1 HER SCHEMES

"Arianna!".

From behind her, a man's anxious voice was heard.

Arianna, with her lovely long black hair dancing with the wind didn't even turn to look at the man who all of a sudden appeared from behind. There was no trace of surprise in her voice as she laughed while standing behind a tree while watching something from a distance. "You're here, Yago...", she whispered, not bothering to take her eyes off from the show that she was currently watching.

From a distance, a girl with her hair tied in a ponytail was kneeling on the ground, crying. She was soaken wet from head to toe. An older woman was in front of her, scolding her non-stop.

"I can't believe how shameless you are! How dare you cheat on my son? I knew it! There's really nothing good about you. Jayden sure is blind to like someone as dirty as you!"

The girl cried pitifully. She was shivering with her wet hair and clothes plastered to her body. The sight can break anybody's heart, but not Arianna. She can not feel even an ounce of pity. There's only hatred in her heart for the girl slumped to the ground.

"Arianna, what happened?". She heard Yago's voice again from behind.

"My sister cheated on Jayden, and Aunt Claire found out about it. They argued and Belle accidentally fell in the swimming pool. My poor sister almost drowned... what a pity!" She said with a sneer. 'It's a pity she didn't die.'

After Mrs. Claire left her sister, Arianna finally turned around, intending to leave the scene. She was wearing a smile, but it was cold and mirthless.

"You did that..."

Arianna stopped in her track when she heard that. She throw him glance and then nodded.

"Yes." she confirmed. "Yesterday, I saw Belle and Roy chatting. I only planned on taking pictures of them together, who knows Roy would have so much courage as to hug my sister and kiss her!" Arianna chuckled, remembering the nice pictures she was able to capture and send to Aunt Claire this morning. "Do you think I should send those to Jayden, too?"

Yago was Arianna's childhood friend. Her mother took him in when he was only 10 years old. From then on, the orphan stayed with her like a brother. When her mother married Carl Reid, she moved into the Reid mansion with Arianna and Yago. Five years ago, Arianna's mother died, and from then on, Yago took care of her even more. He knows her the most, care about her the most, and so she kept no secret from him.

"Do you really have to do that?" She heard Yago say with a sigh. "The woman doesn't deserve your attention."

Arianna frowned.

"This is payback. Because of her, dad is forcing me to leave the country. She just wants to have Jayden all to herself! That bitc*!"

Deep hatred was evident in her voice.

Jayden was supposed to be hers. He's the love of her life. She met him first! Arabella has no right to be his fiance!

"You said it yourself. Your dad is forcing you to leave. I think we should focus on that matter first."

Arianna nodded. She refuse to leave. She refuse to let Arabella win.

.....

"Jayden," Arianna halted her steps when she heard that name being mentioned. She turned and saw a girl anxiously talking to the phone. "Please... you need to believe me. It's not what you think."

Arianna's lips curled upward. It turns out that Jayden has already found out about it. She suddenly felt like she should take this chance to meet Jayden.

From upstairs, she watched the girl in the living room nervously pace back and forth. This girl was Jane's daughter. The mistress Jane who seduced her mother's fiance. Three months before her mother and Carl's wedding, Jane showed up claiming she was pregnant with Carl's child. As a result, Carl eloped together with Jane. It was too late when her mother found out that she was also pregnant. Carl was nowhere to be found.

Jane was a bitc*,and so was her daughter. She hated the two of them. Although Jane has been dead for seven years already, Arianna's hatred still exists. Whenever she sees this sister of hers, her blood boil as if only Belle's death can pacify her heart.

.....

Jayden lifted his head when he heard the door push open. He first saw a pair of fair legs walking towards him. He then looked straight to the girl's face, her wavy long hair let down, and her off-the-shoulder dress adds to her suductive air. She met his eyes for a while before looking around his study room.

"I haven't been here for a long time. How long has it been?..."

"Do you need something?" Jayden cut her words. It was obvious that he's in a bad mood.

Arianna walked closer to him. She sat on the table in front of him and smiled.

"Why are you upset?" She lazily cupped her left cheek with her palm.

"Let me guess. Is it because of my sister?"

"Tell me what you need and then leave." He said, looking away from the tempting girl in front of her.

"What's the hurry? I'm here to help you!" she stated. "Tell me what's bothering you and I'll help you deal with it!"

Jayden studied her expression. Arianna's affection for him wasn't a secret. She was always pretty blunt about it. She has been chasing after him since she was a teenager. Honestly, Arianna was a very gorgeous and outstanding girl. It's just that, her proud and direct personality was not his cup of tea. She preferred the shy and naive type like Arabella more.

Having reminded of the girl that he likes, his eyes darkened.

"What can you do to help?".

Arianna chuckled.

"Well, if you want Roy gone, then I'll take care of him for you. You know, i kind of like him for my sister but since you seemed to hate him, I can deal with him so he won't bother my sister again..."she stopped for a while, watching how Jayden's expression changes. "Ofcourse, if you aren't that ruthless and only wants to get back at my sister, then you could just kiss me, and you'll be even!"

Jayden stared at her. The truth is, it was just a joke. She was just trying to cheer him up. But the man didn't answer. He kept silent for a long while.

In the end, he just nodded.

Arianna raised her brows.

What's the meaning of that?

Was he giving her a signal to silence Roy? Now that's interesting!

"What if Belle's not my problem?" he asked. "I'm having difficulties in the company, lately. Can you also deal with that?".

Arianna smiled. It's been a long time since they last talk like this: like friends. Eversince Jayden dated Arabella, he started avoiding her for the sake of Belle's feelings.

"That's easy. You can just marry me, and I will be your back up. You know how great my influence is!" she bragged.

Jayden looked down. He then stood up and then patted her head. "Go home. I'll think about it.."

.....

I'll think about it? What did Jayden mean by that?

Arianna shook her head. She was currently lying on her bed, hugging a white pillow while staring at the ceiling.

Perhaps it was nothing. Jayden was obviously exhausted. Maybe it's true that there are a lot of company matters that're troubling him. His handsome face was now pale and look fatigued.

It's been so long now since she first met Jayden. It was love at first sight. He was her private tutor when she was in highschool. Eventually, she followed him and studied in the university he was in. After Jayden finished collage, he returned to his hometown. They only met again after Arianna moved in with her father. She thought of looking for Jayden, but then she met her sister's fiance....who turned out to be Jayden himself.

She has loved him for such a long time now. How could she give up?

While she was in a daze, Arianna's phone lit up and vibrated. She was reluctant to talk to anybody, and so she ignored the phone. Just when she was about to turn it off, she saw the caller ID, and jolted.

"Hello Jayde!" she greeted after picking up the call. "What's up!".

For a moment, there was no reply on the other end. She thought he called her by accident so she was about to hung up when she suddenly heard Jayden's voice.

"Deal with it." Jayden said vaguely.

Arianna furrowed her brows.

"Deal with what?".

"Roy."... "... destroy him."

....

Destroy Roy? Arianna didn't think the kind and gentle Jayden had a cruelness in his heart, too. It was just a kiss. Should he be so petty?

But... nevermind. Although it was initially a joke, she can't take her words back now. She needs to help Jayden, but just how would she do that? It's kind of tricky.

'Ahh... Belle!"

She smiled when she remembered her sister. She'll be very useful tonight!