Follow Suit

Chapter III: Listen

Chapter III: Listen

The sound of bickering is still present as I walk back inside the meeting room, seeing the four of them argue with one another... It's so frustrating that they can't work together for even a second. That's something I need to change.

"You forget your place," Blueblood tells Cherry Jubilee with a pompous look, bringing his hand to his chest. "I'm one of the biggest exporters here. I pay for all of your products being shipped to our associates."

"Zip it, Blueblood," Zesty Gourmand tells him with an aggravated expression. "Stop acting like you're so important to this meeting when you didn't work a day for your wealth. You piggybacked off your aunt's back when she was mayor. Then she decided to be a school principal for some god forsaken reason. You owe everything to her whereas all of us actually built our empires."

"It was Celestia's choice to step down from being the mayor," Blueblood remarks quietly, almost pouting at the words Gourmand told him. Walking towards the table, I slowly grab a bottle from a shelf on the wall. All four of them look at me with a weird expression as I reach the table, taking a big sip from the bottle.

"Miss Dazzle?" Cherry Jubilee asks me slowly in the middle of my sip. Setting the bottle down on the table, I sigh heavily, tightening the tie around my neck.

"Now. Where were we? We were talking about Miss Jubilee's exports before we took a break," I state quietly, putting both of my hands on the table. All four of them like to act like they don't have to listen to me. Like I'm not even here.

"We already decided on that matter," Gourmand tells me in a short voice, almost annoyed that I brought it up again. Slamming my palm against the table, all four of them look at me with surprise in their eyes.

"No, we didn't," I say with a scowl, standing upright and taking a deep breath. "We... will decide on it again. Miss Jubilee. How many shipments do you expect to export for the rest of the year?" Jubilee's eyes widen at my blatant disregard of Gourmand and her decision, but she quickly composes herself, putting her hand down on the table.

"Well, I'm expecting to produce about twenty more shipments, but I will need financial backing. Blueblood refuses to pay for more than fifteen." Blueblood gives the woman a harsh stare before turning his head to me, clearly bored of me retreading this matter.

"There's no point in backing more than that. I've already made my decision and Miss Jubilee will have to understand that." With a pout, Blueblood leans back in his seat, acting as if his word is final.

"Blueblood," I say quietly, pressing my finger down on the bottle's cap. I am so fucking tired of him in particular. He never budges or makes any exception, thinking his way is the only true option. "Do you realize exactly how fragile this arrangement is?" I ask him with a stare, feeling a surge of power go through my veins. "Your exports are essential. Miss Jubilee's products give us the products that allow us to export items out of the country. As you know, not all of those are... legal." Tipping the bottle back and forth, my eyes never leave Blueblood, forcing him to look at me. "Miss Gourmand and Mister Toity also give their fair share to this operation. In fact, Miss Gourmand has contributed more than you have. With Filthy Rich at the head of these operations, what makes you think that we couldn't find another exporter?" Moving my finger away from the bottle, it lands on its side with a resounding thump against the table, the tip aiming at Blueblood. "Just like that, your little empire you made for yourself falls to ashes." For the first time this whole meeting, a look of genuine shock and confusion comes over Blueblood, sitting up right at my claim.

"I wouldn't be replaced. You have some nerve-"

"Are you doubting Rich?" I say slowly, walking over to Blueblood. "I've seen the man pay ten times the amount something is worth just because he needed it. I've seen him go out of his way to do what he needs to. Your little stunt of acting so high and mighty isn't only annoying the others here. It's annoying me." Dragging my nails across his seat, I lean down close to his ear, feeling a smile creep over my lips. "And if it's annoying me, then who do you think is next?"