A day had passed? Already?

Kyoya stared at the screen of his computer, checking the numbers from the reports. He had spent the entire morning working, analyzing every single financial report from Ootori Group's investment in Ito Pharmaceuticals' project. He didn't care much about the information on clinical trials and the actual medical reports on the medical product, as checking the use financial assets in details was his priority.

If the project succeeded, it would bring substantial profit to Ootori Group. His father, on the other hand, still demanded to be involved with everything, and Kyoya found the old man's distrust in his abilities infuriating. He closed his computer, leaned back in his chair and rubbed his eyes. He also needed to meet with couple of board members in the afternoon, and he was sure it was going to drive him mad. The pen in his hand clicked, and he started to sign the stack of documents.

His phone rang, snapping him out of his concentration, and Kyoya turned his head sideways to stare at his cellphone. He put down the pen, and taking out his glasses, answered phone. "Tachibana-san," his voice sounded clean and sharp, although he was weary.

"Haruhi-sama had went to the pedicure salon, and she hadn't come out yet," the man informed him in his neutral tone. "Would you like me to go in and find out what is taking her so long, sir?"

Kyoya got up and started to circle in his large office. How many hours had it been since she was there? Then again, he had no idea what those beauty places were actually doing. Although, he was pretty sure his wife would lose her patience and wouldn't stay so long to get all kinds of procedures done. Unless, Haruhi somehow undergone a major character transformation, she wasn't a person to like those things and willingly put herself in that position.

"No," he told the chief of his security. "That would be terribly invasive. I don't want her feel like she is under my surveillance."

"But what if something happened to her?" the bodyguard's voice went down and wavered, showing that he really was concerned.

Kyoya suppressed a chuckle. Haruhi's lack of enthusiasm was so prominent that even Tachibana-san knew that she wouldn't stay in a beauty salon, unless something was terribly wrong.

"I am sure she is fine," Kyoya said. "Please continue your surveillance and contact me when she leaves the place."

"Yes, sir," the man replied readily.

Kyoya turned off the phone and shook his head. Maybe, she needed a therapist. He should have done something about her withdrawal earlier. It had been almost two years she was acting like this. He thought she needed time. He thought she was just being cautious and wasn't used to being in the center of the attention. He thought having a child was the cause of her stress, and he thought it all would be temporary. Maybe he was wrong to let everything go so far when he didn't recognize his own wife anymore.

He knew that things would change for Haruhi when hey got married, but he thought she could handle it. She was an intelligent woman and had a strong will. But maybe he overestimated her. Maybe, she needed to be taken care of, after all. Maybe, he wasn't supposed to let her alone, in her own devices, to figure herself out. Maybe, he should have forced her back into school after their child was born.

He grabbed the stack of documents. He needed to see his father. How utterly humiliating it was to have everything he did to be checked by the old man. He was breathing down on his neck. He strode out of his office only to have the old secretary raise up quickly and bow, politeley. He nodded curtly.

"Please print out the material for the board meeting, Akagi-san."

The old woman acknowledged his request with another polite bow and sat down after he left.

His father was sitting on the sofa, staring at his coffee cup when he knocked politely and walked in.

"I have brought the financial reports from our dealing with the Ito Pharmaceuticals'," he said, setting the documents on his father's desk.

Yoshio Ootori set aside his cup and grabbed the stack of documents. He quickly flipped through the pages and nodded indifferently. Kyoya grit his teeth, trying to keep his face blank. His father didn't care about the reports, the old man got certain kind of pleasure dragging him to his office every now and then.

"Would like some coffee?" he asked, staring at his son, pointing at the cup.

"Thank you, but I have already had a few cups of it. I wouldn't want to abuse my daily intake of caffeine."

Yoshio's lips slightly shifted, and he crossed his legs. "You seem to be working more than usual," he said with a displeased tone. "Something I should know about?"

