A Much Better Opponent

The following chapter is written in 3rd Person POV following Becca…

After her brother’s obvious slip up, Becca calmly sits back down. Only this time, she’s at the head of the table. She partly sits down in order to sarcastically prove Nathan’s statement correct, that what she did hear made her want to sit, but also because she knows the real discussion is finally beginning.

Becca glances back and forth between her mother and brother who both look furious, albeit for different reasons. Their mother, furious because Nathan couldn’t control his emotions; while Nathan obviously blames Becca for being goaded into the slip up.

It’s clear that Nathan’s slip up reveals much more than their knowledge of Cassie. For Becca, it reveals that they’re not as innocent to her father’s deception as she originally thought. They didn’t come here to admonish her for hiding her knowledge of her father’s infidelity. Based on their actions and reactions today, they’ve clearly made plans of their own.

Now, it’s Becca’s job to figure out what that is.

That being said, Becca’s still human. Seeing them both furious like this finally makes Becca crack, and she can’t help but let out a stifled laugh. She can only imagine Viv commenting ‘you’re not a robot after all!’ with how against her ‘programming’ this particular reaction must be. She tries to stop her laughter by pursing her lips and placing her fingers on top of them, but it only makes it seem like she’s goading them even further with the gesture.

“My apologies. I honestly didn’t expect Nathan to be that easy to break.” Becca admits the source of her laughter, while still unable to hold it in. “I know how easy it is to make that mistake, little brother. Believe me. Do try not to beat yourself up over it.” Becca tells him sincerely, despite it sounding like a jab.

Nathan has **** in his eyes after Becca stacks perceived humiliation on top of perceived humiliation. However, when she sees the disappointment and anger in their mother’s eyes as she stares a hole into Nathan, something occurs to Becca that makes the situation less funny for her.

Becca can’t help but make a parallel between her mother and brother with Jay and Becca’s co-girlfriends. The latter never blamed Brooke for her slip-up, nor did Brooke blame anyone but herself for her mistake — not even Courtney. The stark difference between their reactions only shows Becca just how different her biological family is with the people she now holds more dear. The level of blame and fury that both her mother and brother are showing tells Becca that she made the right choice by freeing herself from her family’s sphere of influence.

Becca immediately collects herself and returns to her serious facade. Viv’s voice in her head goes ‘Well, I guess that was just a malfunction’, before her own inner voice reminds her she’s going to have to update her antivirus to flush Viv’s voice out of her brain.

“Sit.” Becca tells her mother and brother, clearly offending both of them with the command. “Please.” Becca adds, to turn her first remark into a much more polite request.

“The fact that you’re not even surprised about father’s bastard just proves—” Nathan tries to turn the tables, but Victoria cuts him off.

“You have spoken enough today.” Victoria informs him. “Sit.” She then commands Nathan very much like she would a dog, and Nathan can only follow his mother’s orders. It’s only after Nathan sits down again that Victoria follows suit, taking Becca’s previous seat at the table.

“It’s become very clear that we have much to discuss.” Becca starts. “Before we begin, I think it would be best to set ground rules.” Becca adds, taking control of the conversation.

“Nathan, if you call our half-sister Cassie ‘bastard’ one more time, this conversation is truly over. Understood?” Becca asks her little brother. Nathan already has the word locked and loaded to call Becca’s bluff but Victoria once again prevents him from speaking.

“I have already told you that you’ve spoken enough today.” Victoria reminds Nathan to ‘shut the fuck up’ in her most motherly but still threatening tone.

“That is understood, Rebecca.” Victoria then answers her daughter. “In turn, I request that we both lay all our cards on the table.” Victoria follows up.

“You need not make that request, mother. That’s the only way this discussion would be productive for both our parties.” Becca replies in acquiescence.

“Then allow me to make a different request.” Victoria suddenly counters. “You address me, and only me. Pretend Nathan’s not even here.” Victoria requests Rebecca, with Nathan clearly taking offense. Before Nathan can even voice his displeasure, Victoria wags a finger at him to not even try.

“You are lucky I am allowing you to stay in the room, child. Don’t tempt me to kick you out entirely.” Victoria tells him.

“And throw him outside where he’ll harass my staff? I’d rather pretend he’s not here. You have a deal, mother.” Becca answers her mother, while avoiding glancing at Nathan entirely.

“Very well,” Victoria says in agreement. “It is quite clear you’re close to this… ‘Cassie’ was it? How did you—” Victoria starts to take control of the conversation before Becca cuts her off.

“I thought we agreed on all the cards being on the table, mother? Don’t insult my intelligence. I’m sure you’ve already done your due diligence once you found out about her.” Becca tells Victoria, who smirks in amusement after being called out by her daughter.

“And before I answer any of your questions, you shall answer all of mine first.” Becca demands, taking control of the conversation once more. Victoria leans back on her chair, and gestures to Becca to ask away.

