MICHELLE'S P.O.V
I yawned as I drowsily arose from the comfy bed that I had spent my burdensome night. Nasty thoughts of yesterday evening sped across my mind. I recalled how intimately close I was with Harold, if he had moved a few inches closer we might have actually kissed. I blushed crimson as thoughts of tasting his fleshy pink lips ran through my mind
'He's an asshole Michelle, don't think about anything crazy with someone who doesn't give two shits about you' I muttered to myself as I finally got out of bed and walked the few distance to the bathroom. I slipped out of the bath tub and stepped into my walk-in closet, I selected a baggy grey shirt and paired it with a chic looking baggy black jean and wore a black and white Nike high tops, I gripped my favorite white Georgia Armani purse that contained my necessary items before I finally stepped out of my room into the unfamiliar setting of the Clusten's home.
I took my time as I strutted down the spiraling stairs, I walked pat a few maids who bowed with curtsy as they swiftly went along. Every one of them moved with a sense of politeness and calmness.
I reached the base of the stairs and at once the aroma of freshly baked waffles and toasts flicked across my nostrils, my stomach grumbled as my mouths salivated at the smell of the salubrious dishes. I followed the echoes of cheerful voices that I easily recognized belonged to Mr. and Mrs. Clusten. The reverberating waves of the voices led me to the exquisitely designed dining area that had a nice view of the outside garden. The sounds of their chatter soon stopped the moment I stepped in
'Morning' Julienne greeted grumpily, she didn't hesitate to hide the fact that she didn't like my white ass a bit. I looked around the table and realized that everyone was present except from Harold
'Oh! Morning Michelle' Mrs. Clusten mentioned almost too cheering
I responded to her greeting with a big smile plastered across my face, 'Nice, and yours Mrs. Clusten?'
Mr. Clusten interrupted our upcoming discussion at once and I was glad, 'Are you going somewhere Michelle?' the amber eyed man spoke
I sank into an empty dining chair next to Julienne before I bothered to reply the overly inquisitive man.
'Yes actually, I was hoping to just tour your neighborhood' I answered at last.
A young brunette haired female maid laid a sumptuous looking breakfast on my silver table mat, I smiled politely before working my cutleries effectively and taking a satisfied bite out of the waffles. The waffles tasted like nothing of this world, the wild blueberry's flavor blended subtly with the prepared dough. I must have eaten on for twenty minutes when that annoying male tumbled into the serene and bliss moment. Harold smirked at me before speaking
'Beautiful morning to everyone' the dude dressed in a black pleated trousers and a black button up long sleeve shirt with a black leather coat spoke. Harold was slaying this particular style with a pair of fancy dress boots, his hair was flung about carelessly in a 'just had sex kinda way', but who knows he might just have had sex.it seemed strange staring at him all dressed. He was giving off the odd vibe of a responsible dude and that fact was giving me chills.
'I am headed out now' Harold announced as he grabbed a waffle from Julienne's plate, she frowned giving him a disapproving look but Harold was extremely quick at feasting on the pilfered food.
'Not so fast young man, where are you headed?' Mr. Clusten inquired from his son. Harold stopped dead in his track before turning around to face his father
'The guys and I are meeting up today to deal with some urgent matters' he explained eyeing me in a suspecting manner
'O…Kay, then you and Michelle can head out together' the old geezer said and Harold's face dropped at once
HAROLD'S P.OV
I still couldn't get the images of yester night out of my head, the way she had entangled herself around me with her whole body pressed into me. I had seen her face up close and fallen in love with her all over again. All through those few seconds I couldn't stop thinking about what her reaction would be if I had dared to kiss her.
I glared at Michelle indirectly telling her to try and persuade my dad otherwise. By the way, there is no way both of us would head out in the same car, it's just going to be too awkward and troublesome having to deal with Michelle. Michelle sighed softly before speaking,
'Mr. Clusten there is no need for any of that, I would just be walking around the neighborhood. I wouldn't want to be a burden to Harold' she said, father laughed as he eyed me
'Burden...Harold doesn't see you as a burden or Does he?' father asked giving me one of those his familiar prying glances
'She…she's not a burden!' I blurted out almost as immediately as the question was asked, Julienne eyed me suspecting that something was off with my response
'I and the guys would be handling some nasty business and I wouldn't want her to be traumatized, that's all' I elucidated having to pull open my kimono to reveal the two nineteen millimeter pistol that I had hidden well just because I was trying to convince my adamant dad, I guess I had gotten my adamant and stubborn traits from him.
