Temptation Trials Regime

Part 3

     Kimi drummed her fingers on the small table. After she'd lost her shit seeing Deidrick kissing that tramp, they had hauled her to an office. Her body had finally stopped trembling and she started to regain recognition. Not long after, they escorted her to a one-story, white building. It was located farther out on the island, surrounded by thick vegetation and trees. Enforcer Ritz stood off to the side with her arms crossed, guarding her. Two male enforcers had stepped into the connecting, adjacent room. Due to her assault on official Ritz, the rules stated she had to be disqualified, but they had to run it by the commander and chief first.
     Sighing, Kimi wondered how a world dictator had risen to power. A disturbing memory surfaced—one that she kept in the rear of her mind. Besides it being deranged, she could never fully understand what she'd learned.
     Now Kimi would use it to her advantage if push came to shove. She refused to get kicked off the show. Deidrick had been there for her since middle school—a shoulder to lean on through all her family drama. This was her chance, and no one would force her to marry someone she didn't love.
     Ritz's jaw muscles were tight, and she kept scrunching her nose at Kimi—no doubt pissed off that she had slapped her. Kimi had not intentionally lashed out, but the official hadn't been friendly about it, either. Why had Deidrick proposed if he wasn't going to stand by his word? He hadn't been there long, and he was already sticking his tongue down another woman's throat. What happened to dating people they weren't attracted to. Even a blink person could see that Deidrick was attracted to Iris. Seeing that had set her off.
     Unable to stand not knowing what they were discussing, she asked, "Do you know how much longer this will take?"
     Enforcer Ritz snorted. "Like you're in a position to be asking questions."
     Kimi smacked her lips just as the connecting door opened, and the other two officials walked in.
     Enforcer Maalox cleared his throat. "We've discussed the matter with his Highest Eminence. His decision is for you to be disqualified from the show."
     "What? No way!" Kimi slammed her palm against the table. "I want to speak to him."
     Maalox replied, "His decision is final. He doesn't have time to waste on a little girl's pleas for a second chance."
     Kimi cocked her head. She wasn't going to beg—she would demand to stay on the show.

     Time to put my back-up plan into action.
     Attempting to blackmail the world dictator would be risky, but she didn't have much else to lose. Kimi didn't have all the facts—she knew enough about what she'd found out to know it was unscrupulous. She would confront the emperor. There had to be some truth to it. If he wouldn't budge in his decision, then she would take it to the next level. "His Grace would be interested in what I have to say, trust me." Kimi shrugged. "If he's not willing to hear me out, then I'll see what the news thinks about it."
     Enforcer Maalox glowered at her. "You've got some nerve. Wait here." He pivoted on his heels, returning to the adjacent room.
     It wasn't long before he peeked his head back in. "His Highest will hear you out."
     The other official, whose name she didn't know, escorted her into a smaller room that had several monitors and computer equipment. With a head full of blond curls, the world dictator appeared on the larger, middle flat screen. Kimi approached. His royal blue eyes took her in as if he were trying to read her.
     He greeted her with a dazzling smile that Kimi sensed was false. "Well, now, Ms. Pfeiffer, what is so important that my staff had to interrupt me twice?"
     Lutheran Eminence was very attractive. Power and dominance radiated off him in huge waves. Kimi refused to let him intimidate her, though. "Your Grace." Her lips curved in a manipulative grin. "My mom graduated from Thessalonians University," she threw out there.
     "Ah, yes. Your mother, Vanessa Pfeiffer, graduated with a degree in business. After Vanessa graduated, she strived in her career. Unfortunately, a few years ago, she suffered from a mental break."
     Kimi flinched. Damn, he'd done his homework. Vanessa's mental illness hit close to home—an issue Kimi had been dealing with for years. Her mother had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and multiple personality disorder.
     Thinking of her sickness triggered the eerie memory of what Kimi was trying to discuss with him. Pushing forward, she said, "Well, since you know so much about my mom, do you know about the group called the Indwelling? They're associated with Thessalonians."
     His Grace's royal blues grew wide momentarily, and then he regained his composure. "I'm not sure what you're referring to."
     Kimi smelled bullshit. His response indicated that he knew something.
     Growing up, her mother had a successful career, but a couple of years ago she had started missing work—just lounging around the house. She'd claimed Lisa—one of her personalities—had made her call in all those times. After calling in so much, she'd lost her job, then Vanessa began to paint the town red—staying gone for days. That had been Stacy, the promiscuous one.
     Kimi was skeptical about her mother's illness. She'd thought she was just using it as an excuse to do whatever the hell she wanted, until the night when she had seen firsthand, her mom was bat-shit crazy. Kimi contemplated how much she should say as the memory of what she'd learned that night overtook her thoughts.