HAILEY'S ROOM*
Removing the vibrator was the first thing Hailey did when she arrived, and she had a cold bath.
Since she had nothing to eat at the dinner, she opened her vanity table drawer and got bread and bottled water.
She has bread and bottled water in all the drawers cos Judith never allows her to eat good food, so bread is her major food.
She settled on the bed, opening the bread and taking a large bite, nodding as she chewed.
She blinked when her mind went back to the guy she bumped into at the dinner hall, remembering she didn't apologize despite the fact that he had picked her purse for her.
She shook it off. They probably won't meet again anyways.
She drank some water and took another bite from the bread before taking her phone.
She went to Instagram, and the first post she saw is Manson Cobalt's.
He posted four picture slides one minute ago, and she immediately reacted on the pictures, scrolling through the four.
Manson Cobalt is a carefree but attractive guy who'd get any girl he wants without trying, but he's generally not interested in ladies.
He's the son of Senator Lucas Cobalt, and he attended the same college as Hailey and Judith.
Yes. Hailey and Judith, they attended the same college.
Hailey clicked on the comment button and was about to type a comment on the picture when Judith came in, so she dropped the phone.
"Lemme guess, you were on Manson's IG just now" Judith said, folding her arms on her chest.
"So what? Are you sad that I still chat him while you have no connection with him at all?" Hailey replied, taking another bite from her bread.
"You're differently bold tonight, and I hate it" Judith came closer.
"Am I not right? He's the main reason why you hate me this much anyways" Hailey replied, dropping the bread and standing.
Judith pushed her back to sit on the bed, then she grabbed her hair, forcing her to look up.
"What do you want?" Hailey breathed out.
"Draw me another design. I'm planning to launch it next week" Judith ordered, and Hailey smirked.
"Aren't you scared that your secret might get out one day? Judith Caldwell, CEO of Jud's World is not the original owner of her designs. I'm the brain behind everything! You force me to draw designs for you and then you go ahead to make them into outfits for your brand. If I die today, you'll stop trending"
"That's why you're not allowed to die! And why would the secret get out? I and Blake have you in the middle of our palms anyways, and your parents are like dogs who'd even stab you for money, so... we're all good" Judith cackled, letting go of her hair.
"Draw me a new design before daybreak" she said.
"What if I say no this time? Draw a design from your dead brain yourself" Hailey argued.
Judith's hand travelled to her face, slapping her so hard that her lip bursted.
Hailey stood with the intention of returning the slap, but she stopped herself before she could do it
The last time she slapped Judith back, Blake had poisoned her and locked her in The Labyrinth for a week. She suffered hell from the poison and almost bled all her blood before Blake gave her the antidote on the seventh day.
Such pain is what she's scared to go through again, never in her life.
"The design...will be ready before tomorrow morning" she said, drawing in a breath.
Judith smiled, stroking her hair.
"I knew the slap would reset your brain...make the design beautiful ok? Maybe I can take pity on you and let you have good food tomorrow instead of your signature bread" she said, laughing as she walked out of the room.
Hailey sat back in bed, wiping the blood on her lip while sniffling.
MONARCHIAL PALACE, 9PM*
The royal dinning was already set when the brothers arrived.
They went straight to the big room where King Kaden is seated with Rania and Victoria already.
Maids are around them, facing the wall and not daring to watch royalties eat.
The royal dinning is a imperial vaulted chamber adorned with rich tapestries and beautiful works of art, featuring a stunning crystal chandelier, exquisite fine china, and plush velvet drapes.
The golden table is long with equally golden chairs at each side of it.
King Kaden is sitting at the right side of the table, a fine man despite being in his late fifties. His sons' definitely got their looks from him.
Victoria is sitting by his right side while Rania is by the left, looking sad as usual.
The brothers sat facing them on the other side of the table, and King Kaden smiled, seeing Colt.
"You finally made up your mind to come back home. It's good to see you again, son"
"Just say you missed me, it's not hard" Colt replied cockily, and King Kaden laughed shortly.
One look at him, one would know he's a free-spirited man who gets stern when needed.
"You're still this arrogant even at 26" he said.
"I believe mentioning my age is not for nothing" Colt replied suspiciously.
"You can't come back home and start cruising around clubhouses and fighting rings like your brothers, especially the one who's your age mate" King Kaden said.
Nickolas started eating, knowing the king is referring to him.
Nickolas and Colt share the same year, but Nickolas is older with two months.
"You're not interested in the state affairs, and I'll not force you, but I've got several companies in need of a CEO, and you're taking over one of them... RR to be precise" King Kaden announced.
"Regality & Royals? Yes!" Rania gushed across the table.
"I'm not interested" Colt said.
"What? Colt!" Raina's arms dropped.
"I said no, you heard me. I'm not ready to be a CEO yet. Getting hooked in meetings all day long ain't my lifelong plan" he replied, eating from his steak.
