After holding her close to him for a while, he gently pulled away from her. With a refreshed state, he promised her to keep her words in mind. Tsubaki kissed him goodbye as he was preparing to leave. She didn't close the door until she saw him entered the elevator.
Once she closed the door, she immediately got her phone from her handbag. Her deft fingers typing on the screen as a smile bloomed on her face.
Ding!
It was sent.
Ren had just stepped out from the elevator when there was a notification chimed in. He quickly took out his phone from the pocket since it was the notification he had saved for Tsubaki.
It was a message from her.
Camellia of the Spring: I'll miss you! It's okay if you want to work hard but don't forget to have your meal 💋 🥀
A smile formed on his face. He chuckled softly, feeling thankful over her attempt to cheer him up. He typed a reply.
Love the Red Camellia: See you tonight, love 💗
Ren headed straight to the company. Matsuzaki had been waiting for him. The poor man was so thankful to finally see his Boss coming his way. He immediately went to his side, opening a folder in his hands.
"The problems in Summer City Hotel's construction site have been resolved. The authorities has already notified that we could start the construction again. The letter has arrived." Matsuzaki handed the thin folder to Ren.
"How about the injured employees?" Ren scanned the details on the printed papers. Even though he appeared nonchalant as ever, Matsuzaki could tell he was in a good mood.
"The doctors have signed the discharge papers and the bills have been paid. Except for the worker whose leg got amputated, Mr. Oda. He still needs to be under surveillance."
Ren remembered the snippets of his conversation with the supervisors of the construction site. Apparently the old man needed to take care of his grandchildren. Losing this job would mean he would lose his only source of income.
"Find a desk work for Mr. Oda or anything he could do within his capability. Don't dismiss him. And let the others take two more weeks of rest."
"Understood, Master."
Ren went inside his office while Matsuzaki went to complete his job. He stared at the high pile of documents on his table. Sighing inwardly, he walked over to them.
Ren took off his coat and hung it on the coat stand. He took one of the documents, casually scanning its contents.
Today is going to be a long day, Ren sighed.
He immediately started working. If he delayed any longer, it would take him long for him to finish these resulting in him going home late. As he was working, he was tempted to call his wife to check on her condition but he stopped himself from doing so.
Right now, it was right for him to give her some space for herself.
Halfway through his work, two knocks echoed against the door. Matsuzaki opened the door, looking at his boss who was working non-stop till he arrived at the office.
"Master, Master Takuma is here. He wants to see you," reported Matsuzaki as he glanced at the door behind him.
As both of them had the same surname, Matsuzaki referred to Takuma as Master Takuma. After all, the head of the family was Fuse Ren.
"Takuma?" Ren's brows shot up slightly.
"Hello, cousin!" Takuma's cheery voice boomed from outside before a figure clad in a burgundy leather jacket stepped inside the office. As usual, he tied his long hair into a low ponytail.
"Aren't you supposed to return to Europe today?" Ren closed the document in front of him. Het got up from his swivel chair, gesturing for Takuma to have a seat on the couch.
"In eight hours, yes," replied Takuma. He freely walked over to the couch opposite his cousin, slumping his tall body on it.
"Master, it's already past lunch hour," Matsuzaki said from the side. "Should I order your lunch and Master Takuma's?"
"You haven't had lunch?" Takuma asked in shock. He immediately looked at his wristwatch. "It's already 2:30 PM! What a workaholic you are to abandon your lunchtime?"
"Prepare for two," Ren ignored Takuma, directly speaking to Matsuzaki.
"Nah, I'm good," Takuma refused as he looked at Matsuzaki. "Just get an iced Americano for me. I've had my lunch before coming here."
"Understood, Master, Master Takuma."
Matsuzaki swiftly left the office to the two of them. He immediately ordered the chefs in the dining hall for the employees to prepare their President's lunch. It had been a while since the last time they prepared a complete set of lunch for their Big Boss since their lady-boss started sending homemade meal boxes to him.
"Grandma said cousin-in-law was hospitalized. Is she okay already?" Takuma remembered what Grandma had told him two days ago. He didn't come to visit since he understood his cousin's temperament.
"She's at home, resting." Ren stretched his legs before crossed his right one over the left. He stared indifferently at Takuma. "Are you here because you already made your choice?"
Takuma snickered. "You're really being straightforward with me? Yes, I already made my choice so I came here to tell you before I'm going back to Europe."
"And?" Ren raised his brows, anticipating Takuma's answer.
"I accept your challenge," replied Takuma. He looked so confident with a smug smile formed on his handsome face. "I'll be handing my resignation letter to my superior as soon as possible. The handover period should be around 30 days so please wait for my return."
Ren sneered. "I'll give our latest project to you. If you could successfully wrap the project within the next three years and triple the profits, the position is all yours. Or if your performance surpassed my expectation, it'd be earlier than that."
A loud laugh escaped Takuma's lips. "Knowing you, you want to throw the position to me right now, right? And let me deal with the headaches because of the company's systems?"
Ren just smiled, he didn't offer Takuma any verbal answer.
Matsuzaki returned with Ren's lunch and Takuma's drink. Takuma spent the time accompanying his cousin until he finished his lunch. They spoke about various kinds of topics, ranging from their personal lives to the company's affairs. Even though it was mostly a one-sided conversation where Takuma was the one who had been talking non-stop.
"I'll be going then," said Takuma. He stood up from his seat, didn't forget to finish the rest of the iced Americano.
"The next time you come back, you'd have a huge responsibility waiting for you." Ren too stood up, he stood casually before him.
"Got it!"
Without any words of farewell, the two cousins parted. Takuma casually waved at Ren as he walked out of the doors. Ren slipped his hands inside his pockets, his eyes watching Takuma's figure disappeared from his sight.
Ren turned around on his heels, walking over to his table. He had just wanted to resume his work when a quote he had read somewhere else before flashed in his mind. Taking his phone from the top of the table, he immediately typed the quote in the messaging app.
Ding!
The message had been sent.