The conference call took place the following morning. It was being recorded for legal purposes, but that was almost an afterthought.
Michiru took the call in her office while Mark was in a separate room. It had been his decision entirely, but Michiru was slightly hurt by this, even though she knew she shouldn't be. It only seemed to add to the weight of the situation.
I know he didn't do this intentionally…she continuously reminded herself. But after all that they had done together the past few weeks, it had been his decision to go and work for his parents.
He wouldn't do something like this to us after what we've been through. I know that.
But why does it still hurt so much?
"Are you both here now?" Mrs. Ramsey's voice said over the phone line.
"Yes, I'm here," Michiru answered.
"I'm here too," Mark responded dryly. "By the way, Mom?"
"Yes, dear?"
"Is Dad with you?"
There was a pause. "Yes, I'm here, Mark," his Father Hans said eventually.
"I had a feeling you would be." Based on his tone, Michiru was finding it harder and harder to accept that Mark would be leaving the Team to work for his parents of his own volition.
"Well, let's begin then, shall we," Misaki said. "Miss Satomi, as you know, the Hiratake Conglomerate is one of the largest corporations in the world and is among the most powerful financial organizations in the market today.
"Yes, I have heard a lot about you," Michiru answered.
"Then you must also know that Hans serves as the President and CEO of the company."
"I do."
"Even though the company has expanded to astronomical proportions over the past few decades, the company is still run by many in our family, dating back to when Hans' Grandfather founded the company over 50 years ago."
Hans added, "Among our own family, we still like to think of the company as a family owned and operated entity, even though its growth has been astounding. I would say it is very similar to the way your own family's company has expanded in the past few years, Miss Satomi. Your Father still is the CFO of the company, correct?"
"Yes, he is. He originally was going to succeed my Grandfather as CEO when he passed away, but he didn't feel he would be the best one to lead the company into the future and instead he chose to take over as CFO, while his younger Brother, and my Uncle, became CEO."
"I've had the pleasure of meeting your Father, Uncle, and Grandfather on many occasions in the past and I have nothing but the utmost respect for all of them, Miss Satomi."
"Thank you, sir."
"Getting back to the matter at hand," Misaki said, refocusing the conversation on what they had initially agreed to discuss. "Ever since he was little, we've had the intention of having Mark become employed with our company so that he could eventually succeed his Father as the top executive."
Michiru nodded to herself.
"After he enrolled at Harvard and told us that he wanted to be a mechanic…well, you can imagine how we felt."
"Of course."
"But seeing how he has performed over the past few years while working for you, it has only reinforced our belief that Mark is duly capable of succeeding his Father and working in the top levels of our company. So we believe that it would be good for him if he came back and worked with his Father so he can gain experience for when that day arrives."
Michiru decided to bring Mark in on the conversation. He had been silent up to that point. "What do you think, Mark?" she asked bluntly. "I'd like to have your opinion on this matter."
She hadn't meant to be mean, but the tone of her voice did contain a slight edge to it. She had to find out if this was what he really wanted, or whether or not he was being forced into this by his parents.
Why am I thinking like this? she asked herself. He can do what he wants. He's a grown man.
Nevertheless, the thought of him leaving was still painful.
After a brief pause, Mark spoke. "With no offense to you at all, Michiru." Him calling her by her first name was enough to remind her of how close they gotten over the past few weeks. "I've always known that at some point I would have to go back and work for the company that my family owns and operates."
She frowned. The pain inside her was growing. "I understand that," she said quietly, trying to keep the emotion out of her voice.
"Even when I've been working for you these past four years…I've known that at any moment I could be called to work for the company. I had always hoped that that day wouldn't come this soon…because I've enjoyed with you and the others so much. I'll never forget that and I had hoped that we could continue working together for as long as we wanted because I loved doing this so much. And honestly…if I had the choice…I'd rather work here for the rest of my life…with you."
Michiru couldn't help but smile.
"So I guess that's my real question, Mom," he continued. "Why now? Why do you want me to come back now?"
"Well, we didn't want to break this to you so quickly, but…you're Father is…actually considering retirement."
Mark sounded shocked when he responded. "What?"
"It's true," Misaki continued. "We've been discussing for several weeks and it could happen very soon."
"I was under the impression that you weren't going to retire for a few more years, Dad."
"Well, things have changed somewhat, Mark," Hans said. "You remember last year when I injured myself."
"You fell down the stairs at home," Mark responded.
"Yes. Although I wasn't hurt too badly, the doctors have told me that I'm going to be developing arthritis in my legs fairly soon."
"You're being truthful about this, right?" Mark asked. Michiru wondered why Mark would ask such a thing.
"Of course, Mark. I wouldn't be telling you this if it wasn't true."
"Sure…"
"Mark, he's telling the truth," Misaki broke in. "If and when the arthritis kicks in, your Father will find it increasingly more difficult to continue on his difficult work schedule. And you also know that the company can't thrive without a fully operational President and CEO. That is why we would like you to come back and work for us now, Mark."
"I understand that, Mom, but…" he trailed off.
"Miss Satomi," Misaki said. "Now that you understand the situation we find ourselves in, I'd like to hear your opinion on this matter. You are still Mark's employer and you are the one that will ultimately decide what happens in the near future with him. What do you have to say about this matter?"
Michiru paused.
She thought about everything that they and the Team had been through for the past few years: the losses, the hardships, the struggles, the injuries, the recoveries, the wins, and the championships. They had been together every step of the way, from the IG-3, to the IG-1 champions. Mark had been by her side every day since the journey began.
And recently, she had begun to see him as more than a just a mechanic. He was a confidant, a person she could talk to, a person she could lean on for support. A close friend.
She desperately didn't want to lose him as that was what she most afraid at this point. She knew that if he left, she likely wouldn't see him for a long time. Everything that they had done and hoped to do together, would be nothing more than a memory.
