Chapter 255 - Be A Burden

*WARNING: The following content contains HEAVY mature content that may not be suitable for younger audiences.

In the large private office at Glory Trade Corporation, sat two men in the lounge room – one of which was Tobias Itou. The handsome man's eyes were unreadable as they flickered across the pages in his hands. Sitting on the other side, an older man watched him. His expression seemed as if he wanted to say something.

At long last, he did.

"I take it you handled that problem of yours well."

Tobias raised his head from the doc.u.ments and glanced over at Lori Itou across from him. He knew the problem his father was referring to was during their last meeting when he unexpectedly left. That was the day Mimi suddenly went missing. The mere thought caused his mood to worsen. With his legs crossed, he quietly looked back at the work before him.

Lori Itou sighed, but continued, "Was it work-related?"

Instead of responding at his father's attempt peer into his problems, Tobias continued to disregard him. Lori Itou looked at his son bitterly, the hands-on his lap clenched.

"Are you seeing anyone? Work isn't everything, you know. You should take some time off and find--"

The folder in Tobias's hand landed on the glass table with a sharp sound.

"I finished reading over the contract. Everything seems fine except for a few details. I'll have my secretary forward them to you in an email." Although he maintained his courteous manner, there was clear dissatisfaction on his face.

"Tobias…"

"Don't forget, our relationship right now is purely business-related. Once the contract is over, we will have nothing to do with one another." Tobias said coldly, the emotions in his eyes unclear.

When those emotionless black eyes looked at him, Lori Itou inexplicably felt a cold sweat form. Sighing, he leaned back in his seat and allowed his son to finish reading over the last doc.u.ments. When all was said and done, Tobias stood up to leave when his father's voice suddenly stopped him.

"Next week, I'm having one last gathering with the family and some old friends. I would like it if you would just come this once. After that…I won't bother you ever again."

With his back still face to him, Lori Itou was unable to see the expression on his son's face.

When it seemed he would decline, he was surprised to hear Tobias's deep and calm voice say: "I'll think about it."

Without allowing him a chance to respond, Tobias walked out of the office to attend his next meeting. Alone, Lori Itou touched the rim of his cup with a distant expression. Every moment, he wished he could turn back time to when it all fell apart.

…

In the backseat of a car, Tobias leaned into his seat with a brooding expression. The silence within the car was suffocating, but soon enough, someone sighed heavily.

"Don't look so cold Mr. Itou. You'll scare away the investors in the next meeting." His secretary, Juno said from the driver's seat. Without even turning around, he could sense his boss's bad mood.

"It can't be helped." Tobias irritably grumbled.

Juno looked through the rearview mirror, then back to the road.

"Lori Itou?" Were the only two words Juno had to say for the mood in the car to shift once more.

Tobias said nothing. Instead, a flicker of rage could be seen within his dark eyes. There was a moment of silence. When the car stopped at a red light, Juno glanced back at the rearview mirror.

"Will you be attending your father's gathering?"

"I don't know." Tobias sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

"If you're struggling to decide, a small part of you must want to go then."

After Juno finished speaking, Tobias could not stop the scowl forming on his usually emotionless face.

"Why would I want to go?"

Noticing the light turn green, Juno drove the car forward.

"Only you know, sir."

Tobias's dark eyes remained indifferent, but for a brief moment, something seemed to shift in his expression. He looked away and frowned. Following the rows of buildings and cars passing by, Tobias kept his silence for the remainder of the ride.

When Tobias arrived in front of his home, he tiredly walked himself into the elevator until he arrived on his floor. Loosening his tie, he set in the pin code to his apartment and then opened the door. Upon entering, he noticed a pair of unfamiliar shoes lined in the front. Before he had time to process anything, a figure jumped out in front of him.

"Welcome home!" Mimi sprung out with a beaming smile.

That day, after checking his schedule, Mimi decided to take Jean and Emilia's advice and express her feelings to Tobias. She arrived in his apartment early, prepared the simplest meal she could find on the internet and waited for his arrival.

