"What do you mean didn't go to plan? You didn't win her over? Did you even try?? Well what am I supposed to do now? You were SUPPOSED to seduce her. I thought you said she was practically undressing you with her eyes at the charity fête! ARGH whatever, as long as she sticks to Ryan like glue there is no way she's not going to get in my way!"

"You know what, I am THIS close to being invited to the Manning-Davenport gala and I NEED to use Ryan to get me over the line. There's no other way and there's no time to think of a new strategy."

"Look, I'm just going to resort to an old trick I should have used ages ago. I know someone that can get me these drugs that act as a powerful aphrodisiac amongst other effects. It'll be easy. I've done it a million times, just like when that bitch thought she could steal Tanner away from me.

I'll do it on Prom night. Trust me, he'll never see it coming; he's way too gullible and naïve for that."

"NO, I'm not ACTUALLY going to sleep with him, I'm just going to make him think we did. Throw a bunch of booze into the mix and by the time we get to the after party he'll be so intoxicated, the whole night will be a blur. I'll take him back to my house, he'll wake up in my bed, I'll tell him it was my first time, start the waterworks and guilt him into having to take responsibility over what happened."

"Oh please, stop being such a scaredy cat. So what if you've never gone this far before? Maybe that's why you failed to make her fall for you. You lack conviction."

"What? Maybe I should have been at the party on Wednesday night to help you?! I don't think so! I already upheld my end of the bargain, so this is all on you."

__________________________________

RYAN'S POV

Me?

I was in shock. I really had no idea what to make of all of this.

Why would she ever think that she could use me as a social stepping stone? Did I really seem like that much of a pushover? Or had her mind become so twisted up in her ambition that she wasn't thinking straight anymore?

Because how could anyone be so nonchalant about blatantly taking advantage of somebody like that?

'Psychopath' is a strong word, but it was becoming less and less farfetched with each new fact we learned about Melissa Proud.

She had sunk to a new low, and if it was hard enough to look her in the eye after everything that she'd done before, it was 10 times harder now. I used to think that beneath that saccharine sweet smile was an ice-cold heart, but now I'm sure she doesn't even have one.
Regardless, I still had to do my best to act like I knew nothing; to be as 'gullible' and 'naïve' as she apparently thinks I am.

Rose had told me Zoë was certain it was a guy on the phone, and the fact that she mentioned some kind of bargain and a party on Wednesday night left me without a doubt, the person she was speaking to – no, yelling at, was Très. It was crucial that I stuck closer than ever to Melissa to find out anymore pieces of information she might let slip about their plan. I was running out of time; school had already ended for the day and I only had this afternoon shopping at the mall left before Prom tomorrow night.

"So the Manning-Davenport Gala is coming up," I casually brought up into the conversation as we walked past countless clothing stores. I could sense the excitement suddenly radiating from every hair on her head. "Have you heard anything about it before?" I asked innocently.

"What haven't I heard about it!" She exclaimed enthusiastically, "It's only the most talked about charity ball of the year not to mention it's super exclusive and you can't get in without an invitation."

"Yeah, it's true it's exclusive, but I'm going, and I'm allowed to bring a guest." I dangled the metaphorical carrot in front of her head. "I'd been thinking about asking Ava to go with me, but after seeing you guys at the competition I'm not so sure anymore..."

My acting skills must have improved if the Cheshire-like grin that appeared on her face was anything to go by.

"Of course." she agreed wholeheartedly, "I completely understand, I felt the same way after seeing her lacklustre performances. This was a dancing competition and she tried to distract the judges from her flawed routine with her singing, not to mention that her so-called 'ballet' choreography was the worst rendition of the Dying Swan I've ever seen! I don't know why Très wanted to pick her over me to invite to the gala."

At last, she slipped.

"So you do know Très Walters? Yesterday I thought you said you'd never met him" I kept my tone light and curious as I began to pull on that loose thread.

"I – um, no we haven't been formally introduced but I uh, overheard him speaking to some people when I sat with his sister Paris at the last debutante meeting.." She managed to save her façade as she sipped the mango smoothie she was holding nervously.

I could sense I was heading into hot water and I didn't want to push her any further for now.

"So your dad is the chairman of the hospital board right?" I said brightly, quickly changing the subject.

"Yes he is, and has been for the last 5 years." A wave of relief washed over her features before her face glowed with renewed pride. "Why do you ask?"

"Oh it's just that The Society is a prominent benefactor for the hospital as well and I just thought it would be really cool to have yet another ally becoming a new addition soon." I smiled and gestured to her. "I'm sure you're probably well aware of all the charity work your family is involved in."

