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Hunter had switched my phone with one he had tapped.

  Now it was his turn to have everything he knew get taken away.

  I initiated a call from his bank to him, saying he needed to call them.

  He picked up and heard the robotic female caller’s message to call the bank.

  He placed a call to the bank, and I intercepted it to my phone where I answered.

  “Hi,” Hunter said. “I received a message to call the bank over some kind of fraud alert?”

  “Yes,” I said, putting on a British accent since his bank was in England. “You withdrew quite a sum and we wanted to check if it was your transaction.”

  “How much?”

  “Over a million, Sir,” I said.

  “No, that couldn’t be right,” Hunter said. “I always only withdraw small batches at a time. Not that much.”

  “Oh, sorry, Sir,” I said. “That was 10 million. And it just went through.”

  “What?” Hunter said. “How could that be when it was a fraud alert?”

  “The system could have glitches sometimes, Sir.”

  “Get it back,” Hunter said. “Who withdrew it?”

  “You did,” I said.

  “But I didn’t,” he said.

  “Sir, it was under your card.”

  “But that’s all I had in that account,” Hunter said.

  “You withdrew it, Sir. We’re sorry.”

  “I don’t believe this. Who’s your manager? I demand an investigation.”

  “Sorry, Sir, my manager is away at lunch. Perhaps we can have him call you back?”

  “Yes, please do,” Hunter said.

  “Thank you for banking with us,” I said. “Is there anything else I can help you with?”

  “No, not now. But it would help if you could get my fucking money back!” Hunter said, exasperated.

  “Sorry about that again, Sir,” I said. “We will try to open up an investigation. Good-bye.”

  I hung up and then I noticed Hunter calling another number. Kingsbury Prep’s Administration.

  I intercepted the call.

  “Hello?” I asked in a clip accent.

  “I’m Hunter,” he said. “I’m one of the student council leaders at Kingsbury Prep.”

  “Yes, yes, I see you are,” I said.

  “Beg my pardon,” Hunter said. “But this can’t be right. It says here in this email that I have been expelled?”

  “I’m sorry, Hunter, but it appears you have.”

  “How? Why? What did I do?” Hunter asked.

  “It appears you have violated many campus rules.”

  “What rules? This is bullshit!” Hunter asked.

  “Having visitors visit at all odd hours of the night without getting permission first.”

  “They’re my bandmates,” Hunter said. “The school and I have an understanding how they can come by and stay with me. I’m in a well-known rock band. We hit the Billboards 100 before. We have to practice to keep performing well.”

  “Well rules are rules, and it shows you have not asked for permissions for their visits.”

  “Give me a fucking break! These aren’t even serious infractions. What other violations do I have?” Hunter asked.

  “You have surveillance cameras in unauthorized places. The school does not allow for any student to place cameras in public areas.”

  “That’s a total lie! What public areas?” Hunter asked. “I’ve only placed cameras at the entryway of my place for security reasons.”

  “There was a camera found at the entrance of our campus on the gate,” I said.

  “For security reasons,” Hunter said.

  “Without permission,” I said continuing to be the school administrator.

  “I did have permission! I can prove it! If necessarily, I’ll ask for permission again,” Hunter said. “I can get all the permissions I need to stay in school. This is bullshit. I can’t be expelled! I’ll be graduating soon in only a few months. I’ve worked so hard to do well here. You can’t expel me.”

  “It appears there was a request from one of our trustees to expel you.”

  “No, that’s crazy,” Hunter said. “It can’t be Kaz. He would never do that to me. But…”

  “Yes, the new trustee Veronica has requested you be expelled.”

  “That batshit crazy bitch!” Hunter let out. “Now what?”

  “She said you have had sexual relations with her and then with another student, Sabrina, where they had claim it was not consensual and you forced yourself on them.”

  “Uncomfortable how? Nonconsensual? Only on my part it was nonconsensual. What the fuck?!” Hunter asked.

