Chapter 8 Another Ruse
THIRD PERSON’S POV.
Jonathan sped to the Gregory estate,driving well above the speed limit but he didn’t care.
The only times he had ever been to the house were the nights Clara had snuck him in through the back gate, and the few occasions Serena had been bold enough to let him drop her off inside the compound. But this time was different.Horace Gregory himself had summoned him, he knew better than to think of it as an invitation,it was a summons and he had no idea what to expect.
Horace was a dangerous man feared by everybody in the country. But Jonathan knew that Horace wasn’t just dangerous, he was also deadly, he knew about his affiliations with the mafia and the underworld.So while others feared him, Jonathan was royally terrified.
As he raced down the road, a million thoughts flooded his mind.Serena’s call and her promise to “save them”,Clara’s hurried,hushed voice when he’d called earlier, and then her sudden call an hour later asking him to come to the house. It was deeply unnerving and he didn’t know what to think. The only thing he was sure about was that Serena had told her family about their relationship and it hadn’t ended well.
Not long after the tall iron gates stood before him. There was a metallic clink, and the gates opened wide.Jonathan hesitated for a moment. He wasn’t sure if walking through those gates would save him…or destroy him.
Jonathan pulled into the estate’s parking area and stepped out, straightening his jacket as he made his way toward the grand oak doors.
“Mr. Hales,” came the butler’s baritone voice before he could knock. “Mr. Horace has asked that you meet him in the greenhouse.”
He extended a gloved hand toward the path. “Right this way, sir.”
The greenhouse was breathtaking, an architectural marvel that mirrored the elegance of every corner of the Gregory estate.
It was easy to imagine it transformed,filled with flowers, music, and laughter for one of the Gregorys’ private weddings or candlelit soirées. But the beauty of the space seemed to fade the moment Jonathan’s eyes found Horace Gregory, seated calmly on one of the chairs in the sitting area, his presence turning the golden light cold.
“Sit”, Horace commanded, pointing to an empty chair beside Clara, who was seated rather calmly. Jonathan wondered why she was so relaxed and free in her fathers presence, he also noted that Serena was nowhere in sight and for some reason that unnerved him even more. He took the seat, trying to mask the unease.
“Good evening Mr Gregory, you have a very beautiful home”.
Horace raised a hand,cutting him off “I didn’t call you here for small talk”, he paused letting the silence stretch until Jonathan was forced to meet his gaze. “Clara tells me two have come up with a brilliant plan to steal Serena’s inheritance”.
Jonathan tensed, his eyes shifted instantly to Clara.
“Relax”, Horace said, a low throaty laugh escaping his lips "I'm on your side. Amusement tugging his lip “now tell me more about this plan of yours”.
Clara and Jonathan exchanged a glance., Clara shrugged.she had never heard her father laugh like that before, it wasn’t the forced, performative kind he used at business dinners, this laugh sounded genuine, she found that unsettling.
Jonathan cleared his throat, then began recounting describing the scheme , step by step repeating everything Clara had earlier described to him. Horace listened in silence only occasionally swirling the tea in his cup.
When Jonathan finished, Horace straightened in his chair and took a slow sip. “Well,” he finally said, “that’s very amateur.” His tone turned sharp, “but I suppose that’s what happens when children dabble in adult affairs.”
He pointed at Jonathan, his voice cool and deliberate, “whatever plan you thought you had,forget it. From now on, we’ll do things my way”.
Horace lit a cigar, the smell of tobacco instantly overpowering the greenhouse’s floral air. He wasn’t supposed to smoke there but who would dare tell him otherwise? After a few slow puffs, he exhaled, the smoke curling towards the glass ceiling.
“You and Clara will be married in two weeks,” he said evenly. “Right here,in the greenhouse. This place has hosted some of the family’s most important ceremonies so it’s only fitting”.
Jonathan hesitated then raised a hand instinctively, as if asking permission. Horace’s eyes narrowed at him in disgust.
“You don’t have to raise your hand to speak, boy. This isn’t a classroom”.
“Sorry sir”, Jonathan apologized “it’s just, there’s no way we can get married with Serena around. She would never allow it”.
“That’s true daddy”, Clara interjected smoothly, a faint smile plastered at her lips “Serena would rather die than let her sweet Jonathan marry someone else, especially me.”
“That’s why Serena will be removed from the picture”. Horace said calmly.
Jonathan’s jaw slacked as the words landed.
Horace scoffed “calm down, I’m not saying we are going to kill her”, he rolled his eyes “ we are going to send her on a little vacation to Italy “.
Clara tilted her head, “But daddy, will she agree to that?”.
“That’s where wonder boy here comes in”, Horace chuckled, the sound low and amused. “Time to put that face of yours to good use boy.”
As if on cue, the double doors of the greenhouse swung open and Serena stepped in. She paused as she took in the scene, her sister, Jonathan and the smoke, her eyes narrowed in confusion.
“I knew it was your car I saw in the parking area,” she said, frowning, “what are you doing here… with them?”.”
Jonathan shot to his feet, like he had been caught doing something he shouldn’t. Before he could speak Horace’s voice cut in.
“Serena, welcome, I was just about to send for you”.
“Why?” Her tone was wary, the suspicion evident on her face.
Horace leaned back in his chair, “I was just discussing with Jonathan here. You’ve been through a lot these last few days, so we decided you deserve a break, we planned a little vacation for you”.
“A vacation?” Serena repeated in disbelief, “You think traveling is what’s on my mind right now?”.
“Yes”, Horace said flatly. “ You need something to clear your head, and I need some time to get to know your fiancé.” He gestured lazily toward Jonathan.
“Serena,” Clara began softly “you know I care about your wellbeing. I’m a mental health advocate and yours is…. Well in shambles right now. Take this trip, I wouldn’t want you to spiral into depression “ She reached for Serena’s arm, stroking it reassuringly.
Serena brushed her off lightly, “Clara, I don’t want to go on a trip”.
Horace rose slowly, and walked up to her, deliberate with his steps, “I’m sorry” he said, his voice low but firm. “Perhaps this came off as a suggestion”, he stepped closer, his shadow falling across her face. “It's not. This is an order. You are leaving for Italy the day after tomorrow.”
Serena tried to argue again but Jonathan’s voice interrupted gently, she stilled, her eyes softening.
“It’s okay babe”. He reached for her hands, his touch tender, “I really think this trip will do you a lot of good”, His thumb brushed over her knuckles ever so gently, his smile disarming “ And I’ll come join you immediately I close this deal with the new investors, it will be like a mini honeymoon”.
Something in his tone convinced her, the fight in her dimmed, She inhaled slowly, then nodded.
“Does this mean you’ve agreed to our engagement?” She asked Horace, hope flickering across her face.
Horace reclined in his chair, lighting his cigar again, with precision,“it means” he said through a curl of smoke, “ I’ll consider it.”
Serena smiled.
In the coming days, Serena would come to understand the cruelty of that night. She would realize that her own father had looked her in the eyes and lied without flinching.That this round table meeting was not to plan her future but to finalize her downfall. And when the truth finally surfaced, she would see that every soul in that room, people she had once loved and trusted with her life had been sharpening the knives behind her back and the discovery would break her in ways she would never return from.