“She disappeared from Tokyo three days ago.”

Amara’s expression changed.

“What?”

“She is twenty-four. She left a message saying she needed to think.”

“Have you contacted the police?”

“Yes.”

“Then why are you here?”

Takamori’s jaw tightened.

“Because she may be in New York.”

Amara looked at him.

He continued.

“She studied here. She had friends here.”

“Do you know where?”

“No.”

The interpreter leaned forward.

“Mr. Takamori found an email on her computer. It mentioned a woman named Professor Helen Rhodes.”

Amara froze.

“Professor Rhodes?”

“You know her?”

“She was my academic adviser.”

Takamori stared at her.

“You know where she is?”

“I can find her.”

For the first time that night, the billionaire looked almost desperate.

“Please.”

The word sounded unfamiliar coming from him.

Amara took a breath.

“I can call someone.”

She stepped away from the table and pulled out her phone.

Professor Rhodes had not changed her number.

After three rings, she answered.

“Amara Bennett?”

“Hi, Professor.”

“My goodness. It’s been years.”

“I know. I’m sorry to call unexpectedly.”

Amara explained the situation carefully.

There was a long silence.

Then Professor Rhodes said, “I may know who you’re talking about.”

Amara’s heart tightened.

“She came to see me two weeks ago. Aiko Takamori.”

Amara looked toward the table.

Kenji had heard the name.

His face turned pale.

“What did she say?”

“She seemed frightened,” the professor continued. “She said her father’s company was pressuring her to return to Japan.”

Amara’s eyes narrowed.

“Did she say why?”

“No. But she mentioned someone named Daniel Cross.”

Amara turned toward the American executive.

His expression changed.

He knew the name.

Takamori noticed.

“Who is Daniel Cross?” Amara asked.

No one answered.

She repeated the question.

This time, Takamori spoke.

“He was an employee.”

“Was?”

“He was dismissed.”

“For what?”

The billionaire’s eyes hardened.

“That is not your concern.”

Amara ended the call.

Then she looked directly at him.

“Actually, if you want my help finding your daughter, it may become my concern.”

Takamori stood.

“So you refuse?”

“No.”

Amara slipped her phone into her pocket.

“I refuse to be manipulated.”

For a long moment, they stared at each other.

Then Takamori nodded.

“Daniel Cross accused my company of hiding financial information.”

“And?”

“He was wrong.”

“Are you sure?”

The silence that followed was answer enough.

Amara understood something then.

Aiko had not simply disappeared.

She had run.

And Kenji Takamori, one of the most powerful men in Asia, had no idea why.

Amara’s shift ended at midnight.

Instead of going home, she met Kenji Takamori in the restaurant’s private lounge.

Charles had offered to arrange a car.

Amara refused.

“I’m not getting into a billionaire’s limousine just because his daughter disappeared.”

The American executive laughed.

Takamori did not.

Within an hour, however, they had found Professor Rhodes.

And by two in the morning, they had a new clue.

Aiko had been seen at a small community center in Brooklyn.

The center hosted language classes, legal workshops, and job training programs for immigrants.

Amara arrived with Takamori and his interpreter.

The building was nearly empty.

A security guard recognized Aiko’s photograph.

“Yes,” he said. “She was here.”

“When?” Takamori asked.

“Two days ago.”

“Where did she go?”

The guard shook his head.

“Can’t tell you.”

Takamori’s face darkened.

“I am her father.”

“And she’s an adult.”

Amara almost smiled.

The billionaire was not used to hearing the word no.

She stepped forward.

“Did she seem afraid?”

The guard looked at her.

Then he nodded.

“She was scared of someone.”

“Who?”

“A man in a gray coat. She kept checking the door.”

Takamori’s interpreter whispered something.

Amara looked at him.

“What?”

He hesitated.

“There have been rumors.”

“What rumors?”

Takamori answered.

“Daniel Cross may not have been acting alone.”

The truth emerged slowly.

For months, Takamori Global had been preparing a massive merger.

Aiko had discovered internal documents suggesting that several executives were moving money through shell companies.

Daniel Cross had discovered the same thing.

When he tried to report it, he was fired.

Aiko believed her father knew.

“Did you?” Amara asked.

Takamori did not answer.

She stepped closer.

“Did you know?”

His eyes met hers.

“I knew enough to suspect.”

Amara stared at him.

“You did nothing?”

“I was investigating.”

“While people were being threatened?”

His silence returned.