DOUBLE CROSS

Chapter 16

"Damn it! I really do not know why the f*ck we are here in this country," Franklin whines when they arrived at this country without him telling Franklin what the heck was the reason of being here.

Well, he was making a move to his dream for according to the saying whom he forgot who said and that goes to, in order to get close and reach a certain dream, you must work for it and never put it your least priority. He was winning and felt like it was a victory when he successfully made his name matter in the business industry where huge names are there. He was born with a wise parents and it wouldn't be a surprise if he is a freaking cunning man.

"I didn't ask you to come over here with me. I told you, you can just at least sit down on my chair and do my work while I was away," he responded that made Franklin rolled it's eyes.

"Come on, I was still doing all the work even the fact that I was out of the country. I was bringing the work with me despite of being in the farthest part of the world."

He chuckled listening how upset that sound was. "I didn't asked you to come with me, remember?" He shot back that made Franklin sent a death glare unto him.

"The effin word, you didn't asked me because you know yourself that I should be going with you, either you ask me or not!"

He laughed at that while preparing himself for he has an important thing to do in here. He will be having his exposure in the world and all. He grabbed his phone and went out of his hotel room and leave Franklin who invaded in here despite of having his own room. As he went out of the hotel building, he then searched the tax he booked that he would be riding unto the place where he planned to be in.

While riding inside this taxi, he was seeing bunch of Zavanna's face along the highway and in different sizes billboard. Some are photos in the runway and some are shoots in who knows where but in a specific brand of a thing. Well, Franklin really know what to do for he chose the nearest hotel to the location of teh event where he will be attending.

"Hi, Mr. Rivero?"

He smiled at the woman in the receiving area of the event that looks like one of the staff of the organizer or maybe of the brand itself.

"Yes," he responded giving the girl a smile and eventually grimaced up in seeing the girl's face getting red. Damn! He can still make a foreigner girl blush! What a power but heck, he was allergic with woman and he was only get interested with a specific woman that is very and obviously one in a million.

"This way please, sir."

He then followed the girl that assisted him inside, the girl raised her hand that seems like calling some other attention of maybe her colleague.

Zavanna was busy with her phone checking the emails she consistently receiving all throughout the day and time. She was receiving emails personally for she doesn't have a secretary nor a manager and that is what makes other people amazed with her for she was able to handle her schedule with her personal assistant alone with her.

She just really don't like the idea of having much count of people sticking around her for she has other things that has to focus as well.

"Ms. Zavanna, hi," she looked up to the organizer who stood up and was getting her attention. She smiled as she raised her brow a little like her eyes was asking what would be the reason why she was called. "Our other guest just arrived and he will be taking the seat next to you."

She glanced at the available chair next to her. She was advised that this person came from her country and a man for they addressed the pronoun he. She don't think this thing has to do with her business, she is not interested with whoever is coming for it wasn't the first time that a certain person from a certain family in her country sit down the seat beside her in an event. And so, this thing wouldn't be this special.

"No problem, by any chance, may I know who would be this person that came from my country? I might know him," she said smiling, although she is not interested of knowing this person, she also do not know some family name in their country, so even if she asked his information, she still won't know him anyway.

The woman was about to speak but rushed to excuse herself saying that she have to assist the man and bring him in this available chair beside her. She didn't bother herself to look back and was just staying her eyes at her phone. She wasn't giving attention to other people's business and was focus with her own business.

"Zavanna Salazar?"

She frowned upon hearing a kind off familiar voice from behind. She couldn't point out who could be the owner of that voice but a certain name and a face of the person immediately popped up in her head. She immediately turned her head to see if who would be this man that spoke behind her. Her eyes widened when she spotted the face of the man she once approached outside the restaurant where she and her family had a dinner together.

"Da-Damon Rivero?" She uttered his name that made Damon chuckled.

"Mr. Rivero, please have a seat," the woman organizer said and gestured the seat beside her.

Damon immediately took the chair and comfortably sat his down. "I was so flattered that you didn't forget my name," he said and smiled at Zavanna.

Zavanna blinked and raised her brow with that approach. She kind off went her mind back to the time when she was the one who approached Damon. She was kind crazy and lost that time. She couldn't imagine why the heck she did that and to think that her alibi was the lamest.

