Victor nodded approvingly. "Excellent. We want him off-balance, conflicted between his growing feelings for you and his guilt over betraying his wife. By the night of the gala, he should be a bundle of nerves, desperate for your attention yet terrified of discovery."
He paused, taking a sip of his whiskey before continuing. "Now, as for the gala itself. You'll attend as my guest, of course. We'll make quite the entrance - you on my arm, dressed to kill. Every eye in the room will be on you, I guarantee it."
Vivian raised an eyebrow. "Won't that raise suspicions? The mysterious Victor Mallory, suddenly appears with a beautiful woman no one's seen before?"
Victor chuckled. "Oh, it'll raise interest certainly. But suspicion? No. They'll assume you're my latest conquest, nothing more. It's the perfect cover for what we're about to do."
He stood, moving to the fireplace as he continued to outline the plan. "Throughout the evening, you'll mingle, and charm the other guests. But your real focus will be on Davis. You'll catch his eye across the room, share secret smiles, and perhaps even brush past him 'accidentally' once or twice. We want him practically salivating with desire by the time we're ready to spring our trap."
Vivian nodded, her mind already working through the logistics. "And when will that be?"
"Patience, my dear," Victor chided gently. "Timing is everything in this game. We'll wait until the party is in full swing when the champagne has been flowing freely and inhibitions are lowered. That's when you'll make your move."
He turned back to face her, his expression intense. "You'll manoeuvre Davis into a seemingly private alcove - there's one just off the main ballroom that will be perfect for our purposes. It's secluded enough to give the illusion of privacy, but still visible to anyone who happens to glance in that direction."
"And once I have him there?" Vivian prompted.
Victor's lips curved in a predatory smile. "That's when the real performance begins. You'll play the part of the passionate lover, unable to control her desires any longer. Kiss him, Vivian. Make it look real, make it look desperate. Let anyone who sees you believe that you and Davis are moments away from giving in to your baser urges right there in the alcove."
Vivian's eyes widened slightly. "That's quite a risk, Victor. If we're caught..."
"Oh, you will be caught," Victor interrupted. "That's the whole point. I'll have arranged for Whitmores to stumble upon your little tableau at precisely the right moment. The shock, the outrage - it will be a scene unlike anything London society has witnessed in years."
He began to pace, warming to his subject. "Imagine it, Vivian. The esteemed Reginald Davis was caught in a compromising position with a mysterious beauty at his employer's own charity gala. His wife looked on in horror, at the whispers and shocked gasps of the other guests. It will be delicious chaos."
Vivian sat back, considering the plan. "It's audacious, I'll give you that. But what of the aftermath? Surely Davis will try to explain, to minimize the damage."
Victor shook his head, a glint of triumph in his eyes. "That's the beauty of it, my dear. No matter what he says, the damage will already be done. His reputation will be in tatters. Who would trust the financial judgment of a man who would risk everything for a momentary dalliance? And Jonathan Whitmore, well... let's just say he takes a very dim view of infidelity. Davis will be lucky if he's not fired on the spot."
He returned to his seat, leaning forward intently. "But we're not done yet. That's just the opening act. The real destruction comes in the days and weeks that follow."
Vivian raised an eyebrow, intrigued despite herself. "Go on."
"Once the initial scandal breaks, we'll feed the flames," Victor explained. "Anonymous tips to the gossip rags, suggesting that your affair with Davis has been going on for months. Implications that he's been distracted at work, making questionable financial decisions. We'll plant seeds of doubt about every major deal he's overseen in the past year."
He paused, letting the full weight of the plan sink in. "By the time we're done, Reginald Davis will be a pariah in the financial world. No one will trust his judgment, no one will want to be associated with him. He'll be far too busy trying to salvage what's left of his career and his marriage to pay any attention to my business dealings."
