"How is the progress of the campaign?" Touma flipped the pages inside the file he was holding. They were a lot of numbers and graphs about the game he is going to launch another two weeks. He satisfied with the progress the team had shown for the project.
"We have released the teaser and the limited download has reached the full capacity. Each influencer we hired success on attracting the target crowd. They are currently posted with the suggested schedule as team marketing proposed."
'Young Master, can't you smile a bit to the good news?' He sighed. Ando couldn't help but wonder does every CEO must be expressionless and aloof? Touma's cheery character when he was small change 180 degrees after his mother died. Ando knows he still blamed himself for the death of hers but lately since Kahina came to his life, the smiles regularly appeared. It warms Ando's heart. There is no greatest feeling than seeing his Young Master's happiness.
"Are you sure?" Touma directed her gaze to Ando with a frown. Ando can detect his doubt but he decided to nod nonetheless.
"Then explain to me why Miss Ito performance did not follow as projection?"
Ahhh... Ando forgot about her.
"Even though she did not follow as predicted but it didn't fall far from it. Miss Ito currently having a personal problem she needs to tend."
"Didn't fall far from it?" Touma squints his eyes to the report then he closed it with a composed manner but obviously anybody can feel the irritation from him.
Ando knows he never accepted failure but this matter was Sarah own doing. Ando previously did everything he can to help her. Ando can feel his will power depleted rapidly and he only able to stare to the floor like a prisoner waiting for judgment from the judge.
"Ando, is it your incompetence need guidance?" Ando's knees instantly weaken. For him to stay stands require a lot of energy. Leave with no choice, he bows 90 degrees.
"I beg for your leniency, Young Master!" Touma almost burst with laughter to the white sheet face Ando has right now. Teasing Ando was a great pleasure and the best part was Ando always falls for it every single time. He was not mad at him. He knows Ando did his best in every task he gave. Whatever mistake Ando did, Touma always forgives him. No doubt about it.
"Hmm... Explain."
"Miss Ito had been harassed by unknown since she posted about your dinner with her last week. Her male fans have gone crazy over the thought she has a new boyfriend and some of them took it to another level."
'Hah! She deserved that!' Touma cheered to the news. He enjoyed the sweet sense of satisfaction to Sarah misfortune. The photo she posted last week brought him disaster the next morning.
Kahina was angry because she still thought they were having intercourse that night. How can he explained it was nothing to the woman that firmly said she heard 'everything' even though her claims supposed to be easily swayed with the fact she was drunk but he failed to do so. At last, he gave in to the punishment to appeased Kahina's anger. Touma hates the punishment she gave him but there was nothing he could do when she delivered him a black box with spicy chocolate in it.
He almost tears up upon the sight of it. Spicy food was not in favour with him and she had the idea to combine it with chocolate breaks his heart inside. She even makes it delicious. That wicked woman wanted him to crave for the deliciousness of the chocolate and still be tortured him with it. He still remembered the laughter she had as she enjoyed Touma's eyes and nose streams down with tears and mucus. It was the most embarrassing moment in his life!
"Find and terminate the stalkers." He raised his eyebrows to the Ando's hesitant look. Ando wanted to say something but he can't find the correct words.
"What's wrong?"
"I actually tried to do that but I couldn't find any of them as if they were protected by someone."
"Them? How many of them been protected?"
"Three."
He would be okay if only one stalker has a strong backer but the three of them? It is really strange. Sarah must offend a really powerful person to make the person went this far just to harm her this way. He wondered who did the backer is and what did Sarah do to the backer to receive this kind of punishment.
He also furious with Sarah when he saw the photo she posted on her Instagram but he couldn't find any reason to ask her to take it down because there is no indication to his identity neither did the caption meant anything if anyone really thinks about it even though it was intended to mislead. She just wanted attention and a driblet of his power. He chose to let it go because he knows it will be forgotten as time goes by.
"Send our security to protect her. Put the surveillance and find anything out of the norm around her. The stalkers must leave some evidence."
Despite he was already done it, Ando still nodded to Touma. He needs to be more vigilant about it this time. Ando doesn't want to let Touma down. It is not an option. He then firmly answered.
"Yes, Young Master."
"And if her condition turns unfit to the role we assigned, replace her with other influencers. I don't want her to drag the project down."
There he goes, the heartless Touma. Touma never let the problem hindered his goal furthermore he worked his ass off for this project. Anyone failed to deliver their words will be tossed away by him after he tried to squeeze everything from them. The business world is ruthless as the Yakuza world. So, he who lives in both needs to be merciless and determined. Ando recognize it and he promised himself, he would do everything he can to support Touma although it will cost him his life.
"I will."