- Giselle -"What I mean is," she felt a need to explain with the way we were looking at her. "Kira is also your daughter, right, and the world should see her with you, except you are trying to hide her. After all, she was your maid before now, and you'd probably not want people to know.""Christine!" Father hit the table and sucked in a deep breath in a bit to calm himself. "What are you trying to insinuate. If I was ashamed of Kira I wouldn't even want to accept her in the first place so I don't have to worry about the world knowing. So stop trying to paint it the way you are. I love my child so much.""Well, if you do, why is it looking like a big deal for her to follow you?" Christine pushed, and I could see what she was trying to do there."This is an official and business meeting. I cannot just take her with me," Father tried to explain as he struggled to remain calm. "It's not even a social gathering.""Why is this any different?" Christine asked casually, not caring that she w
- Giselle -I walked into the room and closed the door behind me, only to hear a loud noise. It turns out I pushed the door a bit harder than intended, which distracted Franklin from his study, and he looked up.He raised his brow at me questioningly and I smiled with my upper lip awkwardly. Nothing was funny."It was a mistake," I explained. He looked on for a few more minutes before agreeing with me and looking away.I sighed and walked towards the bed. This is stupid. Why will Father even agree to such a thing? Doesn't he know what we are dealing with? This is an expensive business deal! He can't just take Kira with him because of sentiments unless she is really able to represent him.Just then, a knock came on the door and Franklin looked again."I'll get it," I told him and he nodded. I opened the door and it was Father."Dad?" I called out, wondering what he was doing here."Is your husband in?" He asked, and I looked back, not like I did not know Franklin was in, of course."Ye
- Giselle -I walked into the room and closed the door behind me, only to hear a loud noise. It turns out I pushed the door a bit harder than intended, which distracted Franklin from his study, and he looked up.He raised his brow at me questioningly and I smiled with my upper lip awkwardly. Nothing was funny."It was a mistake," I explained. He looked on for a few more minutes before agreeing with me and looking away.I sighed and walked towards the bed. This is stupid. Why will Father even agree to such a thing? Doesn't he know what we are dealing with? This is an expensive business deal! He can't just take Kira with him because of sentiments unless she is really able to represent him.Just then, a knock came on the door and Franklin looked again."I'll get it," I told him and he nodded. I opened the door and it was Father."Dad?" I called out, wondering what he was doing here."Is your husband in?" He asked, and I looked back, not like I did not know Franklin was in, of course."Ye
- Giselle -I returned to the bed and sat on it heavily."Everything okay?" Franklin asked."Yeah," I replied, my voice low."You're sure?" He pressed. "It seems unusual for your father to want to have a word with you like that. And he did not bother to say hi to me. Did you two have any issues?""Nothing is wrong. We just..." I sighed and continued. "We were just talking about something which is not so important, and I don't want to bother you.""Well if you say so," he said. "Just that, the way you are looking, I'm forced to think something is wrong.""I said everything is fine!" I retorted angrily. I was getting worked up and I wished he would just leave me alone. "Do you have to know even if something is wrong? Do you want him to tell you every little thing we are dealing with? This is between me and my father, you don't have to know. You don't..."It's okay, honey," he cut in softly, and I found myself shutting it immediately. "I'm sorry for pushing you when you said there was no
- Kira -"Why are you worried about this?" Mother asked me with a frown. "It's all for your good. Do you know what it means for you to go with your father to this meeting? It means you are going to gain some crazy recognition. Let me tell you what you don't know. I've done my research and I know the kind of men that will be present there. This is an opportunity to shine.""Mother I am not saying it is not," I told her. "But I am worried because I don't even know what to do when I get there or what to say. Plus, this is a business meeting and I'll have to speak or present. I would have been happier if it were another kind of gathering.""There is another thing you have not considered. Do you think your father does not know about this? Of course, he does, but why do you think he still agreed? He is definitely going to make other plans so you don't have to say anything there.""That will make me look like an escort, and that's pathetic," I lamented."But you are not an escort. He will de
- Kira -"What are you doing here?" I blurted. "And where did you drop your manners? Why would you barge into someone's room without a knock.""I have been knocking," she said calmly. "It's obvious you did not hear me because you were busy...""What do you want?" I eyed her."Nothing too serious," she shrugged with a sigh. "Though too important to have brought me to your room.""And what's that?""I want to run you through the contracts before you go there and make a fool of yourself," she said casually, the intention of her insult sinking in."You know, back there at the table, you were acting all nice and sweet, but I know you to be a very terrible, envious person. Good thing I was not carried away by your deception.""Good for you," she replied with a smile."You are just jealous that I am the one going to the meeting and not you. You think I don't know? I can see it in your eyes, Giselle. I can see the pain," I said."Look, sister. We will have all the time to do this after you ar
