“And you’re not used to people caring for you.”
She blinked.
“So, let’s talk about me.” I folded my fingers on the table. “My father was a wealthy businessman from Tokyo. Very prominent in the community. Lots of connections. Beautiful wife with a high position in society and three kids that rode to private school in a limo.”
She watched me with interest.
“He had several businesses in Bangkok, Thailand. Due to that, he went back and forth a lot. There in Bangkok is where he met my mother. She was a maid for a high-end hotel.”
Layla quirked her brows.
“My mother became his Thai mistress. His fun little secret. He let her have kids. I am the oldest of four boys. He bought us a decent house in Bangkok. Nothing too special. Still, she had to keep her hotel job.”
“Were you close to him?”
“He barely gave us any attention.” I finished my champagne. “My mother grew sick. My father didn’t help with the medical bills. In fact he stopped visiting her.”
Layla looked pissed.
“My mother passed, a week before my eleventh birthday.”
Layla touched my hand. “I’m so sorry.”
“My aunt sent word to Tokyo about my mother’s death. My father had people come get my brothers and me.”
“So, you ended up living with your father and his other family?”
“I did, but we did so as the family’s servants.” I set the empty glass down. “We were never to mention the fact that he was our father. We were expected to clean and earn our place. His other children never knew.”
“And his wife?”
“I suspected his wife did. She took a lot of her anger out on us.”
“That’s horrible.”
“Being a servant in a Tokyo mansion is better than being a motherless street child in Bangkok. I kept gratitude. My brothers didn’t. They were still young and hurt from losing our mother. Many sought drugs in their teen years.”
“You never tried drugs?”
“My addiction has always been books. I enjoy the thrill of a good story. The bite of a perfect page. In my father’s library, I discovered Sherlock Holmes and decided to be him.”
“And did you?”
“I did.”
A waiter appeared and poured more champagne in my glass.
She grinned. “And how did you become Sherlock Holmes?”
“I became an obsessive life learner. Through my search for answers to all questions, I became friends with powerful people. Now I help many make logic out of illogical things.”
“And you enjoy your job?”
“It has its perks.”
“Like what?”
“Meeting a gorgeous woman.”
“And do you meet women a lot?”
“Not ones so beautiful as you. Not ones that are as intriguing as you either.”
She blushed. “Did your father and his family ever accept you in your adult years?”
“To do so would have caused a scandal. He died still pretending to only be my employer.”
“How did he die?”
I smirked. “A dragon ate him.”
“Why?”
“I assume the dragon was hungry, but many argue that he didn’t appreciate my father’s treatment of me during my childhood.”
“I like this dragon.”
“Me too.” I nodded. “Growing up as a mixed child in Japan is not the easiest. The slight differences in my features attracted attention. There was lots of casual racism and many had an automatic sense that I was inferior. When I made powerful connections that mistreatment ended.”
“I understand a little of how you must have felt, being a black woman in America.”
“With that, I have no doubt.”
“And your brothers and their addictions?”
“They’re aggravating and constantly getting into trouble. I’ve bailed them out more times than I can remember. And even carted one away to rehab. My baby brother.”
Her eyes brightened. “Did rehab work?”
“It didn’t.”
She frowned. “How is he now?”
“I don’t know. I cut him out of my life years ago.”
She widened her eyes.
“And it was difficult.” I gave her a sad smile. “It broke my heart and darkened my soul. I’m not sure if I will ever get over that.”
“I’m so sorry.” She reached her hand over and placed it over mine. It was soft and warm.
I loved her touch and yearned for more. “Thank you. You’re so sweet. It’s been a long time since I’ve met someone so loving and compassionate.”
“I try.”
“What you do for your sister is amazing. The dedication. The love. But. . .” I took her hand and tenderly squeezed it. “You must find your limit.”
She didn’t move her hand. “This rehab center is my last resort. If it doesn’t work, then I’m. . .done.”
“Let me pay for the bill.” I slipped my thumb along her palm. “The money Mr. Meade gives you, should go to your retirement. You need to look out for yourself.”
She moved her hand away. “And why would you do that?”
“Well, there’s my proposition from earlier.”
She chuckled. “Eating sushi off me?”
“Why is that so funny to you?”
“I’ve never been asked something like this before.”
“It’s because you haven’t met any warriors before.”
“Hmmm.” She tossed me a sweet smile. “Perhaps, you’re right.”