Jacinda's Challenge (Imperial 3)

  "Is that how you saw it?"

  "Of course! Why else would they! Did I tell you I saw Jacinda in the Public Wing last week?"

  "No, no you didn't." Elliott leaned back in his chair.

  "Well I did, and I had a member of the King's Royal Guard escort her out of the Wing." Adelaide had a self-satisfied smile on her lips as she remembered the man leading Jacinda off under her orders. For too many cycles, everyone had treated Jacinda as if she belonged in the House of Protection. As if she were important just because she had a Union with a standing member of the Assembly.

  "And he did it?" Elliott gave her a shocked look.

  "Of course, he knew who I was. Now back to Prince Barek. What have you heard?"

  "All I've heard is that King Jotham requested Barek return and that the High Admiral sent the Arrow to retrieve him."

  "I wonder what was so important." Adelaide's mind was racing.

  "I've got some feelers out. Hopefully, we'll know soon."

  "Hmph, that's not good enough. Not with the Royal Ball coming up. I need to know if Barek is going to be attending, so you can get Shosha back on planet and there."

  "First, there is no way you can get Shosha back, not after the strings I had to pull to get her on the Guardian. Secondly, she never would be allowed to attend. You know it's only for Assemblymen and their wives."

  "She would be allowed if she went with Barek."

  "With Barek...." Elliott shoved his chair back. "Adelaide, have you finally lost your mind?"

  "Don't talk to me like that, Elliott!" Adelaide's face began to turn red. "Never talk to me like that! You would be nothing if it weren't for me. Do you hear me? NOTHING!!! I'm the one that made sure you were elected! I'm the one that made sure you got on the most influential committees! And I'm the one who made sure the Pajari name is one to be feared and envied!"

  "And I did nothing?" Elliott's hands rested on his desk as he rose and leaned forward. "I'm the one that chairs those committees, Adelaide, not you! I'm the one with the power and the prestige. You are nothing more than my wife!"

  "Nothing more?!!" she shrieked. "Nothing more?!! Why you little foabhor! You would be nowhere without me! You would have nothing! Be nothing!"

  "I would be happy!" he fired back. "Now get out of my office, Adelaide. Go buy something. Go make someone else miserable. I have work to do!"

  Adelaide gave her husband a furious look then spun on her heel and stormed out of the room. Elliott's aide pushed away from his desk, as she stormed through the outer office, trying to get as far from the enraged woman as he could. Adelaide Pajari was known to lash out at anyone available when she was like this. The woman was totally unstable.

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  "Deffand, I'm going to be leaving the Palace," Jotham told him.

  "Yes, Majesty. May I inquire when and to where?"

  "As soon as Safford has the picnic lunch packed, and I’m going to Jacinda's."

  "Yes, Majesty. I will inform Green that we will be arriving. I assume you will be eating in Jacinda's garden."

  "Yes."

  "I'll make sure security is informed."

  "Thank you, Deffand." Jotham disconnected the call and looked up to see Barek was just entering his office.

  "Can't stay away from her, can you?" Barek grinned at his father. So much had changed in the last few weeks. His father was more relaxed, he smiled more, real smiles, and he laughed. Oh, he took his duties just as seriously as ever, but they were just that... duties, not his life as they had once been and that was all thanks to Jacinda.

  "I haven't seen her since yesterday," Jotham said by way of explanation. "She had some meeting in Pechora that ran late and stayed at her house."

  Barek just shook his head at his father's putout look. It was something he never expected to see. "So you're going to surprise her."

  "Yes. I contacted Myesha, so she knows. What did you need?"

  "I've finished compiling and analyzing all the information on the Sokol Corporation's contracts." Barek's face turned serious as he sat down.

  "And?"

  "And he should never have been awarded a single one of those contracts. His bids were overinflated and the materials listed were often substandard or completely wrong."

  "And yet Pajari awarded him the bid."

  "Yes. It's a complete cluster-fuck, Dad. Nuga is just the tip of it. There are at least a dozen other sites that have the potential to be just as bad if not worse."

