A Shrew's Revenge

Chapter 4

Nora couldn't believe the things that were going on. The days were going by quickly and Nora felt almost as if she was floating around in some sort of romantic comedy themed dream.

Brian had lunch with her every single day and told her all about the business and how much he loved it. She felt like she knew so much about him. He told her about his sports clubs in school and his dreams for building the companies.

Everyday he showed up with a new gift for her, flowers, candy and sometimes even fresh baked bread. Then he'd call in the afternoons just to check in and see how she was doing.

For Nora it was insane that someone like him could be so interested in her- Yes, there was the merger, but her father said he had made it clear the merger was already a done deal so he had no real reason to be this nice.

Little by little, Nora had begun to convince herself that maybe, he did care for her.

Today, she was aware that Brian and his father would be coming over for dinner and so she went out to find something special to wear. It was always the same when Nora when shopping, she would pick out something she thought would work fine and then end up putting it back when she heard people whispering. But today she would find something and she wouldn't care what anybody said. She was determined and that's how she'd walked out of Bloomingdale's with a new dress- completely unlike anything she owned. Now as she walked further into the Times Square district, she noticed Volstack's tower just down a few streets and for a moment she considered going in to see him. After all, spending Brian seemed to put a whole new spin on life.

Brian sat in his office, trying to put his reports in order but he couldn't concentrate. He'd been out of it all week long.

"Hey, you wanted to see me?" Marc said, poking his head into the office.

"Yes, it's about these." Brian said handing him the reports he'd received that morning.

"Oh yeah. I'm afraid they are accurate." Marc said, noting they had gone down 4% for the first time in 6 years.

"Fuck." Brian said, sitting down and throwing the papers on the desk .

"Don't worry, once the announcement is made about the merger, our stock will go right back up." Marc said.

Nora walked right past the secretary, who thought she was a simple delivery girl, shooing her along. It looked like she was busy and so she decided not to bother her. She looked around the main floor of the office, there was a few scattered desks- an a large open floor. The other 6 floors had a similar set up as well. She looked around the office, noting there was two large doors on one end leading to two corner offices, and one large door in the back. For a moment she hesitated, wondering if she should ask one of the employees.

"Excuse me, but deliveries go to the mail room. " A woman said, making a face at her as she filed her nails. Nora rolled her eyes at her, used to these kind of bimbos.

"Did I speak to you? No, no one asked you so shut up." Nora said in her true fashion as she decided to hear for the slightly open door nearest to her. The woman sat at the desk, pretending to be offended as she turned to her companion and they merely laughed.

Nora noticed an empty desk just outside the office, a few boxes piled atop as if someone was moving desks. With a shrug, she moved closer to the door, hearing some voices.

"All week I've been babysitting her, cossetting her- do you know how hard it is to come up with a compliment that isn't a complete lie?" Brian said. Nora caught a glimpse of him sitting at his desk.

"Is it really that bad? Sure she's unattractive..." Marc began but Brian shook his head.

"Ugly. She's ugly, it's okay to say it. And she just sits there the whole time, drooling like an idiot... I feel like I'm the only person talking the whole time." Brian said. Nora was still, unbelieving. She saw Brian pull something out of his pocket and toss it on the desk.

"Tiffany's? Wow." Marc said, taking the box. "So you're going through with it?"

"Of course, Her father made it clear that was the condition." Brian said, looking disgusted.

"And you think she'll say yes... after a week?" Marc said in disbelief.

"Of course she will. I've got her eating out of my hand." Brian said. Nora stood up and turned, walking out of the office as quickly as she could.

"You have no idea how guilty I feel about all this. I'm disgusted by this whole situation- our fathers have no idea how they are playing with this poor girl." Brian said after a few minutes.

"I thought you said you didn't like her." Marc said.

"I don't which is why this is terrible. And I'm an asshole for going along with it." Brian said.

"Is there really no other choice?" Marc asked.

"If there was, I wouldn't be doing this to me or her." Brian said.

----

Nora stormed out of the building, almost knocking over a few people on the way.

"MOVE." she said angrily, shoving them. Nora had been much nicer this week but today, she was feeling just like her old self.

"Those assholes." She muttered realizing the truth. This whole time, it WAS all about that merger. Of course, no one courts you in a week. Of course, truth be told, she wouldn't have said yes to a proposal this soon but that's besides the point.

They were going to trick her- Brian hated her. He was just like everyone else, disgusted and hating her before hey even knew her. Nora stood at a traffic light, angry, struggling to control her breath. There was no way she would give them the pleasure. Nora crossed the street in a hurry, anxious to get to her house which sat happily at Central Park West. She rushed over to the nearest subway entrance- unlike most of her contemporaries, she preferred the subway, loving the anonymity of it.

"Watch it." She heard a voice say and turned to find herself face to face with Stacey, who was standing outside of a Jewelry store.

