Chapter 11

We returned to the lobby and were greeted by Mr Kenzaki.

"Welcome back, sir." He said. "And welcome back Freya."

"Mr Ichinomiya, I've already completed the paperwork transferring the ownership."

"Already?" Eisuke said.

"Yes, sir. It won't do for anyone but you to be the owner of the Tres Spades. I have the penthouse all prepared for you whenever you may need it sir. I'm sure you both must be very tired. Please, go and rest." Mr Kenzaki said.

"Yes, thank you. I think we'll do that." Eisuke said and put an arm around my shoulders and we walked up to the penthouse.

I felt so relieved when I got back to the familiar room that tears filled my eyes.

"Crying again?" Eisuke said.

"I can't help it. So much has happened recently. I'm glad you didn't get sold." I said.

"Yes, however…" he ignored my tears and spoke in an exasperated tone of voice. He grabbed my left hand.

"What is it?"

"Stay still." He said. He pulled my hand towards him and felt him slip something cold over my ring finger. It took me a moment to realise that it was an engagement ring. "You know what this mean, don't you?"

"Well…" I ran my fingers over the ring, judging the size of the diamond and the ring, I bet is sparkled like a star.

"I'll only say this once, so listen carefully. Marry me, Freya."

Did he seriously just say that? My mouth dropped.

He pulled me close and whispered into my ear "Say yes."

I couldn't help but smile, his proposal was aggressive, just like he usually was. I expected nothing else.

"How long are you going to make me wait this time?" he said.

"What?"

"We're going to be a family, right?"

I grabbed onto him and hugged him "I want us to be a family. I would love to be your wife." I said and stood on my tiptoes and gave him a kiss.

Next day, we met everyone in the penthouse.

"Freya, long time no see." Baba beamed.

"Mamoru told us everything. That was so crazy." Ota said.

"It wasn't a big deal. I just got back what was mine. I couldn't let that fool be in charge of my hotel for another minute. I didn't want my reputation damaged any further." Eisuke said and sat down on the sofa, pulling me with him.

"It's all over the news." Soryu said.

The press reported that Frank was jealous over the Tres Spades success and that's why he sought revenge against Eisuke. But now, Eisuke was the owner of the hotel again.

"We busted him on human trafficking and bribery." Kishi said. "Even if he manages to get outta the slammer, he ain't gonna work in this industry again."

"Good for you Eisuke. Now you have one less rival hotel to worry about." Ota said.

"Please. I hardly call someone who owned one measly hotel my rival." Eisuke said.

"So at least the controversy over who owns this hotel is over." Baba said.

We all watched the tv. Thanks to the media reports, most of the public feels sympathy for Eisuke at having been almost sold.

"It's strange." Eisuke said.

"What is?" I asked.

"Frank's methods were much skilled than before. Getting close to me to take over the hotel, putting me for auction in order to exact revenge…he's much more clever then he was when we were in school." Eisuke said.

"I'm sure he spent all these years improving himself so he could get revenge on you." Soryu said.

"No, his butler said it wasn't until Eisuke showed up in London that his desire for revenge was re-ignited." I said.

Eisuke was oddly silent after I had spoke but Baba's carefree laugh eased the tension.

"Well, all's well that ends well." He said. "It was a real pain not being able to stay here."

"So where did you guys go, then?" I asked.

"I stayed in a cheap motel. The customer service here sucks compared to back home." Kishi said.

"I told you to come stay with me." Ota said.

"There's no way I was gonna waste all that money on the fancy-ass hotel you were stayin' in."

"What about Soryu and Baba?"

"I stayed in the Ice Dragon's London Headquarters. It was perfectly fine." Soryu said.

"I… well, why does it really matter, anyway?" Baba said evasively.

Ota then started cracking up. "Baba went from one woman's place to the next."

"What? Really?"

"And every time he tried to stay they just ended up kicking him out. Finally, he gave up and just came to stay with me." Ota said.

"Thanks for letting me stay." Baba said.

"I still can't believe you were willing to put yourself up for auction. That was awfully risky behaviour from you, Eisuke." Soryu said.

"Everyone likes a good thrill now and then, right?" Eisuke said with a chuckle.

I wondered how much of this he actually planned? Did it all start from him proposing to me or did he plan this from the minute we met Frank? I wouldn't put it past him.

Its been a few days since Eisuke had proposed to me, and things were finally getting back to normal. Though I did question what was normal as things never seemed normal anymore.

I was enjoying my break in the staff break room, when my phone started ringing.

"Hello?"

"We've just received a deposit of a very large sum into your account and we need to verify." It was my bank.

"A large deposit?"

"Yes. Of $80 million."

I was drinking a cup of tea and spat it out and started chocking "Excuse me?!" I knew only one person who could be responsible for this. I hung up and rushed up to the penthouse, Eisuke was the only one in the lounge.

"What's all the commotion?" he said.

"Don't give me that. Someone deposited $80 million into my bank account." I said annoyed.

"Was that not enough?"

"What? That's not what I mean. Why did you give me so much money?" I demanded.

"I discussed it with my lawyer and decided to give you a part of my assets." He said.

I thought back and remember when Eisuke had me bring tea when he was having a meeting with someone. I thought it was about the hotel.

"But why?" I asked.

"In case anything were to happen to me." He said sounding very serious. "I've been targeted too often lately and as things are right now, it would take a long time for you to get my assets."

"But… you don't have to do that right now."

"And whose fault was it that it took so long? If you would've accepted my marriage proposal from the very beginning the paperwork would've gone much more smoothly."

I stood there speechless, not sure how to answer him. "So that's why you wanted to marry me?"

"If you would've signed the papers that day, all of the paperwork would be over and done with by now. But you wouldn't answer me so I had to go a different route."

"And this was it?"

"Since we're not married, I couldn't give you all of my assets. Adding to the sheer amount of paperwork involved, I had little options. If the media found out I gave all my assets to someone who wasn't my wife, they'd have a field day with it. But if it's just a portion of my assets, things go a lot smoother. That made a whole lot more work for me, though."

"So that's why you were so insistent on me signing the paperwork." I said but Eisuke didn't elaborate further. I wasn't sure if I should be angry or happy, he wanted to marry me to keep me safe but not because he wanted us be together? No that's not it. He loves me, I have no doubt about that.

I reached out and gave him a hug, I felt his arms encircle my waist. "I just wish you would've told me."

"There was no need."

"Seriously? Do you have any idea what you've put me through." I said and poked him hard in the chest. I then tried to pull away but he tightened his grip on me.

"You're going to be my wife, do with the money as you please." He said.

"There's no way I can accept that much money, Eisuke. I don't need money from you." I said.

"I thought you'd say that." he said sounding disappointed.

"I'm going to be your wife, right? So then there's no reason for me to have that much money." As soon as I said the word wife, I felt my cheeks flush as I started to blush.

"It's a gift. Take it."

"I can't, it's your money." I said and stood my ground till Eisuke relented. "Plus, I already have what I want." I said.

"And what's that?" he said.

"You. We're engaged now right?" I said.

He started to unbutton my blouse.

"What if someone comes?" I said and tried to escape his grasp.

"Then I'll make sure they hear you moan. Looks like I've got work to do to make that happen." He said and held me tight. He then sat down and pulled me onto his lap.