Ten Million Dollars Mission

c.41- Her tears

"What is it?"

L's brows wrinkled over the sight of Rosa rushing inside the office in the early morning. "We are done! Your news are spreading like a wild fire right now! It's so messy!" With the tablet in her grasp, Rosa approached her friend. "Huh?" L furrowed brows. "Take a look"

Rosa just handed the tablet instead of speaking further. 'CEO of Lauren brand is dating 'Paradise' club owner Ishikawa Ryuu' With the photo of them walking out of the room, the news made it to the top search. The woman's dress was torn, the man's necktie was missing.

They definitely enjoyed the night together! That's what the comments claimed. L restrained the urge to smile. She looked so good in this picture! That reporter Yuki deserved to earn a lot! "Some are saying you came from the yakuza organization as well, Lauren!" Rosa frowned.

She was genuinely concerned. "How did they even photoshop that photo to look so realistic?" "It is not photoshopped" However, L's affirmation dragged Rosa into silence. Her mouth agape, her eyes widened, she froze there. "You really came from yakuza organization?"

Rosa mumbled the words.

"What? No. What I meant is the news about us dating is true. We are in a relationship right now" L bragged, proudly. "WHAT?!" The shocked expression of Rosa made L blink. Why was she more stunned about the dating news? "How did you two even meet, Lauren?!"

The confusion trembled in her tone. "When did you two start dating?! How long has it been?! Why didn't you tell me?!" One by one, Rosa put the list of questions to front. L could only shrug. "I thought it was unimportant to share" She lied through her teeth. "How is it not?!"

Rosa shouted. Almost blowing the woman off. "Sorry. I didn't know this would cause a stir" L had no other choices but to apologize for the trouble she had created. "Gosh! If you had told me in advance, I would have been able to block every news!" Feeling upset, Rosa groaned.

"It's okay. At least, our brand is attracting the attention" In the bad situation, L faced the light. Thinking of the positive outcome only. "Goodness! I will go delete that news right now!" L did not stop her friend from doing so. Almost everyone had gotten the date source.

One from one, rumors could spread.

She could easily sit back and relax. On the other side, Ishikawa Ryuu sat in the car's backseat, reading the news from internet. "How did it happen, Ishikawa?" Beside him, there was a man L had been desperately searching, Takahashi Keiji. He sat with legs spread, head leaning to the back, a smile on lips.

His brown hair and honey brown eyes shone under the ray of sunlight. The necktie was loose. He was not stiff and cold like Ryuu. He gave off warm vibes at first. But his smirk said the otherwise. He looked calm and playful at the same time. "I am sorry. I was careless last night"

Ryuu apologized instantly. "No, no. I don't even care about that news. It does not matter. I just want to know how you two met and hooked up" Beneath a smile, Keiji turned his head. It quieted down the man. Ryuu gulped. Should he say it? Should he admit the real truth?

But the situation could not be revealed. If his master knew the club business was being chased by the police due to insiders' info and the negative effect oo net worth, Ryuu would not be able to save himself. This left him with no other choices but to make up lies about the relationship.

"We have been together for a month. I met her at the club. She was quite pretty and... bold" While speaking absolute nonsense, Ryuu thought of the woman from last night. She really was a pretty woman with a bold personality. Keiji's eyes formed into moon crescent shape.

"You are a man in love now, huh?"

He patted Ryuu's shoulder. "If you don't like her, I can break up right now" Ryuu promptly stated. Causing Keiji to laugh out loud. "Don't, don't. It's good to see you being in love. She must be a hot chick. Got you hooked and shit" Keiji chuckled as Ryuu only lowered his head.

Because of that woman, he had to pretend in front of everyone now! She must have planned everything! That evening, Ryuu waited for L in his private room. He instructed the manager to take L from the secret path to assure no one saw her entering. However, she didn't show up.

Instead, Rosa came on her behalf to deliver the words. "Boss, Miss Laurestine's secretary is here to deliver some words" Scared of outcome, Niki informed in trembling voice from outside. It caught the man's attention. He clenched his jaw. Was she running away from him?

