It's possible you're thinking of the film adaptation of the novel, which introduced a character named The Baron (played by Ken Watanabe). In the movie, The Baron is a wealthy and powerful businessman who becomes infatuated with Sayuri and offers her financial support and a life of luxury. However, he is ultimately unable to provide her with the emotional connection she desires.
It's important to distinguish between the book and the film adaptation, as they have some significant differences in character development and plot details.