Chapter 5
The office door closed with a soft click.
Yumi Sato immediately felt it.
The silence.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
Ryuji Takeda sat behind his desk, watching her with those calm, unreadable eyes.
The red neon lights from the city painted the room in a faint crimson glow.
It made him look even more dangerous.
Like a king sitting on a throne of shadows.
"Close the door," he said.
Yumi hesitated for half a second before obeying.
The lock clicked.
Her pulse quickened.
Something about the way he was looking at her felt different tonight.
Sharper.
More focused.
Like a predator who had finally decided to move.
Ryuji stood slowly.
Every movement was controlled.
Deliberate.
He walked toward her without saying a word.
Yumi forced herself to remain still.
But her hand slowly moved closer to the inside of her coat.
Where the gun was hidden.
Ryuji stopped in front of her.
Too close.
His eyes dropped briefly to her hand.
Then back to her face.
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"Yumi."
Her name sounded different when he said it.
Lower.
Darker.
"Are you planning to shoot me tonight?"
Her heart slammed against her ribs.
She didn't move.
Didn't breathe.
Ryuji tilted his head slightly.
"Go on," he said softly.
His voice was almost teasing.
"If that's why you came here… you should at least try."
Yumi's fingers tightened around the gun.
In one quick motion she pulled it out—
And aimed it directly at his chest.
The room went completely silent.
Anyone else would have panicked.
Anyone else would have stepped back.
Ryuji didn't move.
He simply looked down at the gun.
Then back at her.
Calm.
Almost amused.
"You hesitate too much," he said.
Before she could react—
His hand moved.
Fast.
Ryuji grabbed her wrist and pushed her arm upward.
The gun fired.
The bullet slammed into the ceiling.
Yumi gasped as he twisted her wrist just enough for the gun to slip from her fingers.
It fell to the floor with a sharp metallic sound.
In the next second—
He pushed her back against the wall.
His hand pinned both of her wrists above her head.
Her breath caught.
Ryuji leaned closer.
So close she could feel the warmth of his breath against her skin.
His dark eyes searched her face slowly.
Like he was enjoying every second of this.
"Interesting," he murmured.
"You really did come here to kill me."
Yumi struggled slightly.
But his grip only tightened.
Ryuji glanced down at the gun on the floor.
Then back at her.
"You're brave."
His voice softened.
"Or very foolish."
Yumi lifted her chin.
"I'm not afraid of you."
That made him smile again.
A slow, dangerous smile.
Ryuji leaned closer to her ear.
"So you say…"
His voice dropped to a whisper.
"But your heart is racing."
Yumi froze.
He could feel it.
Of course he could.
Ryuji pulled back just enough to look into her eyes again.
There was something darker in his expression now.
Something intense.
Possessive.
"Tell me something, Yumi," he said quietly.
"Who sent you?"
She said nothing.
The silence stretched between them.
Then Ryuji suddenly laughed softly.
Not angry.
Not surprised.
Almost impressed.
"I thought so."
He released one of her wrists and picked the gun up from the floor.
Turning it slowly in his hand.
Then he placed it on his desk behind him.
Out of her reach.
When he looked at her again…
His expression had completely changed.
No anger.
No fear.
Just calm certainty.
"Next time," he said quietly,
"If you want to kill me…"
His eyes darkened.
"Don't hesitate."
Then he stepped even closer.
Close enough that their foreheads almost touched.
"And make sure you don't miss."
Yumi realized something terrifying in that moment.
Ryuji Takeda wasn't afraid of her.
He was interested in her.
And that might be far more dangerous.