The elderly woman squeezed her fingers.
"I believe you."
But as Amara drove home that night, she couldn't stop thinking about something Masaru had said.
We can make your financing very uncomfortable.
He'd spoken with too much certainty.
And somehow, he knew details he shouldn't have known.
That frightened her more than the insults.
Because cruelty was easy to recognize.
The kind of pressure that happened inside offices, banking relationships, and private contracts was far harder to see.
Kenji Mori called Amara the following morning.
She was standing inside her small office above the restaurant when her phone rang.
The number was unfamiliar.
She answered cautiously.
"Hello?"
"Ms. Reed?"
"Speaking."
"This is Kenji Mori."
She paused.
"Good morning, Mr. Mori."
He sounded uncomfortable.
"I hope I'm not disturbing you."
"Not at all."
There was a brief silence.
Then he said, "I wanted to apologize again for last night."
Amara leaned against the desk.
"I appreciate that."
Kenji hesitated.
"But that isn't the only reason I'm calling."
She straightened.
"What is it?"
He drew a slow breath.
"I believe there are matters concerning Kuroda International's acquisition strategy that you should discuss with your attorneys."
Amara felt cold.
"What matters?"
He hesitated.
"I can't disclose confidential company information casually."
"Of course."
"But I'm concerned that some representations made during the negotiations may have been misleading."
Amara looked toward the window.
Below, Kenta was helping a delivery driver carry boxes into the kitchen.
The morning seemed ordinary.
Peaceful.
Kenji continued.
"Ms. Reed, have you received communications from lenders suggesting your restaurant is in financial distress?"
She stared.
"Why?"
He was quiet.
Then asked, "Have you?"
Amara considered.
"Not directly. But Kuroda's chairman implied he knew about our financing."
Kenji exhaled.
"I was afraid of that."
Her grip tightened around the phone.
"What do you know?"
He hesitated.
Then spoke carefully.
"I can't establish everything over a phone call. I believe your counsel should request clarification regarding certain documents circulated among parties interested in the proposed development."
Amara closed her eyes.
"Kenji, are you telling me someone is misrepresenting our financial position?"
His response was quiet.
"I'm telling you that you should verify what has been said about it."
There was a pause.
Then he added something else.
"And Ms. Reed?"
"Yes?"
"Please don't assume everyone inside Kuroda International agrees with the chairman."
Amara looked toward the street.
For the first time since the dinner, she felt a small shift.
Perhaps Masaru wasn't as invulnerable as he seemed.
Perhaps there were people inside his company who understood the difference between a profitable business decision and an unethical one.
She took a breath.