The Billion's 2

Chapter 17

Iris slapped Louie's face as hard as she could. When Louie looked up at her, she slapped him even harder again. Iris was about to punch him when Blanche grabbed her hands and pulled her away from the badly bantered teen.

"GET OFF OF ME!" Iris yelled. Her action earned her a slap from her wife. "FOR f**k SAKE, CALM DOWN! Listen to me. What he did was unacceptable BUT YOU HAVE GOT TO RELAX FOR A MINUTE!" Blanche yelled at her back.

She pushed her wife towards Blondie and went to kneel in front of Louie. "What you did upset me. I promise you, you won't leave this place in one piece. I'll make sure your family suffers as bad as what you feel right now."

"Release him. And bring him up to the main house." Eliza said when Blanche walked out of the room. The guys followed Eliza's order and dragged Louie up.

"Looking for your son?" Blanche looked behind her and smiled when the guys carried beat up Louie forward. Louie's parents gasped when they watched their son being carried.

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO OUR SON!" Louie's father yelled.

Blanche nodded and the guys threw Louie near his parent's feet. They called out for Louie who seems to be unconscious. Louie's mother glared at Blanche. "The police will hear about this!" When she noticed her son was shot.

"I like to see you try. Your son ripe my daughter's clothes off and nearly rape her. Do you want me to tell the commissioner about this? Or should I call for the Davies' daughter to be the witness."

Louie's father stood up and begged for mercy. Blanche scoffed and shake off her leg from being touched by Louie's father. "Filthy family like you shouldn't be alive. Watch your back. I'll make sure you will not live happily ever after."

Eliza grabbed Louie's father by the collar and dragged him out of the Vera estate.

***

Pandora was at the gym when Blanche showed Shanntel the way. Shanntel forbid Blanche from calling her daughter and whispered. "I'll wait." Blanche smiled and leave the teen alone.

Shanntel watched as Pandora do some weights after she used the treadmill. Shanntel was having fun when Pandora turned with her sweaty face and surprised to see Shanntel watching her.

"How long were you watching?" Pandora asked as she wiped the sweats from her face.

"Long enough." Pandora looked at what Shanntel wore and wondered where she came from. "You were from somewhere formal?" Shanntel nodded.

"Some government official party. Anyway. Are you busy?" Pandora shakes her head. "Good. Get ready and follow me." Pandora looked at her. "Where?" Shanntel smiled and winked.

"You'll know. I'll wait outside." Shanntel turned her heels leaving Pandora confounded. To avoid losing time, Pandora decided to clean herself up and choose some decent clothes.

"Wow.." Shanntel was ogling when Pandora snapped her fingers. "My eyes up here. Nice car." Shanntel smiled and asked Pandora to get in the car. "Where are we going?" Pandora asked as she entered and settling in her seat.

Shanntel ignores the question and started to drive. Pandora sighed and looked outside at the scenery. She's curious. She gave this strong feeling and the need to know. She turned to face Shanntel who was having too much fun listening to some Micheal Buble.

Pandora was more confused when they entered the deserted area. When Shanntel stopped in the middle of nowhere, Pandora was having a second thought in getting out.

"Trust me. Come on."

Shanntel says before getting out of the car. She leads her towards a field and was surprised to see a picnic basket on top of the blanket. Shanntel sat on the blanket and patted an empty space next to her.

"Come on. I won't bite.. much." Shanntel winked.

Pandora was about to sit when a voice startled her. When she turned to the voice, Clarice and Jac walked up to them. Clarice was as confused as Pandora was.

Shanntel placed two empty champagne glasses on the blanket and took out a bottle of non-alcohol cocktail bottle. She stood up and pulled a confused Clarice to the blanket and pushed her down.

"Have fun girls. Don't have s*x while we bring the food out." Shanntel wrapped her arms around Jac and dragged her towards her car. Jac was confused. It's so obvious that she's in love with Pandora. But why matches them up.

Jac watched as Shanntel opened her car back boot and just stared at the foods. "What are you doing? I thought you like her?" Shanntel handed one of the trays to Jac. "I have my reason. Thank you for helping me."

