Investigating Mr Billionaire

3 months later.

LOLA'S POV

The Supernova is bustling. Being the country's leading investigative newspaper you can easily feel the tension in the room. Reporters are rushing between desks, editors are barking orders and the phones are ringing nonstop.

I sit at my desk filled with notebooks, newspaper clipping amongst other things. But one thing stands out. There are photographs, numerous photographs of one man, Orion King.

My computer screen displays the message that has now become very familiar,

'Interview request declined'

I sigh, rubbing the bridge of my nose.

I'm still reeling from the declined request when I'm summoned to Lucas' office.

I walk in and he barely looks up from the papers on his desk when he speaks.

'You've spent 3 months chasing a ghost Castle'

'I don't believe he's a ghost sir.'

He leans back into his chair.

'I need a front page story, Castle. Not another failed interview request'

He tosses the newspaper onto the desk.

The headline reads;

'STARSIGN TECH UNDER FRESH INVESTIGATION'

'This is your story,' he says, 'and you know that everyone wants a piece of Orion King. Find something no one else has.'

I hesitate.

'I don't want to write rumours'

He smirks.

'Then find facts Castle.'

I use that as my que to leave the office but before I leave he adds,

'If you come back empty handed again, I'll reassign the story to someone else.'

He points me out and I leave hurriedly.

Back at my desk, I begin researching Orion from scratch. I refuse to rely on gossip from other newspaper companies.

I throw myself fully into work mode, studying company financial reports, patent registrations, charity records, interviews with former employees, anything that will point him to the crime.

The more I investigate, the more confused I get. The accusations against Orion are serious, yet there is no evidence connecting him personally to the crime.

The deeper I dig I find records of scholarships funded anonymously, rural hospitals equipped with AI diagnostic systems, cybersecurity tools provided freely to schools, none of which were made public.

'Who are you really, Orion King?', I whisper to myself.

I met up with Celine at a nearby cafe. She's off duty today since she doesn't have any important story she's working on.

She laughs once I mention the rejection to her.

'Girl, thats gotta be number 10 or something'

'Number 12 actually, but oh well.'

'You're obsessed, girl'

'I'm persistent.', I corrected her.

'What's the difference?' she says laughing. 'You know powerful people don't like journalists asking difficult questions, girl. You gotta watch yourself.'

'I'm not after power.' I say, taking a sip from my coffee.

'Then what are you after?'

'The truth.' I say, staring out the cafe window.

'That's why you'd either win a Pulitzer prize or get yourself killed, girl!'

We both laugh at her statement but I know that Celine isn't joking in any way.

BACK HOME

I rewrite my interview proposal on my laptop and I really hope on this one.

Instead of accusing him, I write honestly.

'Mr King,

Every newspaper has already decided who you are. I haven't.

I don't want your lawyers' statement or your company's press release.

I want your story.

If you're innocent, you deserve to be heard.

If you're guilty, the truth should prove it.

Either way, let the facts speak'

I go over my proposal again before hitting SEND.

NEXT DAY (AT STARSIGN TECH)

ORION'S POV

Adrien walks into my office carrying a tablet.

'You've received another interview request'

'Decline it.', I reply without looking up from my tabloid.

He hesitates.

'Come on man. It's been 3 months and she's been very persistent'

I'm still not convinced.

'This one's...different'

That catches my attention and I collect the tablet from him.

I read through the proposal and I hand the tablet back to Adrien.

'Decline it.', I say after a long silence.

Adrien raises his brow.

'You read the whole thing?'

'I did.'

'And?'

'If she's truly after the truth...', I pause. '...she won't stop.'

'I think you're right', he says smiling.

LATER THAT AFTERNOON

I'm leaving my office when I notice a woman across the street speaking with a security guard while holding a press badge. The security officer pays no heed to her.

She makes gestures trying to convince the guard to let her inside.

My guess is that she's Lola Castle.

I watch from a distance and she has no idea.

The guard shakes his head, the only expression she's been able to get from him for the past minutes.

She nods politely and walks away instead of causing a scene.

She's clearly disappointed but she's very composed which I find intriguing.

I watch her keenly until she disappears into the crowd.

I get into my car on my way home.

BACK AT THE SUPERNOVA

LOLA'S POV

I'm going through reports when an email comes in.

I open it with little hope.

|Subject: Interview Request.

I click on the mail.

|Request Declined.

I exhale slowly, closing my laptop and whisper to myself

'Fine, Mr King.' A determined smile spreads across my face.

'If you won't come to me, I'll come to you.', I say, picking up my notebook.