- Giselle -"Giselle! Giselle!" I heard someone calling my name as I walked back to my room. I turned round to see Xavier running after me.My brows knitted as I wondered what he wanted."Hey," he said breathlessly as he approached me."What?" I looked at him from head to toe."Uhm, how are you doing Giselle?" He asked. I did not reply. What was with the pleasantries?"What?" I asked again so he would go straight to the point."Are you not going to answer my greeting?" He asked and I scoffed."When did this start? We have not greeted each other in weeks, and all of a sudden, you pull this up? What do you want Xavier?" I retorted."Indeed, we have not been in this kind of term with each other but it shouldn't be. For how long are we going to keep brushing each off. At least, we are family now. Your sister is my fiancé and my father, your husband. I don't think there should be any holding back now.""I don't want to have anything to do with you," I told him. "Not now or ever and not eve
- Kira -It was the day for the meeting and contrary to the confidence I had felt before now, I became jittery.The ride was prepared and we set out with many guards. Now alone with King Marcus on the ride, I realised how lonely I was.We were going out of the pack. My subconsciousness had to remind me at a critical moment like this that even if I am no longer a maid, I am still a princess recognised only in my own pack and not beyond.I tried to shove off the negative thoughts. I will do fine, I assured myself."How are you holding up there?" King Marcus asked and I managed a smile."I'm doing just fine," I replied, glad my voice did not shake because I was shaking inside like I had a cold.The realisation just dawned on me now that this is more serious than I thought. The atmosphere, the carriage, the expensive attires, the scent of the air around me, everything.Gosh, I should have dropped whatever feeling and pride and listened to Giselle's lectures at least. I saw her look as we
- Giselle -"Bitch!" One of them swore at me then turned to the other. "She's got some powers.""Not holding back," the other replied. "She doesn't know how to control it."Not yet, you idiot, I muttered to myself. I tried again for the powers but nothing came. The men kept getting closer. Why does this shit happen to me all the time? I mean, what is the use of having powers when I cannot make use of it? But I kept trying."Who are you and what do you want?" I resolved to talk to the attackers in a bit to distract them and delay the attack."Who we are is not so important to you is it?" They said. "After all you are a princess. You must see yourself as more important. However, we are here to put a brake for you."Talking did no job of distracting them. They were on me already and pinned me to the ground."We don't want to hurt you unless you give us a reason to. We just want to give you something to work on. When the contract comes to you, don't sign it."It took me a few seconds to r
- Kira -I sat in front of my mirror after taking a bath and applied my lotion. I put it gently on my skin and rubbed it, catching a smile on my face.My thoughts? It was all about Jason. Nothing going on actually but just the way he looks, his subtle movements and his smiles.Now I was sad he did not ask about me when he came around the other day or could it be that he asked but Giselle did not bother to tell me?Why should I care that he asked for me anyway? My subconsciousness asked. Well, because we are at a level of relationship where he could ask, I told myself. Even if there was no encounter to have made us talk much, he could still ask just to check up on me.I sighed deeply. How did I find myself thinking so much about a total stranger? But Dad had said he was not just any man. He is a good man. The kind that every woman wants in her life. He looks like the kind of man who will cherish, love, respect and protect his woman with those strong arms.Oh...Someone cleared their th
- Giselle -He finally stopped laughing, trying to catch his breath."How's your sister?" He asked out of nowhere."What?""Your sister, Kira," he repeated. "How's she? Or you don't want to talk about her? You know, it's easy for you to say how some people don't have a high sense of reasoning, fascinating also that they are royalty, and it makes no exception to them. It made me remember your sister."And that was when I realized what he was trying to say."Don't drag my sister into this," I warned, not wanting to be involved in that kind of conversation."Or what?" He smirked. "You don't want us to talk about her and what a total disgrace she is? But you just pointed it out now. That being a royalty does not guarantee you to be sharp, and I did not argue with you. Yet when I point out the same applies to your sister, you cannot take it.""You and Kira are two different people, and it is pathetic that you try to compare yourself with her," I said. "Kira only became a part of the royal
