The Elite CEO is Addicted to Her Alleyway Savior - Chapter 3

“Please consider this deal void.”

Those were the cold words from the funding source. With that single sentence, I tumbled down into a valley of despair.

Negotiations with them had been going smoothly until last week. The terms of the contract were nearly finalized. All that remained was to clear a few minor confirmation tasks, and I could grow the company even further. I had been brimming with hope.

The catalyst was a sudden, arbitrary change in their policy.

During yesterday’s meeting, they abruptly demanded a change in terms, acting as if the prior agreement had never existed.

This term’s cash flow depended entirely on this funding. There was no time left to find another partner.

If the funds ran dry, the company would collapse. The employees’ jobs would—

Even though everything had gone haywire due to the other party’s convenience, I, as the president, was the only one who had to shoulder the responsibility.

After hanging up the phone, I couldn’t move for a long time.

I clutched my head. It felt as if cotton had been stuffed deep into my chest; it was hard to breathe. My breath grew shallower and shallower.

My hands shook violently. My mind was a complete blank.

What do I do? What am I supposed to do?

Knock, knock, knock.

“Excuse me.”

It was Matsuyama. He approached the desk with quiet footsteps and softly set down a steaming cup of coffee.

Then, he peered at me with a worried expression.

“President, you look terrible. Did something happen?”

“No, it’s nothing. I was just thinking.”

“…I see.”

After a short silence, Matsuyama spoke hesitantly.

“If there’s anything I can do, please let me know.”

To be honest, I didn’t even have the mental capacity to respond.

With trembling hands, I lifted the coffee cup and took a sip.

Only bitterness slid down my throat.

The walk home felt heavy.

It felt as if weights had been shackled to my ankles.

The other party’s voice was still clinging to the inside of my head.

Please consider this deal void—that cold tone of voice repeated like an echo.

Standing on the brink of despair, I simply moved my legs mechanically.

Before I knew it, I was standing in front of my house.

Yuno was at the entrance again.

Just like always. Like a pet waiting for its master to return.

“Welcome home!”

She beamed and waved her hand.

As soon as I entered the room, she hurried to the kitchen with a pata-pata pitter-patter.

Her retreating figure was somehow like a puppy, and as I took off my shoes, I found myself instinctively following her back with my eyes.

Tonight’s dinner was omurice.

The scent of butter wafted softly through the room.

The chicken rice was well-seasoned and slightly sweet. Piled generously on top was a fluffy omelet that melted in my mouth.

As I moved my spoon, I felt the stress of work strangely drifting away.

Only the clink-clank of the spoon hitting the plate echoed in the quiet room.

“…Miss, you seem kind of down?”

Yuno tilted her head slightly and looked up at me.

Her large, bright brown eyes gazed straight into mine.

“Not really. It’s nothing.”

“Liar!”

Yuno giggled.

With her brows lowered and eyes narrowed, she wore a completely innocent expression.

“Ever since you came home, you’ve had a face like it’s the end of the world.”

“I do not.”

“You’ve got a deep wrinkle right between your eyebrows!”

I felt irritated by her carefree, thoughtless way of speaking.

But at the same time, I felt that this was exactly what I needed right now. If this girl started treating me with gravity, I would probably break.

Suddenly, Yuno pushed back her chair and stood up.

Then, she opened her arms wide.

“Here. Come here.”

“…Eh?”

My spoon stopped. I tilted my head, not understanding the meaning, and Yuno swayed her arms back and forth and said it again.

“Over here. Come here.”

Yuno gave a soft smile.

I gently set down my spoon and pushed back my chair.

Standing up in confusion—

Before I knew it, I was drawn into Yuno’s chest.

Her slender arms wrapped around my back. She pulled me tight.

With nowhere to put my hands, I found myself clutching Yuno’s T-shirt with both fists.

Yuno’s body was thinner than I imagined, but her body temperature was remarkably high. A comforting warmth.

Every time I felt that warmth, I wanted to be pulled closer.

Again, the other party’s voice revived in my head.

“Please consider this deal void—”

My hands, my fingertips, began to shake.

What am I going to do starting tomorrow?

In that moment, a hand was placed gently on the crown of my head.

“There, there.”

A sweet, high-pitched, yet somehow calming and quiet voice.

Then, she slowly stroked my head.

As if combing through my hair.

“Good girl, good girl.”

Next, she began to gently pat my back. Pat, pat.

A steady rhythm, like soothing a baby.

It overlapped with the rhythm of my own heart.

I felt so relaxed I could have fallen asleep.

Yuno’s warmth seeped into me.

Pat, pat.

Pat, pat.

What is this?

Treating a woman several years her senior like a child.

And yet, the steady rhythm of her palm felt wonderful.

My back was just so warm.

—How long has it been?

Since someone had touched me like this.

Before I realized it, the back of my eyes grew hot.

Tears began to blur my vision. I couldn’t stop them.

No matter how harsh the words in the conference room were, no matter how much the numbers collapsed, no matter how many times I bowed my head in apology, I had never once shed a tear.

But the moment I buried my face in Yuno’s shoulder, they spilled over silently.

I began to sob like a small child. It was pathetic.

Hic, hic.

I couldn’t stop.

Yuno’s shoulder grew damp with my tears.

In front of Yuno, who was so many years younger than me. Truly miserable.

Pathetic.

And yet, I couldn’t stop.

Yuno tried to gently peek at my face.

Not wanting to be seen, I hurriedly turned away.

My face was hot with embarrassment. Too hot.

“…Shall we go to bed?”

Yuno’s voice was soft and sweet.

As if guided by her, I was drawn away into the bedroom.