KINGDOM: Love, Money, Power.

6

ESTELLE POV

"Good morning beautiful."

"Good morning?! You sneak in my house into our bed in the middle of the night on a SUNDAY and you think this is a GOOD morning?! You better pack your stuff and leave before I grab the nearest hard object and throw it at you, you good for nothi-"

I grope my bed in search for the remote and switch it off. I must have left It on all night by accident. I hate waking up to negativity and there's barely a peaceful moment on these shows. I should probably stop watching that channel. I clutch at my neck. Last night I dreamt I lost my necklace again, and my voice wouldn't work without it. I felt paralysed.

It's still there. I thank God for preserving my life and giving me the gift of speech and song then open my Bible to read.

**FIRM KNOCKING ON DOOR**

Cai. I forgot he was giving me a ride today. I rush out of bed throwing the covers and hurry to the bathroom but decide to open the door and explain first. "Just a minute!" When my parents disappeared and Cai took me in I was so young. He's the wisest person I know and he's always on time – traits I aspire to master. He's a patient man but I hate to waste his time. I could've sworn he was giving me a ride on thursday but I know I'm not always the best at remembering things.

I open the door to a bright flash in my face.

"You look a mess. Wanna come studio with me?"

Its Young-Jae. He just took a picture of me. Like this. If I knew it wasn't Cai I would've stayed in bed.

"Come on I just hit the gym and I'm hype, lets goooooo"

As my vision restores itself I look up and down at his slender lean physique. I've known him since childhood and he's had the same figure since forever. I wonder what he does at the gym each morning besides his daily photoshoot. My mind is drifting I'm still groggy. "Come oonnn, get dressed I'll even throw in a free hair brush"

"Who told you I wanted a hairbrush?"

He lifts the phone to show me the picture he just took. My hair looks like a storm just hit it. I grab for the phone furiously but he holds it way above his head, laughing. Exasperated I shut the door in his face and take a deep breath. His voice comes through the door, muffled.

"if you come with me I'll delete it?"

I was gonna go anyway. Dynasty is like my second home.

I change then open the door to him still standing there with a sheepish grin on his face.

"couldn't you put on something prettier. Like that dress you wore to homecoming in 10th grade, I know you still have it. What do you say, I buy pizza and you put that dress-"

I push past him and go down the stairs. The car's open by the time I get there. I get in the back seat arms folded. He can be so obnoxious. After what feels like 2 minutes waiting he swings himself into the front seat.

He runs both fair hands through his silky jet-black hair then looks at me in the car mirror. He turns to face me, leaning one arm on the passenger seat.

"no dress, no ride."

I roll my eyes as he pulls off, laughing.

When we get to the building the place is already alive; bells and the smell of fresh coffee as we pass the dining hall laid out with European continental breakfast they serve for all their starving artists on Saturdays, music in every warm corridor, interns at every turn rushing around with papers and gadgets, employees in every hallway strolling with slightly less urgency, faces people would recognise greeting me good morning like we grew up together- well, we practically did, growing up Mordecai brought me here every-day with countless stories of 'In my day' that and 'in my day' this. If it was true what said about this place is going bust soon, it certainly didn't look like it. This place felt like home.

The booth is full too. When I walk in everyone is dressed like it was a party. These aren't people I recognise either.

"Is this the girl?" a young man in an exotic suit stood remarked, staring at me. What girl? I looked at Young-Jae and he stared at the man too with a narrow eyed thin smile.

"Guys this is Star, Star meet guys"

The colourfully dressed room didn't seem to like my grey ensemble. "Estelle. My name is Estelle."

The suited man steps forward to circle me then stops infront of me to wave his hands around my face. "Estelle. You should do something with your face. Its just very plain-"

Young-Jae laughs loudly and caustically, cutting him off. As he walks into the booth I wonder if I should leave, he has definitely has enough company already.