Chapter 100 : Get The Entourage Ready!

Book:Beverly Hills Academy : The Royal Affair Published:2024-6-2

( Astheria, Australia. )
Natalia pushed open her office door and dashed to her desk drawer with Jake hot on her trail.
The guards inspecting the break in made way for her immediately. She pushed the swivel chair away and made to punch in the password when Jake grabbed her wrist and spun her around.
“Don’t! It might be a trap.” He squatted and ran his fingers gently around the sides, checking for any abnormality. When he was done scrutinizing, Natalia hastily pulled it open.
“Where’s it?!” She panicked, desperately searching the empty drawer for the diary.
“It was right here! No one knew the pass code. W….”
“Chief, we checked the CCTV cameras for the past thirty minutes and found this.” A guard played a video on the flat screen TV in the office.
Jake took control of it and moved it forward to the past ten minutes.
In the video, a figure walked into the study using a master key to open the door. There was no camera in the study, so the one at the hallway caught the whole thing. A minute later, the same person walked out.
It was a female judging by her physique. Only her eyes were visible because she wore a mask. She was able to escape before the night guards could reach the study.
“Replay it and zoom in!” Natalia ordered. She took a few disbelieving steps closer and squinted at the woman’s eyes.
“l found something!” Naomi rushed into the crowded room with her laptop. Elva walked over and gave Natalia a night coat to wear.
“Before the alarm went off, Jake and I were going through the CCTV cameras from ten years ago. I found this when he left.” She connected it to the television.
“This happened the night before the death of the late Emperor and his wife.” Everyone looked at the screen.
In the video, the same masked woman snuck into the study and came out with some kind of device.
“What’s that?” Elva asked.
“It’s a kind of nanotech used by top secret agents in transferring information. Due to its small size, it’s easy to implant anywhere. Whoever has control can hear perfectly what is being said.” It was Jake.
“The same mole planted the device and received information on whatever the late Queen might’ve said before her son returned.” Naomi finished and realisation spread across the room.
”The spy knows how to avoid every CCTV camera in the palace but there were a few hidden ones that was able to catch a glimpse of her face on the night you were knocked out.” She played played another video.
The same person walked into the Queen’s room using a master key. She’d barely gotten in when Natalia appeared at the hallway and walked in after her.
A couple of minutes later, she rushed out in a haste and her veil fell off. Before she could cover it back, the camera had captured a full picture of her face.
Elva gasped loudly behind Natalia and covered her mouth! The door to the study opened and a few more guards walked in. They whispered something to Jake and stood aside.
Jake turned to Natalia but her eyes were still glued to the image on the screen.
“Empress, two vehicles were spotted leaving the second gate near the secret exit after shooting three guards on duty.”
“She escaped.” Naomi muttered.
“Empress, what are your orders?”
Natalia momentarily removed her eyes from the screen and looked back at the number of eyes staring back at her. The same culprit had raised her for years and given her a motherly affection.
Natalia didn’t know how to feel but her eyes turned icy cold the next minute. Her thirst for justice and vengeance overshadowed the betrayal, hurt and disappointment she was gradually getting used to.
“The security cameras must’ve caught the accomplices who helped her escape. Partner with every law enforcement agency within the Empire to arrest them. Give them the necessary information but don’t spill much. The citizens mustn’t get worried!”Jake nodded.
She faced Elva.
“No one leaves the palace. And I mean no one! We need to catch the other moles before they get the chance to escape too. I’ll decide where to have every cabinet meetings henceforth.” They nodded and turned to walk out.
“But before you all leave…” They stopped and looked at her.
“Get me results by nightfall.” She clenched her fists.
They bowed and left.
Natalia turned back to glare at the picture of the crafty snake that had nursed her grandmother to her death!
“You’ll surely pay for this, Lady Rosa!” She trembled with rage…
***
(Beverly Hills, California.)
Nicky nervously walked into the Campbell’s mansion and saw Mom Felicity.
“Nicky! How are you? It’s been days!” She smiled and hugged her. Nicky smiled back.
“I’m fine, mom. How are you and little Danielle?”
“We’re fine.” She helplessly grinned and touched her baby bump.
“Is Jeff in?” Nicky smiled tightly.
“He should be. He hasn’t been going out lately. Do you know why? Anyway, he was such an angel taking care of us throughout last night. He must be so exhausted.” The Californian beauty smiled, touching her tummy again.
“Oh! I wanted to give him some fruits and exercise my legs but seeing you, I’m suddenly feeling lazy. Give them to him, hun?” She passed a tray to Nicky and quickly walked away.
