He stands, looking out of the window of his office. He is tired from a long trip but news has reached him, news that unsettled him.
A knock is heard at the door.
"Enter"
The door opens and Mei enters the office.
"Greetings grandfather, how was your trip?"
He turns from the window, "It was fruitful, but not important, Tell me about the last board meeting, Did they offer you the chairmanship?"
"Yes," Mei says, not looking at him.
"Unusual that they would just out of the blue, did they want something in return?"
Mei hesitates, then nods.
"Well, what was it?"
"That I... annul the marriage between Yuzu and I."
"I assume you told them no."
"No, I didn't I agreed to the concession."
"You did what!?"
Mei bows low in front of her grandfather, "I agreed to the-"
"Oh, Mei, you're so smart yet you do foolish things, " He sighs, "Did you sign any document saying you would?"
Mei doesn't answer, she just looks down on the floor.
"Oh heavens! You did, didn't you?"
"Is there anything that can be done to undo this?" Mei pleads.
Mei's Grandfather looks at her with sad eyes, "I'm afraid I can't do anything about this Mei."
Mei falls to her knees, "My God what have I done? I'm so sorry! I don't want this!"
Her grandfather sighs as he helps her up to her feet, "Mei, I'm not the one whom you should seek forgiveness from, and now it's one way or the other, The chairmanship, or your marriage, You need to get ahold of Yuzu to figure something out."
"I've tried, she won't answer her phone."
"Try again."
Mei pulls out her phone and begins to call Yuzu.
Yuzu walks down the hallway of the college to her professor's office. Her attention is brought down to her phone but upon seeing the caller ID she denies the call.
She gets to the office door and knocks.
"Come in," came a reply.
Yuzu opens the door and sees two men near the desk. One man is her business professor. The other man is a red-haired foreigner with a jolly smile.
"Yuzu, what a coincidence, I was just talking about you to Professor Sullivan here."
Did I come at a bad time? I can come back later."
"Oh no, What can I do for you?"
"I came to tell you that I am withdrawing from the University sir." Yuzu states.
"What? Why?"
Professor Sullivan stands up before Yuzu says anything.
"A moment lass if you please, My I see her file you were going to send to me."
He takes the file from Yuzu's professor and opens it to look at it.
"Hmm... Good marks... Overall a promising career, " he starts.
Yuzu keeps her eyes looking at the floor.
"However, this isn't something that is thrown away over a broken heart," he says looking over the top of the file.
Yuzu looks up in surprise at the newcomer.
"How do you know that?" asks his colleague.
"Why it's as plain as my red hair! Look at her, she is utterly devastated, Now lass, what did he do? Something stupid I suppose," he reasons.
"She, What did she do you mean," Yuzu quietly.
Sullivan looks back at his colleague then back to Yuzu, "I'm sorry, forgive me for assuming such things, but what was your plan afterward?"
"I don't know, go somewhere, anywhere except being here where she is right now, " Yuzu says quietly as if she didn't believe that it was her saying it.
"Then how about studying overseas, In Ireland, as part of our cultural exchange of business courses?"
Yuzu looks at Sullivan with a sad look, "I may have some legal things I have to attend to first with my soon to be ex-wife I guess."
"I see, Well I'm offering you a spot in the course after you handle your legal obligations first, and if you work it out with your wife then that will be ok with us, just don't quit and throw away a promising career," offers Sullivan.
"I don't know, it all seems too much I'll have to think about it."
"Then here, this is my card call me with your answer, We can have everything you need to travel completely paid for by me, visas, travel expenses, everything, We have been watching you with great interest and you are the perfect candidate for this mutual project between our two nations," says Sullivan.
Yuzu stands and takes his card, turns to exit the office.
"I will let you know soon Professor Sullivan."