HATE OR LOVE: Devils In Obsession

22: I support

Flavian

It had only been three days since the family returned to the estate, and Keaton was already calling a “town meeting.” So here I was, seated at the round table of elders in the auditorium.

I checked my wristwatch to break away from my brother’s intense stare. Someone was late. Two people were late: Eve and Millicent.

Millicent was my cousin and the youngest member of the EC. When I say young, I mean really young, she was only twenty, almost the same age as my daughter, Jennifer.

Millicent’s parents had occupied the seat she now held, thanks to Madame Antoinette, who adopted her after the assassination of her parents ten years ago.

Millicent was the softer version of Madame Antoinette. She made emotional decisions and gave opinions that were often unsuitable for the presented situation. I wasn’t saying she was dumb, I was saying she was not suitable for the rank she held at this table.

Regardless, no one was brave enough to vote her out because of me. One, through her I conveyed my ideas to the court, I wouldn't let anyone touch my chess piece. Two, because she was my godchild.

Speak of the angel. The first thing to enter the room was her heavy scent of vanilla and tangerine... Tangerine? That was Eve’s scent.

I made an “ah” sound when I turned my head. Only to see two tall figures strutting forward on long heels like it was a runway show. Millicent was a model, but not Eve. When did these two become friends? Where did they even meet?

Millicent descended into the stone throne chair next to mine while Eve sat beside Keaton.

“Shall we begin then?” Jonas, the oldest member, asked Keaton and received a nod.

Let me introduce the EC, a council of seven. elders.

Jonas Waldorf, who had just spoken, ranked highest in the council, he's my granduncle. David Waldorf and Elwin Waldorf, this uncles ranked second and third, they were in constant competition with each other. Millicent was fourth in the ranking. She was always at the bottom, but with my guidance, she had climbed higher. Following behind her was the person with a 'venomous mouth' Knox Cavendish, ranked fifth. Isabella, and Anabelle ranked last. Isabella and Anabelle, the twins, were my older aunts.

“Why call a meeting this early, Keaton? Thanks to you I didn’t have my morning tea today,” said Ana, the ever-nagging twin. But she was right, we had all given up something to show up here by six in the f*****g morning, I hate to receive calls in the middle of a good fuck... I stare at Eve, she keeps eye contact. If there's anything I admire about this perfect woman is her ability to hold eye contact me amidst a group of prying eyes... I am obsessed with the way she sees me and only me when she looks at me.

“Good morning, all.”

Keaton flashed his teeth at everyone at the table. The response came in grunts, whispers, and cold gazes.

He put his mic on and this time yelled into it, “I said good morning!”

“Get on with it. I’ve got a flight to catch. Gotta go pay my debtors a visit,” said Elwin, the fox of the council. No one knew where his loyalty truly lay because he was all about money and making more of it, as if he didn’t have gold worth millions if not billions stocked in his underground bunkers in Saudi Arabia. He didn’t know that I knew. for someone holding the title of Chief Security Officer... they sure underestimate me, a lot... But that's where I have my advantage.

Keaton was already speaking again when a silhouette swiftly passed behind my chair. In an instinctive reflex, I caught a flash of flesh just as the figure was about to rush past another chair.

“You’re hurting my arm.”

The b***h was here, I narrowed my eyes at her, so much lipstick, this audacity to show up like a fashionista amidst a Waldorf meeting, no f*****g way.

“Who let you in?” I squeezed her arm, ripping a groan from her throat.

“Flavian, let her go. She's here because I called her here,” Keaton spoke up.

I reluctantly released her arm with a shove.

Of course he did…

I masked my disdain with a grin. Millicent pinched the bridge of her nose, expressing my disappointment for me.

“And why will you invite an outsider into our court, what for?” Jonas's voice, though loud and audible through the speaker, was low and rasp. He wanted to retire so badly, but no one would willingly vote him out. Not yet... he was too useful.

“Now here’s the announcement,” Keaton paused to meet everyone’s eyes, reading our expressions the best he could.

“I've asked Ms. Cavendish to be my wife.”

I was the first to laugh. Several others in the auditorium joined in my guffaw.

“Marvelous,” said Isabel, beaming. “You’re going to marry your wife’s cousin? Marvelous? What next?”

The sarcasm in her tone contrasted with the seriousness marred my brother’s face that killed the mockery in my eyes, but brought about disappointment instead. I rested an elbow on the arm rest of the stone carved throne and pinched the bridge of my nose. He said I was disgracing him, but then he did this?

I couldn’t hide the shock on my face. Meanwhile, Eve’s face had gone neutral, she was in shock maybe.

I just needed someone to give me a reason to kill this b***h, but the dead silence in the atmosphere was a boring situation. No one questioned him, so he continued.

“Danielle and I are to be married in three months, after I've mourned my dear wife enough...”

That did it. Eve rose to her feet, ripped the cross pendant off her neck, signifying she was done with the meeting.

The red cross pendant was a common accessory worn by anyone present at the round table of the Elders’ meeting. The cross wasn’t something you personally chose to wear, it was given to you by the Steward, Remiel. He hosted the meetings and ensured no one broke protocols, the rules, and regulations. He was so strict that he dared stand in Eve’s way as she made for the exit.

“Eve, the meeting is yet to conclu-”

THUD.

All eyes casted a spotlight on Eve and the man now on the floor.

It took me just a second of assessment to tell one thing: he was dead.

Eve had struck his head hard enough that his neck snapped, and the instant fall to the floor dealt the final blow.

Question, did he die from the slap, or was he just that fragile that he couldn’t withstand the force of Eve’s hand? actually I was impressed, yet again.

“He’s dead,” Knox informed after checking the body on the floor that Eve stepped over before exiting through the entrance.

Nevertheless, the blame wasn’t on her, no... the main culprit was Keaton. With my elbow back on the cold stony arm rest, I tilted my head to rest the side of my face on the heel of my palm. A smile settled on my lips as I stared at Keaton, who sat across from me. The man hadn’t calculated the consequences of this decision yet.

I saw it in his eyes, he could barely hold eye contact with me.

“All in support…” Jonas paused, glancing at the body once more, realizing the steward who inked out fingers with blood to mark our votes now lay dead not far from the door. “All in support, please raise your right hand.”

He raised his first, sighing.

With a smug look on my face, I raised my hand. I supported whatever decision he made... As long as it brought about some 'character development' in him. All's well.