"Oh, Dear, It's you." Stacey said, looking at Nora and putting her sweet voice back on.

"I have to go." Nora said, rolling her eyes but afraid she would cry. She wouldn't cry- there was no way she would cry over this. She was used to this sort of stupid tricks.

"Wait, Nora- are you okay?" Stacey asked, putting a hand on her shoulder but Nora pulled away.

"Don't touch me." She said coldly making Stacey frown.

"Fine. Trust me, It's not like I'm dying to speak to you anyways." Stacey said, breaking from her usual, overly sweet voice.

"Finally, someone is honest." Nora said.

"Well, what do you expect? You're terrible to everyone, even when we try being nice and I certainly don't need to take this abuse from someone like..." Stacey began but she was suddenly quiet. Nora smiled, it was not a pretty look.

"Go ahead. Say it. Someone like me? Ugly? Sloppy? a shrew? that's what you think right?" Nora said angrily. Stacey lifted her chin.

"If I did, would you say I was wrong?" Stacey said, making Nora stay quiet for a minute.

"You don't even know me." Nora said, turning away but Stacey yelled back at her.

"And no one ever will at this rate."

Nora was still and turned back to Stacey.

"Stacey- What would you do if you found out someone was lying to you? Using you to get something they wanted?" Nora said suddenly. Stacey stared at her, confused for a moment.

"What are you talking about?" Stacey said.

"I am asking my 'friend' for advice. Can you pretend to be my 'friend' for one more minute and give me advice." Nora said. Stacey stared at her slightly surprised.

"If I found out someone was using me? Like to get to another person? Romantically or how?" Stacey asked. Nora shrugged.

"It's hypothetical." Nora said, but Stacey raised a brow suspiciously.

"I'm afraid I need more info to help." Stacey said. Nora shook her head.

"Never mind." she said, preparing to storm off but Stacey caught her shoulder again.

"Wait. Listen, I'm hungry- lunch?" Stacey said. Stacey wasn't sure what had gotten into her. She usually avoided Nora, hating how rude and difficult she could be. Nora stared back at her for a second as if she was crazy but somehow the hell no she planned to say did not escape her lips.

"Okay."

------

"I can't believe it." Stacey said, staring at Nora wide eyed after hearing her story.

"yeah." Nora said, wondering why she had confided in Stacey of all people.

"Please tell me you weren't actually going to accept a proposal from someone you just met." Stacey said, making Nora shake her head.

"Of course not, I'm not stupid." Nora said. Stacey frowned.

"I've never liked that Brian Carlton- I've seen him around, of course, and I've had one or two friends who fall for his s**t just because he's hot- this is too much. I never imagined he would stoop so low." Stacey said angrily. Nora stared at Stacey a bit surprised, unsure what to think .

"Well, I heard it." Nora said, looking a bit sad. Stacey stared at Nora, understanding how a person like her may have been caught up in the moment.

"So, what are you going to do? It's obvious he is planning to propose tonight?" Stacey said.

"Obviously reject him." Nora said vehemently. Stacey nodded.

"You know, if anyone ever tried anything like that one me, I'd get even. I'd make sure they regretted the day they met me." Stacey said, more to herself than anything. Nora was suddenly still.

"revenge?" Nora said. Stacey nodded.

"Oh yes. revenge." Stacey had a large grin on her face.

"Like how?" Nora asked. Stacey shrugged.

"Don't know. Like maybe take the merger to Terecom instead." Stacey said angrily.

"I can't- I don't get my shares until I turn 25, that's how the trust was set up." Nora said, suddenly realizing why there was such a rush on everything.

"Of course, that's why they want to do everything so fast. Once I'm 25, I'll own 30% of the stock. That's equal to my father- he won't be able to sign the merger without taking it to the board and that could take years." Nora said, realizing it. Stacey smiled.

"So..." She said, catching on to what Nora was thinking.

"My father could still try to push the merger if I say no to Brian." Nora said but Stacey smiled.

"He could, but he only has a few months to do so- and you'll be 25 by then. What you need to do is make them think you plan to accept." Stacey said, making Nora nod.

"Yes. they'll never believe I'm going to contest the merger if I'm engaged to Brian. That's brilliant. I'll play along for a few months and surprise them by refusing both the merger and the wedding when I get control of my stock." Nora said excitedly, almost evil.

"Wait- they may try to push the merger before your wedding." Stacey said, trying to fill in the gaps.

"They still need my signature as a silent stock holder. What I need to do is disappear a few months..." Nora said.

"That's perfect. Get out of town, give them any excuse. It's summer- you can go visit family and don't come back until just before your birthday." Stacey said.

"Would they just let me leave?" Nora said.

"Would they have any reason to suspect you?" Stacey said.

"No. They wouldn't."