"Of course, it's my job to know. We organise the cancer research marathons, the children's ward Christmas carols, the intern program for gifted teens, and the list goes on." She bragged. Even if she was far from having a halo above her head, at least her father seemed to genuinely care about people in need.

"That's awesome! Do you know the people at the hospital that help organise all of these things?" I attempted to prolong our conversation, but I was fast running out of things to say that didn't involve her reputation, The Society, and what kind of cuff-links she thought I should wear with my suit.

"Pfft, no not really." She sniggered. "I don't actually go there that often, only on the actual day of the charity events where I help my dad cut the ribbon or make a toast."

The pit of my stomach felt unsettled as I listened to her false compassion and disregard of all the good that these events were intended for.

"Well, I'm sure the guests at the gala would be delighted to hear about all of your kind efforts anyway." I forced out as believably as I could. "Especially the Mannings, they are also extensively involved with charity work back where they live in New York."

"Actually Ryan I haven't been invited to the gala yet but if you wanted to ask me I – wait a minute, you know the Manning family personally?!" Melissa suddenly exclaimed.

"Uh yes you could say that. Jonathan Manning is a close friend of my father and my brother and I know his sons quite well." I replied carefully. I wasn't sure why this information was so important to her but I didn't want to give anything to her so freely; not when I could practically see the cogs turning in her head.

"So you know Darcy Manning? The Darcy Manning who is studying business at Harvard and is set to inherit the family enterprise?" she demanded urgently as she gripped my arm.

"How do you know that about him?" I asked her with concern. Darcy was a good friend of mine as well as his brother Will. And while Darcy was 2 years older than me, Will was 2 years younger. The Mannings lived in New York, but our families met up several times on vacation and our fathers had been friends ever since they went to college together many years ago. Now, what Melissa said about Darcy was true, but how and why she knew anything about him made me instantly suspicious.

"Nevermind how I know of him! He's all that my friends in New York ever talk about, not to mention how incredibly hot he is, and also very single." She explained impatiently with an irritated huff.

"I didn't realise he was so famous?" I responded, though my words fell on deaf ears.

"Do you know if he's coming to The Gala? Do you think you could introduce us?!" she demanded urgently before I could say anything more.

"Well actually I don't think he will be attending The Gala, just his parents. You see he goes to Harvard with Brad and I think it will be held during their mid-semester assessment period and – "

"Melissa! Hi! Melissa over here!" A loud, energetic voice suddenly interrupted.

"Oh crap." I heard her swear under her breath as a gangly middle-schooler with a mass of brown curls atop his head came over to us. He was wearing the all too familiar Winston Prep middle school uniform with a backpack loosely slung over his shoulder, and from the badges pinned to the lapel of his blazer I could tell he was in the 9th grade.

"Stuart." Melissa greeted him frostily as he flashed her a puppy-dog-like smile before turning his attention to me, curiosity in his chocolate brown eyes.

"Hi I'm Ryan," I introduced myself as I reached out to shake his hand. "Melissa and I go to school together."

"Cool. I'm Stuart, Melissa's boyfriend." He stated with a playful grin as he shook my hand enthusiastically.

Boyfriend?!

Melissa was dating a 15 year old?

"UM I don't think so!" She interjected immediately.

"Fineee." He rolled his eyes at her before turning back to me, "I'm her future boyfriend."

I couldn't hold back a chuckle at his resilience.

"So how did you guys first meet?" I asked, genuinely curious about how this kid decided to set his sights on this wasp of a Queen Bee.

"STUART don't you have somewhere else to be right now?" Melissa demanded tersely.

"Huh? Nah not today. I don't work at the hospital on Thursday afternoons since the head I.T. guy is in and they don't really need me to do much." He replied honestly.

The gears whirring in my mind suddenly kicked it up a notch.

"I thought I told you not to speak to me in public." She whisper-hissed at him, her arms folded so tightly that her nails were digging into her skin.

"Yeah but that was before though, now you owe me. So when's our first date gonna be?" Stuart asked with a matter-of-fact tone.

This chance meeting was getting really interesting.

"First date?" I repeated innocently as I looked to Melissa and tried to hide my mirth.

She was fuming on the inside, but she still managed to give me a tight-lipped smile before staring daggers at Stuart. "Ryan would you excuse us for a minute?"

"Sure." I obliged reluctantly and watched them walk a few steps away. I was so close to figuring out why she wanted to keep Stuart's mouth shut.

