The meeting was scheduled to take place at the headquarters of the Flugel Conglomerate, which was also located in Shibuya.
When the car arrived in front of a towering building, Shido stepped out and made his way toward the entrance. There, he spotted Rinko waiting for him, a warm smile on her face.
She was dressed in professional attire, which gave her the appearance of a capable and sharp-looking secretary.
Shido smiled back at her as he approached and said, "You didn't really have to wait for me at the entrance, you know? Are you tired?"
Although he appreciated her diligence, Rinko's unwavering dedication to her work also made Shido sigh helplessly.
Rinko, however, was happy by his concern. She shook her head lightly and replied with a gentle smile, "Mmm, waiting for you isn't tiring at all, Itsuka-sama."
Since they were inside the company, Rinko addressed Shido formally. Despite the large age gap between them, she couldn't help but feel that Shido was far more mature and composed than most people she knew.
This caused a strange feeling to rise within her, one she hadn't felt in a long time. It was a feeling Rinko knew all too well, yet had tried to bury deep inside. After all, she had once experienced it before… only to be betrayed and let down by the very person she had trusted the most.
Perhaps because they were standing so close, Rinko could feel her heartbeat gradually quickening. The faint mix of Shido's perfume and his natural scent reached her, blending together in a way that was very pleasant.
Unconsciously, her face grew warm, and a soft blush colored her cheeks.
Noticing this strange changes of hers, Shido's lips twitched inwardly and he have an idea what this secretary of his was thinking. However, he pretended not to notice it and casually placed a hand on her forehead as if checking her temperature. "What's wrong Rinko? You're face is kind of red, are you feeling unwell?"
"Y-Yeah, I'm fine, Itsuka-sama. A-Anyway, let's go now. Yuuki-san is already waiting for us in the Executive Meeting Room." Rinko was caught off guard by Shido's sudden gesture, not expecting him to touch her forehead.
But as his secretary, she quickly managed to compose herself, and her expression returned to normal, though a faint pink still lingered on her cheeks, making her look even more charming.
Shido couldn't help but let his gaze linger on Rinko's slightly flushed skin, especially around her neckline, it was unexpectedly alluring, and for a moment, he wondered if she was teasing him on purpose. Still, being skilled at hiding his emotions, his expression remained neautral.
Rinko didn't notice at first, but when she caught his subtle glance, a quiet sense of pride welled up within her as Shido seemed to be attracted to her body made her lips curl into a faint smile.
Still, as Yuuki Kyouko was waiting for them, Shido and Rinko decided to head towards the Executive Meeting Room leaving behind the small chapter of flirtatious moment.
However, since Yuuki Kyouko was waiting for them, Shido and Rinko soon set aside their brief, flirtatious moment and made their way toward the Executive Meeting Room.
Along the way, many employees of the Flugel Conglomerate greeted Shido with awe and enthusiasm. He had become something of an idol within the company, admired for achieving such prominence in the business world despite his young age.
In return, Shido nodded and greeted them with a warm smile, causing many of the employees, especially the women, to blush in excitement.
...
Inside the Executive Meeting Room, Yuuki Kyouko was waiting alone, patiently seated. Kyouko was a fairly tall, middle-aged woman. Even though she is slender, her well-toned frame removes any sense of slimness. Her hair was short and dyed in a rich, brown color, is parted to the sides neatly cut along her jaw.
Although her expression remained calm and her sharp eyes gave off an air of composure, the nervousness in her body was hard to hide, after all, she was about to meet the big boss of the Flugel Conglomerate.
Of course, Kyouko knew who the man behind the Flugel Conglomerate was. He had caused quite a stir in the business world over the past few months and had even risen to become one of the richest individuals in Japan.
That alone showed just how talented and capable he was. Naturally, Kyouko had gathered as much information about him as she could, so she was already quite familiar with Shido. Still, the first time she saw his photo, she had to admit, he was exceptionally handsome.
The thought made her sigh softly. If only her husband had even a tenth of Shido's competence, then they might not have been forced to sell their company to someone else.
Thinking of this, Kyouko couldn't help but scold her husband for being so naïve as to trust Sugou, the man responsible for the entire mess of their company. Then, her thoughts drifted to her daughter who she was no longer that close, having grown distant due to her own neglect and focus on work.
They would often argue whenever they had disagreements, and those arguments only grew more frequent over time. Kyouko sighed again, a faint heaviness clouding her heart, as she wondered if she had failed as a mother. Their bond, once warm and close, seemed to fade a little more with each passing year.
Yet this also made Kyouko think of her late parents, and recalled the memories of her childhood which was a bit difficult but filled with warmth. Still as she resented her status that was born from a family of farmers, Kyouko changed to strive.
And yes, she had succeeded. But now, it all felt meaningless. Kyouko found herself missing her parents deeply, yet it was too late. She knew she had neglected them, so she was afraid and ashamed to visit their graves.
She felt her eyes starting to get wet, so she hurriedly wiped them away, not wanting Shido to think of her as a strange woman. Kyouko had dressed in a blend of simplicity and elegance today, hoping to make a good impression on Shido so that their business deal would be successful.
Kyouko wore a fitted navy-blue business suit that highlighted her professionalism, paired with a white silk blouse underneath. Her heels clicked softly against the marble floor with each step, and she wore simple pearl earrings that added a touch of grace without being overly flashy.
Her attire was not too flashy, yet it didn't lose the vibrance of her elegant and mature demeanor. It was just enough to look professional and put-together for the meeting.
Knock Knock
Suddenly, a knock came from the door, catching Kyouko's attention. A moment later, it opened, revealing Rinko, the one who had led her to this room earlier. However, what caught Kyouko's attention the most was the person following behind her.
'He's even more handsome in person.'