Black Hood: Season Two by Nick Venom (management books to read txt) 📕

Meanwhile, Rock waited for Arlo. The glasses-wearing tuxedo man appeared into sight, carrying a folder of papers. As he neared her, she remarked, “you got what I asked you for?”

He nodded quickly. “I found out her fate. Liyah, the mother of three, correct?”

“I’m assuming so,” Rock muttered. “Spit it out, where is she?”

“Six feet under,” Arlo told her. “Raped and killed.”

Rock shook her head, pinching the bridge of her nose. “So, she’s dead. Who did it? Was it Wick or one of his men?”

“Well-” Arlo started, glancing around for eavesdroppers. “I couldn’t figure out exactly, but some rumors are saying it was the new Ruler of the Slums.”

“Raide, huh?” She muttered, turning around to process the information. “A hundred percent?”

“No, but it’s the only thing I could find. Finding a lone woman in the Slums is like finding a pin in a haystack. There are hundreds of women with the same fate, but only a slim 0.005 percent of them have their stories recorded. This is it.”

“Good,” Rock said, turning to face him. “Now, what are you going to do?”

Arlo shuddered. He knew what would happen when an assassin was done with somebody. Death.

“I was…” His voice trailed off. What good was an excuse in front of an assassin?

Rock chuckled as she took a step towards him. “Don’t worry, I won’t kill you. You’ll become my personal assistant, doesn’t that sound good?”

“You won’t kill me?” Arlo asked, his voice sounding uncertain.

“If you become my personal assistant, otherwise, your fate is certain.” She threatened, licking her lips.

Arlo gulped audibly, glancing around for something he couldn’t see. He was looking for an excuse out of the conversation but was at a loss. There was nothing he could do, aside from taking the position. “Fine, I’ll… I’ll become your assistant.”

Rock smiled largely. “Good, now PA-” PA stood for personal assistant. “-help me track down a certain man.”

Arlo’s eyes widened. He knew who Rock wanted.

“Get me intel on Raide. His location, his weaknesses, his family, everything. I want everything you can find on him. Every speck of dirt. Now, go.” She ordered.

Arlo nodded, rushing off. He didn’t know how to procure the information but knew he had to do it. If he failed, she could end his life instantly.

***

“That attitude of his!” Alessio exclaimed to Iris. She simply nodded, standing straight and at attention. “He doesn’t even fear the royal family. We, who stand at the peak of the human race, aren’t intimidating. Blasphemy!” 

He grabbed a glass cup and threw it at the wall, shattering upon impact. “I am the first prince of the Edurdale Kingdom. How does he not fear me? ‘I’m not loyal to those who strip my freedom from me’?” He exclaimed, mocking Spec’s voice. “Is it our fault that he went out on a killing spree. He murdered many people, albeit people from the Slums. He should be imprisoned for life, never able to see sunlight again. Even so, my father lets him walk freely with a short three-year contract. After three years, he gets to leave scot-free. His crimes, suddenly, pardoned?” Alessio kicked a couch, reacting out of his foot’s pain. He glanced at Iris as if to say, don’t mention this ever!

She nodded. “Shall we ask your father about him? See if he can be punished more heavily?”

Alessio was taken aback. “We don’t-” The door opened and revealed Hale. He pushed the door open, walking inside. “What are you doing here? I don’t remember permitting you to enter.”

“I wanted to talk to you.” Hale innocently responded. “I want to say sorry.”

“Watch your manners. You will address me as Elder Brother, not you.” Alessio demanded.

Hale cringed under his brother’s explosive voice, nodding his head. “I’m sorry, Elder Brother.”

“Good, now get out. I’ll see if I forgive you later, Trash.” Alessio mocked him. Hale simply took it, turning away when his maid---Olive---appeared.

“Elder Prince, why are you treating your brother like this? He came in to apologize!” She shouted.

Alessio furrowed his brows as he approached the maid. He slapped her across the face, watching as she staggered backward. Her cheeks reddened as she stuttered, shocked to be slapped.

“Why should I listen to a dirty maid like you. Take the Trash out, now!” He demanded. Olive nodded, a tear escaping her right eye, as she grabbed Hale’s hand and led him outside.

Iris watched the entire event unfold without speaking a word. She acted as Alessio’s right-hand man but wasn’t anything past a street rat. She was to serve her purpose and that’s it.

“Elder Prince?” A new maid asked. She approached the prince, but kept a few feet of distance, seeing what happened to Olive.

“What is it?” He barked. “What do you want, you dirty maid!” His brows pointed downward as spit flew out of his mouth. He was fuming at this point.

“Your father has summoned you to the throne room.” The maid told him, hiding a smile.

Alessio’s skin turned pale-white. His anger left him, his appearance resembling more of a child than a man. His father rang for him and he had to respond. This only happened if he caused a large enough problem that his father had to intervene in. Otherwise, he was cold to his children.

“What did I do?” He asked nobody in particular. Nobody near him had the answer, only his father did.

He was summoned by the king.