Nicky breathed out and walked upstairs, her anxiety getting worse.
“Jeffrey?” She whispered and knocked timidly. There was no response so she walked in.
“Jeffrey!” She screamed the moment she walked in, knocking over the tray in the process.
Jeffrey was wheezing and gasping for air. She crouched beside him, trying to control her tears. He was having an attack!
Nicky dashed to his bedside table and scattered the contents. But she couldn’t find the damned inhaler. His closet, table, bed…. nothing! His breath was beginning to get weak.
She rushed back to his side.
“Somebody help! Some…. Anyone… We need help!” She choked out but her voice didn’t even reach the door.
Then as if an answer to a prayer, the little white object fell from the clustered bedsheets.
Nicky scrambled for it and forced it down his throat. After a while;
“I didn’t know you could cry.” His hoarse voice teased, sitting up. But Nicky wasn’t in the mood to joke.
“How could you be so brainless?! Why didn’t you use your inhaler on time? What if no one was home?? I wish I could slap you this second!” She yelled and hit him.
But Jeffrey caught her effortlessly and flipped them over.
“Wh… what are you doing?” She stopped yelling and flushed hotly.
“At this rate, you’re gonna be the death of me.”
“You should be dead!” Her anger returned. “Because I felt dead these past two days without you. So you should’ve also been dead from missing me too mu…” He cut her off with a chaste kiss.
Nicky’s blush returned. She nervously pursed her lips.
“Jeff, I’m sorry for…” He kissed her again.
“I know. My love’s not fragile. I missed you to…” It was her turn to dominate his lips.
The force pushed Jeffrey over and she straddled him, letting her kiss tell just how much she missed him too.
Jeffrey wrapped his arms around, pulling her closer. The kiss was getting hot and intense but his phone ringing just had to break the spell.
“What?” He snapped at the caller after the third ring. Nicky giggled but it didn’t stop the little kisses they stole from each other.
“Mhn… When?… No, he’s… Fine, I’ll be over in a bit.” He tossed his phone away and resumed where they’d left.
“Who… who was that?” Nicky mumbled between kisses.
“Selena.” His expert lips moved to her neck.
“What did she want?” She tried to scowl but it failed.
“Arian’s missing.” He mouthed distractedly and tugged at her zipper.
Nicky pushed him off.
“What?” He blinked and her eyes bulged.
“Your best friend’s missing and you’re asking what?!”
“He’ll be fine. He’s not a baby, you know. We’ll go over later.”
“No! We’re going n…” Nicky tried to escape but Jeffrey was faster. He pinned her back to the exquisite rug.
“That dress can’t go to waste after driving me insane.” He buried his face in the crook of her neck and Nicky bit in a smile.
“That was the idea.” She naughtily whispered into his ears.
“Then let’s go later.” He purred back and seductively captured her lips…
***
( Astheria, Australia. )
“I hope it’s something good else she’ll have our heads for dinner!” Elva warned as they walked into Natalia’s study.
The official Royal assistant have also had her fair share of the ice Queen’s…. ice??…. the entire day.
Jake indifferently walked over and placed a report on her desk.
“Through the reflection on the windshield, the cameras caught a blurry image of one of the drivers. So we ran a face scan of every registered criminal in the force and got link of his identity.
“Angus Anderson. Growing up, he was a petty criminal in the neighborhood and got busted severally. Pretty smart kid but…”
“Smart or not… He’s an accomplice to murder.” Natalia coldly interrupted. Jake nodded.
“He disappeared after his last release. Since he was an orphan, there wasn’t much fuss until a couple years ago when the DSS, FBI, CIA and every top federal security agency began a manhunt on him.
“Apparently, little hood had graduated from a petty thief to an underground gangster dealing in drugs, women and guns. Rumour says he’s a top henchman of the most wanted Mafia Don in the whole of North America.
“The force has got a strong lead that their headquarter is in California. Whoever this Mafia Don is? Is likely the mastermind or an accomplice of the entire murders.” He concluded.
“The La Croft Empire in Los Angeles must have some information being on their home turf.” Naomi pointed.
“And coincidentally, the Emperor sent you a Royal invitation to the 500th year anniversary of his Empire.” Elva raised her head.
“It’s the perfect cover.” Naomi shrugged.
Natalia sat in silence for minutes as they stared at her, waiting for her decision. She stood up and walked to the windows behind her desk. Elva couldn’t blame her because she understood.
A lot was at stake… Including her heart.
“Get the Royal entourage ready…” Natalia finalised and faced them with cold determination.
“We leave for California at dawn…”