Jacinda's Challenge (Imperial 3)

  "Of course, Sire. What can I do for you?"

  "I need to contact Ethan Michelakakis and don't have his code."

  "I can find that for you, Sire."

  "Thank you. Could you also compile for me a list of all the mining contracts for the last ten cycles and send them to my comm?"

  "The last ten cycles, Sire?" Chesney couldn't hide his shock.

  "Yes. Also, I'm going to need my own aide since I'm going to be here full time."

  "I will compile a list for you, and you can interview them."

  "Great, thank you, Chesney. I'll let you get back to preparing for your day."

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  "I... Umm..."

  Ethan frowned as he heard his secretary stuttering into the comm as he entered his office. Honeycutt was the most unflappable person he knew. What could have her in such a state?

  Relief filled her eyes when she saw him. "He's just walking into the office, Sire. If you'll hold for just a moment, I'll transfer you to his comm." Pushing a button, she put a hand over her heart. "Thank the ancestors you're here."

  "What is going on?" Ethan demanded.

  "Prince Barek is on the comm for you."

  "Prince Barek?"

  "Yeesss," she hissed at him. "So get into your office and answer your comm!"

  If Honeycutt hadn't been with the company for over twenty cycles, and someone he utterly relied on, he would never allow her to talk to him like that.

  "Alright. Calm down, Honeycutt."

  "Calm down? Have you ever seen the man?" She fanned her face with her hand. "He's gorgeous."

  Ethan's eyes widened in shock. Honeycutt was old enough to be the Prince's mother. Honeycutt's next words told him Ethan had spoken out loud.

  "That doesn't mean I don't have eyes. Now go." She shooed him on.

  Entering his office, Ethan sat down at his desk. Taking a deep breath, he composed his face then pressed the button that would connect them.

  "Prince Barek, sorry about the delay. What can I do for you?"

  "I had first meal with your mother this morning," Barek said getting straight to the point.

  Ethan raised an eyebrow slightly in surprise. It was still quite early, barely eight and Barek was obviously in the Palace. How could he have had first meal with his mother? Unless she was at the Palace....

  "She told me she had spoken to you about the Sokol Corporation," Barek continued.

  "Yes," Ethan's tone was noncommittal.

  "I've read through your father's files and have compiled the same information to date. I am not happy at what I am learning."

  "The Palace must sign off on all those contracts, Sire," Ethan told him stiffly.

  "And we both know my father takes the recommendations of the Committee. It's their job to review and choose who’s the best fit for each project."

  "Yes, that's how it should be."

  "What I'd like to know is why haven't you ever brought this to the attention of the Palace?"

  "And who would I report it to, Sire? Assemblyman Pajari, who heads the committee? To do so is business suicide. He would block us from any contract and inform others he was 'displeased' with our company. I have over a thousand people and their families that rely on me for their livelihood. I will not jeopardize them. I play the game, submitting an honest bid so everything appears legal, knowing it will never be accepted, and go on."

  Barek was silent for several moments looking at the information before him, then he frowned. "You say you've been submitting bids for contracts?"

  "Of course. If you don't, Pajari won't throw you any crumbs, especially to the Zhao Corporation since my Union to Kasmira."

  "Your Union? Why would Pajari care about that?" Barek demanded.

  "Because to him, I am not truly from the House of Protection, and as such shouldn't be allowed a contract."

  "You were born into this House, as your father was."

  "But my mother wasn't, and to Pajari's way of thinking, that means neither am I."

  "Well he's wrong," Barek told him outraged that an Assemblyman would act in such a way, "and I want you to know I don't feel that way."

  "That's good to know."

  "Do you have copies of those contracts?" Barek asked changing the subject.

  "The ones we submitted?" Ethan asked confused.

  "Yes."

  "Of course. Why?"

  "Because in all the files I've read, I haven't found one recorded bid submitted by the Zhao Corporation."

