Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ WALK LIKE A MAN ❯ Chapter 17

She hated walking past mirrors now. The reflection it gave off sickened her. Whether she was dressed as her alter ego or herself, mentally Mia was beginning to break down.

"And if you can get the Digi Corp files I can evaluate...Mike?, are you listening to me?"

She had found herself starring at the reflection of herself in the window behind him. It gave off a distorted reflection, which seemed to symbolize her life. The hiding, sneaking and lying made her less attractive in her own eyes. Baring the burden of the whole sorted game she had started was more weight then she could bear any longer.

"Mike? You in there?"

"Sorry sir...........my mind just wondered" Mai finally snapped out of her funk. Her mind overloaded switched from the high points to her lowest moments of her playing two parts in a drama that was becoming even hard for it's creator to control.

"Looks like you could use a break" Trunks handed him some paperwork "am I putting too much on you?"

"No. I'm just having one of those days"

"Seems like "one of those days" has been lasting for a couple of weeks now. Look at you"

Mai tried to straighten herself up, but it seemed futile. Her suit was too fitted and it was beginning to bother her.

"Looks like you could use a good work out"

"I'm not the physical type sir"

"Ok then stop having the ladies feed you so much. I swear the goodies they bring you"

"Hey you benefit from it also" Mai chuckled noticing the open tin of baked cookies on the edge of his desk.

"Guilty. I guess you're just comfortable here" he popped a cookie in his mouth " I was thinking, your six months are almost up and I haven found a replacement"

"Have you even looked for one?"

"No" Trunks grinned and scratched the back of his head "not really. I was hoping you'd stay on. I mean the time it take s to break in someone new...... I just don't have the time or patients. So what do you say? Do we make this a permanent thing? Stay on at Capsule Corp."

"Mr. Hoster glad you could take my call. I've got some exciting news" Malachi found a quiet spot downstairs at the cafe. He wasn't particularly loud but there were ears about listening.

"I'm sure you and Capsule Corp have done great business together for years, but I can assure you my client is eager to make you and Digi Corp lots of money...."

A pair of ears sitting at their usual spot over heard something they shouldn't have.

"I assure that we can come in way below that price sir. Capsule Corp may be the standard, but I feel my client's products are as superior if not better than theirs. If we can get a confirmation, the units will be shipped to your plant in 48 hours" Malachi smiled "good. I'm glad to do business with you sir." He scribbled something on a napkin as his call ended "Holy crap. I'm going to make one hell of a commission on this one" he gloated to himself. "This is way more profitable that that nine to five. Stealing clients from right under his nose with a little inside help"

With his business finished Malachi returned to the building.

"Oh my goodness" Brittany gasped "I've got to tell Mike"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

She tried to sit quietly at her desk unnoticed by any one, realizing her world was crumbling in around her. Trunks wanted her to stay at the position she was only to fill temporarily. As good of an offer as it was, she known she couldn't accept it. The hard part was telling him. .

"I'm sorry Trunks" she said under her breath "I wish things had been different. I wish I had used more common sense instead of diving in headfirst"

"Mike!"

"What's wrong Brittany?" She snapped out her daze.

"It's that Malachi guy. He's up to something. I heard him on the phone with Mr. Hoster of Digi Corp. sounds like they were making a deal"

"Come on...he's one of us" Mai tried to down play it.

"Really. I heard him talking about the bids. He's working for someone who'll under bid us. We've got to stop him"

"Look, just relax. I'll take care of this. Let me find out what's happening"

"Mike I don't know what's wrong with you" Brittany slammed her hand on the table "There was a time you'd kill if anyone messed over Capsule Corp. lately you could care less about loosing clients, your friendship with Trunks or our friendship. Mike what's wrong with you?"

Mai could have told her. Part of her wishes she would have.

"I'm fine. I've got this Brittany.....now go back to you're little cubical and let the big dogs handle this" Mai said smugly.

Clearly Brittany was hurt. Mike had never blown her off before, never had a mean word or tone with her.

