“Uggh” Frances exclaimed as she threw the phone to the bed.
“What is it” Cael groaned as he turned to the side as he stirred from his sleep.
“How can you be sleeping so soundly when everything is going so wrong” she asked rushing to sit by his side.
“Because a pretty face does not just happen like that, I have to have my beauty sleep as well,” Cade said. She rolled her eyes and slapped his arm not too hard for it to hurt.
“Your pretty face would not mean anything if you lose to Cade”
“Why would you bring him up now? It is too early in the morning for you to be talking about him”
“Is it?” Abigail asked walking into the room. “To win a fight you need to know your enemy” she added going to pull open the windows.
“Mom? Really? Are you supporting Frances over your son?”
“Yes, I have to support the most reasonable person in the room” Abigail replied. Sometimes she wondered if her son had gotten switched out at birth. She had even been so extra that she had a DNA test done and it was a perfect match for herself and her husband.
“Are you saying I am unreasonable?” he asked her sitting in the bed.
“Well maybe if you were actually working like Frances here you would have time to think about what I think”
“What has Frances been doing?”
“Getting ready for your party and even trying to scope out Ophelia to see what we are dealing with,,” Abigail said with an eye roll.
“Why do we need to worry about Ophelia?” Cade asked.
Frances shook her head because she could not believe that Cade thought that way, Ophelia’s and Cade’s marriage was a strategic plan that ought to make both of them stronger. They had to make sure that Ophelia was not interested in those kinds of things else they needed to find a new plan.
“Having this conversation with you is a bit hurtful because if you can not tell why we need to worry about Ophelia then we shouldn’t be having this conversation” Frances said standing up.
“Where are you going?” he asked shifting in where he was sitting.
“Home,” she said turning to face him with a scowl on her face.
“But my party is tomorrow how can you go now?” he asked like a child who was getting abandoned by their parents.
“I know your party is tomorrow and I will be back here by morning” she said taking up her bag that she had packed up. Her mother had been so chilled about her spending her nights at the Vale house. She had even hinted that she would love it if they were to speed up the marriage.
“But…”
“But nothing,” Abigail said standing up. She picked up the pillow from the chair she sat on and threw it to him on the bed before adding “You will be late for work if you don’t get up now”
“I am the owner why do I need to go?” he groaned laying down.
“Because Cade goes in every day and if you were your grandfather you would pick the diligent one among the two,” Abigail said going to stand beside Frances.
“Nope, I will pick the legitimate child” Cael replied closing his eyes as he pulled the comforter to his body.
“Just get up,” Abihail said before turning to Frances and gesturing to the door. “I have some things to discuss why don’t we go to my room to discuss it before you leave?”
“Of course Mrs Vale” Frances replied giving Cade a warning glance before going out with her.
“I have told you to address me more casually, you can call me Abigail if mom is too pressured for you” Abigaila was glad that her son had been able to snatch up a girl like Frances for himself. She was smart and calculating even though she did not seem that way from the get-go. She had a simple life and she was sure that she would be a great addition to Cael’s life. At least with having her, he would have a better chance of standing against his brother.
“Can I?”
“I have told you this at least a million times,” Abigail said in a lighter tone.
“You have,”
“But you refused to” Abigail said throwing a glance her way.
“I am not used to it yet, I am sure I will get used to it soon”
“Okay,” Abigail said as she pushed the door open and allowed the girl to get in before she entered and closed the door. “I will not take your time because I am sure your mom is waiting for you”
“I have to be home to meet my sister’s husband, he is home for the first time this year”
“I hope they will be here for the party tomorrow”
“I already sent them an invitation but seeing that they were here on business I can not say for sure”
“Just do whatever it takes to get them here, it would add a bit of confidence for Cael”
Frances did not know if she wanted to be forever that woman who cleaned up after her husband but for now that was a risk she was willing to take. “I will do my best, what is this about?”
“It is about the guest list”
“Oh, what about it? Did I miss someone? Did I not get it right?”
“Oh no you did a fantastic job, I just thought of adding two people to it”
“Oh, who and who?”
“Cade’s ex-girlfriend Harper and Ophelia’s childhood friend Green,” Abigail said.
“Oh okay” Frances said. She saw the possibility of what she was trying to pull off.
“I will get their numbers to you so give him access,” Abigail said.
As Frances went home she began to think of how low she might have to stoop just to help the family out. “My hands are about to get dirty” she murmured to herself.
She looked out the window with a sigh before adding. “Maybe being called Lady of the Vale house would be enough compensation for me”
“It will be”