A Scheme

He leaned against his car, jaw clenched with irritation. For once, he could feel power slipping away from him. Heira was gone and wasn’t coming back. At least from the way her eyes went cold he was sure.

Her eyes had always softened whenever she looked at him, he’d always notice a faint smile play on her lips, and that man… he seemed almost perfect with her. What was he thinking? Nahh, he hated the thought of it. He alone gets to hold her that way.

Heira was everything he had ever found breathtaking. Her beauty was out of this world. Her chestnut brown hair and hazel eyes would make any man fall in love in seconds.

He still remembered the first day he saw her. He’d been mesmerized and completely taken aback. But he had to stay locked in. He couldn’t afford to feel anything but resentment after the damage her father caused.

As much as he hates her, he doesn’t want her near any other man. How else would she feel the heat?

Maybe this time, he had pushed it too far. He was supposed to keep her close no matter what.

His phone still held the last message from Granny Mae, telling him she was traveling in and would arrive by evening. Things seemed to have gone out of control now.

He surely went too far bringing Sylvia to his home. He remembered telling her he didn’t want her there but as always, Sylvia had a way of bending his words.

“If you don’t feel anything for her, you shouldn’t mind me coming over,” she said.

He had been foolish enough to let it slide. Though Sylvia wasn’t his type, she was closest to it, not until Heira entered the chat.

Sylvia was beautiful, her brown hair almost similar to Heira's. Her makeup was always deliberate and the way she carried herself was rehearsed. Yet it was the simplicity of Heira that made her shine brightly.

With Heira, nothing felt forced. Her beauty was quiet and effortless, almost perfect. Her curves flowed naturally with just the perfect size of endowment a woman should have. She didn’t beg to be seen, yet she managed to turn heads every space she steps into.

Sylvia stood out among the women he’d always slept with. Her bed game was top notch and the confidence she had was the cherry on top. She had managed to warm her way into his heart, not until then did he decide to keep her.

But Sylvia wasn’t really the best at character. Dante knew she wasn’t someone he could proudly introduce to his grandmother.

He let out a long sigh, realizing he was still in the parking lot. His thoughts had drifted too far. He leaned back in his seat, rubbed his temples, then reached for his car keys.

Just as he started the engine, his phone vibrated in his pocket. It was Sylvia.

“Hey baby,” her voice came through sweetly. It sounded exactly like she was about to request something.

“I just came across this lovely jewelry store, and I would love to get a few pieces for myself.”

Dante smirked at the irony. Typical. He was sure she had passed by that same store earlier, the thought made him scoff.

“How much are we talking about?” he asked.

“Hmm, around a hundred thousand dollars,” she said casually.

Dante wasn’t surprised. He didn’t even flinch. He was used to her asking for such high prizes.

He had no problem spending on her, it wouldn’t even move an inch in his account. Just that she would have to earn it this time.

“Alright,” he said, his voice calm but cold. “You’ll get it, but there’s something I need you to do first.”

Sylvia laughed softly. “Hmm, you’re so naughty daddy. I know you want that piece of goody,” she teased.

“You know I would always come over. But I really need to pay for it now. I'm at the store, and I promise I will come right after.”

Dante was clearly not in the mood for that. “You’ll come over tonight,” he said firmly. “My grandmother’s coming to visit, and you’ll pretend to be Heira. Dress like her, act like her. That’s how you’ll earn it.”

“What?” she snapped. “Why would I act like I’m that lowly bi*ch when she’s there?”

“Heira’s gone,” Dante said flatly. “She hasn’t come back since that night and the only way you can fix what you caused is to come stay at my place as my wife before my Nana comes over.” he snarled.

He didn’t wait for her reply. He hung up instead, staring at his reflection in the car window. He saw the face of a man who was slowly losing it.

His grandmother was a smart woman for her age so it might be hard to trick her. Although he wouldn’t want to do that, he had no other way. This was the only way he could protect her heart.

He took a stop at his office, some unfinished business still left to do. He searched for the lucky pen he always kept by the side of his desk, but couldn’t find it.

Though he had a bunch of pens in the holder, the particular one was his favorite. While still looking for it, he opened a locker in his desk. Inside, he found a folder that had always reminded him to stay cold and ruthless.

His thumb brushed against the edge where his father’s name was printed.

Leonardo Moretti

Memories came rushing back. For years, he’d tried not to open it. He started to remember all the things Charles had taken from him.

His father had been a visionary man with hands always stained with ink and ideas too big for their workshop.

He had created a new eco-friendly construction system that could cut costs and reduce environmental damage by half. It was the kind of invention that could have changed their family’s life forever.

Then Charles came in as an angel willing to help take his idea to the next level. He promised him a partnership and expansion. But he had a secret agenda instead.

He stole the prototype, patented it under his name, and sold it to a foreign investor for millions of dollars.

When Leonardo tried to fight back, Charles accused him of theft, saying he was trying to steal ‘his’ idea. Charles had the lawyers, the money and the influence which made him win the case in court.

Dante watched his father fall apart piece by piece every day. The sleepless nights, the unpaid bills, and the headlines that branded him a fraud.

By the time the lawsuit ended. Their house was gone, and his father’s reputation was destroyed.

Dante had to work twice as hard to achieve all that he has now. And now that Charles was facing a backlash, it was him he turned to for help. Not realizing he is the son of an old friend.

Little did he know Dante had made Rowan work it out so he could propose his Daughter to him, with Rowan informing him of his search for a wife.

Charles must have thought he had hit a jackpot, he didn’t know they had him just where they wanted. And now, he would make him suffer it all. He wanted him to feel the helplessness his father felt. His daughter would also feel the pain he had been forced to live with all those ten years that went by.

Granny Mae wouldn’t be happy if she finds out he married his enemy's daughter although Heira is all she would ever want in a daughter-in-law.

He wasn’t going to reveal why he married Heira to her, knowing fully well she would have wanted him to leave it in the past. But such a thing was too heavy to let go.

He found it odd that his daughter had somehow managed to woo him.

He quickly brushed his thoughts away, time was slipping away and he had to pick up his Nana from the airport.

***

Granny Mae was finally home.

The sound of her cane tapping gently against the marble floor as she stepped into the villa. Her silver hair was pinned neatly beneath a floral scarf. Her smile was wide and full of warmth that seemed to lighten up the entire space.

Dante guided her inside, careful with every step, and helped her ease onto the sofa. They picked up the conversation they had been having in the car, laughter occasionally breaking through the pauses.

“It’s been too long, Nana,” he said softly as he took a seat beside her.

“It has,” she replied, patting his cheek affectionately.

“And I can see those frown lines haven’t left you, hmm? You need to smile more often, my boy. You used to have the most charming smile when you were little.”

“Guess I’ve forgotten how.” He chuckled lightly, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes.

Her gaze softened. “Then maybe it’s time to remember. Where’s that lovely wife of yours that I would like to meet?”

Dante’s heart skipped a beat. He had told Sylvia to come by. She was probably upstairs getting ready. He gave a subtle signal to the maid nearby to call her down.

Two minutes later, the rhythmic sound of heels descended the staircase. Granny Mae turned her head toward the sound, smiling in anticipation.

Just as Sylvia reached the living room, the main door swung open.

The sound startled them both.

And there, standing in the doorway was Heira.

Her angry eyes flicked from Dante to the older woman seated on the couch. Then to Sylvia, who was just stepping into view at the bottom of the stairs.

The tension in the room thickened instantly.

Dante’s breath caught in his throat.

Of all the times to show up Heira… why did you decide it would be now?