  “They said you made them quote ‘suck your dick’ unquote,” I said. “They cited one instance where you forced them under the table in the public dining area to perform oral copulation.”

  “They did that on their own free will,” Hunter said. “Veronica has some nerve. She’s the one who coerced me to have sex with her.”

  “So you did have her quote ‘suck your dick’ unquote,” I said.

  “This is crazy,” Hunter said.

  “Sorry, Hunter, but you will have to take up the matter with the board. For now, your status is now on hold and subject to immediate expulsion.”

  “What does that even mean?” Hunter asked.

  “You are to gather up your belongings and leave school. You will await notice of further disposition. It may take many months. The one thing that won’t happen is that you will graduate this year even if you are exonerated.”

  “No, you can’t do that,” Hunter said. “My parents put so much pressure on me to succeed here. I can’t believe Veronica is behind this.”

  “We will not tolerate you harassing Veronica again, or possibly harassing any other students or faculty.” I said. “You have 72 hours to pack and remove yourself from Kingsbury Prep under supervision of campus security. Good-bye.” I said, hanging up.

  Hunter made another phone call. To Kaz, which I tapped in.

  “Kaz, you’ve got to help me, man,” Hunter said.

  “What’s up?” Kaz asked.

  “I don’t know what happened. I got a call and the school said that I got expelled!”

  “What? That’s impossible.”

  “No, I just talked to a school administrator. She said Veronica accused me of harassing her. That’s crazy. It’s the complete opposite.”

  “I know,” Kaz said. “What is she up to?”

  “I can’t get expelled?” Hunter said. “It would mean the end of my career in music. My art would be taken down from galleries, my parents would be humiliated. Can you do something?”

  “I can go up against her on the board since I’m a trustee, too,” Kaz said. “But that could take weeks or longer. I don’t control everything, so I’m not sure.”

  “We need a quick solution,” Hunter said.

  “She needs to leave Kingsbury Prep,” Kaz said. “We need to force her to quickly.”

  “It’s her words against mine,” Hunter said.

  “The only thing that would divert attention away from us is the Black Envelope.”

  “Invoke it on her?” Hunter asked.

  “Yes, I have that power.”

  “Last time we did, it was on Tempest,” Hunter said.

  “Regretfully so. Tempest didn’t deserve it at all, and I will regret it for the rest of my life.”

  “Me, too,” Hunter said. “I will regret hurting her for the rest of my life. She is the one truly good person at Kingsbury, and we ruined it. We let that witch Veronica take over and now she’ll destroy Kingsbury.”

  “Like she destroyed any chance we have of getting Tempest back. I’m trying everything I can to get out of that stupid engagement I have with her. But it’s like an iron-clad agreement.”

  “I’m tied to it, too,” Hunter said. “I have to be with Sabrina to appease the Witch’s sidekick. How pathetic is that?”

  “I’m going to invoke the Black Envelope now,” Kaz said. “Ta
ke her down once and for all.”

  “I’ll stand by you for whatever consequences there is for it,” Hunter said. “Even if I have to convince my parents to break the alliance we have with her country.”

  “Thank you, Hunter,” Kaz said. “That is a big sacrifice.”

  “I have to stay at Kingsbury Prep or Veronica would take you down, too, and the entire legacy of the school.”

  “I know,” Kaz said. “Sending my decree of the Black Envelope to the student body.”

  BLACK ENVELOPE invoked on PRINCESS VERONICA of NORMANDY

  I untapped myself from their conversation then. My planned had worked. Now to the next stage.

  Chapter 14

  Tempest

  The Black Envelope had been thrown. This time it was not on me. It was on Veronica. Now the entire student body can see her as the target.

  It also meant I was no longer the target since the latest Black Envelope toss canceled out the last one.

  The Black Envelope on me and the K3 which Veronica had invoked was no longer valid.

  I was free. I was finally free.

