Ruby
I freshened up and wore some revealing denim shorts to the base to annoy Vexon. He didn't like it when I wore them, especially outside of our bedroom.
This was a huge step��going to the base, but Newana was forcing me to do it. She had a crazy plan but I wanted the previous Vexon back, not wanting to deal with his psychotic behavior.
Newana spent the whole day trying to convince me to go. I didn't even want to get up until she splashed water on my face.
As we traveled to the base, I tried to remember the routes, but it all seemed so foreign to me.
"There will be a lot of men who will have their eyes on you. If things go wrong and Vexon doesn't come to your defense, I will have your back," Newana informed me.
I nodded and said, "You better be. I am so nervous. What if he doesn't even react or something?"
She chuckled. "Won't react? He is used to being able to control everything, but if someone is eyeing his precious Gem, there will be trouble."
I felt bad, missing that nickname terribly. Newana sensed it when she noticed I had gone quiet.
"Don't worry. He will call you 'Gem' again soon enough. Time will heal everything," she said in an attempt to motivate me.
I smiled sadly. "Thanks."
"We are here," Newana announced.
I glanced around at the place the car had pulled up in front of. We were already in the dark garage. Newana parked the car and we got out.
"Follow me," she commanded and I quietly followed her to the weapons shop.
How can the base be here?
The place looked like a normal weapons shop. I looked at the workers and they just greeted us normally.
I started to ask where the entrance to the base was, but she hushed me and pressed her finger to a print scanning pad��the machine a man behind the counter was holding. She grabbed my hand and pressed my finger to it as well.
"The queen," Newana muttered to the man, who was apparently the owner of the shop.
He frowned, "I know."
I lowered my head in guilt. Of course, they hated me.
A secret passage opened and we started walking down the stairs. I was beyond amused by the way it was all built.
Then Newana scanned her eyes into another machine when we reached a door. The door opened and it looked like a regular office.
Everything was professional. The people, however, were not. The Gladiolus people were near the bar, drinking, and smoking.
The nauseating smell hit my nostrils and I wanted to puke, but I had to hold myself together��for Vexon.
The Gladiolus men were eyeing me as if I was a delicious piece of meat. Did they forget that I was their queen? How could they look at me like that? It was disgusting.
"Newana, why do they all look as if they are undressing me with their eyes?" I asked and held her hand tight. "Don't leave me alone."
She sighed. "You might be the queen, but you are turning on every male here with those clothes. Plus, you really look like a queen, so it's alright. I am here with you until we find Ve��" she stopped herself from talking when she saw something. "There he is," Newana muttered.
I followed her gaze and saw Vexon sitting on a couch with a glass of some kind of alcohol in his hand. He was talking with a blonde woman. Is that Catherine?
"Cat is an informant for Vexon. Calm down," Newana whispered to me.
I nodded, but I didn't like the fact that Catherine was trying to get close to him. Her hand was on Vexon's, but he didn't even try to pull away.
"Go to him. Mane will be there to look after you. Don't worry," Newana assured me and disappeared.
I took a deep breath and started to walk towards them confidently. They stopped talking and looked up at me. I glanced at Mane and he gave me a thumbs up.
Vexon gazed at me. His eyes traveled from my head to toe and his eyes darkened. His knuckles turned white as he clutched the glass of dark liquid tightly.
I gulped.
"Well, if it isn't the previous queen's murderer?" Catherine let out bitterly, standing and walking up to me.
I ignored her and walked towards Vexon. "Stop drinking this," I said, grabbing the glass out of his hand.
That wasn't a part of the plan. My plan was to make him jealous, but Catherine and the alcohol changed my mind.
Vexon raised an eyebrow and snatched the glass back roughly. He gulped it all in one go and handed it to Mane, who started refilling it.
"Vexon, this isn't you," I breathed out.
Catherine pulled me by my hand and said, "Who are you to decide that? Get lost."
"I am the Gladiolus queen. Who are you to question me?" I asked angrily.
Who does Catherine think she is?
