Chapter 3: A rival in love?

When I was about to leave the bar together with my boss Takano, I could feel a heavy gaze staring at me from behind. I gave a quick glance from where that disturbing glance came from or better said from whom that glance came from. It came from the one who was Takano´s companion for this evening. He even gave me a really cold glance like "how dare of me to spoil his precious time with Takano."

Takano glanced to that direction as me and gestured that he is leaving with me. I didn't turn my face to that guy again, but I heard a hand hitting the surface of the table in rage.

It sent chills down mine spine. I wasn't expecting that to happen neither I was planning to spoil their evening. It was all Paul´s fault. If he weren't so pushy it wouldn't end up like it did.

Anyway, now I just wanted to get home as soon as possible and just forget about this embarrassing and humiliating scene. At top of it my boss had to interrupt and save me from those filthy hands of Paul´s.

When we were finally out from that place Takano turned to me with a concerned look in his eyes. "Are you ok, Ritsu? Has that bastard hurt you in any way?"

I shook my hand in disagreeing. "No, I am fine. He just tried to stop me from leaving him. That is all."

"Is that so?"

"Yes."

Takano looked like something was bothering him. His expressions changed to more serious.

"I have no right to stick my nose in your private life and business but still I am worried about what I have just witnessed. May I ask a question? Of course if you are fine with it."

"Ask what you want. "

"What kind of relation do you have with that guy?"

I sighed heavily." You don´t have to answer if you don´t want to." He said with a gently smile on his face. I just discovered another side of Takano. At work he is strict, composed and always wearing his indifferent face. But now his expressions were the complete opposite. It was a pleasant surprise.

I smiled. "It is okay. You are my boss, so it is naturally that I should explain what unluckily you had to witness. That guy Paul was my former lover..."

"Why did you two split up?"

"It is simple as fuck. He was cheating on me behind my back; I even caught him in our bed with a woman. But that is not all. After our relationship came to the point of breaking up, he raped me three or four times. Just to teach me that he can do anything he wants."

I do not know why I told him all this but I felt that like a huge stone has fallen off my heart.

Takano was silent for a moment absorbing the facts. I began to worry if I didn't tell too much. My face was burning with embarrassment and humiliation.

But then he just grabbed me by my arm and pulled me into his gentle, warm and protective arms. It was so sudden, that I haven´t enough time to protest.

Honestly, it felt so good that I didn't mind it at all. He tightened his hug and so we were just standing there outside the bar in a tight embrace like we were a couple. His hands even soothingly were moving up and down to comfort me.

Then he pushed me away a little just a little to be able to look deeply into my eyes. When I look into his eyes, I could clearly see the disgust, hate and despise.

"That motherfucker asshole, he will pay for this. I promise you, Ritsu. "

I looked at him, curiously. Why is he caring about it that much? I am just an ordinary employee. Then why is he doing this for me? He has better issues to worry about not me and my infamous past.

"Why do you care about it that much Takano? I am just one of your employees, an ordinary man even though my father is a successful director of our family company but even so..."

"You are not just an ordinary employee for me, Ritsu." He says with a serious and steady voice while looking into my eyes. I could feel the blood rushing into my cheeks. What did he mean by that? I had to found out. But when I looked around I noticed that some people were staring at us with strange expressions,

"Sorry for my bad timing, but I do not think that this is the right place to talk about it, don´t you think so? And by the way you are still holding me, I do not want to people begin to spread rumours about us."

Takano released me and looked around. He had to agree with me on this. But then he leaned closer and whispered into my ears.

"If you are concerned about being ears dropped than please follow me."

"And where?"

"To my apartment, of course." He stated causally still whispering in my ears. It sent another wave of chills down on mine spine. My cheeks were burning with embarrassment. My brain was barely sensing the world around me. My mind was busy with absorbing the sudden offer.

I shook my head in disagreement. I cannot just to go his apartment what if someone sees us. What if that MAN sees us?

I pushed Takano away politely. Not being rude, I kindly refused the offer.

"Sorry Takano but I must refuse your offer. It is not that I do not want to or something but this is somehow too sudden and too much. I hope you will understand it. And also it wouldn't be right. I feel a little ashamed that you had to come to save me. It was so embarrassing I thought I would die. And also I feel bad for your companion who was with you thanks to me he will not thank me for this."

Takano shook his head. "If that is your decision then I will accept it. However, you do not have to feel bad about Yokozawa, he surely has enough intelligence to evaluate the situation. But he is a cold –hearted man, who is hardly readable and nobody knows what to expect from him. Even I cannot figure out what is going on in his mind. But please do not think about this. He will be just fine ok?"

"If you say so..." But I still had many doubts about it especially when I felt his cold gaze on me.

