A Twist Of Time

nineteen

"Margaux, I—I don't know. I can't think of anything anymore." I walked around the living room, frantic, my hands flying around everywhere. "It's just too much to handle and I have no significant role in here whatsoever."

Margaux put down her cup of coffee. She looked down and back at me, as if she was solving something in her head. "He sent me the letter for the case right after he went inside his room. He's willing to continue the investigation."

"Doesn't he have anything else to do?"

She shook her head. "He has, he's just too overwhelmed. The cabinet members are doing their best, anyway."

"So it's true? There's an investigator coming inside this palace later just to find out if I'm really Turner?"

"Not exactly. The letter states," parchment unraveled in her hand, the wax seal of the president weighing it down. " 'I will be talking to you personally at the gardens later. No shows are strictly not accepted. I'll come to pick you up at 7PM exactly.' "

"Wait, what? I didn't read that part. Please tell me you aren't serious."

"Dead sure I am."

I snatched the paper from her hands. The same words she announced were there, written with black ink on the paper. His signature was even at the bottom right. "I can't believe him."

"Sure you should. I don't think it's bad though. Once it's done, you can go get the freedom you want. If you aren't Raven Turner, then you should be confident enough to face him."

"I don't know anymore. But I do want to spend time with him later. That's the only thing calming me right now."

"It should. He wants to spend time with you as well."

"Pardon?"

Margaux sighed. "He wants to spend time with you, too. The both of you want the same thing for each other and it's a shame seeing two people, despite their obvious attractions to each other, don't get together because of some stupid conflict. It's obvious, Val."

"That would be great, but it's too far-fetched. These conflicts happen for a reason."

She raised an eyebrow. "Ever heard of a test?"

"Test. Who cares? Are you some sort of dog who likes things fetched really far?"

"I don't know, Valerie. You're attending the investigation at the garden later whether you like it or not. I pledge my full support to you."

"Gee, thanks," I dragged out. She stood up and wrapped her hands around my body, me doing the same to hers. "You're lucky you're my friend."

"Of course I am. I'm the only one you have besides Jane. Sergio's more than a friend."

Speaking of Jane, she came out of the kitchen and into the room, her coat covered in various stains and she smelled like a savory mix of chicken and soup. "It's time for dinner," she breathed after a short pause.

I freed myself from Margaux's embrace. "Already? But it's just 6."

"The cabinet members scare me. They're"—she looked around and stormed inside, closing the door tightly—"they are pressuring me to do things out of my comfort zone. I cooked several meals and none of them seem to fit their agenda. I'm going to explode any minute."

"Let's tell Sergio about this. Surely he wouldn't be happy about that," Margaux replied, genuinely concerned.

"No, I don't want trouble. I just want those demonic no-goods out of here before I do it myself!"

And as if on cue, a woman came knocking on the door of the living room. She opened it and glared at Jane, pulling her coat impatiently. Jane rolled her eyes and gave me a pleading look. I looked at Margaux then back at her and cleared my throat.

"Excuse me, who are you to pressure the chef of the president?"

She dropped the coat and averted her gaze at me, awestruck. "I'm so sorry, miss First Lady."

"You should be. Can't you see that she's tired? You're supposed to be guests, not pests," I hissed. Margaux and Jane stood in silence.

"I do, ma'am. I'm very truly sorry."

"Off with you then. Go with your friends. I don't want to see any of you doing anything that can make me mad around this household. Am I clear?"

She bowed again. "Yes, ma'am."

The lady left silently. Margaux and Jane were still processing what had happened, and when they were finished, they started screaming.

"I can't believe you did that!" Margaux told me. "That was the best thing that I have ever witnessed."

"So you're really living up to the fact that you're the First Lady now, huh?" Jane teased, smirking. I laughed.

"No. I just thought I'd use my power for something good. Did you see her face?"

"She looked so amazed, it was hilarious."

We made our way to the banquet where the rest of the cabinet members were talking to each other, the lady I scolded sitting uncomfortably in a chair by the corner. They stopped their chattering once I entered, the silence giving off an enchanting vibe of power among me. I took a seat next to the President's seat, which was empty, and smiled at them. "You can continue."

Numerous sighs escaped from the members. They continued their conversations until Sergio entered the room, looking as formal as he was yesterday. He sat down next to me and gave me a smile. I did the same gesture back at him, bringing my attention back to staring at my empty plate. He leaned closer. "Did you get my letter?"

"Yes. I'm coming, only for the investigation's sake," I whispered.

"Good." Sergio turned to his friends and smiled. "It's a wonderful evening tonight. We will have our celebratory meal, and all of you will be sent to your specific roles right after. I suppose you already know what they are?"

"Mhm"s and "yes"s scattered across the room.

"We will not let the Japanese invade us, and anyone who dares to become a collaborator will suffer the same fate as the hundreds of innocent Filipinos who died just because of the invaders. Understood?"