Chapter 5.

POV; plotting the plan

He picked up his phone and dialed the number on his screen, uncaring if it was two in the morning.

A breathy whisper, “hello” echoed in his ear. He shifted on his bed uncomfortably. Her voice was incredible

“Lila?

“Yes, who's this?”

Nicholas Fernando. I need to ask you how you got the information you gave me earlier this evening.

Her groan made him pull the phone away from his ear and almost rub his crotch. Her voice was the stuff straight out of p**n; soft, seductive, and sleepy.

“You mean last night? It's two o'clock in the morning.”

“I'm aware of the time. You have sensitive information here. “How did you come about it?” He admitted to being concerned about the legitimacy of how she obtained it.

She was quiet. “Dose it matters?”

“It does.” He was going to use it either way, but he needed to know.

“My ex-husband has a habit of working constantly. All the time, twenty-four seven. I admired his drive and determination and appreciated his hand work, but now I think avoiding me.” She gave a dramatic sign.” Anyways, frequently his own laptop computer's battery would drain because he was always on the damn thing. When it happens, he would simply grab mine and use it. When he very indelicately knocked my sister up, he forgot he had not cleared my computer of his information. It was on my computer purchased with my own money. It's ancient. I've had it for at least eight to nine years. I use it for watching movies and banking, it freezes all the time but it's mine, the information contained from it is mine too. “Is it not?”

“ I'm very sure this is not how it works but. It also would not be a far stretch for any one to put two and two together and surmise you provided for me details from the shared laptop me to use this Information to take business from your husband. I should tell you I have no issues doing so on my own without help but this will certainly speed up the process along.”

“I'm very much aware you can take him out on your own. He bitched constantly about you taking the last two contracts that he had. One of the developments was the subdivision in the grove, and the other when you took the strip mall right out from under his nose. He felt it was personal.”

“It was”

“Why?”

“ I don't care for his father. “We'll leave that for now. Regardless, I am curious what you want to negotiate for additional information?”

“I've removed the bulk of his information from my laptop. It is secure elsewhere. Broken down into files and folders where only I can find them. However his email account is still wide open and I left two files and other key pieces of information. It would be unfortunate if someone with the means and knowledge to bypass my security system were to come into my house and steal my laptop. It is of no intrinsic value. To make it look good, I'm willing to file a police report. Should the thief steal other items in my house? There isn't anything I want in it other than what is in my bedroom and art studio.

“You want me to rub you?”

“Rich people don't get rich playing nice Mr Fernando. It was one of my ex-husband favourite sayings. I'm sure you have an individual payroll to perform nefarious- type work for you all the time?”

“I'm simply a developer, Mrs William and I would be insulted by your insulation."

“Yeah, I bet you're not.” She gave a throaty chuckle.”

He found himself wondering what other noises she made. He pushed the thought aside, “No, you're right. I am not. What do you want in return for your stolen computer?”

“ I want you to come to my art show.”

“Art show?” The file he’d received from his security indicated that she was an artist working primarily out of a local gallery.

“A man with your reputation showing up at my show would bring attention to me. It's my goal to not touch a single penny of my alimony. I hate feeling like I'm still being supported by him. I want to make my own way with my art. If you come to my show paparazzi will follow and people will come. Also it will really pissed the entire Williams family off. I want them to born with anger.”

“ I see,” he said quietly. “ You'll let me take your computer with the email access to whichever file is left on the computer and I can use the information how I see fit. You'll file for a police report and say break and enter to cover your ass and all I need to do is become a patron of the art?”

“Actually, Mr. Fernando, you're already a patron of the art. When I saw you sitting at the table, I recognized you but thought at first it was probably at an event I'd been dragged to with my ex-husband. However the more I thought about it, it turns out you purchased one of my paintings several years ago. I was a student at the time, and you were there at the art fair with a very regal lady who purchased one of my paintings and you took one as well. Back then I never kept the records of names of who I sold it to, but I went through my portfolio from back then, sure enough, you are in the background of a photo.

“ I know the art fair you're referring to, but I bought the painting at least five years ago. You remember me after all this time?” He looked across his home office to the eleven by ten canvas he'd framed years ago with the golf and red hues. “You don't look the same. I remember you being curvier. He remembered his mother teasing him how he'd been checking out the ass of the artist.

She gave a bitter laugh, “I was a lot Chuckie back then, but it was me you bought from. I remember every person I've ever sold a painting to. The paintings are part of my soul. Each time I paint, and I let one go, I let a piece of me go as well.”

“He was quiet at her words and then sighed, “when you'll you be out of your house?”

She gave a delicate squeal. “I'm going to see a realtor tomorrow afternoon to discuss putting the house on market. I'm going to sell for under market value just to pissed Merl off. He can't get into it without me tomorrow because he's getting married to my sister and then they're going for their honeymoon. My wedding blessings for him are my flaccid dick and for her to be drier than Sahara. I want to have the place sold and under contract before they're back. I can only pray whoever buys it doesn't sell it back to him.

“Why not sell it for a profit?”

“Because my sister wants it so she can raise her child in it. If I had my way I'll sell it to a buyer who wants to bulldoze it. My brother really wanted to drive a bulldozer through it ever since we found out they had sex on my kitchen counters.”

He considered this woman to be a very bitter and angry individual and he should tread lightly. Everything in him was warning him to hang up the phone and get as far away from her crazy schemes as he could. Instead before he could stop himself he spoke.

“I will give you a full market value and let your brother drive the bulldozer, but I very much want to Livestream the event so his entire family sees it. I also want to make it public knowledge that I'm the one taking it and I want it done the day they're back from their honeymoon. I want him to be there but he won't be able to do anything about it.”

“Really?”

“Yes. You may as well take a profit from his stupidity. Tomorrow afternoon, be out of your house. Keep up the ruse with the realtor. “I'll have my team make requirements and we'll go from there. When is your art show?”

“Next Friday evening.”

“Perfect,” I will see you then. “Good night, Lila.”

“Goodnight Mr Fernanda.”

“ Call me Nichole. Considering the hijinks we're about to indulge in, I think first names are warranted.”

“Then, Goodnight, Nicole.” She gave a little giggle at his words before hanging up.

The sweat sounds of her laughter kept him awake for the rest of the night