"Didn't I say I'd message you after Friday night?!" Melissa screeched.

Evidently they hadn't moved quite out of earshot.

"Yeah, yeah Friday. All you ever talk about is Friday! Why can't you tell me what's so important Friday? I've already done everything you've asked me to so why wait?" Stuart whined obstinately.

Friday? As in tomorrow?

But while Stuart may have been clueless, I knew exactly what was happening tomorrow night; Prom.

I felt sorry for the poor guy as I watched Melissa finally manage to shoo him away and walk back towards me. He didn't seem to be aware of the things Melissa capable of, or the fact that she was trying to manipulate him, (albeit struggling).

"Sorry about that," she apologised for once, "I barely know that kid but for some reason he thinks I've agreed to go on a date with him."

"Like that would actually ever happen!" she added with a snicker.

There was way more to this story about Stuart's involvement with Melissa, but I wasn't convinced that it had anything to do with Ava or Melissa's plans for Prom. I didn't want to start becoming paranoid and coming up with conspiracy theories. And plus, no matter how I look at it, I just don't think a kid like Stuart could be involved in this drug ring. He must have been just caught up in another one of Melissa's grand schemes.

____________________________________________________

I quickly dropped Melissa home soon after our encounter with Stuart, making an excuse that I had some family stuff to do at home. This wasn't entirely untrue however, as I was messaging Brad to let him know that I was about to head to the hospital to meet with the CEO. I was going to pass on some beneficiary documents on behalf of my grandma, as well as that recommendation letter she wrote for Ava's mom after finding out Lisa had once operated on (and saved the life of) a close friend of hers.

I hadn't managed to tell him about all of this newfound information we'd gathered in the span of just one day, but I promised to call and update him after I got home; you have to admit, this isn't the easiest thing to explain in a single Facebook message!

I walked through the glass sliding doors of the hospital and was greeted by the scent of high-strength hand sanitiser and the faint beeping of various medical machines. The receptionist directed me to take the elevator to the 4th floor where the administrative offices were and sit in the waiting area until the CEO came out to call me into his office.

My eyes wandered around my new surroundings; sterile white walls, worn blue carpet, open office cubicles facing away from me with thin partitions separating the employees. And maybe 10 minutes had passed before I began to get lost in my thoughts:

Even after spending all afternoon with Melissa, I still couldn't uncover any information about the drug ring, or what Très was trying to do with Ava in that picture.

"See, it's all there – 108 complaints."

"Good. I had to see the numbers with my own eyes."

I overheard a snippet of conversation from some employees in the cubicle nearest to the waiting area.

Funny how I was thinking so much about Melissa and her schemes (and how sorry I felt for that poor kid Stuart), that I even thought the office workers' voices sounded the same as theirs.

'You're starting to go crazy Ryan' I told myself with an internal laugh. 'Why would Melissa be at the hospital? And I think I remember Stuart doesn't intern today."

The elevator on the other side of the floor made a 'ding' as it opened to reveal a portly gentleman with a scruffy brown beard and a short-sleeved shirt beneath a thin wool sweater-vest.

"Stuart? What are you doing here, you don't work Thursdays?" he exclaimed.

Wait. They were actually here?

"Oh! Mr head I.T. guy Sir!" Sure enough, a very startled Stuart's head suddenly appeared from behind the cubicle partition...followed by our all too familiar red-headed enemy.

I thought she said she never usually visits the hospital!

"I was just, uh, you see my girlfriend here," He began as his arm shot out and pulled Melissa close to his side, "really wanted to come and see what I do here at the hospital! She's been itching to come after all the stuff I've told her about how great the I.T. department is here."

Melissa's mouth had dropped open as she registered what was happening.

"Oh is that so?" The head of I.T. responded good-naturedly as he sipped from his paper coffee cup.

Stuart gave Melissa's waist a tight squeeze as if she were one of those talking stuffed animal toys, and true enough she reluctantly spoke up.

"Yes I've wanted to visit my....boyfriend...at the hospital I.T department to see how he organises the databases. It's such an important job." she barely managed to disguise the distaste in her tone.

"What a lovely girlfriend you have Stuart, you two enjoy yourselves then! I'm going to get another snack." The head I.T. guy said as he shuffled off in search of a vending machine.

"We will!" They chorused as they stuck their heads out as far as possible to watch him turn the corner.

"What the f*ck Stuart!" Melissa hissed as she pushed him away.

"You know that was the only reasonable explanation for why we're here right now!" Stuart rebutted, though somewhat self-satisfied.