  "I want a complete investigation, Barek! Fuck!" Jotham surged to his feet to pace. "There are thousands of lives at risk here!"

  "I know and I've already started the investigation. Not only into Sokol but also Pajari."

  "Quietly?"

  "Of course. I've also contacted Ethan Michelakakis to see if his company would be willing to assist us in cleaning up this mess."

  "And?"

  "He's more than willing, as long as it’s understood he has complete authority over who is hired, who is fired, and who the inspectors are."

  "Why?"

  "He doesn't trust Sokol's people or some of our inspectors. He wants results and recommendations that he can trust, and I can't blame him. Not after the way he and his company were treated."

  "Agreed." Barek had informed Jotham how Pajari had made Ethan personally hand-deliver his company's bids. Something no other company had to do. It infuriated him, especially with it being one of Jacinda's children. "Anything else?"

  "I have Danton questioning the other Assemblymen."

  "You think that's wise?" Jotham raised an eyebrow. "Someone is bound to tell Pajari about it."

  "They might, but Danton is a new Assemblyman, hence his questions about how different committees are run, how specific decisions are made, and by whom, should seem normal."

  "True. Good call, Barek."

  Barek smiled at his father's praise.

  Jotham answered his buzzing comm. "Yes?"

  "Majesty, Safford reports that your lunch is ready and on its way to your limisin."

  "Thank you, Chesney." Jotham immediately rose. "Is there anything else, Barek?"

  "No. Will you be back tonight?"

  "Unfortunately yes. I have several meetings later this afternoon. Join us for last meal?"

  "I would like that."

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  "I'll get it, Myesha," Jacinda called out over her shoulder as she walked down the hall to answer the front door. Opening it, a smile broke out across her face. "Jotham!"

  Leaning down, Jotham kissed those smiling lips. He stepped into the house carrying a large basket. "I brought lunch."

  "You did?" Her eyes went to the basket.

  "Yes, I thought we could have it in your garden."

  "That would be lovely."

  "The table is all set for you," Myesha announced walking toward them drying her hands on her apron. "Would you like me to take that out for you, Majesty?"

  "Thank you, Myesha. And Myesha?"

  "Yes, Majesty?" she asked taking the basket from him.

  "Please call me Jotham?"

  A blush traveled across Myesha's cheeks. "I... yes, M... Jotham." She stuttered before hurrying off.

  Jacinda watched her long-time friend and housekeeper hurry off and shook her head, her eyes teasing as she looked back to Jotham. "You are a bad man, Jotham Tibullus, flirting with another woman, and right in front of me, in my own home even."

  Jotham wrapped his now free arms around her, pulling her flush against him. "You know you are the only woman I'm interested in flirting with." Saying that, he gave her a deep, hard kiss.

  "Hmmm," she hummed when Jotham finally let her back up for air. "I love the way you 'flirt,' Jotham." She looked up at him with desire-filled eyes.

  "And I love you." He kissed the tip of her nose. "Should we go see what Safford made for us?"

  "Yes." Turning in Jotham's arms, they walked arm-in-arm toward the garden when Jotham suddenly stopped. "Jotham?"

  "It's up." He paused before Br
ett's drawing on the wall.

  "Yes." Jacinda smiled softly as she looked at it. "Kasmira did a wonderful job framing it, don't you think?"

  "She did." But what caught his attention more was how the drawing of the two of them just seemed to belong there, as if they were always meant to be. "Thank you, Jacinda."

  "For what?" she asked, looking up at him.

  "For making me a part of your life. For openly including me in it."

  "I wouldn't have it any other way." Reaching up she touched his cheek. "Ready to eat?"

  "Yes."

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  Jotham sat back in his chair in his private office and stared at Lata's portrait. The one he had taken from the wall next to his outside the King's Wing, not long after she met the ancestors. He hadn't been able to stare at it publicly, hadn't been able to just walk by it and know she was gone. It had gutted him.

