Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Feeding Genius ❯ Blackmail Deception and Decimation ( Chapter 4 )

Feeding Genius

Chapter Four

Blackmail Deception and Decimation

Disclaimer: I do not own DBZ or any of its characters. -_-;;

***********

Grudgingly it was that I marched into the middle of the room with Jeremy. My heart felt heavy and as we moved to the music I felt sure there was no way of getting out of this situation with any credibility left intact. I was stuck between the proverbial rock and a hard place. I couldn't tell him to get lost and risk financially damaging my father's business, but to go along with what appeared to be little more than blackmail was as equally unthinkable. Capsule Corp. was my business, and by Kami I would not let some little stuck up in the ass, perverted multi-billionaire piece of shit hold me to ransom over it!

The music seemed to fit the raging of my mind, rising and falling in scales of fast paced fury. Then all of a sudden the orchestra tamed to a single violin and flute. They eased over the company, relaxing the fervour with an enchanting melody. I think the simple chords that encompassed the whole room must have cast some spell over me because at that precise second everything seemed to be clearer than it had been the whole evening. The relaxing tune quieted the turpitude of my thoughts and offered me a solution.

At first it was little more than a fleeting idea, but the more I worked it over in my mind, the more and more solid it sounded. My means of escape were so glaringly obvious it made me wonder how I had missed it in the first place. It was risky of course, but there was an element of risk in any manoeuvre with a company so well noted as Capsule Corporation and Bulma Briefs isn't one to back down from a challenge. The battle-lines had been drawn and my mind was made up once and for all. Up until Jeremy had forced me to dance with him I had been content that his perverseness, although creepy, was harmless enough - but now things had gone beyond that boundary and there was no way I was going to let him abuse me so totally.

So he wanted to play dirty did he? Well two could play at his game. What was it he had said to me? More bite and less emotion, well how about combining both of them to make one big unstoppable and seriously pissed off CEO? I was decided. I wanted Jeremy out of my business affairs for good. Nothing was going to profit for me by having such a job lot of sleaze involved and so as we danced and he groped - I plotted.

So here it is that I will relate to you the plan that I constructed there and then on the dance floor that night. To my relief and good fortune I remembered that there was still one week left before all those parties interested in backing Capsule Corp would meet again to sign. That gave me some time, not as much as I would like, but enough if I applied myself well. Pulling a few all-nighters wouldn't be anything new to me.

In total I had five other investors who were interested in signing a deal with us. Two were in a similar position to Jorsindan LTD and had many years of financial dealings with us, but the other three were fairly new. If it was known that Jorsindan LTD were not going to be involved then I might be hard pressed to get them to sign. That was my main concern, but if things went ahead as I planned then it shouldn't matter one way or the other.

Keeping Mr. Simmons on side wouldn't be hard. Pulling the wool over his eyes would be even easier. I had his week spot in the palm of my hand or should I say the curves of my backside. For so long as he had an evident desire for me then I could manipulate him just as much as he was trying to manipulate me.

All my hopes, however, rested on one man. Mr Tajoma. I promised myself that the next chance I would sit down and talk to him, offering him a proposition that would benefit us both. He needed more scientists and I needed more funding. It was so perfect! This would show Jeremy just how much better it is to run a business based on friendship rather than blackmail!

I was prepared to offer Mr Tajoma a compromise. I needed Jorsindan's money primarily to finance my research labs. The fact that they were non-profitable was something of a stumbling point in my business affairs. Those factories were a great strain on my resources, but I would sooner live a life of celibacy than drop the project. The expense of them was large, but what would happen if I could subsidise it somehow?

Really it was a win, win situation. I would lease half of the dozen or so factories in the complex to him for the next financial year, along with the same amount of scientists that worked in them at the moment. He would have everything he needed right from the word go. The labs would be fully equipped for his needs. The scientists (about seventy or so) would be fully trained and reliable, plus if he had any substantial doubts after that then I always had a couple of expensive patents he might be interested in purchasing at a very reduced price to complete the deal.

As to my benefits then the lease money he would pay to me would easily cover the cost of running the buildings, plus possibly the council rates and other large dues to factories of that size. The subsidy that I would get on the scientists wages, acting as their agent and whom would still in theory be working for me, would pay for the scientists I would retain. All that would be left was funding for the equipment and raw materials, which could just about be met by selling a few patents. I was loathed to part with them, but desperate times call for desperate measures, and even if Mr Tajoma could not afford to buy them, then there would be others who would.

