2. The wicked plan

Victoria’s POV

So, how would I describe myself?

Beautiful, confident, adventurous, and free-spirited.

My mom called me an adrenaline junkie during one of our arguments. My daddy once told me that one of the qualities he admired about me was my charisma. A colleague said I was unpredictable. I've also been called mischievous, too playful, the ice princess, and a blond bimbo.

The latter, many times by people who don't really know me. I bet Mia also thinks I'm just a blond bimbo.

As I walk to my room, the word revenge continues to resound in my mind. I arrive at my room and go straight to the closet. I pull out the suitcases I had tucked away and begin removing clothes from their hangers.

As I fold my clothes into one suitcase, I wonder what the hell was wrong with me before. My brain must have gone on vacation and just returned because I can't believe I was actually going to let Mia get away with destroying my relationship simply because her ex met another girl through me.

Yes, I agree that Jamie was a no-good cheat. I should be glad his true colours were revealed this early in our relationship.

Believe me, I am.

But that doesn't mean I should allow that bitch to get away with making a fool of me.

The scene of her and her friends laughing at me as I hurried away from that place, desperately trying to hold back my tears, flashes through my mind, and I angrily shake it away.

I laugh.

"Oh, Mia, Mia, Mia," I mutter. "You fucked with the wrong girl this time."

I toss a blouse into the suitcase.

"I'm going to make you pay for humiliating me and making me a laughingstock among your friends. By the time I'm done with you, it won't just be your friends laughing at you. The whole school will be."

I throw the dress I'm holding aside and sit on the bed, thinking about the best way to exact my revenge.

I don't have to think for long.

A perfectly nasty idea occurs to me.

But instead of getting up to prepare, I remain seated, wondering if the plan forming in my mind isn't too extreme.

For a moment, doubt creeps in.

Immediately, I shake my head, clearing it.

Mia is a bully. She's callous, manipulative, and deceitful. Her lack of empathy, remorse, and accountability was exactly why Colton broke up with her.

But instead of accepting responsibility for destroying her own relationship, she chose to take it out on me. That bitch is a psychopath through and through. I'm not like her. I don't enjoy hurting people. But I have no business pitying someone who deliberately hurts others.

"She deserves everything she's going to get from me tonight," I tell myself. "And more."

I grab my purse and keys and walk out of the room, ready to put her downfall into motion.

***

I can tell from the way Camila's eyes widen when I step out of my room that she likes the romper dress I'm wearing.

"Wow!"

Her eyes travel over me, taking in my hair as it falls all the way down my body.

I smile.

"So, what do you think?"

"Damn, girl! Now why didn't I think of black?" She looks me up and down appreciatively. "I love the sharp contrast it makes against your creamy-white skin and platinum-blond hair. You always make me wish I had your kind of blonde hair and skin tone."

I laugh.

"And you know you always make me wish I had your kind of raven-black hair and olive skin tone."

I grab her hand.

"Come on, let's go. You don't want us to keep your boyfriend waiting, do you?"

We living creatures are hardly ever satisfied with what we have.

Camila is Hispanic and very beautiful, yet she's always wishing she had my hair colour and fair skin. I, on the other hand, wish I could have her colouring.

My porcelain skin never tans. I don't even burn, no matter how long I spend under the sun without sunscreen.

Strange, right?

Yes. I find it strange that my hair colour and skin tone border on white. Even my eyes are the lightest shade of grey, turning silver whenever my emotions run high.

I also find it strange that I look nothing like my parents, even though I'm not adopted.

According to Daddy, I'm the spitting image of my great-grandmother.

The only information he's ever shared with us about the family he comes from.

***

"What is this place?"

I stare through the windshield from the back seat as Colton slows the car in front of a massive gate. Armed security men are checking the car ahead of us.

"What? You don't know?"

He briefly looks at me with a chuckle before moving the car forward when the guard signals him.

He hands his ID to the guard.

"Your IDs, please?"

The man asks Camila and me after checking Colton's card.

We hand them over. He checks them, looks at our faces, then checks the cards again.

Satisfied, he returns them and signals Colton to continue inside.

"So? I don't know what?" I resume my questioning as he drives farther into the property.

"The place belongs to Jamie's parents."

I stare at him.

"He is our host."

"Wait. You're just telling me now?!"

