It had been a month.
Ever since they finished dinner at the French restaurant that day, and that bad boy had ambiguously tickled her palm in the car, he had completely vanished.
No calls, no texts, and even the progress of this case was relayed by that female bodyguard named Sirius.
“Playing hard to get, are we?”
Eri Kisaki scoffed inwardly.
She was a mature woman who had seen all sorts of men’s tricks.
Usually, this routine of playing the disappearing act was nothing more than an attempt to provoke anxiety and curiosity in the woman, thereby seizing the initiative.
But reason was one thing, and emotions were another…
She really did feel a trace of inexplicable irritation.
Could the heart-fluttering feeling from that night really have been just her hallucination?
Or was it that, to that young and vigorous billionaire, she, an auntie who was currently separated, was merely a temporary diversion for a fleeting whim?
“No need to call specifically.”
Eri Kisaki closed the folder, her tone becoming somewhat stiff, “Just send a formal email notification.
We are lawyers, not nannies.”
“Yes…”
Kuriyama Midori stuck out her tongue, keenly sensing her boss’s mood shift from sunny to overcast, and hurriedly retreated.
Just then, the mobile phone on the desk suddenly vibrated.
Eri Kisaki glanced at the screen.
That number which had been silent for a month was staring right at her.
[Shinji: Image.jpg]
She hesitated for a second, then picked up the phone.
Opening the image, it was a photo of Sirius holding that refund check.
Immediately after, a second text message popped up.
[Shinji: Didn’t I say they were too expensive?
As expected of my Queen, one move and you saved me the cost of a Ferrari.
To show my gratitude, and to celebrate that I can finally walk without a wheelchair, would you do me the honor of having dinner tomorrow night?
Right in Roppongi, I found a nice Kaiseki restaurant.]
Eri Kisaki looked at this text, her eyebrows arching slightly.
What was this supposed to mean?
Disappearing for a month, and the first thing he does is use this tone of taking things for granted?
No pleasantries, as if they had just met yesterday.
“Scoundrel.”
She cursed under her breath.
Tomorrow night was Christmas Eve.
For the Japanese, this was a holiday for couples.
Inviting someone of the opposite sex to dinner at this time, the implication was self-evident.
If it had been a month ago, she might have hesitated because of that momentary flutter.
But this month of cold treatment had allowed her proud self-esteem to gain the upper hand.
Besides, she had already promised Ran she would eat with her tomorrow night.
“Sorry, I already have plans.”
Eri Kisaki quickly typed this line and pressed the send button.
A sense of vengeful satisfaction welled up in her heart.
Let you leave me hanging, let you play hard to get.
Do you really think the world revolves around you?
However, before she could even put the phone down, the reply from the other side came almost instantly.
[Shinji: Oh my, that’s such a pity.
I originally wanted to consult you in person about how to legally avoid taxes on the $10 million investment I plan to add to that foundry.
Since Attorney Kisaki has a date, I’ll just have to take the contract and queue up at the door of your office.]
[Shinji: I heard the office is very deserted on Christmas Eve, so I’ll just sit on the steps at the entrance and wait.
That shouldn’t disturb your reunion with that friend, right?
By the way, although my leg is better, it can’t stand the cold wind.
If I happen to faint at your doorstep, I might have to trouble you to call an ambulance.]
“…”
Eri Kisaki looked at these lines, a vein on her temple throbbing slightly.
This was a threat!
A blatant threat!
And it was that kind of scoundrel’s threat, filled with a coquettish tone that made people gnash their teeth in hatred yet feel completely helpless.
She could even imagine Shinji on the other end of the phone, sitting in his boss chair, a wicked smile hanging on the corner of his mouth, with an expression that said, “There’s nothing you can do about me.”
A $10 million investment tax avoidance?
This was a big project.
As a legal advisor, she had no reason to refuse a client’s consultation.
What was even more detestable was that he was actually playing the pity card with his own body!
Clearly, he had just said in the text message that he could finally walk without a wheelchair!
Eri Kisaki took a deep breath, gritted her teeth, and tapped her fingers forcefully on the screen.
[Eri Kisaki: Mr.
Matou, if you dare to come to the office door and put on a show, I will charge you double the hourly overtime consultation fee!]
[Shinji: No problem, as long as you come, triple is fine.
So that’s a yes?
Tomorrow night at seven, shall I pick you up?]
Eri Kisaki looked at that question mark, feeling as if she had been lured step by step into a trap by a cunning fox.
She sighed and rubbed her brow.
Ran…
well, it wasn’t the first time anyway, although she felt guilty towards her daughter in her heart.
But for some reason, at the moment she decided to agree, that resentment she had been harboring for a month inexplicably dissipated quite a bit.
[Eri Kisaki: No need to pick me up.
Send me the address.
Also, if it’s just for dinner and there are no documents, I will turn around and leave.]
“Done.”
Shinji threw the phone onto the table and whistled.
“Boss, this way of pursuing women you’re using is known as coercive compliance in psychology, and it usually causes resentment in the other party.”
Sirius stood to the side, watching her boss’s smug face, and couldn’t help but pour a bucket of cold water on him.
“Resentment?”
Shinji shook his head, his eyes flashing with the light of insight into the human heart, “For women, lukewarm pursuit is useless.
You have to give her a reason she can’t refuse, give her a step down.”
“Besides, women say they hate it or don’t want it, but if you can bring them unexpected excitement…”
Shinji turned around and looked at Sirius, “They often fall deeper than anyone else.”
“Are you trying to say that you are that interesting person?”
“Isn’t it obvious?”
Sirius sighed.
She suddenly felt that compared to the sickly youth who needed her to push his wheelchair a month ago, the current Shinji seemed to have become even more dangerous.
It did not snow on Christmas in Fuyuki City.
The after-school bell at Homurahara Academy had just rung.
Rin stood in front of the shoe locker, her fingers unconsciously stroking that red scarf.
Her gaze was somewhat unfocused, as if she were looking through the metal locker door at some non-existent phantom image.
“Um, Tohsaka?”
A familiar voice rang out from behind her, carrying that unique, reassuring sense of clumsiness.
Rin’s shoulders jolted, and she turned around quickly.
She saw Emiya Shirou standing there, scratching his red hair, looking at her with concern.
“Ah…
it’s Emiya.”
Rin tried to make her voice sound the same as usual, carrying that accustomed composure and a little bit of tsundere, “Is something the matter?
If it’s about tutoring, I don’t have time today.”
“No, it’s not tutoring.”
Shirou smiled and took two printed flyers out of his school bag; they were promotional flyers for the shopping district’s Christmas sale, but the back had a handwritten invitation, “Today is Christmas.
Fuji-nee and Sakura said they want to have a hot pot party at home.
I was thinking, if you’re free, Tohsaka, would you like to come along?”
He paused, looking at Rin with sincere eyes, “I feel like you’ve been very busy lately; if you don’t mind, come and relax a bit?
I’ll prepare some great food.”
Rin looked at the flyer, and looked into Shirou’s eyes.
Her heart gave a sudden, sharp ache.
Maybe it’s not a big deal now… maybe it will be later.
“And If you’re enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!”