Chapter 31:

"I am Joo Dee and these are my Dai Li warriors!" The shirtless men did their sensual dance and the crowd went wild. "Thank you Dai Li. Settle down ladies because I have some breaking news involving the Agni clan!"

The crowd gasped in disbelief in her previous statement. The Dai Li made their exit from the stage.

Joo Dee continued on with her fake, plastic smile, "Breaking News: Longtime Chairman and past CEO of Agni Incorporated has been taken into custody for corporate embezzlement. Ozai Agni is getting the maximum sentence of twenty years. His bail is set at five million dollars! According to our sources he has acquired over fifteen MILLION dollars from the accounts of Agni Inc.'s loyal investors and clients. Looks like Zuko is inheriting the sins of his father because the amount in restitution fees are in the millions! People are backing out of deals left and right and slamming down law suits. I don't know how Zuko can possibly rebrand his company and restore dignity but I know one thing! That pretty little fiancée of his is going to drop him pretty soon when she realizes he's in no position to pay for an elaborate wedding."

The crowd scoffed at the last comment.

"What? I know you all are thinking it! Girls like her, regular girls who have no claim to fame usually marry guys like Zuko for their name and their money. When she discovers he can't do anything for her she'll be on to the next one. This relationship won't last long at all, especially considering Zuko having to deal with his company being investigated. We all know Zuko is a womanizer. I wouldn't be surprised if he's screwing other woman right now and Katara just looks the other way. Hey, she might even join in, if you know what I mean." Joo Dee gave a very suggestive wink at the camera and continued, "Honestly, they look very happy at their little family dinner the other day but who knows what goes on behind closed doors. Speaking of things swept under the rug, Azula Agni was admitted to the hospital this weekend for an apparent overdose on the anxiety medication Xanax with an alcohol level of at least .08. Is this some sort of cry for attention? No one knows but we all know Azula is a party girl. It's sad. She'll be going to rehab today, according to our source, just when her new makeup line is dropping in stores. There seems to be a lot of dysfunction in the Agni household. We will be keeping you updated if more stories come out."

~/~

"Katara." A deep voice echoed in her ears and she felt warm lips tickling her neck. She moaned in enjoyment. "You have to get up. We have an interview today."

She was too busy basking the morning after glow that she didn't care about the interview. She wanted to lie in bed forever next to Zuko.

"I don't want to go!" Katara protested

"We have too. June will probably kill us if we don't go to something she booked for us. Come on. No cuddling." Zuko was already up out of bed and getting himself dressed for the day. "I have to go see my Uncle before we go. I'll be back. June will be here soon to help you get dressed."

With that Zuko left and headed to his Uncle's restaurant. The quaint atmosphere was nothing less than what Zuko expected from his Uncle. He was busy greeting his guests when he caught sight of his Nephew.

"Oh hell Nephew! It's nice of you to visit! Come to the back with me and we can talk!" Iroh gleefully lead Zuko into the back storage room so they could talk in private with no nosey listeners.

"Uncle, you heard about dad and the company."

"Yes, I've heard. My brother has never been a kind man. All you can do is be honest and pay all of the people he stole from reparations of some sort. Perhaps file for bankruptcy to protect what assets the company does have. People are going to definitely sue. If you think today is hard tomorrow will be even harder. A man's work is never done."

"I can't believe he stole Jet's family's company. How could he do that? Now I have to pay the consequences. He's coming after me and Katara and I don't know what I'll do if he hurts someone I care about."

"Ozai, I've learned, does things because he can. Because he likes having power over people and making them feel smaller than him. You can't become a man full of resentment. Those men do very evil and dangerous things. You are on a path to becoming a better man Zuko. Think of your daughter. Stay humble and positive. No man can take that away from you, only if you let them."

"If mom were hear she'd know what to do."

"Don't believe everything that comes from the devil's mouth. You will make it through all of this. If you need help you know I will offer my services."

"Thanks Uncle. I have to go get to the office. Ty Lee has been calling me left and right. I'll see you later. Next time maybe we can have some of that tea you like so much."

~/~

The phones were ringing off the hook and every five minutes Ty Lee came to tell him another meeting needed to be booked with an old client. At the same time his new clients were dropping like flies and cancelling their meetings. He knew his dad's embezzlement scandal would go public once he decided to get the FBI involved, but he wasn't prepared for his company to tank at the same time. The corporate world was cut throat, but he didn't want his company to be known for extorting and robbing people. He answered the twentieth phone call of the day and tried his best to put his most professional and apologetic voice he could.

