Jacinda's Challenge (Imperial 3)

  "Prince Barek is?" Pajari's eyes widened.

  "Yes. Would you like me to transfer you to his aide?"

  "Barek has an aide?!!"

  "Of course. So would you like to be transferred?"

  "Yes."

  "One moment then," Chesney told him and hitting a button transferred the call.

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  "Prince Barek's office."

  "This is Assemblyman Pajari," Elliott told the face of a man he'd never seen before, hoping to intimidate him. "I need to speak with Prince Barek immediately."

  "Let me see if he is available, sir." He put Pajari on hold before the man could say another word.

  Barek smiled at his new aide. He had handled Pajari perfectly. Barek had been expecting this call. It had actually taken a little longer than he thought, but he was sure that was because Sokol had been chewing Pajari's ass.

  "Keep him on hold for a few more minutes then transfer his call in to me."

  "Yes, Sire."

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  "Assemblyman Pajari, what can I do for you?"

  "Prince Barek, I'm sorry to bother you, but I was informed by your father's aide that I needed to speak to you regarding the Sokol Corporation. I'm sure he is wrong."

  "Chesney is never wrong. Why are you inquiring about Sokol, Assemblyman?"

  "I... Well, I received a call from Keane Sokol, owner, and President of the Sokol Corporation. And he was quite... upset... when Ethan Michelakakis showed up at one of his mining sites with an authorization, signed by you, to investigate the facility."

  "I'm sure he is upset, and he'll be even more upset when he realizes all the facilities that he received a government contract for are being investigated."

  "What?!! But... but I chair the committee that decides who is to be investigated."

  "So I've been informed." Barek gave Pajari a steady stare and saw the other man begin to sweat.

  "Then how..."

  "How what, Assemblyman?"

  "Then how is this happening when I didn't approve it?"

  "It's happening because my father gave me complete authority to investigate what happened on Nuga and make sure it never happens again. Anywhere."

  "Of course, of course. What happened on Nuga was a terrible tragedy and it must be investigated, but there are certain procedures that need to be followed, Prince Barek, so that the People's confidence can be restored."

  "I totally agree, Assemblyman Pajari."

  "Sire, that can't be done if you are starting something you aren't going to be here to finish."

  "What makes you think I won’t be here to finish it?" Barek demanded coolly.

  "Because these things often become long, drawn out, and complicated things to investigate. I know I've been involved in many of them and with you returning to the Guardian..."

  "I won't be returning to the Guardian, Assemblyman. I have officially resigned my commission and will now serve permanently at my father's side."

  "I... I was not made aware of that, Sire."

  "Should you have been?" Barek let Pajari hear his sarcasm. "It was a private, personal matter between myself and my father. As such I will now have plenty of time to investigate what happened on Nuga."

  "Yes, of course. I agree and I can have a group of trusted inspectors on Nuga in just a few days. I will demand immediate answers from them so Nuga is repaired and running properly. There is no need for the investigation to go further than that."

  "I disagree, Assemblyman. I have studied all the contracts granted to the Sokol Corporation, and they always list the same suppliers, the same personnel, and many times identical test results..." Barek let that hang there for a moment. “Because of this, I believe the corruption and mismanagement that led to the explosion on Nuga goes much further than just Nuga. Therefore, every site that Sokol manages that has received a contract from the House of Protection will be inspected by those that I trust."

  "But, Sire, Ethan Michelakakis... He is a competitor of the Sokol Corporation. He will state there are problems where none exist."

  "What makes you believe that?"

  "Because, as I've said, he was never able to secure a major contract with us."

  "Why is that? I've looked over his bids, in many cases they came in more favorably than Sokol's."

  "One must look at more than just the bottom line when one considers awarding a contract, Sire. There is reputation and, of course, how they performed with past contracts."

  "The reputation of the Zhao Corporation is without reproach, Assemblyman Pajari."

