.
Haruki had to hold back an obvious sigh of relief seeing her accept his order. "Thanks for the warning. I will be sure to be well prepared." 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢
She bowed slightly and Haruki noticed the engagement ring she wore. Kiyoshi got it for her. She looked calm and collected which was perfect to ease his mind but that didn’t excuse the weight of what he had done to her.
She had always been a loyal and efficient employee and he treated her and paid her as such. Crossing the professional background they shared to make things personal was unkind.
He knew she had feelings for him which was what made him confident when he made his request. She was so talented that many wanted her in other positions but she refused and stayed on his side for the past few years.
It was different from the man who wanted to ruin what he built for his obsession.
***
"She announced the breakup," Kiyoshi announced on their way back home. "According to what she said, her father was against the relationship between you two causing the breakup."
"I thought she would be as cruel as I wanted her to be for vengeance but she used her father," Haruki sighed. She was nice it only made his guilt intensify.
"I think that’s the truth. After missing the dinner you were to have with them, I don’t think he thought very fondly of you," Kiyoshi said factually.
Haruki nodded. That should ease his heart of its worries but that didn’t help either. He missed a dinner meeting with someone as powerful as her father and all the man did was tell his daughter not to marry him.
Satomi was determined to keep the relationship going for as long as Haruki wanted it to and when he asked her to end it, she decided to use that fact to end it all.
Most people knew he was engaged but they hadn’t made her identity public and that was the best thing he could do for her. It was not certain that they would last until marriage even when he was certain he wanted that normalcy.
"I wonder what she will ask for as compensation," Haruki murmured under his breath and looked out of the window.
He could see that Kiyoshi had something at the tip of his tongue that was so difficult to hold back. He didn’t want to ask him what it was until Kiyoshi was unable to hold back just as they drove up to the house.
"Dr Yamamoto sent a birthday cake. He wanted me to tell you he didn’t fail and that you shouldn’t attend the party."
Haruki who was about to step out of the open door, looked back at Kiyoshi. "What do you mean?"
"I had the cake sent home for you but I felt it was only right I tell you before you see it."
Haruki turned away and stepped out of the car. The message was clear enough. However, he could not bring himself to agree with not attending the birthday.
"Tell him to halt whatever he is planning. He shouldn’t cause any more mess," Haruki ordered Kiyoshi walking behind him.
"I think . . ." Kiyoshi began but held back from continuing. He could not bring himself to come between them. He hurried and passed by Haruki and blocked his path into the elevator. "Could you promise me you won’t do anything dangerous?"
Haruki met Kiyoshi’s gaze calmly. "What do you mean?"
"I don’t know what you are planning and you don’t want to tell me. I just worry about your safety." Kiyoshi clasped his hands together and bowed slightly.
"You have nothing to worry about," Haruki said patting Kiyoshi. He passed by him and walked to the stairway instead.
Kiyoshi could see Haruki had no intention of going any further with the discussion but he didn’t want to give up. He rushed after Haruki and blocked his path spreading his hands wide apart.
"I need some sort of assurance," Kiyoshi appealed.
Haruki felt the urge to sigh but he shook his head and met Kiyoshi’s gaze sternly. "Are you trying to control me?"
Kiyoshi’s gaze dropped at such an accusation. He bowed his head deeply and shook it. "No, I have given my life to ensuring your safety. That is what I chose to do and I would never give up on doing that. I won’t stop at anything that is why I need some assurance that you’re not going to get hurt."
Haruki knew more than anyone how loyal Kiyoshi was to him but he had no intention of sharing his plan with anyone else. "Believe the plan I made with you," he said since they had been planning before Aiichiro’s attack.
"No, I know this is a new plan. Breaking off your engagement now was not part of the plan," Kiyoshi said his voice as low as it could enabling only Haruki to hear their conversation.
"Just a little distraction," Haruki said stepping close to Kiyoshi and placing his hand on his shoulder. "A distraction for our target. A bait?" he whispered leaning close to him.
"Then don’t go tomorrow. I heard he invited everyone in your friends circle and beyond."
"I will go, you have nothing to worry about. I won’t die."
