SailorStar9: Well, Chapter 19 is out and this is Chapter 20. Remember boys and girls, reviews are an author's subsistence. So, please be a dear and read and review. And is it so difficult for you guys to review instead of just putting this fic up in your favorites and alerts?

Disclaimers: I do not own Sailor Moon or the pairings. The only thing I do own is the plot.

Chapter 20: Pending Trouble

"You sold my loan to someone else?" Usagi was shocked when one of her creditors called to inform her. "But I've already transferred the interest payment to you. What's the hurry? Fine, do that." She backed off at the creditor's insistence. "But you were getting a good interest rate. Okay. Bye. She did that over a few bucks?" she frowned after ending the call. "Mamo-chan, it's me." She called Mamoru. "I need to talk to you. Let's have lunch today. I'll meet you at your office."

"I think we can take over Bella at a bargain." Yukino informed Demando and Sapphir.

"I thought you gave up, Yukino-sama." Demando pointed out.

"I gave up because the price wasn't right, but things changed." Yukino corrected. "They're in financial trouble and it won't last long."

"You took over Bella because of Yuki-sama?" Sapphir guessed.

"Yes, and I also want Bella." Yukino replied. "And I want to buy Chiba shares in both your names. Is it okay?"

"Our hotel's stock?" Demando echoed. "Why?"

"I want to invest in the hotel." Yukino answered.

Both brothers exchanged a look. "Let me look into it." Demando nodded. "We have a lot of projects underway, but there's a lot of risk."

"Okay, I have to go to a workshop now." Yukino remarked, when Yuki entered her office. "Why don't the two of you take Yuki out for lunch? She hasn't been eating well."

"No, mom." Yuki protested. "I'm not hungry and I have a lot to do. I'll eat later."

"Listen to me," Yukino chided. "You'll collapse if you don't eat properly. Demando, Sapphir, make sure the two of you buy her something good."

"I thought you said you were broke." Mamoru reminded, the couple was in a hotpot restaurant. "Do we have to come to this expensive restaurant?"

"Mamo-chan, we went through a lot to get married." Usagi stated. "I risked my life to win you."

"So, what do you want me to do?" Mamoru asked.

"Don't be mean." Usagi whined. "Don't you know how much I love you?"

"I don't." Mamoru fired back. "How can I trust you when you were too busy with your business to accompany your husband to socialize?"

"Is that why you're seeing another woman?" Usagi asked. "Please don't do that. You'll end up losing money and starting a seedy rumor."

"I have nothing to lose anyway." Mamoru retorted. "Everyone already knew I ditched my fiancée for another woman. They see me as a bad man."

"Mamo-chan, I'm sorry." Usagi's puppy-dog eyes were brought out in full force. "I won't question you anymore. Let's go back to the way we were. I have enough headaches at work. I can't survive if you keep this up."

"So, why couldn't you appreciate me in the first place?" Mamoru sighed. "How can I not stray if you're keeping me under your thumb?"

"I said I'll be good to you from now on." Usagi promised. "Here eat." She dipped a slice of fish into the soy sauce. "The fish's fresh. Here, try it."

Mamoru grinned stupidly as Usagi fed him.

"Eat up." Sapphir dipped a slice of squid into the wasabi. "This is a famous place. I always wanted to bring you here."

"Who do we have here?" Usagi snorted, bumping into Yuki at the corridor. "It's the great Uzumaki Yuki. I hear you're getting big-headed these days. And you're not afraid of anything either."

"Haruno Usagi from Bella Beauty?" Yuki echoed. "I heard your business is suffering these days. Can you afford to eat here? Or is someone else buying?"

"What?" Usagi snapped. "Your free voucher might attract some people for now, but I'm sure it won't last long. Do whatever you want. Maybe you're too ignorant and arrogant to learn what's going on. But you'll learn soon what a vicious business this is. I'll make sure you and your mother regret this soon."

