2: Uncle Flavian Is Drunk?

Eve.

And so the ceremony began.

I stepped forward when Dad gestured to me.

"Behold, Eve Waldorf. My daughter whom I raised proper, the one who I've grooomed to take over after I retire. She is my successor, the rightful heir of this empire. Cheers to the future."

I didn't miss it when daddy narrowed his eyes to Flavian and they shared meaningful glances.

"Cheers Eve!!" Everyone chorused in unison, raising their glasses as high as their arms could stretch. While some meant it, the rest? Not sure. 

Flavian? I was definitely sure, the man had no glass as a matter of fact he was smoking, right in this crowded hall!

After what seemed like an eternity of taking an oath and giving the speech I had prepared, Dad went down on one knee and slid a ring onto my thumb.

The ring had a rare bluish gemstone embedded in it. It absorbed most of the light, reflecting it back tenfold, the irradiance was blinding so much.

Dad was the first to kiss the ring before everyone else followed in formality.

 It’s tradition in this mafia that the boss hands over his most prized possession to his declared successor to symbolise his trust and permanent loyalty... to symbolise his—

I paused, my eyes shifting to Flavian’s as soon as the last person rose to their feet after kissing the ring.

For the next 30 minutes I remained unmoved, uneasy, and un-fucking-settled that Flavian stood out in the crowd that was following dad’s lead by kissing the ring on bended knee.

Loyalty, trust, faith...and he never pledged any.

And my pride, unfortunately, wasn’t big enough to stop me from approaching him in the end.

"You must be feeling like what right now?"

"I don't know. A man?"

He murmured, a note of nonchalance dripping in his voice.

Something about the way he replied was vague to me... like he didn't mean it in a literal sense but figuratively.

Fuck, I can't stand that look in his eyes when it’s on me.

"Hmm, you think I can't run an empire because I'm a woman?"

"Do you feel like a woman?"

I backed away suddenly as he stepped closer, exhaling out a cloud of smoke in my face. "Is that a question mark..." I asked sarcastically, running my eyes all over him, assessing him thoroughly for the first time that night.

Hmm... Brown and burgundy three-piece suit, leather shoes, white gold watch... When my eyes met his once more, I batted my lashes lazily.

"Run off, little princess... Or daddy dear will think I'm bullying my niece."

Ignoring whatever he was yapping about, I leaned in, lips next to his ear, and spoke in a hush.

"I've felt more like a man than a woman since daddy dear forced a heavy pistol into my hands and made my dolls the target. You wouldn't know since you weren't there... dear uncle."

Dad is definitely wrong, this man has no idea who I am.

"Eve Waldorf!"

My dad’s voice vibrated behind me. I back stepped, flashing my uncle my most charming smile before joining my dad on the stage, taking my seat on the only golden throne recently stationed at the center.

Everyone lowered their heads respectively in unison and recited pledges of loyalty… except him.

Flavian never bowed, he only stared, like he was already planning how to ruin me.

 • • • • • • • • • • • • •

I dragged my feet into my room, ready to throw myself on the bed when I saw a gray note resting on it already.

A smile tugged at my lips when I was done reading it... so he was as unpredictable as Keaton said.

The note read:

"Congratulations. You won two things tonight: the crown. My interest."

Upon opening the box that the note was attached to, I gasped, excitement washing over me.

The passkey... not just any passkey but the passkey to unlock any door in this estate... probably any door on this island.

It made me wonder how an uncle I had never seen or heard of being a permanent resident on the island had access to it.

I shook my head vigorously, basking in the delight of freedom.

"Freedom," I muttered beneath my breath, liking the way the word rolled off my tongue without restraint.

First thing’s first...

I wanted to feel like a woman... a real woman.

I was already getting tired of hearing the same explicit stories of the wild nightlife on this island from my brothers and sisters at the mad house. Now it was time to experience it.

I wore some rugged, ripped baggy jeans and a black hoody sweater.

Although I had a passkey now, the backyard gate and front gates were risky routes, so after unlocking the automated gate at the garden I still found myself in the maze garden trying to climb a wall covered in thorny flowering vines.

And then I fell in a split second for the fifth time... This time the distraction wasn’t my chaotic mind but a presence. The masculine scent was so intoxicating and every step closer to me was suffocating.

"Uncle? What are you doing here?" I chirped, ironically feeling fake internally by the way I spoke. What I meant to ask was why did you pick the most unfortunate moment to arrive?

"Getting some air..."

And killing mine.

"And you?" He adds.

 I raised my brows, wearing a righteous expression as if he hadn’t just witnessed me descend to the ground head-first.

His tone held some level of concern yet his eyes stared me down aloofly ... He never bothered lending me a hand up, I pushed my weight up with my head still spinning with stars and my vision hazy. My body staggered once and suddenly I gravitated into some thick, hard arms.

"Sneaking out, are we?" He whispered, his voice dropping low... too low.

"We? Uncle, are you drunk?"

I pulled loose from his embrace, only to lean in... and sure enough he reeked of alcohol.

This isn't good... He’s drunk?

I started walking away, Even then, his footsteps echoed behind me. I could call it stalking but they were heavy and loudly noticeable. 

I froze abruptly, turning my body. "What? Why are you following me now?" I raised a brow.

This man’s eyes must be the first thing to ever make my cold heart race... racing at an accelerated speed that sparked every emotion in me.

He was drunk maybe, but his eyes still glinted with the same intensity they had when I first saw him.

"You didn't answer my question."

"Question?" My brows knit together.

"Do you feel like a woman?"

My head shook in reflex, asserting a 'NO' I wasn’t verbally ready to express.

He stepped closer and closer... until I felt his breath warm on my face and had to strain my eyes upward to have a good view of him.

This was weird... weird because I didn’t feel intimidated that a giant with menacing vibes was invading my space. He stood tall and I stood my ground... barely flinching when his wandering hand grazed my left cheek.

"Where are you headed, princess?"

"Don't call me that!" I fired, fisting his index finger that poked my nose.

"But you are a princess.. Talk to me princess, tell me where you wanna go ... I promise I'll take you there... I will be your knight... shielding you from danger "

Nonsense. That’s what a drunk man would say, obviously, but the urge to sober him up kicked in.

I clenched the finger tighter.

 He should flinch, quiver, flutter... something! The thing that happened was the smirk spreading across his lips. Whatever was in those grassy eyes better disappear otherwise... I’ll snap his finger, I swear it.

"One more time... I swear on these grounds you’ll lose that basket mouth of yours."

"When you cut off my tongue will you stitch my lips and keep my tongue as a souvenir?" He murmured, slamming my hardened knuckles to his lips, pecking it.

What the actual fuck?​