"I haven't seen you around in the Palace."

She almost give the sharpest glare to the Prince for it sounds like sarcastic into her ears. Well, she really did sound like sarcastic. How could he even asked her that when they were the one who made the rule that no one from class 2 and the poorest of the Holiesters can enter the Palace.

Even the class 1 was strained. Not all from class 1 has the special access into the Palace. She turned her head to see the Prince for she knew he was looking at her and smiled a little — a little sarcastic smile.

"We are not allowed to enter the palace, Prince Stanley. I am not a Royal, I was never a Royal," she said in her serious tone despite of the smile that played in her lips.

"What?"

She wanted to roll her eyes on that. Was he f*cking kidding her? What the hell was his reason of taking this seat beside her when it was always vacant? She smoothly ran her eyes around to roam the entire classroom. She saw how their classmates was eyeing at her.

They seem to be wondering why the heck for the first time, their Prince was sitting beside a lower class Holiester. She would never give them an answer that came from her action for she herself have no idea what the hell is running unto this guy's mind.

"We are not allowed to step out foot even in the near Palace gate," she mumbled but made sure that Prince Stanley could her those perfectly.

She didn't hear any response but she can feel how sharp of a glare was this guy giving to her.

"Stanley, Lady Penelope is on her way here, you should come back here." Hailey sounded she was commanding Prince Stanley.

But before the Prince could even response a word, Lady Penelope entered the classroom and immediately the lady's eyes just landed in her direction. In her curiousity, she uses her eye ability to see how disgusted the Lady is and she was never been disappointed with her assumption.

Lady Penelope was looking at her direction like she had seen a disgusting Alien that randomly showed up in her sight. Prince Stanley was still there sitting beside her like no one was having their concern around them. Amara gritted her teeth for she had made sure that her name would never get attached to any doings of the royals before a-side from her being a half sister of Kean.

However, this day seems to lead her into nightmare. Having the Prince beside a lower class is a bomb into her colleagues eyes.

"Prince Stanley," Lady Penelope uttered the man's name.

Amara knew that everyone's eyes are on her so she chose to look at Gillian who are looking at her too.

*"What the hell just happened?"* Gillian gave voice to her head.

*"Are you really asking me? I am the last Holiester among all of us in this classroom would know what is happening,"* she answered in telepathy.

"It's a good day, Lady Penelope."

She heard the Prince speak. She didn't mind it but the other Holiester was still wondering what is going on. They looked like bothered with their Prince action and Amara's didn't care act. They all know that Amara would never give them the satisfaction that their eyes would want to see.

"Why are you sitting there? That is not your seat, go back to your own seat, Prince Stanley Flores."

This time, Lady Penelope didn't sound wondering any more. But instead, she now sounded like she was giving order to the one she was talking to.

"I have been wondering why this seat was all the way vacant. I just want to try the experience of sitting my ass in this vacant chair," Prince Stanley uttered with a chuckle.

Lady Penelope's eyes narrowed and glanced to Amara. Amara wasn't even acting a little like the reason of the Prince has something to do with her because clearly it doesn't and it would never. She herself have no idea what is going on with this Prince's mind and she wasn't liking the idea of this having his ass rested in the seat next to her. It would just give her the commotion she was avoiding her whole life in this Holy University.

"Your group and your friends are there, Prince Stanley," Lady Penelope pointed the direction of the royals. The other Holiester gasped in agreement but the Prince didn't even give a little glance to his original seat.

This action of the Prince really give a huge question mark to the Holiester's head. He was never been like this. He never acted like this before — not even once. This was the first time ever and that annoyed Amara for of all Holiester who has vacant chair next to them, this Prince chose to have his ass sitted beside her.

*************

"It's fine, Lady Penelope, it won't hurt. We have always been hearing that we should always try to experience new once in a while — in our life."

Amara shut her eyes with the Prince's tone. He wasn't serious yet he sounded sarcastic. Lady Penelope's jaw tightened and he saw that — Amara sees that as well.

*"They seem ready to give a hand just because the Prince has his seat next to a lower class."* Gillian once again gave a voice unto Amara's head.

