Queen

What the actual fuck have I done? I ran my hand through my hair as I sat in the waiting room and played back the moments that took place in the show. I came on with every intent to tell the world we broke up, but with the cameras on me, Michelle's words, and the screaming audience...things came into perspective.

I couldn't win this competition without Syn.

That was where my dilemma lay. How was I supposed to work to win a competition with a man that I couldn't be around? I missed him every day, but I knew if he were to come around me, I'd forgive everything after one kiss or touch...and that was the last thing I wanted to do.

I didn't know how long I could stay mad at him, but I'd try my best to make the wait as close to forever as possible. That would only be more difficult with the added pressure of maintaining the lie I had just created to the public.

I tossed the remote to the side and buried my face in my hands until the door opened. I looked up to see Michelle walk in and I smiled at her as she neared me. "Hello, your majesty," she began as she sat beside me. "I was wondering if we could talk about you and Syn appearing on the show. I usually let my associates handle this part, but I'm excited!"

Fucking hell.

"Umm well, when do you want us?" I laughed softly with a bright smile as I internally freaked out.

"Well," she said. "After what you told me tonight about your sister lying about the affair, I'm thinking about next Friday night."

"What's happening next Friday?" I asked slowly.

"I have an interview with Xyla and Felix," she said with a sly smile. "I'd like you and Syn to join in as well."

"I don't know if that's a good idea," I said as I diverted my eyes from her.

"Why not?" She asked. "After we advertise it, it could possibly be our most-watched episode. I can only imagine the numbers. More viewers mean more publicity and more supporters. You and Syn can debunk all of her and her husband's lies on national television."

"Why would I want to embarrass her like that?" I asked as I swung my head back in her direction.

"Because anyone with a pair of eyes can see that the both of you hate one another," she pointed out. "All these years, she's been dragging your name and image through the mud. Don't you think it's time that you get the upper hand?"

As she spoke more about the idea, the more appealing it sounded. Destroying Xyla mentally before killing her was always something I wanted to do. What better way to do that than to ruin her reputation in front of millions of people?

"Okay," I nodded slowly. "You might be on to something."

"Right?" She asked. "You and Syn's numbers already went up tremendously after the show. The two of you will have no problem winning after you take down Xyla and Felix."

"You don't want them to win?" I asked.

"Absolutely not. They've been winning for the past three years. I've watched Xyla intimidate Queens out of the competition. I'm interested in seeing her reaction to losing for the first time."

"I see," I said. "We'll do it then."

"Great," she said with a huge smile as she clasped her hands together. "I can't wait! I'll have my associates email you the paperwork letting us know what you don't want to be mentioned on the show next week."

"Sounds good," I said. She gave me a large smile before getting up to leave and a question came to my mind. "Wait, Michelle!"

"Yes?" She asked as she turned back around.

"Since this is my first year, do you have any tips on what we should do to win?"

"Honestly?" She asked as she leaned against the door. "Be yourselves. We already have enough fake socialites. Also, get out in public more, host a ball or a charity...be happy and in love, you know? People love 'love', so flaunt it."

"Okay," I nodded slowly.

"You have my number," she said. "Call me if anything."

"I will."

"Bye, your highness," she said with a wink before completely leaving the room.

With her departure, I let myself sink into the couch and think about my next move. Syn was probably still angry with me for my supposed "cheating" and I wasn't ecstatic to see his reaction to me just coming back to the palace.

I thought about what to do for a bit longer and after a few minutes, I grabbed my things and headed outside. I made my decision, I just needed to figure out how to go through with it.

꧁꧂

"Saint, go to sleep," I ordered in a low tone as I looked beside me in the bed.

As always, instead of doing what I had said, he spent a long moment propping himself on his hands and crawling to my leg. I groaned and picked him up and set him on my lap before looking back at the computer in front of the both of us.

Ever since getting home from the interview, I'd been working on a contract. I finally came to terms with the fact that the only way Syn and I would be able to successfully do this, as if it was a business arrangement. That way there would be no confusion.

We were still going to be broken up and there would be nothing between us except a stack of paper with rules and regulations.

Saint leaned forward to slap the keys on the computer and I rolled my eyes. It seemed like it was this baby's mission to halt any sort of progress I seemed to be making.

"Saint no," I scolded. "You're being bad." I lifted him from my lap, away from the computer, and propped up a pillow beside me he could sit against. I set him down and he began crying as I moved away to picked up the remote. When he got this clingy, there was only one thing I could do to get him to leave me alone...

Cartoons.

Not just any regular baby shows, but the type of cartoons Syn watched with James. I assumed Syn must've watched it with Saint because he seemed to become enamored with the television when it was on.

This crying died down like it always did when the show came on and he stopped trying to come to me. I laughed softly as he sat back against the pillow and stared at the TV. "Enjoy," I whispered. I made myself comfortable against the headboard and took a confident breath before furrowing my brows and staring down at my laptop.

I typed the contract as professionally as I could and at times, my chest pained at the business-like manner that would have to be maintained between the both of us. I hated the fact that we had gotten to this point.

It only felt like yesterday that he was taking care of me. If I closed my eyes I could still feel his lingering gentle touches on my skin. If someone had told me then, what he did to me now...I would've killed them for making shit up. Even as I sat here it didn't seem real to me.

I wondered about what I could've done to prevent things. What if I had given him more details? What if I was more observant?...If I was a better girlfriend, would this have happened?

I knew myself, and I knew Syn himself would hate that I questioned these things, but I couldn't help it. I hated acting like I was some sort of victim so I wasn't going to sit here and pretend that I had zero responsibility in this...but he had no right to do what he did.

Death.

Three and a half years.

One thousand two hundred and seventy-eight days.

And countless painful minutes of him being gone.

All of that STILL wasn't enough time to teach us both that we were shit at talking to one another. We always struggled with communicating even when things were going great. It only made sense that it would be one of the things that destroyed us.

As I looked back at the journey of us, this little situation seemed so...minuscule and unimportant. I would've just went home if it weren't for our shower incident and him breaking up with me over text. None of that kept me from thinking about him though. I'd occasionally wonder what he was doing, what he was thinking about...

Was I one of the grand things that passed through the mind of Syn SinClaire?

I took an annoyed breath and on my exhale, I let go of him. HE was the one that left me. Without that break-up, we could've been fixing what happened with us...but it was too late to go back. And I wasn't sure if I wanted to anymore.

I pushed through all the painful thoughts in my mind and focused on finishing the contract. Syn could no longer be my main concern. What mattered right now was winning the competition for Hell, and I'd be damned if I lost because of a man who wanted nothing to do with me.

"And...done," I whispered in victory as I typed the last word. I quickly read over it and made a few tweaks to it, and my eyes remained wide open at how strict I sounded. If I knew Syn...and I did, he'd absolutely hate it.

Before I could change my mind, I found his email, sent him the contract, and immediately shut my laptop. Saint eyed my movements like I was insane and I pulled him into my arms. "I'm nervous man," I squealed silently.

He giggled in my arms and I took a few calming breaths. It was late, so I was pretty sure he wouldn't answer me tonight, but I was still scared shitless.

What are you thinking, Syn?

꧁꧂

Author's Note
Saint and his homies😭

That had nothing to do with anything lmao😭 I just laughed so much. Anyways...
So Queen made a contract. Good or bad idea? Will Syn sign it?👀
Lmk your thoughts ✨