Sagan
The station June worked for tried to make demands through Toni or they would cancel the weekly interview. The call came in right after I arrived back at the castle and Darren hugged me.
I was worried about Belinda, and he caught on something was going on and picked up the dragon. I always hated how others could do that so easily. I was strong enough.
More than strong enough.
But everyone was taller than me and that made things awkward fast. Not emotionally or mentally but… Physics.
It was just easier if someone taller lifted the shorter person. Like no shit.
I made sure to talk to Raquel that I wasn’t demoting her or anything, but I didn’t trust anyone else but her to tend to Belinda. She knew something was up if I was making demands and rolled with it. She had Belinda in her suite and the right food to help her get ready.
Perfect, because I apparently had to deal with fucking assholes.
Toni came to me and showed me the demands in the form of “updating me” what the show would cover… Including information on the attack, how it all played out, and everything so far over the line I was annoyed.
Not just that they were threatening to pull something helpful to people, but that they thought I was so fucking stupid or desperate I would agree to any of it. I voted they assumed I was stupid because all the executives were male.
“Announce that we’re having issues with the station and you’re willing to talk to other stations about the weekly interviews as long as they don’t think they control the Queen of Thovudin.
Also, June is part of the deal since she doesn’t have a non-compete in her contract. They will jump just for that.”
“And when the station caves?” she purred.
I smirked at her. “That they also are going to schedule a sit-down with me about raising wages. I’ll also talk with their board if they like, but corporate greed needs to be a little less greedy, so they’ll want to work with me on this or they won’t like my desire to review certain tax codes—how much shareholders can collect off one stock per quarter. ”
Because that was the root of the problem. Companies were so focused on paying out their shareholders and how much their stocks were worth, they didn’t see how often they wasted money. Every time an employee left and a new one came in, that cost the company money.
In training.
In downtime to learn the role.
Paying people to handle the exit of one employee and hiring the next. The interviewing process alone cost money.
So they needed to start looking at the bigger picture and how they were part of an ecosystem… Or I would put them in zoos instead of letting them roam wild.
They caved about thirty seconds after the announcement, making it clear that we misunderstood the whole thing and blew up over nothing. It annoyed me so badly that I ended up grabbing the phone from Toni.
“People died today, and you’re now talking about the Queen of Thovudin and my people like we’re morons.
If you are unable to focus on your job and handling things ethically—because demanding that I release information on a now-ongoing investigation or lose my chance to speak to my nation could be considered coercion and worse.
“I’m sorry you were not able to communicate what you actually meant—if you’re going to try lying to us that it wasn’t what you meant—but I can read.
Toni is an experienced media consultant and knows exactly what it was.
I suggest you find some humility going forward and never speak to her like this again.
Or we will still take one of the offers pouring in. Glad you understand.”
I handed back the phone and she was gobsmacked which was always fun.
June was extra amused when she came for the interview… With different camera people. I knew immediately what had happened when I saw the two female crew.
“Well done,” I praised.
She tried to hide her smirk. “Yes, well, they’ve been interns and other nonsense for years while teaching men how to operate the cameras.
So I made it clear that they were promoted and assigned to me so there’s no more male egos for them to handle or I would make sure to bring this to your attention. ”
“Congratulations,” I told the crew and winked at June’s female producer. I was pleased because this was the way things should be.
Women fighting for women instead of against them.
I wouldn’t say much about what happened until the police investigated it all, but I did confirm it was the elder and his family.
“Someone overheard you say that they went for your head of security, Benson. People are criticizing that it wasn’t an assassination attempt, but a vendetta against him only.”
I raised an eyebrow at her. “Let me guess—friends of that elder? Other elders? I’m sorry that they can’t see past their biases, but it was actually a smart tactical assessment from them to take out Benson before they focused on me.
Well, it was before we’ve changed things now that Benson isn’t rejected on updating security at every turn like my father did. ”
Everyone froze, and I was amused for a moment but knew I had to walk it back.