It was in fact a plan that I was almost ninety-nine percent sure that Mr Tajoma would agree to, as the idea had been primarily his. He had come to me with the whole deal worked out and begged from me to consider it during our first consultation of his problems a few months back. I did consider it long and hard, but there wasn't enough in it for Capsule Corp, for me to be happy with. At the time I had no clue as to Jeremy's true personality and all I could see was that my research would take twice as long to produce results with only half a team of scientists working on it.

This concern doesn't affect me now though. I just want to keep Jorsindan LTD from forming any more ties with my company. It shouldn't take Mr Tajoma more than six months to find a permanent solution to his problems and that should buy me plenty enough time to find an investor to replace Jeremy.

The only problem I could see arising in the plan was Vegeta. I needed to keep Jeremy on side for as long as possible so as not to cause panic in my other investors. Keeping the charade up was more important than anything else. It all hinged on complete secrecy.

Five minutes or thereabouts had past as I silently plotted and I was strangely grateful that Jeremy seemed content with hidden groping rather than conversation. Now my plan had been formulated I was willing for my time of release with more and more desperation with every passing second. I knew it wouldn't take Vegeta long to apprehend the photographers and retrieve the film. The last thing I wanted was for him to find me with the old man, because neither his honour nor pride would allow for it to go unpunished.

Vegeta knew how I felt about the situation, our cards had been laid on the table, but I had little hope of controlling his anger. Vegeta's damnable ego would have to be satiated one way or the other, and I feared that outlet would be Jeremy irrespective of any repercussions. I desperately needed to talk to him and let him know my plan. I doubted he would interfere anymore if he knew what I planned.

At length the violin strings were left to rest and the last sound of their beautiful melodies melted into nothing more than a memory, foretelling the end of the dance. Automatically I let out a sigh of relief, but I was not left to celebrate long. The musicians left the stage for the sake of refreshments, but I wasn't given the luxury of relief as they were.

Mr Simmons held me even closer after the spell of the music was lost, walking me to the side. In desperation I tried to remove his hands from around my waist, as the other couples left one by one.

"Thank you B!" he whispered into my ear.

"Yeah! Like you left me much choice." I thought bitterly, but catching myself in time I turned my grimace into a forced smile, "You're welcome."

"You know its such a shame you're married," he pouted, "but just in case you feel like a change of scenery, here!" He passed me an oblong card. Flashings of red ink sprawled elegantly across it in a neat and regular hand. "Now you know where to find me." He winked once and turned away to speak with my father.

I remained by the dance floor for several minutes afterwards trying to see if I could find either Mr Tajoma or Vegeta, as it was now a matter of priority to speak with them both. Neither of them were anywhere to be seen, so it was out of sheer frustration that I looked down at the card in my hands.

B

Feel free to join me in the penthouse suit of The hotel Varsity on West Capital Parade at any time during my visit.

I will be there until the end of the week. If you need me after that time then my cell number is 0798654312.

Call me and I promise we'll have fun.

Love

Jeremy Simmons

I could feel the heat rising to my cheeks! "Bastard!" I swore under my breath and scrunching up the card, threw it to the floor. Free from burden my fingers curled and the nails dug into the palm of my hand, the moon like crescents left on my skin, the only outward manifestation of restraint. It took me several minutes and a large shot of vodka (swiped surreptitiously from a waitress on her way to the other end of the room) before I felt calm enough to breath normally.

To be honest I was way over my allotted alcohol consumption by this time, but it wasn't affecting my control as much as I thought it would be. I was `nicely drunk.' The edges of feeling were starting to numb, but nothing more than the pre-glow of intoxication clouded my judgement.

In this state, however, I missed the sound of footsteps as they approached deliberately (as always) from behind. The squeak of a flat sole on wood was what finally attracted my attention and I turned just in time to see Vegeta crouched to the floor. His hands were skimming over the polished boards, the fingertips hovering above the card I had just relinquished.

