006: The plot
1034 Words
Logan's POV
The house was quiet. Too quiet.
I stepped inside and dropped my keys on the console near the door. The sound echoed a little too loud in the empty hallway. My footsteps followed, heavy, each one reminding me that this place no longer felt like home.
The lights were on, thanks to the staff but there was no warmth.
Once upon a time, this house was alive. Mom used to sing in the kitchen, with the staff even off-key. My sister, Erica, would sneak into the living room, blast her music, and dance like she didn’t care who was watching. Now? Now it was just me. And the workers.
They avoided me these days. Not out of fear. I wasn’t cruel. Just... distant, Detached to be honest. Ever since Dad passed, Mom barely stayed in this house. She traveled more, slept in hotels, visited friends she used to ignore. Erica found excuses to stay at campus even when she didn’t have lectures. I didn’t blame them. This house reminded all of us of what we lost. My Dad.
I walked into the living room and poured myself a drink. Whiskey, no ice, Dad’s favorite. I hated the taste, but I liked the burn. It grounded me.
I sank into the leather couch, glass in hand, staring at the chandelier above. My head leaned back against the couch, eyes half-closed. Just letting the silence sit with me.
Last night's event replayed in my head Amelia, standing tall, fearless in front of everyone. She knew Jake was watching. She knew Beth was fuming. And still, she delivered every word. I wasn’t sure what impressed me more, the speech or the way she owned that moment.
Then my phone buzzed.
Zach.
I reached for it, slow and unbothered, and answered without a word.
"You know you’re trending, right?" Zach’s voice came through, all laughter and chaos, like always.
I smirked faintly. "As long as I don’t lose the plot."
"You better not," he chuckled. "Because you, my friend, are the internet’s new obsession. Every gossip site, office blog, and group chat can’t shut up about you and Amelia Connels."
I didn’t say anything. I just let his words hang in the air like smoke. I knew how these things worked. Attention was dangerous, but sometimes it worked in your favor, if you played it right.
I took another sip, eyes watching the reflection of the chandelier in the glass. "How’s the progress on the plan?"
His tone shifted, a bit more serious. "Smooth. Finance reports have been altered, you know, nothing drastic. Just enough to cause a little discomfort down the line. They won’t notice yet. Maybe not even till next month."
I nodded to myself. "Good. We go slow. Pain should feel like time."
Zach whistled low. "You’re sounding poetic now."
"I’ve been drinking."
He laughed. I didn’t.
"You know," he continued, "sometimes I wonder how you keep all this inside. Don’t you get tired?"
"Of what?"
"Pretending like you’re okay. Like none of this mess bothers you."
I didn’t answer immediately. Instead, I stared at the fireplace across the room, the one nobody had lit in months.
"I’m not pretending. I just don’t talk."
"Same difference."
The silence crept back in for a second. Then Zach broke it.
"Anyway," he said, switching gears, "guess who completely embarrassed himself at the office today?"
I didn’t need to guess. "Jake."
Zach laughed. "Oh man. The guy walked into the presentation looking all proud, full suit, fake confidence and all. He starts talking, screen sharing from his drive, and boom. First slide, explicit photos. Beth’s and his together, in high quality."
I blinked. "You actually did it."
"Of course I did it," Zach said, proud. "Do you know how hard it was to plant those files in the right folder? Right before the board presentation too."
Zach worked in Beth's Dad company, Liam J’s Ent. for over 3 years now, and everyday I thank him because it really makes things easier for my plans to be carried out.
"He must be finished." I scoffed.
"Fingers crossed," Zach said. "The room went silent. Beth turned red, her dad looked like he was going to have a heart attack. Jake was trying to shut the laptop off but it was too late."
I let out a quiet laugh through my nose. Barely.
"This is what he gets," I said. "People like him always think they’re untouchable. Until they’re not."
"And that’s why we doing what we doing" Zach replied.
He sounded too cheerful for someone discussing calculated destruction. But that was Zach. Always the joker. Always the chaos. And yet, he was the only one who truly understood what I was doing, and why.
He went quiet again, then said,
"You looked happy last night though."
I snorted. "It was an act."
"Still. It looked real,”
I didn't answer him, I just looked around the room again. The lights, the silence and the big, empty space clouded me.
“You good though?"
"Define good."
He sighed. "I get it. Just don’t drown in this thing. I’m all in, yeah, but don’t lose yourself in it."
"You sound like Dad." I snorted.
He chuckled softly. "That man always had the best warnings. It's a pity we never listened."
“He ruined my father, Zach," I said. My voice was calm, but inside, I felt it all bubbling. "Tore down everything he built. That company was my Dad's life. And she... she signed those papers. She helped.
I drained the last of my whiskey. “so I'll keep going. Slowly. I want it to hurt. I want them both to watch everything they've built fall apart one piece at a time.”
Zach didn’t argue.
"Understood.” he said. “Anyways," he sighed. "Just checking in. I’ll keep the updates coming."
"Thanks."
"Logan," he said before hanging up, "don’t lose yourself in the plot."
I nodded "Later.”
I got up, walked up to the Family portrait above the fireplace. I looked at my dad, he had his hand on my shoulder, I was 24 when the picture was taken. Dad’s eyes stared back at me. Proud. Stern. Tired.
- Writer
