Royalty Gone Bad novel Chapter 16

Writer’s POV:

Throughout that week, Asahd worked nonstop. He rested throughout the weekend and spent his time in bed and on his phone.

He’d succeeded in bringing sixty five dollars and additional tips from work, everyday, that week. As planned, he would give thirty dollars of his money to Djafar as his contribution to bills, and would stay with what was left. Djafar was very happy with Asahd’s efforts and would call the sultan to give him details.

Asahd was improving when it came to getting rid of his laziness. But there was still many other problems that needed to he solved. He remained the same egocentric, rude, disrespectful, spoiled and selfish Asahd. When he demanded something useless that he couldn’t buy himself, and Djafar said no, he would go into uncontrollable tantrums. Typical.

It saddened Djafar who hoped Asahd would learn to appreciate the little available, would learn to be humble and control his loose temper.

Asahd was as stubborn and steadfast as ever. Throughout that week of work, he spoke to neither Djafar or Saïda, unless it was concerning his work and the money he had to contribute for the so called bills. He ignored them and wanted to discuss nothing with them.

It hurt Djafar very much that Asahd ignored him that way. But even though it saddened him, he remained very strict and firm. Whenever he felt like giving in to Asahd’s nonsense, he would remember that all he was doing was for the Prince’s good.

***

Asahd’s POV:

I lay on my bed, manipulating my phone that Sunday afternoon.

I then received one more call from my parents, for the fifth time that afternoon. I’d been rejecting their calls ever since I’d discovered this stupid plan of theirs. But that particular day, I decided to pick.

“What?” I asked lazily, picking the call.

"Finally, my dear. How are you?

-Are you okay??” I heard my parents ask.

“Well, I’m not dead yet. And it’s not thanks to you two. I was robbed and had a gun pointed at my forehead, the first night I spent in this city! The first!”

"Asahd, we tried to call you that same night, after Djafar had told us about the horrible incident. We were so worried but you refused to pick our calls and since have.

-Your father is saying the truth, Asahd. Sweetheart you should understand that this is for your own good. Djafar told us about your job and how you are doing great with it. We are so happy.

-Yes dear, we are very proud of–"

I hung up before they could finish whatever bullshit they were saying. In just a minute or so, they’d bored the hell out of me.

“Proud of my ass,” I mumbled.

Just then, there was a knock at the door.

“Go away!” I said, manipulating my phone.

But the door opened and Saïda stepped in. I rolled my eyes. I’d ignored her throughout that week and though she tried to speak to me, looking for all means for me to answer and speak to her, I still did not say a single word to her. Wasn’t interested, didn’t care.

“Asahd?” she called and approached my bed. “How are you today?”

I sighed and put my headphones on. I wasn’t going to listen to her. She was still trying to speak to me but the loud music I was listening to, covered up her gibberish.

My eyes grew wide in disbelief when she pulled my earphones off. I looked at her like she was mad.

“How dare you??” I asked, annoyed.

“Will you please listen to me?” she grumbled.

“I have nothing to say to you or your father. Leave!” I stood and grabbed her arm, forcefully leading her towards the door.

“Asahd, listen to me first!” she said angrily and abruptly got out of my grip.

“What??” I asked, rolling my eyes and already exasperated.

“I– I convinced father to get you a car for your job,” she said and I froze, looking down at her.

“What?”

“I convinced my father to get you a car that would help you with your work,” she repeated.

I couldn’t believe my ears.

“You did that?” I asked, unable to believe a single word.

“Yes.”

“Why?” I scoffed and folded my arms. “What’s the catch?”

“There’s no catch. I promise.”

I squinted my eyes and stared at her until she flinched. She never did anything nice for me unless it was for some reason or so.

But it hit me. I’d noticed that she’d looked kind of uncomfortable around me but still tried to speak to me. Like she was trying to regain my favors or so.

“This is because I said I hate you, right?” I asked, slightly amused.

“Honestly, yes. I don’t like you at all Asahd, and it’s no secret. I like to see you have a hard time with this new life but there’s one thing I don’t want. I don’t want you to hate me. I don’t want anyone to hate me. You can dislike me, but hate is a different level.”

“And so you convinced your father to get me a car so I would stop ‘hating’ you?”

“I don’t want you to hate me. And the only thing I could do to get a little favor from you, was to convince my father into getting you a car,” she admitted.

“He wants to talk to you. He’s in the living room.”

She ended and left the room. I followed her to go meet Djafar.

“Yes?” I said to him, folding my arms.

“Saïda has probably already told you the necessary. Yes, I got you a car for work. If it was left to me, you would never get one because you have to learn to toil, Asahd. However, she succeeded in convincing me, making me realise that you work more than five hours a day and waiting for a bus or going to a subway is even more tiring after a long day. And so I got you one. Nothing special, so don’t get all hype. It’s a secondhand car. You’ll have to deal with it.”

′It can be that bad.′