Jac shakes her head and went back with the food.

***

Pandora was sipping her drink after Clarice pour it into the glass. She was confused. She never expects this. She's now sitting, on a blanket, with her longtime crush. All thanks to Shanntel and Jac.

"This is such a weird occasion for me." Clarice suddenly said. "For me too. I was just in the gym when she picks me up." Clarice chuckled. "I was watching a movie with my sister when Jac pick me up."

Clarice took a little sip of her drink as well and smiled. But deep inside she knows something is not right. She knows Shanntel is fighting to win Pandora's love with her. What's with this sudden 'date'.

Shanntel made herself visible and smiled at them. She placed the tray of food in front of them and opened the lid. "Smell amazing!" Pandora says and smiled. "Really? It's my specialty." Shanntel nodded at Jac.

Jac placed the other tray and sat next to Clarice. Shanntel distributes the plates and asked everyone to dig in. Clarice watched her closely. She's not getting any of this. What was inside Shanntel's mind keep on lingering in Clarice's.

"Eat up." Shanntel smiled at Pandora and took a bite of her chicken. They all eat and talk about what's currently happening in their life. Shanntel felt her phone vibrated and excuse herself to take the call.

Jac watched as Shanntel as if having a fight over the phone. She turned when Shanntel made way towards her friends and sat back on the blankets with a smile on her face. But this time, everyone noticed it's not genuine.

"Something wrong?" Pandora asked her.

Shanntel shakes her head and down her drink in one go. Jac offered another round but Shanntel refuses. "One glass is enough for me," Shanntel said and turned to Pandora.

"Your mom mention something about art exhibition to me earlier. What's that all about?" Pandora chuckled. "It's something I do in my free time. I paint. One of mommy's friend was kind enough to show off my painting and one of the well-known artists recognized my piece and now I have to show my painting in his gallery."

Everyone was surprised. This is not something they expect from her. For an expert artist to recognize somebody work is a big thing in this town. "I'll make sure I'll be in that exhibition then." Shanntel smiled.

"I expect you to be there as well." Shanntel looked into Clarice's orbs. Clarice nodded slowly. "It's not a big deal really." Shanntel shakes her head. "It's a big deal for us. I mean you're so young and yet this artist recognizes your work."

Jac felt she was out of place in this conversation. Compare to them, she's nothing. She's just an orphan living in an orphanage. She was lucky enough the school administration sees her potential in academic and let her study all expenses paid for.

It was 6 pm when they all decided to go home. "Here." Shanntel threw her keys at Clarice. "Send her home. I'll send Jac back."

"But this is your car. How am I supposed to.." Shanntel cut her off.

"My driver will be waiting at your house to take the car home." Shanntel helped Jac cleaning the place up and together they both walked towards the car Jac and Clarice used to come here.

"I can drive if you want me to. Besides you don't know where I live." Shanntel thought it's a good idea. She threw her keys at Jac and let her drive. They were on the road when Shanntel suddenly asked her a weird question.

"What does it feel to be dead?" That question baffles Jac so much.

"I'm not sure. But I know the feeling to lose someone so dearly." Shanntel turned to Jac. "Explain." Jac smiled while driving.

"I lost both my parents when I was very young. I don't remember them much but I remember how we spend a lot of time together."

"Wait. Your an orphan?" Jac nodded. "Yea. I'm an orphan. I was bullied for being one and being like.. this." Shanntel shakes her head. "Jac Jac.. you know how I feel when you say that. You're not, okay." Jac smiled.

"I know Shanntel. Don't hit me." They both laughed. "I have a question. It's been bugging me since earlier today." "What is it?" Shanntel smiled.

"Why do you let them together? I mean you love her right? Why let Clarice and Pandora together?" Shanntel changed the song on her stereo system. "Like I said before, I have my reason. That reason, well, let's keep that a secret for now."

Tears by Clean Bandit was playing and Shanntel was singing along with the tunes. Jac stopped in front of the orphanage and some of the kids from the orphanage went out just to welcome Jac home.

