Chapter 12 – Cabinet Meeting
Gene finished giving his report to Sheia, but she had more things to deal with. Almost all the members of the Cabinet were there, and she was ready for an argument.
"How you feeling?" asked Lilah.
"Anxious, angry, frustrated, could I be any more stressed?" said Sheia. "Fuckin Cabinet."
"Calm down cousin, you'll be fine. We're behind you a hundred percent." Bree assured her. "Come on, we have to start the meeting soon." The three girls walked to the conference room. There was a long table with seven seats, four seats already filled with Cabinet members.
"Good morning Princess." Said a black girl with long straight black hair and light brown skin.
"Hello Yari." Greeted Sheia. "Everyone here?"
"Just about." Said Lilah as she took her seat with Bree. Sheia took her seat and looked at all her cabinet members.
"Since everyone's here, might as well start." Sheia began. "As you all know, I called this meeting because of an issue that was put upon me last week. I'm sure you all know about Raven's proposition?"
"Yes Princess." Said Kendall, a guy with short blonde hair.
"Okay, honestly I think it's ridiculous." She said plainly. "I've been in this position for so many years already, and I believe that Xelia hasn't been in a bad state since the rebellion when I was about to be given this position."
"Pardon me Princess, but we do know how good you are at your job." Said Yari. "But honestly, you've got so much load to take care of. We really think that you need someone to rule with you."
"I don't see why all of a sudden she has to marry someone with all this pressure." Said Bree. "What about the citizens? They haven't complained."
"It's not that they complain." Yari argued. "They too feel that what if someday the princess won't be able to handle all the things that are going on, there has to be someone second in command."
"And how did you find out about what the citizens want?" asked Sheia.
"Simple." Said Raven with confidence. "Went around, talk to students, workers, and about sixty-five percent think it would be better for you and the city to have another leader by your side."
"Honestly, I don't plan on getting married anytime soon." Sheia argued. "And I honestly don't want to. I think I should be given the choice when I can marry and who I want to marry."
"Princess you are going to face consequences." Said Zerg, a tall lanky guy with orange hair and blue eyes.
"Consequences!" said Sheia surprisingly. "Since when are you to decide my fate?"
"We all agreed." Said Raven. "You have to marry or else you are impeached."
"IMPEACHED!" yelled Sheia. "I've never heard anyone with that sick gutless plan!"
"How can she be impeached when the people are pleased with what she does?" Lilah wondered.
"So you think." Said Kendall.
"If you truly say that this is what the citizens think, I WANT PROOF." Said Sheia. "My priority is the people."
"Well then, we'll certainly gather some citizens that agree with our proposition." Raven smirked.
"How do you even suppose she's gonna get married?" said Bree. "She's not in a relationship and who would ever be qualified to take the position?"
"Well there are eligible bachelors that have leadership skills right?" Raven gave Sheia a look.
"You disgust me." She said plainly.
"Really? Because you never know…" said Raven.
"NEVER KNOW WHAT? Don't push it." She scolded.
"This is ridiculous." Said Lilah. "If I didn't know, I would say that someone wants power."
"It's not about power," Said Kendall. "We know very well that at some point, no offense princess, but she will eventually be incapable of tackling all conflicts in Xelia."
"Excuse me?" said Sheia. "If anything, I would say my cabinet is against me. Am I right?"
"Sorry Princess," said Yari. "But it is the truth. It will happen."
"Unbelievable." Said Sheia. "GET OUT! THIS MEETING IS OVER." Yari, Zerg, and Kendall were startled by Sheia's temper and quickly gathered their belongings and left. Raven slowly got up and smirked.
"You'll see it eventually." Said Raven.
"You think I'm stupid?" Sheia said angrily. "I can see right through you. You want something I have, and you're gonna manipulate people to see otherwise."
"Hmph. Suit yourself." Raven left the conference room. Sheia sighed and sat herself on her chair.
"Is this really happening?" sighed Sheia.
"If you ask me," said Lilah. "I'd say that Raven wants power. If I'm right, he'll come on to you."
