Chase Harlow
He was in an important meeting with Julius and Victor, but he couldn't pay attention, no matter how important it was.
His mind kept on fixating on Keiko and Ami Teshi. He’d really stuffed things up.
Looking up from underneath his eyebrows, he glanced past the table, staring at the thick glass doors that separated the conference room from the hallway outside.
He knew he shouldn't be so glum; it wasn't over yet. Even if Ami wouldn't talk, Chase could use his contacts in Japan to find out where her property was, and get someone to go and explore it. They would no doubt find the shrine, and within the next day Chase would know whether much of it was left.
'Is there something wrong with you? You haven't said a thing,' Julius pointed out in a drawl. ‘News of this collection boring you?'
Chase hazarded a grin, reaching towards his drink and rolling the glass around on the table a little. 'No, it rivets me,' he said in a dry voice.
'So it should, because we haven't had information like this for a long time,' Victor agreed.
Chase still hadn't told either of them about Keiko. What was he meant to say? He’d met this strange girl at a party, she’d told him how she’d died, showed him her scar, lent him her grandmother's documents, and probably never wanted to see him again?
There would be no way to make this all make sense. Plus, was there any point? Was this actually a strong lead? Or was Chase just letting himself get distracted?
Sighing, bringing his hand up, latching it onto his shoulder and pressing hard into the muscle, he shifted back in his chair.
‘Why do I get the feeling you want a break? Your heart is not in this meeting, is it?' Julius said as he leaned forward, clapping his hand onto the table and drumming his fingers onto it.
Chase nodded.
Then he pushed himself to his feet, kicking his chair out behind him.
He made for the glass doors.
And then he stopped, hand pressing into them, getting ready to push them open.
He saw something. To be precise, he saw a small woman in loose jeans, a T-shirt, and a ragged cardigan.
Keiko.
He pushed open the doors with a jolt, practically running out of them.
Tugging down on his shirt, grabbing his tie and pushing it underneath his closed jacket, he ran up to her.
She was talking to his receptionist, and at the sound of his footfall, she turned.
'I'll be honest, I didn't think you would come back,' he said honestly and through a light chuckle.
She turned to him.
She did not look pleased.
For the first time she did not compulsively push her hair behind her ears, play with her hands, or look anywhere but at him.
'Just who do you think you are?’ she asked, her voice wavering.
‘Sorry? Was there something wrong with the flowers?’ he asked stupidly.
‘There was nothing wrong with the flowers. But I would still like my documents back. In fact, I've come here to get them,’ she closed her arms around her middle, crossing them tightly.
‘They were sent to you yesterday, by courier,' he said clearly, making his voice slow as if Keiko was having trouble understanding him.
‘I didn't get them. I got the flowers. Got your card. But where are my documents? And why exactly did you think it was okay to go behind my back, track down my grandmother, and harass her? And why did you send somebody else in afterwards? I had to call the nurses and they had to sedate her so she could go to sleep.’
Chase receded, his neck darting back into his shirt as his cheeks paled. ‘Sorry I,’ he began.
‘Yes, you should be sorry. Because just because you rich doesn't mean you can swan around doing exactly what you want. You scared the hell out of her, and that other man you sent practically gave her a heart attack,' Keiko snapped. Though she had her arms tightly closed around her, her knuckles practically white as her fingers latched onto the edges of her cardigan, she did not back away. And neither did she keep her voice quiet. She glared at him, and she did not look away.
He opened his mouth to defend himself, then he stopped. ‘What other man? I didn't send anybody,' his hands started to slick with a cold sweat.
'You don't need to lie to me. She already told me. Now give me back my documents,’ Keiko said in a harsh voice that was miles away from the personality she had displayed yesterday.
‘I told you, they were sent to your house by courier,' he cleared his throat.
At that moment the receptionist caught his eye. He understood the look. She mouthed the word security.
He shook his head.
He realized that Victor and Julius had already left the conference room and were standing behind him.
'Jesus, I can't believe I trusted you. Fine, if that's the line you're going to take, keep them.’ Keiko turned on her foot and stormed down the corridor, her arms still closed around her, her hands still clutching at her sleeves with tight, crooked fingers.
For a moment Chase didn't say anything.
How could he?
‘What the hell was that about?' Julius said from behind him.
‘I've seen her before,' Victor announced as he walked up to Chase’s side.
Chase did not pay any attention to his friend’s statement.
Instead he felt the cold sweat that had picked up crossed his neck travel down his back. It seemed to jolt right through him.
It reinforced one simple fact. He had been stupid. Very, very stupid.
Without thinking about it, he’d dragged Keiko into this world.
Because Chase had not sent someone else to question Keiko's grandmother. He had also seen his receptionist personally hand the documents to the courier.
He really doubted she was lying. Which left only one uncomfortable, dangerous possibility.
One of Chase’s competitors, one of his enemies, had been following him. They’d found out he’d been interested in Keiko, and they’d picked up where he’d left off.
Turning sharply, Chase half ran back to his office, Victor and Julius hot on his heels.
He didn't say anything to either of them until the door was closed.
'I'm telling you, I've seen that woman before,’ Victor said as he crossed his arms in a powerful move. ‘She was snooping around last Friday night. I found her outside your office.’
Chase, reaching for his phone, suddenly stopped. ‘What?’
‘She was with the catering company. Pretended she was lost. Said she got off on the wrong floor. Who is she?’ Victor's eyes narrowed.
Chase had known the man for a long time, and he could tell when his best friend was suspicious.
And nearly everything made Victor suspicious. He did have a lot to be suspicious of though, to be fair. The competition they were up against was stiff, and it was also dangerous. Perilously dangerous. Men had and would continue to die over these secrets.
'Do you think she belongs to the Sect?’ Julius chimed in from his side.
Chase spluttered.
There was no way that Keiko Teshi belonged to the Sect. Despite the anger she had just shown, she did not have the bloodthirsty, murderous nature you would require to work for that group.
She also had nothing to do with this world. Or at least she hadn't. And then Chase had done something stupid. He'd been lax, caught up with his own desires, and not smart enough to be careful. Swallowing uncomfortably, for a moment he hesitated.
He wasn't sure exactly what he could do.
He was just sure he had to do something.
Keiko was in danger now, wasn't she? If the Sect had stolen those documents and sent someone in after her grandmother, then they too must think this was a clue worthwhile. That Keiko and her family posed an interesting and new angle into the mystery of Aiko. An angle that would have to be thoroughly investigated. Except while Chase was happy to leave his investigations to a short and unsuccessful conversation with Ami, the Sect would not be so kind.
'Are you going to sit there looking like you've just swallowed a fish, or are you going to tell us who she is?' Julius said as he stood up, walked over to the dresser, and poured everyone a drink. 'Because I'm with Victor on this one. She looks suspicious.’
Chase let out a sharp, uncomfortable laugh. 'Trust me, she is not.' He latched a hand on his cheek, let it pull over his jaw, then rested it on his neck as he closed his eyes.
It took him a while, but Chase Harlow proceeded to share with his friends everything he knew about Keiko Teshi. From what the grandmother had said to the scar that Keiko had revealed.