POV: Felix
I stood behind the tall bushes in the garden, my heart racing as I watched Mom and Victoria chatting like two besties that are just seeing each other after a long time.
I am well aware of Mom’s objection about my relationship with Victoria, it has been evident from the start. She had made numerous attempts to undermine our relationship, going as far as trying to pay Victoria off to leave me and telling Gramps terrible things about Victoria and her family.
I am well aware of all this and yeah, I pretend to be ignorant of this because she is my mom after all and I can easily put up with her complaints and nasty comments about our relationship.
But this… this is something else entirely…
I had my suspicions the moment saw them and that’s why I stayed behind to observe. Victoria May be smart and stubborn, but she has no idea what she is getting into. She is in the midst of predators that would do anything to get what they want.
I peeked through the leaves, trying to read their lips and find out what they were saying. But I was too far to hear a word, I could only stand there and watch. I saw a maid coming over with a bottle of unsealed wine and two glasses. She stood in front of both women opening the wine.
But just as she was about to pour the wine into the glasses, Mom suddenly threw herself in Victoria’s arms, hugging her so tight and telling her nice things, that’s what I thought anyway.
While she hugged Victoria, she made her turn her back to the maid and the drinks, and that was when a substance was slipped into Victoria’s glass without her knowledge. My eyes widened in shock as I realized the seriousness of the situation.
“What is she up to? What could this substance be, is the trying to kill her?” I thought in my mind. But that couldn’t be it, there was no way she would kill her in our family house without causing a scandal and getting the cops all over the place. It’s got to be something else and I need to find out exactly what she is planning to do with Vee.
My suspicions were confirmed when Mom began signaling someone in the distance, a dark figure lurking in the shadows beyond the garden. The figure by the garden suddenly sneaks out and pretends to be coming from the car park behind the garden.
It was a guy in a suit that was dressed like an accomplished businessman. I don’t recognize him, but he does look a bit familiar, I just don’t recall where I’ve met him before. He smiled as he approached Mom and Victoria. Both women smiled right back at him, exchanging pleasantries. He walked away from them after saying a few words and he walked into the building with the maid that had just served their drinks.
I hid behind the stairs and let them pass and then I followed behind slowly, tracing them to one of the empty guest rooms. I hid by the corner and waited, and after a few minutes, the maid came out and walked past me. I pulled her and dragged her into the next room,
“Tell me what you added to Victoria’s drink and what my mother is planning,” I told her sternly.
“I… I… I don’t know…”
“Before you think of lying to me, I need you to know that I recorded you on camera as you added a strange substance to her drink. I suggest you start talking before I call the cops. We both know that my mom will never stick out her neck for you. She will throw you under the bus and you will go to jail,” I threatened furiously.
She signed in frustration, and she pleaded with me not to get her in trouble with my mom or the cops. I agreed to keep the information a secret and she went ahead to tell me that my mom was planning to set Victoria up and get her thrown out of the family disgracefully.
Without a moment’s hesitation, I went down the stairs and strode purposefully towards the two women. Victoria looked up in surprise as I approached, a smile on her face that faltered when she saw the expression on mine.
“Get up and come with me,” I told her, my voice tinged with urgency and authority. Confusion clouded Victoria’s eyes, but she nodded, sensing the seriousness in my tone. She moved to stand up, but my mom pulled her back, holding her from walking away.
“How rude of you to interrupt us, son. I trained you better than this, you should be ashamed of yourself ” she scolded me sternly. If I didn’t have a reputation to maintain, I would have yelled back at her and told her what I just found out. But I had to pretend to be calm and shy in front of everyone.
“I’m so sorry to interrupt, Mom, but I need to speak with her privately for a moment.” I told her politely as I held Victoria’s hand, pulling her away slowly.
“What is the matter with you, why are you being paranoid?” Victoria asked me angrily, pulling her hand away from mine and glaring at me furiously.
“Your mom is making an effort to be nice to me, please don’t ruin it for me. She has already made plans for the evening and I plan to go along with it and make her happy.” She added. I was taken aback by her determination, it seems she wanted to please my mom so badly and I don’t know why.
“You need to come with me right now!
Stop arguing and just…” I had to stop when Mom intercepted us, a cold smile playing on her lips.
“Raphael, dear, what’s the matter?” she asked innocently, though her eyes betrayed her true intentions. I fixed her a fierce gaze, and I wanted to tell at her and say,
“I saw what you did, Mother. I saw you trying to harm Victoria.” But I couldn’t get the word out, not when my mom was looking for ways to enjoy and frustrate me. I can’t let anyone know that I am twice smarter than them. If they think I’m being wise and careful around them, they will improvise and I don’t want that.