Man Plans....

Shortly after Theia left the room, Theodore turned to his wife, his face twisted in annoyance.

"Just what the hell do you think you were doing? You know what happens next is a pivotal moment in the plan, right? We need to capitalize on the momentum it gives us, and the next few months will be the best time for it. Did you suddenly forget that? Or was your brain flooded at the time? "

Natalia leisurely turned her head, staring at him as if he were a clown, eyebrows raised. 

Theodore felt his eyes twitching again. This damned woman.

She smiled at him, asking, "Are you an idiot?"

"Excuse me?"

"You keep saying our plan, but did I agree to this? No I didn't. "

"You knew what it was and you didn't obje---"

She looked at him as if he were an idiot. "Just because I didn't object doesn't mean I agree. In fact, I told you at the time that I didn't think this was a smart idea. What did you do? You acted like I was air, as usual, since you know best. So don't harass me with your crap now. You do what you need to do, and I'll watch this dumb idea go up in flames. "

"Go up in flames? It's already going as-"

"Furthermore, it was your shitty idea to have me be mean to Theia instead of at least being standoffish or neutral. How did that turn out? She won't take any suggestions or anything from me. Did you not think it would be better for her to like us? She isn't like Alex. She didn't grow up with us to give us a modicum of respect. For how savvy and scheming you are as a businessman, these little things seem to escape your notice," she said, gathering her things. "In any case, you still need to put on a show, don't you? Let's get this over with quickly. I'm tired. "

As he watched her tidy her things, he wondered just when she started treating him like this. Was it a few years ago when he brought that child back? Is that what has her upset? He thought she would be glad to be mean to her, but it seems she'd have rather ignored her existence. Perhaps it is that, then? Not that he cared about her feelings per se, but he still needed her family's connections. Alexander would be able to obtain them if she stopped helping him, but it wasn't time for him to take over yet. Also, since when did she start calling him Alex? Just as he was about to ask her about it, there came a pounding noise on the door before the manager burst in, panicked. "Mr. and Mrs. Lexington, it's your daughter."

**************

Ignoring the speed limit, Alex drove as fast as he could. The more he drove, the angrier he got. He thought back to what his grandfather said. 

"Alex, listen. They want to arrange for her to be kidnapped and then rescued by that boy from the Dupree family. Their plan is to stage it as though the kidnappers accidentally clipped the Dupree boy's vehicle in a rush, causing him to get angry and have his car chase them. There he'd realise that someone was being held captive and actively force them to stop by driving them to the side of the road with his security vehicles. When he saves her, she'll feel obligated to him, and they'll then use that as a stepping stone to get her to marry him."

What type of shitty idea is that? It was so full of holes that he found it hard to believe his mother had any part in it. His mother might be cold and scheming, but she was incredibly intelligent, so she would never make a stupid plan like this where so many things could go wrong. She also won't endanger anyone she's using or has plans to use. This was definitely that father of theirs. He fancied himself so smart and could do it all by himself. People buy it, but without his mother making up for his faults and shitty plans constantly and her family's connections, he wouldn't be where he is now. He might have done decently, but it's obvious by the fact that since he took over the Lexington Corporation, it only started growing a year after she married him.

The more he thought about it, the more he felt like his guess was right. As he slowed for a red light, he checked his phone to see that Theia had finally called him back, but he missed it. He tried calling her again, but it just kept ringing. He was really worried now. He was less than ten minutes away. He should be able to make it in time, but just in case he didn't, he needed to let them start now. The first thing was to kidnap the 'saviour' himself. Hehe, want to make a move on his sister? Dream on. It was one thing to openly court her, but this? Not at all. He most definitely wouldn't allow this. 

The Duprees would be the ones to pay the price now. In particular, those parents of the little 'saviour'. He wondered how shocked they'd be when he requested compensation for what their child tried to do. Particularly since they have always been fair and above board in everything they do. How terrible life would be for Ezra Dupree after it's exposed? While his parents were well-known for being just, they were equally and famously known for how volumes they were. Even to their own children. In fact, if they got to know what was about to happen today, they would immediately and publicly disown him. Ezra's father had disowned his own sister because she decided to marry someone who had a Juvie record. He had changed his life around but they refused to have any dealings whatsoever with someone who committed a crime, even if it was as a teenager.

Perhaps he should have Ezra pay up the money instead and keep this as a threat hanging over his head like a knife, he mused as the light finally turned green. For now, let's just grab the bastard and put his people into the vehicles that would be used.