Page 92 of Ruin

“Sounds perfect. How many days a week? Or will it include weekend work?”

“Since I’ve got the experience in managing a place, they’ve given me the first choice on days. I’ve picked Monday to Friday. Since you were talkin’ about taking the weekends off, I wanted to do the same.”

His eyes softened. It meant something significant to him that he was behind my decisions. I wanted this to last between us, so would do all I could to make this work. There’d be struggles like in all relationships, but we’d pull through. Even if I had to strap him down to the bed and make him see reason or beg for forgiveness if I’d done something stupid to piss him off. It could happen. I did tend to annoy people.

“Are you happy you found something?” Taro asked.

“It’s like a weight’s been lifted off my shoulders.”

His gaze shifted down to our hands clasped together. His lips thinned. “You don’t miss Ballarat?”

I shrugged. “I might at some point, but I don’t right now. If I do, we’ll head there for the weekend or somethin’. I mean, that’s if you can without a mountain of security comin’ with us.”

“Hopefully they won’t.” He nodded. “If you miss anyone, they’re welcome here.”

Lifting our hands, I kissed his knuckles. “I know, baby. I’d just worry that once Rayne sees this place, she won’t want to leave.”

He laughed lightly. “I’ll be okay with that.”

I snorted. “I won’t. We’d never get any privacy.”

When the food arrived, I gave his hand one last kiss before the plates were placed in front of us. My stomach growled from the aromas hitting my senses. Taro thanked his people, and they disappeared.

“I could marry your cook,” I mumbled around a mouthful.

Taro glared. “Not that it will happen, but I’ll let the cook know you enjoy her food.”

Grinning, I devoured more food and then asked, “How was your day?”

“Same as always. Though, I heard from my uncle in Japan. He’s already complaining about Akio since Akio doesn’t like the changes Uncle has made.”

“I remember you and Ryo sayin’ something about this uncle. How’s he changed things?”

Taro smiled. “My uncle is fifty and has only just come out of the closet. Discrimination in the family held him back.”

Snorting, I shook my head. “Akio definitely won’t like that.”

“He doesn’t. Which is why he’s moving to the United States and starting his own faction. Not that he’ll get any support from my uncle, nor me. I don’t think Jiro or Akio understood how hard it is running a family and all the businesses that come with it. They enjoyed the money they received each month, but it was their children who helped out working.”

“I doubt they know the work that goes into it. You mentioned your father didn’t share information a lot.”

He nodded. “There was a lot I never knew until he knew he was dying and had to pass on the information. I doubted he confided in Akio or Jiro since he never trusted them with the basic business things.”

“Your dad’s a fool for not havin’ the help. Thank fuck you have Ryo, but you know if you need more help with shit, I’m here. I know I got a job, but that’s only gettin’ started on renovations. Even if it wasn’t, I’d still make time to help you.”

Taro’s hand slid across the table and rested on my arm, where he squeezed. “You do understand that if we stay together—”

“There ain’t anyifinvolved.”

His eyes lit. “Sorry, my mistake. You do realise that since we’re together, everything I have is yours also. The house, the people in it, even the workers. There will be times I’ll reach out to you if the pressure is getting too much, but for now, I have things handled.”

Wait…. “Are you sayin’ I run this place as much as you do?”

“Yes.”

The thought of being equal in this place and businesses kind of freaked me out, but it was sweet Taro wanted that between us. Like we were already married and not starting out. I’d see down the track how it went, if I could adjust to the knowledge of being seen by his people as an equal beside Taro. For now, all I could think about was… “Meanin’ I could fire someone?”

His brows dipped, and he said hesitantly, “Yes.”

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