Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ WALK LIKE A MAN ❯ Chapter 12

Ginger Town was everything Mia expected it to be. High-pressure sales, trading and every vendor waiting get a moment of her bosses' time. Only he was he was frantically pacing back and forth, clueless.

"I going to freak out" he confessed.

"Stop it you're freaking me out now" Mai, whose usually calm demeanor was shaken by her boss.

"Geez thanks. I thought at least one of us would be level headed" he grabbed Mai by the shoulders and shook her "Mike man, I can't do this"

"You can do this" she said calmly seeing her uncertainties were rubbing off on him " I believe in you. You can do this in your sleep"

"Wish I were sleep"

"Give me a minute to go get you something to drink ok"

"Sure. Something strong, no ice"

Mai hurried into an empty hallway behind the stage and took out her phone and speed dialed him cell "this has to work"

"Hello?"

"Hi handsome"

"Mai?"

"Yes, I had a feeling that you're not handling things well"

"My presentation, I know I'm capable of doing this, but hell if my nerves aren't playing tricks on me. I wish you were here" he said letting out a long sigh.

"I know, but this is business. The sooner you finish it, the sooner you can come home"

He began to feel the anxiety disappear. "I glad you called. I'm going on next. It's like you have this freaky ESP thing going on. You always seem to know when I need to hear your voice"

"I try. Besides what kind of girlfriend would if be if I didn't call you on one of the most important nights of your life?

"Fired"

"Oh don't be so mean"

"I miss you so much"

"I miss you too baby. Now go on and knock them dead. Remind them why Capsule Corp is #1"

After a barrage of goodbyes and phone kisses he hung up feeling more confined and way more relaxed. It was what the doctor ordered, his daily dose of Mai.

It had to be Capsule Corps finest moment when Trunks Vegeta Briefs took the podium and gave his proposal for the anticipated fiscal projections for the next 5 years.

"Oh my goodness you were awesome" Mai shook her bosses' hand " they were blown away"

"I think I got my points across. Now all we have to do is sit back and watch"

"Think you should call your mother and fill her in?"

"No. I think I got this covered" he smiled slightly "besides.......she called"

"Mai?"

"Yea.......it was just what I needed. Sorry you went all the way to get me a drink"

"No problem sir, besides I drank it during your speech. Double Gin straight up......belch!" She blushed "Sorry" Mai held her stomach "I think it made me sick"

"You're no drinker Mike" Trunks laughed "make sure that was it for the evening"

"Promise" Mai held her stomach "want to do dinner sir?"

"I'm feeling kind of hungry. Dinner sounds great"

"the hotels Blue Room has a excellent menu. I've taken the liberty of making reservations for you"

"What about you Mike? Going to get into something?"

"No just go to bed"

"Its no fun eating alone, besides we've got a lot to celebrate. Come on hang out with me. I promised my girl I'd stay out of trouble. And since you're so straight laced I figure if I hang out with you I won't be led astray"

Inside the Blue Room, there were suits everywhere. It turned out to be more of a press conference than just dinner. Trunks and Mai found themselves seated with every power reporter on the map.

"So Briefs you can promise projections like that without upping your cost?" A lady held a mike to his face.

"Yes. Systematically Capsule Corp has always had the technology, manpower and resources to manufacture their own. Having outside manufacturers sometimes held up productions"

"But you'll be putting the little man out of business" another reported asked taking notes.

"No, we'll still depend on them. Nothing will change. We're just utilizing every facet of our company. More employees....people still need jobs. I have projects still on the table and no manpower to handle it. Most of the northern regions have not been rebuilt in over 15 years. Androids destroyed every natural resource out here. It's time to build it back"

The shutters clicked and he flashes went off, blinding them both. He was hit with every question possible.

"So Trunks how's you love life?" A voice form the back came through.

"My love life is great" he boasted prideful.

"Anyone we know?"

"No......She's very private. Likes rebuilding classic cars"

There was a buzz in the sea of reporters.

"So is it safe to say Simone is no longer in the picture?" A voice for the back asked loudly.

That's where they had him. Suddenly the easy question came to a screeching halt. Mai saw it was time to step in and take over.

"Ok. You've all got your questions answered. Mr. Briefs would like relaxing and enjoying the rest of his evening"

"See you've got a little guard dog there Briefs" a man with a bad toupee pushed thought the crowd.

"He's just doing his job" Trunks added

"So young fella, who are you?"

"His assistant. Could you all please back up? He needs his space. If you want more pictures please wait with he rest of the paparazzi over there"

"Didn't get your name son"

"Didn't give it"

The staff of the restaurant was ordered to push back the press. Trunk's table was guarded, from a distance by security while he and Mike tried to enjoy the rest of their meal and evening.

"See how my life is in a glass bowl. Everyone passing by wants to take a look"

"Must be hard for you" Mai said sadly.

"I've gotten use to it. Thanks for stepping in"

"I hate pushy people. All they wanted was some dirt anyway." Mia fiddled with her food "so Simone and you are over?" She asked casually.

"Pretty much. I hate the fact she has not even called me, or been back in the country long enough for me to sit her down.........." Trunks slapped his forehead "Oh man!"

"What?"

