Chapter 341 - Outrageous

Amber liquid filled the glass as the figure in the study poured brandy inside. The area where he stood was dark, hiding the equally obscure expression on his face. However, based on how he gripped the crystal in his hand and how his middle-aged body was tensed, it was obvious that the man was livid.

"What's the meaning of this, Suzuki? Didn't we already have an agreement?"

Maki Eito turned around; his mouth clamped into a grim line, his pair of eyes cold and as hard as steel, making the man sitting on the chair not far from him squirm.

Months ago, he left Japan on a long-term business trip to Europe. This was part of their plan to expand his business and to ready his network in preparation for the merger of Axis Corporation and the Suzuki Raiden Group. He'd left without worries, as he had been given the best ȧssurance by his friend and trusted executive, Suzuki Daizo.

The latter had promised to have everything ready before he returned – that he didn't have to bother with anything else regarding Suzuki Aki except to ready the merger of their empires. Daizo had even promised him that the engagement of his daughter to Suzuki Aki would be announced as soon as he returned. This was what he was expecting to hear when he arrived yesterday.

But no…

Not only was his daughter's engagement canceled, the merger of Axis Corporation and Suzuki Raiden Group was scratched as well!

Unacceptable!

"Please explain to me why everything you promised didn't happen."

Each word from his mouth was biting, making the man on the chair more and more anxious. It was the first time he'd ever used this cold tone of voice with Daizo. It didn't take a genius to know how furious he was – not that he planned to hide it regardless of how the other would take his treatment from now on. Maki Eito didn't care about how the man felt. He only cared about results which the man didn't give.

To a shrewd businessman like Eito, Suzuki Daizo was nothing more than a useless pawn right now. To be correct, he was an expensive, useless pawn. Daizo owed him millions of money. Also, this was not the first time the man didn't deliver what he said he would.

Years ago, this man promised to take over Suzuki Raiden Group and merge it with Axis Corporation. But the fool let his nephew kick him out of the company instead. Now, he messed things up again at the expense of his daughter!

"Did you just lie to me again?"

He couldn't resist letting his voice go up another octave as his body shook in rage.

"Never! My friend," Suzuki Daizo began and flinched when Eito's eyes only hardened at the mention of the word "friend", and decided to not use the word anymore – at least for now.

He cleared his throat.

"I didn't lie to you, of course. We even had a contract signed by Aki's parents before they died about the engagement – and the dowry was paid too," he added nervously.    

The two of them knew of course that the "dowry" was taken by Daizo for personal use, and never made it to Suzuki Aki or his parents before their death. Maki Eito didn't care about where the money went too, as long as the wedding would take place.

"And so what the hell happened?"

"It's my nephew!" Suzuki Daizo decided to place all the blame on Aki. "That boy was really adamant about making me angry. He even dared disobey his parents' wish for him to marry your daughter just to spite me since we had a misunderstanding before."

He was referring to the scandal at the Suzuki Raiden Group years ago when Aki fought with him over Ara's custody and used the fact that he "borrowed" some funds to kick him out of the company.

"Then what are you going to do about it?" Eito was not willing to let Daizo off because of this reason. "If you're going to wait for that boy to stop being angry at you – we may have to wait forever!"

It was also no secret to him that Suzuki Aki hated Daizo's guts, but with reason. Daizo's greed was too glaring not to notice, and only a fool wouldn't be furious with what he did. Suzuki Raiden Group would have been bankrupt if Daizo was not kicked out in time.

Eito was aware of Daizo's sickness with money, but it was also useful to him so he never commented on it as long as he wouldn't steal from him. That time, years ago, he was hoping Daizo's embezzlement of Suzuki Raiden's funds would weaken the company and Axis would step in and take over as its savior. But who would have known that Suzuki Akihiko would be able to come up with funds himself and secure the Group without his aid?

When the Suzukis died in an accident, Eito was hoping for Daizo to step in again but Aki thwarted their plans. Now, Aki refused everything Daizo wanted him to do, even the engagement with his daughter.  They had to do something to make the boy obey some other way.

Worse, he also heard that the Suzuki boy had a woman. It was Yuuka who told him about the girl Aki was seeing. Speaking of his daughter…

"But maybe we can do a business relationship instead?"Daizo suddenly suggested, making Eito turn to him with a scowl.

"What are you talking about? Suzuki Aki will marry my daughter!"

People in his circle already knew about Yuuka's engagement with Suzuki Aki. If they found out that no wedding between their families would happen, they would become the biggest laughing stock out there.

"But Yuuka doesn't seem to want to marry my nephew anymore," Daizo explained, and Eito's scowl deepened.

It was true. When Yuuka talked to him, she openly stated that she's not interested in marrying Suzuki Aki anymore. Instead, his daughter even announced that she would find a man to fall in love and marry!

Outrageous!

"Nonsense! My daughter only said that because her pride was hurt by that nephew of yours!" He refused to believe that his daughter who was raised to follow what was expected of her would disobey him. "Do something to that boy!"

"But I can't! The Homura House has Aki and Ara's support,"Daizo informed him, much to Eito's shock.

"Homura House? What are you talking about?" This was even more outrageous than hearing his daughter announce she'd marry for love.

"I'm talking about Homura Ryuu – the Koutaishidenka." Daizo visibly shivered upon remembering the young man with a pair of ice blue ice that froze one's soul.

"And I'm asking you what does Homura Ryuu got to do with Aki and Ara?" He had heard that Suzuki Raiden Group was able to secure a business deal with Homura International, but he never thought there was enough connection for the Homura House to meddle with the Suzuki's personal affairs.

"Everything!"Daizo announced with raw fear in his eyes. "Homura Ryuu is Ara's husband…"