After coming out from a cubicle, Tsubaki washed her hands. She stared at her reflection on the big mirror before her. She smiled in relief as she saw her appearance was still immaculate as earlier. Adjusting the sapphire necklace around her neck, she thought back to the celebration happening right now.
It was different from what she had initially thought. As Kanako said, Grandma just let the helpers to handle the gifts presented by the guests instead of letting the guests showing off among each other. She knew the price of the gifts weren't one she could easily buy.
The guests were mingling with each other, exchanging pleasantries while waiting to greet Grandma. There was a musical group performing their pieces but that was it. There was no anything extravagant for Grandma's celebration birthday.
"I guess Grandma really prefer a simple celebration," mumbled Tsubaki to herself.
Tsubaki took a tissue paper and wiped her hands. After making sure there was really nothing wrong with her appearance, she stepped outside from the washroom.
As she walked in the hallway, she saw the girl who helped the poor helper who got slapped by Miss Subaru. She quickly called out to her.
"Yes, Madam? May I help you?" The girl swiftly attended to her lady.
"How's the girl, her name is Taki right? Has she been tended by the doctor?" asked Tsubaki, a bit regretful as she forgot to ask for the girl's condition earlier. She looked at the name tag on the girl's uniform. Rinko.
"Taki is fine, thank you for asking, Madam," answered Rinko with a smile. "Old Yuuzo allowed her to rest. Her cheek is quite swollen but otherwise she's fine."
"That's good to hear," Tsubaki smiled in relief. "Let me know if there's anything else. Or you could tell Old Yuuzo if I'm not available."
"Will do, Madam." Rinko nodded. "If there's nothing else, I'll head to the kitchen first."
"Yes, yes, you may. Thanks for your hard work." Tsubaki didn't want to delay the girl any longer. She was obviously in a hurry.
"You're welcome, Madam," replied Rinko good-naturedly. She bowed to Tsubaki once before she turned on her heels to the kitchen.
Tsubaki watched the helper disappeared behind a large door. She clasped her hands, still feeling nervous even though Rinko said Taki was fine. She still needed to check on her herself. And the matter involving Miss Subaru hadn't been resolved yet.
She didn't want to simply brush off this matter. The truth hadn't been revealed yet. How could she be a mistress of the household if she didn't seek justice for her own employees?
As Tsubaki was thinking, she heard a sound of heavy footsteps approaching her from behind. She turned her head, looking at the man who she had known.
It was President Subaru, Miss Subaru's father. What a coincidence.
"Mrs. Fuse, may I speak with you?" The bald old man carefully asked her. The expression on his face was one of wanting to please someone.
"It is about your daughter, President Subaru?" Tsubaki didn't beat around the bush. She went straight to the point.
President Subaru startled as the lady in front of him being straightforward. She didn't even mind to mask her thoughts.
Coughing once, he said, "Yes, Mrs. Fuse. It's about my daughter."
"What about her? Did she tell you the truth about what has happened?"
"Err... Yes..." President Subaru clenched his fists, trying to form better words before continuing to speak. "She said... She was indeed at fault. The helper was trying to walk pass her but she suddenly moved and collided with the helper. That's what happened, she said."
"Then, it's her fault to begin with," said Tsubaki bluntly.
"Err.. Yes. My daughter was at fault! So..." President Subaru hesitated. He stared at the wife of Fuse Ren a few times as cold sweat breaking on his forehead. "So... Could she see you and President Fuse to ask for forgiveness? She knows she's the one at the wrong."
Tsubaki narrowed her eyes, she was actually trying from rolling her eyes towards the man before her.
He was a president of a multi-millions company yet he couldn't comprehend what her husband had said in his warning?
"President Subaru, I'm sorry but I think you've mistook my husband's message. He asked for you to find out the truth and if your daughter is the one at wrong, she needs to ask for forgiveness from the girl she slapped, not from us."
"But... Mrs. Fuse..." President Subaru trailed off. He didn't expect to be corrected by this woman. "To ask for forgiveness from the girl... I..."
"If you're really sorry for what happened, you know you daughter owes an apology to our employee. Your daughter slapped our employee, not us. She humiliated the poor girl in front of the other guests. Do you think such an experience could be forgotten easily, moreover without any apology from the one who caused the pain?"
Tsubaki saw the clear hesitation in the man's face. For an arrogant heiress like Miss Subaru to admit her fault and ask for forgiveness from an ordinary person, of course it'd be like a slap in the face. How could she endure the humiliation? But Tsubaki wouldn't back down. Miss Subaru needed to be taught a lesson. If not, there would be another person became her victim in the future.
"Please tell your daughter, we'd welcome her if she wanted to apologize to Taki, the girl she hurt earlier," said Tsubaki after a moment of silence. "If there's nothing else, please excuse me, President Subaru. I need to return to the hall."
Tsubaki bowed lightly to the old man and started to walk away from him. But she just took a few steps before President Subaru suddenly grabbed her hand. Tsubaki was startled. She quickly turned back and faced the man again. She pulled her hand from his grip.
"What it is, President Subaru?" asked Tsubaki. Her tone turned cold.
"Mrs. Fuse, I have a rare collection of jewelry in my possession," said President Subaru with a smile on his face. "If you'd do me the honor and pick the one you take a fancy on, could you please forgive my daughter? And tell good words to President Fuse?"
Tsubaki frowned. This man was clearly trying to bribe her to end this matter as quickly as possible. She wanted to scoff, but another person had done it for her. It came from her back.
"Do you think your jewelry collection could be compared to the ones President Fuse has or could buy for his wife, President Subaru?"
Tsubaki turned toward the direction of the voice. An elegant woman dressed in violet long dress walked over to them. Her eyes held contempt towards President Subaru.
"Mrs. Souma, please don't interfere in my business with Mrs. Fuse," said President Subaru while suppressing his displeasure of being interrupted.
"Do you not learn any lesson?" The woman called Mrs. Souma asked in a stern voice. "If President Fuse knows you're trying to buy your way out of this, do you think he wouldn't make matters difficult to you?"
President Subaru gritted his teeth. His stare was akin to daggers trying to stab the woman in the violet dress.
Where did she come from? Can't she mind her own business?!