"Ok then if you are not going come to my apartment at least let me walk you home. "

I sighed in resignation. "If you insist that badly..." Takano smiled gently. His smile was really a rare and irresistible sight.

While we were walking I had a feeling that someone is following us. Maybe just my imagination was fooling me but then when I look aside I clearly saw a shadow behind us. I immediately stopped and looked behind us. Takano stopped as well and looked at me with concerned eyes.

"Did you see something, Ritsu?"

When I couldn't see anybody I turned my head back. "It is just that I saw a shadow following us. But when I looked behind there was one to be found. You may say that I am paranoid and just making fuss but I clearly felt that someone was following us."

Takano grabbed my hand and pulled me closer. "You are not paranoid, Ritsu. I felt that gaze too. And I know who that gaze belongs to. "

"You know it?" I asked him in surprise.

"Unfortunately the one who is following us is Yokozawa, but he is trying to be not really suspicious and so he hides in the blind alleys."

"How do you know that?"

Takano sighed. "I am used to it. Since we met, he became addicted to me. Literally he was possessed with me. Even there was a period of time when I gave in to him and became lovers, but after a time I got fed up with his unbearable jealousy. "

"He was jealous?"

"Yes, he was more than it was acceptable. He got jealous almost of everyone with whom I talk to. At the beginning I did not pay attention to that but after several months, it got to the point of where it was unacceptable anymore and so I broke up with him. However, even 4 years has passed since then he still couldn´t get over it. And he is even more possessed with me than before. And even he is following me and stalking me like if he were paparazzi or so."

"That is creepy. Why haven´t you reported him to the police?"

"Nah, reporting him would go with too much trouble and in the end the result would be the same. He did not do anything wrong."

I didn't say anything on this. That Yokozawa guy must be a weirdo. Listening to Takano opened my eyes. I better keep my distance with that weirdo and try not to get involved with him.

I kept silent the whole way to my house. When we get there, we stopped before the entrance door.

Takano smiled at me with that mesmerizing gently smile, which made my heart skip a beat. He let me go. I fished out the keys from the door.

"I am relieved that you got home safely, Ritsu. I better get my ass back home as well. Tomorrow will be a really tough day."

I smiled but then suddenly my tongue slipped. "Thank you for escorting me safely to my house. It is kind of late but would you mind to join me for a tea?" My cheeks burned up with blush.

Takano grinned. " Hmm... firstly, you turned down my offer to come to my apartment, now you are inviting me to your own?"

"Nah—so... would you mind to join me for a tea or not?"

"Unlike someone, I will gladly accept your invitation. "

I rolled my eyes in annoyance. What a teaser, now I have the urge to punch him. But unfortunately I cannot do it, because he is my boss. And I like my job so far and I have no intention to get unemployed any time soon.

I opened the entrance door and let Takano in. When I was about to close the door, I notice a man standing in the shadow looking at me. I gulped dry. Quickly I closed the door and leaned against it. That guy was terrifying me, not kidding.

Takano´s smile and his good mood was gone as he looked at me. He came closer and took me into his arms.

I instinctively wrapped my hands around his waist and leaned my head against his chest. I could hear his heart beating. I do not know why I did it but one thing I knew for sure. His protecting arms were so warm and gently and yet so strong and protective.

Takano soothingly began to stroke my back with his hand. It felt so good even though I know very well that what I was doing was wrong but at this moment I couldn't care less about it. All I wanted was to be hugged by him.

"Do not worry Ritsu, I will be here with you. I will not anyone to harm you. You are more precious to me than you can imagine."

I left my head to look into his eyes. "What do you mean under precious?"

Takano looked at me with such tenderness and love. I could swear that what I could see in his eyes was love.

"It may sound absurd but I have fallen in love with you. And I am totally serious. I know that we know each other for a short period of time even so my heart has chosen you to be the one who I should love."

"You love me? But how and when did you manage to fall in love with me? This must be a bad joke. This cannot be happening ..." I shook my head in disbelief. But then Takano cupped my chin and pulled closer to him.

Our lips were just inches away from each other. My eyes immediately focused on those full, pink lips of his.

"I know that you cannot believe this, but honestly I cannot believe that either. It was literally love at first sight. And to prove you my words let me kiss you..." and without wasting more time, he closed the distance between our lips and sealed my lips with his in a slowly but sweet first kiss.

I do not know yet if I feel the same towards him or not but one thing is sure, he evokes inside of me something that I haven´t experienced for quite a time and even he is shamelessly messing up my emotions and heart.

But in this moment all I could think about was his lips and the way he was kissing me. The other things unluckily have to wait for now...

Stay tuned

:D :D