Chapter Seventeen

He shot him a look that said she did not appreciate the words he had just uttered but Travis returned a more defiant look to her. It was just typical.

With an exasperated sigh, Vanessa muttered. "What do you want me to do? It's like everything is suddenly crashing down and I'm watching helplessly from the sidelines!"

Her voice began to break, just like her heart had been broken a few hours back at The House of The Federation when she learnt what had happened.

"I cannot believe Pixie could betray me this way!" Vanessa continued. "I mean, I knew she was up to no good. But this? It's too extreme!"

Travis shook his head slowly in agreement with her words.

"Sadly, Pixie has outsmarted us in this game, but we have to find a way to stop her and Vlad," He said, his voice devoid of any emotions.

Vanessa closed her eyes slowly and reopened them, as if refocusing his eyes on Travis would change what she had just heard. Her eyes were looking at him inquiringly.

"A way to stop her and Vlad? How exactly do we do that?"

Travis smiled slowly. He usually did that when he had a mischievous plan up his sleeves. Vanessa had a feeling he was about to voice out one of those plans.

"The Doomsday plan. This is the best time to use it."

Vanessa's face turned pale as she stared back at him. "No way! I never imagined it would get to that. I mean__I thought about it but, I really don't think Vlad will be foolish enough to buy it."

"Let me handle that," Travis said quickly. "The plan is foolproof. Plus he has no idea what we have in store for him. I say we take him by surprise. If we tarry any longer, our plan will lack the element of surprise we want it to have."

Vanessa's voice cracked. "Are__are you sure? I don't want to end up__"

"We know Vlad is not working alone," Travis cut in. "He's working with Pixie. And for all we know, Carlo could even be a traitor too!"

Vanessa began to argue but something about the way he looked at her stopped her.

"If we do not seize back control now, we may never be able to do so again. I just want what's best for us."

Vanessa considered his words for a moment and felt strength return to her heart. Her pupils seemed to recede into her head. She had the passionless look of an insect.

"I will tolerate anything but sabotage. This is a war that Vlad has brought upon himself and I'm willing to fight him with all I've got," Her eyes fixated on a pleased Travis as she muttered her last words. "Let's do this!"

Travis began to smile again. Just then, the duo shot a look at the door as they heard a sharp knock on it.

"Come in!" Vanessa commanded the person outside.

Automatically, the security system of the door began to open, giving way for the outsider to walk in.

It was only Gregory Jefferson, the old wily butler who had served Vanessa in this house for many years. He had an uncertain look on his face as he appeared before Vanessa.

"What is it?" She asked sending him a questioning glare.

Gregory Jefferson hesitated at first. But with Vanessa's stare boring into his eyes, the words flew out of his lips.

"You have a visitor, ma'am."

Vanessa exchanged puzzled looks with Travis.

"Who is it?"

She had a feeling she wasn't going to like his answer.

*****

Elsa Winthrop, the younger daughter of the late billionaire and politician, Gary Winthrop was the explicit image of her father, even though her feminine features greatly distinguished her from her father.

But when compared with her sister, they were like two sides of a pod. Where Vanessa was slow in making decisions and usually gave much thought to every action she took, Elsa was more spontaneous, always acting at the spur of the moment and barely thinking about the long-term implications of her actions.

It was this trait in her that had made her head out of town with the speed of light and get to the city of Washington DC to iron out things with her sister. The last time they'd met, it hadn't exactly ended very well.

Now, seated in her sister's Victorian-style sitting room, her mind was clouded with thoughts of where to begin from. Physically, her eyes tried to maintain their focus on the attractive paintings in the house.

The Picasso on the wall opposite where she was seated caught her attention the most. But it was short-lived as her ears picked the sound of approaching footsteps from the lobby.

She could see her sister walk into the living room with her minion. Elsa sat straight at once, getting herself ready for the argument that was about to ensue between them.

"___Yes, I understand," Vanessa was saying on the phone. She stopped at a spot and listened to the voice on the phone, then she passed a condescending look at Elsa and muttered again info the phone.

"Please, do me a favor and drop the charges. This is bad publicity for me. Surely, you of all people can understand that."

Her expression changed as she paused to listen to the voice on the other side of the line.

"I'm sorry, what?" Her brows became furled. "I have to pay $50,000 to buy your silence? You've got to be kidding me."

Elsa watched her closely, trying hard to pick every word she said. But nothing made sense yet.

"I'll pay it," Vanessa said after a moment's pause. "Send me the account details I need to make the transfer to after this call."

A moment later, she mumbled a 'thank you' and took the phone away from her ears.

She turned to face her sister, a mad glare on her face. Elsa knew at once that she was not going to like what was coming.