Healing the Cold CEO

Chapter Twelve

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"Her bruises are healing well. I have prescribed a new ointment that should be able to help with it. Her breath sounds are normal. I do suggest one more week of bed rest to help with the exhaustion. Her body is recovering from the trauma of the crash. We will continue to monitor her in Kyoto and ensure her arm is equally back in top condition."

Doctor Renji Saito spoke, giving his report efficiently as we descended the spiral staircase of my home. Having him within these very walls was something I would have thought impossible and yet he had purposed to come at my request as soon as he landed with Aimi picking him from the airport and accompanying him.

"Thank you, Doctor Saito. Really. I don't believe I will ever be able to repay you for taking time out of your packed schedule to not only travel all this way but also take care of my father and mother. Truly, I am grateful."

I meant every single word, watching as the mam granted me a beautiful smile and shake of the head. The man was gorgeous in the Hot Doctor kind of way. Standing at about 6"2, his midnight black hair was cut to perfection, giving him a boyish look that turned sexy with the rounded glasses he wore.

His smile was devastating but not as much as the dimple on his right cheek that I knew drove women around him crazy no doubt. Although he seemed every bit the respectable and highly sought doctor, he seemed to also be hiding a bad boy persona with the sleeve tattoos that peaked from his shirt to the lip ring that really made him hotter.

"You have nothing to thank me for. I am more than happy to assist. Admittedly, I was also curious to see who mattered enough to Aimi Hattori to have her ask for a favor. Neither she nor Ha Joon are the 'I'm in your debt' kind of people. They have been raised and taught differently. She must cherish you and I can certainly see why."

I grinned at that, warmth flooding me at his comment but certainly not quite like how I felt with a certain dark and dangerous man. Axle's energy was more volatile than the good Doctor before me. He screamed danger from miles away and yet still I, like Icarus, soared right towards him.

Not anymore....and you need to stop thinking about him...you have other more important things to dwell on...

The pep talk seemed to work as the two of us emerged at the Living room where Aimi, Ayana and Ha Joon now stood. A charged sort of energy was in the air, a fact that Aimi seemed to be ignoring as she tapped away on her Switch, already changed into her sleep shorts and band tshirt. Ayana and Ha Joon were, however, the origin of the shift in atmosphere as they stared each other down before Ayana turned to me as I approached.

"Well, it seems New York is where all the fun is and the gorgeous women."

Renji muttered, his gaze assessing Ayana and who could blame him. The Carrington Industries heiress was stunning and more so now with her hair in a bun with a few strands escaping and her pyjamas- ready for the sleepover they would be having at my house for the night with Aimi.

As the CEO of RR Interactive Gaming, Aimi was busy as hell for most of the week and more so now that she had just returned from a long vacation. I knew she was swamped with work as were all my other girls and yet not a single night had passed since we were back that they hadn't all come to visit and taken turns to sleepover.

Ayana was no different. As a renowned, top model as well as Fashion Icon, she had a calendar full of brand trips, photoshoots, interviews and her budding clothing brand that was her biggest and most cherished project yet. But her nights were spent in my apartment, offering a sense of comfort in the wake of how much my life had changed and the pain that was still wedged deep within.

Their presence meant more to me than they would know. They kept me sane as I made arrangements around how much my life was changing.

"Stop flirting with my girl, Ren. If you're done, you can go. Same to you, big brother. Ayana and I will take over here."

Aimi spoke up, effectively dismissing both men who seemed amused rather than offended by her words. I granted her a disapproving frown that was received with a grin and a shrug even as I turned to the two men.

"Thank you again, Doctor."

"I will be assessing your father tomorrow. I have mulled over his files but I prefer hands on treatment. I'll have something for you then."

We said our goodbyes with Ha Joon's warm hug reassuring me despite the rough day I had had. I longed for the arms of a man I could not have.

I'd pushed him away....but would give anything for his comfort in this time of despair...

Between sedating my mother to allow her to recover, making plans to send my parents to Kyoto for treatment- alone and the looming threat over my family that I had made barely any progress- I was at my wit's end. And let's not forget Haren Bank.

I did not regret my decision to put my mother on much needed bed rest. She needed time to recover from the stress of all that had happened. She had seemed about ready to collapse at the hospital and being able to care for her at my home sent a wave of relief through me. Having Doctor Saito check on her was more of a reassurance that everything was going well with her recovery.

I need to make sure she's okay...she's the only one I trust to take care of Dad in Kyoto...

It was a heavy burden to place upon her when she herself was recovering and yet I knew she wouldn't have it any other way. The two of them adored each other and would literally die for each other- case in point being that my father had used his body to shield her from the worst of the impact of the accident.

She will not let anyone else take care of him...but she needs to be strong to cater to him and to herself....

Sending them to Kyoto alone was breaking me but my responsibility had already been set out for me- at least until Grandfather's will was read. Until then, I had to trust Aimi's reassurance that they would be protected whilst also sending some of our security to be with them there.

I would not leave them unattended, especially with the new threat that was looming over our family. I needed answers and having to worry about them would hinder me from fully immersing myself in the hunt.

Succession had been the least of my worries and yet the urgency within me to protect our family grew everyday as Travis and Xavier were considered the best to take the position of CEO of Haren and Patriarch of the home.

Thinking of them brought with it a wave of unpleasant emotions- chief being irritation. Two days had barely passed since the emergency meeting and the world learning of the passing of one of the Giants of the financial world.

Speculation, rumors and more had spread with the main topic of conversation being the next leader of the Financial world. Everyone seemed obsessed with knowing who would take over, especially with the revelation of my Father's hospitalisation. Many seemed to have already picked their side, hedging all their bets with my Uncle Travis or Xavier.

Underestimating me is a dumb mistake but I guess I'd be best suited to focus on unraveling the attack and taking care or my parents...

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