TBC…

Alessio walked towards the throne room, his palms sweating. Iris followed by his side, glancing at him as they walked. She noticed him internally screaming, showing a mix of fear and dismay on the outside. He never expected his father to call him, going over every bad deed he committed. None of them, to him, were enough to justify being summoned.

The messenger maid, named Blue, stopped at the door and stood at the side. She beckoned him inside, showing him an emotionless expression. He glared at her, all of his nerves working simultaneously, before laying his tanned hand on the door. He hesitated to open it, his body not responding to his orders. Let me go! He screamed at himself, however, none of the words left his mouth. He was saying it internally.

“Sir, shouldn’t you enter?” Iris asked. Alessio glared at her for a moment before shaking it off.

“You’re right.” He simply muttered, pushing the door open. Waiting for him on his throne was his father, his eyes squinted and shooting daggers upon his entrance. The king beckoned Alessio closer. Iris followed him into the room, kneeling by his side. They both lowered their heads.

“Alessio!” His voice boomed, frightening the kid more. “Do you understand why you’re here?”

“Uh… I-I-I-I-I-” He stammered while raising his head.

“Do you understand why you are here?” Jayden repeated, his voice echoing off the walls. “I will not repeat my question.”

“Y-Yes, I understand. It’s because…” He pondered the question for a few moments. “... of what happened with my maid and Spec.”

“Oh, there is a working brain in there.” He spat. Jayden was a different beast in front of Alessio compared to Liliana and Hale. “What started the argument?”

“Oh, it was-” He glanced at Iris, which caught Jayden’s attention.

“Let your maid explain. He calls you Iris, right? Okay, tell me why did you get into an argument with Spec?”

Iris gulped hard, raising her head. “It was… uh, it was because of my tongue. I spoke words that I now regret.”

Jayden stood from the throne, making both of them flinch. “What did you say?”

“It was about him minding his manners and following noble etiquette. I then, unnecessary, added his parents to the conversation.”

Jayden approached Iris, his boots stomping heavily towards them. His footsteps grew louder the closer he got to them. He glared at Iris, raising his palm and slapping her. “You made a remark about his dead parents? You were born a knight, right? Where has the chivalry gone?”

Iris nodded before hanging her head low in embarrassment. “I’m sorry, your majesty,” She apologized.

He ignored her, turning his attention to Alessio. “Your maid was educated by you, so half of the fault goes to you.” He grabbed Alessio’s face and raised it to meet his gaze, smacking him harder than he slapped Iris. “Spec may be working under us, for this short time, but he’s a valuable guest. Thanks to him, we’re reclaiming the corruption-ridden Slums. Without him, Wick would be running the Slums for another decade or so.”

Alessio nodded, balling his fist. Smacking him cut the final straw in half. “He was hurting Iris, so I intervened. What she said was wrong, but he was trying to kill her. He needs to control his anger!” He shouted, frightening Iris. Taking back to a king would get you imprisoned for centuries.

Jayden slapped him again. “Ironic, to say the least.” He turned away from him. “Spec did what every child should do when their deceased parents are being disrespected. ‘I won’t be lenient on him if he dies’?” He asked, bringing up one of Alessio’s statements. “We stripped him of his freedom to serve under us. He has everything to be angry at.” He glared at Iris, who had her head down. “Especially if someone talks ill of his parents.”

“But-”

“Shut up!” Jayden shouted. “I’ve heard of your temper against the maids of this castle and your brother. Keep this up and I’ll denounce you as the heir.”

Alessio’s heart nearly stopped. He looked up, his face streaming with tears. “Why do you care more about him than me? Your own flesh and blood?”

“Because Spec is essential to my plans. I need him to act accordingly to rid the Slums of corruption and antagonizing him won’t help that. It’ll hinder my plans.” Jayden explained, walking back to his throne. He sat down, keeping his eyes on Alessio.

“But, after three years, you'll let him go freely? What if he harbors malicious intentions and will attack you? You’re training an assassin to kill you.”

Jayden simply stared at his child, waiting for his next point.

“If we could enslave him and have him as the royal assassin for decades, we’ll be able to deal with any problems easily. You wouldn’t even have to raise a finger. We could-”

“Shush,” Jayden muttered. “You talk freely about enslaving a man, so would you be fine being enslaved? Having your freedom stripped from you? Being a toy to your owner? If so, then I’ll personally hand you over to slavers.”

Alessio shook his head violently. “I’m sorry, your majesty. That’s not what I meant.”

“So-” His eyes zeroed in on Alessio. “-what did you mean?”

The boy couldn’t keep up with his father, dropping his head. “Nothing, your majesty.”

Jayden smiled. “Go, leave and reflect in your room. If I hear that you’ve begun to throw a temper tantrum, I’ll deal with you again. Next time, I won’t be as ‘lenient’ on you.” Jayden was referring to Alessio’s comment.

Alessio nodded, turning tail and running. Iris followed by his side, massaging her bruise. The sudden strike hurt her more than she could expect.

On their way back, they passed by two familiar people; Summer and Milena. They crossed paths with the messes that were Alessio and Iris.

“I’m no longer excited to see the king.” Summer muttered under