A Trillionaire's Revenge

XXIX

I raise my eyebrows in confusion, "How so?" I ask her. She tells me her plan and I look at her in awe. Lydia had a quiet personality and a shy personality too, but what she had just said made me see that even the most gullible person could be as cunning as a fox or even worse. A voice inside my head begged me to take notes on scheming from Lydia so at least, I'd beat my mother in her own game for once.

The party had begun, and people are socializing. I occasionally steal glances of Luke as I speak with Lydia. Things had really changed since school and I'd realized I'd missed out on a lot. My friend Anna had moved out of London to Germany to start a new life. Tracy had moved to Scotland for school, and would occasionally return and Verónica was still here, in Shoreditch.

That's your husband? You can't take your eyes off him." Lydia states.

I blush, "I never thought I could love someone as much as I love him. It's just so surreal."

"What really happened? I mean with Rocket? We all thought you guys would end up together."

I sigh, "At some point, I did too, but I am glad that it didn't happen. I would never have been truly happy with Rocky, you know? Lucas is the one, my soulmate."

"But it was an arranged marriage?"

I nod, "It was forced on me. I wouldn't say I was deceived but it was all deception. My mother manipulated me into marrying him, but it all turned out for the better."

"I'm glad it did, Natty. You truly deserve happiness."

I smile at her, "So do you, and marrying that arse, is not where you will find it."

"If marrying him will be how I can get what I want, then so be it. I'd marry him a hundred times if I had to."

"Speak of Devil, and he shows." I say, as my focus is fixated at the entrance.

"Correction; they show." Lydia says as we both look at Senator Jackson and his son, David enter.

I watch my mother hurriedly rush over to welcome them in. Lydia and I are irritated. I see David look at Lydia and she responds with a fake smile. He blows a rich-playboy kiss to her with his index and middle finger. She catches it in the air and throws her hand down almost immediately. I chuckle. David and I stare at each other. He gives a smirk and I turn sideways.

"I've got a really bad feeling about tonight." I say to Lydia.

"So do I, the only difference is whatever's happening, won't be happening to any of us." Lydia assures me as she smiles.

Where's José by the way?" Lydia asks. I scan the room in a bid to find him. My eyes fall on him, champagne in hand and a woman by his side. "Well, he's doing his thing, I guess." I chuckle, pointing towards his direction.
"He's always had his way with the ladies. I wonder how we could even resist him." Lydia says. I laugh.

"What's the joke?" A third party chimes in and I turn to see David. The smile vanishes from my face.
"I don't know." I say in response. Lydia is quiet. I begin to wonder if her whole quite, calm behavior is a charade because with me, Lydia was a very different person.

"How's my fiancé doing?" He asks, as he wraps his hands around her waist. She wraps her hands around his neck. "I'm fine, thank you." She responds. Disgusted by the entire thing, I take my leave.