"That's disgusting." Said Bree. "He's irresponsible, what makes him think he's right for the job?"
"They're putting me in a position in which eventually, I won't have any choice but to go with it." Said Sheia. "If I refuse, they'll point the finger and say I'm not giving what the people want. And as princess, that is my job."
Sheia was officially stressed. She didn't pull through with getting assistants after the amount of workload she already had. Maybe they're right? No, they're not. For the rest of the day, Sheia constantly kept trying to get all her paperwork done. During dinner, Sheia was exhausted at the table.
"What's wrong Sheia?" asked Trudy.
"Oh, nothing." She replied. "Just a hard-working day. Finally, I can relax with some comfort food." She took some friend chicken from the serving bowl.
"Oh yeah, good news for you Jay, and Ram." Said Reed as he swallowed his food. "Looks like you guys are officially troops."
"Are you serious?" Jay was surprised.
"We actually made it?" Ram gasped.
"Yup." Said Reed. "I'll hand you your letters tomorrow. You'll start working in about a week."
"That's great guys." Said Salene. "You will actually have something to do."
After dinner, the Mallrats headed to the common room. Sheia began walking upstairs.
"You're not gonna watch a movie?" asked Bree.
"No…I'm really exhausted. I'll see you in the morning." She went to her room, which was a bright and colorful. She had red curtains and a carpet that ran through the first half of her room. The first half was somewhat like a mini living room, with a sofa, table, and T.V. The other half was her bed, her dressers, and a walk-in closet. There was a little daybed by the window, where Bree would take a nap occasionally after girl talks. Sheia changed into her pajamas and went to bed. "Marriage…it's way too early for me. I'm out of a relationship, what good is that going to do?" She thought, eventually going to sleep.
Four hours later, Sheia woke up. She was having trouble sleeping and laid staring at her ceiling that she and Bree painted to make a blue sky. She got up and went downstairs to the dark lobby. Everyone was asleep, so she went to the kitchen to get ice cream. She opened the fridge and found mint chocolate ice cream. "I guess this will do."
She sat herself down putting ice cream into her bowl. She stared blankly at the wall. "Trouble sleeping?" It was Jay.
"You too?" asked Sheia.
Jay blushed. "I was actually hoping to get a little snack when everyone was asleep."
She smiled. "Come on, mint chocolate." She got up and grabbed a bowl and a spoon for him.
"Is there something wrong?" asked Jay as he got some ice cream. Sheia sighed. "Well, it's not my business anyway."
"I'm just troubled." She began. "My cabinet is totally trying to get me to mess up."
"How so?" he wondered.
Sheia played with the ice cream with her spoon. "They think I should get married, have someone by me to run the city. Apparently they think I'm gonna mess up and I'm already stressing over the workload."
"Married?" He exclaimed. "That's your choice."
"Exactly." She said. "But I'm known for giving the people what they want, and every time I give them that, I know it's something they need. Right now, I don't know if that's what they need."
"Or what you need?" said Jay.
"Yeah." She sighed. "I mean I'm so out of a relationship. I can't think of anyone who I can possibly marry. And if this is really what the people want, I have no choice. They're already threatening impeachment."
Sheia's hazel eyes were a little watery as Jay looked at them. He suddenly felt the urge to hug her, but fought the temptation. "Well, if you had to marry someone, you would have the choice on who you want to marry right?"
"I hope, but I can't rush things with someone right?" She said. "I was hoping marriage would be something to look forward to. You know, the time I found someone that I grew to love and will love for the rest of my life. When I think about it now, I won't get that chance."
"Maybe you will." Said Jay. "You never know, someone out there really cares about you. And you will get that chance."
Sheia smiled. "You know Jay, you've been nothing but sweet and considerate since you came here. Thank you."
Jay smiled nervously. "Don't worry about it. You can talk to me about anything."
Sheia said goodnight and left the kitchen. Jay sighed and buried his face in his hands. What am I feeling? I get so nervous around her…I'm holding myself back. Someday it's gonna come out and Ved will kill me. I'm slowly falling for her…and I can't do shit about it.
