Chapter 35

Meanwhile…

"Our stocks have increased rather well, over ten percent from the last quarter and I am certain if we continue with this projection, we will be looking at a record profit this year."

There came a round of applause from the table. Yuko was just finishing her presentation to the board, despite the hiccups along the way, she as been able to learn about the business and has taken charge rather well. The board loves her apparently, Papa stood in the corner and watched on with great pride… that is if he wasn't distracted by his grandson.

She smiled to him as he held on to Kiyoshi rather carefully. Her son has grown up so much in a short time, he is truly a strong child, he could lift his head the moment he was born! Now, he is learning to crawl and loves to get around.

When the meeting ended, Papa approached her. "Well done my dear!" he decreed. "You are certainly meant to do this."

She smiled warmly to him. "Thank you Papa" she said gently, her smile only grew as Kiyoshi woke up from resting. He peered about the room with such innocence before his eyes came upon her. He giggled aloud and reached out of Yuko. She didn't refuse and took her son back into her arms.

He is the spitting image of Itadori.

The top of his hair was pink, like his father's and then black. His eyes sparkled with child like wonder. He liked a lot of people, but there are those who he didn't and yet for a good reason.

She remembered that event well. Papa had set up a large celebration to gather everyone who he has decided to leave a company to. Yuko didn't know what to expect at this party, she had assumed that here would be people who were in a similar situation she was in. Yet, those were few and far between.

When she introduced herself to many of the other benefactors of 'Papa's' kindness, she was greeted rather coldly by most. In fact, there were some sneers directed at her!

Tenko however was quick to put an end to that as he stood behind her. He must have done something since their sneers quickly changed to that of terror the moment they shifted their focus to him!

"Miss Yuko, perhaps it's best we find Papa" Tenko said gently.

She couldn't agree more.

Throughout the party, she was introduced to many people. Some were kinder than others. But near the middle, she was brought to five rather powerful businessmen. They glared at her oddly as she was formerly introduced, when they heard her name, their looks didn't change the least bit. "So you're the one the old fool gave his most profitable business to"

"Old fool?" she asked.

"The crazy old man, look, as much as he is a business man, he's took kindhearted. He should have kept them all together as a super company and let ONE person control it all. Not this… sharefest here."

"AHEM" said Tenko. "Miss Ozawa has done everything asked of her by the CEO, her skills as well as market sense has been second to none, as well…"

"Shut it butler and do your job, get me another drink!"

Tenko glared at the man. "I am only here to serve Miss Ozawa, you sir, may get your own drink"

The five froze.

I suppose no one has talked back to them like that before. Yet before they could say anything, Kiyoshi began to act up. "Oh, what's wrong baby?" Yuko said gently.

His eyes shifted to the five, then, he shied away!

He never shies away unless the people around are scaring him OR they just aren't good people.

"Wait, you had a kid?"

"Yes," she said gently. "This is Kiyoshi"

They appeared disgusted. "Ugh, how could you have a child now when you are in charge of a company? Oh wait, I heard of you. You had a fling with an old high school lover didn't you? Where is he now? Did he just up and leave you?"

She held her tongue. There was nothing she could say to respond to that.

However Tenko wouldn't let such an insult slide, he stood rather tall before the five men and stated. "Who she has had a relationship with, is none of your concern let alone business. But let me make one thing clear gentlemen… don't you ever stare upon my young master or her child with such a look again… or you shall regret it!"

Even she felt this strange aura coming off of Tenko.

Kiyoshi giggled though the moment the five men backed off. "You can ease up, no need to be this protective of me," she whispered.

"I am sorry young master, but it is necessary. After all, humans tend to prey on the weak, especially those who wear suits."

"YYUUUKKKOOOO!"

She was startled but settled as Papa came into the room. People were instantly flocking to him, to gain his attention, but he was quick to shoo them all away. He wanted to see her first and foremost. "Yuko! Oh look at you… Look at my grandson!" he cheered and took Kiyoshi from her.

He giggled instantly. He does love his grandfather.

For the rest of the party, Papa had Kiyoshi. Yuko was busy dealing with the other benefactors of Papa's kindness.

"Miss Ozawa, would you consider to SELL your share?" one asked of her.

"Sell my share?" she questioned.

"Let one of us, buy the company off of you. And you can retire from this moment on and focus on your son" one said with a very slimy smile.

"Don't listen to him, sell to me!"

"You? I wouldn't even sell a newspaper to you! No, me, I am better suited!"

"I'm not selling!" she protested. "What's the big deal anyways? My company is doing well, I am not interested in selling to ANY of you."