  A knock sounded on me door nearly made me jump out of my skin. I was automatically in my defensive mode, having been a target of the Black Envelope since I came to Kingsbury Prep.

  I put all my equipment away and shut my laptop, putting it back into my duffle bag. Next I collapsed my tent and placed it in my duffle bag. I had created a system where I could pick up and leave at any time. Always on the defensive. Always able to quickly move if I have to. That was how I was on constant vigilance since being at the school for royals.

  Another knock.

  I pulled up my tablet and checked my camera. It was fine for students to place a camera in front of their dorm doors for security reasons. I was glad I did.

  Veronica was outside my door.

  Along with an armed bodyguard.

  “Come out, Tempest,” she shouted. “I know you’re in there. I know you forced Kaz to invoke the Black Envelope on me. That would explain how my fiancé would do something so horrible to me.”

  I dimmed the lights in my room and shoved my bed slightly away from the center of my bedroom. I pulled up the rug, opened up the floorboards and pulled out my own machine gun, pistol, dagger, and ammo belt, quickly outfitting myself with each piece. Next I shoved my duffle bag into the space the weapons had been stored before covering it up.

  The knocking became heavier. “We’re breaking down your door if you don’t come with us,” Veronica said.

  I didn’t say anything, but just watched them from my surveillance camera in front. I moved the camera around trying to see if there were others around her besides the bodyguard.

  It seemed there were just two of them.

  Good. Now that she was the target of the Black Envelope…anyone could go after her. Anyone could leave her dead. Including me.

  I grabbed the device that looked like a game controller from the TV console. With one button, the planters along my doorway opened, revealing pistols aimed towards Veronica and her bodyguard.

  I was about to take aim at her when suddenly, she just walked off with her bodyguard in tow.

  Luckily for her, she did or I would have been perfectly happy to test out my security system on her. She would have become swiss cheese from it.

  I pressed the button on my controller, and the pistols disappeared back into the planters.

  A text message scrolled across my phone.

  RICKY: Black Envelope was invoke on

  Veronica.

  ME: I know.

  RICKY: Almost every student was out to

  get her. She pissed off many of them.

  ME: She was just in front of my door,

  looking for me. She had an armed

  bodyguard with her.

  RICKY: I’ll be right over.

  ME: They left. I’m fine.

  RICKY: I want to come over anyways.

  ME: Alright.

  Minutes later, Ricky was walking into my room, carrying a cooler. “I brought you dinner and some drinks,” he said.

  I was shaking.

  “What is it?” Ricky asked.

  “Invoking the Black Envelope brought some awful memories,” I said. “Even though it was on Veronica, I could feel for her. I wouldn’t want to wish it on anyone. The thought of being hunted down like an animal by anyone and everyone, is terrifying.”

  Ricky came over and pulled me against his chest, wrapping his arms tight around me. “I’m here, Tempest,” he said. “It’s okay. No one will harm you again. You’re not a target anymore.”

  “I’m just anxious and nervous for Veronica, and she was my mortal enemy.”

  “Poor Tempest,” Ricky said. “You’ve had a long day. You must be exhausted. You’re beginning to have sympathy for a wicked witch like Veronica.”

  I laid my head against his broad chest and was already out like a light bulb.

  I woke up sleeping on top of Ricky who was asleep on my bed. We were both exhausted apparently.

  My phone was ringing and had woke me up.

  I looked at the screen. Jordan.

  I picked up and walked into my living room where I said, “Hi, Mr. J. How’s it going?”

  “Mr. J?” Jordan chuckled, sounding amused.

  “It’s my nickname for you,” I said, not wanting to use his name when Ricky was right next door.

  “I like it,” Jordan said. “I like you already calling me by a nickname.”

  “I think it suits you,” I said.

  “How so?”

  “Mysterious. A symbol. Simple, elegant, but authoritative yet friendly at the same time.”

  “I like how you described me,” Jordan said. “Like you understand me. Very perceptive.”

