Chapter 1022: Tomiko’s Nightmare Client
Tomiko waved it off a bit too quickly. "No, Jack... It’s nothing serious. Just standard business entertainnt."
I didn’t look at Tomiko. Instead, I turned directly to Hina and said firmly, "Hina, tell
the truth. Everything."
Hina hesitated for a second, glancing nervously at Tomiko, but then spoke honestly. "Mr. Daiki is one of our largest and most influential clients — he controls major distribution networks across several prefectures."
"He’s in his late fifties, wealthy, and known in business circles as charming on the surface but extrely predatory underneath. He has a reputation for targeting successful won in etings, especially in private traditional tea houses where alcohol flows freely under the guise of ’relationship building.’
Last ti, when Boss went to et him, he kept insisting on pouring her sake himself, getting her glass refilled constantly while making increasingly personal and suggestive comnts.
He tried to get her heavily drunk, then suggested they ’continue the discussion privately’ in a back room. His hands wandered, and he made it clear he expected certain ’favors’ in exchange for renewing the big contract.
The boss was prepared and stayed composed, but it was a close call. I was on the phone with her the entire ti as backup.
At the last mont, I barged in pretending there was an urgent ergency and got her out safely. He’s the type who uses his power and money to pressure won — smiling while threatening to pull contracts or spread rumors if they resist. I really think it’s better to have security this ti."
Tomiko trembled slightly, her hands tightening on the desk. She said with forced calmness and a hint of steel in her voice, "Nothing serious happened... Don’t worry so much, Jack. I know exactly how to deal with bastards like him. I’ve handled worse over the years."
I looked at Hina and said quietly but authoritatively, "Hina, can you wait outside for a mont? I have sothing I want to say to your boss privately."
Hina nodded respectfully and walked out, closing the heavy office door behind her with a soft click.
The mont we were alone, I stood up and walked slowly closer to Tomiko. She looked up at , a hint of panic flickering in her usually strong eyes. "Jack... what happened? Why are you looking at
like that—"
Before she could finish, I pulled her gently but firmly into my arms, wrapping her in a warm, protective hug. Her body stiffened for a split second in surprise, then lted against .
"You have suffered a lot... all these years, Oba-san," I whispered softly into her ear, my voice full of genuine emotion and care.
"Carrying the weight of the family alone, protecting your sister, dealing with ruthless clients like that Daiki, who see powerful won as sothing to conquer... You don’t have to be strong and endure everything by yourself anymore. I’m here now."
Tomiko’s shoulders trembled in my arms. Warm tears slowly dripped onto my shoulder as she buried her face deeper against my chest, finally allowing herself a rare mont of vulnerability in the safety of my embrace.
Quiet, suppressed sobs escaped her lips — soft, broken sounds that revealed years of exhaustion, loneliness, and the heavy burden she had carried alone for so long. Her strong, elegant body felt surprisingly fragile right now, her fingers clutching the back of my shirt tightly as if afraid I might disappear.
After a long mont, Tomiko gently pushed herself away from my chest, wiping her tears quickly with the back of her hand. She tried to regain her usual composed expression, though her eyes were still red and glistening.
"It’s nothing hard..." she said softly, her voice slightly hoarse. "I... I just did what I had to do. Soone had to protect the family and keep the business running. I’m used to it."
I looked at her for a second, then gently flicked her forehead with my middle finger — a light but deliberate tap.
Thwack.
Tomiko’s eyes widened in genuine surprise. She blinked rapidly, her hand flying up to touch the spot on her forehead.
"You... You dare bully your Oba-san like a child?!" Her voice ca out in a cute, coquettish tone that she herself didn’t even notice — higher-pitched and slightly pouty, completely different from her usual cool, professional deanor.
I couldn’t help but smile at how adorable she looked in that mont. I leaned in a little closer, my voice low and teasing. "Who told my Oba-san to be so stubborn? Always trying to carry everything alone, never asking for help, pretending she’s fine when she’s clearly hurting... If you keep doing that, I’ll have to flick your forehead every single day."
Tomiko’s cheeks flushed a soft pink. She looked away, but the corners of her lips twitched, fighting a smile.
My expression then turned serious. I looked straight into her eyes, my voice dropping with real anger — not at her, but for her.
"Let’s go et that Daiki. Right now. I want to see what kind of man he is... He dared to bully my Oba-san, to make you feel unsafe in your own business dealings. I will make him wish he had never been born."
Tomiko shook her head quickly, placing a gentle hand on my arm. "He didn’t bully ... He’s just a bastard. A greedy, sleazy one who thinks money and power let him treat won however he wants. But I can deal with him easily. I’ve handled worse n than him over the years."
I stared at her for a mont, then deliberately softened my expression and raised both hands in mock surrender. "You... Okay, okay. I know my strong, capable Oba-san can deal with him. I won’t interfere if you don’t want
to."
I let out an exaggerated sigh, making my voice sound dramatically defeated. "I’ll just sit quietly like a good nephew and watch you handle everything perfectly."
Tomiko finally let out a soft chuckle — a genuine, light sound that broke through the lingering heaviness in the room. Her eyes sparkled with a mix of amusent and affection as she looked at .
"You’re really sothing, Jack... One mont you’re angry enough to destroy soone, the next you’re pretending to be obedient. You’re going to give
a heart attack with these mood swings."
I grinned and gently wiped the remaining tear track from her cheek with my thumb. "I just don’t like seeing you suffer alone anymore. You’ve done enough of that. From now on, whether it’s business bastards like Daiki or anything else... You have . You don’t have to be strong by yourself."
Tomiko held my gaze for a long mont. The coquettish tone from earlier was gone, replaced by sothing softer, more vulnerable. She reached up and lightly touched the spot on her forehead where I had flicked her, a small, shy smile playing on her lips.
"You really are too kind... and too bold for your own good," she murmured. "But... thank you. It feels nice to have soone worry about
like this."
Reviews
All reviews (0)