I am escorted into a room. My heart is racing. I'm nervous as shit. Opal is next to me. She is a lot calmer. A part of me wish my Grandmother would have made Opal the Ambassador. I was reckless. Opal is standing here looking civilized. She almost looks like she is from the District. She has on a plain, classy black dress on and heels. She looks beautiful with her sharp features and her intense, knowledgeable glare.
I look like an idiot.
"I was told you requested a meeting?" the voice states as we walk into the room.
The guards and assistants leave the room. It was Opal's idea to try to talk to the President Tailor of District. When we see the President he is in a wheelchair. He is physically fragile like my own grandfather but far from weak. It is a hovering wheel chair that glides across the room. He has a very serious stern looking face. The men next to him have laser guns. Diamond used to tell me stories about how the District had guns that could blow off limbs in a single shot. My heart is racing when I see the guards and I am thankful that none of the Stingers lost their limbs.
Over the President's right shoulder is Anastasia Tailor. She has her hand on his wheelchair and stands firmly like a supportive wife.
"Sir," Opal starts off, "Firstly we wanted to apologize for the incident that happened yesterday---"
"Are you the ambassador?" the president asks.
Opal seems stunned by his question. He cuts her off mid sentence. His eyes are glaring at her so hard that I feel like his eyes are those laser guns that Diamond used to tell me stories about. I'm just as scared of those eyes as I am of those guns.
"No sir."
"Don't speak again," he warns her, "I only listen to ambassadors. Now...carry on. And make this quick. I have business I need to attend to."
I hadn't prepared to talk. Opal had assured me that she had this taken care of.
I try to wing it as best as I can, "Sir, I am the ambassador of New Florida. My name is Gem Zoe, grandfather to the president of New Florida."
"President Zoe. I knew your father," the old man states at that moment, "We were quite close."
I smile, "It's nice to know you two were close. I'm here on his behalf to hopefully see if you can rethink this war that you declared on my country and also release my three sisters."
President Zoe doesn't return my smile, "I never said I liked him. Matter of fact I hated him. He was weak. Pathetic."
Opal and I exchange looks.
"Sir..." I start off, "I'm sorry to hear that. I just came here to apologize."
"An apology," President Zoe laughs, "Weak. Just like your grandfather. I remember when I raped his wife right in front of him. Remember that Anastasia? Wasn't that hilarious?"
My heart drops.
I take a step forward. I'm ready to snap this old man's neck but Opal grabs at my hand. I'm breathing heavy. She is staring at the laser guns and warning me. If Opal wasn't in this room I would have.
He raped Ma Zoe.
This...fucker raped my grandmother.
Anastasia smiles, "Yes I remember. I remember quite well. It was at the last convention New Florida attended. You raped his wife right in front of him and he still wanted to trade with you. He was so desperate for help."
Anastasia laughs. The old man laughs. I look at them and it's taking every ounce of me not to spas out. My grandfather never mentioned this. Ma Zoe never mentioned this. The fact that Anastasia is standing here laughing at this is almost making me want to tear her eyes out. She is standing there like some trophy wife, tall, lean and delicate while she laughed at something so disgusting.
