( pov Lionel)
Silence.....
The entire room stood up out of respect.
But on their faces you could clearly read, "They were really the last ones to get in, along with Irene."
They have some nerve.
All the classes had their eyes fixed on them but they did not seem concerned, behaving naturally like members.
I step forward and grab Jack by the arm, but before I can do anything more, Iréné stops me.
- wait....
Without saying more
He shook his head slightly and patted me on the shoulder.
"Go back to your seat," he murmured.
Leaving me standing there in the middle of the two.
Heresy had gone ahead and they didn't even witness this scene.
Jack removed my hand and gave me a disdainful look before withdrawing and hastily continuing his heretic work.
Seriously!
I felt heavy and humiliated.
Iréné sat in the center as meeting leader, he took the papers placed on the table and leafed through them without reading too much.
As for me, I slowly made my way to my seat and flopped down on the back of the sofa, eyeing the situation and this hérèse who dared to sit behind us with great displeasure.
Iréné cleared his throat and finally lowered his hand, allowing each of us to take our seats.
"The first topic of this meeting," he murmured nonchalantly.
Silence…..
Everything seemed too tense even though he didn't seem offended; the way others looked at him didn't agree.
No one failed to show them their hostility, to the point of irritating even Iréné .
He tapped the end of the paper, drawing all the tension back towards himself.
"Okay, the reassignment of the 6th A titles," he continued.
– Karime and Himrad respectively resume the titles of deputy chief and chief, thus freeing Parfait and Lionel from their responsibilities
Parfait finally reacted, sitting up in his seat, he placed both elbows on his thighs and grabbed his chin.
My heart kept skipping beats too, and I was getting short of breath.
"Does anyone object to this decision?" asked Irene, slamming the papers on his table.
– YES, he interrupted immediately, parfait
– I impose myself on it
Iréné rolled his eyes, annoyed.
"And why is that?" he asked, almost indifferent to the situation.
Giving power and audacity to Karime, who didn't miss an opportunity to openly mock Parfait
"What does the interim have to say?" he asked.
Making all their supporters laugh
Which is incredibly annoying.
He clenched his jaw, visibly holding back; his anger was only a hair's breadth from exploding.
– This class is mine, they've always been under my command, we don't know these new faces.
It started perfectly, but he was quickly cut off.
– and so, Karime began
Holding back a burst of laughter
Iréné didn't seem to want to intervene or even stop them; he looked tired and desperate.
I was the only one left
"Calm down," I whispered in his ear, but once again he ignored me and even moved forward in his seat.
"I want to claim my place and become legitimate," Parfait asserted.
Iréné sat up automatically, a little more interested.
Karime, for his part, simply smiled slightly, perfectly demonstrating his confidence and calm.
"You know the rules," Iréné said.
– What did you do to keep your title?
Parfait , he straightened up, puffed out his chest, proud
– I already have the resources of the 15th arrondissement, the pleasure district, and I have enormous financial backing; I can even guarantee to bring the public back to our side
But Iréné seemed disappointed; he sighed and slumped back in his seat, putting his feet up on the table.
– You're selling me the bear's skin without having killed it; if that's all you've got, I'd rather choose safety
Laughter erupted in the room.
Parfait stood up, his face wrinkled, his fist clenched.
– I already have everything I'm talking about, I have Raph on my side, she'll give us access to the private club on the coast, those clubs you all want so badly, I can have them-
- stop
cut Iréné
– I don't want a dream, I don't need a dream seller, you couldn't even besiege your 6th opposite and even the few men you have prefer to rally to lost causes.