LOVE, LIES AND REVENGE

CHAPTER 3

I think I might do something about it,” Andre says to his brother, Luke, gobbling spoonfuls of cereal into his mouth.

Luke continued with his own bowl of cereal, savoring every spoon he took. His expression remained blank, his eyes fixed on some distant point as if Andre was never there.

"I mean, I have to, right?” Andre kept talking, undeterred by Luke's obvious disinterest. Seemingly oblivious to the fact that he was essentially talking to himself, he continued to speak over Luke’s silence. "We all know that the dealt with Mr. Smith’s company is a done deal. She’s coming to drop some documents with me in my office later, and that’s when I’ll make my move!”

"Bro, what are you even talking about?” Luke finally breaks silence. "I’m pretty sure you can tell that I’m more interested in this cereal than anything going on in your life.”

"The secretary, little one, the secretary! After we got acquainted the other day, we had one of the best conversations I’ve ever had in a while” Andre replies, his voice dripping with a little bit of excitement.

Luke looked up at Andre, his gaze finally drifting away from the bowl of cereal he had on the table, giving Andre a moment of attention.”Dude, do you intend on sleeping with everything in a skirt?” Luke asked, with the feeling that he already knew what the answer was going to be..

"Well…once that skirt is classy with a great body beneath, what’s the harm?” Andre replies with confidence, his smile laced with a healthy dose of arrogance, as if daring anyone to question his abilities.

"You’re aware that she’s the secretary of Mr. Smith, making them both our soon-to-be partners.

"I mean, that might be a little problem if I’m looking for more. Plus, people don’t really have to know if we’re involved”.

"You’re disgusting,” Luke replies, shaking his head, as he drops his dirty dish on the kitchen sink, exiting the kitchen. "She must be pretty shallow if she falls for your tricks."

***************

Meanwhile, at Sarah’s apartment. She stood in front of the mirror trying to motivate herself.

She took a deep breath, her gaze tracing the lines of her face, the curve of her jaw, and the set of her shoulders. She searched for any sign of weakness, any hint of doubt that could undermine her resolve.

"Come on, Sarah," she whispered to herself, her voice low and urgent. "You can do this. You have to do this. Remember that they were the ones that took your husband from you."

She straightened her shoulders, her eyes flashing with a fierce inner light. She thought of all the injustices she had suffered, all the wounds she had endured, and her jaw clenched in anger.

"It’s been two years now, you’ve managed to get yourself into one of the biggest companies in Bozeman. There is no backing down now that you’ve come across the core of your plan,” she said, moving closer to the mirror.

"You have to get into that family by seducing Andre. That’s the ONLY way!”

She raised her chin, her eyes burning with a fierce determination. She could feel the weight of her revenge settling onto her shoulders, and she welcomed it. She was ready to carry it, to see it through to its bitter end.

"Bambi!, are you done there?” Sonia exclaimed through the other side of the door.

Sonia notices Sarah's transformation into a corporate powerhouse and is nothing short of stunning, as Sarah walks out of the bathroom.

Her dress and demeanor is a perfect blend of professionalism and allure. The red dress was a bold choice for a corporate event, its fitted silhouette and short hemline pushing the boundaries of professional attire.

She cannot help but admire Sarah’s beauty, but her smile falters when she remembers that the slutty-corporate stunning look from Sarah could only mean one thing.

"So you're really going to go through with this?” Sonia asks, already knowing what Sarah’s response would be.

"Babe, please don’t start, I’ve made up my mind."

"I’m not starting anything. I just don’t want you doing anything you’ll regret.”

It was too late for Sonia to talk Sarah out of such a plan. She hoped that her support would help Sarah find a more constructive path forward even though she had doubts about the plan’s wisdom.

Sonia let out a weighted sigh, her breath escaped slowly, carrying the burden of her thoughts and emotions. "You know if this all goes accordingly, you’ll have to s...”

"I know Sonn, I know.” Sarah interrupts, acknowledging the potential consequences but chooses to proceed anyway. Her face set in a determined mask, her eyes burned with a fierce intensity.

After a lifetime of doing the right thing, Sonia felt that Sarah deserved some leeway to make mistakes or take a less-than-ideal path without judgment. She recognized that even someone as kind and selfless as Sarah needs room to make mistakes, act impulsively, or prioritize their own needs, even if it means doing something wrong.

