Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 108768 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108768 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
She gave a half-bow. “Yes, Mountain Master.”
My cock twitched in my pants.
Chapter twenty-two
Blue Beginnings
Monique
I'm a Friend of the Four Aces.
I stepped into the tent, as a sense of surreal accomplishment washed over me.
Just moments ago, I had stood in front of Lei, Duck, Chen, and Hu, my heart thundering in my chest.
I couldn't lie. . .I had been scared as fuck. Nervousness threatened to have me end the whole Council and rush off in shame.
Lei's gaze had been intense. Hu, with his ever-calculating eyes, had surely been scrutinizing my every move. Chen's stoic presence had been unnerving, while Duck's unreadable expression had added to the mounting pressure.
But, I stood strong.
For a minute, I wondered if Mom was watching and if she was proud or freaking out for me.
Doesn't matter.
I grinned.
I'm a Friend of the Four Aces.
The weight of the title settled on my shoulders. It was both a mantle of honor and a shield of newfound responsibility.
Last week, I was breaking chicken bones in the factory and then rushing over to my other job to waitress at the strip club.
Now I would be navigating a new gritty, yet luxurious world that could make or break me.
And while I had been victorious with this Council, I had more tests ahead of me. There was no doubt that I would have to prove that I was more than just Lei's plaything. I needed to show them—and myself—that I was capable and deserving of the title and the respect that came with it. Plus, this was my chance to make a real difference and wield influence in the sort of world that had once seemed so far out of reach.
Sighing, I walked deeper into the tent.
I can't believe Duck didn't give me his vote.
I had wanted to kick his ass but instead I remained drowned in anxiety as I waited for the last votes.
Mountain Mistress? Chen and Duck are bugging.
With the way Lei had left me alone in these past two days over Chanel's dead body. . .
He's not ready to replace her yet. His heart is still broken.
I had to remember that fact as we continued to. . .do whatever we were doing.
Don't think of that. There's more important shit happening right now.
With a deep breath, I pulled out the phone that Chen had given me and dialed Banks.
Don't stress. This will go well. Just be assertive.
It rang only once before Banks answered. “Moni?! Is everything alright?”
“I'm 100% okay.”
“And my men? They were supposed to report and their fucking messages don't sound like them—”
“Alright, so I need to get back to you about your men—”
“What the fuck does that mean?”
“A lot has happened—”
“I sent them to watch your back—”
“You did, but I am also watching my own back and—”
“Moni—”
“Banks, be quiet and let me talk!”
Banks fell silent on the other end.
Thank God.
I swallowed. “I appreciate your concern, Banks, but I assure you that I am capable of taking care of myself. And. . .”
How is Marcy and him going to take this?
I cleared my throat. “And instead of being a Friend of the Diamond Syndicate, I decided to petition Lei and his key officials to grant me the title of Friend of the Four Aces.”
Banks snorted. “And how did that work out for you?”
“I got it.”
Banks remained quiet.
I began to slowly pace in the tent. “But not all of the Council members voted in my favor.”
There was a brief silence before Banks spoke again, “Who didn't vote for you?”
“Chen and Duck, they both thought that I should be. . .Mountain Mistress instead. . .”
Alright. I said it. Let's see what he says.
There was a momentary pause before Banks continued with a note of caution in his voice. “Mountain Mistress?”
“Yes.”
“Sitting on the throne next to Lei?”
I shivered. “Yes, but that's not what I'm going after. I chose Friend of the Four Aces instead because—”
“Oh no. We will not so quickly get off the Mountain Mistress topic.”
I paused from pacing. “Fine.”
“Mountain Mistress?”
“Yes, Banks.”
“Lei's. . .woman. Probably eventually his wife.”
“Apparently, his father Leo chose me to—”
“Leo!?” It came out as a shocked shriek.
“Yes. We discovered that Leo had been plotting for at least a year to put me in that title.”
“When the hell did Leo even meet you?”
“I have no idea—”
“You need to know those details—”
“Of course I do. That's my plan once I see Leo at the final battle in. . .” I considered the time that had passed. “Four days.”
Banks let out a loud sigh on the other end of the line. “Moni, this isn't some game. Becoming Mountain Mistress means getting tangled in the deepest parts of Lei's world.”
“I'm not going to be that. I went for —”
“Yes. Friend of the Four Aces but if Chen raised Mountain Mistress up then that tells me the promotion is just a matter of time.”
I gritted my teeth. “I'm handling it.”