“Do you already know the reason why I was initially terminated? Yes or no?” Becca asks, to which Victoria answers, “Yes.”

“Then you also already know that the reason behind it was father’s displeasure of me going against his wishes. Yes or no?”, “Yes.”

“And said wishes I went against were his plots to separate Cassie from the man we were mutually dating?”, “Yes.”

“Does that mean you also know what I threatened father with? I’m referring to the threat I made so that he would reinstate me to the company before I resigned.” Becca continues her rapidfire questioning, but this one seems to give Victoria pause.

“Yes and no.” Victoria answers.

“Explain.” Becca tells her.

“I don’t know the exact details of the threat, darling. I only inferred what you threatened him with from his recent actions.” Victoria explains, getting an eyebrow raise from Becca.

“And those ‘recent actions’ you’re referring to being?” Becca asks for her mother to clarify.

“That he’s planning to place his voting shares into a trust.” Victoria reveals.

This revelation is concerning to Becca. She didn’t expect her father to go that route, as it openly invites Becca to retaliate. Placing his shares into a trust means that they are no longer his property, and therefore, outside the purview of his marital prenup — negating Becca’s threat. Becca can only surmise that her father is planting this as a rumor to invite Becca to negotiate an end to their Cold War, and not as an upfront war declaration.

However, Becca can only wonder why her mother would infer that that reaction by her father was due to Becca’s threat? There’s something her mother isn’t telling her.

“What did you infer from that exactly, mother?” Becca continues to ask.

“That you threatened him with the clause in our prenup, of course.” Victoria answers with nonchalance.

“And this was concerning to you, mother?” Becca asks, her suspicion growing. Her mother never gave any indication that she cared about her husband’s company. She openly stated she wanted nothing to do with it numerous times.

“Think, darling. Why would it concern me?” Victoria throws the question back at Becca.

‘That can’t be it, can’t it?’ Becca thinks to herself.

“Because by doing so he’ll block those shares from falling into the clause in your prenup.” Becca posits the only reason she could think of, because it’s the same reason she was concerned with that bit of news too.

“Correct.” Victoria calmly confirms, as if it should’ve been obvious for Becca.

…

Becca has to take a pause. She starts asking herself why her mother would willingly give this information without resistance. If her mother truly found out about Cassie due to Becca’s actions against her father, why would their conclusion be that she’s working with him? That threat is obviously one made against an adversary, NOT an ally. Unless…

“You want those shares for yourself. Don’t you, mother?” Becca states, finally coming to a conclusion.

“Who wouldn’t?” Victoria nonchalantly confirms.

Becca pauses again to analyze the implications of her mother’s answer, before raising a finger towards her to signal she’s not done with her questioning yet. Victoria doesn’t seem to take offense to Becca’s actions. In fact, Victoria seems to place Becca in a higher regard than when they first interacted today. Nathan, on the other hand, clearly isn’t as amused as his mother, while he sulks in his seat.

“You pretended all these years to not care about the company, but you’ve wanted those shares for a long time.” Becca finally says her realization out loud.

“Yes, Becca. You’re finally getting it.” Victoria answers smugly.

…

“That means you’ve always known of his infidelity. You’ve always known about Cassie.” Becca posits, but not as a question, since she already knows the answer.

“Of course.” Victoria confirms Becca’s suspicion.

“You’ve been biding your time to divorce him.” Becca’s no longer asking at this point. She’s merely stating what’s obvious to her now in order for her mother to confirm. Victoria only nonverbally confirms this time with a nod, seemingly out of boredom at how slow Becca’s questioning has become.

“The most opportune time being… when Nathan graduates from college.” Becca deduces, and Victoria just nods again.

“Similar to the conditions of my trust when I turned eighteen, he’ll only acquire his voting shares in the company after he graduates with a degree chosen by you and father.” Becca continues, while Victoria merely answers with a “Mmhmm”, making it clear how bored she is now.

“That means… you’ve been grooming Nathan behind father’s back.” Becca continues.

“Not doing a good job of it, clearly.” Victoria answers while rolling her eyes.

“You planned to divorce him once he does. Use Cassie as proof of infidelity. Gain his shares. Combine it with your original shares and with Nathan’s… and you have the guaranteed voting power to gain control of the company.” Becca makes rapidfire deductions.

“Yes.” Victoria continues to confirm with a smile.

“You were actually plotting what I could only threaten.” Becca states, her mother’s smile becoming more and more devious.

“That’s why Nathan was concerned I was working with Father. He thought it was too big of a coincidence for me to threaten father with your exact same plan. He assumed I was onto your scheme.”, “Yes, my dear.”

“And whether it was true or not, you came here to give me the same threat Father gave me.” Becca says, but Victoria doesn’t bother confirming this conclusion Becca has arrived at.

“Don’t mess with your plans…” Becca says.

“... Or there will be consequences.” Becca says as a statement of fact and not a question.

Victoria only responds with a devious smirk.