Chapter 45 — The Woman at the Top
Morning arrived without drama.
It always did.
For Akaya Takahara, the day never began with alarms, panic, or rush. It began with order.
Sunlight filtered through the floor-to-ceiling glass walls of Takahara International's headquarters, casting pale reflections across polished marble floors. From the highest level of the building, the city looked small, distant, almost obedient. Cars moved like dots. People looked like patterns.
Inside the building, everything moved with purpose.
Hundreds of women filled the corridors—executives, analysts, assistants, engineers, consultants. Shoes clicked in synchronized rhythm. Holographic screens floated beside some desks. Documents changed hands silently. Conversations were brief, efficient, controlled.
This was not an office.
It was a machine.
And Akaya Takahara was its core.
---
The World Below the Throne
On the thirty-second floor, two junior employees sat side by side in the data management division.
Yuna Mori leaned back slightly in her chair, rolling her shoulders with a quiet groan.
"I swear," she muttered, eyes still on her screen, "if I see one more overtime notice this week, I'm going to start charging the company rent for living here."
Beside her, Rika Shimizu didn't look up from her tablet.
"That's the third time you've said that this month," she replied calmly. "And you're still here."
Yuna sighed. "Because I like eating."
Both women wore the standard corporate uniform—clean, sharp, professional. No jewelry. No unnecessary accessories. Everything in Takahara International was designed to reduce individuality inside the workspace.
Still, exhaustion slipped through discipline.
Yuna leaned closer, lowering her voice just enough to sound casual.
"Hey… have you heard the rumor?"
Rika's fingers paused.
"What rumor?"
Yuna hesitated, glancing instinctively around them. The office was busy, but not crowded. Still, habits formed quickly in places like this.
She leaned in further.
"They say… the company owner's son is insanely handsome."
Rika slowly lifted her head.
"…You mean that rumor?"
Yuna nodded, eyes bright despite her fatigue.
"And not just handsome. They say he's actually a boy. A real one."
Rika exhaled quietly and immediately looked away from Yuna, scanning the office.
"Lower your voice."
"I am," Yuna protested softly. "I'm whispering."
"You're whispering badly."
Yuna pouted but complied, lowering her tone further.
"I mean, think about it," she continued, unable to stop herself. "The owner of a multinational empire. Unlimited money. Unlimited protection. And she has a son like that? If I had that kind of power, I'd—"
She stopped herself mid-sentence, then laughed nervously.
"…I mean, I'd probably want to be his wife."
Rika's chair creaked as she turned fully toward Yuna.
"Don't even joke about that."
Yuna blinked. "Eh?"
"I'm serious," Rika said flatly. "If someone hears you say that, you won't even have time to regret it."
Yuna frowned. "What are you talking about? I was just imagining. I can't even imagine freely now?"
Rika leaned closer, her voice dropping into something colder.
"I'm not saying you can't imagine," she said quietly. "I'm saying don't say it. Ever."
Yuna's smile faded.
"…Why?"
Rika stared at her for a second, then sighed.
"You joined after that incident, didn't you?"
"What incident?"
Rika's jaw tightened.
"Last year. A manager from the logistics division. High-ranking. Clean record. Excellent performance."
Yuna shook her head. "I don't remember anything like that."
"That's because you weren't supposed to," Rika said. "The company erased her existence in three days."
Yuna swallowed. "Erased…?"
Rika nodded once.
"She tried to access restricted files from the executive wing. Not financial data. Not contracts."
Rika paused.
"She tried to extract information about the owner's son."
Yuna's breath hitched. "You're joking."
"I wish I were," Rika replied. "Security caught her before she even left the floor."
"…And?"
"She was fired on the spot."
Yuna relaxed slightly. "Okay, that's bad, but—"
"And," Rika continued, her voice steady, "the guards escorted her out personally. Not politely."
Yuna stiffened.
"They didn't break any laws," Rika added calmly. "But they didn't need to."
"…What happened to her?"
"She was blacklisted," Rika said. "Every major company. Every subsidiary. Every partner. No one hired her. Ever again."
Yuna stared at her screen without seeing it.
"So that's why…" she whispered.
Rika nodded.
"That's why no one talks about the owner's son," she said. "And that's why when they do, they do it in their heads."
Yuna swallowed.
"Oh… that's why we got a new manager."
"Yes."
A long silence followed.
Then Yuna let out a shaky laugh.
"Wow. Okay. Note taken. Imagination only. Mouth sealed."
Rika allowed herself a faint smile.
"Smart choice."
---
Authority Has a Shadow
A sharp click echoed behind them.
Both women stiffened instantly.
"Is there a reason," a calm but firm voice said, "that you're talking instead of working?"
Yuna and Rika spun in their chairs so fast it was almost synchronized.
Standing behind them was Manager Kuroda, arms crossed, expression unreadable.
"N-No, ma'am," Yuna blurted. "We were just—"
"Working," Rika finished quickly. "Reviewing the quarterly data migration."
Kuroda's gaze moved between them slowly.
"…This month has been productive," she said at last. "Too productive, perhaps."
Yuna's heart dropped.
"I think," Kuroda continued, "that a salary adjustment may help remind you both of workplace priorities."
Both women went pale.
"H-Half cut why?" Yuna whispered, almost crying.
Kuroda studied them for a second longer.
Then she sighed.
"…I'll let it go this time."
Both women nearly collapsed with relief.
"But don't let it happen again," Kuroda added. "This company doesn't forgive mistakes twice."
"Yes, ma'am!" they said in unison.
Kuroda walked away without another word.
Yuna slumped forward, pressing her forehead to her desk.
"I almost died."
Rika exhaled slowly.
"Welcome to Takahara International."
---
Above Them All
Far above, beyond restricted floors and biometric locks, beyond guarded corridors and silent elevators, sat the woman they were unknowingly discussing.
Akaya Takahara's office was not large.
It didn't need to be.
Minimalist furniture. Dark wood desk. Soft lighting. One wall entirely glass, overlooking the city. No decorations. No photographs.
Only work.
Akaya sat cross-legged on a leather chair, reading through a digital report. Her expression was composed, sharp, unreadable.
Pages flipped silently.
Numbers made sense.
Strategies aligned.
Risks were calculated.
Everything functioned as expected.
Yet her thoughts drifted.
What is he doing right now?
She closed the report and leaned back slightly.
At home, perhaps.
Eating breakfast late, the way he always did on quieter days. Sitting properly, even when no one was watching. Apologizing for nothing.
Her lips softened for a fraction of a second.
Did he remember to drink water?
Akaya straightened immediately.
Sentiment had no place here.
Still… she reached for her phone.
She didn't call.
She didn't message.
She simply held it for a moment, then placed it face down on the desk.
Her son was safe.
As long as she remained where she was.
As long as she controlled everything beneath her.
She glanced out at the city again, eyes sharp.
The world below moved freely.
Because she allowed it to.
---
To be continued.
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Author Note
Hey guys, sorry for being a bit inactive lately. As I mentioned before, exams and study pressure have been keeping me really busy, and I honestly haven't been getting enough time or energy to write properly.
Also, sorry for the short chapter. I know it felt smaller than usual, but that's all I could manage with the little time I had. I didn't want to force a long chapter and mess up the quality of the chapter.
Thank you for sticking around and being patient with me. I really appreciate it. I'll try to make it up to you once things calm down a bit and I can focus properly again.
— king_fuzu