I have never felt like this before in my life. Trapped in a cage of my own thoughts like a desperate animal. I don’t know what to do.
A curvaceous figure in a red suit slips into the seat right in front of me. A pair of dark sunglasses are quickly removed by fingers with long red talons. “Valentina? What are you doing here?” She’s supposed to be in New York, cleaning up the mess I’ve made.
“Fletch, Fletch, Fletch.” She shakes her head. “I’m here to keep an eye on you. To keep you from getting into trouble. What would you do without me?”
“I’m in enough trouble already. Why did you follow me here? Why aren’t you in New York?” Unbelievable, I just saw her in New York. What couldn’t she say to me then? I know that I’ve lost not just my money, but all my employees’ money, including hers as well. I am too cowardly to admit it, but I have let everyone down. I turn my head away from her, shamefaced.
She tsk-tsks and hands me a couple of sheets of paper. “I wanted to check out some things for myself. There are some things just easier done in person.”
I don’t want to read it but that’s until I see the picture on the first page. It is an old faded picture before digital cameras. A young girl in a silk dress, standing next to the man who ruined my life. They are posing at a gala and smiling at the camera, mocking my misfortune. Even though the picture is more than ten years old and she no longer has the braces on her teeth, I’d recognize her anywhere.
Amelia.
The next sheet of paper shows her real name and the details of her life.
“Where did you get this?” I choke the words out of my throat.
“I got it from a background check agency in the last hour.” She examines her long, red fingernails. “I stopped by the house and talked to your little friend. It wasn’t hard, since I pulled the name she used from her ID badge. Clever little minx. She is using her mother’s maiden name.”
The sheets of paper crumple in my hands. My entire body is shaking and my field of vision looks red around the edges. “This is not true!”
“You know it’s true. You can have someone else look into it. They’ll tell you the exact same thing. You’ve been played, Fletch.”
“Get out!” I slam the table again with my fists. I draw a few alarmed looks from the restaurant staff and the other patrons, but I don’t care. My mind is clouded by a boiling rage.
Valentina quickly stands up. Her eyes are haughty and cold as they look down at me. “Fletcher, you know that I have always been in your corner. You know what you need to do.” Then she clicks her heels and saunters away.
I don’t know how long I’ve been sitting here with my hands covering my face, but it must have been awhile because Amelia just enters the restaurant with her backpack in tow.
“Sorry, I’m late. All the new volunteers wanted to grab a cup of coffee together. I joined them for a bit but then I told them I have a hot date waiting for me.” She smiles and winks at me.
Only an hour ago, I would’ve thought her actions are cute, but now they just disgust me. I’ve been played. Valentina’s words echo in my head. She has been lying to me this whole time. I knew this was too good to be true. Who would have loved me for being me? Most women just want me for my money. Not this one. Her father is one of the richest men in the country, even richer than me. And I’ve been such a fool, believing her, trusting her, and even loving her.
“I hope you like chili,” she continues cheerfully. “This place has the best chili. I also like their chili cheese fries.” She cannot see them under the table, but my knuckles are clenched white.
How did they plan this whole thing? Did she follow me here from New York? Was this her father’s design? How could I not see this coming? I laughed bitterly. It doesn’t matter, I’ve been played.
“What’s wrong, Fletch?” She finally notices that something is off. I should act as if everything is normal and slowly lead her into my trap. I should give her enough rope to hang herself. I should make her feel like a fool, although she would never be as big of a fool as I feel right now.
“How can you do this to me?” My chest hurts with each word. I guess I am not as good of a liar as she is.
“What do you mean? What are you talking about?” Her eyes are wide and innocent. Somebody get this lady an Oscar.
“Was this your plan, or your father’s, Ms. Worth?”
She gasps, and her hand reaches up to her throat. Her lower lip quivers, but she says nothing.
“How do you feel? To sit there quietly and watch me act like an idiot. Knowing the whole time that your father is making millions by inflicting pain on my life? Knowing that your father is trying to take me down and take everything that I have? In fact, he has already won. I have nothing left. Not even my dignity.”
“Fletcher, it’s not like that —”
“It’s not like what? You tracking me down and then play me like the idiot that I am? I can’t believe that I fell for your antics. I know that Alfred Worth would do anything to sell a story, but to pimp out his own daughter? That is cheap. You’re not even worth the paper that your father prints his lies on.”
Two lines of tears streamed down her soft cheeks. Something
