Ploy
1725 Words
“Thank you!” Betty's smile widened. Then, she looked at Drey again.
“Can you help me select an evening dress?”
“Sure, why not?” Drey responded and got down from the bed. He moved to the closet. “Are you off somewhere today?”
Betty nodded once. “Yes, there's a party tonight. The Sterling family is having an auction tonight. So, I'm going there to expand my network,” she explained.
He hesitated briefly. He actually had very bad feelings about this, but he didn't want to convince Betty otherwise since this made her happy. But he still decided to give it a try.
“Why don't you stay back tonight?”
“Oh no! I can't do that, honey. I know I'm getting my fare already, but my vision is to make the Odyssey Group one of the biggest in the city. And to do that, I need to expand my network. This party is excellent for it. Many people will definitely show up,she explained.
Drey nodded eventually. He already knew Betty might not accept. He just decided to press his luck. “Will you go with this black one?”
“No,” Betty pouted. “I like the red one,” she whined.
The red one was a sleeveless dress that would show Betty's curves. Drey didn't like it.
Drey put it back on the hanger. “No, let's go with this blue one. It looks nice.”
The blue one had petal sleeves and covered well at the chest.
Betty nodded quickly. “Good then. I will have to run on,” she muttered, taking the dress from him and hurrying to get it.
Drey let her leave the house before he got dressed as well. He makes an excuse to leave the house as well.
At the Sterling family house, Lucas sat in front of Cynthia Sterling, the youngest daughter of Mason Sterling.
Lucas thought hard about what he had found out so far. Lucas was a military man who was doing the country work when the incident with his father happened. He couldn't leave in time, and when he eventually showed up, it was too late.
But then, he swore to find out who the culprit was. The murderer left a clue, though, and he worked on it. He left for the capital as early as the next day.
The Great Four killed the Redford family. He made his findings further and discovered that a particular lady from the Lavender family used to be disfigured as a result of what she did years back.
One Betty Lavender was the one that entered the fire to rescue one of the Redford family ten years ago. Definitely, the remnant of the Redford family was the one that killed his father. Though he had no idea who the survivor really was, the hint was a step forward.
But he hadn't expected to come back and meet the Sterling family almost in a ruin. The family was suddenly going through a financial crisis, and their company has gone bankrupt. How could this happen?
Just thinking about it made Lucas’ blood boil.
“Well, even though it was someone from the Redford family that killed my father, one Betty Lavender was the reason why we went bankrupt. Ethan said Damon made us go bankrupt after a call from the sly lady,” Cynthia uttered.
Lucas nodded slightly. Betty Lavender again? She seemed like the main culprit of the whole issue. How coincidentally she showed up at both issues.
“We will make a move tonight at the party. Definitely, she would show up. The Lavenders' family will pay for messing with the Sterling family,” Lucas swore.
Cynthia smiled softly. “Yes!”
The Sterling family's auction venue was set in one of the largest hotels in the area. It was the Aurum Hall.
A lot of cars were parked at the parking lot. A lot of people actually showed up for the auction. At first, no one wanted to. The Sterling family has gone bankrupt anyway, and Mason has been killed without the murderer getting caught.
Everyone believed it was over for the Sterling family until Lucas showed up. With Lucas, there might actually be another chance for the Sterling family. He had always fought even in those times.
And if he was truly around and they didn't show up, Lucas would make them pay. And no one wants to get on a bad side with Lucas Sterling.
Drey and Charles appeared outside the Hall. Drey puffed a smoke and gave it to Charles.
“But boss, is someone going to die today too?”
Drey thought about it quickly. “Well, I'm not here for blood today. Though, I might give if they asked. But the only reason I'm here today is because of the ‘The Night Watch antique oil paintings,’ the family heirloom,” he explained.
Charles nodded once. “But you do know that Lucas Sterling is back already? And he is the General Haines in the West.”
Oh, the General Haines of the West. Drey has actually heard about him but hasn't been able to see him in person. Likewise, Lucas.