"Zuko! I need to talk to you now!" Aang barged into his office unexpectedly. Even after he got abused by Jet, he still didn't have enough respect to knock. He could never be a business man.

Zuko moved the receiver away from his mouth. "I'm a little busy Aang. Can't you see I'm on the phone? I'm swamped right now."

Aang marched over and hung up the phone, "Now you aren't busy. What are we doing about Jet?"

"You underestimate my ability to punch you in the face Aang," Zuko groaned glaring angrily at the phone. "If you haven't heard my company is under investigation. I don't have time to exactly worry about a corporate takedown right now."

"I heard. Sorry about your dad. Can't we just storm into his office and handle it like men."

"NO. We handle this my way, which means no cheap shots. That's what he wants us to do. Stay calm. We have to play this cool. He can't know we know. If all goes well he'll end up hanging himself with the massive power trip he'll inevitably have."

Zuko phone vibrated. It was Mai: Did you pick Maya up from school today?

Zuko: No, I didn't. Maybe your mom or dad did.

"If you excuse me, I have business to attend to Aang. If you need something please call. In the meantime I have men keeping track of Jet for me. He's not coming anywhere near Katara if I have anything to do about it." Aang nodded and walked out of his office, shutting his door behind him.

Zuko let out a loud sigh and leaned back in his chair. Shit was hitting the fan. Not only did he have the keep Katara safe but his company was in hot water, he needed to meet with his lawyer and Mai about Maya, and his sister basically resents him for sending her to rehab. He was trying to get his life together but every time he did another obstacle had come. The only thing he accomplished that he was proud of which was his company was built on lies and deceit so basically he had accomplished nothing in all this time. His life amounted to nothing. It was all overwhelming and he didn't have the time to break right now.

He remembered he kept a bottle of scotch in his desk under lock for when he used to drink at the office. It had been in there for two years at least. Two years of it sitting there untouched and he deserved a little shot. He would only have a swig and then he'd throw it out. He just needed to ease his mind right now. He reached down and put the code in: 7-8-08. It was Maya's birthday. It was meant to be a preventative measure if he did ever want to drink again. He'd be reminded of his daughter, but it was far too late. He slid the drawer open and put the full bottle on the top of the desk. The glass was cool and smooth. He let the top off the bottle and the sound of the all too familiar pop made his made water. He sniffed it and it smelled earthy which is what he always liked about Scotch. He liked the smoky and earthiness of the liquor.

He put the bottle to his lips and anticipated the smooth, warm liquid going down his throat. Just one swig, he thought to himself. He could handle just one swig.

~/~

Ozai Agni looked truly villainous behind bars. His long, black hair and gold eyes combined with his unsympathetic explanation made him more than a little threatening. He had only been in jail for 48 hours and already he was thrown into the maximum security unit for other inmates trying to attack him. Ozai responded to those attacks by nonchalantly stabbing the other inmates with forks, broken cups, or whatever he had in hand. He even stabbed a guy in the eye for spitting on him, which led to Ozai being thrown in max and the inmate being rushed to the hospital for being potentially blinded.

The guards came at a random time. There was no sense of time in max, but you knew time was passing. They escorted him out of his padded cell in the shackles and handcuffs. Ozai smirked as he walk passed other cells. The inmates hated his existence, probably because he had did bad business with them at one point or the other. Ozai didn't care because to him they were all insects.

Within a few minutes Ozai was up in the sign in area of the jail. The guard unshackled and uncuffed him hesitantly and had him walk to the warden's office. The warden noticeably turned in his seat when Ozai walked in.

"Ozai Agni, I understand you've caused quite a bit of trouble. You have a reputation for being a ruthless business man. Today is your lucky day. Someone posted your bail. You're a free man until your court date that is. You seem to have a very generous ally."

Ozai laughed with the signature villainous smirk on his face, "This is excellent."

Author's Note: Aang and Zuko are teaming up and it looks like someone had money to spare to bail Ozai out of jail. Who do you think did it? Just a heads up as well, I probably won't be updating for a week or so because of personal issues. Don't worry. I won't abandon you all!