“Well, I wasn’t going to bother you, but something was bothering me.” Natsuko leaned in across Alicia’s desk. The scent of floral perfume was heavy in Alicia’s nose. Cherry blossoms. Quaint. “Shortly after my father delivered that news to me, he came back with the strangest request. He wanted me to meet with Russell Moreau instead of his daughter!”
“What?”
“Yes, that was my reaction.” Natsuko wrinkled her nose. “My father is not the bluntest man I know, especially toward me, his only daughter. We have a very professional relationship. I suppose that’s why he approached me professionally to say he wanted to broker a marriage between me and Russell!”
“What!”
“Sou.” Natsuko pulled out a handkerchief and brushed something off her hand. “My father would have me become your step-mother-in-law.”
“Wow.” Russell really wanted the Matsudas’ money, apparently.
“If that wasn’t enough, I was then told that part of the deal was becoming pregnant as soon as possible.”
Alicia was speechless. Yet, she was also not surprised.Heirs.He wants an heir who will compete with his own daughter’s. Russell’s drive to have as much control as possible knew no bounds. He would oust his own grandchild as heir if it meant his new son or daughter could take over. How did inheritance work in this family, again? Would Danica’s sibling come before her own child?
“Fuck.”
“That’s what I said.” Natsuko sat back up. “I thought you should know.”
“Are you accepting the offer?”
Natsuko snorted. “It’s a very attractive offer and would do wonders for my own family, not to mention yours. The Moreaushave been trying to expand in East Asia for years. My family is a good catalyst to make that happen. But…”
“You have some hesitations.”
“If I were to agree to a marriage of convenience, I would’ve much rather married your wife, yes. I can’t say I’m excited by the prospect of having a husband as old as my father. I have a lot to think about.” Her eyes flickered. “You’re an insider now. What are your opinions?”
Alicia bit her lip. “Honestly? Think very carefully about it. I know Russell’s ex-wife. Neither she nor I has nice things to say about that man.” Alicia swallowed. “I don’t think most of the women in this office do.”
“I’ve heard things, yes.” Natsuko stood, purse strap secured to her shoulder. “I’m a tough woman who is used to getting what she wants, Mrs. Moreau. Except I have to weigh the pros and cons. Without Danica’s further interests, I have a lot more to think about. Thank you for your opinions. Perhaps I will see you around.”
Dee showed Natsuko out. Alicia sat in her office, alone, debating whether to call her wife about this matter.Does she know her father is trying to remarry and have more children?With any luck, Russell wouldn’t live long enough to fuck up another son or daughter – or wife, for that matter. Yet this move was so transparent that even Danica had to see what her father was up to.
Alicia opened her bottom drawer to pull out some of her personal documents. However, the moment she disturbed the top paper, she saw the manila envelope Russell had dropped off over a week ago.
No. Don’t even.Alicia pulled it out and let it flop onto her desk.Burn it, Alicia. Put it through the shredder. This never existed.
A blown-up black and white photo stuck out from the opening.
She saw the same obsidian hair that had just walked out of her office.
No.
Alicia knew what she was going to see even before pulling out the stack of private investigator photos.
Danica.Danica.Natsuko.
Danica and Natsuko, sitting together at the fundraisers the former went to without her wife. Having a dance at a gala in New York when Alicia was stuck in the hospital yet again. Eating together… alone… with only a bodyguard to watch over them. Different outfits. Different moods on their faces.
Always sitting close together. Touching. Talking. Cozy and comfortable.
One particularly incriminating photo showed them standing in front of a hotel.A. Hotel.
You…
Alicia held the picture up to the light. Her wife had one hand on Natsuko’s back, a tender touch that she should only show her wife.
What was that on Natsuko’s hand? The photo may have been in black and white, but she recognized a ruby ring on Natsuko’s left hand when she saw it. Marquise cut.
