Roland said, that's why you need a babysitter. And lucky for you, my schedule just opened up. The next 48 hours were an exercise in brutal restraint. Viven didn't leave the apartment. She wore Roland's clothes.
She ate Roland's cheap food. She watched the Bloomberg ticker on his television like a hawk watching a field mouse. Slowly, the rhythm of the tiny apartment began to seep into her bones. She watched Roland make Khloe's lunches. She watched them do math homework at the kitchen table.
She witnessed a kind of quiet, sturdy love that she had entirely forgotten existed. Her own father had treated her like a mutual fund, an investment that was expected to mature and yield high returns. She had never been allowed to just exist. On Thursday evening, the three of them sat on the floor around the coffee table eating cartons of takeout lain. Khloe was showing Vivien how to use chopsticks correctly.
You're holding it too tight, Kloe instructed, adjusting Viven's fingers with her small, sticky hands. You have to let it rest. If you squeeze too hard, the noodle slips. Viven looked at the wooden chopsticks, then at the little girl. The metaphor was painfully obvious, but it hit her in the chest anyway.
She loosened her grip. The noodle stayed. "Thank you, Chloe," Viven said softly. Roland watched them from across the table. He took a sip of his beer.
"See, you are capable of taking direction. " "Don't push it, Roland," she muttered, taking a bite. But there was no venom in it. At 8:45 p.m., Rolan's cell phone buzzed on the counter. The caller ID flashed a Tokyo country code. Roland picked it up, checked the screen, and looked at Viven.
It's starting. He put the phone on speaker and set it on the island. Moshi Moshi, this is Roland. Roland son. The voice was clipped, professional, but laced with deep irritation.
It was Mr. Tanaka, the lead negotiator for Kyoto. We were informed you were no longer with Croft Holdings. We are currently in a conference call with a Richard Croft. He is abrasive.
I apologize for the confusion, Tanakasan. Roland said smoothly. There has been a restructuring. He is demanding a signature by Friday. He is threatening to pull the capital.
Tanaka paused. My board does not respond well to threats. We valued our relationship with Ms. Croft. We valued your discretion.
If she is no longer at the helm, Kyoto will withdraw from the acquisition. Viven stepped up to the counter. She looked at Roland. He nodded. Tanakasan.
This is Vivien," she said, her voice dropping into the cool, authoritative register that had built her empire. A brief pause. Ms. Croft, we were told you stepped down. I was temporarily indisposed.