40 Press

It was strange to be back at work full time at first but after a couple of weeks of adjustments, Kaoru felt that he had found his feet again. He was immensely grateful for the support from his bosses and most of his teammates. There were a few who were somewhat hostile about him being back but he chose to ignore them.

Keigo's voice imparting his view on the matter echoed in his mind. "Having enemies is a sign of success. Congratulations."

Kaoru chuckled to himself and finished making his tea in the pantry.

When he went back to his desk, some of his colleagues were crowding a desk near his. The atmosphere was more relaxed today since their manager was out for an all-day meeting.

"Hey, it says that they've been friends since university!"

"Probably just pure speculation. I mean, it's Matsumoto Takumi we're talking about here."

"Who cares? They look so good together."

"It's the first time he's linked to someone normal, right?"

"I wouldn't call THAT guy normal."

"You know what I mean. Not a star."

"He sure looks like one."

Kaoru was amused. Takumi was unusually sanguine about any latest gossip. Keigo mentioned before that his friend was used to being the subject of unfounded and often vicious rumors. His strategy was simply never to clarify and to allow the tabloids to go mad.

"Aihara, take a look at this!"

Kaoru ventured over to join the team with curiosity.

He nearly spilled his tea.

"Some story, huh?" someone commented to him with a grin.

He stared at the computer screen flashing photos of Keigo and Takumi. They were exiting Takumi's apartment complex. Keigo was holding Takumi's elbow and saying something close to his ear.

The tragedy was, in the background of one of the pictures, stood Takumi's lover. Kaoru met him once. A quiet and reserved man. But he smiled at Takumi with endearing affection.

Kaoru was appalled at the sensationalized headline.

The gossip fodders got it completely wrong on this one.

"It's a tabloid," he responded weakly amidst the ongoing chatter.

"Does anyone know who he is?"

"I checked it out. Some business hotshot."

A whistle. "Quite the catch."

"Yeah, and he's hot."

Dismay gave way to mortification. Kaoru wasn't about to blurt out that his colleagues were sizing up his boyfriend.

"E-excuse me. I need to get something done," he mumbled and scurried back to his desk.

He drank his tea and trepidation crept into his mind.

Takumi would probably be quite relaxed about this.

But Keigo, despite his flamboyant personality, guarded his privacy like a zealous sentry.

He received a message from Keigo on his phone an hour later.

'Have you seen the photos? I will ruin that sorry excuse of a publication.'

Kaoru gulped.

xxxxxxxx

The door barged open followed by angry voices just as he put the pasta into the oven.

"What the hell happened?"

"I've no idea! The agency was caught off-guard as well."

"Get your damn agency to sort this out."

"Believe me, I've threatened them."

"Deny the rumor on your Instagram!"

"I don't have any SNS, remember?"

"Hello," Kaoru greeted Keigo and Takumi carefully, who were glaring at each other in the living room.

"Hey, baby." Keigo softened and sauntered over to give him a kiss.

"Kaoru!" Takumi exclaimed and added apologetically, "Sorry about the mess."

"It's okay," Kaoru assured him.

"It is NOT okay," Keigo countered.

"Is it going to cause you problems?" Kaoru asked with concern.

To his surprise, Keigo let out an exasperated sigh.

Takumi snorted uncharacteristically. "Actually, my father thinks that I've finally contributed to the family business."

"My board of directors are ready to join empires and conquer the world," Keigo added.

Kaoru gave them a look of disbelief.

"Money. Always a powerful motivator," Keigo explained.

He didn't know why but he found it oddly and irrationally funny. Kaoru covered his mouth in a poor attempt to stifle his bubbling laughter.

They turned to him, ready to launch into a lecture, but he was saved by someone calling Takumi.

"Akira! You're downstairs?"

Kaoru volunteered a little too quickly, "I'll let him in!"

He escaped to the door and heard the sniping continued in full force.

They were frustrated and consequently, Kaoru was as well. He just didn't know how to help them.

"Hello," Hasegawa Akira greeted him when he opened the door and remarked dryly, "I can hear them."

"Yes, they are very upset," Kaoru said ruefully.

"Then let's not become collateral damage."

Kaoru could only smile weakly.

Takumi latched onto Akira the moment the man walked into the room. "Akira, we need to do something about this!"

"What do you suggest?" Akira asked.

Keigo turned to him and snapped, "You're hired. Sue their asses off."

The lawyer arched an eyebrow.

"Don't be so dramatic, Keigo," Takumi huffed.

The other three men gave him a singular puzzled glance.

"I forget. That's his signature," Takumi admitted.

Akira interrupted them, amused and wry, "Well, it certainly does not help that you are both together in his residence tonight. Were there any photographers following you?"

That silenced Keigo and Takumi. They stared at him with what approximated horror.

"Fuck," Takumi groaned.

"Tactical error," Keigo muttered under his breath.

"Since we are all here anyway, why don't we have dinner together?" Kaoru asked, trying to lift the mood. "I'll make extra."

"Are we imposing…?" Akira asked hesitantly.

"Not at all!" Kaoru said.

"Stay. We can strategize," Keigo ordered.

Takumi glared. "I'm staying for Kaoru's cooking. Not you."

xxxxxxxx

It didn't take Kaoru long to make an extra dish.

But he and Akira could only look on helplessly as their respective lovers bickered over dinner, between mouthfuls of food.

"Suing them means free publicity. I take that back," Keigo decided.

"Precisely. You need to be smarter about this." Takumi rolled his eyes.

"Do you have any bright ideas?" Keigo asked acidly.

Takumi replied in a sugar-coated voice which was anything but, "Usually, I ignore them. But my agency's sources claim the next print is going to be worse. Do you want to let them off the hook?"

Keigo was aghast. "Of course not. I have a reputation to maintain."

"And I take offense at them ignoring Akira," Takumi grumbled.

"You're famous. Why hasn't anyone caught the two of you together?" Keigo questioned with incredulity.

"I have been flaunting him left, right and center and no one catches on!" Takumi defended himself.

"You look too respectable," Keigo commented as he gave Akira a speculative glance.

"I'm sorry," Akira returned sardonically.

"He doesn't mean it that way," Kaoru said quickly.

"It's not his fault!" Takumi snapped at Keigo.

Kaoru joked lightly as he stood up to get dessert from the fridge, "I heard at work that my employer was nearly bought over by a rival. Maybe Keigo can take over the tabloid and tell them to stop."

A pin drop silence descended upon the table.

He stammered, "W-what?"

Akira spoke first. "Wada, are you seriously…?"

To their alarm, Keigo was seemingly contemplating the idea.

"I HAVE been thinking of a new investment," he began thoughtfully.

Kaoru sat back down. "It was a joke."

Keigo was already typing something on his phone.

"Hmm, there are rumors that they need fresh financial backing," Takumi offered after a moment.

Akira sighed in resignation.

Kaoru saw the expression on Keigo's face altered.

He knew that look.

Determined and set. An unnerving and knowing smile.

Keigo was going to declare war.