Jackson's POV

"Is that all?"

"Yes, let's go." I reply to Leila and we both get in the car.

Today is our last day delivering the flowers at the King's place. Tomorrow is the Queen's birthday and the flowers were to help in decorating the place. I am glad Leila decided to help and together we did a good job that I'm sure the King and Queen will appreciate it. I'm also glad today is our last day because even though it was a great job, it really got me tired by the end of the day.

"Jack." Leila calls me and I look at her. She's driving us to the King's place. She got Ben to borrow her his car so that we could use it to carry some flowers and my gardening tools. The party will be outdoors after all and that's why I was needed.

"Today is our last day. We will finish up in no time." She murmurs and I nod. "You will have time to see Jason, I know you miss him." She adds.

"Yeah." I agree.

"At least smile about it. I don't want to spend my day with a sulking best friend."

"Ha ha ha." I roll my eyes and she hits me on my arm. "Hands on the wheel woman! I will never smile again if you crash us with a tree."

She snorts and I smile. The drive continues in silence and I get lost in my thoughts.

I haven't seen Jason since that morning I woke up alone. It was a relief that I didn't get one of my recent repetitive dreams on that night since it would have been difficult to explain why I would have been freezing my butt off, but I really would have appreciated it if he had woken me up that night. The last time I saw him was that night and the last time we talked was on the phone the day I woke up alone. It's been four days without any form of communication with Jason and it is slowly killing me.

I miss Jason.

I didn't tell Leila that I've not talked to him that long. I only told her that since I've got the gardening job, I didn't find time to see or talk to Jason. So since today is our last day, she assumes I'll be with Jason after this is over. The truth is, I don't know what I'll be doing to keep me off worrying about Jason. I'm not even sure if he will call or text or come see me today evening. I'll truly be lonely and I hate that feeling.

"Jackson?"

"What?" I answer harshly and Leila looks at me with a frown. "I'm sorry." I quickly apologize for my rudeness.

"We are here." She mutters.

"Oh."

"Are you sure you are okay?"

"Yes I'm fine, Leila."

"If you insist. Let's get this over with." She shrugs before getting out of the car.

I follow her and together we start unloading our things from the car. We carry them to the area where the party will be taking place. I find a few of the maid that works at the palace sitting there and I decide to greet them since I've talked to them the few days I've been working here and they would help when they could.

"Hello ladies."

"Hi." They all reply and the odd look on their faces doesn't go unnoticed by me.

"What's wrong?" I ask just as Leila joins us.

"I'm sorry Jack." One of them sniffs and I suddenly get really worried. Her name is Barbra.

"The Queen said she doesn't like the decoration and the colour of the flowers so we have to change them." Another replies and I stare at her in disbelief.

"What? We are almost done here and she says what?" Leila exclaims.

"She came to check how everything was going and that's when she said that. She also threatened to fire us if anything goes wrong and not to her liking." Babra explains.

"That's bullshit!" Leila yells and we all gasp and look at her.

"Leila! She's the queen." I scold and she scoffs. "Go to the car please. Cool down or do something and come back when you are thinking straight."

She huffs but thankfully she listens to me and goes back to the car. I sigh and look at the women before me. I have to talk to the Queen. It's impossible to change the decoration now because time is not on our side.

"Where can I find the Queen?"

"Jack." Babra shakes her head and I sigh.

"Please just tell me where she is. I promise I won't get you in trouble." I smile in assurance and they squint at me before deciding I'm telling the truth.

I leave once I'm told where I can find the Queen. I can't believe she didn't like what I did because it is truly beautiful and I'm sure her guest will love it. This reaction I wasn't expecting and it really took me aback. She must be crazy to say that and I'm planning to talk her straight. I approach her office but before I reach the door, three guards stop me.

"What business do you have here?" One of them ask.

"I'm the one in charge of decorating the place for the Queen's birthday party. She wanted to see me." I reply confidently and hope they will buy it.

They scan me with their heated gaze before one of them comes forward and tell me he has to search me before I'm allowed to enter the Queen's office. I go through the search and once I'm deemed harmless, they let me to the door. I knock and wait for a confirmation from inside. I enter when I'm told to and for the first time in my life, I face the Queen.

"Who are you?" She ask in a bored tone as she paints her fingernails with nail polish.

"I'm the party decorator-"

"The gardener?" She ask but doesn't give me time to reply as she blurts, "I hope you got my message."

"Yes and that's why I'm here." I say and she looks at me for the first time since I entered her office. "I'm sorry but we can't do what you wished for." I drop the bomb and wait for her reaction.

She laughs and I wonder if the joke missed me. She suddenly stops and glare at me.