They froze to her outburst, some even snickered to her rather carelessly. "For a woman to succeed in a man's world, she needs to become a man," one stated rather tastelessly. "You, dear girl… don't belong in a man's world"

Her old self, would have cowered at the comment. Yet, somehow, she felt stronger than before. Perhaps she recalled everything Itadori went through and how he still moves forward. If he can do it, so will she! She stood tall, proud and stared them in the eyes. She then began to remember their faces and then, their business. "Let me get this right," she said rather calmly. "The five business men standing before me wish to buy my company that Papa had given me. And no doubt, he has also given one to each of you. HOWEVER, you have not turned a profit like I have. NOR have you been looking into your own company, seeing what has happened, what needs to be done to correct and change the course for better production, profitability, or evolution of said company to increase your revenue. Am I right?" she asked.

They didn't move at first, perhaps they didn't expect her to speak so confidently. One however smirked. "Oh, really? Is that what you think?"

Her eyes narrowed. "You are to be in charge of transportation of various goods associated with Papa's businesses. You should have been turning a profit left and right, instead, you have failed to focus on the areas in need. You have broken contracts with Papa's own company despite the fact it was INSTANT profit and work and believe that going private would have made things more… lucrative. You dropped 30% in profit margins compared to last year BEFORE you broke the contracts and paid the penalty."

No one spoke, these men when white in the face. Ozawa was smelling blood now. "All of you are down remarkably considering the contracts you had were with Papa's other companies in order to make certain the same service was offered, given and no interruptions between distribution of goods… I see how that it fails to be the case. Now, I see the logic in wanting to buy the company I am currently in charge of, for I am making a profit and that would please your shareholders when you acquire a company that lucrative. The problem is this… I won't be selling. The solution… you sell your companies to me,"

The room suddenly went silent.

No one spoke as they saw her stare down the five men without fear. Despite their tactic before, they failed to realize how confident of a woman she is, let alone the voice behind her. She's like a demon of the business world!

"Us, sell to you?!" they demanded of her.

"I will offer you a fair price of course, however I will need to see all your papers from the past three years. From when Papa ran it to your leadership, that way I have a better understanding of the trend the business went and to see how to get it back on track. However, gentlemen, I am quite busy. I would like your answer by the end of the night."

After that, she walked off with Tenko close behind. He was smiling wickedly to her actions. "That there… that was a dragon move" he whispered to her. "No doubt my sister's young master would be so proud of you." He paused for a moment. "Dare I say, someone else is influencing you?"

She didn't know at this point to say the least.

Yuko is normally a meek woman, she doesn't like to make a scene, however, after the years she spent in high school, being looked down upon. She vowed she would never let that happen to her in the real world. They were no better than the kids in high school to say the least.

She wondered back to Papa and Kiyoshi. She was about to apologize for her action, when Papa passed Kiyoshi to Tenko and pulled her into a proud embrace. "Well done my dear," he whispered to her. "I've been having trouble with those five ever since they took over the company. I thought for sure they would have kept it on track, but it appears, I was wrong about them."

She nodded to him. "Do doubt they are going to sell to me… if that's the case, is a takeover necessary?"

He was stunned to her question. "Yuko, that's a lot for you to manage right now. You just had a baby!"

She nodded. "It is, but at the same time Papa, I don't want anyone else taking those companies from you. You want to keep them right? As well, how many people will suffer from the fall out of this if we don't do something?"

He nodded his head. "Very well then, I will leave it to you. But please, be careful."

She nodded. "I am going to do some research ahead of time to ensure it's the right move for us. Then, I will go from there."

Papa nodded, he left her be as he took in the room.

Tenko appeared to think of something. "Miss Ozawa, would it help if perhaps I sent a few brothers to investigate the businesses?"

She was taken aback by the suggestion. "Would they? Do they want to? This isn't for the sake of protecting me to say the least."

"That's the thing, I think it is. Those men have just had their pride hurt by you. Not to mention, you have revealed to them that you are very savvy when it comes to business and they fear that their shortcomings will now be compared to your profits. If anything, they may not know about Kiyoshi… but they know you are a threat to their pride and stake as business men."

She never thought about it before, also if something happens to her, the company would be up for grabs as well. "I avoid one thing and step in another…" she said with a defeated sigh. "If you have brothers who don't mind…"

He smiled wickedly. "These men won't know what hit them."

Ever since the party, she has been looking into each of the companies.

All have endured hardships, and yet the money to prevent such hardships has gone missing. "We make more than enough to live off of in great privilege to say the least. Where could this money have gone?"

Company A, the one she reamed out at the party, they specialized in transportation of good. Before it was the top shipper in Japan, and it has now since fallen to nearly rock bottom. There have been massive cuts to say the least, she went over the names of those who were released and fired. Many specialized in the transportation industry, it was time to make a move to say the least.

Ozawa is about to bare her business fangs!