"Sit closer, Hiza. Why so far away? I won't bite," Alistair said, pointing to the spot right next to him once they were inside the office.
Knock, knock.
"Enter," Alistair called out.
Takezo Kamekura walked in. "Master Alistair, regarding the 'Cult of Kisaki'... they've made an offer to buy us out."
"Buy us? Is this cult that rich?" Alistair raised an eyebrow. His company was a big fish in this district. To buy it at a premium would be a massive, illogical expense. What is Shima Izuki thinking? Is she testing me?
Alistair tightened his grip on Hiza's thigh subconsciously, making her wince.
"Is there more?" Alistair asked, tapping the desk.
"Their representative, a woman named Shima Izuki, told me to remind you to attend the assembly in mid-June. Do you know her, sir?"
"We've met. It's none of your business. Leave," Alistair dismissed him.
Kamekura bowed and left, hanging a "Do Not Disturb" sign on the door. He was a smart man. He knew Alistair was about to "eat" his secretary. He had once eyed Hiza himself, but he knew better than to touch the Master's food. His survival instinct told him one thing: Obey.
"Mid-June... I have time," Alistair mused. With the Dog, Sheep, and Horse Talismans, he wasn't afraid of Shima Izuki. Even if she tried to kill him, he'd just take some hits and walk away. But he didn't like being a punching bag. He needed to master the magic in Uncle Takai's crystal.
"Hiza, when is the school's Summer Festival? Late June?"
"Usually... yes, sir," Hiza replied, relieved he had stopped touching her for a moment.
"Tsk, it might clash. That woman Izuki... the assembly requires all members. That means Hatsuye, Ms. Hatsufuji, Madoka, and Matsuda will all be there. They hold positions in the cult. I'll have to balance it."
"What? I—" Hiza leaned in, trying to hear his muttering, but Alistair's hand suddenly lunged, gripping her buttock firmly through her tight skirt.
This was far beyond her limit. This was blatant sexual assault. She raised her hand in anger, ready to strike.
"What, you want to hit me? Think carefully about your status and mine," Alistair said coolly, not even flinching.
Hiza's hand froze. Cold sweat broke out on her back. Alistair provided her job, her status, her income. With one word, she'd be blacklisted and destitute. The realization was painful. She had assumed Alistair wasn't interested in her because he usually ignored her. She was wrong.
She slowly lowered her hand, her fingers trembling as they crumpled the papers she held.
"Master Alistair... I'm nearly forty. Surely you aren't interested in an old woman like me," she whispered.
"I'm not interested in average old women," Alistair corrected, his hand ceasing its movement but staying firmly in place. "But you're anything but average. You're quite confident in your body, aren't you?"
"H-ha... no, I'm just a withered woman. You have so many young girls..." Hiza let out a forced, awkward laugh.
"I recall you and your husband have a massive debt with this company? Several hundred million yen, if I remember correctly?" Alistair's voice was light, but to Hiza, he sounded like a demon.
"Y-yes..."
"And a fired employee with a debt that size... well, finding a new job would be nearly impossible. You'd be on the streets." Alistair began kneading her flesh again. Hiza couldn't bring herself to lift her hand this time.
"So, Mrs. Hyakuta, you wouldn't want your family to lose everything and end up homeless, would you?"