The Royal Contract

Gerald watched as hundreds of people littered and stepped on the spacious and beautifully landscaped green lawn, not minding if they were destroying the place.

Some panicked, afraid for their lives, while others walked calmly toward the gates, wanting to escape the scene before them.

"Lower your head and never leave my side." He whispered to the woman beside him as they passed several people he knew while observing the chaos around them.

The firefighters were rushing to extinguish the fire that the firecrackers accidentally triggered in one of the stockrooms at the back.

On the other hand, the police were busy securing the entire place while some escorted most of the guests to safety.

"Will this work?" He heard her gentle voice, slightly trembling in doubt and fear.

He could not blame her since the entire place was swarming with criminals, adding to her father's security, who had to step back temporarily to make way for the authorities.

Still, he knew they were watching everyone, probably them too. He only wondered where Alfred and Michael were. He had not seen even their shadows just yet.

"I hope so." He said as he monitored the movement of everyone on the ground.

He had expected this to happen. Frankly, it was better than what he had hoped for. But they still had one last hurdle to cross before they were home free.

Hopefully, the presence of the authorities around them would assist them in their plight to their temporary freedom. At least they would have another day to fight their battle.

"Mr. Brown, Mr. Rosley wished for your presence. Will you please follow us?" Alfred's security head and two of his companions suddenly appeared in front of them, seemingly courteous, but he could hear the threat in his tone as he spoke softly, not wanting to alert anyone else.

He saw something pointing at them under one of the men's coats. He guessed he still had a few things to deal with before they could leave all of this behind tonight.

"I am sure Mr. Rosley will not mind if we see him another day." He calmly said to the man, ensuring his voice would be loud enough to catch everyone's attention.

And like a moth to a flame, everyone who heard him whispered his name and turned to look at him. Their faces were a sea of shock and surprise.

"Gerald."

"Gerald is alive?"

"Gerald is alive and here."

He could hear their whispers and exclamation as they surrounded him. He observed that some could not believe he was still breathing and a part of the living.

He believed many of them attended his funeral and paid their respect to his burned body. But, of course, he could tell his passing had disheartened some of his loyal followers.

"Is that you, Gerald?" A friend of his father asked as he moved closer to him and Haley while Mike stood behind him.

This man never wanted him dead. He was his father's ally, but they had no choice since someone else had taken charge. They had to comply or die, suffering the same fate as him.

But other than the organization's members, some police officers also heard the commotion. And his name automatically had their attention.

"In the flesh." He presented himself, letting everyone see who he was. Of course, the buzz and the chatters increased until the police officers stood before him, checking what the excitement had been all about.

"Mr. Gerald Brown, fancy seeing you here." One of the detectives also appeared at the scene, recognizing who he was. He stepped further until he stood closer to him, staring at Alfred's three securities.

"Detective, I wondered when you will show into this lively party." Gerald greeted the official while mocking the three securities with a smile.

"I am sorry, Detective, but Mr. Rosley would have to wait until we are through with our friend here." The man with the badge informed the three with no authority over him.

He knew he and Haley would be safer under the protection of the police than to stay under the watchful eyes of her father.

"And who told you that?" The Detective angrily answered, slightly irritated with the arrogant armed men before him. Then, he signals a few of his officers to join him.

"Sir, we have strict instructions from Mr. Rosley to..." The security said, but the Detective shut them down.

"Under who's authority." The man turned to the three idiots who thought they could get away with their stupidity.

"I want you to search them. Arrest them. And check if their weapons had any license." The Detective instructed the police officers, who responded to his call.

The five officers quickly surrounded the three, confiscating their guns and putting handcuffs on them while reading their rights.

Gerald knew that most of the guns used by the organizations were illegal because they wanted the weapons untraceable if used in any outlawed activities.

"And as for you, Mr. Brown. I am inviting you to the station." The man finally turned to him after getting rid of the three men. "We can do this the easy or the hard way."

He glanced around him before looking at the Detective. Then, he stared at the woman at his side, questioning the Detective's statement.

"Are you arresting him?" Haley finally spoke up, afraid but seemingly trying to show a brave front before the police authority.

"That is ok, Haley. I think it is time that I visit the station." He tightened his grip on her shoulders, reassuring her that everything was under his control.

"Do you mind if I take my fiancee with me and my lawyer to the station?" Gerald requested his friend, whom he had worked with and who assisted him in many of the legal battles he had handled.

"I just don't want to leave her alone in this chaos." He added, knowing he could not leave them behind.

"Does she need any medical assistance?" Finally, the Detective probably noticed her condition.

As much as he would like the medical team to check her, he could not risk leaving her in a stranger's hands and out of his sight.

"No, but I can use a favor. I need to take Haley with me." He whispered to his friend's ears, hoping that their years of friendship still counted despite their present circumstances.

He knew he could never leave her behind, not now or ever. And as he had expected, the Detective escorted them to his car.

"You know I would have to arrest you." His friend told him, warning him that he had to put a cuffs on him.

But he did not mind. He had already foreseen this in his plans.

"Do you have to?" Haley interjected, appearing like she was about to cry.

"Don't worry. I have this handled." Once again, he had assured her that there was nothing she should be worried about.

Stay tuned to empire

His arrest was not the end but just the next phase. And he still had more on his sleeves. But at least they had escaped without any casualties.