After purposely dragging him outside to make it to headlines, she was now avoiding him. Ryuu stepped out of the room. Facing the woman who seemed to be terrified of him. "What did she say?" He straight up queried her. "Um, Ma'am cannot leave at the moment" Rosa notified.

"The reporters are everywhere"

She added. "So?" Ryuu furrowed his brows. Not knowing Rosa had yet to know about the relationship contract. The woman was stunned. How could he be this heartless?! Shouldn't he be panicking and rushing to meet his girlfriend?! "You can come with me to meet her tonight"

Rosa offered a chance. Making Ryuu clench jaw. Rather than appearing before him, she even dared to drag him out of here. What a courageous woman. "I know people are after you but your girlfriend is suffering too, you know. Please encourage her and take care of her more"

Though she was scared of the man's aura, Rosa collected her every courage to talk back to him. It was when Ryuu quieted down. The secretary was clueless about the contract also. What was that woman scheming? "Give me her address. I am going alone" Ryuu insisted.

When he met her, he surely would give a great lesson for daring to set him up in this huge mess. Although he made up his mind like that, he was left speechless once he encountered her. "Are you crying?" Ryuu approached the woman who was sitting her office alone. "No, sit"

L shook her head.

But her eyes were red. Her sniffling sounds were enough to tell how much she cried. He thought she was behind this news. How come she was sobbing over that? Confusion wandered. Ryuu could not even think straight. He sat down across her, with a frown of puzzlement.

"The news were quite problematic for my side. Within a day, the sale has dropped so far. Because the news aren't confirmed, they are making up every possible nonsense to drag my brand name into the hellhole" L began to explain while maintaining the calm expression.

Her tone slightly quivered in between. Capturing Ryuu's attention. The fury he held for her had vanished completely. "It wasn't made by you?" A question echoed. "Why would I do something like that when the result would ruin my fame?" L shot a glare up at Ryuu.

Hushing him down. So, it wasn't her. Then, who would do it? Did he miss something? "What do you want to do now?" He threw a query. Not breaking the eye contact. "Make it public" L stated. "It is already public" Ryuu furrowed brows. "But it is not confirmed yet" L retorted.

Ryuu remained serene, listening attentively.

"We have to confirm it and deny the false rumors. One thing before that, I need to know if you really are involved with yakuza or not" With arms folded, the woman asked. The office fell into silence. She was curious about his life. Should he be worried? Ryuu pondered silently.

"We are in this together now. I won't tell a soul" L assured. "You are the woman who appeared from nowhere and randomly threw a contract to invest in my club. I don't have any trust in you, Miss Laurestine" Ryuu's words caused the woman to smile in amusement. The line was there.

The high wall between them did not even shake a bit. "My name is Laurestine Pierre, an orphan to be exact. I came from New York to build my own brand. I changed my last name before coming here. That's why no one can find news about me" L suddenly disclosed.

Hushing down the man. He did not anticipate to be confessed this quickly. "If you wish to know, you can find Laurestine Grey. There will be news about the fire that got the Grey family's life. Can we rely on each other now, Mister Ishikawa?" Tilting her head, L queried. It was true.

But at the same time, it was not.

Laurestine Grey did exist. But she was caught by fire that very night. Laurestine Pierre was someone who actually appeared out of nowhere. Her character was drawn to be mysterious. "I am second-in-command of Takahashi family. The rumors are true" Ryuu admitted.

Delighting the woman wholly. Yes! He had cooperated with her at last! It was hard to gain trust from him but thankfully she had everything plotted. L raised her head, inhaling deeply. "Well, that confirms everything. Thank you for trusting me" L flashed a beam.

Receiving a silent stare. "Did you tell anyone about the contract?" L questioned. "No. They all think we have been together for a month. It is better not to tell the truth" Ryuu made a suggestion. "Right. Then, come to meet me tomorrow here. We will fool everyone"

"Got it"