"I pretty much told the press we were through. Oh crap. She's going to find out I'm in another relationship in the newspaper" he slumped down in his seat "this wasn't how I wanted her to find out. When I get home. I'm dead"

"It might not be so bad"

"Have you ever broken up with a woman long distance?' Trunks asked "the first time we broke up she was half way across the globe. I left a message on her machine. I didn't know it would blow up in my face"

Mai giggled a little

It always seems you bring back more luggage than you started off with. Mai had been on the receiving end of on of Trunks little shopping trips. New suits, golf clubs and a whole lot of must have gadgets. She tried to decline the present, only to have him demand they be taken. It was his way of saying good work during the trip. It was a nice weekend. Mai had to play Mike to the hilt seeing their rooms were right next to each other's. No sleeping in a comfortable nightgown or naked. Her boss did like to stay up all night talking and she spent more time in his room than her own. As the plane touched down Monday morning the skies were blue and the airport was clear. A perfect day to be retuning home until hi cell rang.

"Mr. Briefs we've had an incident at Capusle Corp" the woman on the other end said as calmly as possible

"What? What happened"?

"There was s break in early this morning. The top floor, your office was vandalized"

"And the safe?" Trunks voice trailed off.'

" The thief's were unable to open it"

.

"Sir is everything ok?" Mai leaded over asking concerned.

"We've been robbed"

"What?"

"My office. The top floor........all of it had been hit"

Trunks told the drive to get them to the office ASAP. When they arrived there was a barrage of paparazzi and police.

" What a circus" Trunks walked past the hordes of reporters as the cameras and flash clicked away. This was going to be front-page news. The might Capsule Corp. robbed. Mai kept close to him as they headed for the top floor. As the elevator doors opened they got a first hand look of the wreckage the robbers had done.

"Oh my" Mai said under her breath as she looked out into the floor of shattered glass and twisted steel. The vandalized rooms had been taped off and officers were hard working searching for clues.

"They did a number on us" Trunks loosened his tie, assessing the whole area.

"Mr. Briefs, welcome back......although it is a bit of an unwelcome sight" Brittany said sadly.

"Thanks"

"Hi Mike"

"Hey. You ok" Mai asked seeing Brittany clearly shaken.

"Yes . I arrived here and found the mess. Apparently the robbers had just left when I came"

"You didn't see them....or did they see you?" Mai asked

"I don't think so, but he police are asking me thousands of questions"

Over near Trunks office was a group of plain-clothes policemen, in what seemed to be a heated discussion.

"I want everyone questioned. Leave no names out" a tall dark haired man said in a booming voice that caught Mai attention. The same blood curdling voice she remembers all to well those nights she come home late and was greeted by his fist. The same voice that cursed her name as the point of his blade tore into her shoulder.

"Malachi?" She didn't dare turn to see his eyes. Those cold gray eyes the claim undying love and in the same breath wanted to take her life.

"Mr. Briefs a moment of you time please" he rushed over toward Trunks and Mai "I have a few questions"

He feet became heavy as lead, he heart may have stopped beating a few times and the fear he provoked in her was returning. To be so close to him, she thought she's pass out.

"I'm Detective Malachi Stacy. I've been assigned to your case" he extend his had to Trunks, it took all she had not to blurt out "don't touch it"

"Pleasure. This is my assistant Mike"

"Mike" Malachi's hand reached for hers "Pleased to meet you"

"Like wise" she barely got out only brushing her hand against his.

He hadn't changes, as far as looks. The same strong features that attracted her to him, the smile ....... but things had changed so quickly. She discovered he had two faces. The professional officer, to protect and serve......then the mad man whom had to control every thing in his sight......including Mai.

"Got a few questions for you two" Malachi asked as politely as possible as Trunks escorted him to an empty room. It was the usual questions, where were you, did you have any enemies, could anyone inside the company have done it, blah.... blah... blah. The tedious list of "who dun it's" stretched longer than the company directory. Capsule Corp. had it allies and it's enemies. In business you can't please everyone. As hard as you try you're bound to step on someone's toes. Trunks' prided himself on being a fair and honest man; keeping jobs open to employees even after takeovers.

"I mean you do have a high profile job" Malachi said scribbling on a pad "you must have a shit load of enemies"

"I've tried not to burn any bridges on my climb up, but I guess I must have stepped on some one real hard"

"I see they tried to get in the safe"

"Yea, I've got a lost of important papers in there. I guess this security system isn't as safe as thought it was"

"Perhaps you need extra protection" Malachi suggested handing him a card "I do private security for big wigs. You can't be too sure, or too safe. I have a system that has been pretty successful"

Trunks eyed the card "you got any references?"

"Yes"

"So like him" Mai thought to herself "soliciting work while at work"

It was apparent that they weren't going to get too much work today. Turns called a quick meeting and dismissed everyone until tomorrow giving the officers enough room to work and investigate.

"Mike. You cutting out?"

"Yea. Haven't been feeling too good since last night"

"You do seem a little green around the gills. Get some rest. You deserve a day off. I'll see you tomorrow"

Watching him walk off with Malachi was probably the most frightening thing imaginable. If he got in close to Trunks it was a matter of time before he saw through Mia's little charade.

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