And yet…she realized that she was only thinking of herself, how she felt. If she was a true friend, she would let Mark do as he wanted. She couldn't hold him back from doing what he desired; she couldn't call herself his friend if she did.
I've gotta do this, she thought.
As much as it hurts…and she realized at that moment just how much it was going to hurt her to let him go, I've got to let him do as he wants…
"I think you should do what you think is best for you, Mark," she said at last. "If that means you need to leave the Team and go do what you've been destined to do all your life…then I'm not going to stop you. That would be selfish of me and I couldn't call myself your friend if I did that."
"So if you need to go…I'm going to let you go. But if you do, I want you to know this…we will always be grateful for what you've done for us…and I will always remember you as a true friend."
She felt a tear begin to make its way down her cheek and she didn't even bother to stop it; there was no point.
She knew that if she was going to say goodbye to him, this was how it had to be.
The pause that followed seemed to last an eternity. Finally, she heard Mark sigh. "Mom…can I talk to you Dad alone for a moment?"
"That's fine, Mark," Misaki answered. "Is that alright with you, Miss Satomi?"
Michiru finally reached up to wipe away the tear and she breathed in shallowly, trying not to sob. "Yes…" she whispered.
"Thank you, Michiru," she heard him say.
She reached for the phone to switch off her end of the line and felt another tear streak down her face. As she prepared to place the receiver down, she felt as if she were saying goodbye to him for the last-
"Mom, I can't come work for you!"
Michiru froze when she heard Mark's voice.
What happened? She was sure she had set it so that she couldn't hear the conversation between Mark and his parents, but somehow she could still hear them.
And although she was shocked at his words, she was still prepared to end the link so that she wouldn't eavesdrop on a conversation that didn't involve her.
"W-What…?" she heard Misaki stammer. "Mark…why not?"
"I just can't, Mom."
"That's not a good enough reason, Mark!"
"I'm really busy with the Team alright. We've got the championship race in a few days and I'm going to be insanely busy the next few weeks as it is!"
"But, Mark-!"
He groaned. "Okay, Mom. You wanna know why I can't come work for you? I'm in love!"
Michiru's gasp was enough to cause an echo inside her office.
After a pause, Misaki answered, "What…?"
"Mom, I'm in love," Mark repeated.
"But…what…?"
"It's just that, Mom," he continued. "I'm in love…with Miss Satomi."
Michiru brought her closed hand to her chest, as if all the air had been sucked of her.
"Mark…" Misaki breathed.
"Mom…if I come work for you guys now," he said, "I'll have to leave this place and the Team…and I'll have to leave, Michiru. At this point…that's not something I can do and it's not something I'm willing to do."
"Mark…" Misaki repeated. "Are you…sure…?"
"Let me put it this way, Mom," he said. "This past week, I have not gone a single minute without thinking about her. As much as I may try to concentrate on work or other things, I cannot get her out of my mind."
"I originally was grateful to her for even giving me a chance to live my dream and do what I've wanted to. But over the past few weeks…I've realized that she means so much more to me than that. She's someone who I can talk to when something's on my mind, she's always been there for me whenever something went wrong or something urgent came up; if I needed something, she was there. She's always been there for me and I can't even express how much that meant to me."
"She's one of the most intelligent people I've ever met. I've been in awe at how smart and how brave she is for some of the shots she's taken for me over the years. She makes me feel like nothing else in the world does. When I'm with her…it's like I'm in a different world. Everything is calm, everything is beautiful, it's…it's unbelievable. I've never felt like this before with someone."
"And she's so beautiful. I've never seen an angel before, but if I had, I bet it would look exactly like her."
"I…I can't live without her right now, Mom. If I leave her…I know I'm going to regret it for the rest of my life. I don't want to make a mistake like that. I…I can't break her heart…Mom…not after all she's done for me…"
He was crying now. Michiru could hear his sobs through the link.
"I can't let her go…she means too much to me…"
Time seemed to stand still. Michiru didn't know whether smile or cry. This was the last thing she had expected…how could she have?
"Mark…" Misaki said. "If that's the way you feel…then by all means…stay where you are."
"What…?" he said between sobs.
"Mark…if this girl means that much to you…and you want to be with her this badly…then I would not stand in your way for any reason."
"Really?"
"Of course! Mark, you're my Son. I want you to be happy more than anything else." She added, "Why didn't you tell us this sooner?"
"Because…because I didn't think you'd take it like this," he admitted. "I know how badly you two want me to come back…and I didn't think you would like me being a relationship with my boss, so…"
Laughter was heard over the link. It was Hans. "Mark…have you forgotten something?"
"Huh?"
"Your Mother was originally my lawyer," he said. "She still is. And that technically makes me her boss. Why would you ever think that we wouldn't be okay with that?"
Now Mark laughed. "I…I don't know…"
"If that's how you really feel, Mark, we're not going to make you do anything you don't want to," Hans continued. "If you really love this girl…and based on what you've said I'm fairly certain that you do…then stay there and be with her. We'll be more than happy to work something out later. But right now, if this is what you want…then do it."
There was another pause.
"Thank you…" Mark's voice sounded so relieved. "Thank you both, so much..."
Her finger was trembling as she pressed the button to destroy the link. The tears were now flowing freely from her eyes, but they were not tears of sadness; they were tears of joy.
His confession had finally made her understand why she had been so hurt by the potential of him leaving.
Why it had been so hard for her to comprehend that he could possibly be going away.
Why she had been overwhelmed by overall feeling of the past few weeks with him.
And why she had been feeling so unbelievably amazing whenever she was with, or of thought of, Mark Ramsey.
I can't believe it…she thought as she smiled through her tears.
I'm in love with him!