- Giselle -It was a done deal, I knew it already. Everyone knew, because after the meeting, they all gathered around me and Father and were congratulating us.I excused myself from the crowd and stood a few paces away from them with a glass of wine in my hand.Thank goodness I was able to pull through this. At some point, I was scared it might not work because of the emotional riot I had at home before coming to the meeting.I had stood in front of the mirror after dressing for a long time, a worried look on my face. Franklin walked towards me and held me gently."Take a deep breath," he said slowly, and I did. "You'll do just fine."I closed my eyes to the warmth of his body against mine and nodded to his reassurance."Thank you so much, Frank," I smiled. It was not because I thought I was not good enough. It was because of the tension between Kira, me and my father. It could affect me, but thankfully, I handled it well."Cheers to big things," someone said, interrupting my train of
- Giselle -The hall was extremely silent while I made my presentation with all eyes on me, but I was not shaken. If anything, I was confident, and the looks on their face, especially Sheka's, confirmed to me that they were very impressed.When I rounded up, there was a round of applause."Beautiful!" Alpha Sheka commented. "This is excellent. This is what I am talking about. Before I get too excited, is there anyone that have anything to say?"He looked around the table, and someone raised his hands."Yes, please, go ahead," Alpha granted him the floor."Everything the Princess has said is very innovative, and I am very impressed. They are all good ideas, but I would like to ask her to make some clarifications. She talked about involving other packs in this investment, and I would like to know how she wants to go about it."Alpha Sheka turned to look at me."Gisele, please?""Okay, to answer your question. If you recall correctly, you must have heard me mention the names of the pack
- Giselle - It was a good day, I could say, because nothing eventful had happened. And by that, I mean the usual hurdles with Kira and her mother. Ever since we found out she was Dad's daughter, I haven't had any peace.I was in the courtyard when a noble man approached me. I could not tell who it was from the distance so I watched until he came closer.It was Jason, Alpha Sheka's assistant. I straightened up to talk to him."Good tidings, my lady," he made a light bow when he got close."Good morning Jason," I greeted. "I was not expecting you."I looked him over, knowing well he did not come for just pleasantries and he mostly does not have the time for that. I could see the envelope in his hands and my guess was right."There is a reschedule for the meeting," he told me. "And I brought the invitation for you. The time and date are all there."He handed me the envelope and I took it."It seems very official," I commented more to myself but he heard."That's because the last time yo
- Giselle -I should talk to Dad at least. Since the heat of the incident should be reduced by now. I wasn't myself, I was not happy and I could not sleep.I knocked on his door and waited."Come in, Giselle," he said and I wondered how he knew I was the one at the door. I walked into the room slowly and he was seated on the bed as if he was expecting me."You're awake," I stated, more than asking since I could see that he was sleeping."And so are you," he replied with no emotion in his voice. I sighed as I sat on the edge of the bed beside him."I couldn't sleep and I decided I needed to talk to you," I said and he looked at me. "Dad, I am worried. I am worried sick because of what happened earlier. I was very sad because you did not trust me. I've never lied to you and you know how much I prioritise my business. I will not throw it away simply because I want Kira to be disgraced at the meeting. You know I know well that things are not done that way. That meeting was not for Kira al
- Kira -"What are you doing here?" I shot at her, feeling relieved that it was not someone else like The King or Alpha Franklin."Kira, how much more can you do to make things worse?" Giselle asked me and I grinned."There is only one way to find out," I replied."Why did you lie to father about the document?" She asked, her voice down. There was nothing else she could do but to ask and only if I wished to, would I give her an answer. I am not her maid anymore and I am not answerable to her."I did not lie to him," I shrugged casually. "The truth is I did not know anything in that file.""And that because you blatantly refused to let me tell you all you need to know about it!" She said empathetically and I raised a hand to her face."Hey!" I scowled at her. "Keep it down, miss. Don't raise your voice at me. I did not want you to tell me anything. I have a right to choose what to hear or not and I cannot stand you.""Kira what you did was very stupid and foolish," Giselle shook her he
- Giselle -I sucked in a deep breath in shock and covered my lips with my hands. I looked at the blank expression on Franklin's face and did not know how I was going to convince him that I was telling the truth."I don't know how this file is here," I told him simply. That was the truth and nothing else. I had no other words aside from that."You don't know how the file is here?" He repeated and I shook my head."I know this is difficult to believe since the file is right here in our room but that is the truth," I said earnestly.He did not say anything further but went ahead to drop the file on the table. I wanted to reassure him, to tell him that I wouldn't do such a thing and that Kira was only trying to set me up but I did not know what to say.He returned to what he was doing while I was just standing there, looking like a fool. Apparently, I was looking for evidence and here it is looking me right in the eye. What is going on?"Frank?" I called softly, walking towards him. "You