"I am an important part of Vexon's life," she answered.
I rolled my eyes and retorted, "What part? A clingy snitch?"
Her nose flared in anger. "You bloody bi��" Vexon interrupted her.
"Okay, Catherine. Enough," he said as he approached us. He glanced at me before looking back at her. "Don't waste your time on her. Find more information about the Aconites."
Catherine huffed while I smirked. Vexon will always protect me, I know that.
"Why are you defending her, boss? Why is she here in the first place? She was just supposed to stay in the mansion for a week and then get executed or dumped," Mysa said to Vexon.
"Yes, boss. If it ain't for the deal, I would have killed her in a second," another woman agreed.
I closed my eyes. I knew I had to face this��their hatred.
"I wish I could punish her," another person chimed in.
Every one started murmuring, but Vexon stayed quiet. He did nothing.
Unable to hear all the noises, I put my hands on my ears. "Stop!" I yelled and the crowd grew silent. Vexon stared at me blankly while I continued speaking, "Even if it's only for seven days, I am still the queen. You must respect me. Otherwise, I will just disappear, and the deal will not be completed. Then all of you will be on the streets."
I had to be strong. I needed to let them know my worth. They couldn't speak nonsense about me without knowing the entire truth.
Newana gave me an amused look from behind a pillar and Mane gave me another thumbs up.
"So if you have any problem with me," I continued, "Either keep it to yourself or shoot me. Then you can watch as the entire Gladiolus falls apart, and trust me, you will not enjoy being responsible for its collapse."
Vexon simply put his hands in his pockets and said, "You heard her. It's out of my hands."
Then Catherine spoke all of the sudden, "If she claims herself to be the queen, then she should support the king, right?"
I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion and she smirked. Where is she going with this?
Catherine took a glass filled with the same dark liquid Vexon was drinking and handed it to me. Catherine told me, "The king drinks alcohol. So you should support the king by drinking alongside him."
I stood there dumbfounded. I glanced at the glass and then back at her. How could I drink alcohol?
"Come on. Drink," she urged.
I looked at Vexon. He had a shocked look too; at least he was showing emotion.
"This is absurd. She is only staying for a few days. She doesn't need to do anything," Vexon said coldly. But I knew he was trying to save me��again.
"Why are you trying to make excuses for her?" Mysa asked. "Don't tell me you have forgiven her."
"No. She killed my mother. Why would I ever forgive her?" Vexon spat out, our eyes were piercing each other's, and I felt a sting in my heart.
"Then make her drink, Vexon," Catherine let out.
"I challenge her," Mysa said. "If she is so proud of being the queen, then let her do this."
I took a deep breath. "Fine then. Challenge accepted," with that, I started to drink the nasty wine.
As soon as the liquid had hit my mouth, I wanted to puke. It tasted so disgusting. But I couldn't stop then, Catherine and Mysa challenged me to drink so I would drink. I couldn't let myself down.
I finished the glass and they all were shocked.
"Well, the king had more alcohol. So should you," Catherine mumbled and took the glass from my hand, refilling it.
I took the glass and swallowed it all.
You can do this, Ruby.
Mysa handed me another glass. I was about to drink it but a hand stopped me.
I glanced at the person only to find Vexon. Why was Vexon looking so blurry, that too so quickly?
"Everyone get back to work. Now!" he yelled at everyone. "Catherine, if I ever see you around Ruby again, I will not hesitate to put a bullet in your head. As for you Mysa, I will demote you."
I smiled softly, but my head hurt a lot and I felt like puking.
"This deal is important. If anything happens to her, all of you are dead. I will personally kill everyone!" Vexon hollered.
"Did I prove myself to you?" I asked, looking at Catherine, who was scowling now. "Or do I need to drink another glass?"
I wanted to take another glass from the bar, but Vexon grabbed my wrist tightly. His eyes were burning. "You are coming with me," he said and pulled me away.
What was going on? Why was everything spinning?
A/N: Ruby is drunk right now. So her point of view will be crazier than before. XD
