Chapter 5

"No. I don't like any of them."

Miyu stood still, sweat dripping on both sides of her face. She was expecting that this handsome devil would give her a hard time but she never expected it to be nerve-wracking. She remained silent as Reo continued.

"Not one of them fits the building design you made for the project." he watches her carefully as she lowers her head, her eyes filled with shame. He leans forward to his table, resting both of his elbows on top of it. "Miyu, I'm not looking to see how much designs you can produce. I just want to see one quality product."

At that moment, she couldn't believe that the person in front of her is Reo Sonoda. Since then, he was always obsessed with their family business but she didn't think that he was this scary when it comes to work-related matters. At that moment, there was a complete gap between an employee and the CEO of the company.

"I'm a busy man." she lifts her face showing her indifference. "I think this is more than enough to demonstrate your willingness, now what I want to see is Miharu's abilities."

She never felt humiliated in her life. Of course, from past experience, she already encountered clients that were sharply spoken and she was able to deal with it professionally unlike right now. She could feel that his words were directly aimed at her.

She clenches her hands together. "I-I'm sorry." ‘What should I do? If we get rejected then all our hard work will be in vain…’ she thought to herself and remembered those people working in their small design company. ‘If we lose this project, we won't get another chance. We'll lose everything just because of me...stupid me!’ Miyu could only hate herself for being reckless with the designs. It was not like her to make this huge mistake but she was guilty because there is a part of her that wants Miharu Design to get rejected.

His eyes shuttered. "I think you misunderstand me, Ms. Oyanagi." She lifts her face until their eyes met. "Stop thinking that you got this project because of me." Her eyes bulged in shock. "I'm not shooting down your designs on purpose to make your life difficult. When I saw your design, I thought it was a design purely made by a talented person. I know you can come up with a much better design than this."

"What?" she mumbled absent-mindedly.

First, he was going berserk because of her designs then after just a few minutes, he was cheering for her to do her best. Miyu is confused about which side is the real Reo Sonoda. She didn't notice that her eyes were already glued to his appearance. From that distance, she could see how drop-dead handsome he is, like a mighty King sitting on his throne. He has long eyelashes, no longer like a man normally has but long enough to be noticed by anyone. Again, his black hair is brushed backward unlike his casual hairstyle and that style made him more fierce and attractively dangerous. He is more intimidating now that he looks more of a stern handsome CEO.

‘He really is so hot..’ She thought as her eyes drop down from his face. His body was as strong as any state athlete, every muscle on his torso flowing from the light into the dark and she could even imagine how it would feel touching his bare skin. Her fantasy was interrupted when his eyes darted towards her. She immediately looks away like a child getting caught red-handed. Reo notices the traces of blush forming on both of her cheeks as she looks away and thought of teasing her.

Both of them were startled when they heard someone cough.

"Master Reo…" Shijo enters Reo's office as both of them look at him. He smiles at Miyu who couldn't hide the blush on her face. "Master should stop with the inappropriate act."

Miyu's face turns into a ripe tomato when she realizes what Shijo was talking about. She wanted to hit herself for behaving inappropriately. ‘Quit staring! You're a woman for goodness sake!’ she snaps. It was a good thing that the two of them were talking and didn't see how frustrated she is.

"Just give me another week…" Miyu started after Shijo was done talking to him. "I will bring you two more designs…" Reo could see that same determination of her face and it was enough to convince him. "I guarantee that you will like at least one of them," she added.

His lips curve into a self-satisfied smirk then he stood up from his chair. "It would be my pleasure to wait."

"T-Thanks."

"That's the look I've been waiting for." Reo comes closer to her. "You have the eyes of a hunting dog."

Her brows snapped together. ‘A… A hunting dog?! Would it kill ya if you stop insulting me for just one day?!’ she thought to herself as she controlled her anger. She regrets considering this demon to be handsome.

"I'll take my leave then," she spoke as her lips forced to smile at him while the man enjoys pissing her off.