"I'm the Queen here and you are working for me. You don't tell me what to do or what I can't have. I'm the one in charge and not the likes of you." She snarls.

"Then I quit. I'm not a magician to suddenly transform what I've already done to something else. You employed me and you are paying for what I'm doing. I'm not your slave, your highness, so I can't do what you demand of me while I'm aware that I can't."

"You don't get to talk to me like that! I'm your Queen, show me some respect. You can't quit unless I tell you to." She shrieks and hit the table in anger.

I take a step back in fright and she smirks. I clench my fingers in a fist as I suddenly get angry. Who the hell does she think she is? So what if she's the Queen?

"I think you were greatly mistaken when you came for me. I'm not one of your slaves for you to walk all over me. I've heard so much about you but I let it past because I thought maybe, just maybe, the rumours were just stupid rumours. Respect? You don't deserve such a thing because you haven't yet earned it from me or other people. Since you are the Queen, I'm sure you will get someone to decorate for you just as you would like." I say in a cold voice and she stares at me with a wide mouth. "I quit."

I give her a bow before I exit the office. I bump into an elderly man and I quickly say my apologies before I walk away. I hate people who look down on others as if they are nothing in their eyes. If the Queen is like that then I bet the King is ten times worse than her and it's a possibility that their offspring will inherit his or her parents behavior. Now I feel sorry for the next generation. If only an alpha position could have been chosen by the people and not some family bloodline kind of thing. They might have a strong bloodline but if the personality is rotten like hers then all hope is lost.

"How did it go?" Leila ask and by the looks on the other four with her, I'm sure that's what they want to ask too.

"I quit. Let's pack our things and get the hell out of here." I shrug and they look at me in disbelief.

"What will happen to us? She will fire us I'm sure. I can't-"

"She can't." Leila argues, cutting Barbra off.

"She will. She's done it before."

I sigh and get a few things before I leave the ladies to start on the packing already. I feel bad that I can't help them keep their job. I should just get going home and get some sleep.

"Jackson?" An elderly man ask as he approaches me and I nod. "Thank goddess I found you." He murmurs.

"How may I help you? Who are you?" I frown.

"I came to apologize to you about the Queen's behavior. I know she can be a bit difficult and rude-"

"A bit?" I scoff and he clears his throat while looking anywhere but me. "You don't need to apologise, I quit."

"I'm sorry young man but you can't just quit. You signed an agreement to do this work and you can't just quit because there will be consequences. I've apologized about the Queen's behavior and you are allowed to finish what you started with no interruptions from anyone."

I growl in frustration at what I've just heard. It's true I signed an agreement and I'm aware of the consequences if the job is incomplete but the Queen had clearly stated she didn't appreciate my work. I sigh and look at the older man. I recognize him from that day I first saw Jason.

"Alright but I'll do it my way."

He nods in agreement and I look at the approaching figure carrying some of my tools.

"No need to pack those, Leila. We have some work to finish." I tell her and she looks at the man beside me before looking back at me. She nods and turn back to were we will be working throughout the day.

I take back what I took and the man leaves us to work. The four women happily offers a hand and together we get started on the work.

It takes us all day and we finish later in the evening. At some point during the day, I had asked Babra if there is a man by the name of Jason working at the palace but they deny any knowledge of such a man with that name. I ask others too but they don't know a man named Jason. I felt a really bad feeling but the work really helped me to not think much about it.

"Good job, Jackson. The place looks nice and I'm sure everyone will love it." The older man says after checking out the place when I informed him that we were done.

"Thanks and I hope they do love it."

"No doubts about that. Here are some invitations I saved for you. You can come with your mates." He hands me and Leila a card each.

"Thank you a lot, sir. Are you sure it's okay for us to come?" Leila asks while admiring the invitation card.

"Of course it's okay. You did a great job with the decorations." He praises with a smile.

"We will come." Leila assures and then the man leaves.

I guess not everyone related to the Queen and King is bad. I heard from Barbra that the older man is related to the King. I look at the card in my hand and recall what the man said. I hope to talk to Jason tonight so that I'll ask him to come with me tomorrow. I feel very tired once I'm buckled up and Leila drives off. I wish for nothing but a hot shower and long rest tonight.

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Hello guys!!

How was Christmas to those who celebrate the day? I didn't really enjoy the day because I lost my grandmother. She passed away on 23 and she was laid to rest on 24.

This is my last update in 2016 of this book. The next update will be in 2017, Hehe :). I wish you guys a happy new year and I hope you celebrate it in style.

I love you all and thanks for being a part of my life in 2016. I hope we will be together in 2017.

Please;

Vote, Fan & Comment!!

Until Next Time!!!

:)