Up in the Heir (eBook)
176 Seiten
Bookbaby (Verlag)
979-8-3509-6763-0 (ISBN)
Personal History Avé's story begins in a culturally rich and diverse background, born as the middle child of three. With African American and Native American heritage, Avé grew up in a Christian household predominantly second-generation Jamaican-American. This melting pot of cultures and traditions played a significant role in shaping Avé's identity and values. Avé's journey of self-discovery and acceptance was fraught with difficulties, including severe bullying in middle school and physical attacks in high school. Outed as gay to their family in 2011, Avé grew distant from their immediate family. This period of isolation and resilience culminated in Avé's proud declaration of their nonbinary identity in 2018, which garnered support from other family members. Academic and Professional Achievements Avé's academic pursuits reflect a blend of creativity and business acumen. They attended Temple University, graduating with a BA in Theater and a Certificate in Entrepreneurial and Innovation Management. Their studies spanned dance, voice (singing), acting, portraiture, and costume design, laying a strong foundation for a multifaceted career in the arts. Following a serious car accident that led to significant weight gain and subsequent body image issues, Avé embarked on a journey of fitness and health. This personal victory underscores Avé's resilience and determination to overcome life's challenges. Furthering their education, Avé attended Hult International Business School in London, earning a Master's in International Business with a focus on marketing. Their academic journey continues at Drexel University, where they are pursuing an Executive Doctorate in Business Administration, expected in 2026. Musical and Artistic Endeavors Avé's passion for music and performance began at a young age, singing in church at six and performing with the Philadelphia Boys Choir from 2005 to 2011. Their talent took them on tours to Panama, Costa Rica, Turkey, Greece, Spain, Germany, and China, enriching their cultural experiences and honing their craft. Adopting the stage name 'Matt Edwards' early in their solo career, Avé released their first independent album, 'The Real ME,' in 2012 and founded Stork Street Entertainment, LLC. Their second album, 'SpelChek,' released in 2015, saw a halt in promotion as Avé prioritized caring for their grandmother with a chronic illness. They also published their first play, 'Every Knee Shall Bow,' for the Nayar Kappur Play Festival at Temple University. In a significant rebranding to embrace their nonbinary identity, Avé changed their stage name to 'Avé' and signed with The Giving Groove. This new chapter in their career saw the release of music and videos in 2020, including 'Your Heart Belongs to Somebody Else,' 'Dance,' 'Dive In My Ocean,' and 'How Come.' Their 2022 release, 'Mind Your Business,' and the EP 'The Enlightenment' further solidified Avé's presence in the music industry. Literary Contributions Avé's creative talents extend beyond music and performance into literature. They have published the 'Heir' series, with 'Heir Apparently' released in January 2021 and 'Up in the Heir' scheduled for publication in 2024. This venture into writing showcases Avé's versatility and commitment to storytelling across different mediums. Vision for the Future Avé's vision for their career is deeply rooted in authenticity and empowerment. They aspire to be known as an artist true to themselves, inspiring others to embrace their identities with or without external support. Through music, dance, and fashion, Avé aims to convey self-love, particularly within the LGBT community. Looking ahead, Avé envisions a future as a touring performer, with aspirations to expand into film and literature.
In the riveting second installment of the Heir series, Up In the Heir, the delicate balance of power within the royal family is about to be upended. The Monarch finds themselves navigating treacherous political waters as a closely guarded secret threatens to unravel the fabric of the kingdom. A shocking revelation about a royal pregnancy sets off a chain of events that pits family loyalty against the unyielding demands of the throne. With the legitimacy of the heir apparent hanging by a thread, The Monarch must forge a bold plan to protect the future of the monarchy. As whispers of dissent grow louder, alliances are tested, and enemies emerge from the shadows, The Monarch must rely on wit and wisdom to steer the kingdom through a storm of controversy. Will they be able to safeguard their family and uphold their duty, or will the crown slip from their grasp?Up In the Heir is a tale of intrigue, sacrifice, and the relentless pursuit of power that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. Dive into a world where every decision carries the weight of the kingdom, and every secret has the power to change history.
