He hid his smile behind his glass.
“So does handing off some responsibilities mean I can keep teaching at Black Arts?”
“As long as you’re interested in taking on a supervisory role in training our advanced students too.”
“I noticed you’ve passed off all your upper-level classes to other instructors. The only reason you’d relinquish control was if you didn’t have a choice.” Her gaze sharpened. “What did the doctor say?”
Of course she’d pick up on that. Ronin was actually relieved to tell her everything. After he finished, he added, “Without coming across as self-serving, I’m glad you’re not gainfully employed, because I could use your help running the dojo.”
“What about Knox? He’s your second-in-command and general manager.”
“Knox is great with people—students, parents, all that glad-handing stuff I hate. Until I know if I’ll ever be able to return to contact training, I’ll need an advanced belt to teach my instructors and oversee their training methods. I trust you—not only because you’re my highest-ranking belt.”
“Then why?”
“Because we’re alike in many ways. Plus you do the hardass, dragon-lady bit so well.”
She snorted delicately.
“And it is a temporary position.” He studied her. “I don’t have to worry that you’ll implement a hostile takeover, do I?”
She laughed. “No.”
“So how did Grandfather react when you quit?”
“Not well, given her method of delivery,” their mother said as she slid into the booth next to Shiori. She raised her hand to the waiter and signaled for three more drinks. “She sent him a text message.”
“Okasan, we were just—”
“Do you remember how many times you said that when I caught you two doing something wrong?”
Ronin’s gaze winged between his mother and Shiori. They looked enough alike they could be sisters. “You’re mistaken. We never did anything wrong.”
She laughed—loudly for their mother, especially in a public place.
He exchanged a WTF? look with his sister.
“That’s right. I had perfect children,” she said, switching to Japanese. “Neither of you were criminals or psychopaths, and I’m immensely grateful for that.”
The waiter dropped off the drinks.
“I wanted to have this conversation tomorrow over lunch, but this is as good a time as any to tell you of the upcoming changes in my life.”
“Maybe we should just have the waiter leave the bottle,” Ronin muttered.
Shiori kicked him under the table.
Their mother held her glass aloft. “Raise your glasses to the new interim director of Okada Food Conglomerate.”
He looked at Shiori who was looking at him blankly. He managed to say, “Who is the new interim director?”
“Me,” their mother stated.
Ronin almost dropped his glass. He and Shiori said, “What?” simultaneously.
“Drink your toast.”
Shiori and Ronin drank.
“Okay. What the hell is going on? I feel as if I’ve stepped into an alternate universe. Shiori quits. And you’re taking over?”
“Yes. My father is ready to retire. I knew Shiori wasn’t ready for the CEO chair. I knew you didn’t want it,” she said to Ronin. “And some guy who looks good on paper doesn’t deserve it sight unseen. I’ve been around this food business my entire life. For close to thirty years, I’ve served as my father’s hostess for business events as well as his business confidante. As his only child, I am the first heir. Something many people have forgotten.”
“But you’ve never had any interest in taking the mantle,” Ronin said.
“Not publicly, no. So after your sister’s charming text message to your grandfather, giving the reasons why she’s stepping down, I’m stepping up.”
“You’re really taking over?” Shiori said with equal shock.
“Yes. Okada is hiring Inichi Matso, except he will answer to me. Even if he passes the probationary period, he will still answer to me. We’ve revised the legal documentation in the past few weeks for the board of directors. A member of the Okada family will always have oversight of the company and will always have at least one seat on the board. For now, that’s me. I have my own team to run checks on every aspect of the business anytime I deem it so.”
“And Inichi Matso agreed to this?”
“Of course. He wants to get control of a five-billion-dollar business and turn it into more.”
“But what about all your free time? You’re a few years from retirement.”
“I like to do things differently—get a job when most people retire. Your grandfather is feeling remorseful for some of the things he’s done.” She offered them a sad but surprisingly sneaky smile. “I played on that mercilessly. I did demand that he make both of your trust funds fully accessible—without strings.”
That seemed too good to be true, even when Ronin had no idea what he’d do with that much money. “No strings? At all? Ever?”
“Just the usual inheritance tax issues. But besides that? No. The only strings that should come with a gift are on the outside of the package when you open it.”
Such a smart woman.
“After our earlier discussion, I got to thinking about your father. How much I loved being with him.” She slid her hands across the table and squeezed both Ronin’s and Shiori’s forearms. “I want that kind of happiness for both of you.”