The Blackmail® [Complete]

Chapter Twenty-one

"Ovian? I need to ask you something." I said as we watched television together. We had just finished dinner and we were relaxing before we go for bed or I go for bed. He said he had some work to do in his study.

"What is it?"

"I read somewhere that Charlotte's grandfather was one of the seven on the council. Is it true?"

He nodded. "I think so. Why are you asking? Do you want to join?" He looked amused.

I stared at the TV. "Can a woman join?"

"Not sure but nothing in the constitution states otherwise and no woman has ever joined."

"Why?"

"The obvious?" At my blank expression, he said, 'They don't have the necessary education to be a part of such an elite body."

I roll my eyes. "And whose fault is that?"

Ovian chuckled. "I know you an idealist, baby. But these things are dicey."

"Ovian, how would you feel if your daughter only has a high school education. No standard education, even standard two!" Higher forms of education are called Standards of different levels for different professions. We had standards up to five on various fields of study.

He shook his head. "Baby, I know you want to reform the laws to give the girl child more opportunities than is given to them right now-"

I gasped. "How did you know?"

He smiled. "I have read your jottings."

I was about to protest when he said, "I am sorry I did. I was actually looking for a writing pad and I didn't want to go to my study so I took yours. That's how I found out. I didn't mean to snoop."

"Yeah you didn't." I said folding my arms over my chest.

"My father is old, and weak. For a very long time, he left the reigns of the Republic to the hands of the Seven and ever since they have been the ones ruling. The same happened with his father. So if you are going to fight that battle, it will be long and dreadful because those old men will make sure of that. And Lahran," he sighed. "Lahran doesn't want to be king. His mother is the one pushing him and he doesn't have the guts to say no. So I doubt if he will be any different from father."

I sighed. "May I ask another question?"

He nodded, looking at the time.

"How... May I know how much money I have at my disposal?" I ask fidgeting with the bottom of my shirt.

Ovian chuckled. "A lot actually. If you had bothered to check your bank statements, you will realise that Charlotte's father's estate is now in your name. And my generous father has released his accounts and they are all yours now. You are a very rich woman, Tania." 

My eyes went wide. Oh my!

Ovian chuckled again, he looked at his watch again, "I have to leave now." He says.

I simply nodded. I was still dumbfounded by the news he just gave me. He leaned down and gave me a kiss on my forehead. "I will see you in the morning." And he walked out of the living room.

Immediately he left, I picked up my phone and called Taylor. A few minutes later, she was in my quarters.

"Wow!" She exclaims as soon I told her what Ovian had said. "Wow!" She said again.

"Taylor, I want to create a foundation. I want to use the foundation as a platform to begin a campaign for female advanced literacy and marriage reforms." I said pacing the room. My head was swimming with ideas. Finally, I can make a difference. I didn't care what Ovian had said about the challenges I will face but what good is a cause without challenges?