Chapter 28 Change Of Plans
Lucas’s POV
The silence in my home office was heavy and It felt like the air was being squeezed out.
I didn't even bother turning on the lights, I just sat there and the only glow came from the amber liquid in my glass and the blue flickering light of the television on the wall.
On the screen, the news played on and on like a broken tape. Every channel was reporting only one news story. “MAYOR MONROE WELCOMES LONG-LOST DAUGHTER.” “THE HEIRESS RETURNS.” “EVA VALENTE: THE NEW FACE OF THE MONROE LEGACY.”
“Fuck!” I let out a growl of frustration and threw my glass across the room.
CRASH!
It shattered against the bookshelf, and the expensive scotch soaked into my books, but I didn't care. I felt like a man on a sinking ship, watching the lifeboats drift away.
Everything was a mess at the moment…A complete disaster.
BANG!
I slammed my fists onto the desk and it caused the wood to vibrate. Just two days ago, I was still the king of this city. I had a Mayor in my pocket, a beautiful girl on my arm, and a clear path to a billion-dollar empire.
And now? Now, I was a man who had left his girlfriend on the side of the road and was watching a stranger take everything I worked for.
"Damn it!" I hissed and roughly ran my fingers through my hair.
I felt a sharp wave of panic and It started in my gut, then slowly crawled up my throat like a cold hand. If Eva took the top spot, Haley would become completely broke and useless.
Her mother is also another completely useless fool. The plan I had built my whole future on was nothing more than a scrap of paper now. I had traded Bella for a crown, and now that crown was being handed to someone else.
The door to the office creaked open and I didn't have to look up to know who it was. I could smell her perfume.
Sasha.
She had been avoiding me for days now, ever since I stood on that stage and told the world she was crazy, she had stayed locked in her room. But now, she was standing in the doorway, staring at the TV.
"I saw the news, Lucas," she said, her voice was flat and emotionless. She walked into the room, stepping over the broken glass. "It’s all over the internet. The Mayor officially recognized her. He’s moving her into the West Wing today of their mansion, which even Haley can't enter."
I took a huge gulp of whiskey straight from the bottle. The burn was the only thing that made me feel real. "I know, Sasha. I was there and I saw everything."
"And what will you do now?" Sasha asked. She leaned against the edge of my desk. There was a mean look in her eyes. "It’s pretty obvious that Haley is just a wannabe heiress now and she’s a fake. The moment that girl Eva walked in, Haley became invisible."
I let out a frustrated breath. "You think I don't know that? I spent the night in a hotel because I couldn't stand Haley’s voice. She’s falling apart, Sasha. She’s crying about 'love' while our whole plan is burning down."
"Then stop looking at the fire and start looking for a way out," Sasha said.
I frowned at her. "What do you mean?"
Sasha crossed her arms. I knew she hated Haley and she hadn't forgiven Haley for making her look insane at the press conference. Haley had tried to ruin Sasha to save me, and Sasha never forgets a grudge.
"I mean we should get on the winning side, Lucas," Sasha said. "The side that actually has the money. Why are we sticking with a sinking ship like Haley? She has nothing now…Her father doesn't even look at her."
I squinted at her. My mind was foggy from the alcohol. "Get on the winning side? You want me to jump to Eva?"
"Exactly," Sasha said with a slow smile. "Get on the good side of the real heiress…Get close to Eva Valente."
I let out a dry laugh. "Are you crazy? Eva looks at me like I’m a bug she wants to step on. And Haley... Haley would lose her mind. She knows too much, Sasha. She knows about the Ricci deal and about... Bella."
Sasha leaned in close, her eyes were narrow. "Haley is weak, Lucas. And she’s too emotional…But Eva? Eva is a power player and definitely the one who will get the keys to the city."
"It's not that simple," I argued, as the panic was slowly coming back. "Eva doesn't trust anyone from my observations…She’s a wall of ice."
"Everyone has a weakness, Lucas," Sasha whispered. She patted my hand and I noticed that her touch was cold. "And I’m good at finding them, so leave it to me. I know exactly how to get on Eva’s good side. I’ll play the 'victim.' and tell her how you treated me, how Haley manipulated us... I’ll make her think I’m her friend."
I looked at my sister, she looked as cold and greedy as I felt. She wasn't just doing this for the family, she wanted revenge on Haley. And she wanted to stand next to the person with the real power.
The anger in my chest started to cool down and it turned into something more focused. If Sasha could get us in with Eva, then maybe we weren't finished. I didn't care about Haley’s feelings or her tears. I cared about the Monroe billions and the power and connections that come with the name.
"You really think you can do it?" I asked.
My voice was low. "She’s smart, Sasha…and might see through a lie."
"She’s just a girl, Lucas," Sasha replied. She sounded very confident. "She’s a girl who grew up without a father. She’ll want friends and also someone who understands what it’s like to be an outsider…I can be that person."
I stood up and the alcohol was making me feel powerful again. I walked to the window and looked at the city lights.
I turned back to Sasha and nodded. The fear was still there, but my ambition was bigger and it was the only thing that ever mattered to me.
"Fine," I said to her with a calm voice.
"Do it…Get close to her and find out what she wants, find out what she’s afraid of, and make her trust you."
I picked up the whiskey bottle and held it up like a toast.
"Because if you can pull this off, Sasha," I said, my eyes full of hunger, "then our plans to take the Monroe wealth will be back on track. And this time, no one will stand in my way."