The business world is attentive as Haruka Tenoh, owner and CEO of Tenoh Motors Inc., announces that there will be a press conference at 4 p.m. Eastern Standard Time in the New York City office to address the ongoing criminal and civil legal proceedings associated with the company.

Although Michiru would rather be anywhere else on the planet, she understands the importance of the event, and finds a seat at the back of the packed auditorium with a few minutes to spare.

In stark contrast to the previous publicity opportunities, there was no flirting, no charm, to the CEO's speech. Instead, everyone could see that Haruka Tenoh was, finally, being dead serious.

"Thank you for being here. I just a have a brief statement prepared for this afternoon, and then we will be hosting a second press conference early next week when we're able to give the media the full details of the situation. But for now, I wish to say this: Tenoh Motors is currently working to settle the civil claims against it relating to the mechanical failures in our SUVs over the last nine months, and the company is prepared to cooperate fully with Canadian authorities in the criminal proceedings. In other words, we will not be disputing the criminal or civil claims in court."

Haruka looks ready to leave the stage, but a strong male voice cuts through the crowd. "Ms. Tenoh, what caused this change in position?"

Spending a moment to look through the auditorium, as though searching for Michiru, Haruka takes a deep breath and answers. "Something happened very recently that brought me out of the clouds and back to reality. I don't know if this is a matter of public knowledge, but I lost my natural parents when I was very young. They were killed in a car crash."

The members of the audience gasp in sympathy. Apparently Haruka's history had been a well kept secret after all.

"Something happened today that reminded me of all the pain I felt when my parents died. All the anger, the suffering. All the questions I had about what killed them, and why they had to die like that. And I realized, perhaps too late now, that all I ever wanted were answers. The truth. I never got that. The police were never able to figure out for certain what caused my parents to lose control of their vehicle and leave me an orphan at five years of age."

Looking around again, Haruka finds Michiru at the back, and makes eye contact with her for a brief moment. The blonde finishes up, "So now, when I think back and remember the pain I was in, I can understand how the victims and their families must be feeling right now. And if Tenoh Motors was responsible for these accidents, then I want that to be known. The victims should know the truth. They deserve to know the truth."

The blonde steps off the stage, leaving the reporters half in applause and half in stunned silence.