"So... you kidnap me to come here?"
Akashi looked as if he had been wronged. He glared at Ren. After Ren had successfully kidnapped him outside the police station, he was brought to a private garden owned by him. He turned around and looked at the surroundings.
This garden was obviously well kept by the gardeners. Various kinds of flowers bloomed in the huge garden. Under the moonlight, it looked as if it was the Garden of Eden itself, creating an ethereal and romantic atmosphere.
I should be here with hot girls not with some ice block! Akashi could only complain inwardly.
"Speak. There's no one here." Ren sat on a white wrought iron chair. He leaned against it and crossed his slender legs.
"Yeah, yeah." Akashi took a seat opposite his friend. "I have investigated the matter that you asked me."
Ren arched an eyebrow. "And?"
"The most suspicious ones are Maruyawa Akira and Souma Hisato. Yagi Takashi could be linked to Mr. Maruyama through the mob boss but I got the information that one of Mr. Souma's most trusted men appeared within your wife's village proximity for a few times before Yagi Takashi disappeared. Or rather, before the accident took place."
Ren didn't immediately respond to what Akashi had been saying. He looked down, lost in his thoughts. Speculations formed in his mind, trying to find an answer.
"Take notice of Mr. Souma," he said after a few minutes of silence. "Ignore Mr. Maruyama."
"Are you sure? Why?" Akashi didn't know how his friend came to such a decision. Did he know something?
"I need to make certain of it first."
Ren swiftly stood up and walked toward his car. As he didn't seem like he would stop, Akashi jumped on his feet.
"Dude! Where are you going?"
"Home. My wife is waiting for me." Ren answered without looking back. He opened the car door and got inside.
"Hey! Are you leaving me here? My car is still at the police station!" Akashi ran to get to the car. "Give me a ride there!"
"Find your own ride. I don't want to make a detour." Ren locked the door and wounded down the window. "You can claim your taxi ride for your next paycheck."
"What..." Akashi was speechless as he watched the car left the garden.
He just wanted to have some fun after working hard but now he was left stranded in the middle of a flower garden? What a bad luck!
Spring Garden.
Hibiki was guarding the door with two other bodyguards when Ren finally arrived. He didn't usually post his bodyguards near his unit but because Tsubaki was left alone inside, he couldn't rest easy despite knowing Spring Garden had the top level of security.
"Mr. President." They greeted Ren as he walked out from the elevator.
"Anything happened?" Ren dismissed the two bodyguards and spoke to Hibiki.
"Nothing, sir. The madam is still sleeping." Hibiki reported.
"You may go now." Ren patted the younger man's right shoulder before opened the door.
"Yes. Good night, sir." Hibiki retreated.
Hibiki was Ren's right hand man alongside Matsuzaki. While Chief Assistant Matsuzaki mostly deal with the internal affairs of the company, Ren left the external matters to Hibiki. They had known each other since two decades ago, when Head Butler Yuuzo brought a skinny boy back to the old house. Since then, Hibiki was trained to assist Ren.
Ren piched the space between his eyebrows. Closing the door, he took off his trench coat. It was dark inside. Only moonlight shone through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting its glow.
"You're back?"
A soft voice welcomed his presence. Ren turned his head to the sound. Tsubaki was standing at the corner in the midst of darkness. With her back to the moonlight, he could only see her face faintly.
She was like an angel. Descended from the heavens to grace him with her presence.
"Why did you awake?" He walked toward her, voice tinged with concerns. "You can't sleep?"
"I woke up when Hibiki came to check on me for a moment. Then I went to look for you. Your bedroom was empty. Where did you go at this hour?" Tsubaki took her husband's coat and folded it on her hand.
"Something came up." Ren smiled aplogetically. "I didn't want to wake you up so I instructed Hibiki to guard you."
"Was it about Kitaoji Masaru?" Tsubaki peered at his face, smiling softly.
Ren feigned his shock. He looked at her with a dejected face as if he had been wronged. "My dear wife, can't you not be too smart?"
Tsubaki laughed. She playfully punched her husband's chest. "I just guessed it. So, I was right?"
Instead of answering Tsubaki, Ren opened his arms. "Could I get a hug?"
Didn't bother to continue being shy around her own husband, Tsubaki wrapped her arms around his slender waist. He immediately returned the gesture. She looked up, looking at him silently for a moment before she opened her mouth. A melodious sound of her voice soothed his heart.
"What's wrong? Did he upset you?"
Ren took one hand off her waist and gently placed it on her cheek. Looking directly into her eyes, he answered, "I don't care if he wanted to insult me but he won't get away from slandering you. And I won't let you suffer again."
Tsubaki nodded her head. She smiled appreciatively at his firm voice. Feeling safe, she rested her head against his chest. Tsubaki didn't realise the man smiled contentedly before he played with her silky locks.