***

 Miyu is at the taxi stand waiting for a cab to ride back to their office. As she waited, she was already busy thinking of ideas for the designs she will present next week. A loud ring disturbs her thoughts and it was coming from inside her bag. She takes her phone out of her bag and sees who was calling her. She notices that there were a lot of missed calls from earlier and it was all coming from the office.

"Hello?" she answered.

"MIYU-CHAN?! Where are you?!" Momoka yells in a panic on the other line.

"I'm at the taxi stand. Why?"

"We got a problem. It's the design from Corsair Real Estate, they say that we stole the design from another company."

Her eyes widened as she grips her phone tighter. "Don't worry. I'll be there in a few minutes." she disconnects the call and immediately stops the taxi coming to her direction. As she enters the taxi cab, she commanded the driver her destination. "To Miharu Designs, please."

***

Everyone was called to the meeting room regarding the issue throwing at Miharu Designs. Naoki gazes at the screen with serious eyes as he read through the details when Miyu suddenly came rushing through the door.

"Miyu-chan!" Momoka called her from the front.

"Sorry, I'm late," Miyu gulps as she catches her breath. She came to where Momoka is and sat next to her.

Everyone's eyes were on her since the design involves in the issue was created by hers. Naoki, who was sitting on the other side hands over the copy of the news. Miyu takes the papers and silently read through it. As seconds passed, her grip on the paper tightened that the surface was crumpled.

"What nonsense is this?" Miyu stammered, she couldn’t believe the words that were written on it.

"Miyu-chan, I know you didn't do what they were accusing you. I was there when we're doing the initial sketch." Momoka states in front of everyone.

"There must be someone behind this. That design was submitted a month ago by our company and now Corsair Real Estate is accusing us of stealing the design from someone which was published early this year." Naoki told everyone.

"Could it be a coincident, Boss?" Maya from the Financial Department.

"I don't think so. The designs are pretty similar to one another." Naoki replied, staring at the two designs.

"Could it be because of the project we got from Haven Group.?" Miyu suggested. "I mean. Those three competitors from the bidding are large design companies. Losing from a small design company like us would ruin their reputations in the industry."

Naoki presses down his anger and considers the possibilities that Miyu mentioned. She knew Miyu since college and he was absolutely sure that Miyu won't copy other’s work. "That could be a possibility. Alright, I'll investigate further regarding this matter. The meeting is dismissed for now."

Everyone agrees on what Naoki said and left the meeting room. Everyone left aside from Naoki and Miyu. Miyu stares at the documents one last time, she can't believe how she created a design that is so similar to this one printed in a magazine published early this year. She saw a woman in the photo who was the editor of the magazine that was on the news.

"If what you say is true, then they will do everything for us to withdraw from the Haven Group project."

"Let me meet her," Miyu told Naoki who was confused about what she meant. She points the woman on the news, "Her!. I need to talk to her."

He notices her eyes wavering. Even though this woman could appear strong from other's eyes, she can easily be hurt by others. "A-Are you sure?"

"I...I have to confirm." her hands started to tremble. "I-If I did make the mistake here. As an Architect, I have to take responsibility."

"Miyu, you didn't do anything wrong." he comes closer to her and gives her a gentle pat on the head. "Don't blame yourself, dummy."

Miyu didn't respond, she can feel the uncertainty flooding her chest.

"Do what you want. I'll get the details on where you can find that woman."

Miyu looks at him as her face lightens a little. "Thank you, Naoki."

***

The news began to spread like wildfire and their clients began to withdraw one by one after thinking that their company is stealing designs from others. Naoki and Miyu tried their best to convince their existing clients to stay with them but they don't want to get involved with the controversy.

Miyu sits on her chair feeling drained. She couldn't get any sleep from all the issues they are facing now. It's been a week already but the situation is getting worse. She opens her computer and checks her email waiting for any details about the editor they were looking for. She's the only one that can stop all the allegations that the company is facing. As she was busy staring at her computer, she heard her phone rang.

"Miharu Designs, This is Miyu. How can I-"

"Miyu, it seems you forgot about us." her body froze as she recognizes that voice on the other line. "Where are the two designs that you promised me?"

"M-Mr. Sonoda."

