Chapter 320
Chapter 320
Kenji sat on his leather chair, brown eyes watching the young man in front of his desk with unreadable intensity, wondering where all those tattoos had gone.
It was clear that Ice was trying his best to act like he didn't recognise him, but he'd seen it—the moment their eyes locked out there, he saw that instant recognition in Ice's face, and that was all he needed.
A small smirk tugged at the corner of his lips, but he killed it instantly, letting his expression harden into something cold and dangerous. The silence in the room stretched until it felt heavy, thick with the memory of a humid night in Paris and a brutal, ego-bruising rejection that still made Kenji's jaw tighten when he thought about it.
"You break into my building, lie to my security, and scare my staff..." Kenji finally spoke. His voice was low, dropping an octave as he leaned forward, resting his forearms on the desk.
His eyes scanned Ice's face, taking in the sharp line of his jaw and the damp white curls plastered to his forehead. He just wanted to see if the ghost from Paris would break under the pressure.
"...for what?" Kenji muttered. "What do you want, Ice?" He used the name he'd just overlooked last night.
Now, he could finally put a name to the face.
He'd seen the emails from last night, gone through it all, and chose to ignore it. Why would he want anything to do with a crumbling investment?
However, had he known the sender was some white-haired wild cat, he would have accepted the first one... just to lure him out.
Ice shifted uncomfortably in his chair, gulping.
Meeting Kenji in this office wasn't on his bingo card.
He'd met him once, and for that brief moment, he didn't fail to let Kenji know just how distasteful he thought his style was.
How was he supposed to convince him to partner with him?
He never knew the man was the successor to Takumi Group. How was he supposed to know when he thought it was Kenji's old man that ran the show?
He straightened, summoning his last shred of courage.
"Before you throw me out," Ice said carefully, forcing himself to hold Kenji's stare with practiced calmness, "at least hear what I'm offering."
Kenji leaned back slightly in his chair, expression unreadable. "Offering?" he repeated. "From what I've read, the Arisaka Corporation has been bleeding for months."
Ice's jaw tightened. "Because someone sold our prototype designs to Hoshino Tech." His voice hardened instantly. "Our investors pulled out, our shares crashed, and every company we approached decided we weren't worth the risk anymore."
Kenji remained silent, watching him.
Ice inhaled slowly before continuing. "My father built that company from nothing. He spent thirty years turning it into one of the most respected design manufacturers in Japan." His fingers curled against his knee. "When the betrayal happened... he collapsed. He's been in a coma ever since."
For the first time, Kenji's gaze sharpened with genuine interest. It seemed like the wild cat he'd met at the Paris beach had sides to him that might surprise him.
"The board wants to replace me with my cousin in a few hours," Ice admitted bitterly. "And honestly? They're not wrong to doubt me. I hate this world. I hate the meetings, the fake smiles, all of it." A humorless laugh escaped him. "But that company is still my family's life work."
Kenji rested his chin lightly against his hand. "And you think Takumi Group can magically fix that?"
"No," Ice answered immediately. "I think your name can."
That earned him a slight brow raise.
"You have influence no one else in this country does," Ice continued. "If Takumi Group announces even a temporary partnership with Arisaka, investors will stop seeing us as a dying company. Suppliers will come back. The board will back off. It buys me time to rebuild what we lost."
Kenji studied him quietly. "You came all the way here for a chance at 'time'?"
Ice gave a dry smile. "I came here because every other door closed in my face."
The office fell silent again.
Then Ice leaned forward slightly, his clear blue eyes steady despite the exhaustion sitting beneath them.
"I know my company looks like a bad investment," he said honestly. "But I'm not asking for charity, Mr. Takumi. Arisaka still has talented engineers, manufacturing patents, and international distribution routes your company doesn't fully control yet. Partnering with us benefits you, too."
Kenji's eyes narrowed slightly.
Ice saw it immediately—the moment the businessman in him started listening.
"I'm desperate," Ice admitted quietly. "I know that. But I'm not useless."
Kenji stared at him for a long moment before speaking.
"And if I refuse?"
Ice swallowed once, then forced out the truth.
"Then in exactly four hours, everything my family built will belong to someone else."
"I agree," Kenji said, relaxing into his chair.
"What?" Ice whispered, too shocked to raise his voice.
His blue eyes searched Kenji's face for any indication that this was some cruel joke. But all he saw was a businessman ready for business.
"Really?" Ice leaned closer to the table, his pulse racing as excitement built within him. "You'd partner with us?" he asked carefully.
Kenji didn't respond. He slowly stood, taking out a document from his drawer and striding toward Ice.
He paused beside Ice's chair, leaning down to place the document in front of Ice, the action making his nose almost brush against Ice's hair. The scent of rain-soaked leather, cigarette smoke, and expensive cologne wrapped around Kenji instantly—dangerous, messy, and strangely addictive. Beneath it all lingered something colder, cleaner, like fresh snow hiding under fire.
Kenji's fingers paused briefly against the paper.
So the wild cat smelled just as sinful as he remembered.
"That is what I said, Ice," he murmured, forcing himself to straighten.
Ice blinked at the document in front of him before lifting his face to look at Kenji. "Why do I get the feeling there's a condition?"
Kenji smirked. "You're smart," he commented, pushing his hands into his pockets.
Ice's gaze hardened, ready to shut Kenji down if he made any request like the perv he walked out on last night.
"What's your condition?" Ice stood, meeting Kenji's gaze with an apprehensive one.
"Marry me," Kenji said, his voice terrifyingly calm.
Ice froze.
For one full second, the entire room went silent in his head, replaying the words a million times to make sure he hadn't misheard.
"I'm sorry, I seem to have misheard you," Ice cleared his throat, brows creasing in a deep frown.
Kenji chuckled lowly, covering the space between them in a single stride. He locked his eyes with Ice, his face dipping just the slightest as his eyes darkened.
His index finger gently hooked under Ice's jaw, tilting his face upward. "You heard me just fine, Ice. Marry me, and your company is saved," he whispered.