  "What? That's impossible! I personally delivered every bid, Pajari demanded it."

  "He demanded that of everyone or just you?"

  "Just me."

  "And your father allowed this?" Barek couldn't believe it.

  "I never told him. It's for me to handle."

  "You are a great deal like your mother, aren't you?"

  "Excuse me?"

  "Your mother. She is an amazing woman. Independent. Strong. Living her life on her own terms. It must have been... fascinating... being raised by her."

  "It had its moments."

  "I can imagine. You do realize she's now facing the biggest challenge of her life, being with my father."

  "So you know." Ethan gave him a sharp look.

  "Yes, and I heartily approve. The changes I have already seen in my father are truly amazing. I've never seen him this happy or relaxed." When Ethan didn't immediately respond, Barek frowned. "You don't?"

  "I'll admit I was shocked when she told us." Ethan sat back in his chair looking Barek in the eye as he did. "I am still not fully on board, even though she says she loves him."

  "Why?" Barek demanded.

  "Because my mother is going to be the one that bears the weight of this relationship. She's the one that's going to be criticized and judged, and not just by the purists. It's going to upset her, even though she would never say it. I don't want her upset. She's my mother."

  "She will be protected, Ethan."

  "You know as well as I do that you won't be able to protect her from what people say. She will be the first companion of an unwed King. None of the normal courtesies will be followed."

  "I hadn't considered that." Barek frowned not liking the thought of what might be said.

  "I can assure you my mother has. Nevertheless, she's not going to let it deter her. When she loves someone, there's no length she won't go to for them."

  Chapter Thirty

  Jacinda stepped back, crossed her arms over her chest and smiled. It was perfect, just like she knew it would be. Kasmira had done an amazing job framing Brett’s drawing making sure it shined. She couldn't wait for Jotham to see it.

  "It truly is a masterpiece, Jacinda," Myesha told her standing at her side.

  "It is, Brett is going to have an amazing future."

  "I believe you," Myesha said. "Oh, Palma called earlier. She wants you to call her back."

  "Alright." With one last look at the portrait, Jacinda picked up her personal comm and walked into the garden. It was a beautiful day and she wanted to sit outside and enjoy it. Palma answered on the second ring.

  "I've waited as long as I can! You have some explaining to do, Jacinda Crocetti Michelakakis!"

  Jacinda found herself laughing at the putout expression on her sister's face. She had forgotten to call her and explain and for Palma to wait a week was a new record.

  "Hello, Sis. It's nice to see you too."

  "Don't you use that polite tone on me, Jacinda. It never worked with Mom, and it won't work with you."

  "Liar."

  "Okay, so it did work with Mom," Palma smiled at her. "Now stop trying to change the subject! I want to know what is going on!"

  "Are you sitting down, oh favorite sister of mine?"

  "I'm your only sister,” Palma told her, “and yes, I'm sitting."

  "This has to stay just between us," Jacinda told her. "At least for a while."

  "Jacinda..." Palma's 'I'm irritated with my older sister' tone changed to one full of real concern.
"What's going on?"

  "I'm involved with King Jotham," she told her plainly.

  A stunned silence greeted her statement for several moments. "Define 'involved.’" Palma quietly demanded.

  "'Involved' as in being his companion."

  "Companion.... Jacinda..." she whispered horrified.

  "I love him, Palma."

  "I.... " Palma really looked at her sister's face and could see it was the truth. Her sister was in love. "I believe you. And Jotham?"

  "Loves me too," she immediately replied.

  "Is this why you were getting those visuals for Barek?"

  "No! I told you why I was doing that. Jotham and I weren't anywhere close to being involved then. I was furious with him for never showing Barek visuals of Lata and I told him so."

  "You told off the King?" Palma just looked at her then started to laugh. "Oh, my ancestors, Jacinda... only you..."

  "Only me what?" Jacinda demanded.

  "Only you would have the guts to tell off a King."