When she noticed the man was oddly silent, Mimi looked up to see Tobias was staring at her, looking deep into her eyes.

Just when she wanted to ask what was wrong, a pair of strong hands reached out to cup her cheeks and his lips crashed down onto hers in a violent kiss. Letting out a startled gasp, she felt every inch of her mouth be licked and sucked. Not even the root of her tongue was let off. Mimi could feel the dense, frenzied possessiveness that seemed to want to swallow her whole being.

However, the moment she suddenly remembered her initial goal for coming here, she tried to push him away.

"What's wrong?" Mimi broke the passionate kiss and pressed her fingers to his swollen lips as she stared up into the handsome man's face.

Tobias stared into Mimi's eyes, unable to look away from her beautiful, soft gaze.

"I want you," He began peppering her face with kisses before lowering his head.

Mimi felt her entire body burn to the sensation of his lips sucking on her neck. But she still tried to break free.

"Wait, Tobias there's something—" Mimi couldn't even get a word out when his lips consumed her once more.

The more she struggled, the harder Tobias kissed. Knowing what he was trying to do, Mimi sighed and stopped resisting. She opened her lips and deepened the intense kiss. Unsure when, but the two soon found themselves on the edge of Tobias's bed – their clothes quickly shedding off.

"Ahh!"

Mimi gripped a pillow in her fists and could feel Tobias breathe hot air down her back, now covered in sweat from the man above her. The bed headboard was cool against her trembling warm fingers when she put her hand on it to help her push back into him.

"Mimi…" Tobias groaned hoarsely before he pressed his body down onto her and plunged deeper inside her.

"Tobias…too deep, you're—ahh!" Mimi threw her head back when he hit a spot that made her see stars.

Tobias continued to bury himself deeper and deeper inside her – not letting an inch out. The two lost themselves to the passion of s.e.x for hours. By the time both were satisfied, Mimi was lying in the man's sweaty body, breathing heavily together.

She closed her eyes as she enjoyed the feeling of his hands gently stroking her arm. When her eyes opened again, they looked at Tobias with a deep gaze.

"Is everything okay?" Her hands slid up to his back to his shoulders while staring into his dark eyes.

"...Mm. I'm sorry I pressured you." Tobias's fingers gently stroked her cheek.

"You didn't." Mimi laughed softly and touched his hand on her cheek. She interlocked their fingers.

Staring at their joined hands in a daze, Mimi suddenly fell silent. Observing the change in her mood, Tobias had been about to ask her, when she looked back at him deeply.

"Tobias…you know you can tell me anything, right?"

A little surprised, Tobias chuckled. "I know."

"And you also know you can rely on me too. I might not have the resources you do or the strength, but that won't stop me from staying by your side and supporting you." Mimi didn't move her eyes away from his as she spoke each word seriously.

Only when she said these words did Tobias grow silent. He seemed to know the direction of this conversation.

"I don't want to burden you," Tobias said quietly.

Mimi smacked his muscled arm and pouted.

"Idiot, when have you ever burdened me? If what you do is considered a burden, then mine must be the weight of a building."

"Mimi, you're not—" A hand pressing against his lips cut him off.

"Tobias. I love you very much. So much that I don't want to see you facing your problems by yourself, and then pampering me all the time. I know it's not your intention but…it hurts me." Mimi's eyes reflected her distress.

The usually calm and stoic man panicked while reaching for Mimi. His large hand wrapped around her head and pulled her close to his violently beating heart.

"I'm sorry…I didn't mean to—"

"You don't need to apologize," Mimi spoke softly against his heart. "I'm not asking you to suddenly let me into your world. All I want is for you not to hide your burdens from me anymore. When you're stressed, you don't have to talk about what it is, but let me make you feel better. It's the least the can do for you."

The hand wrapped around her head tightened and she felt his soft, cool lips press into her hair.

"I will." He promised softly against her head.

"Promise?" Mimi raised her head to look into his dark eyes.

Tobias stared into her deep gaze and smiled.

"Promise."