  "When Harbin Zhao ran the company, yes, but the last ten cycles that's been lost with his son-in-law running it. Ethan Michelakakis."

  "You question Ethan Michelakakis' ethics? With a father like Stephan? An Assemblyman you served with?"

  "Yes, well, Stephan was a good man, but he wasn't perfect and made some large errors in judgment, as far as I'm concerned. His son is just the product of that."

  "A product of what? Assemblyman Pajari?" Barek's tone had become deathly cold, but Pajari didn't seem to notice.

  "A product of a mixed bloodline. When that occurs, it's no wonder the child has no concept of what it is to truly belong to a House and, therefore, has no loyalty."

  "Just so I'm sure I understand, Assemblyman Pajari. You believe that Ethan Michelakakis is not a member of this House, even though he was born here and his father was from this House."

  "But his mother isn't."

  "Jacinda Michelakakis might have been born in the House of Healing, but she wed a man from the House of Protection, she has lived here for nearly forty cycles."

  "That still doesn't make her a member of this prestigious House!"

  "And that is your basis for believing Ethan would lie?"

  "Of course, and in doing so he would sully the good name of a true and loyal member of this House."

  "I see."

  "Good, so I will inform Keane he may have Ethan removed by any means he sees fit."

  "No." Although the word was quietly spoken, it froze Pajari as if he had been stunned.

  "No?" Pajari questioned.

  "No. You see Assemblyman Pajari, I trust Ethan Michelakakis, emphatically. He is my choice for this position and he will report directly to me. You can inform Keane Sokol that if I hear of him interfering with Ethan and the investigation he is conducting in my name, in any way, that he will be brought up on charges of gross negligence in the death of nearly five hundred people."

  "I..." Pajari's eyes bulged at Barek.

  "Have a good day, Pajari."

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  "No! Absolutely not!" Jotham words were hard and said as the King.

  "Jotham..." Jacinda's words were gentle as if she were dealing with an upset child.

  "I don't want you to go without me."

  "It's only a few days early, Jotham, so Kia can make the final alterations to my gown." She put a hand on his arm. "It's important to me, that this dress reflect well not only on me but on you."

  "I could care less what it 'reflects,' Jacinda. I know," he held up his hand as she opened her mouth. "I know that's the wrong thing to say, but it’s true. I have never seen you at an event that you didn't look amazing, Jacinda. You could be wearing a rag and you'd still outshine every other woman in the room."

  "Jotham...." Jacinda's eyes softened.

  "What I care about is that you are going to be away from me. Half a world away, and it doesn't matter that you'll be staying in the Royal Wing at the House of Knowledge. I'll still worry because I'm not with you. Kia can make the alterations once we arrive."

  "Kia is going to be up to her eyeballs making alterations for Cassandra and others. She's already doing me a favor by making the dress on such short notice. It's the least I can do to work around her schedule."

  "Jacinda..."

  "Plus it'll give me a chance to hopefully talk to Stephanie."

  Jotham heard the worry in her voice. "She's still not answering your comms?"
He knew how upset Jacinda was about that even though she tried to hide it.

  "No. So I thought I would try face-to-face this time."

  Jotham took a deep breath. He knew she needed to do this and he needed to let her. It didn't mean he needed to like it. "Alright, but you will take my personal shuttle, a full guard, and you will use them." The look in his eyes told Jacinda not to argue. "All the time, Jacinda."

  "Alright," she agreed.

  "And you'll call me. Every day. Every night."

  "I will."

  "And..."

  "Jotham." She put gentle fingers over his lips, stilling his words. "It will be fine. I will be safe. I won't take any chances."

  "Swear it," he ordered.

  "I swear."

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  Green walked into Deffand's office and sat down. He knew Jacinda planned to stay at the Palace that night after she convinced Jotham to let her go to Kisurri early, without Jotham. He couldn't help but smile because he knew she would convince the King. He had already told his men to pack and be prepared to leave.

