Chapter 25
Sandra's mind was filled with questions as she drove down to Michael's place. Ever since their phone call, the major thing she had kept asking herself why Evelyn had not reached out to her since she arrived in Ludus, and why Evelyn had to leave the Hotel. Where was she staying? Why was she back after six years? What did she want? Why was the interview with Derek Stone important to her?
The moment she arrived at Michael's house, she punched in the passcode and walked in since she knew he was expecting her and there was no need for unnecessary formalities between them.
The moment she walked into the living room she saw Michael, lounging on the sofa with a glass of whiskey in his hand. Although he was still wearing his work clothes but had taken off his jacket and loosened his tie.
"What is going on, Mike? Why did you sound that way over the phone? Did Evelyn say anything to you? What happened?" Sandra demanded as she joined him on the couch.
"Before I say anything, I have news. One good news and one bad news. Which do you want to hear first?" He asked as he raised his glass to his lips.
"Hm. The bad one I guess," Sandra said after a moment's pause.
"Derek has agreed to do the exclusive interview with Evelyn," Michael said flatly, and Sandra stared at him in disbelief.
"He did what? Why would he do that? Didn't you say he said he was not going to do it?" Sandra asked, rising from her seat.
"That was what he said. I have no idea what that bitch did or said to him. I'm so fucking mad at everything right now," Michael said bitterly.
Taking a deep breath, Sandra returned to her seat, "Calm down and tell me exactly what happened. How did you find out about Derek's decision? Did he tell you? Or did you hear it from Evelyn?"
"Derek, that fool, told me so himself. He said he's considering granting her the interview...."
"There is hope then. The key word there is considering. We can change his mind," Sandra cut in, relieved.
"I know Derek. The only reason he would have said that is because he has made up his mind," Michael said and Sandra frowned.
"Why would he do that? Why Evelyn? Didn't you tell him who she is?" Sandra asked in confusion.
"No. I haven't. Not yet..."
"Why not? You should have told him who she was the moment he told you he was considering doing the interview with her. I don't think he'd be so willing to have anything to do with her if he knows she is the bitch that broke your heart. And who knows? If he cancels his arrangement with her, he just might consider letting me do it now that it seems like he is ready to reveal himself," Sandra said thoughtfully.
"You have a point. I was going to tell him but then I changed my mind when I remembered what Evelyn said," Michael said and Sandra raised a brow.
"What did she say?" Sandra asked, and Michael told her all about his encounter with Evelyn.
"That bitch! I'm sure she was only bluffing. What makes her think she can seduce Derek or have him?" Sandra asked, seething.
"She seemed so different, Sandy. I can't place it, but she was like a different person," Michael said, and Sandra snorted.
"How different can she be? She's still Evelyn. All I need to do is find a way to meet up with her and I'm sure I will easily find out what she is up to," Sandra said confidently.
Michael shook his head, "You should know that she isn't the same Evelyn, else why hasn't she reached out to you yet since she got back? You were her best friend," Michael pointed out.
Sandra sighed, "I've been curious about that too, but seeing how she hasn't reached out to either of our parents I guess it's nothing personal."
"No matter how hard I try, I still can't seem to wrap my head around how she could change so much overnight. Six years ago everything was perfect. I never gave her any reasons to doubt me. You even talked about how ecstatic she was when she tried on the wedding dress. We talked over the phone and everything was fine. How could she change so drastical.." The rest of his words were cut short when Sandra slapped him hard across the face causing some of the whiskey in his glass to spill.
"What did you do that for?" Michael asked, his eyes burning from the sting of the slap and anger.
"Is that gibberish you're ranting about important right now? Who cares why she chose to call off your bloody wedding? We are talking about now. The present. Not some fucking past," Sandra hissed.
"If you were smart you'd know that we need to understand what happened and why she changed in order to know why she is back and what she is up to. What if she broke up with me six years ago because she suddenly thought that she'd rather marry Derek the heir to Stone Corp? What if that's the reason she is approaching him now?" Michael snapped at her.
Sandra pursed her lips as her brows furrowed thoughtfully. "You think so? You think she is interested in Derek?" She asked and then shook her head.
"That doesn't sound like Evelyn. She's naive and gullible. She isn't the type to plot.."
"Neither was she the type to call off a wedding she had been dreaming about for long and walk out on her family!" Michael cut in harshly.
Sandra took a deep breath, "You might have a point," Sandra said, feeling a surge of fury.
"Whatever her plan is, this isn't good. Not good at all. We can't have her do the interview or get too close to Derek. You need to find out why Derek agreed to this. Ask him..."
"You think I didn't? I asked but the arrogant fool wouldn't answer my questions," Michael cut in.
"Evelyn should have remained wherever she was. Why did she come back? Six years ago, she ruined our plan just when we were about to achieve it, and now, six years later, she's about to do the same. I hate that bitch!" Sandra hissed, frustration bubbling up inside her. Michael's expression darkened. "This time, I'm not going to let her get in my way. I will kill her with my bare hands if I have to," Michael said, his determination hardening into something more dangerous.
"By the way, what was the good news?" Sandra asked when she suddenly remembered.
"I guess Derek felt guilty. He called on my way home to say he would attend the anniversary to make up for doing the interview with Evelyn," Michael explained.
Sandra's eyes narrowed and then she snapped her finger, "That is it! I think I've gotten it," Sandra said, and Michael raised a brow.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.
"Gotten what?"
Sandra sat beside him, "When next you see her, follow her. We need to find out where she lives now. That way I can befriend her... just listen," she said before he could interrupt her.
"I'm going to find a way to get Evelyn to attend the anniversary party, and while we are there at the party, we will make Derek find out who she is naturally. That way you can act like the scarred ex who didn't want to reveal the ex who hurt you to your beloved cousin. I'm sure he would cut her off and would want nothing to do with her after that," she said and Michael nodded slowly, his anger giving way to a cold, calculated resolve.
"But what if they do the interview before then? Don't you think the purpose has been defeated then?" Michael asked, and Sandra smirked.
"Not at all. The interview was never our end goal remember? The goal is for me to get married to Derek, we get rid of him and his parents and together we take over Stone Corp. Exposing Evelyn that way is to make sure Derek wants nothing romantic to do with her if she plans to seduce him. Also, we can stop the interview if we want. All we need to do is come up with ways to discredit her. Let's drive a wedge between her and Derek now," Sandra said and Michael nodded thoughtfully.
"We have to look for a way to make her seem untrustworthy and unprofessional in Derek's eyes. If we can plant doubts about her work ethic in Derek's mind, he might reconsider the interview," Michael said, his eyes gleaming with a renewed sense of purpose. "You're such an evil genius, Sandy," Michael said with a grin as he cupped Sandra's face in his hands and kissed her lips.
Sandra giggled, "When there is a will, there is always a way. We can take care of Evelyn," she said confidently.
"I think I already know what to do," Michael said with a smile.
Sandra raised a brow. "Tell me what you have in mind."
"I will be needing your help," he said and Sandra smirked.
"You know I will do whatever I can as long as it takes her out of the way," she said and Michael nodded.
"Good," he said as he went on to tell her his plans.
By the time he was done, Sandra was giggling happily, "And you said I was the evil genius. I know this is going to work. Evelyn won't know what hit her when we're done with her," Sandra said and Michael smiled smugly. "C'mon, why don't you tell me how much of a genius I am on the bed?" he said suggestively and Sandra grinned.
"Of course, boo," she said as she led the way to the bedroom.