Oh, his father's over-present suspicions over anything anyone did! He smiled. He understood him well. "I want this project to succeed," he offered pragmatically.

"Ito-san's team puts quite the effort," Yoshio smirked. "I have seen those medical reports. And Tanaka-san is a great researcher. You should think of swaying him into our company. He would be a great asset for Ootori Group. He is young and quite talented."

So his father had thought of it too. Kyoya nodded. "I will make an offer if he completes this project successfully. Until then, I don't mind him working for Ito-san. After all, it's in the best interest of Ootori Group."

"Ito-san's daughter is a researcher, too," Yoshio chuckled suddenly. "Yuki-san, right?"

Kyoya's facial muscles hardened at the mention of Yuki. What was this about? Did his father know something? Why did the conversation suddenly shift into that direction? He blinked and, keeping his voice disinterested, spoke. "She is one of the researchers working on the project. Her name is mentioned in the medical reports. Is there something about her that you don't like?"

"Quite the contrary," Yoshio smiled, sipping from his cup. "I have seen her at yesterday's charity event. She is a charming girl from a good family. And I was thinking she would be a good match for Ryota-san's cousin. You know he had practically raised the boy, and he was speaking about him getting married."

Kyoya kept his posture straight and didn't shift away, despite feeling really annoyed and suspicious at what his father was trying to do. Why did he suddenly have such an interest to be a matchmaker for Fuyumi's husband's cousin? It was utterly unlike his father, unless there was something for him.

"I must say I am surprised, Father," Kyoya's lips turned up in a tight smile. "I didn't take you for a family matchmaker."

Yoshio snorted and sipped from his cup. "I have my reasons, of course," he smirked.

Kyoya leaned back in his seat and glanced at his father with a mixed expression. He had no idea what was on the old man's mind, and he was pretty sure Yoshio Ootori wasn't going to share. He idly moved the table decoration pieces away from him and decided to allow his father continue whatever game he had planned to play. He would just silently observe and make his move only when he knew what he was dealing with.

"I hope you still remember about the dinner today," Yoshio said after moment of silence. "I don't like that my only grandson is being raised away from Ootori family. God only knows what values your commoner wife is teaching him."

"He is only two," Kyoya said coldly. "It's not of the age I would like him to get acquainted with Ootori values. Besides, Haruhi is a good mother."

"I never said anything about her nurturing skills," Yoshio scoffed. "Just that she is a commoner. Although, your decision to marry her wasn't the worst from what your brothers made. Years of marriage and no children. I don't understand what they are doing with their wives."

Kyoya smothered a sigh and looked away. He hoped his father wasn't going start that conversation with him right now.

"I hope you are thinking about more children," Yoshio suddenly said, bewildering Kyoya.

"I think it's not the time to talk about that, Father," he said, getting up. "Anyways, I need to attend a separate board member meeting. I have been putting this off for a while."

Yoshio nodded. "Of course," he mumbled. "You can go. I have things to do in the hospital, too. Don't be late today."

Kyoya bowed gracefully and left.

The following hours he spent with boring and useless conversations with the board, trying to actually understand what these idiots wanted from him, and it was almost the end of the day when he got a call from Tachibana. He excused himself and went out.

"Haruhi-sama just left the salon," the man reported in a shocked voice.

She had spent there the entire day? Well, now he had heard everything in his life.

"Thank you, Tachibana-san," he said. "Please, sent Aijima-san to take me home. I am really tired today to drive myself."

"Yes, sir!"

Thank you guys so much for the amazing feedback you keep laving for me to read and get excited for the next chapters. Quite honestly, this chapter was supposed to be including the dinner at Ootori house, but I decided to post that tomorrow (I didn't finish it on time). One more chapter, and you will get Haruhi's side as well. So what do you think of Yoshio? He is actually one of my favorite characters to write, for some reason. Please, leave me your impressions and have a great day. Even if things aren't the way you want them to be, a new day always comes with a bright sun. :)