Chapter 253 - Dead Or Alive

Who could say that – not long ago – Tanaga was gloomy and disheartened? Grandma Hanada thought that she would never see him smile again. It only took one girl named Ashley Gusman to find his match and bring a light to him. Grandma Hanada happily gazed at the couple while a small tear began to form and fall from her eyes.

"Well, thank you very much for this delicious breakfast. I hope we do this again," Grandma Hanada jokingly sang to the couple, who were busy flirting with each other.

The couple stopped what they were doing and gave attention to the elder. Ashley was first to speak, "Grandma, what are you saying that you hope we will do this again? Of course, we will do this again! Even better – you should just migrate here!" What she just declared was from her heart, and the elder saw that through her eyes.

"Ouch!" Ashley screamed, when she was pinched in the leg by her husband because of what she said. She glared at him. "What are you doing? That hurts, you know!" Then she pinched her husband back on the arm, which Grandma Hanada saw.

"Hahaha! Hahaha! I guess my grandson didn't want me to interfere with you two. He obviously wants to keep you solo. Hahaha!" Grandma Hanada happily teased Tanaga while looking at him.

Tanaga was embarrassed, his face turning red and at what his grandma said. "It's not like that, Grandma. You're more than welcome to stay with us, anytime! However, I know that you have many friends and they are always visiting you. That's what I don't like…" Tanaga explained to the elder, and the elder understood.

"Yeah sure! I won't accept your wife's offer so don't worry, all right?" Yet slight dejection on the elder's face was visible since her grandson didn't even try to tease her into accepting the offer. He could've just said something along the lines of him also wanting to be with her.

Tanaga was relieved when he heard what his grandma had said since he wasn't ready to interact with random people. Family of Ashley, his grandma and the maids – those were his limits and there were no exceptions.

Tanaga looked at the clock and saw that it was about eight in the morning. He stood up to prepare to leave for his office. He had arranged a board meeting to talk about the removal of President Hanada's position and to appoint a new trusted aide while they are in America.

"You guys are finished, so let's go. We have a board meeting before flying," ordered Tanaga as he helped Grandma Hanada and his pregnant wife.

A few moments later, the three were in the car going towards the THJ headquarters.

===

When the high-ranking employees of the THJ Group had known that their CEO and chairwoman were arriving, they swiftly prepared to go down to the lobby to line up and greet their bosses when they were to arrive.

Grandmother Hanada didn't often come to office, and Tanaga's last visit was a long time ago. The sudden call for a special board meeting worried the people that held important positions in the company.

Starting from a far relative of the two – who was Vice President – to the directors of different departments, they were all lined up and waiting for the arrival.

It was noticeable that President Hanada and his children, Koji and Kai Hanada, were not present. Koji was currently in the Philippines on a visit to the headquarters of Alden Sanchez's company. Meanwhile, Kai was currently in Europe along with Ohani Yamaguchi for a fashion show.

And President Hanada himself was at home, waiting for news about his order to the yakuza – kill Tanaga and bring Ashley alive.

President Hanada knew that Tanaga called a board meeting with the agenda to remove him from his position. He was never going to let that happen. He was going to make sure that they would not reach the THJ group headquarters.

===

The lined-up employers that were waiting for Tanaga and Grandma Hanada obviously were very nervous.

They were nervous at the memo they had received that one of the high-ranking positions of the company was to be fired. As the memo didn't say who, all the high-ranking personals were very afraid that it could be one of them.

However, there was half an hour left till 9:00 a.m. yet there was no sign nor shadow of the cars. The Vice President of the company started to worry, but he never let it show to others.

Everyone was still ready for the arrival of Tanaga and Grandma Hanada. However, it was soon already 9:00 a.m. and they were nowhere to be found; even the employees had started to get worried about their boss.

The Vice President had run out of patience and proclaimed, "What happened to them? Do any of you happen to know?" He addressed his colleagues who were beside him, all lined-up.

"I don't know," replied the Director of the Marketing Department. "You guys? Do you know anything?" he asked his other colleagues.

They simultaneously answered while shaking their head.

"We don't know too," shouted another obviously worried employee.

They had started to worry and even guess what happened to their boss.

===

Tanaga, Ashley and Grandma Hanada left early for the THJ Group headquarters, but on the way, the elder's stomach suddenly ached after eating too much in the morning. It seemed to be indigestion.

Tanaga decided that he would go to the THJ Group alone, while Ashley accompanied Grandma Hanada to the hospital to have a check-up. Tanaga then needed to switch cars on the way to the office.

A few moments later, they were on the road going to their own destinations. Tiny was the one driving for Ashley and Grandma Hanada. At the front and the back of the car, there were other cars both carrying four bodyguards each.

Tanaga had two bodyguards inside his car – one was the driver and one was in the passenger seat. They had no other companions as Tanaga ordered them to accompany his grandma and wife.

They were near the office when Tanaga's car was surrounded by six cars…

===

"Dead or alive, make sure that CEO Jones will not reach the THJ Group headquarters!" the leader of the yakuza ordered his subordinates.