Ryo stepped out of the shrine, his mind still reeling from the shrine maiden's words. The ancient curse, the impossible task, and the weight of responsibility were all weighing heavily on him. He knew he had to play the role of Ryo Harada perfectly if he wanted to survive, but that didn't make the situation any less daunting.
As he approached his car, the driver looked at him with a questioning gaze, clearly unsure of where Ryo wanted to go next. Before Ryo could say anything, his phone rang again, interrupting his thoughts. He glanced at the screen and saw the name flashing—Emi.
He answered the call, "Yes, Emi?"
"President, you need to come to the office immediately. There's an urgent matter that needs your attention," Emi's voice was sharp and professional, though there was a hint of anxiety beneath it.
Ryo nodded, even though she couldn't see him. "I'll be there soon."
He ended the call and sighed, realizing that he didn't have time to dwell on the curse right now. He had to manage the company, and if he was going to act like Ryo Harada, he needed to do it convincingly.
As the car sped towards the company's headquarters, Ryo couldn't help but think about the sheer magnitude of the business he was now in charge of. The Harada Corporation wasn't just any company; it was a global empire located in Tokyo with interests in everything from technology to real estate but not limited to anything. Managing it was like trying to control a vast, complex machine with countless moving parts. Even a small mistake could have catastrophic consequences, not just for him but for thousands of employees and countless more people whose lives were affected by the corporation's actions.
He had the authority to single handle collapse the economy of the country with one wrong stop which could be fatal for almost everyone including his own life. It wasn't exaggerating to say that Ryo might be one of the most valuable human in the current era because of his influence.
"How does anyone handle this?" Ryo muttered to himself as he stared out the window. "Running a company this massive is like trying to steer a ship through a storm—one wrong move, and everything could collapse."
It wasn't just about making decisions; it was about making the absolute right decisions every single time. The pressure was immense, and Ryo wasn't even the real Ryo Harada. He was just a man thrust into this role, trying to survive in a world that wasn't his own. Yet, if he was going to make it, he had to manage this company as if it were his lifeblood.
"While I was Kamiya, I managed my own business, but the scale of these two are not even close," Ryo muttered to himself, as he felt nostalgic about his past life and business, which was ruined by Akemi.
As the car pulled up to the towering glass building that housed the Harada Corporation's headquarters which was situated in the heart of Tokyo, Ryo steeled himself for the task ahead. He couldn't afford to slip up. He had to play his part to perfection.
Stepping out of the car, he was immediately greeted by several employees and security guards who bowed respectfully as he walked through the lobby. He nodded in acknowledgment, maintaining the air of confidence and authority that Ryo Harada was known for.
"Good morning, Mr. Harada," one of the employees greeted him.
"Good morning," Ryo replied, his voice calm and composed, though his mind was still swirling with thoughts of the curse and the shrine maiden.
As he entered the building, he spotted Emi waiting for him in the hallway. Her expression was serious, and she was already talking about the urgent matter that needed his attention.
"President, we've got a situation with the new merger. There are some discrepancies in the contracts, and the board wants your immediate input on how to proceed," Emi explained, her tone brisk as she fell into step beside him.
But Ryo's mind wasn't fully present. He was still thinking about the curse, about the shrine maiden's warning, and the impossible task of breaking it. How was he supposed to seduce women while also managing a massive corporation? The whole situation felt like a nightmare he couldn't wake up from.
"President? Are you even listening?" Emi's voice cut through his thoughts.
Ryo blinked, realizing he had been spacing out. "Sorry, I was just... thinking."
Emi frowned, a flicker of annoyance crossing her face. "This is serious, President. We can't afford any mistakes right now."
Without thinking, Emi reached out and poked his ear, trying to snap him back to attention. The moment she did, she froze, her eyes widening in horror as she realized what she had done.
"Oh no..." she muttered, quickly pulling her hand back. "I didn't mean to... I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking. If someone had seen that, I could've..."
She obviously knew who Ryo was and what his family was. She knew if someone witnessed what she had just done, she would easily loose her hand, or maybe her life.
Ryo turned to her, surprised that she was so worried. Normally, Ryo Harada would have been furious, but right now, Ryo—the real Ryo, trapped in this body—was more understanding. He knew how stressed Emi was, and besides, he had more important things on his mind than a minor breach of protocol.
"It's okay, Emi," he said calmly. "I'm not mad. Just... manage my schedule for the rest of the day. I'll handle everything."
Emi stared at him, clearly shocked. "You're... not mad?"
Ryo shook his head. "No. I know you didn't mean anything by it. And you're right—we can't afford mistakes right now. Let's focus on the merger. That was a good wake up call for me."
Emi let out a small sigh of relief, but there was still a flicker of doubt in her eyes, as she thought about her own actions. "I really need to stop being so straightforward. I always speak and act before I think, and one of these days, it's going to get me in trouble."
Ryo watched her, his gaze softening as he took in her appearance. Emi was a beautiful woman, with sharp features and a no-nonsense attitude that made her stand out. She was smart, capable, and fiercely loyal—a rare combination.
Her golden hair was neatly pulled back into a professional bun, with a few loose strands framing her face, adding a touch of softness to her otherwise sharp features. The glasses perched on her nose complemented her intellectual air, accentuating her keen, perceptive eyes.
Her tailored suit hugged her figure, showcasing her erotic body shape. Her perfectly toned ass combined with the perky breasts were a real sight for anyone to witness.
As Ryo looked at her, a thought began to take root in his mind. If he was supposed to seduce women to break the curse, wouldn't it make sense to start with the woman closest to him? Emi was right there, and they already had a professional relationship. If he could make her fall in love with him, it might make this whole situation a little easier.
With the newly obtained power, Ryo quickly used the appraisal on Emi by touching the charm in his pocket, which suddenly brought a screen in front of Ryo.
Name: Emi Nakamura
Title: The Secetrary
Sex: Female
Age: 28
Love meter: 30%
"Hmm~ so she already has 30% of favourablity toward me, so according to the shrine maiden, if it exceeds 50% that means she is interested in me and if it reaches 100% that means she is obsessed with me. Intreseting!" Ryo thought, as he kept looking at the screen and he also wondered what happened to the likes and dislikes that was supposed to be here.
"I guess, I will contact the shrine maiden again," He muttered to himself.
But then he remembered the rule—the women had to love him, but he didn't have to love them back. The thought of using Emi, of manipulating her feelings for his own survival, made his stomach churn. Yet, what choice did he have? He had to protect his daughter, Anzu. He had to survive long enough to see her grow up and live a happy life, far away from the curse that haunted him.
But he knew maybe in the process of seducing these women, it won't be impossible for him to fall in love with some of them.
Ryo clenched his fists, trying to steady his resolve. "I have to do this," he thought. "For Anzu's sake. I can't let this curse take me away from her. I have to stay by her side, to support her. Even if it means..."
His thoughts trailed off as Emi's voice brought him back to the present. "President? Are you sure you're okay? You've been really quiet today."
Ryo forced a smile, trying to push the dark thoughts to the back of his mind. "I'm fine, Emi. Just a lot on my mind."
She nodded, though she still seemed concerned. "Well, if there's anything you need, just let me know. I'm you secretary, so I will always support you.."
"Thanks, Emi," Ryo said, meaning it. He didn't know how he was going to navigate this curse, or how he was going to seduce the women required to break it. But he did know one thing—he had to try for Anzu, for himself, and maybe even for Emi.
As they walked down the hallway together, Ryo couldn't help but wonder if this was just the beginning of a journey that would take him down a path he could never return from.