She looked at her best friend and just shurgged her shoulder. Who cares? Definitely not her. Time is running and it won't take long enough staying in here for everyone in this classroom was ruining and wasting the time around.

"Ah, I want to try that too."

Everyone — well, a-side from Amara and Kean who seems didn't hear Hailey uttered a word looked at her. She just stood up and dragged her own chair next to Prince Stanley. Hailey's action seems to give Lady Penelope a satisfaction for it made their teacher smile.

Prince Stanley's eyes fell down in disappointment and he just didn't say anything until Hailey arranged her own chair beside him. Now, his position was there sitting in the center between Hailey and Amara.

"Alright then, so let's start," Lady Penelope announced.

Everyone had their smile before they took their eyes off from Amara's direction to look at Lady Penelope who are now starting finally the class.

"You don't seem pleased," Gillian whispered and Amara sent her a death glare for that whisper has a smile of a had fun along with it.

"Because I am not. I was thinking if I was too unlucky and maybe I stepped a jinx around and I didn't notice," she joked that made her best friend almost laugh with a sound.

She was thankful that she and Gillian have known for a long time that even they both whispered with their weakest voice, they got to hear each other — like just the two of them. And now, she wasn't understanding Lady Penelope's words of discussion and she wasn't interested with that all. This topic was already been tackled in their previous year here in Holy University.

"Are we clear? Ranking battle will be happening in 6 days. I suggest you two to start practising your ability to keep your rank number."

Those words from their teacher made Amara give her attention to their teacher. Ranking battle — she wonder if she would stay still in her rank. For sure this time, Hailey would never give her the easy way of winning. Hailey will make sure to put her in her place.

"Rank 1, 2 and 3 belongs to Kean, Prince Stanley and Hailey. We can also save a place for us from rank 4."

Everyone agreed with those words from their fellow royal. Amara was the recent rank 3 and Hailey was the rank 4 while Gillian took the 5th rank and Camille was the rank 6. Lady Penelope looked at her and she saw that, she give her sight to the teacher who seems calling her attention earlier.

"Amara Sabeniano got the rank 3 last battle and she was the current 3rd rank," Lady Penelope mentioned without taking off her eyes at Amara. "Will you be able to keep your rank, Amara? We all know that only the rank 3 was the highest rank you could have for Kean and Prince Stanley was unbeatable."

What is wrong with her? Lady Penelope was always unto her this past few days. Amara felt how much of a grimace her classmates giving her. They were shocked like a bomb blown up when she defeated Hailey before. She herself was also wondering how did that happen.

"No," she answered without blinking. She caught how their teacher narrowed her eyes like she wasn't expecting to hear an answer like hers. "I am not going to fight with it. Me being in the rank 3 was just a luck," she uttered.

She saw it, she caught how the brows of their teacher raised as she answer.

"Really?" The other classmate questioned. This girl was also a royalty, though, they no longer belong in the first-in-line to the crown but still they have the blood of a royal. "I mean, it was Hailey you defeated, you know Hailey was strong."

"I didn't beat her, she just missed up," Amara answered.

It's getting crazy for her to explain the hell out of this when it was all nonsense. Why would they bring the last year's battle? For the next battle she have already decided to let go of the rank and she will. She will fight but she will won't win and Hailey will do that for her.

She is certain that it would be Hailey they will make her opponent. Lady Penelope won't let her go easy this time. She was wondering what was the grudge of this royal teacher against her, she then realized, everything was all about her pride. It was just a pride.

"Why are we questioning her plan? If she wants to fight, let her. It was her privilege of being a Holy University's student."

Everyone gasped after the Prince uttered those words. Amara turned her head to look at Gillian and she gave her best friend the look of like she wants to get out of here. She seem to not to like the atmosphere at all.

"Stanley, it was Hailey. You should have sided Hailey at all cost," Camille opposed. She was the one who were so mad after the final rank revealed. Gillian took over her place and she was so butt hurt.

"Enough with your argument. Amara, you have all the chance in your hand to keep your rank with your name or let the other Holiester take it back."

Amara smirk after hearing that from their royal teacher — Lady Penelope. Obviously, she was also talking about Hailey. No one was capable of taking back the rank 3, it was just Hailey alone.