"Don't blame me! You didn't want to attend before. I only found out you'd changed your mind when I arrived to pick Camila up."

Camila's eyes widen with amusement.

That makes me aware that he's lying.

These two!

Isn't it bad enough that I'll be seeing the cheating bastard? How could they bring me to his territory?

"You guys? Surely you're not harbouring the idea of us patching things up?"

"I'm not!" Camila immediately refutes my accusation, pointing at Colton with her thumb. "He is."

"Colton! You don't need me to remind you of how he cheated on me, do you?"

"He's my friend."

"And what am I?"

He sighs.

"I told you how angry I was with him because of that day, didn't I? Victoria, what happened happened in a moment of weakness. He was set up, and he regretted falling for it. Now he's deeply sorry."

"Wow."

Camila cuts in with a sneer.

"What?" Colton briefly turns to her, raising a sarcastic eyebrow as if he already knows what she's about to say.

"Oh, nothing." She rolls her eyes. "I just hope you'll be this understanding when I cheat on you in the future."

The car suddenly stops, causing us to surge forward.

"What the hell, Colton! Be careful!" I shout.

"I was only joking!" Camila says, sounding just as shocked. "What's wrong with you?"

"Only joking?" he says coldly. "Bruh, I don't find that kind of joke funny."

He turns to look at me.

"I'm sorry, Vic. Are you okay?"

I nod.

"No one finds being cheated on funny, Colton. Now you know."

"Yes."

He nods.

"You're my friend, just as you're his friend, so don't interfere anymore. I'm here to accompany Camila, not to see him."

He nods again.

I lean back into my seat and scoff.

"Rich kid thinks he can do whatever he wants and get away with it."

Colton raises an eyebrow.

"Rich kid, huh?"

He chuckles as he restarts the car.

Camila laughs.

"That's rich coming from a rich kid herself."

I laugh too.

"What? What do you mean by that statement? I'm not spoiled and entitled, am I?"

I turn to Colton.

"Am I, Colton?"

"No."

He shakes his head.

"That, you're not."

"Of course not. You know I didn't mean it that way," Camila adds.

Yes. I know she didn't mean it that way. After all, we're all rich kids. Literally.

My dad is the Beta of Silver Moon Pack, the biggest pack in North America. Jamie's family has the biggest pack in New York. Colton's dad is an oil magnate, and Camila, although human, comes from a family that owns the biggest food-processing company in Mexico.

The car turns onto a tree-lined road, and an awe-inspiring mansion comes into view.

Colton pulls into an empty parking space.

As we're getting out of the car, another vehicle pulls up beside us. It's one of Colton's teammates. While they shake hands and talk about men's stuff, Camila and I continue toward the house.

"The party is already in full swing, I see," I say when I hear excited noises coming from the direction of the enormous house.

We walk around to the side of the mansion where the noise is coming from and see a huge swimming pool with spiral water slides winding down from different floors of the building.

"It's beautiful," I say, watching people slide down, jump, and swim around in the pool.

"Yes, it is, but I wouldn't swim in it."

I look at Camila and laugh when I see her wrinkling her nose in disgust.

"Ugh! I can't imagine the amount of sweat, urine, and bacteria that must have been introduced into that water."

She shudders.

"Come on. Let's go find the punch bowl. I need a drink."

She grabs my hand and pulls me along.

"You don't have to worry about Mia. You know she wouldn't dare do anything to hurt you with Colton around."

I know she only drinks when she's bothered about something, and the only thing I can think of that might be bothering her right now is Mia.

"Who says I'm worried about her? I—"

"Why are we looking for the punch bowl, then?"

I interrupt her bold facade, looking straight into her eyes.

She sighs.

"Oh, alright. You caught me."

She lowers her voice.

"Okay, maybe I'm a little bit wary of her."

"She wouldn't dare hurt you."

"I know she can't directly hurt me with Colton around. I'm just scared of her schemes. You know how evil she is."

She pauses. "She framed that girl—uhh, what's her name again?"

"Layla."

"Yes! Layla! I'm sure it was her that framed the poor girl and—"

My body stiffens, and I stop listening when I smell and feel Jamie approaching. I count to five before I hear his voice behind me.

"Hey! You came!"

He sounds genuinely excited.

I whirl around.