MICHELLE'S P.O.V
I silently quivered, fear slowly crept underneath my skin and I developed goose bombs right on the spot.
'What type of sane family permit there son to carry two loaded guns around? What type of family did father ask me to come stay with? Or is it and hallucination that Harold Clusten hid a gun underneath his jacket?' all this questions ran through my mind with no possible answer in sight. Then the words of Lee struck me to heart as I recalled what he had said, I trembled the more
'The Royal Princes are not the type of people you should mingle with, their name and popularity extends beyond the walls of The Royals High, they are known all over the United States not as a high school group but as a gang, a gang that ranks third in the secret underworld's ranking. They are dangerous murders and killers, mark my words and avoid them'
'then drop her off a restaurant and come back to get her' Mr. Clusten suggested, not giving up on trying to get Harold to take me along with him, Harold looked at me and let out a loud sigh
'Okay' Harold said finally giving in to his father's request, he grabbed a waffle off Julienne's plate again
'Let's go Nella!' he said, I stood up slowly still visibly shaken from the fact that I had been associating with a gang member for weeks now. I hurried up as he headed swiftly for the door, I sped after him not wanting him to have a change of heart again.
We walked out of the home heading towards the garage, I coughed slightly before speaking
'It's Michelle to you and Nella to only my family members' I corrected arrogantly, Harold snickered before responding
'Who cares' he said
'Typically it's my name so I care' I snapped angrily, he halted at a black Alfa Romeo and turned to me with a mocking smile. He entered into the car, I pulled open the passenger's seat
Stay at the backseat' he announced with a smirk
I frowned as I stubbornly sank into the passenger's seat, and passed him the lame smile that he deserved. I buckled my seat belt and watched as the car pulled out of the large garage
'What kind of business do you and the guys do? And why do you carry a gun around?' I asked
Harold looked away from the road for a few seconds and glanced at me, 'no one told you about what we do?' he shouted surprised
'Yes' I replied
'Then I can't be the one to tell you' he said
'Why?' I grunted,
'Would you stop disturbing me and rather get out of my car' I smiled at this extreme joke, I laughed a bit
'Does it seem like I am joking'
'I said get out of my car' he repeated, I realized at once that this wasn't a joke at all
'What's up with the attitude you promised your dad that you were going to allow me to tug along' I reminded the forgetting asshole
'You Dumbo, I never promised' he informed
'How hard can it be for you Michelle to get your ass out of my car and tour the neighborhood ALONE'
I frowned while glaring at him,
'GET OUT' Harold mouthed with his eyes gleaming with mischief
I forcefully unbuckled the seat belt and stepped out of the car and slammed the door shut angrily'
'Hey! Don't slam my door ever again' he screamed, I stumped off in the other direction but I ran back to the car
'I would report to your dad that you left me stranded right in the middle of the road' I yelled and he smirked
'Do that and I would tell the whole school who you really are?'
'Blackmail doesn't work on me' I bluffed with a taunting smile
'I sure would love to see the President's look when he discovers what you have been up to at school' I thought about my dad's reaction and I was forced to grumble
'But…still I would tell….'Harold cut me shut
'If you don't get going now I would release that nude picture of eight year old you' he taunted
'You would pay for this, take my words you will' I yelled as I walked away, he kept laughing as I left in the other direction.
I logged into Google map and began heading nowhere in particular obviously pissed,
'He's surely going to pay for this' I reassured myself as I trekked farther away
HAROLD'S P.O.V
I smiled as my car rode on, lying about gang businesses to get out of that suffocating and stern home as become one of my latest tricks. I recalled the look on Michelle's face as I ditched her, it made me remember about our horrific childhood friendship.
