Two Hours Later, Inside the Changing Room

*

Yoleta handed Grew-Ella her phone back. "Zill added another tracking app. I'll place extra security near your apartment. Your sister has hacked your emails and has been reading them for some time. I can't believe I trusted her and thought she loved you. She wasn't always evil. Your sister went to court to help me adopt you when you were younger. I should've been your mom."

"This isn't going to end well," Grew-Ella said.

Yoleta hugged her. "You're going to have to tell Quig."

"And I plan to when the NDA is up."

"Was it used to cover an illegal act?"

Grew-Ella looked to the ground. "The law doesn't matter."

"If you told me, I probably wouldn't remember it," Yoleta said.

"I saw you use that device on your wrist. Time travel will do that to you."

Yoleta guided her to her hearse, where Quig sat.

"Why don't I take you out to eat? My driver will leave your station wagon in its regular spot. I'll order, and your dinner will be waiting."

"What happened?" Quig asked.

Grew-Ella said nothing during the drive.

Quig checked the edits of his latest novel over his phone and implemented his favorite suggestions until they reached The Salad Princess. Dean Frog waved at them.

Grew-Ella sat down and ate her cucumber salad in silence, her eyes darting around.

Dean Frog jotted down his notes. "My article will be about how you two found love, and I'll be forever alone." He guzzled his glass of juice.

"Dozens of women desire you." Yoleta sat next to him.

Customers at another table chatted about a possible snowstorm.

Grew-Ella found a letter in her pocket and read it. Her hands trembled as she slipped the heart-shaped paper into her pocket. "Quig, I can't talk until Friday night."

"Can't we talk about this after dinner? I want a simple yes or no answer, and I can handle a no," Quig said.

"Not right now. We'll talk Friday." Grew-Ella reached for Quig's hand and felt him pull away.

Her fingers rested on her plate. "You keep secrets about your family. I can't give you an answer until we both trust one another," she said bitterly.

"You are right. I'm a hypocrite." He ate his rice and roasted vegetables. "At least tell me what happened at the aquarium."

"Chase attempted to kidnap her again," Yoleta said.

"He what?" Quig smacked his hand onto the table, and his plate rattled.

"Chase is trying to avoid reject status. His new show wasn't picked up, and Sean-Mack is losing power," Frog said.

Yoleta shook her head in disagreement. "Chase is trying to play the hero. Zill wants to kill Grew-Ella. My team found disturbing emails sent to Vex. She's spying on us; it's all fair."

"We'll talk about it on Friday." Quig squeezed Grew-Ella's wrist. "I didn't mean to stress you further."

Grew-Ella hyperventilated and rocked. "Quig, my answer is that I think you are the best man I know."

He hugged her. "I'm here for you."

Rodrick walked in their direction. A knife and a tiny notebook were between his fingers. "Our soon-to-be ex-leader is sending a goon to pummel Grew-Ella if she and Quig don't follow his orders. Is she okay?"

"I think he already tried. Why did he send Chase after her? Going on a date with my wife isn't a crime," Quig said.

Grew-Ella's mouth clamped down, and her knees knocked together.

"You shove that rusted blade in your pocket." Yoleta pushed Rodrick to the floor. "Vex's idea of adding muscular women for unacceptable badges failed because workhouse board members require executioners to be strong and glamorous." She dragged Rodrick to a seat.

"What is wrong with you? You've seen me carry this before. It's only a pen." Rodrick pulled a lever on the knife's handle, and the fake knife revealed itself to be a pen. "I came to warn you that Vex is livid."

"Why is he having a tantrum?" Yoleta asked.

Rodrick snatched a cheese crisp from Quig's plate. "He is whining that Grew-Ella and Quig eat at unacceptable, reject-friendly restaurants. He's always hated Grew-Ella, but would still use her for PR."

"The taxes are too high," Quig said.

Yoleta pointed at a unicorn waitress. "They allow women with unacceptable badges, but a few of the servers are rude. This is also the most popular restaurant chain in both kingdoms." She dug into Dean Frog's bowl.

"I bought you dinner." Dean Frog yanked his rice bowl back toward him.

Yoleta dug her spoon into his rice. "Baby, I'm hungry for yours." She took one bite and moved closer to Rodrick. "One of my drivers will pick you up for your meeting today with the outgoing prime minister because you're already late."

"Thank you," Rodrick said.

She pressed her soiled fingers into his cloak, unseen. "Your outfit is stained."

"I can't visit Sean-Mack wearing a stained cloak," Rodrick said.

"My driver has extra blazers and cloaks." Yoleta shooed him out, paid the bill, packed the leftovers, dropped Quig and Grew-Ella off with Madd-Ox and two guards babysitting them, and walked with Dean Frog to his office. She locked the door behind them, swept for listening devices, and crushed them. "I hope we find who broke in."

Inside the Dean's Office

*

Yoleta touched a family photo on Dean Frog's fragrant cedar desk. Their youngest proudly displayed her badge. "I checked over the other security films. Zill altered her appearance."

"I have a question that is nagging at me." Dean Frog sat on top of his desk. "Is Quig and Grew-Ella's relationship real or fake? The way he speaks to her, I guess he loves her. Love should never be one-sided."

"Zill and Chase transformed Grew-Ella into a neurotic mess. Quig adores her, but their love might not be as one-sided as he believes. She might love him dearly."

"Are you talking about them or us?" he asked.

She trembled. "Honestly, I don't know anymore."

"Yoleta, I hate dating other women." Dean Frog Burton pulled her toward him, and their mouths met.

She kissed him back before pulling away. "I can't do this because of my new job. Being the executioner makes me unclean. Frog, you deserve better than me. I'm a creature working in the Kill Home."

"No, you're the woman I love."

Her phone jingled. "Rodrick and Sean-Mack are being recorded."

They watched a computer tablet on Dean Frog's desk.

*

Prime Minister Sean-Mack's Apartment

*

Rodrick removed his cloak and winked at the camera lens. He sat in Sean-Mack's living room. Celebrity memorabilia, velvet paintings, and autographed posters covered every inch of the walls.

"Grew-Ella needs to kiss Quig in public, but make sure Yoleta is there."

"Why?" Rodrick asked.

"She became a Kindness Rebel because Grew-Ella turned her, and Yoleta needs to die. I'm also paying Chase for his information. I'd have been recalled years ago if he hadn't helped me. He is loyal."

"You promised Junior you'd leave Grew-Ella and Quig alone," Rodrick said.

Vex walked in from the kitchen. "They'll be there to take her as a gift. Once the Kindness Rebel leaders are dead, including Junior, I'll run for Prime Minister and win."

"You promised Junior wouldn't be hurt." Sean-Mack kicked his coffee table into a case of action figures. Glass shattered over the plush carpet.

"Yoleta has a fundraising event coming up. Show up and give her another chance, and maybe I'll show mercy on Junior. Hopefully, he'll give up his sister." Vex twirled his cane.