ARIA
Kyoto was as breathtaking as I had imagined it to be—sleek, polished, and alive with a quiet kind of power. The city exuded old wealth and new ambition, a perfect backdrop for Kael Roman.
I followed him through the lobby of the Shimizu Group's headquarters, the smooth click of his shoes on the marble floor a sharp contrast to the hushed murmurs of the employees watching him pass.
He commanded attention without effort, his presence too striking to be ignored. I kept close, my heels a half-beat behind his steps, trying not to look as affected as I felt.
Tch! If only they knew this man got off pissing me the hell off.
Inside the boardroom, Mr. Tanaka Shimizu, the company's president, a middle-aged man with greying hair sat at the head of the long glass table, his dark blue suit impeccable, his features carefully neutral. Around him, several other board members sat poised, their expressions ranging from polite interest to quiet calculation.