"Yes, I came! Go ahead and act surprised as if Colton didn't already inform you."

I fold my arms.

"And just in case your mind is imagining all kinds of nonsense, you should know I'm not here because of you."

"Yeah, right!"

He chuckles in disbelief.

I scoff and turn to Camila.

"Didn't I tell you guys he's a spoiled rich kid who thinks the world revolves around him?"

"Hmm-mm. I can see that now."

The smile on Jamie's face disappears when he hears her.

"Okay, look. I'm so sorry. I'm really sorry for hurting you."

"Jamie, stop."

"Please. Can we talk in private? The noise here—please?"

He looks pleadingly from me to Camila.

"No. Whatever you want to say, you'll have to say it right here. I'm not—"

"Oh, there's the punch bowl! I'll be right back."

Camila suddenly interrupts, immediately walking away in the direction she's pointing.

I know she excused herself because of the subtle pleading looks he's giving her. And somehow, that only makes me angrier with him.

"I miss you."

He says it hurriedly before I can open my mouth to give him a piece of my mind.

"I miss us. I admit I was weak enough to fall for their ploy, but I promise—"

"Jamie?"

A meek voice calls out behind him.

I know it's the human girl Mia used to set him up, even without seeing her face. She's also part of the cheerleading team.

"Your girlfriend is looking for you."

I give him a fake smile before turning to leave.

"No! You are my girlfriend! She's nothing to me! Absolutely nothing! I swear, I've not met with her since that day. Please, wait! Don't go!"

He desperately calls after me and grabs my hand.

I shake him off.

"Oh, Jamie! I've been looking everywhere for you..."

I hear her say as I walk away.

Ugh! Shameless whore!

Even though I wish I could kill the bitch, I know it's not her fault. I wonder what Mia promised her, or what she had on her to make her agree to be used in such a disgusting manner.

But no more.

I'm ending that bitch's reign today. I look around for Camila but don't see her. As I walk in the direction I saw her go earlier, I hear her voice and immediately hasten my steps.

"I don't have anything to say to you guys, so get out of my way!"

I hear the fear in her voice and instantly know she's talking to Mia and her minions.

My anger surges when I see them surrounding her, but I force myself to remain calm.

"There you are. I've been looking all over for you." I say casually.

They all look in my direction.

The relief on Camila's face makes me want to beat Mia up for being such a bully, but I can't do that. Not at a party organized by the school's football team.

The bitch sneers when she sees me.

"Oh, who do we have here? Girls, I'm in shock! Who would have believed the ice princess would show her face this soon in society after she was publicly dumped and humiliated by her precious prince?"

Camila, now emboldened by my presence, chuckles.

"Everyone knows she wasn't dumped, you scheming bitch! She walked away from your plot with her head held high like the queen she is."

She steps forward.

"Ask that idiot you sent. She'll confirm that he was practically begging her to come back to him. Unlike you, who can't stop texting and begging my boyfriend after he dumped your ass in the middle of a date."

I laugh as Mia's face heats up with embarrassment and anger.

"You bitch!"

She growls and lunges for Camila's face.

I swiftly grab her hand.

‘This is the perfect time.’ I think and feel for the vein inside her wrist before positioning my ring finger above it and tightening my grip.

"Are you sure you want to do that here? You're really acting reckless these days, Mia."

I quickly fling her hand away before she can come to her senses and realize what I've just done.

"C'mon, Camila. Let's go before Colton starts wondering where you are."

I deliberately take a jab at the bitch.

Camila immediately catches on.

"Yes. Yes. I almost forgot my boyfriend is waiting."

We both laugh.

"Ugh! I promise you'll regret this! Both of you!" Mia screams after us.

I momentarily turn back and sneer.

"No, we won't, because there's no comeback for you after today."

I say it casually and walk away.

If only she understood the meaning behind my words.

None of them did.

We run into Colton on our way out.

"There you are, babe. I was just looking for you both."

He gives Camila a kiss before turning to me.

"I know you don't want to hear this, but Jamie is looking for you. He—"

"You're right. I don't want to hear."

I interrupt. "Excuse me while I visit the ladies' room."

As I walk away, I look around for a maid to show me the way to the bathroom. I need to put the rest of my plan in place before the substance I subtly injected into Mia kicks in.