Page 66 of The Heir
CHAPTER 16
Last Day in France
Thor
After Bjorn’s colossal fuck-up, Victor was in a foul mood for the rest of the week. No matter how well we argued, the French sabotaged us Northlanders. On the last day of negotiations, I was fed up. The list of agreements my father had hoped for was long and unfulfilled. I dreaded coming back home empty-handed to face my father’s disappointment once again and so my tone hardened.
The Motlanders tried their best to soften the atmosphere, but tension kept growing, until I lost my shit.
“Did you just say France isn’t interested in negotiating with Northlanders?” My question was aimed at Victor, who sat with his nose stuck up in the air and that ridiculous look of self-importance.
“Oui, you heard me. France can have all our needs met by the Motlanders. Why would we work with you when so far you haven’t presented us with anything that signifies the respect we deserve?”
“Respect? Are you fucking kidding me, you dipshit? Have you forgotten that right now, as we speak, brave Northlanders are cleaning the land for your people to live above ground? Aubri, Sparrow, and Banni are working hard back home to train more people.”
Victor retorted, “You mean more Nmen to frighten our women.”
“We told you that Nora goaded Bjorn to get his reaction. And how about the fact that my cousin and sister facilitated the help you needed for your upcoming project? If you want to talk about respect, let’s talk about how you don’t appreciate my sister’s role in all of this. Maybe it’s better that Freya comes home with us and that we tell Shelly Summers to stay away as well. If someone isn’t showing respect, it’s you!” I spit out the last sentence with fury.
Freya paled. “Thor.”
“I’m not gonna let Victor Wise-Ass talk to us about a lack of respect when he’s showingzerohimself.”
“Victor Wise-Ass.” Mason snickered low.
“Please, Thor, no name calling,” Holly reprimanded me.
Victor sat leaning back in his seat, his legs straightened under the table, and his face drawn tight with visible disdain.
Folding a piece of paper with nervous movements, Holly suggested, “Maybe we need to take a break?”
“I didn’t ask for a break,” I said and stared at Victor. “I asked for the French to get their heads out of their asses and approve the increased number of flights between our nations. A weekly shipping is our minimum.”
All eyes were on Victor as he leaned forward in his seat and spoke with an icy tone. “Freya stays here!”
I pressed my lips together as he continued.
“Your sister already made it clear that she intended to stay and help Shelly and me with our project. I will take it as a personal insult if she retracts her offer.”
“All we need to see is some fucking gratitude from your side,” I flung at him. “We already listed our top five priorities and you rejected them all. That’s not a negotiation.”
The French mumbled among themselves for a moment until Victor declared, “All right. We’ll approve an increase in trade from one freight vessel a month to one a week. We can agree to the export of items from the outer zone as well, but under no circumstances will we allow you to turn our country into a tourist destination.”
“We’d be willing to build and operate a hotel if you let us,” Indiana said.
“No!” Victor was firm. “We don’t have enough apartments above ground for our own citizens as it is. Your proposal is ambitious, but our answer is no.”
“Then how about we build and run the hotel in the outer zone and fly in guests to experience France? Think about the influx of money and wealth it would create as tourists buy your local products.”
I frowned at Indiana. “You would build a hotel outside the safe zone?”
“France is expanding right outside their gates, but there are areas no more than a two-hour drone flight away that are deemed safe. I would be willing to build a resort for travelers who want to experience Europe.”
“That sounds incredibly complicated and expensive,” Celeste said.
“Let me worry about that. All I need is your approval.”
Once again, the French whispered among themselves before they nodded, and Victor announced. “It sounds unrealistic to us, but we are not opposed to you building a hotel outside of the safe zone. We are willing to seek approval from the parliament.”
