Nora’s Pov
After settling into my room, I decided to call home and let Dad know I was safe. It wasn’t until I dialed and got no answer that I realized Paris was six hours ahead. I’d have to wait until morning to catch him.
I decided to use these first two weeks like a vacation-sightseeing, visiting museums, and just exploring the city. I set up my phone with maps and other apps to help me navigate Paris, then headed to bed.
It felt like I had only just closed my eyes when my alarm went off. Even though I had no specific plans, I got up anyway.
I called my dad, and he picked up on the second ring. “Hello, Dad, it’s me, Nora,” I said as soon as he answered.
“How are you, my dear? How’s it going over there?” he asked, his voice full of concern.
“I’m fine, Dad. It’s as tough as I imagined, but I’m managing,” I replied, trying to sound more confident than I felt.
“That’s good to hear. You should start looking for an apartment. You’ve still got about a week plus at the hotel, so try to get everything sorted before then. I’ll send you some money to cover the cost,” he said.
“Thanks, Dad,” I said, relieved.
“Your mom’s here too-she wants to say hi.”
“Hey, Mom,” I greeted her.
“Nora, dear, how are you doing? Are you eating well?” she asked, her concern evident.
“I’m fine, Mom, and yes, I’ve been eating well.”
“That’s good to hear,” she said, her tone softening.
We ended the call soon after, and I started looking up places nearby that I could visit for the day.
Grey’s House
“Nora called today,” Mrs. Grey said, casually picking at a fruit salad as she spoke. She was sitting comfortably, legs crossed, radiating confidence.
“What did she say?” Emma asked, leaning forward, her curiosity piqued.
“She said she’s doing okay and coping. Your dad told her to find an apartment, and he’s planning to send her money to cover the costs,” Mrs. Grey replied, her voice laced with irritation. “Honestly, I can’t let that happen. She’s the one who got into trouble, so why should your dad keep bailing her out? All those flight and hotel arrangements cost him a fortune, and she doesn’t even seem grateful. I won’t let him spend another dime on her.”
“I totally agree, Mom, but how do you plan to stop him? You can’t just tell Dad not to send her money-he won’t listen,” Emma said, her skepticism clear.
“That’s true, but what if we create a bank account in her name and make your dad think he’s sending the money to her when it’s really going to me?” Mrs. Grey suggested, a sly smile playing on her lips.
“But what if she tells him she didn’t receive any money?” Emma asked, still unsure.
“That can only happen if she can get through to him, right?” Mrs. Grey replied, her plan starting to take shape.
“Yes…” Emma said slowly, beginning to see where her mother was going with this.
“I’ll block her number on your dad’s phone, then delete it. After that, I’ll replace it with a fake number that doesn’t connect. He’ll think she’s ignoring him, and eventually, he’ll stop trying to contact her,” Mrs. Grey said, her tone confident.
“Mom, you’re a genius! That way, Dad will think she cut him off, and he’ll be less inclined to help her anymore,” Emma said, admiration in her voice.
“Exactly. And as for you, just keep working on getting Jake to fall for you,” Mrs. Grey added, her eyes glinting with ambition.
****
Later that day, the all sat around the table to have dinner. Mrs. Grey had set the table and was currently dishing food on her plate. Emma sat across from her mother, picking at her food, her thoughts elsewhere, while Mr. Grey, absorbed in his phone, barely noticed the tension in the room.
The clink of cutlery against plates was the only sound until Mr. Grey’s phone buzzed with a notification. He glanced at the screen and then looked up at his wife. “Ahh Ahh, Nora just sent her new account details,” he said, his voice neutral with a ting of excited knowing she’s working things out.. “I’ll transfer some money to her after dinner, but I told her to inform me when she finds a place so I can send the exact amount she needs.”He added.
Mrs. Grey nodded, a tight smile on her lips. “That’s good. She’ll need all the help she can get to settle in.”
Mr. Grey typed something into his phone and then looked back at his wife. “I’ll go to the study after dinner to finish this up,” he said, returning his attention to his meal.
Mrs. Grey’s heart raced, though she kept her expression calm. “Of course, dear. Take your time.”
She and Emma shared a quick glance at each other, knowing exactly what is going on in their mind without having to say anything.
They finished dinner in near silence, the air heavy with unspoken words. As they cleared the table, Mrs. Grey’s mind was already working, her plan falling into place.
Later, as they retired to the study, Mrs. Grey made sure to stay close to her husband. The study was dimly lit, the soft glow of the desk lamp casting long shadows across the room. Mr. Grey sat down at his desk, the wood creaking slightly under his weight, and opened his laptop.
Mrs. Grey watched him for a moment before speaking. “I’ll just tidy up a bit while you finish, darling,” she said, her voice sweet and casual.
Mr. Grey nodded, barely looking up from the screen. “It will only take a few minutes,” he replied, already lost in his work.
A few minutes later, Mr. Grey excused himself to use the restroom, leaving his laptop open on the desk. Mrs. Grey’s eyes followed him as he left the room, and once she was sure he was out of earshot, she moved swiftly.
She sat down at the desk and opened a new tab on his browser, typing quickly. With a few clicks, she accessed the banking website and logged in with Mr. Grey’s credentials. Her hands were shaky as she navigated to the transfer section.
She created a new account under Nora’s name, but instead of linking it to Nora’s actual bank details, she linked it to an account she had opened in secret. The plan was simple, yet effective. Mr. Grey would think he was sending money to Nora, but in reality, it would go straight to Mrs. Grey’s hidden account.
Mrs. Grey paused for a moment, her finger hovering over the keyboard. The sound of the toilet flushing upstairs quickened her action. She completed the setup, then quickly closed the tabs and cleared the browser history. Just as Mr. Grey re-entered the room, she was back on her feet, pretending to dust a nearby shelf.
“All done?” she asked, turning to him with a smile after she noticed he wasn’t working on anymore.
Mr. Grey nodded, settling back into his chair. “Yes, just sent her some money. I’ll handle the rest when she finds an apartment.”
“Good,” Mrs. Grey replied, her smile widening as she turned away, satisfied. Everything was falling into place perfectly.
As she left the study and headed upstairs, Mrs. Grey felt a surge of triumph. She had taken the first step in cutting Nora off without raising suspicion. It was only a matter of time before Mr. Grey would start to doubt Nora, thinking she was deliberately avoiding him or spending the money unwisely. And when that time came, Mrs. Grey would be ready to widen the rift even further.
The smile that spread across her face was one of satisfaction and control. With Emma working on securing Jake’s affections and her own plan well underway, Mrs. Grey felt more powerful than she had in years.
As she prepared for bed, Mrs. Grey couldn’t help but feel a sense of excitement for what was to come. It was a dangerous game she was playing, but one she was determined to win.