♞

THE WEEKEND WENT BY fast. After the reranking announcement, Max was able to go back to his somehow normal life. When he visited their company, everyone gave him a grand welcome. It was a very heartwarming yet amusing moment.

     Another thing that went back to normal was his father disappearing like how he always does. When Denzel announced that Max will no longer be his heir, Denzel was forced to stay in the country so he could handle everything himself, especially when Marcus wasn't a reliable new heir. So as soon as Max got back to his office, Étienne informed him that Denzel went to Japan on a business trip, almost making Max laugh. Though he really does go there for business, Max is very much aware that it's more than that.

     "It's been a while since I woke up without any worry," Max honestly tells his butler, Étienne, who was driving him to school.

     Étienne smiles as he glances at his master through the rearview mirror. He's glad that Max finally looked relaxed. After everything that happened to him, he was glad that Max was able to endure it till the end.

     "By the way, you have a meeting with President Lee next Saturday. He said he wants to congratulate you personally," Étienne tells him.

     Max, who was busy reading a book, asks "Is my schedule free that day?"

     "There's an employees evaluation at nine. I gave you their profiles yesterday. It's the folder I left at your desk back in the office," Étienne explains.

     Max shuts his book and looks back at his butler before saying, "Then I'll schedule the meeting at four. I think we'll be done by then."

     Étienne nods his head and mentally remembers what Max just told him so he could put it on his tablet where all of Max's schedule is. 

     Soon after that conversation, Max went back to reading his book, and the two enjoyed the silence for a couple more minutes because soon after that, they arrived at J.S High. Étienne parks in front of the Keep and heads out to open the door for Max. Max looks at his reflection on the rearview mirror first to put on his peak cap before finally heading out.

     Unlike last week, no one was there to welcome him. The students didn't give him any mind and continued with their lives, just like how Max wanted. Despite enjoying the limelight from time to time, Max enjoys the peace and quiet just the same.

     "Have a good day, master Leigh," Étienne says with a bow, and Max nods his head and walks inside the building, gripping on his bag.

     Max heads straight to his classroom, secretly excited that he can finally go back to his classes like normal. So as he got closer to his classroom, he was expecting to hear people shouting since his class has always been noisy, but surprisingly enough, the entire hallway was quiet.

     "What's going on?" Max asks with furrowed brows.

      For some reason, his chest suddenly felt heavy, so he walks faster to check what has happened to their class. He thought that maybe no one was there, but to his surprise, everyone was quietly sitting in their respective seats. Even Ari looked proper.

     For a second Max thought that their homeroom teacher, sir Barron, was already taking their attendance this early in the morning, but then his eyes widened from shock when he sees vice president Gavriil Alexeev standing in front of the class. Beside him was the Elites president himself, Ian Rothman.

     "President Ian," Max immediately greets, standing properly to give him a respectful bow. "Vice president Gavriil," Max adds, bowing to him too.

     The two officers didn't say anything at first, but then Gavriil takes a step forward and gestures at the space in front of him, telling Max to stand there. So Max, who doesn't even know what's going on, nods his head in understanding and stood in front of the Elites with no question.

     Gavriil looks back at him with an intense and serious gaze, almost making Max look away.

     Don't get them both wrong. The two may have been close outside the campus, but during times like these, especially when they're in J.S High, Gavriil is still an outstanding vice president that the white uniforms respect, while Max is still just a mere dweller. Their ranks are far too different for them to act friendly with each other so freely. Superiority must still be established, especially in front of the other students, and Max knows that full well.

      "Maximilian Leigh Sinclaire..." Gavriil finally says, almost making Max flinch. It also wasn't helping how everyone in the room was so quiet and tense.

     Gavriil pulls out a roll of paper and opens it up. He then glances at Max first before finally reading the contents of the paper.

     "According to Article 18 Section B & C of the White Uniform Handbook, white uniforms must honor the oath given to them during the House Assembly, which means you cannot use your title to make outside negotiations," Gavriil explains, instantly making Max's eyes widened from shock.

     "Sinclaire, as it has been proven with evidence that you made a negotiation with the leader of the Counts, Charles Justin Mills, regarding issues that benefit your outside title. I, vice president Gavriil Alexeev, declare that you are suspended."

     "This is bullshit!" Someone suddenly shouts, immediately making Max turn around to see Ari standing from his seat, looking infuriated.

     "You can't do that. And what do you mean by evidence? Who the fuck would give you evidence against something like that?" Ari defends.

     "Ari stop, sit down..." Max tries to say, but Ari wasn't listening.

     "The evidence that the council receives is confidential. We cannot reveal the identity of those who presented it to us, nor are we allowed to show anyone what the evidence is," Gavriil answers with a serious and cold look on his face.

