His Revenge Baby: 50 Loving States, Washington by Theodora Taylor Page B

withhim,shewasateacher.Onewhocaredsomuchforherchargesthatshewanted togetfurthereducationinorderto…howdidsheputit?Servethem.
    Hewasusedtobeingserved.Hadneverknownatimewhenpaidpersonnelhadn’t beenathisbeckandcall.
    “Ilikeyourprivilege,”Gohadobservedinthatflatwayofhisbackwhenthe personalattendantthattraveledwithhimtoAmericahadbroughtthembothPrimanti BrotherssandwichessotheymightcontinuewiththeirsideprojectinoneoftheCMU
    roboticslabswithoutabreak.
    “Left,”heansweredAna,pushingthoughtsofhisformerfriend—theonlyrealfriend he’deverhad—outofhismind.Thoughthetruthwas“themiddle,”becausehedidnot sharehisbed.
    Itwasoneofhisstaunchestrules,andhe’dseentheconfusionwrittenclearlyacross Miyuki’sfacewhenshehandedhimthepajamashe’drequestedattheflat’sfrontdoor.
    Yetherehewas,pushingbackthecoversandgettingintobedwithawomanwho’d onlybeenhiredtoservehiscarnalpleasuresandnothingmore.
    Anaflickedoffherbedsidelight,leavingtheroomtotheever-presentneonlightsof Osaka.Enoughlightforhertoseehim.Unfortunatelyhecouldbarelyseehergiventhe darknessofherskin.Nohadn’tliedaboutlikingtowatchherandhecursedthenight fortakingawaythisparticularpleasure.
    Onehour,hedecided.Onehour,thenhe’dtextMiyukitosendacar.
    ButthenhefeltratherthansawAnaturnoveronthecoolwhitepillowstofacehim.
    “IsitokayifIstrokeyourhairforalittlebit,justuntilIfallasleep?”
    Hestaredatherinthedark.
    “Youhavereallynicehair,”sheexplained.“Ilikethefeelofit.”
    Hedidn’tgiveherspokenpermissiontodowhatsheasked,buthescootedcloser, andsomethinginsidehimsighedwhenshesettledherhandagainstthesideofhishead andbeganasoftrhythmicstrokeofhisfreshlycleanedhair.
    “So,”shesaidafterafewmoments.“Badday?”
    Hecursedhervoice.Sosoft,andlacedwithtenderamusement.Itmadehimache forher,eventhoughtheywerejustafewinchesapart.
    No,hedidn’twanttotellherabouthisday.Hewantedtogetthisindulgenthour overwithandthenleave.
    Butwhenheopenedhismouthtoputanendtothislineofquestioning,hefound himselfsaying,“Ihadanunexpecteddinnerinvitation.”
    “Yeah—Imean yes ,Iheard.”
    “Youdon’t—”
    Hestoppedshort,butthendecidedtogoaheadandtellher,“Miyukiismistaken aboutmywishessurroundingthewayyouspeak.Ifweareeverinpublic,youmust usethemostproperEnglishandyourverybestJapanese.Butwhenweareinprivate, youmayuseyournaturalgrammarandtonewithme.”
    HestoppedjustshortofadmittinghelikedherblackAmericanaccent.Likedthe wayherwordspoppedandtwanged,especiallywhenshewasbeingdirect.
    Butperhapsshesensedhisfeelingsonthisparticularsubject,becausehecouldhear thesmileinhervoiceasshesaid,“Alrightthen,I’lltalklikeInormallytalkwhenit’s justus.Soyourdinnerdidn’tgotoogood?”
    “No,itdidn’t.Iwaswithmyfather.Andmybrother.Butmyfatherdidallthe talking.”
    “Oh,dadstuff.Igetit.Hemakeyoumad?”
    Yes,hehad,Norealized,thoughhavingknownanddealtwithKazuoallhisadult life,ithadneverbeforeoccurredtohimtoassesshowthemanmadehimfeel.
    “Heisapowerfulman.Awiseman.Buthecanalsobeanunforgivingman.And,at times,ruthless.”
    “Soundslikeacomplicatedrelationship.”
    “Itisnot,”Noassuredher.“Iunderstandwhatisexpectedofme,andIhonormy familyinthiswaybydoingwhatisexpectedofme.UsuallyheandIagreewhenit comestobusinessmatters,butourdiscussiontonightinvolved…aformerfriend.”
    “Aformerfriend?Whyformer?Whynotanowfriend?”
    Becausehehadnofriends.Nolongerbotheredtomakethem.Gohadtaughthim thefollyoftryingtodothat.Butoutloudhesaid,“Becausewecannolongerbe friends.”
    “Didthisformerfrienddosomethingtoyou?”
    “Inmyfather’swayoflookingatthematter,yes.Hewentwithanotherbuyerafter wemadeabidonhiscompany.Sonowmyfatherbelievesheisourenemy,andright nowourenemyhasbeenbroughtlow,partiallybecauseofthingswehave orchestrated.Myfatherfeelsweshouldgivefinalstrikenowbeforeherecoversand becomesstrongagain.ThatistheNakamuraway.”
    “Hmm,sothat’syourfather’sopiniononthematter.What’syours?”
    Shehadawayofstatingthings.Onethatmadehiminwardlyquestionhismost