“No one is perfect, my father included. There was a lot of corruption under his nose and he was well known for being dismissive.
He also gets forgiven for how much was on his shoulders, but I learned from his mistakes and laid out a comprehensive plan to tighten security.
Not allow corruption in my home anymore.
“So the elder was working on outdated information. While it would have broken my heart and been a loss for our country—killing Benson would have done nothing. We’re smarter than that.
Plus, there’s no reason to kill him unless to have a better chance at killing me.
People know how amazing and strong he is. ”
“And there are much easier times to try for him than with squads of guards while protecting the queen,” Davian said from where he stood next to Treena. “If Benson was the true or only target, it was the stupidest plan. Ever.”
I tapped my nose and pointed at him.
“Especially when your queen is more lethal than anyone. She is too bold and caring of her people to ever have fled. They were dead the moment they tried for one of her people.”
I tried not to flush at what he’d added, but I was glad when June clearly agreed and we could move on.
“Are you okay from having to kill people?” June asked, sounding genuinely worried.
I glanced at Myriam who nodded, already having discussed this with her father… And the King of Protesia so he wasn’t blindsided.
“It’s not my first time, though every time someone takes a life it affects them.
” I sighed when it was clear June couldn’t let it go.
“When I was in college, I came upon someone fighting off several attackers. She is a fierce fighter and I was impressed, but there were too many and they were skilled.”
“You never complimented my fighting before,” Myriam said, blinking at me in shock.
I smirked at her. “If I was a tiger and not an equally well-trained huge dragon, I would not want to go up against you in a fight. You are lethal and smart in how you move.” I focused back on June whose mouth was hanging open.
“I never told anyone—not even the school. I was worried how much trouble I would get into with my parents.”
June filled in the pieces and nodded. “And you killed someone that night?”
“Several.” I winced. “And did some damage to the school, but Myriam’s family paid for that.”
“It was the least we could do for saving my life,” Myriam drawled.
“I understand the bond now,” June muttered, glancing between us. “Many have—”
“She’s her own person and an impressive woman,” I cut in. “I’m lucky she was willing to help me and all of Thovudin.”
The rest of the interview went well. We touched on the lawsuit and how I felt that Kole had been arrested. I made it clear that while I appreciated Vex finally pulling his head out of his ass, he wasn’t the same as the Alpha of Sunborough.
Vex bailed out his son and was paying for his attorney.
Fine, I said it nicer than that, but my point was made.
“As horrible as it all is, at least people aren’t talking about the texts anymore,” June said as we finished and the cameras were off.
I snorted. “They will later. It’s too juicy for people not to go back to. If nothing else, the amount of insults. People won’t leave that alone and—they just won’t.”
“Wouldn’t it be nice if they did?” she sighed.
“It would be nice if they found out who leaked them because I look forward to their trial,” I answered with a smile. “It’s been confirmed it was the phone company, but they better get us who it was or I will have another lawsuit.”
“You’re going to sue them?” she asked with a grin.
“You should even if they tell you. Make it clear they will pay if they don’t protect our privacy and information better, not just your texts.
Before queen, you’re a citizen of Thovudin and sign the same contracts we do.
If they’d be so bold to leak your texts, then what about the rest of us? ”
I studied her a second. “I hope you do a report on that and their lack of security. I’m sure we’ll back you up if you do.”
That made her and her team happy. That was a big story other executives wouldn’t want to touch, but… I liked touching things I shouldn’t.
It wasn’t until I was almost to my suite that I realized how bad that would sound if I’d said it out loud. Oh well, it was nice to have some fun.
And my fun was a bunch of my purchases delivered.
I smiled as I set it all up, frowning when there was a knock at the door. I just wanted ten minutes to myself. Was that really too much to ask?
Raquel and another woman I’d seen before but couldn’t place walked in and bowed to me.
“This is who I was thinking about assigning to you. Pearl will be the only one who cleans your suite, does your laundry, and fills your kitchenette. She will shop on her own for it—no one else will be involved besides me checking in.”