CHAPTER 3

I'm fighting the urge to tear up, as I stand in front of the vending machine. Luke's words really got to me. It was painful as he was someone I was madly in love with and extremely fond of. The can of sprite comes out, and I pick it. I needed to remind myself constantly that I could not shed even a drop of tear for Luke because I would die, but I would never cry for my father's culprit.

I take my sprite and I begin to find my way around. I needed to find the perfect spot for my new office. As I continue taking a stroll round the company, something catches my eye, someone. I knew that face. I hurry, trying to catch up with this person, but he keeps walking fast. He was dressed rather ruggedly, a beanie on his head, his hair overgrown and in need of trimming.

"You! Wait!" I yell, still chasing after him. As though he realizes someone's after him, he increases his pace and heads for the company's exit. He goes out, and I'm only a few feet behind, but he hails a taxi and gets in. However, he turns his head and my eyes widen in shock, fear and surprise as I see his face. The can of sprite drops from my hand as fear engulfs me and memories come flooding back.

"He planned all of it!" I yell as I pace round the room. Aunt Ruth was on the other side of the call. I needed someone to vent to.

"All of what, darling?"

"Aunt, when I married Luke, a few months later, I was abducted. It was strange, aunt. I had no quarrels with anybody, I did not inherit enemies from anybody and above all, Luke was and is indeed a very powerful man with resources. The manor is always, always guarded heavily, with the best security money can get."

Aunt Ruth gasps, "You were what? For the love of God, why didn't you say a word?"

"Aunt it's been ages. Please, listen." I say. I continue, "I always thought it was strange. Someone in the manor abducted me, and none of the guards saw it. It wasn't recorded on the cameras. No one knew where I was, not even Luke."

"I don't get your point."

"What I'm saying is, I saw the man that kidnapped me today, and seeing him, made me realize one thing. I wasn't kidnapped, aunt, at least not really. There's two things; either the kidnapping was staged, or Luke was behind it all. The question is, to what end? Why would he go that far, aunt?"

"Natalie, my love, you were married to the devil himself. Honey, I believe you should get away from him right away. That man is capable of doing anything."

I laugh. "I can't believe it!" I continue laughing, as I find my way to my chair.

"Natalie?"

I keep at it, laughing continuously. "Lucas Carrington, staged a kidnapping, and as expected, like the prince in a shining armor, he comes and rescues me, the blonde princess in danger!" I say as I laugh.

"Jesus, Natalie? Why are you laughing so much?" Aunt asks.

"That was his plan! I fell in love with him in an instant! It was all part of his plan, and I played along with it like a bloody fool!" I realize. I continue, "I was too happy living a lie, that I never questioned myself. Why was my abductor not arrested? Why wasn't he dealt with? Because he was behind it, so he killed the issue, made it die off."

"Good lord, I mean, I don't even know what to say. Will you confront him? File a suit against him?"

"No, aunt. There's absolutely no need. For every thing I realize Luke did to me, for every time he played me and broke my trust, I will attack him ten times more." I say, as I head to my picture board.

"What will you do?"

"Aunt, there are several things worse than death or jail time even,”I get up from my chair, as I look at his photograph. "First, destroy his name." I say, as I circle out his name.

"Luke has done you so much harm, and now, I can understand why you despise the man so much, but don't forget that this man is capable of doing a lot of damage because he has the resources to. Just how, will you destroy his name?"

"There's two things that's capable of destroying a man, aunt. Hate and love. Lucas hates me and I know that somewhere, deep down, he's still in love with me. That will be my trump card. I'll use that against him."

"Best of luck, my love. Revenge is not of God, but regardless, I pray for your victory and that this path you're treading on, does not become your undoing."

****

Lydia's new home was large. It’s a mansion, filled with beautiful daisies and roses. However, I knew all too well that her life wasn't as rosy as her home was.

"I'd like to see the lady of the house? Um, Lydia?" I say, as I drop Louis on the floor. He looked too adorable with the pacifier in his mouth.

"I'll inform her. Your name, please?" The worker asks.

"Just tell her a long lost friend has arrived.” I say nervously. Lydia and I hadn't spoken since fathers funeral and for that, I knew she was upset with me heavily. Lydia wasn't just any friend, she was the only one I could confide in, tell my secrets to and not have her judge me. She tried to reach out to me severally after the funeral, but I had always ignored her.

"You dyed your hair. I almost didn't recognize you.” I hear and I pick up Louis who's still clapping in his baby hand carrier.

"Lydia. . .” is the only thing I'm able to utter, as nervousness engulfs me.

"You look nervous." Lydia states, in a very mocking tone.

"I'm sorry.” I say, controlling the tears trying to well up in the corners of my eyes. "I swear, I didn't mean to ghost on you or to insult our friendship, or to end the relationship we hav—

"Had. I don't want to have anything to do with you, Natalie.”

