I’M A BRAT AND I’M IN LOVE
(No more broken hearts)
Chapter 17
(The birthday boy’s wish.)
Mrs Sato stood before the body length mirror in her walk in closet, getting ready for bed. She put on her nightgown and looked herself over in the mirror. She touched her body tenderly, then changed her nightgown into a thinner and shorter one.
She made her way out of the closet and back into the master bedroom, where Mr Sato was already waiting on the bed. He had his glasses on and his laptop on his laps.
She smiled as she admired his physique.
Jinro Sato was a very handsome man, and in his youth, he had been a total heart-throb, him also being the then heir of Sato Enterprises just adding to his amazing list of qualities.
She had been honored when he had asked her to be his bride. In her eyes he had no flaws.
He was the perfect husband. Capable, charismatic, a natural born leader. What more could she want, right?
She took her place on the bed beside him and began to tie up her hair.
“So Rika started work at the Company yesterday. I asked for feedback from MD Williams. He told me she’s fitting in quite perfectly.” She said quietly, and Mr Sato hummed in response, not taking his eyes off his laptop.
“You’ll be seeing more of your daughter in action now dear. Don’t give her any special treatment though.” She said again jokingly.
“Hm.” Mr Sato responded, still not looking at her.
She bit her lip, then moved closer to him. As her lips were about to connect with his cheek, he turned to face her, a look of contempt and irritation on his face.
“What exactly do you think you’re doing right now Trisha?” He spat out, his face contorted in displeasure.
Mrs Sato moved away from him reluctantly.
“Come on dear. You know it’s been so long since we…..”
Mr Sato’s brows creased into a deep frown.
“Can you not see that I’m working? Or would you prefer if I slept in my study tonight?” He spat out angrily.
She tensed, and then cracked a weak smile.
“Honey, with the way you’ve been acting, an outsider would think you’ve been cheating on me. I have needs you know. And so do you.” She said awkwardly, and gave a dry laugh.
“Maybe you’re just not good enough Trisha. You should try being more like your daughter.” He said coldly, without batting an eye, like as if he hadn’t just said something extremely absurd.
Mrs Sato froze. She frowned uncomfortably, then laid down to sleep silently.
Rika. It was always Rika.
Jinro only ever loved Rika. From the day she had entered this Earth, she had stolen her husband’s love from her.
Now, her own daughter was being used as an example of the kind of person she should live up to. Wasn’t that cr@zy? She was the wife, Rika was the daughter. Was Jinro married to them both?
As Rika had grown, her husband had only neglected her more, both physically and emotionally. She had wanted another child, but Jinro had said no. Rika was enough for him.
Several times when Rika was a baby, she had tried to remove her from the equation.
Smothering her while she slept.
Rat poison in her baby formula.
But she could never go through with it. Each time she tried, Rika would look at her with eyes filled with sadness. Even when she was a baby, it felt like she understood more than she should.
Rika was….a scary child. She was just kike her father, two faced and manipulative.
Several times she had almost gone insane in that house, but she had to stay strong.
Since her husband no longer showed her love, she decided to give all her love to Sato Enterprises, and to groom Rika to be the perfect heir.
That was all she could do, and she pursued her goal with passion.
She would mould Rika into being the perfect daughter, perfect in her own ideals, and not her husband’s.
Whatever it was that made Jinro love Rika so much, she would change it.
But all through the years, it never worked. He still loved his daughter more than her.
So she focused all her attention on the company.
After all, it was all she could do to stay sane.
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The week crawled by slowly for Rika.
She spent almost every waking moment thinking about what present she would give Levi come Saturday.
What kind of gift do you give a grumpy old man?
She sighed as she sat at her desk, sorting through mountain after mountain of files and paperwork.
She had thought working at the company would at least be a little bit exciting. But it was just loads and loads of boring work and procedures.
She sighed and looked around the office. In just three days of working here, she had figured out most of her colleagues’ personalities and characters. They were all too easy to read, and she soon got bored again.
People really left their feelings and inner thoughts so bare. It wasn’t a task to read them at all. Unlike how difficult it was to read Levi or her father.
Miss Veronica Beacon didn’t make things easier either. She was always criticizing her work, making her spend hours and hours redoing it. It was starting to get on her nerves.