Nella and I had been one heck of friends, we were always around each other. We never let anyone into our inner circle of friendship, nothing really separated our interests except from when Michelle began to fall in love with my handsome male best friend, Noah although I loved her first. I guess she never figured that out.
We were known as the naughty and haughty bunch, also named the worst combination ever, she always got my back and I got hers. But I guess I was too blinded by my true feelings to notice that I had been secretly friend zoned.
Noah Clusten just really always have the upper hand with the ladies. Maybe because he's always calm headed and coordinated, ladies are always flocking all around him at all places while me…well... the ladies all just tend to come to me for comfort after been heart broken by Noah. That has always been my life since forever.
I pulled up in front of the familiar joint, 'Cordon Bleu'. The giant billboard hosting the smiling face of a French chef never seemed to get old, I alighted out of my car and pulled open the trunk, I snatched the black bag containing the account ledger of the gang's businesses that I am meant to audit before giving a final report to Noah, who is actually meant to do this specific task.
I struggled to contain the bag in my hand while also shutting the trunk close, the thought of angry Michelle aimlessly strolling around the neighborhood on this hot afternoon got me smiling as I stepped into the crowded blue-themed restaurant. I walked up to the counter that was been attended to by the acquainted face of Jamel, a black American.
'A jug of black coffee infused with three pints of tequila' I nodded in agreement to the spelt out order,
'I would be at my regular seat' I muttered
'Sure, your order would reach table twenty soon 'she announced
'Thanks' I mentioned as I walked away towards the specially designated backseat that I always stayed. I unpacked the numerous sheets of paper out of the bag and immediately got to work, soon my order reached my table.
MICHELLE'S P.O.V
I must have trekked close to two hours and a few minutes, walking past eye captivating homes with well-trimmed gardens. My legs didn't seem to hurt as much as I thought they would, I guess the trill of having a freedom that I had had to forfeit because of my father's position got me unbothered about the little ache I felt in my feet. I couldn't stop beaming with smiles as I strutted around the neighborhood, I would have gone further if not because of my grumbling stomach pulled me out of the Euphoria that I was feeling. I had never felt as clear headed and rejuvenated in a long time, I checked the Google map for the nearest and closest restaurant, and I smiled as I realized I was few feet away from the nearest Restaurant, Cordon Bleu. I made my way towards the restaurant's location, I smiled as I caught sight of the billboard that hosted the restaurant's name. I stepped in and immediately got swept into the large crowd of customers. I took a seat and signaled for an attendant, a male waiter turned up next to me with a menu, I scanned through the almost unending list of their available delicacies before concluding on having their jumbo pack, French fries and fried chicken with a chilled smoothie and a hamburger with triple layers.
I watched the waiter mingle into the crowd before I lost contact of him, I sighed and glanced about, staring at the details on the walls and windows
'Here's your order' the male's voice came, I smiled and at once dug into the food, I was busy chewing to my heart's content when I felt a sudden tug at my hair.
I paused and turned around swiftly, blazing with extreme anger about how hard my air was yanked. I forced a smile realizing it was a child. The cute devil cooed at me cutely,
'Sorry, Ariana just loves doing that' an apologetic mum spoke, before picking up the child and smiling apologetically
'it's understandable' I managed to say with a fake smile while in reality I badly wanted wipe that beautiful giggle off the child's face cause of how hard that yank pulled at my scalp
The child clapped while still smiling at me, unconscious of the anger I felt towards her.
'I am Keisha' the English woman spoke
'I am …'
'Michelle Hudson' the woman mentioned, I smiled truthfully this time around, the woman sank into the empty seat in front of me uninvited but I didn't give a damn about that, she obviously needed someone to lend her an ear and I didn't mind been that ear.
HAROLD'S P.O.V
I was deeply engrossed in the calculations and analyzes of the gang's account, my round framed concave lens aided my sight as I continually swept through pages after pages of numbers, I put in the total amount of the arms and ammunitions expenses before pulling open a pages to a new aspect, I guess running an international criminal organization can be effort and money tasking. I thought about it as I worked my ass out what Noah Gurnald was probably doing, maybe he was stuck in the gang's head office sipping chardonnay steeped in ice and savoring a nice side dish while also working his ass off. I guess its Noah we are speaking about, he could just be in a nice room with a naked blonde lady, the thought of that got me hot all of a sudden.
