CHAPTER 28
CHAPTER
THE NEXT MORNING MASUYO EMERGED from her room to find an attendant waiting.
“Do you require anything, ma’am?” said the woman respectfully.
Masuyo glanced over her and said bluntly, “My daughter. Her I require. Tell her to come to me. I will be in the dining room where I will take my breakfast. Now.”
The woman took out a phone, texted a message, and hurried off as Masuyo made her way slowly to the dining room.
She was dressed all in silk, which felt cool and soft against her skin.
She admired the costly furnishings and artwork and sculptures that were arrayed around the penthouse.
Each servant and bodyguard she passed bowed solemnly to her.
My daughter has done well, because I trained her correctly. This is how it should be.
Masuyo entered the dining room, where her place setting was being laid out and her tea poured by another attendant.
“Excuse me,” said Masuyo imperiously. “You will set my place at the head of the table.”
The attendant froze, but only for a moment. Then she quickly rearranged the setting so that Masuyo would be at the demanded spot.
The chair was then held out for her. She sat down and the napkin was placed in her lap. She lifted the cup of tea to her nose, took a sniff, and nodded her approval. Masuyo then gave her meal order. The attendant scurried off.
Masuyo drank her tea, set the cup down, and pressed the napkin against her lips. Each of her movements was slow and deliberate because she wanted to relish each moment.
Masuyo looked up when her daughter entered, dressed all in black.
“Good morning, Māma,” she said. “Did you sleep well?”
“Much better than I have slept for years, my child. Please, sit with me.”
From her expression, it seemed that Steers had just realized that her mother was seated in the chair she would normally use. She sat down next to her and took her mother’s hand in hers. “You look better already.”
“I feel better. Much better. You did well, in all things, Victoria.”
“Thank you, Māma.”
“The men you sent, especially the tall, white one. He killed many men to save me.”
“Please tell me about it, Māma. It would be most useful to me.”
Masuyo did so, speaking slowly and clearly. After describing her leaving the prison and her journey to the hospital she said, “They had just put the other woman into the ambulance after shooting all the guards save one.”
“The guard who was assigned to you: He was my person.”
“And the tall man with no hair. . .?”
“Yes, his name is Dillon Hope.”
“He handled himself admirably. Quite resourceful and brave. And lethal. The rest of the night was helicopters and cars and jets. Quite the exciting time, Victoria.”
“Yes, perhaps too exciting.” Steers kissed her mother’s hand. “You wished to see me?”
“Yes. Now that I am back, I require certain information.”
“Such as, Māma?” asked Steers.
“I need to be brought up to speed on all the various business operations that you have. I also need to understand the parties involved.”
Steers started to say something but then seemed to catch herself. “Of course, Māma, this will be done. We can meet after dinner tonight. Before that you will have all that information at your disposal to go over.”
Masuyo clutched her hand, pulling Steers toward her.
“I do all this in your best interests, my child. I have been out of your life and out of this business for a long time. But that does not mean that I have not thought of both in great detail. I had nothing else to do with my time, you see. And such thoughtfulness, from an outside perspective as it were, can be invaluable.”
“I believe this too, Māma,” agreed Steers.
Masuyo withdrew her hand and said, “Now, show me.”
“Show you what?”
Masuyo tapped her finger against Steers’s sleeve. “That. I saw a hint of it in the prison when you came to see me, which is why I drew back your sleeve that day. You said it was only some damage. Now I need to understand how much.”
“It is not something that you would want to see more of.”
“I carried you in my body for nine months, Victoria. There is nothing about you that I cannot see.”
Slowly, Steers drew her sleeve up, revealing the damaged skin underneath.
“How far does it go?” her mother asked.
“Both my arms, and parts of my back.”
“You may cover yourself, my child.”
Steers did so.
“Who did this?”
“I was never able to find out.”
Her mother nodded. “Such actions must have consequences or else they will think you are weak.”
“It has been a long time, Māma. It will be very difficult. And I have clearly shown that I am not weak.”
Masuyo smiled sadly. “I know it is a high bar I hold you to, my beautiful daughter.”
Steers bowed her head. “Of course. I expect nothing less.”
When her food came Masuyo asked Steers to sit with her while she ate. As she did so, Masuyo said, “The other men with Mr. Hope? Explain.”
“One is Rhett Temple. He is the CEO of Sybaritic, an American investment company. It is through his firm that I conduct some of the business.”
“And what will you do with him now?”
“He wishes to return to the United States. He will place one of my people as CEO of his company and then he wants to live off his quite large inheritance.”
“And will his plan work for you?” asked Masuyo.
“Yes, with some additional conditions attached.”
“And Mr. Hope?”
“I wish him to remain here. Along with the other man, Thura. As you know, he helped with your liberation.”
“And why do you wish Mr. Hope to remain here?”
“I want him and Thura to be your bodyguards.”
Her mother sipped her tea and pursed her lips. “You do not already have enough bodyguards for me?”
“Hope is exceptional. You saw that for yourself.”
“Am I wrong in thinking that you already have exceptional protection?”
“Hope is different.”
“Tell me how he is different.”
Steers frowned at the woman’s obvious persistence. “Is it important?”
“I do not have enough information to answer your question.”
“I. . .he is an interesting person. An enigma. I have yet to. . .figure him out. I wish him to remain here while I do so.”
Masuyo ran her gaze over her daughter. “All right, Victoria. We will leave it there for now. But does he know you wish him to remain?”
Steers looked toward the doorway. “He will know soon enough.”
“And if he does not wish to remain here?”
“He does not have a choice, Māma.”
Masuyo gazed sternly at her daughter. “Are you sure that you have a choice in the action you are taking with this man?”
Steers averted her gaze. “I do not know what you mean.”
Her look flinty, Masuyo said, “Your lies worked with many, your father included. But not with me, Victoria. Never with me.”
Steers rose and said, “I have business to attend to. We will talk tonight. Continue to rest, Māma.”
“I have had years to ‘rest,’ daughter. I require no more.”
Steers hurried from the room while Masuyo turned back to her meal.