Soon enough, she would find a way to deal with her. For now, she wasn’t worth her time or energy.
Soon enough, it was Saturday, and Rika couldn’t be more excited.
She tried not to dress too flashily, as she knew Levi wouldn’t want her to draw too much attention to them.
He had told her to wait outside his office by six thirty pm, as it had to be dark before they could go to wherever he was taking her.
Her insides tingled with butterflies as she waited outside the law firm.
Soon enough, Levi walked out. He wasn’t wearing his usual suit and cravat, but rather a black turtleneck and suit pants, along with his signature black trenchcoat.
It was still formal wear, but the turtleneck made him seem more relaxed.
Rika’s face turned red.
How was it possible for him to look more handsome each day?
“Have you been waiting long?” He asked softly when he finally reached her.
“Nope. You’re right on time.” She answered sweetly, as they got in the car and began to drive to their destination.
He was quiet all through, and Rika didn’t bother him. She was comfortable just being in his space, and admiring his handsome features.
They drove for about thirty minutes, and by the time Levi finally parked, it was dark.
“We’ll have to walk from here.” He said, getting out of the car.
Rika followed and looked around curiously. “O……..Kay.” she responded, and followed him quietly.
They walked through brambles and bushes, and Rika was thankful she hadn’t worn heels.
After about three minutes of walking, they came to a clearing.
In the clearing was a bare wooden bench, but they were atop a small hill, that overlooked the city river, which was now glistening under the moonlit sky.
The city lights could be seen in the distance, and Rika guessed that they must be in the near outskirts of the city.
She could also make out the faint outline of a bridge that stretched across the river.
“Sit down.” Levi said and she obeyed, sitting a little distance away from him, and they waited in silence. After a few seconds, Rika broke it.
“So……what are we doing her?” She asked.
“Just wait.” Levi replied, and she folded her lips in compliance.
Not long after, she heard a loud bang and looked up, the night sky was being lit up by a beautiful array of fireworks, and the bridge lit up as well.
The lights and colors danced and reflected on the water below, giving the night an ethereal glow.
The entire scene was beautiful to behold, and Rika gasped in excitement.
“Once a year on this night, this bridge is lit up and the night sky filled with fireworks. I don’t know why they do it, but it’s calming to watch nonetheless.” Levi explained.
Rika faced him.
“Why didn’t you tell me it was your birthday?” She asked.
“It’s not that big of a deal.” Levi replied casually, still staring at the colourful sky.
Rika smiled. “I can’t believe you spend your birthday here all alone.”
He shrugged again. “Why? This place is peaceful, well if you ignore the noise of thw fireworks, it’s devoid of people, and I get to be alone. It’s a win for me.”
Rika scoffed, then dipped her hands in her bag. “Aha!” She said. “I brought you a gift. Ta da!” She said, holding up a picture frame.
Levi glanced at it and raised an eyebrow.
“I framed the picture we took at my graduation! I couldn’t really think of anything else to get you. Happy birthday.” She added, smiling with embarrassment.
Levi took the picture from her hands, staring at it softly. He placed it beside him, still not meeting Rika’s eyes. There was a short silence between them. “It’s a unique gift. Thank you.” Levi said softly.
Rika paused.
“Why did you bring me here though? Not that I don’t appreciate it. But you already made it clear that this wasn’t a date.”
Levi shrugged again.
“I just really enjoy the fireworks show. I thought you might enjoy it too.” He responded casually.
Rika felt the butterflies in her stomach creep up to her cheeks.
“I’m enjoying it not just because it’s beautiful, but because I’m with you. I’ve been enjoying myself since you picked me up at your office.” She said quietly.
Levi was silent, his eyes hooded. The fireworks had stopped, and loud silence hung in the air between them.
He turned to face her, an unreadable expression on his face.
“Why? Does this feel like the kind of thing a man would do with a woman he had feelings for?” He asked, his voice low.
Rika’s whole body seized up, and she lost the function in her brain that allowed her to speak.
Levi stared at her for awhile, as if studying her reaction, then he sighed and got up.
“C’mon. Let’s go.”
Rika got back up confused.
Her whole face was hot and her heart was beating erratically.
What on Earth had just happened?
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