  Jacinda had the decency to blush. "Yes, well, you know me..."

  "I do." Palma stopped laughing and turned serious. "You've always stood up for what you felt was right, for what you believed in and for who you love. I've always admired that about you, Jacinda. I want you to know that, and to know that I'm here for you if you ever need to talk, or just get away, or just... anything. We're family. We stick together."

  "Thank you, Palma, and I might have to take you up on that sooner than later."

  "What? Why?"

  "Because I'm going to be attending the Royal Ball with Jotham."

  "You... Jotham... Royal Ball..." Palma's eyes widened with each unfinished sentence.

  "Yes. So in a few weeks everyone will know."

  "Ancestors, Jacinda. No companion has ever attended a Ball. For Jotham to take you... that's big... really big."

  "I know," Jacinda smiled at her sister. "Now tell me what Birgin thought of Brett."

  Palma knew what her sister was doing. She was changing the subject to something she was more comfortable with and Palma let her. "Oh my ancestors, Jacinda! The talent that runs in that family! Birgin is beside himself with anticipation."

  Sitting back, Jacinda smiled as she listened to her sister.

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  Barek walked down the corridor of Assembly Hall seeing exactly who he was looking for in the group of Assemblymen that had just exited an office.

  "Prince Barek!" Elliott Pajari exclaimed seeing him walking toward them. "I didn't know you were in the Hall today." Of course, he knew he was back on planet, everyone knew but no one knew why he was, so soon after the Guardian had departed.

  "Yes, well it was unplanned and I was hoping to speak with..."

  "Yes, yes, of course. We'll just go to my office." Pajari cut him off, looking over his shoulder to give the other Assemblymen a self-important look. "I'll have my aide clear my schedule."

  "Assemblyman Michelakakis," Barek finished the sentence and saw Pajari's eyes widen before he spun around to glare at Danton.

  "You wish to speak with me?" Danton asked coolly causing more than one Assemblyman to give him a startled look.

  "If you have the time, of course," Barek replied just as coolly. "I know it's presumptuous of me to just show up."

  Danton suddenly realized they were drawing a great deal of attention as he and Barek silently stared each other down. "Of course I have the time, Prince Barek." He swung his arm out. "My office is this way."

  Barek knew where Danton's office was. "Gentlemen,” he nodded to those left behind, then proceeded in the direction Danton indicated.

  Danton let Barek enter his office first, gestured to a chair, then walked behind his desk and sat. "So what can I do for you, Prince Barek?"

  Barek silently stared at Danton, taking in the closed look on his face and the tension in his body. The man was obviously on the defensive, and Barek realized it had to do with his mother. Never one to shy away from a challenge, he met it head on.

  "So is your problem with me, personally, Assemblyman Michelakakis?" Barek had to give Danton credit, he never so much as blinked at his accusation.

  "I have no problem with you, Prince Barek."

  "So your attitude is because of the relationship between our parents."

  "Why are you here, Prince Barek?" Danton demanded.

  "I thought you might be interested in helping me finish what your father started, but now I see you're nowhere near the man your father was or the man your mother believes you are. Good day, Assemblyman Michelakakis, and good luck. Someone as narrow-minded you is going to need it." Barek stood and began to walk out of the room.

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  Danton watched Barek rise, his thoughts in turmoil. He had, in fact, been in turmoil since his argument with his mother nearly a week ago. He was still trying to come to terms with what he had discovered. About his mother. Moreover, about himself. All of his life he had tried to live up to the ideals of his parents. In his eyes, they had been the ultimate couple. His father was the handsome, powerful Assemblyman, and his mother was the beautiful, perfect wife. Yet what had made them truly shine was the undeniable love they had for each other. It had been there in every touch, in every gesture, and in every word, they said to one another. It was something he never doubted. Now he did, and in doing so, he doubted himself.

  He had disappointed his mother, badly. In addition, in doing so, he had disappointed himself and his father.