"Fine, I'm looking forward to this." Yuki shrugged. "Excuse me, I have a client waiting. Take your time since you must have a lot of time." With that, she walked out. "Mamoru-san?" she spotted Mamoru at the cashier.

"Yuki-san…" Mamoru gasped. "What are you doing here?"

"Are you here with someone?" Yuki asked. "Your wife?"

"Here you are." Usagi met up with her husband. "Uzumaki Yuki, you're still here? Let me introduce you; this is my husband. He's the president of Chiba Hotelier. Mamo-chan, say hello. This is Uzumaki Yuki. She's the daughter of Mrs. Uzumaki from Hisako Beauty Shop."

"Mrs. Uzumaki's daughter?" Mamoru was shocked.

"How do you do?" Yuki greeted. "I'm Uzumaki Yuki."

"Yes, nice to meet you." Mamoru muttered.

"What's wrong?" Usagi wondered. "You're stunned because she looks so much like Ami? I was too at first. But she's someone else. Her face really turns me off. Let's go. We shouldn't have come here anyway. Let's go." She pulled Mamoru off.

"Mamoru-san." Yuki blinked, stepping out of her car when Mamoru came right into her face.

"You're really Mrs. Uzumaki's daughter?" Mamoru pressed.

"Yes, I am." Yuki confirmed. "I'm working here at my mom's shop."

"I had no idea you were a makeup artist." Mamoru remarked. "Then you knew my wife, too?"

"I really feel sorry for you." Yuki stated. "I had no idea you were married to Usagi. She had a terrible reputation in this field. Why did such a kind and warm person like you… I'm sorry." She apologized. "I shouldn't badmouth the woman you love."

"It's okay." Mamoru assured. "I know her better than anyone."

"No wonder you look so lonely." Yuki sympathized. "Right, I left my scarf and gloves in your office the other night."

"Well…" Mamoru started. "The janitor threw them away. I'll buy you new ones."

"I ran into Chiba Mamoru and Haruno Usagi at the restaurant." Yuki informed her mother, bringing the older Uzumaki tea.

"Really?" Yukino raised a brow. "Mr. Chiba must've been stunned."

"I think Haruno Usagi knows her husband has another woman." Yuki added. "She won't show him off just like that. She'll start investigating about that woman soon."

"Will you be okay?" Yukino asked. "She'll come at you with full force when she finds out it's you."

"I'm not scared." Yuki assured. "This game will get more interesting if Usagi gets more obsessive and angry."

"I won't try to stop you." Yukino remarked. "But be careful and take care of yourself. She's capable of anything is she's capable of stealing someone else's fiancé. Did you have a nice lunch with the brothers?"

"You dare mess with my man?" Usagi fumed, once she was in the bedroom at home. "Fine, I'll find you. I'll make sure you never see or walk again." Pulling open the wardrobe, she dug out a receipt for a diamond ring from Mamoru's jacket pocket. "He bought her a ring?"

"We have another client." Fumiko informed Usagi the next day at work. "But everyone wants you to work on them."

"I've already have five clients this morning." Usagi sighed. "How many more do I have?"

"They are seven waiting." Fumiko replied.

"All right." Usagi relented. "We can't lose any clients. I'll be there after a cup of coffee." She was alerted when her phone rang.

"Hello, this is Uzumaki Yuki from Hisako Beauty Shop." Yuki started. "We couldn't accommodate all our clients so we sent a few to your shop. Please take care of them."

"What?" Usagi exclaimed.

"They didn't complain when I told them you'll work on them yourself and give them 50% off." Yuki added.

"What are you up to?" Usagi demanded. "There must be a reason sending your clients over to me."

"Reason?" Yuki echoed. "It's good for me if Bella is doing well. That's the reason. You'll soon find out why. Bye."

"Hello?" Usagi yelled down the receiver after Yuki hung up. "Uzumaki Yuki!"

SailorStar9: Now that's done, read and review.