*Pryce Winsley’s POV*
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We stepped out of the ladies’ restroom to head to the secluded part of this restaurant owned by our very own lawyer and friend, Leanne Jordan, that is mainly used for meal meetings--the conference room. And we are pretty sure that they are already waiting there. We still have two minutes before the agreed time, so I presume we aren’t really that late.
“Hell...oh, girls! Damn, you look so different. But it's a good difference. What happened?” Leanne greeted us, quite surprised to see our old and unusual faces, and I flashed her a cheeky smile as Blair and I took our seats on each of her sides.
“Hi, Lee! Our looks? Well… we just got some… you know… we accidentally washed our faces with a soap I had found in the cupboard back at home that had already expired thirty years ago. How do we look, by the way? You want to try that one? There is still a lot left.” My mate greeted her and explained like nuts, making the attorney look at her in disbelief and looking like she wanted to laugh or cough. Even though my girlfriend is already about two hundred and seventy years old and looking so mature right now, I guess her brain would never grow old. And I’m so okay with it.
“Ah… No, thanks, Bla---” Leanne was about to reply, but Blair cut her off as she held her left forearm, and she continued. “Okay, no worries, Miss Claudette Sperova. So, I suppose you and Miss Cyper Karsten would like to have some wine.”
I looked at my mate, wearing a baffled face, as I heard what the attorney had said while pouring some wine into the glasses on the tabletop. Then, Blair just winked at me. Hmm. She must have used some magic to communicate with the woman through her mind. I just can’t tell people, especially the one we are about to meet with, that I am Pryce Winsley. That would be so weird.  But if needed, I would reveal myself.
“Mr. Ford Herrera was still out there at the garden with Marvy to discuss a few things as the current owners of the academy before they would head here.” Leanne explained and handed us our beverages, and I told her, “Thanks, Attorney. Well, we don’t mind waiting.”
“Alright, so I guess this meeting would be---” Blair was about to say, but the door opened, and there walked first Marvy, who got a look on her face the same as Leanne when she saw us. Then followed a man in a gray suit, wearing a grim face, and we all stood up to greet the newcomers.
After shaking hands and introductions, we all sat down and called a waiter to order food.
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“So, ladies, I believe your offer in purchasing the Pryce Winsley Academy doubling its worth is truly promising. But... I’m not selling it. Even though Miss Jennings says otherwise, I owned the bigger part of it, so the decision is mine that should be followed.” He asserted and leaned back in his chair after he heard our lawyer's statement about our greatest concern. And I lifted my gaze to look at him.
“Name your price, Mr. Herrera. We could make it more than double its worth. How about let’s make it five times?” I replied and asked him, making him let out a chuckle, and he seemed don’t know what to say.
“I… why? Why are you so interested in that property?” He inquisitively asked, and I looked at my mate when she answered him.
“Our interest is something you cannot comprehend easily, Mr. Ford. But if you are willing to back out from your decision in not selling it, we might tell you. And, if you want it now, we can guarantee that you will have the money in your hands no longer than an hour. Five times? You can have it. We could calculate now how many billion dollars that would be. And you might need to call your lawyer to be here. And whoever else should be involved.”
I smiled at my mate’s tactics and desperation since this man had been trying to intimidate and think we were just nobodies. We already ate a few, but I can't eat properly if I can not ensure that this meeting will go as planned.
He let out a soft laugh and cleared his throat before speaking. I could feel my girl was about to get pissed off, and me, too. Do we seem like a joke to him? We could even damn bury him in money, even in diamonds. Just give me my academy back!
“I’m sorry about that, ladies. But here… I don’t know who you are and what business you are doing, making you seem to have lots of wealth, but I would like to---” he began, but I cut him off, asking, “Why do you want to keep the academy?”
He seemed taken aback because of my curiosity, and I just kept looking at him intently to see how he would explain it.
“That, too, is something you might not understand. Truly, I am tempted by the number of riches you are willing to bargain for that property, but for me, that place is priceless. It’s not the profit that I could earn from there, not the people who go to study or work there, but it’s the name that holds me back. I’m sorry, but I can’t just let it go even with how big you offer me. If you could excuse me, I have lunch with my family to attend to. Nice meeting you all. Have a great day, by the way.” He proclaimed and was about to stand up to leave, but I looked at my mate as I reached for her hand on the table and told her in my head to break the spell she had on us. She nodded her head and snapped her fingers, making the other women here look at us with wide eyes when they noticed we were back to our normal faces.
When the man was about to open the door to leave, I called him out.
“Get back to your seat, Mr. Herrera. Now that we can’t seem to make this deal possible in a human way, we have another ace to play. Let’s have this talk between a werewolf and a werewolf. And, you may now know why we are interested in purchasing the academy from you.” I ordered, making him stop in his tracks, and I could now hear his quick heartbeat and smell his sudden fear as I had un-humanned myself. He must now have an idea that he is dealing with someone of his kind but had a higher position, the highest, I mean.
“There is no need for you to be afraid. Come here. Take a seat.” I sternly told him and looked at our creeped-out friends to assure them. “Don’t worry, girls. There will be no blood to shed.”
“Or there is!” My mate chimed, which made me glare daggers at her, “Blair! Shut it!”
“I’m just kidding, alright? Kidding. Joke? Yeah! Come on, Mr. Ford. We are friendly super-not-tural beings if you would be just nice enough.” She let out and called the man, who slowly turned to look back at us.
He let out a deep breath, and I could sense that he had been feeling lots of emotions, knowing that he may not be safe inside this room, or maybe he was just panicking. And what he did next caught me off guard.
He took a step forward and kneeled on one knee while bowing his head down.
“Your Highness! This is… I… Oh, please forgive me. I didn’t know. And… how are you… No, I don’t have the right to ask. I just want you to know that I am glad that you are back. I am honored to meet you personally. And, please forgive me for the arrogance I showed you earlier.” He stammered while begging on his right knee, and I just got my mouth hanging open in a bit of surprise. Wow, I never thought he would recognize me.
I saw how our friends here looked at what had been happening in wonder and pride. Yes, they knew I was a damn werewolf ruler-to-be, but what they might not know is how it is that this man is a werewolf, too. Well, Blair and I did sense him when we arrived earlier, and I believe it may make this meeting more to be in our favor. Yeah!
“Oh, umm… it’s okay, Mr. Herrera. You have been forgiven. You may rise now. Take a seat. And I must say, you might get a little late for your lunch appointment with your family. Would that be alright? We just need a little time, by the way. And maybe we could meet again for another talk.” I replied and explained as he stood up now and went to sit back on his chair, facing mine.
I noticed that there seemed to be tears in his eyes that he wiped, and I can’t help but feel sorry. Did I use too much of the power that I still don’t have? I mean, I am titled to be ruling one of these days, but… No, I guess he is just shocked to know that we could be successful in our aim in getting back my academy—poor man. But I would like to know why he would keep that property.
“It’s okay, Your Highness. They would understand. You may take all the time you need for this meeting. Let me do what I can to serve you.” He answered, and I took a sip of my wine and said, “Alright. Now, I would like to know who you are. You are a werewolf, and I presume… you are way older than how you look. How old are you?”
He smiled and tried to have a quick glimpse of my purple eyes, and let out a nervous breath. Then, he answered after he had composed himself.
“I am nine hundred and thirty-two years old. You may not have remembered me, but I know you so well back then in your previous life, Your Highness. He was the late King Alcatraz, your mother’s uncle.” He answered, and we all here seemed surprised that he is so damn old and that he knew the man who lived with this soul that I have and my mom.
I’d like to know why and how.