Zephyr felt like he was moving through a gray, hazy fog. Yesterday he’d been looking forward to just a few more weeks of being careful. But that hope had come clattering down.

He grabbed his tablet and headed down for the daily morning meeting, ready to take whatever flagellation was applied. Tanashi hadn't made anymore comments on his closeness to his students, and he hadn't brought it up again.

"So I see you're finally ready to work?" Zephyr knew better than to respond emotionally. He simply nodded and waited. Hokuto finally closed his laptop. "You understand how long Tanashi Corp. has been in business?"

Zephyr nodded. "For generations."

Hokuto nodded his head and steepled his fingers. "Yes, that's correct. My great-grandfather started the business. In his village, of all places, in Japan. He was mostly just an inventor. If you needed something to make plowing a field easier, he was your man. If you need something to make sewing easier he could help. If you needed something to unclog the sink he was the man. And then he started training other inventors and artisans to be like him.”

“It's a proud legacy.”

“I want to keep it that way. And you're making that difficult.”

The bottom dropped out of his stomach. “Excuse me?”

The old man waved a hand. “Now is not the time to play dumb.” He pulled out a folder and tossed it at Zephyr.

He knew before he even opened it. He knew what he’d find. Photos. There were so many of him, of Malia. Of her leaving his place. Of the two of them in Philly. Kissing, holding hands.

They’d been so careful here on home turf. But in Philly, they’d been free. “Sir, I—”

“Is this the part where you tell me that it’s not what it looks like? That she’s just your student?”

Zephyr swallowed and leveled a gaze on the old man. “No. This is the point where I tell you that this isn’t her fault. I, as her mentor, pulled her into this relationship. She is blameless.” Please believe me. Please believe me.

The old man turned his back, making it difficult for Zephyr to get a read. “This has been carrying on all year.”

“No it hasn’t. We didn’t begin our relationship until after the new year. Again, sir, this was not her idea.”

“You’ve said that. Do you understand how dangerous this situation is for your career?”

“Yes, sir, and I still entered into it.” He squared his shoulders, ready for whatever was going to come next. Just as long as he protected Malia.

Hokuto turned, his jaw set. “You ruined everything. All you had to do was keep your hands off the talent. But the first cheap piece of ass that you saw, you fell for? You're just like your father.”

Zephyr’s brows snapped down. “What?”

The old man sighed. “What, you thought we brought you here because you were so good?”

The fuck was going on?

“Well you’re good, but that’s because it’s in your blood. You’re a Tanashi.”

Zephyr shook his head. No. This was a lie. “Stop it.”

“Why should I? This is your legacy.”

“No. I’m a Donovan.”

“You mean that simple family that adopted you? I gave them the opportunity to make you great when you were a child, but they refused.”

What? “You’re saying they knew?”

The old man chuckled. “Oh they knew. And if I were you, I wouldn’t feel so bad about your broken heart. The young Miss Adams is looking out for herself. Maybe you should do the same.”

“What the fuck do you mean?”

“When I approached her about stepping away from you so you could focus on your future, she was more than happy to take me up on my offer.”

“You paid her?” He shook his head. That wasn’t Malia. “I don’t believe you.”

“I figured you might say that. Look at the last documents in the folder. Those are accounts in her name and her sister Eva’s name. Two hundred thousand dollars each. That was the cost of your broken heart. She’s not the poor girl that needs your help any longer.”

Zephyr’s stomach roiled. The document was clearly printed on bank letterhead. Her name and Eva’s name were listed on two separate accounts. Tanashi was right. She was no longer the poor girl that needed his help. She’d found a way to help herself.

The older Tanashi stood to full height. “Now that everything is in the open, it’s time to get to work. There is a lot you need to learn. Now that you can refocus—”

Zephyr glared at him. “Refocus?”

“Yes, so we can work.”

Zephyr blinked then laid down his tablet. He was done.