  "What's put that smile on your face, Green?" Deffand demanded looking up from the report, he was reading.

  "Jacinda. She wants to leave for Kisurri early." His smile grew. "Without Jotham."

  "Oh, that's not going to go over well." Deffand set his report aside.

  "No, but she'll convince him."

  "True. I'd better let my men know we'll be leaving early too."

  "You think Jotham will change his schedule and go with her?"

  "No, he has some meetings he can't miss. But I do think with her gone, he's going to rearrange his schedule and be working late so he can get there earlier." Deffand was about to pick up the report when a look crossed Green's face Deffand didn't like. "What's wrong?"

  "Something happened several weeks back. I keep expecting Jotham to ask me about it, but he hasn't. I don't think Jacinda told him."

  "Told him what?" Deffand asked.

  "Not long after Jacinda was assigned protection, she was walking in the Public Wing when Assemblyman Pajari's wife confronted her."

  "Confronted her? What do you mean 'confronted' her?" Deffand demanded.

  "Madame Pajari was ranting on about how Jacinda shouldn't be there, shouldn't be allowed there, and that she needed to be escorted out of the Palace."

  "She what?!!"

  "Jacinda just stood there and took it. She wouldn't let me interfere except to escort her out. Madame Pajari didn't even notice I was escorting her deeper into the Palace instead of out of it."

  "That woman is a menace," Deffand muttered.

  "I agree. But what shocked me the most is that Jacinda told me it was what she had expected, that when it was realized she was the King's 'companion' there were going to be even more things said to and about her, and that was just the way it was."

  "Jotham is never going to allow that."

  "He will if he doesn't know about it."

  "So why haven't you told him?"

  "And have Jacinda upset with me? No way. I report to you. You have the responsibility of informing the King, and then Jacinda can be upset with you."

  "Thanks a lot, Kort. Here I give you a dream position and you go and throw me under the transport."

  "Dream position. Yeah, right. Jacinda is a security nightmare. She's on the go more than Jotham, and more often than not, it's at the spur of the moment."

  "And you love the challenge."

  "I do." Kort agreed. "Don't worry, Nick, she won't stay mad at you for too long."

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  "Hello, Stephanie." Jacinda watched her daughter stiffen and knew she would have turned and walked away if it weren't for Peter Chamberlain walking beside her. Peter had informed her they would be walking this way and Jacinda had taken advantage of it.

  "Mother," Stephanie acknowledged coolly. "What are you doing here?"

  "I thought we should talk." Jacinda turned her attention to Peter. "Hello, Peter."

  "Hello, Jacinda," Peter said smiling at her. "Will I see you at last meal tonight?"

  "I'm afraid not. Tonight I'm having dinner at my sister's."

  "Brett will be disappointed. He has some more drawings he wants to show you."

  "I would love to see them," Jacinda told him honestly. "Maybe if it's not too late when I get back I could call him?"

  "That would be fine." Peter turned his attention to Stephanie. "Lieutenant, I'll see you in the training room in fifteen."

  "Yes, Captain," Stephanie immediately responded.

  Jacinda waited until they were alone before speaking. "You never answered any of my calls."

  "I didn't want to talk to you."

  "I gathered that, but ignoring a problem doesn't make it go away, Stephie."

  "Is talking about it?" Stephanie demanded.

  "Not in the way you want, but it might help you come to terms with it."

  "And if I don't want to come to 'terms with it,' as you say?"

  "Then we are going to have a problem."

  "I can't believe you're doing this, Mother!" Stephanie hissed. "What about Dad!"

  "What about him?"

  "If he were alive...."

  "If your father were alive, none of this would have happened. I loved your father, Stephanie, still love him, will always love him. But now I also love Jotham and I would no more give him up than I would have your father."

  "But..." Stephanie frowned, looking confused.

  "But what?"

  "How... you always said Dad was your life mate."

