She met his eyes.
"I won't assume anything until the investigation is complete."
His face tightened.
He took his coat.
Then strode toward the door.
The younger executive rose to follow.
But the senior attorney remained seated.
The billionaire stopped.
"Are you coming?"
The attorney looked toward the chairwoman.
Then answered carefully.
"I need to clarify the document history."
The billionaire stared at him.
His expression suggested that disobedience was something he rarely encountered.
Finally he said, "You'll hear from me."
Then he left.
The door closed.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
The chairwoman looked toward the senior attorney.
He removed his glasses.
Then spoke in Japanese.
"็ณใ่จณใใใพใใใไปๅใฎๆธ้กใซใคใใฆใ็งใ็ขบ่ชใในใ็นใใใใจๆใใฆใใพใใ"
I apologize. I believe there are aspects of these documents that I also need to verify.
She nodded.
"ใใใใจใใใใใพใใไบๅฎใ็ขบ่ชใใใใจใๆๅชๅ ใงใใ"
Thank you. Establishing the facts must come first.
The attorney studied her.
Then lowered his head respectfully.
"I would like to request copies through our legal departments."
"That would be appropriate."
He nodded.
The operations executive also stood.
He looked troubled.
"May I ask one question?"
The chairwoman turned.
"Of course."
He glanced toward the door.
"Did you know how the chairman would behave?"
She considered.
"I knew there had been complaints."
He frowned.
"From your employees?"
"Yes."
His expression changed.
She continued.
"Tonight gave me direct experience of a problem that deserves examination."
The older executive looked down.
Then whispered, "I'm sorry."
She studied him.
"Are you apologizing for his behavior?"
He hesitated.
"Perhaps."
She shook her head gently.
"You are responsible for your own decisions, not every decision made by your chairman."
He looked up.
"But now you know what happened."
She continued.
"What you do with that knowledge is your responsibility."
The words seemed to affect him more deeply than any accusation.
He bowed his head.
Then followed the attorney toward the exit.
The chairwoman remained in the private room.
For the first time that evening, she was alone.
The enormous paper lantern glowed above the table.
The untouched kaiseki dishes sat beneath carefully arranged garnishes.
Crystal glasses reflected the ceiling lights.
A delicate cherry blossom painting hung on the wall.
Everything appeared perfect.
But she felt exhausted.
Not physically.
Emotionally.
She had spent years being underestimated.
She knew how to remain calm when people made assumptions about her.
She knew how to challenge insults without becoming reckless.
But knowledge didn't make humiliation pleasant.
She looked down at the menu folder.