When I wake up, unpleasant reality hits me: it was only a dream, and they’re all still dead.
???
Our arrival in Japan takes place in a somber atmosphere.
The meeting with the Japanese is to proceed as planned, even though two members of the team are missing. The project manager from DevApp forwards Blue the necessary documents, and Blue has a few hours to prepare for the presentation. Despite everything, he focuses on work and studies the material carefully, absorbing the information needed to finalize the deal.
But when we land, something unexpected happens.
A huge crowd has gathered at the airport, journalists and other people, all agitated.
I feel a surge of anxiety because I’m alone, Blue for some reason didn’t take additional bodyguards for the Japan trip.
Seeing this, I immediately turn to Simon and tell him to contact airport security and have several officers sent over. Simon complies without protest, and before long, a group of airport security guards arrives.
They decide to escort us through a side exit, but it barely helps. Somehow, the journalists and crowd still figure out where the limousine will be waiting, and by the time we reach the entrance, a sizable group has already gathered there.
I clench my teeth, tense. Fortunately, the guards speak English, so I quickly instruct them to form a protective perimeter around Blue before we leave the terminal through the VIP exit.
The moment we step through the glass doors, noise and shouting crash into us from every direction. Reporters immediately surge closer, cameras flashing, people yelling questions while others try to push nearer just to catch a glimpse of Blue.
Voices and shouting come from every direction at once.
"Mr. Lowen, your nephew died last night on the plane you were supposed to be on, do you have any comment?"
"Mr. Lowen, was the Ferro family behind the attack, who do you suspect?"
"Mr. Lowen, is NFH responsible for this?"
"Your recent increased cooperation with the military, could that have triggered it, is that what this is about?"
"Mr. Lowen, how are you going to look your brother in the eye now, Jacob’s son is dead because of you!"
"Will money make up for the loss of a family member?"
I feel like I’m about to explode from the frustration as we push through the crowd, the security guards forcing people back, shoving reporters aside to clear a path.
I keep my arms wrapped tightly around Blue, his back pressed to my chest, while Simon clings to one of the guards, looking around nervously, squinting against the camera flashes. He’s wearing his usual mask just like me, but I can still catch the panic on his face.
"Mr. Lowen, you’ve made a lot of enemies, do you feel any guilt that your actions are bringing death onto your family?"
And that’s when I snap, because I’ve had enough of the verbal, heartless abuse Blue has to endure.
In one sharp motion I rip the microphone out of a reporter’s hand and turn toward him, raising my voice so everyone can hear.
"You have no idea who Blue really is or what he actually does for people! Blue uses his own money to fund therapy for people who come to him from all over the world, he gives them a place to stay in his own houses, he lives in the smallest one himself, and he lends his private jet to the Omega Red Line Agency so they can help victims more effectively! That's why he wanted to take that commercial flight, because he doesn’t like using his jet! He doesn’t believe that just because he’s rich he should burn that much fuel for one person, he has one butler, not a whole army of staff like other rich people, and he investshis money into research programs meant to help people who can’t afford expensive treatment!"
As I finish, there’s silence around me, just the harsh lights of cameras pointed straight at my face.
I sweep my gaze over them. They’re staring at me wide-eyed, stunned, like they don’t know what to make of this, some random guy suddenly turning into a defense attorney and delivering a full-blown speech.
"The whole damn machine of jealous companies and their media connections is pushing this hate propaganda against him and feeding people this image of him as some kind of monster, instead of actually looking at what he’s done! And who’s saying this? Me, someone who used to be his enemy. I saw it with my own eyes, what he does and who he is, and I was against him, so maybe think about that, think about what you’re missing, look at his programs, look at the funding, look at who lives in his houses, who uses his jet, how many people he’s helped, and before you pass judgment maybe do your fucking jurnalist job properly instead of siding with people who have a financial interest in tearing him down!"
I throw the microphone back toward the reporter, and for a second the silence holds, then it shatters as the air fills with voices again, people shouting over each other, firing questions like automatic bursts.
Swearing under my breath, I use that moment to push forward harder, pulling Blue with me, and this time without answering a single question we finally make it to the limousine. Blue and Simon get in first.
My heart is still racing as I climb in after them, and only once the doors close and the car starts moving do I dare to look at Blue.