The country has five commanders, namely, the Commander of the South, the Commander of the North, General Haines in the West, the Commander of the East, and the Central Commander.
In terms of the overall power, the Central Commander was in charge, but when it comes to manpower, no one can stand beside the Commander of the South. Not even all the commanders combined, the commander of the South would effortlessly take them down.
The Commander of the South was Drey Redford.
Another thing that distinguished the Commander of the South from the rest of them was his skill in medicine. Drey Redford can cure anyone, and he has cured a lot. He knew every key and herb to work on the human body. And he can revive anyone. As long as the person hasn't given up the ghost, Drey will revive the person.
Drey Redford can even cure the hardest and most serious injuries. There's just nothing he couldn't cure with his herbs. His medical skill was topnotch. It couldn't be compared, even with the greatest doctors. He was leading in that aspect.
His fame has spread north, south, east, and west. Now, he was claimed to be the overall powerful commander, in skill, in manpower, and in knowledge.
“He's just the General Haines of the West. He's nothing. I can take him down, and I will if he stands in my way.”
Charles nodded again. He knew anyway. His boss’s skill can be compared to none.
The Commander of the South was a god of war!
“Then, we will wait for the best opportunity to enter after the banquet starts.”
Just as they moved away, several soldiers hurried to the front door.
As everyone arrived, they were forced to look at the soldiers. It was a confirmation that Lucas was truly back. Truthfully, the Sterling family won't be in ruin for a long time now that Lucas is back.
A lot of people were actually grateful they showed up. Who would dare want to taste Lucas’ wrath?
Betty Lavender stepped inside, clad in a blue dress that clung to her body like a second skin, accentuating her curvy, slim body. She was a beauty to behold.
Suddenly, as she moved, two staff members walked towards her with a case carrying the family heirloom. Just as they touched, they dropped the frame deliberately. The glass shattered, and the wooden frame broke into pieces.
One of the men glared at Betty. “Why did you hit us?” He accused her.
Betty stared, shocked. She stared at one of the shattered glasses at her feet. “I didn't hit you. You were the one that hit me.”
“Do you know what you just brok? This is the ‘The Night Watch antique oil painting, worth 700 billion dollars.”
Betty went gobsmacked at the price.
“Well, you have to pay it!”
Betty was confused. She had no idea what had just happened. She didn't even touch the men. How then would she pay for something she didn't even do?
“What's happening here?” A deep voice asked suddenly and lucas stepped forward. He regarded the broken antique for a moment and looked at Betty. “Did you just break the Night Watch antique oil painting?”
Betty shook her head quickly. “No, it's not me!”
At this point, people have started to gather around them.
“Do you know its worth? It's worth 700 billion dollars!”
Betty eventually found her voice. “I didn't!” She protested, even though her voice was shaking.
People shook their heads one after the other; some were shocked at the price, and others stared pitifully at Betty. Who would have thought that 'The Night Watch' cost so much?
Indeed, it was one of the most expensive and the rarest items in the world, but 700 billion dollars? That was a huge amount of money. Besides, how did Betty Lavender get caught in something like this?
“Well, we have a CCTV camera here. We will check and see what had really happened,” Lucas announced and gestured to one of his men. “Bring the video.”
The video was played for everyone to see. Betty touched the men, and suddenly, the glass dropped.
Lucas looked at Betty, with a dark frown on his face. “You broke the painting. We demand 700 billion dollars.”
Blood dried off Betty's face at once. How would she get such a huge amount of money?
“How did she get herself into this mess?”
“Such a pity, she was just growing.”
“How would she get such a huge amount of money? Even if she sold herself, would she arrive at such an exorbitant fee?”
People started to throw comments left and right.
“Take her! And send a message to the Lavenders’ family!” He ordered.
The men hurried closer to her and dragged her away even as she tried to explain and plead. All these fell on deaf ears.
- Writer