I glanced upwards sipping out of my coffee mug, I looked around but I paused when my eyes recognized that familiar grey shirt and black jean, I doubted it could be Michelle until she stood up, those wide hips and jet black hair confirmed that it was her. Jalousie struck me to heart as she held tightly until that child zealously, gazing at the tiny being with astonishment,
'Whose cute kid is that?' I wanted to shout jealously but restrained myself from, was this the bloody sight-seeing she had told dad she wanted to do.
the baby tugged roughly at her bosom, I frowned, 'let go you little demon' I spoke underneath my breath, I was about to stand up from my seat and go steal her away from that baby when a girl with dyed ginger hair came up to my table, she had this bright twinkle in her eyes.
'I am Jessie' the girl that looked a few years younger than me spoke with enthusiasm, I smiled
'I am Harold' I introduced myself, she giggled as I said my name
'I attend RHS' she announced
'Ohhhhhhh' I mouthed understanding why she had seemed too glad to see me. I tried to secretly evade her and get back to secretly stalking Michelle but Jessie didn't seem too enthusiastic to leave
'Fuck' I cursed as I sighted those cursed souls step into the restaurant, it was the Undertakers. A group of five men who never let the base of the food chain, they have been in the 100th position for more than a few years now, Darren their leader began making his way towards Michelle, I sensed trouble at once but Jessie was still standing in front of me and flirting amateurishly. I palmed my face irritated.
MICHELLE'S P.O.V
I was halfway done with my food, I couldn't stop myself from continually speaking with Keisha who turned out to be a surrogate mum in her early twenties. Coincidentally we both seem alike in a lot of ways,
We share the same birthday date, April 6. Lost our virginity to assholes who didn't value us, she loves rom-coms as much as I do…
We both were still in deep into our conversation when out of nowhere a hand entered into my plate and stole my fries, I glared fiercely at the owner of the arm. A man in his early forties stared at me with his cold and lifeless, steel-grey eyes. He smirked as he stole another fry, was he thinking I wouldn't do anything to him because he was huge and much taller than me. He smiled as he dug his hand into my fry's basket, I gripped his hand before he could pull out another fry, and his smile disappeared.
'Not cool, this is my food. Go get yours!' I snapped loudly
Keisha sat still, unmoving. She clutched the baby to her chest, it seemed as though she was intending to disappear into the blue leathered chair even Ariana wasn't smiling at this man. Before I would realize what was happening two more tough looking men piled behind the man, they all were heavily tattooed with piercings everywhere, one of the man who looked the youngest had an ugly goatee.
My hand peeled away from the wrist of this strange looking man whose minions had pistols in their hands.
'Alicia, take the child and fucking go wait in the van' the man I suspected was the leader spoke, I furrowed my brows the moment kasha arose from her seat, it took fewer seconds for me to figure out that I was lied to.
Kaisha looked away as she began heading for the door, 'you bitch you lied so well to my freaking face' I yelled annoyed
'The surrogacy, rom-com…so all that was a lie' I shouted disappointed, kasha…Alicia didn't stare at me at all with her face bowed low she left
'Anyone call the police or take even a single recording of this and I would ask my men to fire' the leader spoke, a huge silence reigned in the restaurant at once, and everyone tensed.
'So, Michelle what do you wanna do before we kidnap you' the head spoke
'Uhmmm…what if I ordered a go-fuck-yourself-sandwich with a kiss-my-ass smoothie' I replied sarcastically before busting into laughter
'Sure, but I think they ran out of those, hope you won't mind a-two-can-play-this-game toast' I frowned realizing I was stuck with no hope of escape, the minions gripped my two arms and forced me to stand-up. They led me away towards the door
'And where do you think you are taking her' that annoying voice thundered, the men froze as soon as they heard his voice