     Ari clenches his fist in anger and was about to say something more, but then president Ian looks at him and says, "Is this how a white uniform should talk to their vice president? It seems that you do not know respect at all Mr. Faulkner. I expected so much from someone who is an underling of the dukes."

     Ari looks at president Ian, and as soon as he meets his eyes, Ari's body instantly freezes. Something about the way Ian was looking at him felt so frightening. At that moment Ari understood why the brotherhoods were so afraid of him.

     "I...I apolo—"

     "I apologize, president Ian and vice president Gavriil," Max immediately says, bowing at the two again, surprising not only Ari but Ervin and Felix as well. "I apologize on my friend's behalf. He does not have any ill intentions for—"

     "Does he not know how to speak for himself?" Ian suddenly asks, making the hair on Max's skin stand the moment he heard the question.

     "Does he not know how to apologize properly for you to do it for him? Are you his master to talk for his behalf?" Ian continues to ask, making Max bow even deeper, surprising his classmates even more since Max wasn't the type to bow to anyone like that.

     I guess the things he experienced really did humble him a little.

     "I greatly apologize!" Ari finally says, dropping on the floor and bowing at the two highest-ranked students of J.S High. "I should not have spoken with so much disrespect. As this class's representative, I am deeply ashamed. Please, I accept the punishment that is equal to my mistake."

     The quiet room becomes quieter as Ari continues to bow on the floor.

     Gavriil takes a deep breath and looks at the red-headed boy before saying, "There is no punishment needed. Take this as your warning."

     "Thank you, vice president!" Ari immediately says, and Max stood up straight again to look back at the Elites.

      Gavriil looked like he just wanted this to be over, so he rolls the paper back and looks at Max to tell him, "As you have broken J.S High's sacred oath, you are to be suspended for a total of three school days. This means you are not to attend any of your classes, receive any points, nor join any activities. During this time, you will be performing community service instead."

     "I understand."

     "Your brooches and your armband will also be stripped away from you during your suspension, which means you have no title to uphold," Gavriil continues to say.

     "I understand."

     "And one last thing. Suspension means that...1000 merit points will be taken away from you. This will gravely put you in a lower rank," Gavriil finally reveals, and this time, Max had to clench his fist in irritation, not by Gavriil, but by himself. After Mr. Brains & Brawn, Max wasn't able to get a lot of points, and now a thousand will be taken from him just because he wasn't careful enough.

     "I...understand," Max answers even though it was harder to say compared to earlier.

     "That will be all. Now follow us," Gavriil says, and president Ian walks out of the room first.

      Gavriil was about to head out as well, but Max immediately tells him, "Before we leave, can you give me just a minute? I need to talk to Ari."

     Gavriil glances at Ari who was being assisted by Ervin and Felix so he could stand from the floor. There was no reason for Gavriil to allow the request, but he takes a deep breath and nods his head anyway before following Ian outside.

     Max practically runs to Ari to check on him, but before his friend could even say anything, Max tells him, "Ari, you shouldn't have spoken to the vice president like that. Whether you were irritated or mad, you should never let your emotions get the best of you."

     "But—"

     "I understood your intentions, and I'm thankful for it, but you should have known better. Someone like us have to understand how this system works. The officers were just doing their job. If we complain and nag about every single thing then we don't deserve to be members of the Elites."

     Max isn't perfect either, and he'll admit that there are several times when he let his emotions get the best of him. The difference now is that Max is learning to fix himself to become better. It's just like in the business world. His mother always told him to never disrespect the board of directors even though Max hated them. You should separate your emotions from your work. Even if you hate someone, you should not disregard his title and what he can do for you and your company.

     "I know that but..." Ari suddenly pauses when he realizes something from what his friend just said. "What do you mean we?"

     Max looks at Felix and Ervin first before looking back at Ari. "I told you didn't I? I'm planning to enter the Elites, and I'm also planning to take you with me. I need someone in the council who I can trust, and that's you."

    Ari was surprised by the sudden declaration that he couldn't even say anything about it.

     "Anyways, I expected that there would somehow be consequences for what I've done. I involved Cj with my problems with the company and used his brotherhood custom for my own benefit. I was in the wrong this time," Max reveals.

     "That may be true, but who on earth even told the Elites about it?" Felix then asks. But before Max could even answer him, Gavriil appears at the doorframe and calls for him.

     "Mr. Sinclaire, your time is up. We can't wait for you any longer than this..."

     "Shit, I have to go," Max says with a sigh.

     "Well...show them hell," Ervin says back as a form of encouragement, making Max smile.

      He nods his head and finally heads out of the room where the vice president and president were patiently waiting for him.

