— Pack your things, I’ll call a car. And I’ll pay as promised. — No need, — Anna grumbled.
— You’ve already paid me too much. Alex, come on, time to go home. — What? But we’re home, — the child was surprised.
Anna blushed. — No, to our home, Alex. We were guests here.
I told you. The child wanted to run to Lenny, say something, but his sister dragged him into the house. Then they left.
Leonard didn’t even come out to say goodbye. Anna got into the taxi. The driver confirmed the address.
The girl nodded, looking out the window and fiddling with the cross that she got from her dad. The cross was strange, missing part of the crucifixion. It was chipped off.
But dad swore the body cross was his talisman. During the accident, the man didn’t have the cross on. Anna sometimes thought if fate would have turned out differently if the talisman was with dad.
Now it went to Anna. Though lately she rarely wore it, as she put on jewelry that Leonard brought her. He claimed his fiancée should match the status.
Anna didn’t argue. But she left all the outfits and jewelry in the room she occupied. She took nothing with her, though Leonard said they were gifts.
The taxi entered the city center. And then Anna shuddered, noticing a familiar hotel. — Stop, can you, can you stop at the hotel? It’s important.
The man nodded. Anna, grabbing Alex by the hand, ran to the already familiar luxury suite. An astonished Sakura opened for her.
At first the woman was glad, but then embarrassed. — Oh, Anna, what have you done? Sakura spoke good English thanks to her husband, but sometimes mixed up words. — Why did you do that to my husband? Makoto is upset.
— I understand, and I’m very sorry. Where is he? I need to see him. Anna looked at the woman pleadingly.
Sakura thought, then nodded. She opened the door wider. — He’s in the study.
Let me take Alex to dinner at the hotel, and you can talk, — the woman said. Anna nodded. The girl went into the study.
Makoto sat at the desk, looking gloomy. Hearing steps, the man grumbled something in Japanese, then raised his gaze. He was taken aback.
— Oh, I thought Sakura came, — Makoto noted. Anna knew that words are a lot, but body language means much more to the Japanese, so without hesitation, she knelt down. — Forgive us, please.
The man immediately stood up and rushed to lift Anna. — Stop, daughter, it’s not fitting for you to bow, — the man embarrassed. — I’m sure it wasn’t your idea to fool us.
Anna clenched her hands into fists but didn’t stand, didn’t raise her head. — Listen to me, please. — Okay, okay, just stand up, — the man took pity.
Anna nodded, rose from the floor, then told the man everything. — Understand, Leonard loves his work very much. I’ve already gotten to know him, there’s no one as devoted to the cause.
Tell me, you value family, right? Well, the company came to him by inheritance, and the contract with you is his hope for salvation. And whatever his motives, he really helped me and my brother. And you know, it seems we weren’t lying to you.
Having said that, Anna lowered her eyes. — I wasn’t lying. — My dear, — the man guessed.
— Do you love him? — It doesn’t matter anymore, — Anna sighed. — But I want to say that you won’t find a better partner than Leonard. Anna went on at length about the man’s virtues, and also apologized to Takahashi.
All this time from excitement she twirled the cross in her fingers. And then the man, squinting, gasped. — Anna, show it, show it to me.
Anna was surprised by the request but took off the cross and handed it to the man’s trembling fingers. — I can’t believe it, where did you get it? It belonged to my father. The man swallowed, pain appeared on his face.
— Do you know why the cross is missing a piece? Anna nodded. Dad broke it during army service. Makoto’s eyes filled with tears.
— Yes, that’s how it was, that’s how it was. Then he looked into Anna’s face. — And how didn’t I realize right away why you’re so familiar to me? You’re the spitting image of dad, of Daniel.
— You knew my father? How? Anna was amazed. The man told how Daniel stood up for him during army service, how they became close friends. Once they got into a scrape during exercises.
Takahashi would have died if not for his comrade. Daniel saved him, and left a piece of the cross there, and laughed that he got off easy. Or his God saved him.
After that, Takahashi couldn’t refuse Anna’s request anymore. The man composed himself and returned to the catwalk office. He immediately signed the papers to Leonard’s amazement, and to Matthews’ question why he changed his mind, answered.
— Ask Anna. She pleaded for you. On her knees.
Then the man, thinking, added. — I already said she’s a precious stone among dust, but I’ll repeat it again. Don’t miss her, Leonard.
— But wasn’t it she who revealed the truth to you? — What? No. I got an anonymous letter, — the man answered. Lenny was devastated.
He thought about Anna all the time but had no idea what to do. The man was sure Anna blabbed, betrayed him. But now he doubted it.
Not her style, and she wasn’t capable of betrayal. Leonard, dropping everything, decided to go to Anna and discuss it personally. He approached his friend’s office to announce he was leaving the office to him, but heard his ex-fiancée’s voice and froze.
— Allison, why the hell did you come? He doesn’t want to see you, — Dennis grumbled. — And you? Do you want to? — Allison giggled and kissed Dennis wetly. — Not here.
You want everything to go to waste? We already have a problem. First Lenny caught us, and you could have snagged his property after the wedding. Good thing he didn’t find out who you were messaging, — the man grumbled.
And now it’s worse. That Jap came back today and demanded the contract urgently. Tell me, what the hell? Did I reveal all the cards on the deception for nothing? Did I send away all the designers for nothing? Lenny was already in disarray, understand? He was ready to sell the company for pennies.