Rescued

"What the hell is going on?!" Henry Hirogori roared the moment he entered the room. Seeing the images on the screen, his features twisted even further.

At the top of numerous media headlines, was the dark truth of the Hirogori's company. It revealed that they used illegal technology to evade law enforcement, poach investors, and clients from competitors, and spy on other businesses.

It was bad.

"Did you try shutting it down?" Henry Hirogori controlled the anger in his voice.

"Yes, but every time we try to take it down, they go back up even stronger. They even refused our offers saying they already made a deal with someone else. Everything else we proposed or threatened them with was ignored."

"What?" A rare look of shock appeared on Henry Hirogori's face. "Who..."

Before he had the chance to think, his phone had rung. Cursing under his breath, he answered.

"What is it?"

"I can make it stop if you want it to." A familiar deep, smooth voice spoke on the other end.

Henry Hirogori was surprised to hear the man's voice on the phone. The anger he suppressed came flooding out once again.

"Tobias, you bastard!" At that moment he was more than upset, he was furious. "You dare go against us?"

"It's only fair I make things even between us," Tobias spoke with his calm, deep voice.

He termed it even in reference to the car accident nearly a month back. Henry Hirogori grunted in displeasure. He didn't expect Tobias to discover it so quickly, nor did he think he'd counterattack.

"What do you want then?"

Without beating around the bush, Tobias replied, "I want you to return what is mine."

"And that is?"

"The girl you have with you...bring her back unharmed." Tobias's calm and deep tone remains unchanged, but there seemed to be a slight chilliness near the end.

It took a while for Henry Hirogori to process his words when he realized the girl he was referring to was none other than Mimi.

That useless girl? What possible connections could she have with Tobias?

When he recalled the information they gathered that led to the misunderstanding of Tobias being the mastermind behind their company's attacks; Henry Hirogori connected the dots a little.

So she had a relationship with him. A close one at that. Were they allies? Business partners?

No matter how much he thought, he didn't have the time when Tobias's voice spoke up again.

"If you refuse, I will spread this news not just in this country but worldwide. I'm sure many of your enemies overseas will be pleased with your downfall."

Tobias's tone was calm, but the threat was very clearly spoken. Henry Hirogori frowned. Even over the phone, he could feel the indescribable pressure of the man.

Keeping that girl by his side although intriguing, it wasn't worth the downfall of his company. For now, he could only observe her on the side and investigate. With this in mind, his mood calmed just a bit.

"Very well. I'll send you the location."

"There's no need," Tobias said coldly before hanging up.

Henry Hirogori stared at the phone and suddenly let out a cold laugh as if it were forced.

"Damn bastard..."

He had forgotten the young man wasn't just a well-established businessman, but a programmer as well. It was clear the moment he answered the phone, Tobias had already tracked his location.

"Bring the girl out." He ordered.

"Yes, sir."

...

It didn't take long for the sound of a helicopter to sound the area. A man with a dark expression stepped out and strode quickly toward the building. When he entered and saw a certain figure unconscious on a sofa, his footsteps quickened.

Before Tobias could approach her, an arm blocked his path. He turned toward the person with a threatening gaze, only to meet the eyes of Henry Hirogori.

"Control the media first, and then you get her."

"It's already been done," Tobias answered calmly, but his eyes darkened with impatience, then landed back on Mimi.

Henry Hirogori's eyes narrowed before he tilted his head toward a worker. The man had taken out a tablet and showed it to him before Henry Hirogori finally stepped back.

"Go ahead."

Without so much as waiting for him to speak, Tobias strode over to the girl in two steps. When he noticed the bruise on the side of her cheek, his eyes flashed with killing. He turned to Henry Hirogori, who looked at him with a sneer.

"You must understand as a father it's natural to enforce discipline on misbehaving children. Especially ones like her."

Tobias's nostrils flared, the veins on the side of his head pulsed. But remembering his aim, he ignored the impulsive urge to kill the man before him. Lifting Mimi into his arms, her head rests gently against his chest, her breathing delicate. It was only then that Tobias felt the emptiness in his chest was filled once again.

She was with him. Safe.

Tobias couldn't believe how much happiness this petite woman brought to him. Just having her in his arms and seeing her again, brightened his entire existence.

Although his face remained cold, the noticeable softness in his aura could not be hidden. The sight shocked Henry Hirogori, who stared at the two with a narrowed gaze. He noticed the arms around the girl was holding her strongly. When Tobias moved his gaze, his expression shifted from warmth to menace.

"Consider her one of my people. If you go after her, I go after you tenfold." His black eyes shone brutally. His icy manner of speaking was terrifying to anyone near.

The two men glared at one another until finally, Tobias turned away and boarded the helicopter with Mimi in his arms. He no longer cared to deal with her bastard of a father. For now at least.

Henry Hirogori stood his ground while watching them fly away into the air, a fierce gust of wind blowing onto his hard face.

He sneered.

"One of your people, huh?"