"Ooooh..." they all say when Jac got out of the matte Red sports car. "When did you buy a car?" One of the nosy kids asked her. But before Jac could answer her, Shanntel got out and everyone's attention was on her.

"Wow.. you finally bring some lady home but this is soooo not in our imagination.." one of Jac closest friends on the orphanage says.

"Yea. She's an angel! We thought you would bring someone not this gorgeous!" Jac was embarrassed by how honest her friends are. Shanntel chuckled. "We're just friends," Jac said through gritted teeth.

"Hello. I'm Shanntel Davies. Just call me Shann." They all waved and introduced themselves to Shanntel. "Davies? As in the famous Mark and Rowena Davies?" Shanntel looked up at the front door and smiled.

"Yes. I'm their daughter." The woman who owns the orphanage walked down the stairs and shake Shanntel's hand. "I'm Mrs. Brown. But just call me Brooke." Shanntel smiled.

She looked around the run-down building where Jac grew up. When Mrs. Brown invited her inside, she could notice how old the building was. It's somewhat dangerous for Shanntel just to think about the kids who run around the weak floorboard.

Shanntel suddenly has an idea. An idea to keep her busy from thinking too much.

***

Iris was just sitting on a couch in her private room when the door was kicked down and a group of police decided to raid her club. Iris scoffed when the familiar chief police with amused smirked on his face made himself visible.

"Hello again.. You know the procedure. Every weapon on the table." Iris opened her arms and let Blondie striped everything off. "Where's your wife? I miss her."

On cue, Blanche and Eliza were pushed into the room. "Relax! We were just kissing!" Blanche said and went to her wife's side. "What do you want, Victor?" The chief police smirked.

"To get your ass in jail of course. SEARCH THE PLACE. Every NOOKS and corner!"

"YES, SIR!" The detective and inspector say in unison.

Iris was enjoying the view Victor's man came across her private stash of weapons. "That little knife is for a very bad boy who seems to can't get their hands off my stuff." Iris taunted the obviously freshly graduated detective.

"Don't listen to her! She's trying to get inside your head." Victor warned his man. Iris raised both hands. Obviously, her little taunt made an impact on the detective. He seems to can't stop shaking from fear.

"Cigarette." Blondie reached for a fresh pack of cigarette and put on Iris's mouth. Blanche lit it up and Iris took a very long drag and blew it off. Victor was waiting patiently. If this raid is a bust too, this may cause his future in the force.

When his right-hand man walked in, Victor noticed his pale face. He now knew something is wrong. "And?" The inspector looked up and shake his head. "Nothing. This club operated legally. There's no sign of illegal business going on."

Iris pushed the arrest warrant back to the chief and smiled. "This is the second time you disturb my business, Victor. What should I do to you?" Iris leaned back. "You want to check my guns? Go ahead. You want to see my licenses? Go ahead. Everything I do is legal. Even the casino and strip club, Victor. LEGAL."

Iris stood up and went to the see-through glasses. She observed how her club stopped operating completely because of how childish the chief was. "You know this type of raid cost me million's of money."

Iris turned and meet the chief in the eyes. "Should I call your boss? I think he will have time for me and hear what is happening in my club." Iris walked behind her marble office table and threatened to pick up the phone.

Victor took the warrant and tore it apart. "Let's not make any harsh decision here." Victor nervously laughed. Iris raised both eyebrows. Victor ordered his man to walk out of this room. "What if I tell you I have some information about the war you currently in."

Iris sat on her office chair and placed her chin on her hands. "What if I tell you I have some information about your gambling problem?" Blanche showed some pictures of chief having some fun in one of Iris's casino not so long ago.

"You don't have any right to bribe me with false information, Victor."

"Trust me, Iris, you want to listen to this," Victor said. If Iris refuses, his career will be over and he will lose everything. Iris motioned her hand for Victor to continue with his 'information'.

"From a very trusted resource, The Blade is calling for some help from one of the worse crime family ever, the Butcher family. The blade wants to end your reign, Iris. You're in trouble."

Blanche immediately turned to her wife. For the very first time, they witness an expression Iris never show before. Fear.