  'Your mother is an amazing woman, Danton,' his father told him once. 'Meant to do amazing things. She changed my world with her love and made me a better man. I've often wondered what would have happened if instead of loving me, she had loved a King, as her mother had hoped. Imagine what everyone's world would be like if that had happened.'

  Maybe it was time they all found out.

  "Wait!" Danton surged to his feet.

  Barek slowly turned.

  "I am not narrow-minded, but I will admit I am having a problem with my mother and your father being involved."

  "Why?"

  "Why? Because she's my mother! Which in my family means she loves my father! And only my father."

  "She still does, but she also loves my father and he is a better man for it."

  Barek's words had Danton stilling, they so closely echoed his father's that it was as if Stephan were speaking to him. Maybe it was time for Danton to listen.

  "She tends to have that effect on a man," Danton agreed heavily. "Could we start this conversation over? Please? My mother is already upset with me, if she finds out I was rude to you, I may never get back in her good graces."

  "Knowing your mother, I doubt it will take much. She is a very forgiving woman." Barek returned to his seat.

  "She is," Danton agreed, sitting. "But she also believes you don't have to be rude to make your point."

  "You don't have to be, but sometimes rudeness just feels good."

  "Agreed." Danton smiled at Barek. "But I'll deny it if you tell my mother I said that."

  Barek couldn't help but laugh that this thirty-nine cycle man was still worried about disappointing his mother then realized he was the same way with his father.

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  "So do you want in?" Barek asked after he explained why he was there and gave Danton some time to read the files he'd brought.

  "Fuck yes. I do! I can't believe I didn't know about this, or that Ethan never said a word! I'm going to beat the crap out of my little brother the next time I see him!"

  "He felt he needed to handle it himself," Barek told him quietly.

  "Fuck that! We're family and family helps one another. Family sticks together, even when times are tough."

  "Does that include your mother? Because times are going to get tough, especially with her attending the Ball at my father's side."

  "What? What are you talking about?" Danton demanded.

  "The Royal Ball." Barek frowned. "Jacinda didn't tell you?"


  "We didn't get past her relationship with your father," Danton finally admitted.

  "I see. Well, she will be attending the Royal Ball at the House of Knowledge, at my father's side."

  "He's willing to go public with their relationship?"

  "My understanding is that they haven't been trying to keep it a secret, just private."

  "Little is 'private' in the life of a Royal," Danton told him.

  "You might be surprised," Barek told him thinking about Dadrian. "But they are both trying to make this about them and what they want. I'm now permanently on planet and am going to assume some of my father's duties so he and Jacinda can have more time together."

  "You are..." Danton realized what that was going to mean, not just for his mother, but for the Assembly.

  "Yes, there is a great deal I still don't know when it comes to the Assembly, but I'm going to learn. And things like this," he gestured to the files sitting on Danton's desk, "are not going to be allowed to happen."

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  "What is going on, Elliott?" Adelaide stormed into her husband's office, not caring that his aide was trying to stop her. She had her own sources within the Hall and had been informed how Prince Barek had chosen to speak with Danton Michelakakis instead of her husband.

  "Adelaide, what are you doing here?" Elliott quickly disconnected his call before turning to face his wife.

  "What am I doing here? What is Prince Barek doing here talking to Danton Michelakakis instead of you?!!"

  "I don't know. Danton seemed as surprised as I was."

  "Something is going on," she told him sitting down in a huff.

  "Adelaide, you always think something is going on," Elliott told her dismissively.

  "Because something always is!" she fired back. "You can't tell me you don't find it strange that Barek is on planet when he should be on the Guardian with our daughter! Or that now he's requesting to talk to a new Assemblyman, and not just any Assemblyman but Danton Michelakakis! I can't believe we have to deal with another one of them! It was bad enough that he was elected, but then to take his mother to the Assemblyman's Ball! Unheard of! Then for Barek and Jotham to feel obligated to dance with her!"