      "I apologize for the wait," Max says.

     "It's fine. You didn't have to worry," Ian says, now with a calmer and softer tone than the one he used when he scolded him for apologizing for Ari's behalf. Look like the president really knows how to act depending on the situation.

     "Anyway, we should go now," Ian then adds, and just in time, the bell rings, making all the white uniforms run back to their rooms.

     The two walked down the hall with Max walking behind them. As Max follows silently behind them, he couldn't help but notice the students who would stop just to greet them. Max can shamelessly admit that he's a powerful man too, but somehow, walking beside these two made him feel small and weak. They overpowered him so much that Max almost forgot that he's a member of Crème de la crème.

     "Are we heading to the Elites' office?" Max finally asks.

     "We are, but we have to make a stopover first," Ian answers, making Max furrow his brows in confusion. Ian then looks over his shoulder and adds, "There's a reason why I came with Gavriil after all."

     Max was even more confused by the statement, but then they notice that they were approaching the Hall of Janus where the brotherhoods were found. It was Max's first time to enter this building since white uniforms weren't really allowed there because this is where brotherhoods have their classes.

     The facilities were almost the same, but for some reason, the vibe was different. It somehow felt intense, like you were in an actual prison.

     "Here we are," Gavriil says when they stopped in front of a large double door.

      Max wasn't sure where they were, but then Max looks up and sees the sign that says, IV-Kings, making his eyes widen from shock.

      "I-IV Kings...we're at IV-Kings? Does that mean—"

      It is common knowledge that brotherhoods aren't allowed to stay in one class with the white uniforms because it might cause trouble, so they're separated. Since there are no brotherhood members that are in the lower years, brotherhoods only have two sections or classes. Class IV-Kings and Class III-Princes.

     IV-Kings is a very famous class, considering how all the leaders are found there. Anyone would want to get a chance to sit in with them just to see what they're doing there.

     "Looks like Ms. Armstrong hasn't arrived yet. You can proceed now, president Ian," Gavriil says, and Ian nods his head and knocks on the door first before finally making his entrance.

     The class was making a lot of noise, but when Ian arrived, the noise instantly fades, and in just a second, everyone stands from their seats to greet president Ian. It was a rare sight, but Max was surprised to see that even the princes were bowing, especially Kim Hee-joon.

     "Good morning. I won't take much of your time," president Ian says as he stands in front of the class. "You may take a seat," he then commands, and surprisingly enough, everyone diligently listens.

     Max couldn't help but be surprised. Even though they're brotherhoods, they act better than the white uniforms. Max almost felt ashamed.

      Vice president Gavriil then enters next. Despite being an officer who doesn't have much power over them, they still greeted him the same.

     Soon after, Max follows, and Marcus, and the rest of the members that are considered Max's protectors, look at Max with shock. Even Krist looked like he was itching to ask what he was doing there but he couldn't. He didn't want to get scolded by Ian.

      "Alright, Charles Justin Mills, please step forward," Ian finally says, and the mention of his name alone practically made Marcus stand on his seat to complain.

      Max couldn't even say anything because he couldn't believe it either. He thought he was the only one who was going to get in trouble. Apparently, even a brotherhood leader will face consequences.

     "Why am I not surprised?" Cj says as he takes a deep breath to stand in front of president Ian. The president hasn't even said anything, but they already knew what was about to happen as soon as Ian pulled out a familiar roll of paper.

     "Mills, according to Article 21 Section B & C of the Brotherhood Handbook, brotherhoods must honor the oath given to them during the House Assembly, which means you cannot use your title to make outside negotiations," Ian announces.

     Max thought Cj would grin and make light of the whole situation, but surprisingly enough, he was dead serious, while Krist and the others looked worried.

     Jokers and BND helped Max to achieve his plan, so it means that they're somehow connected to all this. Honestly, it would have been better if Ian called them too, but only Cj was called. Something must have happened. It's already sketchy enough that the Elites found out about it.

     "As it has been proven with evidence that you made a negotiation with second-year dweller, Maximilian Leigh Sinclaire, regarding issues that benefit your outside title. I, Ian Rothman, declare that you are suspended."

     "I accept the consequence," Cj then says, touching his chest and bowing at Ian as Ian hides the paper again.

     "I hope you understand what this suspension means to you," Ian says, and Max thought that it was the same consequences as his, but what Ian said next practically made Max's mouth widen from shock.

     Ian, who looked as serious as he was earlier, looks directly at Cj's eyes as he reminds him, "A brotherhood suspension means that you are not allowed to attend your classes for three days and will do community service instead. Within that timeframe, everything will be stripped away from you. This also means that in three days...you will be a white uniform."

- END -