"Here's your godson," I say, putting Louis in front of her. I see her eyes glow up. Different emotions running through her face. "Our relationship can never come to an end, Lydia. Not when you're like a mother to my son. I apologize for my behavior. Nothing justifies my behavior, but I'm hoping desperately that you will try to understand why I acted that way.”

She folds her arms, "I was heartbroken, Natalie. You had problems, I was willing to go through them with you. I wanted to offer you my shoulders. I had problems too, and I needed a friend. You let your stinginess come between us.”

"Forgive me, my friend. I can only beg for your forgiveness. I've lost too many people already. I wouldn't be able to bear it if I lost you too.” I say as I hold her arm. "Please.”

She sobs and looks away. "Why did you dye your hair?"

I giggle. She giggles too. We look at one another. "I missed you." I say, as we hug.

"I missed you too, but why did you dye your hair?"

I laugh, "Long story." I respond, as I chuckle.

"Can I hold him?" Lydia asks. I nod, "You need not ask. He’s your godson.” I respond. She holds him, and plays with him. Louis smiles and his tiny growing teeth show as his pacifier moves.

"He's so lovely. So beautiful." She says, as she holds his hand. "Let's go in. We have a lot to catch up on."

***

"So he threw you out in the dead of the night?"

"Not only did he do that, he rejected Louis as his son. He strongly believes that Rocky fathered Louis.”

Lydia gasps, "How could he? I mean the boy is a carbon copy of his father, Luke. Louis looks exactly like him. He's got your brown eyes, but he's got Luke's other features.”

"It hurts, honestly, that Louis took his fathers genes. I wake up every morning and it's like I'm staring at Luke all over again.”

"What a piece of trash.” Lydia concludes.

"Now, it's your turn, tell me, how is your marriage?"

She chuckles, "Marriage? This sham of a marriage?" She laughs. "It's hell." She says, as she sips on her red wine.

"David is incapable of change. I don't know who's worse, him or Luke. How are you coping?"

"If he says he's tough, I’ll show him that I’m just as tough, capable of giving him exactly what he’s dished out to me. I've made his life miserable too, but I'm fed up of this going back and forth of playing games and being deceitful. It gets tiring playing evil icy Queen.”

"Does it?" I ask, thinking about everything I'd done so far.

"It does. Slowly, it consumes you and then there’s no coming back from such darkness, you know?"

"I want to destroy Luke." I say as I look her in the eyes.

She looks shocked, but not surprised. "Did the dye mess with your head?"

I laugh. I look at Louis. My baby is fast asleep. "The dye was just something dramatic, and I think I look much more attractive with dark hair" I say.

"You don't say. Natalie, tell me what you've done, or what you're planning on doing." Lydia says, a smirk on her face. If I knew my friend well, that look on Lydia's face meant only one thing; she wanted in on whatever was going on.

"Hold on, hold on, Lucas raped you and had you kidnapped?" Lydia asks as I give her a detailed explanation of everything that had transpired between Luke and myself.

I nod, remembering the awful day he raped me. If I was any smarter, I'd have known to stay clear of him after he did such a despicable and inhumane thing. "He did."

"Do you have proof of this?"

"I don't, but it's not something he would deny. He can't deny it.” I tell her.

"At first, one would think you were just angry and spiteful, but you really have to teach this man a lesson. David is terrible, believe me, not as terrible as this.”

"I am spiteful. I was once so innocent and full of love, but now, I'm just filled with hate, rage and anger.”

Lydia holds my hands, a gesture stating that she was indeed with me and understood how I was feeling. "What do you want to do now?"

"I'd need your help for that, Lydia. The first step in my plan is to ruin his name. Rub his name in the mud so much, that people begin to wonder who he really is.”

"What can I do?"

"Throw a party," I respond. Soirées were thrown regularly in London, by the rich and powerful. It was a medium through which people who could boast of not only owning designer clothes or multiple mansions. It was where people came to boast and make talk about how much their new jets and yachts costs, about how their spouses gifted them sapphire and diamonds. "David and Lucas, they went through with their business plans, yes?" I ask

"Yes, they did.”

"Good. That should be good enough a guise. Invite Luke alone. If Laurel comes, she might disrupt my plans.”

"Laurel? The help?"

I chuckle, "She's more than just a help now, Lydia. Luke and her are together.”

"You know, I always knew there was something off about that girl. I know a fox when I see one."

"In my own way, she will pay too. She set a few thing in motion. I hold her responsible for a few things too. She played a huge role in my fathers death."

"Give me more details on what you want this party to be like. Any suggestions? Dress up? Masquerade party? Costume party?"

"Just a very, very normal party, my friend. A normal party with lots of people and lots of booze. They will be witnesses to what'll transpire between Luke and I.”

"Give me a date, and I'll plan everything accordingly." Lydia says, a mischievous smile on her face.

"Tomorrow's Sunday, so in six days. Saturday evening will do just fine.”

Lydia nods, and gives a small smile.