Chapter 1
BOOOOOOOM! The low rumble of thunder accompanied by the steady symphony of raindrops attempted to lull Victor to sleep but his mind refused to allow it. He tightly squeezed the pillow beneath his head to find comfort but it failed to do him any good. Victor rolled over to find the back of his husband’s head. He slid his arm under the covers and across Vince’s muscular torso to squeeze him as he did the pillow. This time, he felt some of the tension in his shoulders and neck release but not enough. Still asleep, the prince consort slid his arm from under Victor’s and pulled his spouse into a slumbered embrace. Victor loved when his consort did that; it made him feel desired in a way he wasn’t quite used to yet.
The young monarch laid still, patiently waiting to fall asleep but as the hours passed, he became restless. The frequent fidgeting stole Vince’s sleep as well.
“Victor, rest yourself. Please.”
“I’m trying,” Victor snapped in a loud whisper.
Without opening his eyes, the prince consort rolled over onto his back, wrapped one arm around the smaller man, and pinned Victor to his chest. “What’s wrong?” He sighed, hoping a dissertation wouldn’t follow.
“Everything,” Victor replied.
Vince sighed again and peaked at the clock which read 6:58:01. “Two minutes and then you can tell me all about the ‘everything’.”
Victor buried his face into his lover’s T-shirt. “That’s just it! I can’t tell you.”
“You can tell me anything, honey.”
“No, I can’t. Nothing.”
“You can tell me nothing about the ‘everything’ that’s bothering you in a minute and forty seconds.”
Victor stared blankly at the wall. “What?”
Vince snickered, “Nothing.”
Victor playfully nudged the older of the two’s side.
“Hey,” Vince flinched. “I still have 58 seconds.”
Vince pretended to sleep as Victor rested his head on his chest.
As they enjoyed the silent embrace, Victor whispered, “Thank you!”
“Shhhh,” Vince teased, blindly raising one finger to Victor’s face.
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! B-
Vince silenced the alarm with a heavy smack. “Okay, thank you for what?”
Victor lifted to rest his head on his hand. “For loving me.”
Vince leaned forward and planted a soft kiss on the tip of Victor’s nose. “Anytime!”
A knock rapped at the door pulling the royal couple out of their somewhat happy bubble. Victor called out, “One moment!”
The king climbed out of bed and slipped his feet into a pair of blue slides to match the color of his silk pajamas set. He walked over to the door and opened it. “Good morning, Ms. Castor.”
“Your Majesty. Your Royal Highness.”
“Good morning,” Vince said sleepily with his arm stretched over his eyes to block out the light spilling in from the sitting room.
“Your suit is waiting in the closet and Ms. Zhang is here in the Sitting Room for you when you are ready, sir.”
Victor furrowed his brow. “Already?” The royal dresser nodded in silence, to which he replied, “Alright, thanks. I’ll get dressed first. Please ask Ms. Zhang to meet me in my office instead.”
“Sir,” the middle-aged woman curtsied and backed out of the doorway.
Victor closed the door and sighed deeply. “And it all starts again.” He walked into the bathroom and turned on the shower. Slowly undressing, he stared at himself in the mirror noticing dark circles beginning to form beneath his eyes. Once his lungs grew aware of the growing steam, he stepped into the shower. Victor rested his arms against the glass walls of the shower he’d had installed shortly after moving into the Crown Suite, among other renovations to modernize the State Palace. He allowed the hot water to massage his back and shoulders, though it was no comparison to his husband’s magic massages. He wanted to ask Vince to come and massage his back but guilt for keeping him awake changed his mind. His focus softened as his mind turned inward to his ever-regenerating To-Do list. His eyes began to close as sleep crept over him finally, however, his hands slipped further down the glass forcing him to brace for the fall. After stabilizing himself, Victor grabbed the soap and washed his body quickly. He knew he didn’t have a lot of time this morning because of the meetings on his schedule.