"Ugh! Whatever, I saw the complaints against her Mom so let's get out of here before more people start asking questions."

"You still haven't told me what this girl did to you to make you hate her so much." He reminded her.

I'd like to know the answer to that as well.

"...Everyone just seems to like her, and she's done nothing to deserve it. I've worked my size 6 ass off to perfect my reputation, the people I associate with, the lifestyle that should make others wish they were me. But she just waltzes around breaking the rules and saying and doing whatever she wants! But STILL even the teachers somehow like her, somehow guys trail after her when she couldn't care less about them!" Melissa seethed.

My blood boiled hotter with every new insult she spat out about Ava.

"Oh Is that all? So you're just jealous then?" Stuart asked casually.

"Is that all?" she mimicked scathingly. "No of course that's not all! But I'm not wasting anymore time just standing here and telling you information that's none of your concern. Let's go. Now!"

I'd been listening so intently that I was startled when the hospital CEO's door finally opened, and she ushered me inside.

"Ryan it's so lovely of you to drop off these documents for your grandmother." The CEO complimented me as I took a seat.

"It's no problem at all," I assured her as I passed the paperwork over.

"The paediatric ward will definitely benefit from these upgrades."

"Of course, those children need all the help they can get." I agreed wholeheartedly as we engaged in small talk and pleasantries for the next few minutes.

Mentally, I was still reeling from the conversation I'd overheard between Melissa and Stuart. If what I heard was true, then this was solid proof that she wasn't bluffing at all. This was evidence that she really was willing to go as far as to sabotage Ava's family.

The conversation was waning, and I was still debating whether I should bring up or not say anything at all. On the one hand, it would jeopardise Stuart's place in the intern program. But on the other...well, as much as I could argue that he was just a kid, he clearly knew that Melissa's actions were motivated by spite; and yet he still aided her.

"Well thank you for coming Ryan, I won't take up anymore of your time." The CEO concluded our meeting with a smile. "Was there anything else you needed to discuss for your Grandmother?"

I made up my mind.

"Well there is one thing that I need to inform you of," I began hesitantly, forcing myself to sound more confident. "It may all just be a misunderstanding, but I believe there is something suspicious going on in the I.T. department..."

_________________________________________________

I was exhausted by the time I finally got home from the hospital. I didn't mention one word about Ava nor her mother, nor Rose's. I didn't mention Melissa and I didn't even give Stuart's name. All I did say was that I happened to see a kid in a middle school uniform scrolling through what appeared to be the private profiles of hospital staff somewhat suspiciously, and that his behaviour became edgy whenever anyone walked past.

The CEOs eyebrows had immediately knitted together with concern. She seemed to know instantly who I was talking about as she informed me that only the senior I.T. staff should have access to that kind of confidential material. She had assured me they would launch an investigation into this matter, but I caught myself thinking that maybe it was already too late.

Prom was tomorrow. In less than 24 hours.

Maybe everything I had tried to accomplish had been for nothing. Maybe I convinced myself a little too well that I had this under control. Was this really the best I could do for Ava?

As I rolled over in my bed and stared up at the ceiling, I reluctantly came to accept that I really didn't know what to do anymore, or how to react to the things that were about to go down tomorrow night.

But even if I had no clue what to do next, I knew someone who would.

I reached out to my bedside table and fumbled around for my glasses and my phone.

2am.

Would he still be up? No, there's no way he'd be bothered to answer at this time of night.

"Ryan? Are you ok? What's wrong?" Brad answered worriedly almost immediately to my surprise.

"Uh, hi Brad. Sorry it's so late, I was going to call you tomorrow morning but...I don't think I'll be able to sleep if I don't tell you now." My voice cracked. I was so exhausted, and tired of thinking too much.

It felt really good to tell my brother everything; To share how crazy these last few weeks had been, how much was weighing on my mind, how unsure of what to do next I was.

I could feel his silent rage building as I recounted all of the new information we had uncovered about Melissa's plans.

"Listen carefully Ryan, we have to do this right – "He began to explain, his tone low and deathly serious.

Looks like there will be a Phase 2 of The Plan after all.

******************************************
Happy New Year everyone!!!

2018 is the year I've decided to strive to achieve a lot of personal goals, and that includes finally finishing this story and starting new ones!
Fingers crossed you see a lot more new stuff from me this year and I hope that starting the 1st half of my Masters doesn't get in the way of my writing too much!

Enjoy and don't forget to vote and comment!

Take care,
Cerise xx :)