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Again Kandi comes forward demanding: Ain’t you tired of being in other folks business after all the mess you caused with Santiago and Mimi —something else I have obviously missed. Because while we were rehearsing the play, I felt like it was odd that Mimi, who I know is super busy being one of the few doctors we have here, found time to come to rehearsal every day, but it only took me seeing Santiago with Mateo one time to know that he was her baby’s daddy. I just kept my mouth closed because I know more than anyone about keeping secrets and I have more than a few. Now. It seems that they had a shotgun wedding which Krie disappeared after, and Joi wasn’t even allowed to come. Yikes.
I feel like my whole life has passed in a blur and I’ve missed out on so much being held captive here. My cousins have always been there for me. Supportive and always lending a shoulder when I struggled in some way. Without question they built me up. Kandie with her funny little check-ins. Easy with her gentle words of inspiration and bible quotes. Krie with recipes she thought simple enough for me to try.
Now because of this gilded jade palace of a cage I haven’t been there for them when they’ve needed me. My stomach sinks when I look at the individual thread with my cousins. They are questions that continue on till this day, Kandie in particular not believing my dad when he said I mentioned going on a sabbatical. Probably because we spoke of my plans to head back to New York as soon as possible and get to work on a new play. She even invited herself for a visit. So, I know why she’s not buying it. Joy, on the other hand, is asking for an exclusive forher blog and the newspaper. She even promises to take it easy on me and gives what I’m sure she thinks is assurances not to run with any unfounded accusations after having learned her lesson with Mimi and Santiago situation.
I cradle my phone for a long time before I have the courage to search Hisashi’s name.
That brings us the headlines.
THE MOST ILLUSIVE RECLUSIVE OF THE TAKEDA LINE SEEN OUT ON THE TOWN WITH TONY AWARD WINNING PLAYWRIGHT.
He is described as everything from possible investor to lover. It’s not until the Tokyo article comes up that things become unhinged. The press in Japan goes into a frenzy with yet another possible betrayal by the Takeda men marrying American women. There are whole think pieces about what has come over the elite Japanese line’s men, and what we are doing to ensnare them some unofficial sources even hinting at witchcraft. I don’t read too much more knowing it will do nothing but distress me.
“I see you are enjoying your phone back.” His dry tone has me looking up into a face that barely hides the savage grace residing within him.
“Not really,” I mutter, sweeping my tousled hair from my face.
“Why?” I can tell he’s just being polite and the whole thing bores him and why wouldn’t it? I’m sure it’s far less exciting than tormenting members of my family.
“Well, for one,” I sweep my legs off the bed coming over to face him, “your bastard of a brother is holding my cousin prisoner like you are doing to me. My whole family is in an uproar because no one knows where she is. I can’t very well popup out of nowhere and say he’s taking care of her.” Frustration eats at me. “Not to mention my parents were beside themselves about me and then they got news secondhand about me possibly being married to you. The fuck, Hisashi? Why would you have your people release that without letting me tell them first?’
His gaze drops half-mast at the barrage I toss at him. Hard eyes meet mine. “It is my right. My reasoning is my own. You should have already told your people about me. It’s been ten years.”
“We weren’t together all those years,” I clap back. Like what did he think I was supposed to do? Go skip around saying I was married to a Japanese billionaire with no evidence of it? Then both of us would have been locked away. I didn’t even have a copy of our marriage license.
“That wasn’t by choice, at least by me,” he says his voice cold and accusing.
I guess time at the job, the mounting frustration, setbacks happening every time he turns around and the seeming nefarious —though unproven— hacking this time by my cousin has given him more incentive to find fault in me. To doubt me. I can sense it already happening without him even saying the words.
“Have you talked to your brother?” I dare to ask knowing this is the only way to convince him.
“No,” comes his stony reply.
“But you’re willing to give him the benefit of the doubt?” Incrementally his face hardens until I’m looking at a marble mask — beautifully unmoving in its coldness.
“He’s earned at least that.” He shrugs daring me to suggest otherwise.
“And your wife doesn’t?” It feels like my heart is being squeezed under the callousness of his gaze and the cruelty of his words.
“As you were so eager to point out, you haven’t been a wife to me for ten years.” He might as well have scooped out my heart with his rusty spoon of truth.
“No, I haven’t,” I concede. “But that doesn’t mean that I’m lying when I say that I didn’t sign you away, Hisashi. I left because I was forced to. Two things can be true just like with Thad.” His gaze sharpens at my defense of my young cousin. “On the thread Thad proudly admits to hacking Creative Chaos with his friends but the second hack of the message board he denies. And he goes into detail how he and Mariah are trying to discover the real culprits.” He looks at me a long time before he scoffs shaking his head not bothering to give me the benefit of an answer.
“What’s going to happen when you are forced to let go of all your little vendetta?” My challenge is met with a look of incredulity.
“Little dove,” he softly chides. “The Takeda never releases a debt. Your cousin cost us millions. There is no one in your family who can allay that debt. Not the doctor for all her good works, not the little chef despite her devoted service to my brother, and not you. It is not our way.”
His words are final. Something pierces me then. How could I ever think we would come back from this? Even if his brother told him the truth of why I left —even under duress was a dishonor to our marriage and him. Vengeance is so ingrained in him. He will never forgive me.
“Then let me go. If you hate me so much just let me go. I will give you all my future earnings on Thad’s behalf. I can make three million in a season, no problem. Just let me leave.” I’m begging and I don’t care. All I know is I can’t be around him anymore knowing this chasm will never be crossed.
The muscles in his jaw jump as he regards me allowing my words to settle over him. He gives a hard shake of his head. Coldeyes, hard mouth, implacable resolve, and a hard body face me. His hand whips out and I can’t help the flinch but his hand is gentle as it touches my curls almost like he’s going to muss them in a playful way. His hand settles on my crown.
“You won’t be allowed to abandon our marriage again, Tay-chan. Marriage to a Takeda is for life.” His smile holds no sympathy, yet no malice. “I understand your western sympathies however, our time of separation is no more. You will honor your vows, our marriage, and me going forward.”
“How do you expect us to go forward when you don’t trust me and probably harbor this deep resentment toward me? For something I didn’t do. I’ll remind you.” My words are hollow and full of despair. I already know it’s hopeless.
To my words he simply shrugs. “It is the only way.I will be back this evening and we will have dinner and speak of our new future together.”
