Olivia Sparks

A tall shadow cast over Chanel Greene as she stood by the threshold. Right in front of her was the crown prince of Nisia, Maxen, who was standing by the window with his hands dipped in his pockets.

She flinched. Maxen Sui just looked over his shoulders and a corner of his lips tugged up in a smirk that promised nothing but Chanel Greene's destruction. She could see it in his eyes. She could see that he knew a thing or two about her. Things of an unspeakable nature that she had done just to propel her to the top.

Chanel Greene knew exactly what she was guilty of, which was why all she wanted to do was run as far away as possible. 

Seeing the prince orc.h.e.s.trated such a discreet meeting just so he could speak with her made Chanel Greene sick to the core. She wanted to puke on the carpet and her hand automatically flew to her stomach as if the gesture could hold in its contents. 

She knew what the prince was capable of. That was why she never dared walk along or beside the path that the royal family trudged on.

But look where she was now. Caged in with the jaguar himself. Everyone knew Maxen as the prince, and only a few knew of the man that hid behind the smiles and charitable works. 

Maxen Victor Eton Sui. He who could kill with one blow.

If he sought for her audience it meant one thing, he knew what she was up to. The thought froze Chanel Greene in her spot, and she fought the need to scratch the itch on her skin when a creeping feeling coursed through it.

As if he could hear her heartbeat which danced along with the fear that rattled her bones, Maxen walked closer with a sinister smile on his face, stopping in front where Chanel Greene stood rooted on the carpeted floor.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Chanel Greene couldn't help but tap and scratch her skirt. She wanted to take back her words earlier when she called Olivia her angel. It was clear as day to Chanel Greene that the Lin heiress wasn't her angel, but her grim reaper dressed in a thousand-dollar couture ensemble.

At that exact second, a thousand and one solutions floated in Chanel Greene's mind, but everything boiled down to two: should she come clean and be an ally of the crown or stick to the Suis enemies who promised their demise?

Dipping into a curtsey, Chanel Greene's knees wobbled like jelly as she stood and found her balance. She did a side glance to Olivia, and a corner of her twitched upon seeing the cold queen emit nothing but arctic air.

"Good morning, Your Highness," Chanel Greene greeted. She couldn't look Maxen in the eye so she decided to look at his chin instead.

"Good morning. I'm glad you were able to accommodate us even on a short notice, Ms. Greene."

"Hahahahahahahaha! The p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e is mine, Prince Maxen. And anything for my financial adviser. Right, Ms. Lin?"

"Very well. I hope you don't mind, but my men had to do a sweep on you first."

"Sure. Sure, go ahead." Chanel Greene rolled her shoulders, biting the inside of her cheek. She didn't want to embarrass herself, so she took out the microphones and cameras pinned on her and dumped it in the collecting bin that Shadow was holding. And even though she already dropped all the devices she had on her, Shadow still frisked her, cupping and patting all the nooks of her body which the agent could reach.

Swallowing a golf ball size lump in her throat, Chanel craned her neck and watched as Konstantin let the men swipe the metal detector along the outline of his body, and noticed how Maxen and Konstantin were in the zone, locking glares with each other.

She wouldn't lie, but she got curious about the history of the two men. She thought she could find the answers on Olivia, but just as she turned her head to face the Lin heiress, she heard someone speak.

"Clear," Shadow said.

"Clear," an MIB said. 

"This way, Ms. Greene," Olivia said with a smile and gestured towards the private office in the hotel suite. 

Everyone stood and waited for Maxen to find his seat, and as soon as he sat, the rest followed. As if on cue, the security details emptied the hotel room except for MIB1 and Shadow who stood side by side in a corner where sunlight couldn't reach.

Chanel Greene's eyes darted from Olivia, then to Maxen, and lastly, to Konstantin. All three held stoic expressions on their faces and held an air of confidence that only to people like them was born with as if it was their second skin.

Was this how people like them always hold themselves up? People who belonged to the top 1 percent of the population? She couldn't help but be amused at how the three sat—composed and not a strand of hair out of place—when she could feel her armpits sweat and drench her clothing even with how cold the room was.

Clapping a hand, Maxen nodded when all the attention was on him. "Please enjoy the tea. I made it myself." Maxen beamed and gestured a hand to the coffee table.

Konstantin was the first to pick up a cup. He was thirsty and needed relief to his parched throat. He lifted the cup of tea in front of him and pressed it to his lips, taking a sip of his tea, and his face told everyone how bad it was.

Curious, Olivia lifted her cup and smiled. "Didn't know His Highness had a talent in brewing tea," she commented, pursing her lips to keep herself from smiling. The sweet fruity taste of peach blending well with the nuttiness of matcha tickled her taste buds. "Mmmm," she m.o.a.n.e.d in approval.

Olivia's reaction piqued Chanel's curiosity, so she reached for her cup. Gulping it down, she regretted her decision.