Once clean, he turned off the shower and dried his body. Victor stepped into a pair of black boxer briefs, wrapped the towel around himself, and went to the dressing room where the Royal Dresser awaited him. She handed him a pair of blue trousers. “Thank you, Ms. Castor,” the king said, as he took them and put them on.
Eileen Castor was the new royal dresser, hand-picked by the young king. Most of the other courtiers were surprised by this choice on account of her age, but she had a way of merging modern fashion and ancient royal protocol, a trait that Victor felt would serve him well given his own age. Once in the suit, Victor put on his watch and checked himself in the mirror. “Ms. Castor?”
“Yes, Your Majesty?”
Victor cringed slightly. He still wasn’t used to the title, as it triggered memories of his grandmother at the most inconvenient moments. He forced his feelings aside for the moment and began removing the red tie. “I think I’d prefer a black tie again today.”
They traded ties and he put the new one on. She folded the red tie neatly and placed it in the drawer filled with nearly 50 other ties, each one a different hue. “Sir, I don’t mean to rush you but it’s almost 7:30. You don’t want to be late to your eight o’clock meeting and you still have to meet with Ms. Zhang first.”
“Late?” he chuckled to himself as he took one last look in the mirror. He went back into the bedroom to retrieve his cell phone and raced off into the hallway.
King Victor masterfully navigated the corridors, finally settling at the vestibule just outside of the Crown Office. The private secretary to the Sovereign, Mo Li Zhang, stood up behind her desk and curtsied as if it were a habit. “Your Majesty,” she addressed him using the same title she’d used for Victor’s grandmother for her last 5 years on the throne. Out of all the staff that is customarily replaced with every new monarch, the private secretary to the Sovereign was not one of them.
Once again, Victor tried to mask his resistance to the title by smiling largely. “Ms. Zhang. How are you this morning?”
“I’m well, sir,” the private secretary replied. “If it’s alright with you, I’d like to discuss a few things that are a priority before you start your morning.”
“Yes, yes. Come inside,” the king replied, continuing into the Crown Office. She followed him in and closed the door behind them. His Majesty looked at the desk and was assaulted by more memories. According to his mind’s eye, Queen Margaret sat once again in the chair looking at him with one of her comforting smiles that only few knew well. A pang of sadness gave yet another reminder of the hole in his heart, which threatened to overflow his eyes with tears.
Mo Li looked at the frozen young king and studied his stillness. “Sir?” Victor snapped back to the reality of the empty chair, remaining still. “Are you alright?”
“Yes. I’m fine, I just need my morning coffee,” he replied before drawing in a deep, meditative breath. Victor shoved all of his feelings back into their respective boxes and walked around the desk. He slowly descended into the tall, brown leather chair and folded his hands in front of him. “What did you need to discuss with me?”
Mo Li cleared her throat, making a mental note to check in on him later that day. “Firstly, we have an emergency meeting with the director of the National Intelligence Bureau. In that meeting, you will discuss some updates on active operations.”
“Yes, I know about that already.”
“Good. Also, the director has notified my office that he intends to bring to Your Majesty’s attention a sensitive matter that he deems highly credible…”
The king studied his private secretary’s face. “Am I to assume that you don’t agree with this assessment?”
“Yes, sir. That would be an accurate assumption.”
“Well,” he paused, “What is it about?”
Mo Li hesitated, trying desperately to hold her tongue. “I think it’d be best if you heard it from the director.”
Victor leaned on the arm of the chair, “Very well. Is that all?”
“No,...
| Erscheint lt. Verlag | 6.9.2024 |
|---|---|
| Sprache | englisch |
| Themenwelt | Literatur ► Romane / Erzählungen |
| ISBN-13 | 979-8-3509-6763-0 / 9798350967630 |
| Informationen gemäß Produktsicherheitsverordnung (GPSR) | |
| Haben Sie eine Frage zum Produkt? |
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