At Your Service

Chapter 15- Kiyoshi vs Monette

"Aunt Kiyoshi!" Felix's face lit up with exhilaration. He ran to her, giving her a hug. Unlike with Ursula, Glenda, and Lance, Felix actually wanted to see Kiyoshi.

"Felix! It's lovely to see you once again," she beamed. Felix's aunt was stunning. She looked like she was in her 20s, her hair was long like an elephant trunk. It was slicked into a ponytail, which went all the way down her back. Her face was perfectly beat with the small amounts of makeup she had on. She had rosy cheeks, and smooth skin. She was wearing a lovely sundress, with a pair of wedges. She radiated positive energy. "I'm so sorry I'm late. But I simply HAD to show up looking FA-BU-LOUS," she chirped. "I got you a pair of these," she pulled out a pair of diamond studded Prada sunglasses. They probably cost more than my entire salary. 

"Auntie you shouldn't have," Felix beamed, placing them atop his head.

"Oh but a had to for my favorite nephew. These are straight off the runway!" she looked at me and smiled, walking over to me. "And you must be Baker!" she exclaimed. "Felix has told me so much about you! Thank you for taking such good care of him," she handed me a pair of sunglasses, similar to his.

"Oh! Thank you milady!"

"Please, drop the formalities! You may call me Kiyoshi," she grinned. She looked at Monette, who seems unamused.

"Kiyoshi," she greeted, somewhat unfriendly.

"Monette," Kiyoshi responded. We all head for a table, where hot tea and desserts await us. I sit down. To my right sat Felix, and too my left sat Kiyoshi. Everyone grabbed a few snacks as we sip our tea. It's uninteresting at first, it's just Monette and her siblings talking. Suddenly, Monette engaged with Kiyoshi.

"So, Kiyoshi, I hear you've been modeling in Milan. How is that going for you?" she asked, with a hint of malice in her voice.

"Quite well actually. I'm making very good money, and I'm meeting lots of celebrities. The other day actually, I had lunch with Naomi Campbell," she responded, calmly. 

"That's lovely. I'm sure you're finding plenty of ways to keep yourself occupied. What with world travel and all. But do you think your modeling will last forever? I mean you're starting to creep up there in age aren't you?" Monette digs.

"What do you mean?" Kiyoshi asked.

"Well, I mean you're nearing forty."

"You're forty with no husband, and no kids? It must be quite lonely," Ursula said.

"I'm only thirty-five, you're forty-five," she says to Monette. "And I'm not in a rush to get married, because if I was I would have done so long ago," she retorted. Yes Kiyoshi, get her ass!

"All I'll say is beauty fades. You can't depend on your looks all your life Kiyoshi," Monette says, taking a sip of tea.

"I don't need to, I have many business opportunities outside of modeling. Besides, I don't need to do anything to maintain my beauty. You're the one who's had surgeries, not me." I practically choked on my tea. I'm absolutely shocked. Felix wasn't kidding when he said Monette and Kiyoshi don't get along.

"Lies you tell!" she exclaimed. 

"You want everything to be you're way. You want to control Felix's life so bad you're willing to force him to marry someone he's not in love with. Honestly, I pity you." I looked at Felix. He was clearly uncomfortable. Aria doesn't seem affected at all by what's happening. Felix looked like he was ready to leave.

"Felix is in love with Aria, and they will be married!" she yelled. "Mila, let's go," the queen fumed, storming off angrily. Go Kiyoshi! She got her all the way together. Felix seemed rattled by what happened, I look at him attempting to make him feel better.

"Felix? Are you alright?" I console.

"I just... I just would like to be left alone right now," he removed himself from the table and leaves. Most likely to go back to his room. Ursula, Glenda, and Lance all leave to who knows where.

"I think I shall go back to my room," Aria said. She exits, leaving Kiyoshi and I alone at the table.

"I've made a mess of things haven't I?" she asked, laughing.

"Nah, I think she deserved it. She was being a real bitch, and coming for your job like that? Totally not cool," I replied. She laughed, taking a sip of tea.

"Felix tells me a great deal about you," she says. I looked at her curiously.

"Really? Like what?" I asked.

"He says that you are kind, and thoughtful. You have a certain thing about you that makes him want to share everything on his mind. He says you are amazing and courageous, daring and bold. Yet, sensitive, and empathetic." I ran my fingers through my hair, I could feel my heart pounding out of my chest. It was louder than a clap of thunder.

"He said that about me?" I gushed. She nodded her head, smiling. "Why don't you and the queen like each other?" I asked.

"Monette and my brother, Hero. They were so different. Hero was caring, friendly. He loved his people and Elodia with all his heart. Monette is... cunning, conniving. I see in her only hatred, and sorrow. Possessed by a desire for material things and status, ready and willing to do whatever to get her way," she said with sorrow. "Monette and Hero met when we went to visit America. She was living in Vegas at the time, working as a school teacher. She had a light in her back then, a light that loved to help, and wanted goodness. Little did I know, that light was a facade."

"A facade?" I asked. She nodded her head.

"She had left her phone on with me one time. I saw the messages. 'I'm finally going to live the life I deserve'," she recited. "I tried to warn Hero, but he refused to believe me. He was too in love to see her destructive side. When he died, the country went under her power. And now, she's trying to manipulate Felix to completing her tasks when he takes the throne."

"Why would she want to do that? Felix is his own person. He doesn't even like her, I'm pretty sure he wouldn't have a problem refusing what she told him," I argued.

"The only thing Felix fears is her. He resents her yet still yearns for her approval, which is why he'll do what she says. Why do you think he hasn't told her he's gay?" I paused for a moment of silence, worried to even think about Monette being a homophobe.

"Wait you know?" I ask. She nods her head

"Felix tells me everything," she informed me.

"Wait so then you know that we-?"

"That you two have been engaging in certain 'activities'? Yes I am aware," she laughed. I tap my foot, trying to avoid eye contact.

"But what about Aria?" I asked.

"She's a nice girl, but not right for him. Felix doesn't love her. I'm glad you're around him as much as you are. You're good for him. I believe you are the first person he's capable of loving since Beau." Wait Beau? Who the hell is that? Felix has never mentioned him once.

"Who's Beau?" I asked Kiyoshi.

"I think that's a question for Felix, not me," she says with a smile. I give her a hug, and rush to Felix's room. I need to find out who Beau is.