Alex's POV
I'd
never seen Tokyo look more beautiful than it did that morning.
Golden
light spilled across the city skyline from my hotel suite window, painting
everything in warm amber. In twelve hours, I'd be back in New York, back to
Elena's arms and Roman's bear hug. The merger documents sat signed on my desk.
Three months of brutal negotiations, finally over. The biggest pharmaceutical
deal in our company's history.
My
phone buzzed. Elena's name lit up the screen, and my chest tightened with that
familiar ache of missing someone you love.
"Alex?
Baby, it's barely six. Everything okay?"
Her
voice, rough with sleep but warm as honey, filled the room. I sank into the
leather chair by the window.
"Everything's
perfect. Just wanted to hear your voice before things got crazy."
"Hmmm."
I could picture her stretching in our bed, dark hair spread across the pillow.
"How'd the final meeting go? You sound different. Happy different."
"That's
because I have news that's going to change everything."
"Oh
God, tell me." Her excitement built in her voice the way it always did
when she sensed something big coming. "Did you get it? Please tell me you
got the deal."
I
grinned so wide my cheeks hurt. "Not only did we get it, it's bigger than
we ever dreamed. Elena, we just became the third-largest pharmaceutical company
in North America."
Silence
stretched so long I thought we'd lost connection.
"Alex...
are you serious?"
"Dead
serious. Takahashi Pharmaceuticals is now part of Kane Industries. Twelve
billion dollars, Elena. "Twelve billion."
"Oh
my God." Her voice was barely a whisper. "This is everything we've
talked about. The charity work, the free clinics, the research grants. We can
actually change the world now."
"We
can change the world," I agreed, my heart swelling at the pure joy in her
voice. This was why I'd worked so hard, to give Elena the platform she needed
to help people.
"I'm
so proud of you. You and Roman... you've built something amazing."
"Roman
doesn't know yet. I wanted to tell you first."
"He's
going to absolutely lose his mind." She laughed, and I heard movement, probably
rolling out of bed. "He's been asking me if I've heard from you lately.
You know how he worries."
"My
protective little brother. I'll call him next."
"Actually,
I was thinking of having him over for dinner tonight to celebrate. Make it a
proper family celebration when you get home tomorrow."
"Perfect.
Just the three of us."
"I
love you so much, Alex. More than you know."
"I
love you too. More than anything."
After
we hung up, I sat in the morning glow feeling like the luckiest bastard alive.
Elena's excitement wasn't about the money, it was about the possibilities, the
chance to build something meaningful together.
I
dialed Roman's number.
"Alex!"
First ring, voice tight with anticipation. "Please tell me you have good
news. I've been going out of my mind."
"Define
good news."
"Don't
mess with me, big brother. I haven't slept in three days. Either we got the
deal or we didn't, and if we didn't, I'm going to need a very large
drink."
"You
might need that drink anyway. But a celebratory one."
"Alex."
His voice went quiet. "Tell me."
"We
got it. All of it. Twelve billion dollars. We're about to become one of the
biggest pharmaceutical companies in the world."
The
crash was so loud I had to pull the phone from my ear. Something hit the floor
on his end—probably his coffee mug.
"HOLY
SHIT! Are you serious? Twelve billion? Alex, do you realize what this
means?"
"I
realize we're about to become very, very successful."
"Successful?
We're about to become pharmaceutical royalty! How the hell did you pull this
off? Takahashi was giving us the runaround for weeks."
"Their
father lost a grandchild to leukemia five years ago. When he saw our pediatric
cancer research, money stopped being the most important thing."
"You
magnificent bastard. You found their heart."
"Found
their heart," I agreed. "And now we can do something with it. Elena's
already talking about expanding the charity work. Free clinics, research
grants, pediatric programs."
"She's
going to be over the moon about this. That woman has more humanitarian vision
in her pinky finger than most people have in their entire bodies."
"She's
pretty incredible," I said, warmth spreading through my chest.
"When
do you get home? We need to celebrate properly. I'm thinking we rent out that
rooftop bar you like, invite the whole team."
"Flight
leaves in six hours. I'll be home by morning. But Elena mentioned dinner
tonight, just family."
"Perfect.
I'll bring the good champagne. The really good stuff. This calls for Dom
Pérignon at minimum."
"Roman?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm
proud of what we've built. Mom and Dad would be proud too."
His
voice went soft. "We beat the odds, didn't we? From that shitty foster
home to this."
"We
beat the odds. And we're just getting started."
After
we hung up, I stood at the window again, watching Tokyo come alive below. The
city hummed with possibility, millions of people starting their day with hopes
and dreams. In a few hours, I'd be flying home to my own dreams, to Elena's
warm embrace and Roman's congratulatory grin.
The
formal ceremony took four hours. Bowing and ritual, translated speeches and
ceremonial sake. When Takahashi's elderly father took my hands in his weathered
ones and spoke about honoring his grandchild's memory through our work, I had
to blink back tears.
"You
understand," he said in slow, deliberate English, "this is not just
business. This is hope."
"I
understand," I managed. "We won't let you down."
When
it was over, I stepped into the Tokyo afternoon and called Elena again.
"How
did it go?" she asked immediately. "The ceremony, was it everything
you hoped?"
"Perfect.
Elena, you should have seen it. The way they talked about the research, about
what we're going to build together. This isn't just about money, it's about
saving lives."
"I
can't wait to get started. I've been sketching out ideas for months. Clinics in
underserved communities, partnerships with universities, grant programs for
young scientists."
"You've
been thinking about this for months?"
"Alex,
you know me. Once I get passionate about something, I can't turn my brain off.
I've got notebooks full of plans. Roman's going to think I've lost my mind when
he sees how detailed I've gotten."
I
laughed. "He'll love it. Roman appreciates thoroughness."
"I
hope so. I really want his support on this. I know the business side isn't my
strength, but the humanitarian vision..."
"Is
exactly what we need. Elena, you're going to change lives. We all are."
"Hurry
home. I miss you so much."
The
flight home felt endless. I couldn't sleep, couldn't focus on work, couldn't do
anything but imagine the future we were about to build. Free clinics with
Elena's name on them. Research grants funding the next generation of medical
breakthroughs. A legacy that would outlast us all.
I
dozed fitfully somewhere over the Pacific, dreaming of ribbon-cutting
ceremonies and Elena's face glowing with pride as she spoke about hope and
healing.
Beautiful
dreams.
I
should have known they were too good to last.
JFK
at 6:47 AM. Through customs by 7:30. I gave the driver Elena's favorite coffee
shop instead of our apartment, wanting to surprise her with her usual order and
watch her face light up when she realized I was home early.
The
morning was crisp and perfect, one of those New York days that reminded you why
you loved the city. I rolled down the window, breathing in that familiar mix of
exhaust and possibility that had always meant home.
My
phone rang as we pulled up to the coffee shop. Marcus Smith, my lawyer, one of
my oldest friends. I almost ignored it. Whatever legal technicality he needed
to discuss could wait until after I'd surprised my wife.
But
something in my gut made me answer.
"Alex."
Marcus's voice was strained, urgent in a way I'd never heard before. "You
need to come here immediately. Don't go to your apartment."
The
world tilted sideways. The coffee shop suddenly felt like a trap.
"What
are you talking about? What's wrong?"
"Just...
meet me at my office. Right now. And Alex?" His voice cracked. "I'm
so sorry."