YASMIN.
"Really, well, it doesn't feel like that. It feels like you're forcing all your needs and wants down my throat. Every time I fail to comply you threaten me and I'm tired of it," Toby said to me over the phone. I was stunned by his response. I quickly pushed my hurt aside, becoming more determined than before. It seems like I've done too much talking since he now thinks all I give are threats then it's time for some action.
I cut the call to begin plotting my next line of action. I could call a press conference or give an exclusive interview and tell the whole world that he was my baby's father but that would end things too quickly and put me at a disadvantage, I needed to think of something else. Ruby was the problem, she was filling his head with all sorts of nonsense. If I take her out, I could move in on Toby and then it hit me. Aiden was back in town. I needed to align with him to achieve my goals.
So I called him to arrange a meet-up. He was reluctant at first but then I made him see the light. "I want Toby and you want Ruby but we can't be with them while they are together and that's why we need to join forces to separate them for good," I explained to him. Once he understood me it was easier to get him on my side and use him to achieve my goals.
After convincing him there was no time to waste, so he was over at my house almost immediately. I felt it was the safest place to discuss such matters.
"I don't want to hurt Ruby," he said, the moment we settled down to talk.
"Then it's a good thing you're here because I can't say this same for myself," I said in reply.
"What does that mean?" He asked with a defensive stance.
"What it means is that unlike you, I'm not teaming with Ruby, I hate her so you being here will ensure that we achieve our goals without hurting your little friend."
"Are you sure you can get them divorced and get me together with Ruby?"
"Getting them divorced is easy, I already got Toby to prepare the papers so now we just need to give it a little push. As for getting together with Ruby, that's all on you, you got her to cosy up to you once so you should be able to do it again besides she will need a shoulder to cry on during the divorce."
"So what's the plan?" I could hear the eagerness seeping through his voice at the question.
"The plan is to give them the little push needed to finalise the divorce."
We put our plan in action, trailing Ruby and waiting for just the right time to make her fall. It was easier said than done because Aiden noticed she had more security around her than usual. We discreetly trailed her the entire morning, from her early morning work which explained her new body to a few little errands she ran before going back home.
I thought all hope was lost and she was not going to leave the house for the rest of the day but luck smiled on our side. Her car came rolling out the gates of their private estate. I thought about how she was living a life that was meant for me. I was the one who was supposed to be up in that huge mansion and getting driven about in expensive cars not big and unattractive Ruby.
She came out of the car and into a cafe pushing a stroller. She was dressed in a yellow sundress. She had chefs at her beck and call but she left the house for what? A cup of coffee, and a snack. It was commoner behaviour but I wasn't complaining since it was working in our favour.
If we were going to approach her and get the results we wanted, it would have to be friendly. Aiden could have called her up but we wanted them to meet by chance, to give the whole thing more authenticity. He went in with a killer smile and I watched him from the sidelines.
Her stroller was parked beside her, a sweating cup of iced coffee or tea at hand in a cute little cornerstone cafe. "Ruby?" He had crossed the room to stand by her table. Her name sounded like a question the way he said it and it got her attention.
Her gaze shifted from the phone to her and up to him in a non-verbal answer. Her face lit up in recognition and in a matter of seconds she shot up to her feet and they were both embracing in a warm hug. I took some pictures of their reunion just in case I'd need them later.
"Aiden, when did you get back? Why didn't you keep in touch?" She asked a trail of questions not leaving room for him to answer.
"I would like to meet the baby," he said and you could see him rising in esteem in her eyes.
"Go ahead," she encouraged, so he crouched down and peeped into the stroller. He rose back to his feet and they continued their conversation but I couldn't keep up with them anymore, a group of noisy teens walked in and drowned out their voices. After a few minutes, Aiden gestured for a waiter and then paid for her drinks then they headed for the door. Bingo! Our mission was a go. I waited a few minutes before following them, and they headed for Aiden's apartment. Perfect.
"We could just go ahead with the plan now, this opportunity is too perfect," I texted Aiden. I drummed on the steering wheel impatiently as I waited for a reply. I was parked in his building's underground parking space.
My phone pinged and I eagerly reached for it.
"There's a baby with us," I read.
"How is that stopping anything?" I typed back.
"If anything happens now, it'll be too easy to trace back to me so let's stick with the original plan," I read his reply a minute later. I decided to stop texting him so he could put his head in the game but I wasn't as patient as him. While he was having fun catching up with an old flame, I needed things to go down today.
After what seemed like hours, Ruby finally left so I took the elevator ride up to his apartment.
"What is the update?" I asked impatiently the moment I barged in on Aiden.
"I invited her out tonight," he said. A smile spread across my face, things were going down tonight.
"Great job!" I hugged him in excitement. He didn't look as happy as I did at the development but I didn't care.
"This shit can't be traced back to me," he said.
"For sure," I said in encouragement when, in reality, I didn't care if it landed on his doorstep or not as long as I was out of the picture.
"I could take her to the club, I could claim to be drunk the next morning and that way she doesn't suspect me for anything."