  He had it hung here, covered for many cycles until he had been able to look at it again. Now he wondered if it wasn't time it returned to the place of honor Lata deserved. Rising, he walked over to the portrait. Reaching up, he gently caressed Lata's cheek.

  "It's time, my love." Carefully he lifted it off the wall.

  "Chesney."

  "Yes, Majesty?" Chesney looked up from the screen he was studying, stunned to see Jotham walking toward him carrying a piece of framed artwork from his office.

  "Will you contact Barek for me and have him meet me in the corridor outside the King's Wing."

  "I... yes, Majesty... right away, Majesty." Chesney blindly pressed his comm as Jotham exited the office.

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  "Father? Chesney said you wanted me to meet you here?" Barek frowned as he exited the King's Wing, seeing his father just standing there looking at the wall. The guards posted at the doors looked distinctly uncomfortable. Looking past them, he saw Deffand hurrying toward them. Obviously, he was informed the King was outside the Wing.

  "I thought you would like to help me with this," Jotham said quietly.

  "With what?" Barek looked from his father to what rested against his legs, its back facing him. It looked like a portrait. His eyes flew from it to the blank space on the wall, his heart beginning to pound. Could that be what he thought it was? Was his father doing what he thought he was?

  "With putting your mother's portrait back where it should always have been."

  Barek swallowed hard before speaking. "I would be honored to."

  Deffand and the other guards watched in awe as for the first time in their lives, they saw the portrait of Queen Lata hanging next to King Jotham. She stood proudly in the portrait, wearing her royal robes and crown, holding her scepter in one hand while her other rested on her stomach. The look in her eyes, while steady, held just the slightest hint of mischief. She was beautiful.

  "There," Jotham said stepping back, a smile that was a mix of sadness and pride on his face. "You're back where you belong. I'm sorry it took me so long, my love." The slight breeze that brushed across his cheek had his eyes filling and he knew his life mate forgave him.

  "She was truly beautiful," Barek said quietly.

  "She was, inside and out, and she loved you so much.... She would be very proud of the man you've become, Barek." Jotham turned and faced his son.

  "I hope so."

  "Never doubt it. Be true to yourself and both of us will always be proud of you." Jotham looked at the portrait again and this time truly smiled before turning to Barek. "Come on, this moment deserves a glass of ale."

  "I can agree to that."

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  Jotham handed a glass of ale to Barek, together they turned and looked at the now empty spot on the wall of his private office.

  "To your mother," Jotham raised his glass.

  "To Mom," Barek agreed raising his own glass before taking a sip of the well-aged ale.

  "I need to tell you something, Barek. Something I know you're not going to like." When Barek said nothing, he continued. "Did you ever wonder why Jacinda and I suddenly started seeing each other, after all these cycles?"

  "I did wonder but assumed it had something to do with Stephan." Barek raised his glass to take a sip.

  "Not in the way you think. I asked Jacinda to meet with me because of you... and Amina Michelakakis."

  "What?" He lowered his glass. "What are you talking about?"

  "At Victoria and Lucas' Union, I noticed the interest you took in Amina. It concerned me as I knew relatively little about her. When I realized she was related to Stephan Michelakakis, I contacted Jacinda and asked for her help."

  "You had Jacinda spy on Amina?" Barek felt his face start to flush in anger.

  "Spy is a strong word. I asked Jacinda for her assistance, to make sure Amina would be suitable."

  "Suitable!" Barek spat out through clenched teeth.

  "Yes. You are the heir to the throne, Barek. You can't just choose anyone to be your Queen."

  "You have no right! It has nothing to do with you! It is my choice!"

  "I have every right." Jotham grabbed Barek's arm to stop him from turning away. "I am the King and your father! It's my duty..."

  "Duty! I'm a duty!" Barek raged at him. "I can't believe Jacinda went along with this!"

  "She didn't," Jotham told him quietly. "I believe she was even more enraged than you are right now." He slowly released Barek's arm. "She sat in this very room and tore into me like no one ever has. Not even Lata." He glanced back to the empty spot on the wall.

