He looks at me as he pops the cap on his bottle. “You were in the medical facility, and they have several others. Educational. Sporting. Legal. Defense. They provide support services to the elite across the country, and in return, the elite abide by the rules handed down from the council, offer preferential rates for key services and products via their companies, and other stuff I’d rather not get in to.”
“You can’t hold shit back,” I snap. “You just promised.”
“If I was to explain everything that goes on in that place, we’d be old and gray by the time we left here. I will tell you what is pertinent for you to know and no more.”
I don’t bother arguing with him, because I’ll work on him in the coming weeks. For now, I want to hear the parts he’s willing to share. “Go on.” My voice is clipped, and he looks surprised.
“There is an order within Parkhurst, depending on your status. Heirs who have yet to assume control, and fulfil their legacy, like me, Trent, and Charlie, are at the bottom of the food chain.”
“Father commented earlier that Charlie had ‘newly elevated status.’ You would’ve missed overhearing that part. What does that mean?”
Shock splays across Drew’s face. “Are you sure?”
“Positive. I was listening carefully to everything they said.”
“It means Father has promised him something. And he’s done something to warrant the promotion.”
Blood leaches from my face at the thought of what he might’ve done. “Do you think it’s something to do with me?”
Drew shrugs. “Probably, but it could be anything.”
“It just reinforces how dangerous Charlie is,” Kai says. “And how careful you need to be.”
I turn my head to face him. “I know.”
“I’ll see if I can find out anything,” Drew says, “But let’s move this forward.” He sits up straighter in his chair. “As I was saying, there’s an order. Heirs who have assumed no control yet are at the bottom. At the other end of the scale, we have the council. They are the most senior, high-ranking elite members within the order and within the country. The council is made up of a president, vice president, a chairman, and five executive officers. They rule with an iron fist, and what they say goes. They hold supreme power over all the elite, and they hold considerable power and influence within the political system in the US. The current council president is retiring because of ill health, and it’s the first time in twenty years the position is up for election.”
“Father thinks he has a shot at the role,” I surmise.
Drew takes a few mouthfuls of water. “Unfortunately, he has more than a shot at it. He has been campaigning behind the scenes for years which leads some to believe he is behind the current president’s sudden ill health.” Drew shrugs. “I wouldn’t put that past him. But whether he was involved doesn’t matter. He has enough votes on his side to win this thing, and that is something none of us want to see. If they elect him president of the council, he is un-fucking-touchable, and our lives will be a living hell.”
“That’s what this is all about? It’s never been about Manning Motors and the auto-drive program?”
“It’s all connected. Father must tick a lot of boxes. Being a successful businessman at the top of his game is only one part of it. He must have the right contacts. His children must marry well. And, above all, we must obey the rules. You already know it’s frowned upon for females to have sex before marriage. It’s unheard of for the daughter of a president to not be a virgin on her wedding day.”
“Holy shit,” Xavier exclaims, fiddling with his lip ring. “I couldn’t make this shit up if I tried.”
“It’s the most archaic rule of all,” Drew agrees.
“Don’t any of these people realize it’s the twenty-first century and women have equal rights to men?”
“You have heard Father spout that ‘women are weak’ line forever. Except it’s not just a line he throws out there to get a laugh. He genuinely believes that. As do most of the high-ranking men within the elite. They get off on the power they exert over their wives and their daughters. They force their women to do shit no normal husband or father would ever do to their loved one.”
My stomach twists into knots at his inference. I don’t need an overactive imagination to guess some of the stuff he’s implying.
“Is your father aware of this?” Sawyer asks, directing his question to Kai.
“I don’t know, but if I had to guess, I’d say yes.” He taps his fingers off the table, staring off into space. “He was part of that world before they expelled him when Hearst stole everything from him. The guy who originally contacted my father is a member of the elite. Someone he was close to in the past. Another founding father from a different state. But that’s as much as I know, because Dad has painstakingly hidden his identity.” Kai glances at Drew. “All I know is, he has a vested interest in seeing Hearst being taken down. Is it possible this faction lobbying against your father behind the scenes—the group who reached out to my father and Wes—is trying to stop him from assuming the presidential role?”
“They are,” I say. “Charlie pretty much confirmed it to me earlier. He said that’s why his father agreed to help.”
“Now, it’s making more sense,” Sawyer muses.
“I’ve heard rumblings of discontent, but as an heir, I’m not privy to a lot of what goes on,” Drew says. “But the political machinations work in the usual way, and there will always be dissenters despite how popular Father is within the hierarchy.”
“Why is he popular?” I inquire. “Doesn’t anyone see what a psycho he is?”
“Darling, half those assholes are psychos,” Xavier says. “I don’t need to visit Parkhurst to know that.”
“Xavier is right,” Drew says. “They feed on the bullshit he’s buying and lap it up. You’ve got to remember these people are some of the richest, most arrogant bastards in the world, and they thrive on power and control over others. They have no morals and zero remorse. They will do as they please and not feel an ounce of regret. They rule on fear and violence, and most elite in the order are trapped with no way out. I don’t know who makes up this dissenting group, but they’re brave bastards, because if Father finds out, he will annihilate them to make an example.”
“If they are so anal about the rules and traditions, how is it that Father is in the running for this position? He’s only an elite by marriage. Surely, they’d prefer a pure blue blood for the role?”
“They would, but there’s nothing in the rules that says he can’t apply for the position because he is still part of the elite and he is the successor of a founding father by virtue of marriage.”
“Because Mom and Genevieve are no longer alive or because they were women?” I ask, even though I can guess the answer.
“Because they were female.” I shake my head in frustration as Drew shoots me a sympathetic look, while drumming his fingers off the table. “What is unusual is the fact he’s garnered the bulk of the support, but there is little the outgoing president or existing council members can do about it. Majority poll will elect the new president, and Father is the front-runner as it stands.”