  "And he was, is, but that doesn't mean I can't love someone else. It's not the same as the love I have for your father, Stephanie. It's different, but that doesn't make it wrong. I'm not the same woman I was when I wed your father and became a wife. It changed me, just as it changed me when I became a mother, just as it changed me when I became a widow. I'm sorry if that upsets you. I know, of all my children, you were the closest to your father because you were his little girl. You idolized him so much more than Danton did or Ethan ever did, and I know you see this as a betrayal to him, but I don't. I see it as a tribute. Your father's love was so true that I know he wouldn't want me to remain alone, not if I found myself in love again."

  "You can't be sure of that," Stephanie denied, but she didn't sound so sure.

  "I can because it’s what I'd want for him if the situation were reversed."

  "I... I have to go, Mother. I can't be late for training."

  "I understand. But please, Stephanie, think about what I've said because in a few days everyone is going to know."

  "What do you mean?" Stephanie demanded. "Is Jotham going to make an official announcement?!!"

  "In a way. I'm here because I'm going to be attending the Royal Ball with him."

  "What?!!" Stephie took a stumbling step back.

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  "Keep your arms up, Michelakakis!" Peter's warning came a moment too late and Stephanie found herself on the mat, again, with Woodrow grinning cruelly down at her. She hated Wortham Woodrow. He made no secret that he believed women had no place in security, and as Stephanie was the only remaining woman in this program, she was his favorite target.

  "Everyone take a break! Michelakakis! My office!" Peter ordered, spinning on his heel.

  Woodrow snickered as he went to get a drink of water.

  "What's going on in your head, Lieutenant?" Peter demanded slamming the door shut before moving to his desk.

  "Nothing, Sir," she responded standing stiffly at attention.

  "I can see that. Otherwise, Woodrow would never be able to take you down with such a telegraphed move."

  "Yes, Sir."

  Peter leaned back in his chair giving her a considering look. "You, Lieutenant, are the most naturally talented recruit I have ever trained."

  "What?" Stephanie gave him a shocked look.

  "You're smart, quick to learn and adapt, and realize that brute strength is rarely the answer."

&nb
sp; "I... Thank you, Captain."

  "Which is why your performance today is so annoying. Now I want to know what is causing it."

  "Sir, I'm sorry, it's a family matter. But I swear to you, I will not let it affect my training again."

  "You're upset about your mother's relationship with King Jotham." Peter didn't think it was possible, but Stephanie became even stiffer, her eyes piercing his much like her mother's had.

  "Sir, while I have nothing but respect for you, that is none of your business."

  "Normally I would agree with that statement except in this case it affects one of my trainees. So unless you want removed from this program, you will answer."

  Stephanie was silent for several moments weighing what mattered to her most and realized that if she failed this program now it would be her own fault.

  "Yes. I'm having a problem with my mother's... relationship with King Jotham."

  "Why?"

  "WHY?!!" Stephanie looked at him as if he were crazy. "She's my mother and he's..."

  "Just a man."

  "That's not true! He's a King, a leader of people, he, and my father..."

  "He and your father?"

  "They were friends. I used to sneak into my dad's office and listen to him and Jotham talk. I never really listened to what they were saying, but the way they said it. You could tell, even when they were arguing, that they respected each other."

  "And you think Jotham has somehow now violated that friendship, that respect, by loving your mother."

  "He doesn't love her," Stephanie instantly denied.

  "He does," Peter told her quietly.

  "He can't."

  "Why not?"

  "Because if he did, he would be making her his Queen and not his companion." She finally said what was truly bothering her. Her mother was never meant to be a 'companion.'

  "Perhaps he will."

  "No. He's always said that Lata would be his only Queen."

  "To who?"

  "My father. Dad wanted him to meet someone once. Can you believe that? My dad trying to set the King up with a woman? Jotham said it then that there would only ever be one woman for him, one Queen, and she was gone."