He looked up at me just as I looked down. His eyes drilled at mine and his mouth was set in a grim line. "You dropped something." He snarled, but made no move to hand it to me. Instead he carefully pulled the creases from it and read. The corners of his mouth turned menacingly, opening just enough to flash the white of his teeth as he growled deep in the throat.

"Vegeta, please don't get mad!" I whispered, turning to look at Mr Simmons, who hadn't seemed to notice his impending doom. He was happily sipping on a glass of champagne and talking to my father.

My eyes wandered back to Vegeta, and I forced as much meaning into the look I gave, silently pleading with him to let it slide. Standing back up his fists clenched violently, burning with power. It was obvious that he had seen my plea, and it was equally obvious he was going to completely ignore it. In desperation I put a hand on his chest and shook my head.

He scowled at me, "This has gone too far." He ground out, "I know what he is trying to do and I won't let him get away with it. It was bad enough that he had his arm around you before, but now he's freely inviting you to his hotel room. I can't let it go, not any more."

"Vegeta please!"

"It's too late for diplomacy Bulma, right now I'm baying for blood and I will not be satisfied until it is shed!"

"Think of Capsule Corp. Vegeta, please you have to listen to me!"

There was a flash of something in his eye; maybe it was akin to regret, but one thing was for certain, Vegeta made no attempt to answer my plea. I watched those dark orbs glazing over, leaving any impression of feeling infuriatingly vacant. Even the reflection of light, (which usually gave hint to life in the blackness,) was now swallowed by their depth. Not sparing me the honour of recognition he brushed nonchalantly past. "Vegeta!" I yelled, earning the attention of the whole room, "Vegeta stop!"

He didn't listen. If anything his shoulders pulled further back into authoritative pride and I watched in absolute horror as he approached Mr Simmons. In that moment of dismay I was motionless. All I could feel was the blood draining from my face. Vegeta was going to fuck up everything I'd planned and there was absolutely shit all I could do about it!

Finally my body seemed to relent from shock and I dashed forward trying to stop him, but I was too late. Even as I watched Jeremy had turned towards Vegeta and was welcoming him. As testimony to my father's superior mind, he took a well-advised step back on Vegeta's arrival. It was highly evident that the darkness, which seemed to hang around the Saiyan like the veil of a storm cloud, was now about ready to break and let loose in spectacular style.

The lack of realization surrounding Jeremy seemed to fuel Vegeta's anger, and grabbing him fiercely by the arm, my Saiyan Prince pushed him none too elegantly onto the deserted dance floor. "Tell me the meaning of this old man!" he thundered, pushing the card into Jeremy's face with a violence that almost made him fall. In fact it probably would have if Vegeta's vice like grip still hadn't held him firm.

Completely shocked by the hostility Jeremy couldn't reply. The card fell disregarded to the floor.

"You will answer me!" roared Vegeta, "No one fucks with me, or tries to fuck my wife behind my back and gets away with it. Is that understood?"

Righting himself and tentatively putting a hand to his nose where the card had been forced Jeremy's look turned from shock to a calculated smile of derision. He met Vegeta's glare head on (not an easy thing to do) "I don't know why you are so possessive young man. After all we all know you're only with Miss Briefs for her money, and without my backing that fortune will be void. I think it will be better for all concerned if you were not to touch me again, not if you know your own or your wife's interest."

"That," replied Vegeta, his ki almost visible now, "Just goes how to prove how ignorant you really are."

The next series of events happened so quickly that I confess I couldn't keep up. All I can recount to you is that one minute Mr Simmons was standing upright, looking as unperturbed by Vegeta's threats as possible and the next there was a loud crash as he flew across the room and into the array of instruments on the stage.

Irrespective of my feelings for either party I knew I had to act. There was a tragedy being played out in front of my eyes, and if I wasn't careful it could mean the loss of much more than just the Capsule Corporation. Not giving a second thought to the shocked whispers, and beginning's of chatter floating though the air around me I strode away from the gossip with resolution tipping the scales to sheer idiocy by all appearances.

This had grown, for Vegeta, into something more encompassing than protecting me. He had admitted it not ten minutes ago. For him this was territorial. This had gone beyond the financing of Capsule Corp, beyond even the boundaries of etiquette, transforming into little more than possessive, macho bullshit!

