Royally Bounded

Chapter 100

Hayden

I had Thomas leaked a scandal each day. It only took Arnaldo the third day to call me, and I allowed my phone to linger before answering him. He was already snapping at me without even a good attitude for negotiation.

"Hayden Winston," he gritted his teeth. "Don't think that I'm afraid of you. You're just using dirty tactics against me."

"Ever heard of having taste of your own medicine?" I said coldly and crackled my knuckles with my thumb. "Someone is trying to use the same method you did to them. You have more enemies than I do. What makes you fucking think it's me? I have a life, Arnaldo. A lot of people are already displeased with how you rule Verdeniao. The stupid new laws made a lot of people leave your country. Don't blame me for your mistakes."

"I'm going to fucking kill you. I would never give into your bullshit."

"I'm not interested in your plans. Don't waste my fucking time with your nonsense."

I ended the call and blocked his number on purpose. If he wanted to fucking play games, then I would play it with him. He was only putting more flames into the situation, and with the control I had in my hands, I would make him suffer twice as much as he once made me feel. Even Maurice would thank me when I destroyed his brother.

My phone rang again, and I saw Maurice calling this time. I glanced over at Ivor before I answered, turning it on speaker for both of us to listen.

"Hayden," Maurice said, his voice full of enthusiasm. "I know Arnaldo has made his mistakes, but I hope we can settle the situation down. We will hand you the cure if the scandals stop."

"You're a business major too, Maurice," I stated. "You're clear that when you have the upper hand, the negotiating is over on the other side."

"Hayden Winston, don't take our fucking weakness as your shield," Arnaldo roared through the phone.

The entire line went silent, and I assumed that both brothers were against each other. Maurice still had chance to succeed the throne if Arnaldo failed. He would want me to leak as much scandals as I could to take his brother down. Right now, it was only a show for Maurice to be a hero.

"I don't speak to dogs," I twisted the wedding band around my finger. "If there's nothing to discuss, then the discussion is fucking over."

"How dare—"

"I will speak with you, Hayden," Maurice intervened. "You know we're in-laws. I don't want Bertha to be in the middle of us. A deal for a deal. We will give you what you want in exchange for our information. We don't want any other news out."

"Maurice," Arnaldo snarled.

They went quiet again. Maurice had control of this situation, and Arnaldo had to give in because his reputation was done with. I didn't want to speak with him either. It only downgraded my IQ when all he did was bark.

"You're here negotiating with me when your brother first destroy a town in my country?" I let out a cold scoff and shook my head. "None of you have room for any bargain. Innocent lives are being killed because your brother thought it was fucking fun to make a virus and send it to my country. Everyone knows how ruthless he is now. Don't even come with me with any exchange. Either you send in the cure or else I'm never hearing from you again."

I hung up before they could reply. Ivor looked at me, and he shook his head at their nonsense. Maurice and Arnaldo was utter bullshit. They dared to negotiate with me when they began the fight first. I was only giving them back what they deserved.

"Do you think they will give us the cure?" Ivor asked.

"It's not about what I think," I answered. "They must."