Only yours

The Catastrophe Unfolds

Three days had passed since the incidents at the gala, and I was still busy cleaning up Saphir's mess. Thankfully, Father kept me away from him, but I still had to handle the dirty work. The press was getting increasingly impatient as rumors started circulating, and the police began asking more uncomfortable questions. I was counting the days until Saphir would leave the country. Five more days, and hopefully, he'd be gone for good. At least Kunzite had taken over the daily business, so I didn't have to worry about that as well.

Tired, I closed the laptop. Exhaustion was still palpable in my bones. It had been a while since I had a proper night's sleep. Technically, I couldn't afford to take a break, but my head was spinning. Concentration was out of reach, no matter how hard I tried.

I dragged myself to the kitchen and poured a cup of coffee. A short break was a necessity. Suddenly, Massaru burst in, and I knew immediately that something had happened.

"Boss, we have a problem. The younger Kou brother is at the TV station and wants to go public about what happened to his brother."

My face fell. This couldn't be true. Instantly, I was wide awake.

"Get me someone in charge at the station on the phone," I ordered sharply.

"He's already waiting on line 1."

I dashed into the office and grabbed the phone.

"This is Mr. Prince. Whatever Mr. Kou is offering you, I'll double it if you don't let him on the air," I said, my voice tense.

A male voice laughed derisively. "Mr. Prince, that's not how journalism works. The public has a right to the truth. Mr. Kou will go on air."

Tension grew within me, and my thoughts raced. This could have disastrous consequences for everyone involved, especially Usagi.

"How much time do I have before he goes on air?" I asked the person on the other end of the line.

"Half an hour."

That wasn't enough time. I needed at least an hour to get Usagi out of the city. Otherwise, the reporters would tear her apart.

"Give me an hour to sort things out here. This is about the safety of individuals," I demanded urgently.

The man laughed again. "Do you mean your brother?"

After that comment, it was clear what kind of avalanche was heading my way. He knew what Saphir had done and wanted to tell everyone. And that asshole on the other end wasn't going to be bribed.

"No. It's about Ms. Tsukino, the girlfriend of the deceased. If I knew where my worthless brother was, I'd serve him to you on a silver platter. Think about what your colleagues at the local tabloids will do to her if they get their hands on her," I shouted, full of rage. This guy wouldn't hold his position for long. I'd see to that once things settled down.

"Alright. I'll give you an hour, then we go on air."

An hour, that was going to be tight. I needed a plan to get Usagi out of the city and keep her safe from the reporters. That gray-haired idiot. What was he thinking, going straight to the TV station? The repercussions would be catastrophic.

"Massaru! Is the jet fueled and ready to go?" I shouted urgently down the hall.

"No, Boss. The jet could take off in three hours at the earliest."

Damn it, that was too slow. What was I supposed to do with Usagi now?

"What about the yacht? How long to get it ready to sail?"