"Ok....sure. What ever you say...sir" the flushed look on her face told Mia she'd go somewhere and cry.

"Dam it" Mai ran her fingers through her hair "I can't do this any more"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bulma sat quietly in her office looking over the reports. This wasn't going to be a banner year if they didn't stop losing clients.

"I can't understand this" she thumbed through the pages "I thought we had a deal"

"Someone inside is leaking out bids, and it's me" Mai stood in the doorway, clearly unhinged.

"Mike?"

"come on Mrs.. Briefs, you know my secret. I'm surprised you didn't figure it out earlier. Why'd you let me go on his long? "

"Well I wanted you to figure out how to end it on your own. But this......leaking information?"

"I know.......I'm sorry" Mai took in a deep breath 'If i'm going to come clean, it's going to be on my terms. I guess now is as best time as any"

"I hardly believe you're the cause of these woes" she held the papers in her hand.

"I am"

"But why?"

"I got caught....... this game I've been playing caught up wit me. I'm sorry I hurt everyone"

"What about Trunks?"

"........I love him. That's why when I leave its going to hurt him even more"

"Leaving?"

"It's best I end this .......tell him and disappear. wouldn't want this getting out. His girl is his assistant, who's stabbing him in the back" Mai removed her tie "I'm tired......really tired"

"Are you sure you want to do this.......now, like this?"

"Yes........"

Bulma hesitantly called for her son " Son could you see me the moment you get back.........it's very important"

Mai returned to her desk sorting through her personal things. Emptying it now seemed to be the best thing to do. Removing all traces of her existence......letting everyone continue on with their lives as usual. She sat in her chair and placed her head in her hands. She way too tired to cry, more than anything she wanted all this to be over with.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Hey lady"

"I don't want to talk to you" Brittany turned her nose up at him "you're up to something.....you and Mike"

"Come one .....don't be like that" he grabbed her arm "let's be friends......close friends" he backed her up against the wall of the secluded office " be nice"

"Or what?"

"Hey Mikie" Malachi turned to find Mai standing there none too happy.

"Let her go"

"Come one......were just talking"

"Mike...... help me" Brittany pleaded.

"Let her go........now"

"Look little man......you don't run no show here. Your boss is out, so trying to play boss isn't going to cut it. You'd better step aside if you know what's best for you"

"Or what.... going to tell?"

Malachi could see the look in her eyes.........she didn't care anymore about her secrets.

"Don't be stupid"

"I've been stupid too long. Stupid enough to keep playing this game, stupid enough to lie to those who cared about me the most, stupid to let you back me in a corner. I've got nothing to loose .........I've already lost everything I cared about"

Malachi let go of Brittany and snatched Mai by the jacket collar "don't piss me off Mai.......I swear I'll.........."

"You hurt me once and I accepted it. This time it's different. You're not going to hurt me again"

Malachi's grip got tighter before Mai punched him in his stomach.

"Please little girl.....was that suppose to hurt?" Malachi flung Mai across the room and into a wall of the small office space making her land against it with a thud.

"Someone hear that?" Bulma asked as she stood in the hallway looking for Mai.

"Mrs. Briefs ........come quickly" Brittany rushed to her "it's Mike and that Malachi person ....... fighting in the file room" she was breathless.

"Someone call security!"

Bulma and everyone on the floor rushed to the small room where Malachi was holding Mai against the wall.

"Stop it!!!" Bulma screamed " stop hurting her. I swear if you lay one more hand on her I'll........"

Malachi dropped Mai to the floor.

"He's giving me a hard time ma' am. He's been leaking information out"

"Don't ma' ma me.............you bastard. I know everything" She signaled the security guards "get that trash out of here..........beating on a woman"

There were gasps from the crowd...then whispers as Mai picked herself up and pushed past everyone.

"Mike" Brittany rushed to her side.

"No........Mai" She slid off her bent glasses and smiled

"I don't understand?"