"I knew he'd share the same view with us, what are brothers for?" Nickolas said.
"Shut up, Nick" Victoria said, and Nickolas returned to his food.
"But Nick is right, what's so cool about being a CEO? Creepy shit" Tristan made faces.
"You too, Tris. Shut up" Victoria added, and Tristan returned to his food too.
"Colt...I know you wanna have fun, but you also have to serve your quota. You graduated with 4.95 CGPA, what else is needed? Get it started and you'll get married soon" Victoria continued, and Colt raised his lids
"Marriage?" He said.
"Crap" he and his brothers chorused.
Victoria sighed, getting fed up of the three at the same time.
"But I'll think about the CEO thingy, for your sake" Colt further said, and Victoria smiled.
"Thank you"
"Your closeness with Victoria is enviable" King Kaden spoke, and Rania slammed her palms on the table, standing up.
"It's starting" Nickolas muttered.
"What exactly is going on? Colt are you dating Victoria or what? She's the only one who can talk to you now? I'm your mother, but you always make me feel inferior!" Rania yelled.
"Sit down, Rania" King Kaden ordered.
"No, Your Majesty. You're being unfair too! I know you ordered a new Ferrari for Victoria for her upcoming birthday, but when I celebrated mine last month you only sent me on a vacation! I did nothing to deserve this maltreatment from y'all!" Rania cried
"Is that why you blinded a maid?" Kind Kaden looked up.
"She deserved it! She stepped on Colt!" Rania shouted like a rabbied dog.
"Rania!!!" Kaden stood suddenly, and Rania quickly went on her knees.
"My...my king."
"I know the past incident hurt you, and you're still scalded, but it's no one's fault, and I've tried my best to bring you back to track but you kept slipping back. What else do you want? Last week you poured hot water on a maid's face because she served too much lemonade for you, and now you blinded another and even threw her in solitary? If the guards hadn't reported to me, she'd have died in the confinement! She has a family too Rania!" King Kaden thundered.
"It...it won't happen again" Rania held the king's legs.
"Tell that lie to yourself!" King Kaden took his leg from her, and she sat on the bare ground.
"Please, calm down, Your Majesty" Victoria stood and began rubbing his chest.
She followed him out of the room, and Colt went to Rania.
He helped her up, taking her out of the dinning room.
He brought her to her room, and she quickly hugged him too tight.
"I know you'll scold me cos I can see the anger in your eyes already, but I did it because I was angry. I hate when anybody does anything to hurt you. You're the only one I have and even Victoria and her kids are trying to take you away from me" she cried.
Harshly, Colt broke the hug, and she fell on the bed.
"Colt–"
"You're not coming out of this room till daybreak. Sleep, and get your darn head back" he said, walking out of the room.
Rania ran after him, but he already shut the door, so she began hitting it hard.
"Colt!! Colt!!!"
Till he got out of that suite, she never turned back. He met his brothers waiting for him outside beside the fountain.
"The clubbing we planned? We can't miss it, and remember I'm supposed to introduce you to my toys?" Nickolas said.
"I'll pass" Colt replied, getting a cigar from his treasurer pack.
He's the only smoker among the tree, though he does it moderately.
"We shouldn't have let you go for dinner. I knew your crazy mum would ruin your mood" Tristan said disappointedly.
"Who the hell is that?" Colt asked, looking at the direction of the king's office building as he began smoking hotly.
A guy is in front of the building, snapping pictures of himself repeatedly.
"Isn't it obvious? The one and only deranged narcissist in this city, Manson Cobalt. He came with his father to see His Majesty" Nickolas said.
Colt frowned, taking another drag from his cigar.
"We'll see you tomorrow morning, too bad you won't be getting any pu$$y tonight, you're starving to bed but don't die of hunger" Tristan said.
"In case you later die, RIP in advance" Nickolas added.
"One of these days, I'll choke you both to death with a pillow in your sleeps" Colt replied.
The two were smiling as they went to the park, driving out of the palace.
A car full of military guards drove after them for full protection, and Colt was about to go back inside when the narcissist walked to him.
Manson Cobalt, the guy who's obsessed with himself than anyone else.
He has been visiting this palace with his father since he was young, but he just doesn't get along with the brothers for no reason, especially Colt.
They don't like each other at all.
"I know you hate me, but you're showing it too much. I didn't jump the fence into this palace, I came with my father, Senator Lucas Cobalt" Manson said, smiling arrogantly.
"You really wanna play the arrogance game right now? You think you're a star?" Colt scoffed, blowing smokes again.
"I know you're arrogant too, but there are levels to this thing" Manson said.
Colt left him there, walking to the park too.
"You're seriously not gonna leave me here, are you?" Manson shouted after him.
Colt never turned back till he got into his Lambo, driving out of the palace too.
He's just gonna go for a drive around the city to clear his fuçked up skull.