Ethan looked around the large venue with a mix of feelings and then glanced at Lynette as he straightened his cufflinks, "You have to admit, she really does have taste. She loved grand sets and it is quite visible here as well. She's set up the venue beautifully for the two of us."
His voice lowered as he leaned in and almost whispered the last two words into her ear. Lynette, sent him a look that did not look pleased though, as she her gaze swept through the room.
Lynette stood beside him, her champagne glass held loosely between two fingers as her gaze swept the room below with a sour face. Yes, it was beautiful and much more grander than anything she could have imagined for herself. Vanessa had gone all out and spent lavishly for her engagement.
She should feel smug and happy about it. After all, this was the battlefield where she would gain victory. But her mood soured with only one thing.
In the middle of the gleaming and cascading waves of fabric and flowers, suspended above the chandelier where the two letters wound around each other. E and V. Ethan and Vanessa.
She hated it. She had shared her Ethan, the love of her life, with that Vanessa for so many years that now that the victory was close, she could not bear it any longer. She wanted to tear out those words! Only her name should be with Ethan.
Ethan caught the sourness on her face and followed her gaze upward to the intertwined letters as a slow smile spread across his face.
"You're jealous," he murmured as he leaned in close and whispered in a low voice.
Lynette's jaw tightene as she refused categorically, "I am not."
"You are." As he said the words, he shifted closer, and his arm found her waist with the practiced ease. His lips brushed her ear. "I like it when you're jealous. Makes me want to fu*k you."
She stiffened at the words and turned her head haughtily, as if displeased at his words. But inside, she could not help but smile. She had this man under her control. Then, as if worried about the closeness, she said coyly, "Stop it. You seem to happy today. Not even worried if she sees us. What will you do if she sees you like this and decides to not get engaged? The entire plan will fall apart if she figures out what's happening before we are ready to spring it."
Ethan glanced around the room then and shook his head, "Who cares. Even if she figures out now, she cannot do anything about it. She will have to bear the humiliation. Also, despite her business sense, she does not have a high EQ. She hasn't discovered a single thing in three years. I doubt she will know anything now. Also, I can barely stand to wait any longer, if I'm being honest. I want to be with you.
Lynette rolled her eyes, even as she teased him with a hint of shyness on her face, " Ethan. You've got a sweet tongue. But, tell me, do you want to claim me or the Grant fortune?"
He laughed softly, the sound genuine and unbothered, as he answered," Is there a difference? But, if you insist, then I will tell you. I want to claim... you, of course. Always you. Don't forget, the Grant fortune would have come to me either way. With or without you."
Lynette said nothing at those words, as she turned her eyes away, as if feeling shy. His expression though had hardened, and a cold look came over.
Would it have? If he had married Vanessa, would the Grant fortune have gone to him? Of course not. Despite all the sacrifices Vanessa had made for Ethan, she would never have relinquished her hold on the Grant Studios. Vanessa might be plain and non assuming, but she was not a woman who let go of things she considered his. She knew this with personal experience.
And Ethan also knew that. The only reason, he had probably willingly colluded in this charade was that Ethan believed that with her instead of Vanessa, he could have the fortune to himself.. She knew he did.
Let him think that, she thought to herself. It was after all useful to her. While she did love Ethan, she loved the money more.
And so, what mattered was the outcome. What mattered was that after tonight, when Vanessa stood in front of every person she had ever known and watched the ground disappear beneath her feet, it would be Lynette standing where she should have always stood.
That was enough. For now.
She took a slow sip of her champagne and let her gaze drift back to the intertwined E and V above the chandelier. The first thing she did, after humiliating and sending Vanessa on her way would be to have those alphabets taken down.
As she stood staring staring at the letters, she felt Ethan's hand press lightly against her lower back, steering her forward. "Come. The old man is looking this way. We should go greet him."
Lynette followed his gaze and nodded at the man sitting there. Edmund Grant. As they walked towards the older couple, Lynette carefully put some distance between her and Ethan.
Edmund Grant was an orthdox man who frowned upon display of affection. He had already been staring at them so he had probably noticed their earlier playfulness. Which meant, she needed to be more careful.
After all, today, he and his wife were their main audience. The ones who would cast the final vote and give her victory.
As they reached the table, her grandmother, Margaret Grant waved at them, smiling brightly, "Lynette! Come, come. "You look beautiful tonight so much so that you might outshine the bride. But, then again, I don't blame you. It is not your fault for being born pretty."
Lynette laughed and shook her head modestly," Grandma! Don't say that. If cousin hears you, she will feel bad. After all, it is not her fault entirely that her mother was not very pretty."
The two women chuckled at the malicious talk, while Lynette looked around. She almost hoped that Vanessa had heard it. After all, it was no secret that Margaret Grant had hated her daughter- in- law's plainness.
"You look wonderful yourself, grandmother. Not a day over forty."
Leaving her grandmother blushing, she then turned towards the older man and smiled," Grandfather! How have you been?"
Edmund looked up from his glass and gave her the small nod as he said her name, "Lynette."
She didn't mind the short answer. Instead, her smiled seemed to warm up even more as she gestured towards Ethan and said, "Grandfather. You remember Ethan."
She said nothing more as her grandfather looked between them, letting him draw his own conclusions. After all, Ethan had never been formally introduced as her or Vanessa's friend. But their grandfather had seen the intimacy just now, so later he would definitely believe her when Ethan denied being in a relationship with Vanessa.
She wondered if she should bring out the topic of the shares now. Or later. If she did it now, then, it would plant the seed in her grandparent's minds and then later, they would directly be able to announce it. If she did it later, then, what if Vanessa gained a chance to change herself? She was about to open her mouth, when she felt a gasp go through the room.
She turned around curiously and then stiffened.