Page 5 of Dewpoint
“Can we request to be last? We’re still working out who—the candidate isn’t clear.”
I had trouble not laughing. “Take your time. You’re more than welcome to trade your number for whoever is last or we can just move the whole list up.”
It ended up two others hadn’t locked in who they were tossing at me, so they decided to not take numbers and we’d work things out later.
“Yeah, we’ll just skip the three not drawn then and move along,” Myriam muttered as she stood with a fishbowl. “I’m assuming I can just go table to table and no one will throw a fit that I started at the front?”
The Alphas were less than thrilled at her attitude, but they fucking deserved it… And we all knew it.
“Good,” I said it was done. “For the next meeting, I want a list of all businesses you or anyone in your family owns or invests in.” I held up my hand when people were ready to object. “I could ask just because you all signed saying we could dig intoyour lives as the royal family did my mother’s family. I could because it’s a Friday.”
Darren cleared his throat and I nodded for him to take over. “The point was brought up about some leaders having their hands in pies they shouldn’t. This is a new topic and ourqueenwants to educate herself on specifics. The fact so many of you were ready to take issue with it is very telling.”
I couldn’t have agreed more. “This list won’t be public. This isn’t something I’m trying to embarrass people with. Ifweagree an area should be off-limits, then we’ll calmly and with understanding figure out how to detach. The royal family will be doing the same.”
“Will we have access to the lists, Your Majesty?” one Alpha asked.
“I thought about that, but you all get a bit too competitive,” I answered evenly. “Some of you have companies hidden under umbrellas or that you don’t own on paper. One of you finds out someone you don’t like sells pens or whatever and then you could focus on wanting to outdo them. I think it best we keep it vague and not add issues to our piles of them.”
About half immediately agreed.
And the other half were the ones I was referring to, so that was fun.
Other than that and discussing the situation more about the elders, we were able to handle all the other business on the docket. One area was behind on court cases and needed to borrow some judges. They needed help to appoint more judges even. That was easy to manage.
Or I thought it was. Several Alphas looked shocked and impressed how quickly I managed it.
Droughts in one area had ruined crops and now there were shortages and the prices were going through the roof. Fine, wecould get extras from other areas and what was the plan to make sure this didn’t happen next year?
I blinked at the Alpha when he seemed surprised when I asked. “Are you asking for our help in getting you that answer? We can find the right experts and see what can be done to help next year’s crops.”
“I didn’t get that far, Your Majesty. This problem was overwhelming and my focus,” the Alpha admitted.
“Of course, and well done keeping that the focus. I wasn’t chastising,” I said firmly. “I’m saying now that we have a plan to help—what would you like done next?”
It turned out another area had had the same problem five years prior and knew the right experts to help. Perfect. So getting that set up and reports with recommendations on the calendar were priority.
The other two Alphas that I’d beaten up came limping in together and one needed a shoulder set as well.
Darren shot me a knowing look.
Yes, I loved to pop out shoulders in a signature move when I fought. It was beyond satisfying when I was upset.
I remembered what Raquel had given me the day we’d gone over ideas for my suite and decided something right there. “You three will donate your fines to the new female education non-profit I’m starting. The rate of college-educated females compared to males in Thovudin is laughable in other countries.”
Treena pretended not to notice when just about every gaze landed on her as if wanting her to confirm it.
“And I’m starting at the castle,” I told them. “Raquel had the idea of sending some of the female staff to adult education programs since they won’t be waiting on elders constantly. They can take night classes and learn new skills to add to their resumes. We need more staff to help as my father had. Mother too.”
“Well done,” Darren praised, nodding to Raquel as well. “The ones who couldn’t stay here anymore after losing Amelia were understandable. But the spineless pricks who worked for your father and—”
I nodded when his chuffing got too bad. I felt the same but focused on the Alphas. “I think it fitting after you covered your bad behavior by using my sex against me.”
They agreed and the other two apologized when I reminded them that I had two more fights with them.
Apparently, I’d made my point well.
Lovely.