  “Well, you know me,” I said. “I read people well. I wished.”

  Jordan chuckled. “Did anyone tell you you’re pretty funny?”

  “Yeah, lots of people have said something like that or other.”

  “I’m calling to congratulate you, Tempest,” Jordan said. “You’ve already accomplished all your revenge plans. You sabotaged Sabrina and her kingdom’s grand publicity tour. Then you destroyed Ori’s fighting career and self-esteem. You mind-fucked Hunter into thinking he lost much of his personal savings and even got expelled from Kingsbury Prep, which led Kaz to invoke the Black Envelope on Veronica, which I’ve just learned from my sources…forced her to fled from Kingsbury Prep and canceled out the Black Envelope toss on you and the K3 at the same time…which now led to a cancellation on Kaz and her engagement. In one day, Tempest, which would take heroines like you in bully romances months to do, you successfully executed your revenge plans flawlessly.”

  “You’re very observant,” I said.

  “That’s because I like following your every move, Tempest. You are so interesting to watch, not just for what you do, but because you’re easy on the eyes, too.”

  “Uh huh,” I said.

  “So, the last revenge plans…you asked me to be part of it, and I am all too willing to. I dreamt about it. I am flying in tomorrow to see you…to help you with it.”

  “Thank you, Jordan,” I said.

  “No, thank you, Tempest,” Jordan said.

  “See you tomorrow,” I said.

  “I cannot wait,” Jordan sounded like he had taken a deep breath. “Nothing could keep me away from you tomorrow.”

  Chapter 15

  Tempest

  Tomorrow was Friday, which I had always looked forward to because it meant the weekend was here. It was also a day that would give me the weekend to recover from my revenge plans. I was not a cruel monster like some fucked up assholes really were in some bully romances I read. I didn’t enjoy hurting or killing people for the sake of being mean and messed up. There was no excuse for that. But I was not a doormat, a Mary Sue whatever that meant, or anything passive. I would fight and even kill to protect myself and my loved ones if I have to so there was no fucking way I was afraid to stand up an
d fight.

  But it sometimes took a toll. I could see it in the K3’s faces how being mean to me and hurting me was destroying them.

  It was what made me move on with my revenge plans. The K3s were at least redeemable. There was hope for them yet, but I had to stick with my plans.

  Ricky woke up when I walked back into my bedroom. He pulled me to him and kissed the top of my head. Unlike the Princes, with Ricky, it was a gentler more easy-going relationship.

  “I’ve never thought I would have such a relationship with you,” I told Ricky.

  “No pressure, no worries, no status issues or family issues kind of relationship?” Ricky asked.

  “Yes, no royalty vs. commoner issues or hang ups.”

  “If I was in the relationship I had with the K3s and I brought you into that relationship with me and the K3s, would you have done it? Share me with the other guys?”

  Ricky looked at me at first and said, “If it meant I could be with you that way instead of having no way to be with you, I would. I would be jealous as hell, but I would because I don’t want to miss out on being in a relationship with you, Tempest.”

  “You are so sweet, Ricky,” I said. “There is nothing cruel about you, and I am so grateful for that. I just didn’t know how you would feel with the other guys.”

  “You still have feelings for them, don’t you?” Ricky asked. “I could tell.”

  “We had a very intense couple of months, Ricky,” I said. “I was constantly with them because they were protecting me from Veronica and the Black Envelope.”

  “You missed being with them?” Ricky asked.

  “I do,” I said simply and honestly.

  “Are you going to go through with the last revenge plan?”

  “I’m going to,” I said. “He needs to open up his mind if he ever gets to rule his kingdom.”

  “As a concerned citizen of his kingdom, I agree,” Ricky said. “He does need to get his mind opened. The way it is and the old-fashioned way of thinking they have, if he gets to be crowned King one day, he won’t last.”

  “Yes,” I said. “Look at the Tsars of Russia, the very last monarchs there. If he was more open to change…”