I had told him plainly how things stood. This was my problem to deal with not his, and I was dealing with it. I had managed to formulate a plan that would secure my companies future without the perverted old mans backing, and despite my obvious distaste for his opinions, would gladly put up with the smut for a few more days if it meant the end of any future involvement with him, and here was Vegeta, sticking his damn gargantuan ego in and ruining everything I had achieved!

I wasn't the only one to have moved. Vegeta was walking towards the stage with equal determination, but fortunately for all concerned, less speed. It appeared that for the moment at least he was happy toying with his prey. It gave me the chance I needed to position myself between the two men, cutting off Vegeta's approach.

This time I put two hands on his chest, my legs splayed, as I tried to stamp some authority onto the situation.

"Get the fuck out of my way!"

I had expected this as a possible reaction and was ready with my reply. Seeing the prying eyes on us I lowered my voice. "You've proved your point Vegeta. He's only human and not even a fighter at that. The chances are he's out cold for the rest of the evening."

His eyebrows were level not giving a trace of emotion one way or the other.

"I can't believe you have done this to me Vegeta. I am going to the den and I expect you to follow me there. Is that understood, because then I will let you know just how totally you have just fucked up my life!"

He growled menacingly at me, "Do as you wish, but no one tells the Saiyan no Ouji what to do. I have some unfinished business with you precious investor!"

I wasn't going to be put off that easily I stood firm, staring him down, "If you do anymore then you'll end up killing him, do you really want that?"

"I couldn't say I give a shit either way." He snarled.

"Yeah right! So you didn't care earlier when those journalists took our pictures. Take a reality check! If you attack him anymore it will be cold-blooded murder! How long has it been since you last killed an innocent?"

"That lecher is not an inno…!"

"How long!" I interrupted.

"Eight years." He confessed, "On Namek."

"Do you want to go back to the way you were then?"

"That's not a fair question onna." He growled, "We agreed a long time ago that you wouldn't test my loyalties. It is an area that would do no good for either of us to explore."

My heart secretly clenched at his words, "I know, but please, we need to talk about this. This isn't the time or the place for your ego Vegeta."

He closed his eyes, the tension breaking as he did so. "You are right" he relented. Those orbs flashed open and once again I could see feeling in them. They could almost be described as apologetic, and my whole body sagged in relief as he turned silently away. He stalked predatorily towards the den as I had asked, completely unperturbed by the assortment of gazes that drilled into his back as he left.

My relief, however, was very quickly overtaken by other emotions. I saw a group of my guests rushing over to where Jeremy had landed, but I didn't do the same. All I could think of was my business. In little more than five minutes I had gone from plotting my release from Jeremy, to the very worst possible scenario of having his interest ripped from my grasp.

It appeared that Vegeta had more restraint than I had given him credit for, because at that minute a ruckus could be heard from the direction of the stage as Mr Simmons came to. It appeared that a rapid swelling of his left eye was the only damage inflicted on him. Before long he was up on his feet and cursing with a slur that might be attributed to a mild concussion. I was divided, did I go and apologise to Mr Simmons, and try to placate him, or did I follow Vegeta.

As it was I didn't get the chance to decide. Scattering the broken instruments Jeremy stood tall on the stage his eyes cold and hard as they held me to the spot. His face said it all as he stared at me, but his voice spoke to confirm their illusion. "I would like for all those present here to know that from this day forward Jorsindan LTD will no longer be offering financial support for the Capsule Corporation." With nothing more to say he left, and one by one the few remaining guests followed him.

Only my parents remained. My father looked at me in absolute disbelief and I returned the look. Sighing and shaking his head, he turned away and taking my mums arm, led her calmly out of the patio doors. I was left in the middle of the dance floor with the lights flittering unnoticed over my skin and the longer I remained the more I could feel myself shaking. All at once my anger took firm direction. It was as though my feet moved of their own accord and their unwavering direction was carved into the floor as they escorted me to the den. I could feel all vestiges of control leaving my body as my mind was bent on one course of action and one alone - to let all my frustrations out unreservedly on the Saiyan no Ouji! Oh Kami would I make him pay!

************************

A/N - I can't believe how hard this chapter was to write! I've written and re-written it so many times. I thought my head would explode! *Giggles* I hope you enjoyed the end result though.

The next chapter will be up in roughly two weeks.

*hugs*

Ember