Everybody in New York City was stunned by the latest gossip; it was quite unbelievable, but the rumours scattered likewildfiree all over the town. The office lights were dim, the whole building was quiet and asleep like a shut down, he sat alone inside his office, thinking of what people will say now, the mistake he just made, the whole empire will crumble down to it's little pieces just because of his unspoken desires, a knock landed on the door, Joshua entered inside, his face was so moody, sad and filled with fear, "the camera caught everything", he said, "fuck shit", Julian (in Brown) shouted, "jasmine also saw everything, she stood in the door way after the incident, she couldn't speak at all", Joshua added,, silence filled the room, hearts pounding faster than usual, it was fear alone that was responsible for such, "what do we do now/.", Julian (in Brown asked), "we need to shut down everything,", he replied, "what do you mean shut down/.", he asked, "pay the press media to say everything was a false act, nothing of such ever happened", Joshua replied, "but you said it your self, it's all over the internet", Julian (in Brown) said, "yeah, but there's nothing money cannot solve" Joshua added and silence fell back in. The following morning, everybody was talking about it; some said it was a lie, some said they were suspecting him already, and some couldn't even believe it at all. The glass polished door of the company opened wide as he walked in, head down, dressed completely out of office wear, he wore a black hoodie, light blue joggers and canvas, looking like someone who just entered a company from an early morning jog, all eyes were on him, "what the fuck is he wearing?", the clerk whispered to her colleague, all mouth were open as he walked in without stopping or greeting, then he walked to the lady behind the counter, "I scheduled a meeting with the CEO of the press media or if the press & paparazzi comes, tell the head to come to my office immediately", h said and left without any further ado.
The CEO of the press arrived without ceremony.
No entourage. No camera. Just a tailored suit and a leather folder tucked under his arm. He didn't look impressed by the office, the skyline, or the name on the door.
Julian (in Brown), muscular,authoritativee body didn't ask him to sit.
"You have five minutes," Julian (in Brown) said calmly. "Then you'll leave with more money than you expected."
The man raised an eyebrow. "That confident?"
Julian( in Brown) walked to his desk and slid a tablet across the glass surface. On it were figures, clean, exact, impossible to misunderstand. 20 million dollars written in numbers and ready to be transferred.
The man didn't touch it at first.
"You're asking me to erase a story that's already everywhere," he said. "Videos don't disappear."
Julian smiled faintly. "Truth does." He tapped the screen once and swiped; they contained leaked videos of him assaulting his co-workers, different, so many videos that could shout louder than the scandal he was already in.
"By noon, every outlet under your influence will publish the same correction.
'Fabricated footage. Disgruntled staff.' this should be the headline and caption when everything is done.
The man finally picked up the tablet. His eyes flicked over the numbers, then his videos. His throat tightened, just slightly.
"That's… generous."
"It's necessary," Julian (in Brown) replied. "And it's only the first payment."
The man closed the folder. "People will ask questions."
Julian leaned forward, resting his hands on the desk.
"They always do. But they'll stop asking once they're told what to believe." Once the job is done, I will delete all your shameful videos, cause if your dearest lover Natasha sees this, things will definitely go bad for you, Mr Leo"
Leo and Natasha never got married, but they were still lovers right from their college days. She got pregnant with his child and gave birth to Jasmine. He named her Jasmine cause of Amira.
"And Jasmine," the man asked carefully. Julian's expression didn't change. "She'll be protected. From the press." The man stood up from the chair.
"By tonight," he said, "the story will be dead. By morning, it'll be a joke." Julian (in Brown) nodded once. "Good."
As the door closed behind him, Julian (in Brown) turned back toward the window. Rumours silenced. Truth rewritten.
Moneywas doing what it had always done best.