Shaelyn internally, reflecting on how much she appreciated Leyla's help in Nixon's absence.
"You know," Shaelyn said thoughtfully, "after spending all day with you like this, I can't find anything to dislike about you."
Leyla raised an eyebrow playfully. "Oh really? Not even my obsession with colour-coding everything? Or my continuous nagging?"
"Okay, maybe that's a little quirky," Shaelyn admitted with a laugh.
For the first time, Shaelyn truly saw the Miss Downey that everyone loved and cherished. She understood why people adored Leyla and why she always seemed to be regarded as such a sweetheart to them; it proved true her thoughts that this beauty was a formidable foe.
"Thanks for saying that," Leyla replied softly, her eyes sparkling with sincerity. "It means a lot coming from you."
Shaelyn felt warmth spread through her chest at Leyla's words as they continued their preparations late into the night.
In just a day, Shaelyn's view of Leyla Downey seemed to have been overturned; to her, Leyla seemed to have transformed into a new creature.
"Can you believe how ridiculous this all is?" Leyla laughed, her voice light and airy as she leaned back in the chair across from Shaelyn.
The woman she had once loathed and who seemed to have felt the same way, now seemed like an ally in this strange situation.
Shaelyn chuckled softly, adjusting her glasses. "Leyla, you're usually not this cheerful. But really, what's gotten into you today?"
"Maybe it's just me but you seem quite different," Shaelyn stated,
Leyla waved her hand dismissively, a grin plastered on her face. "I don't know! Maybe it's the company? Or perhaps my repeated bouts of illness made me realize that life is too short to hold onto negative emotions?"
Shaelyn felt a knot tighten in her stomach. This sudden camaraderie was unsettling. "You're not fooling anyone, Leyla," she said sharply, trying to maintain her composure. "What are you really up to?"
Leyla chuckled as she glanced over at Shaelyn, who was sitting stiffly on the edge of her seat, she wondered maybe if they had met in any other situation they might have been great friends,
The thought flashed through Leyla's head, stiffening her smile, but she shook it off; Leyla turned to Shaelyn with a feigned innocence.
"Me? Up to something? Never! I'm just here to offer my assistance out of the goodness of my heart." She leaned forward conspiratorially. "Besides, my mom said I should try being more...approachable to Mrs. Gray."
Alarm bells rang in Shaelyn's mind as she processed Leyla's words. What if today Leyla had come with malicious intentions? She shook her head slightly, trying to clear the thoughts swirling around inside it.
"Look," Shaelyn began slowly, forcing herself to remain calm despite the tension in the air. "It's getting late and maybe it's time you head home?"
Leyla hesitated but then shrugged nonchalantly. "Oh come on! Just a little longer? I promise I'll be good!" Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she toyed with the idea of overstaying her welcome.
Shaelyn crossed her arms defensively. "You've already been here for hours."
"I know," Leyla replied with a mock pout, glancing at the clock on the wall as if it were an enemy taunting her departure time. "But without actually seeing Nixon today, I haven't accomplished anything!"
"Maybe that's your sign to leave," Shaelyn suggested pointedly.
Leyla sighed dramatically but didn't move from her spot. The room was thick with unspoken tension as both women eyed each other warily, one seeking an escape and the other clinging stubbornly to a moment that felt precarious at best.
Leyla played around with the thought of riling Shaelyn up as she could vividly observe she was about to lose her patience, but she hesitated as Shaelyn could be a truly frightening person,
And in Nixon's absence, Leyla knew she had to tread carefully and what's more,e she didn't want today to be the last she stepped into this villa,
Leyla's aim today was to be a permanent part of this banquet preparation and she was aware that offending Shaelyn was not the way to go about it.
______________________
In the dimly lit office, shadows danced across the walls as a figure leaned back in his chair, a smirk playing on his lips. The soft glow of the desk lamp illuminated his cold blue eyes, which glinted with mischief. He picked up the phone, his fingers impatiently tapping against the polished wood surface.
"What is the current status at the Gray Corporation?" He asked in a low tone,
"Everything is going according to plan, Sir." The voice on the other end replied,
"They are currently preparing for the annual banquet for Mr. Nolan Gray." The voice added as an afterthought.
"Get me an update on Leyla's current relationship with Nixon Gray," he said, his voice commanding.
On the other end of the line, a hesitant voice replied, "Uh, yes. I heard she was at the Gray's Villa all day, today."
"Good," he replied, leaning forward slightly, intrigued. "It's time to get Shaelyn out of the picture. I've got a method in mind to restrain Nixon's movements."
There was a pause before his accomplice responded, "But what if Leyla's actions are enough? Shaelyn seems to have had enough of him."
He chuckled darkly. "Insufficient. Shaelyn is still willing to stand by him despite everything that's happened." He glanced out of the window into the night sky, contemplating their next move.
"However," he continued, "my sources have assured me that I have nothing to worry about."
"What do you mean?" came the cautious inquiry from his subordinate.
"There's a vast difference between someone you love willingly leaving you and… well, death," he stated matter-of-factly. The weight of his words hung heavy in the air as he contemplated their plan further.
"So what's our next step?" His subordinate inquired with a stutter, his discomfort audible.
"Give Nixon enough time to get rid of Shaelyn," he instructed coolly. "Then it's our turn to play."
"Inform the Ace to get ready. This banquet is an auspicious day. We'll ensure it is one the Gray's never forget." His eyes glinted with anticipation as he envisioned their scheme unfolding perfectly.