"I didn't remember giving you another chance just to fail me again."

She swallows hard. "I...I know. I'm sorry."

"Come to my office right now!"

"B-But Mr. Sonoda, I...I don't have the-"

"Come to my office within 30mins or I'll terminate the contract." then all she hears is the beeping sound indicating that the line got disconnected.

Miyu was breathless, then she remembers that Reo wants him there in the next 30 minutes. She jumped out of her chair and grabs her mobile phone from the table. It was ridiculous making her come there as if it's a few blocks away from where she is. Outside of their building, she couldn't see a single taxi cab approaching so she didn't have any choice but to use other options. Without thinking, she stands in front of the road hoping someone will stop and give her a ride. Her eyes were dazzled by the approaching light.

"Woman, are you crazy?!" she hears someone shouting at her. As she opens her eyes, she sees a man who’s riding a motorcycle. "Please, I need to get somewhere. Can you take me to Sonoda Group Building?"

"What?! I'm not for hire now get out of the way."

Miyu thought that she doesn't have any other option so she uses her most pitiful face and starts to beg the guy to give her a lift. "Please...help me."

The guy’s eyes broaden in shock. One thing that she can't stand is a woman's pitiful face and the woman literally look like his pet dog asking for a treat.

"Alright! Quit doing that." the man stated in defeat. He takes something at the back of his big bike and tosses it towards her direction.

Miyu catches it with both of her hands, it was a red helmet, the same color as the one he is wearing.

"Wear that lady!"

She immediately put the helmet on her head and stands still. The man gapes back at her and she remains standing on the same spot while looking at him. "You're testing my patience, lady. You said you were in a hurry so why do you still stand there?" the man ranted, showing his irritation.

"I… I…" she lowers her head as her cheeks began to turn red. "I'm wearing a skirt. I don't know how I would do this," she mumbled with discomfort.

He stares at her with bored-looking eyes. "Woman, you should have thought about that before you stood in the middle of the road." his eyes went down to the lower part of her body. She was wearing a tight maroon skirt that falls down her slender legs and stops just above the knees. He sighs deeply. If they were is a different situation, he thought that this woman is rather sexy with how she dresses. Her eyes enlarge as the man took off the jacket he was wearing and hand it over to her. "Use that."

She accepts the jacket and uses it to cover her legs as she sits at the back of the motorcycle.

"You better hold onto me lady." the guy warns before starting the bike's engine and speeding off.

Miyu assumes they were flying as the motorcycle moves at a fast pace. The guy felt her hand tightening around his body as in trembles. He remembers her determined looked earlier which is the opposite of her face now. The thought made him think that she was actually cute, trembling like a stray kitten. In just a few minutes they were already at the Sonoda Group Building. As the motorcycle stops, she thinks that the whole scene is spinning around. The guy was wondering why she was still hugging him tightly when they already stopped moving.

"Hey, we're here."

"R-Right," she responded in a low voice and he can even tell that her voice was trembling too. She starts to loosen her hold on him and gets off the bike but she was too dizzy that she fell off of it instead, good thing the guy was able to catch her on time.

"Geez, lady!" he took off her helmet and help her stand on her feet. “Are you okay?”

"Y-Yeah. I'm all good." she cracks a smile but her legs were still shaking. "Thank you for your help, Mister." she slightly bows at him and accidentally saw the time on his wristwatch. "I...I need to go!" she quickly dashes towards the building entrance but stops halfway and return to him.

Miyu handed a small card to the guy who helped her.

"Please take this. Call me and I'll treat you for a meal. I gotta go now! Thank you again, Mister." she told him before running towards the entrance.

The man stands there looking at the entrance where the woman entered. He looks at the card he was holding and took off his helmet. The other people who were passing by were shocked as they saw the appearance of the guy sitting on his motorbike. His blonde strands sway as the wind blew to his direction.

"So her name is Oyanagi, Miyu." He lifts his face and saw the logo of Sonoda Group. He places the business card against his lips. "We'll see each other again, Miyu-chan," he mumbled then his lips curves into a playful smile.

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