Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 71595 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 358(@200wpm)___ 286(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71595 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 358(@200wpm)___ 286(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
Yuki merely smiled, knowing there wasn’t anything he could say that wouldn’t make him sound like an asshole. He had worked day and night alongside Akito to make the merger work because it was the ultimatum Hikari’s father had set for him.
Give me a new company, and I will forgive you for the disgrace of turning my daughter down.
And of course, Hikari knew about it, too.
For one moment, she seriously considered doing something truly drastic just to hold on to him. There were so many things she could do to cause him trouble. She could pretend that he had gotten her pregnant, could make such a scene that he would be obliged to marry her or forever brand himself dishonorable in the public’s eye.
All those things would make her a monster, too, but for the kind of man Alexei Himura was—-
She wouldn’t mind being one, if it meant having him in her life.
But the moment of insanity passed, and Hikari turned to face the crowd in gracious acknowledgment of her defeat. “Katerina must be a very special girl,” she murmured.
One dark brow shot up at the mention of the other girl’s name, and Hikari laughed.
“Oh, come on, Alexei. You didn’t really think I wouldn’t do a little digging of my own, did you?”
“No. I didn’t think of it.”
His broad shoulders moved in a casual shrug, and Hikari realized with just the tiniest amount of hurt that it was true. Alexei hadn’t thought about it at all, and it wasn’t because he didn’t believe she was incapable of it. He hadn’t thought about it simply because he didn’t care enough.
She had heard stories of him being utterly cold and ruthless, and she had dismissed all of it, thinking they were just that. Stories. But now she knew better, and the truth was bittersweet.
“Tell me about her,” she said impulsively.
After a beat, Alexei said simply, “She’s the only girl I’ll love.”
Her eyes flew wide open. “I never thought you could say such a thing.”
“Because it’s true.”
“I know, but...” She shook her head. “It’s just not like you to be so open.”
“It’s easy enough to say to anyone.” But this time Alexei’s tone was heavily ironic. “The only time I can’t seem to say them is when I’m talking to her.” And when he smiled, it was as beautiful as it was hard—-
And Hikari realized that even his smiles were also reserved for Katerina.
Everything that was special about him was for that one girl.
Lucky, lucky girl, she thought wistfully.
Hikari noticed Alexei glance at his watch, and guilt stung her conscience. “You know...I don’t really mean to keep you here until dawn. I mean, I wish you would stick around longer, but I’m not going to hold you hostage over it.”
Alexei immediately shook his head. “It’s as I said. It’s the least I can do.”
She watched his jaw clench at the end of the words. “Maybe...just call her? I could be wrong, but I’m getting the feeling she’s expecting you?”
“She...is.”
Her guilt worsened. “You can really go, you know. I swear—-”
“There’s nothing you should worry about.”
Alexei’s words were spoken in a tone that was as courteous as it was dismissive, and Hikari knew she was being politely put in her place.
“I understand,” she mumbled.
A male guest interrupted them then to ask Hikari to dance, and Yuki swiftly stepped back to give way to the other guy. He could see that Hikari was relieved to leave him, and Yuki was glad. The sooner she realized he wasn’t the Prince Charming she believed he was, the sooner she’d get over her foolish infatuation for him.
For a while, he simply stood there, watching but not really seeing the couples dancing past him.
He glanced down at his watch.
Ten minutes past eight in the evening.
In less than a few hours, he would end up breaking his promise.
He knew that was how it should be –
But would she be able to understand that?
“H-HELLO?”
Yuki closed his eyes at the sound of her voice. Just one word, and it was enough to tell him a thousand things, and most of it were...not good.
“Konbanwa, senpai.” His voice was gruff, his choice of language deliberate.
“K-Konbanwa.” Her voice was fainter than he wanted, but the smile in it was exactly what he had been aiming for. It meant the world to him, and for just one moment, he closed his eyes to allow himself to savor the sound.
Just one moment to fantasize—-
Just one moment—-
Because sometimes, fantasies were all one had.
He had learned that from her.
“Where are you?”
The moment passed, and Yuki slowly straightened from the balcony rails he had been leaning against. From where he was standing, he could see the whole of Tokyo and most of its iconic landmarks. The glowing outline of Tokyo Skytree, the huge space where the Meiji Shrine was supposed to be, the Tokyo Dome—-