  "She said no?" Barek asked giving his father a shocked look.

  "Vehemently. She told me that it was your choice and that I had no right to interfere. She went as far as to say your mother would have been ashamed of me. She was right, Lata would have been."

  "She would have?"

  "Oh yes, your mother would have been irate and I should have realized it. It seems I have more of my parents in me than I want."

  "I don't understand."

  "Only after Jacinda and I... resolved our differences did I discover certain things about my parents."

  "Such as?"

  "They were purists, Barek." Jotham looked at his son with regretful eyes.

  "What? No... that can't be."

  "It's true. I never knew, never even suspected it. Not until Jacinda told me about the letter."

  "Letter. What letter?" Barek demanded.

  “It seems my father was going to make Stephan choose between his wife and his career."

  "What?" Barek gave him a disbelieving look.

  "I had the same reaction. Disbelief. So I had Chesney search King Kado's papers and he found the proof. A handwritten letter demanding Stephan choose."

  Barek found he had to sit down and moved to a chair. "I can't believe it. How could..."

  "They weren't much kinder to your mother, Barek." Jotham quietly told him.

  "What?"

  "I didn't know that either or didn't want to, I'm no longer sure. Palma told Jacinda how they offered Lata no assistance, no training even though I'd made it clear to them she was my choice."

  "They hoped you'd change your mind while you were in the Fleet."

  "Yes."

  "They never really knew you, did they?" When Jotham just looked at him, Barek chuckled. "Once you reach a decision, you never change it."

  "Rarely," Jotham corrected. "Rarely change it, because even a King can be wrong. He just needs someone brave enough to tell him when he is."

  "Like Jacinda," Barek said.

  "Exactly like Jacinda," Jotham agreed.

  "And Amina?" Barek's eyes went blank as he asked.

  "I will not intefere... as a King... but as your father, I make no promises. You are my son. I love you and I only want the best for you."

  "What you think is best for me and what I do, could be radically different. Just as your parents were about you."

  "True." Serious eyes met Barek's. "All I want is for you to find true happiness and love, Barek, as I had with your mother, as I ha
ve rediscovered with Jacinda. The crown you will one day wear won't be nearly as heavy if you have love in your life."

  Chapter Thirty-One

  "Pajari, what the fuck is going on?!!"

  "What are you talking about, Keane?" Elliott asked looking at the flushed, furious face of his biggest financial supporter through his comm.

  "The investigation going on of my company!"

  "Keane, I warned you it was going to happen after the explosion on Nuga."

  "You said they would be investigating Nuga! Not that they were going to be investigating all of my contract sites. You especially didn't tell me the investigation was going to be conducted by the Zhao Corporation. By Ethan Michelakakis! Personally!"

  "What?" Elliott couldn’t keep the shock off his face. "That's impossible! I have final say on what is investigated."

  "That's what I thought! It's what I pay you for! But Ethan Michelakakis showed up at my Central site with an order signed by Prince Barek!"

  "Signed by Barek? But Barek doesn't have any real power, not as the heir. Jotham's never given him any."

  "Well, it seems he does now! You had better fix this, Pajari, or I'll find someone else to give my support to!" With that threat, Keane disconnected.

  Elliott sat back in his chair, his mind racing. What the fuck was going on? Barek was signing orders? That can't be right. Barek will be returning to the fleet shortly... wouldn't he? Pushing a button on his comm, he connected with his aide.

  "Yes, sir?"

  "Get me the Palace!" he ordered. "Now!"

  "Yes, sir!"

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  "King Jotham's office," Chesney answered the comm.

  "This is Assemblyman Pajari, put me through to King Jotham."

  "I'm sorry, Assemblyman, but King Jotham is not available at this time." Chesney barely kept the satisfaction off his face that he could tell the presumptuous man that. "Could I relay a message to him?"

  "Yes, inform the King that I need to speak with him about the Sokol Corporation," Pajari ordered.

  "If you are referring to the current investigation, then you need to speak with Prince Barek, as he is in charge of it."