"You will.......and I'm sorry for yelling at you. You've been a great friend...too bad I wasn't"

Mai straightened herself up. It was along walk to the elevator. Every eye fixed on her with confusion. She wanted to tell everyone she was sorry for the deception. By the looks on some of their faces they could tell how she felt. Even Sid, who could have gloated, seemed to have a look of sadness on his face. She rode the elevator down facing the open glass watching the beautiful gleaming chrome fixtures in the afternoon sun sparkle. Mai remembered her first day here, how awe struck by the sheer beauty of the building and the compassionate boss she had fallen in love with. She felt he first tear burn down her cheek and held the rest in until she got in her car. As painful as it was...it was all over. Finally she could breath easier........concentrate on putting her life back in order and getting Trunks out of her mind.

No sooner than she got to her car her cell phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Come quick.....Its Cassy ....."

"Hello? Jamie?"

"It's me Mai. Cassy's in ICU.........they got the tumor out and she's calling for you"

"I shouldn't ........Now isn't the best time"

"Just come."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He couldn't even express how angry he was, sitting across from his mother as she began telling him details of what went on. Trunks sat tight fisted, as the vein throbbing next to his temple seemed to get larger each time he thought about it.

"Mai.......is Mike?"

"Yes" Bulma held her head low "She didn't know how to get out of it once it started"

"You knew?" His voice raised "and you didn't tell me?"

"I know how it must sound son but............."

"There is now buts......he......she lied to me. Everything she said was a lie"

"No son not everything......she loves.........."

"doesn't even said it mom.......she didn't love me. You don't lie to the one you love. And you don't go around parading as someone your not. And you definitely don't steal from under my nose!"

"Calm down son"

"Calm Down!? Be glad I haven't gone super on this place right now.....it's taking all I've not to level this whole damn building"

"Just hear her out......."

"Why? She decided to take matters into her own hand. She didn't even give me a chance to decide for myself if I......." Trunks punched a nice sized hole into his mothers' desk.

"Where are you going?"

"Looking for her"

"She'll be back. She wanted to talk to you personally"

"Please. She's a liar, a thief and She's running. But she's not going to get off that easy. I want her arrested"

"Trunks really now. Do you think that sending her to jail is going to make it any better? You're just talking out of hate"

"I'll sleep nights"

"Come one. You love her.........she loves you. I don't think making this a public spectacle of her is going to make you feel better" Bulma let out a long breath "but you're going to do what you're going to do" She left him sitting

alone in her office. Everything began to become clearer. The similarity between the two was a clear as the nose on his face, but somehow he seemed to miss all the clues.

"She used me" she said to himself shaking his head in disbelief "she utterly used me" The late night talks, the rides in the country. The night they spent in his room. She was playing him all the time. He couldn't' decide what felt worse. Her lies or the fact thatch she hid them all this time. And the deal with Malachi didn't make it any better.

"This can't be happening to me. After all the shit I've been through? It ends like this?"

Restraint wasn't his strong point, especially when pushed to the edge. The oak desk that weighed a ton at least was fluffed onto its side. It didn't solve his problem but was a nice distraction for the moment

"Mr. Briefs?" Brittany peeked in "i'm sorry to disturb you......"

"Then don't" his voice growled out.

Brittany winced and started to leave.

"I'm sorry. It's not your fault. Come in"

She hesitantly walked towards him holding one of Mike personal item "he...she left so quickly. She left some things. Do you want me to forward them to her address?'

"Yes.....no. I don't care"

"I mean I think she'll come back. It's not like her to just leave like that without saying goodbye or explaining everything to us. We were fiends"

"It seems friendship wasn't enough. She had other plans in her head"

"But I know Mike.....Mia. Really we'd talk all the time. She didn't do this on purpose. She wouldn't"

"It's nice of you to talk for her, but she had to answer for this"

"Just remember how much she cared for Capsule Corp., all of us and you" Brittany left the small memento on the over turned desk "Especially you"

He picked up the small picture frame and looked at the photo. He laughed out loud then shook his head.

"Brittany wait" he reached the door before she left "do you have any idea where she'd go?"

"I can try sir" Brittany smiled taking back the picture and returning it to the desk.