Chapter 117: Low self-esteem?
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Such social gatherings were very boring to Haruki he wished he could skip them but this was important to keep himself involved in the high society that his father was once a part of. After inheriting all his father left for him, he was forced to take over the man’s social duties.
His secretary stood beside him acting very appropriately and some people recognised her from her father’s side so she had several conversations with them. The night went a bit longer than Haruki had wished it would. He was tired after an hour.
As soon as the charity was over, he wanted to leave but that would be him acting like the young immature leader many had painted him to be even with all the accomplishments he had made in just a few years. None of them would have accomplished it even within decades.
His grandfather built the foundation for a large project and all he did was take over and raise the building to the greatest height it could be.
If he were an entrepreneur, he would have won awards for his intelligence and ideas but since he was made chairman by his grandfather, many unwise people didn’t want to see the amount of work he had put into the company.
While very wise people were quick to see his potential even before he started. He was the reason the business expanded to what it was. He was a new face, one no one could easily connect to the past of his great-grandfather.
He was a young smart youth given the opportunity to grow wide. The company he was left with and the manpower already established were the best capital anyone could have access to and he used it wisely.
His grandfather’s siblings wouldn’t be as rich as they were if one of them had taken over. They would be watched too closely by the police and he was certain that it wouldn’t be too long before the police cord them with the Yakuza world and they would never escape it.
Just like his grandfather, he was not openly part of that world and as a young heir with the background he had, no one would be able to tie him to the underworld regardless of how hard they tried especially with his impact on the economy only after a few years.
"Do you see how much admiration everyone looks at you with?" After a while of thinking hard about a lot of things, Satomi was forced to say. She could sense a bit of need from Haruki to keep the relations he had with most of the other guests strictly businesslike.
Haruki’s eyes narrowed slightly at the words he said but his beautiful face remained expressionless mostly. "What do you mean?"
"I think you don’t seem to see how much they like you. Many of them wish they had a secret grandson or son somewhere that was as smart as you are. One that will bring them more money. One they could die peacefully knowing their legacy was safe," Satomi responded after only a bit of hesitation.
Haruki wished he had something to tell the lady but he looked around again and as though seeing things from her point of view made everything seem better. Their smiles no longer had those hidden daggers and criticism.
He shook his head and denied with she had said, "What are you talking about?"
"I want my kids to be as smart as you are. I think my retirement years will be very peaceful."
Haruki could easily understand what she meant by that but he chose it ignore it as much as he wanted so badly to reject her with no room for doubt. Marrying a woman with her background suddenly seemed more of a win than a loss.
With the right prenuptial agreement in place, he could be certain that his assets and future children were safe with him and she would play the perfect role of his wife at such events. It seemed perfect enough for him to consider it so he didn’t reject.
Perhaps her forwardness was what made him a bit shocked and confused not wanting to accept her immediately. Or it was something a lot deeper than that.
After socialising a bit and emptying two champagne flutes, people began the farewell exchanges. Haruki sighed in relief. Hanging around with old men was not particularly a fun thing.
Aside from the serious business conversation he had, he could only remember that the invitation he got to play golf was so many that he lost count after the seventh one.
He was forced into liking golf along with the many other things he was forced to like after his grandfather’s death but he enjoyed playing it with those his age and they didn’t attend this gathering since it was meant for a closed circle of chairmen.
Haruki agreed to drop Satomi off first as much as he hoped she wouldn’t say something he would be forced to fire her for.
"See you on Monday, sir," she said when they got to her house after a surprisingly quiet ride with her.
"Hmm," Haruki responded as he reached for a bottle of water.
With Satomi gone, the gathering he had just attended, felt like it had happened so fast and he had seemed to be locked up in his thoughts for the most part of it. He could understand why Satomi spoke to him about what those old men thought of him.
He was left to reflect on his thoughts and actions. Was it low self-esteem that he had never taken time to focus on like his bloodthirst? He sighed and rubbed his face just in time for Kiyoshi to announce their arrival home.
He sighed once again and stepped out of the car. He was this great and powerful, so why should he wonder what they thought of him after doing so much for the company and creating the perfect image for himself?
Remembering the lady who reminded him of his past, he could not help but connect her to the feelings that seemed to have heightened a bit.
If anyone thought he was not good enough, then that was their problem not his. It had to do with how dumb they were and not with an incompetence he didn’t even have.
He smiled as he walked into his room. It suddenly felt so tired all he wanted to do was sleep. He cleaned up after getting rid of the cloth Satomi had leaned closely against. He noticed the doctor was not in his bed anymore.
He wanted to ask about him but drowsiness got the best of him so he walked to his bed and fell asleep without a care in the world, just seeking to regain the energy he had lost.