Vivian nodded slowly, grudging admiration in her eyes. "It's... comprehensive, I'll give you that. But Victor, you're forgetting one crucial detail. This plan doesn't just ruin Davis - it ruins me as well. My reputation will be just as shattered as his."
Victor reached out, taking Vivian's hand in his own. "I haven't forgotten, my dear. And I promise you, your sacrifice will not go unrewarded. But let's focus on the details of the plan first. We can discuss your compensation afterwards."
Vivian withdrew her hand but nodded for him to continue.
"Now, as for your role in the aftermath," Victor went on. "You'll play the part of the repentant mistress. Tearful apologies, claims that you were swept away by Davis's charm and position. You'll imply that he pursued you relentlessly, that you tried to resist but eventually succumbed to his advances."
"And people will believe that?" Vivian asked skeptically.
Victor smiled. "They'll believe what they want to believe, my dear. And what they'll want to believe is that the respected Reginald Davis is a lecherous old man who took advantage of a young, naive beauty. It fits their preconceptions, their desire for salacious gossip. We'll just be giving them what they crave."
He stood once more, moving to refill their glasses. "Of course, you'll have to lay low for a while after the scandal breaks. I've already arranged for a comfortable flat in Paris where you can weather the storm. When the time is right, we'll orchestrate your return to London society - older, wiser, suitably chastened by your youthful indiscretion."
Vivian accepted the refreshed drink, her mind working through the implications of the plan. "And what of Davis's wife? Surely she'll have something to say about all this."
"Ah, yes. Mrs. Davis," Victor mused. "She'll play a crucial role in all this, though she won't know it. We'll need to monitor her reactions carefully. If she stands by her husband, we may need to take... additional steps to ensure his downfall is complete."
"Additional steps?" Vivian questioned, a note of concern in her voice.
Victor waved a hand dismissively. "Nothing too drastic. Perhaps a few more leaked rumours, suggestions of financial improprieties that might impact her own social standing. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it."
He returned to his seat, fixing Vivian with an intense gaze. "The key to all of this, Vivian, is your performance. It needs to be flawless. Davis must believe that your feelings for him are genuine, that you're truly torn between your love for him and your guilt over the affair. The other guests at the gala must see a woman consumed by passion, unable to control herself even in such a public setting."
Vivian nodded slowly. "I understand. It won't be easy, but I can do it. I've played more difficult roles in the past."
"I know you have," Victor said approvingly. "That's why I chose you for this, Vivian. You're the only one I trust to pull it off convincingly."
He leaned back, a satisfied smile playing across his lips. "Now, let's go over the timeline once more. In the weeks leading up to the gala, you'll intensify your relationship with Davis. More frequent meetings, more passionate encounters. Make him believe you're falling deeply in love with him."
Vivian nodded. "And I'll start dropping hints about wanting more from our relationship, growing tired of the secrecy."
"Exactly," Victor confirmed. "By the night of the gala, he should be practically desperate for your attention, yet terrified of discovery. It's a delicate balance, but I know you can manage it."
He continued, outlining the events of the gala night in meticulous detail - from their grand entrance to the carefully orchestrated encounters with Davis throughout the evening. Every glance, every 'accidental' touch was planned to maximum effect.
"And remember," Victor added, "we need witnesses. Make sure you're seen whispering intimately with Davis, sharing secret smiles across the room. We want plenty of people ready to gossip about your obvious chemistry long before the main event unfolds."
Vivian listened attentively, occasionally asking for clarification on specific points. As Victor concluded his explanation, she sat back, a thoughtful expression on her face.
"It's an ambitious plan," she said finally. "Risky, but potentially very effective. However, I do have one concern."
Victor raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And what's that?"
"What if Davis doesn't take the bait?" Vivian asked. "What if he's more restrained than we anticipate, unwilling to risk everything in such a public setting?"
Victor smiled, a predatory glint in his eye. "That, my dear, is where this comes in." He reached into his jacket pocket, producing a small vial filled with clear liquid.