"Alright. I’ll drive you” Sonia replied, picking up her car keys from the table.

***************

Andre and Sarah wrapped up their 15-minute meeting over at his office.

The partnership agreement, freshly signed and sealed, lay between them. Sarah pulled out a stack of papers, her eyes scanning the documents.

A brief silence fell over them, punctuated only by the soft hum of the air conditioning and the quiet rustle of papers being gathered. Andre was waiting for the right time to say something.

"I don’t see a ring on your finger,” Andre said, introducing the topic like it was an appropriate conversation.

"Way to break the ice, Mr. Wilde” Sarah said, uninterested, her tone polite but unenthusiastic.

Andre smiled, enjoying the fact that Sarah spoke like she didn’t care who was standing in front of her. "I’m just saying. It must feel lonely if you had no one to go home to, after a long day at the office”.

This felt different for Andre, more like a challenge, and he was enjoying every bit of it.

"Mr. Wilde, if you have something to say, just go ahead and say it. We’re both adults here,” Sarah responds quickly, clearly focused on getting the documents in order for her leave.

Andre got up slowly from where he sat, as he pondered his unexpected nervousness. He felt like a rookie again, his usual confidence wavering. He had asked women out before, effortlessly charming them with his quick wit and disarming smile. But Sarah was different, he knew how different she was and this felt unexpectedly exciting.

"What I’m trying to say is…you do not have to go home to an empty apartment."

"Do you really think this is an appropriate work conversation, Mr? Wi…”

Please refer to me as just Andre. We’re partners now,” Andre interrupts, with a slightly playful and mischievous smile.

Sarah lets out a tiny, almost imperceptible exhalation. "Alright ANDRE. Do you hit on all your new female PARTNERS this way?”

Surprised by how direct Sarah was being, Andre couldn’t have wanted her more.

Andre’s voice got deeper as he walked up to Sarah, closing the distance between them a little. "I have a place…an apartment, a small one where we could go relax for a bit."

Sarah stood, not moving an inch, holding her bag that had been packed to go, surprised at what a predictable character Andre was. "This is going to make this part of my plan easy,” she thought to herself.

"I want to know you better, Sarah, and I won’t be able to go that at just any place,” Andre continued. "I can’t have people watching me…I’m sure you’re aware of how it would play out if we’re in a public place”.

Observing that Andre was done with what he had to say, Sarah moved closer to Andre, her eyes locked on his. She closes the distance between them with a confident air, her body language screaming, "I'm in control here."

"Time and place, ANDRE, and I’ll be there.” Sarah’s response is brief and enigmatic. With that, she turns on her heel and walks out of the office, her movements fluid and purposeful.

As she strides towards the door, she effortlessly gathers her belongings — her bag, her jacket, her phone — without breaking her stride or looking back.

Without being given the chance to say any other thing, Andre stands frozen, his eyes fixed on the door through which Sarah vanishes. He feels a mix of emotions swirling inside him: surprise, intrigue, and a hint of excitement. Her enigmatic response and confident departure have left him wanting more. He feels a thrill of anticipation, his mind racing with possibilities.

Sarah exits the office, lost in thought and still savoring the exchange with Andre, she fails to notice the person standing in the hallway. Her eyes fixed on some point ahead, she rounded a corner and collided with a tall frame. Apologetic, she looks up to meet the gaze of a stranger — Luke.

Luke, caught off guard by the sudden impact, steadied Sarah with a firm hand on her elbow, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiled. "Whoa, easy there! You okay?" he asks, his deep voice warm and friendly.

"I….” Sarah, completely lost by the kind smile she noticed in front of her, was unable to reply. Something about his voice, his eyes, his smile felt warm, calm, and very different.

As Sarah stood frozen, unsure of how to respond to Luke’s words, as sudden presence loomed behind him. "Move Lady!” A commanding tone came from a strange voice behind Luke.

Stephanie Wilde, Luke and Andre’s sister, emerged from the shadows, her eyes flashing with fierce intensity, stepping up beside Luke.

Sarah couldn’t help but notice one thing.

The bright red jacket she saw during her late husband’s funeral, Stephanie happened to be wearing this jacket.