Call Maria to coordinate your arrival plan and make sure she understands your strategy for handling Melissa

You settle onto the leather sofa, phone pressed to your ear as it rings. Becky watches from the kitchen, still wearing her silk robe, nibbling on the remnants of her sandwich.

"Ashley, sweetheart," Maria answers warmly, her voice slightly hoarse. "Twice in one hour. I'm flattered."

"Hi Maria!" you chirp, tucking your legs beneath you. "So I wanted to talk about Friday night and stuff. Like, make sure we're totally on the same page about the whole sneaking-in thing."

There's a pause, then Maria's tone shifts to something more cautious. "Hold on, let me step somewhere private."

You hear footsteps, a door closing, then Maria returns. "Alright, I'm in the ladies' room. What's on your mind?"

"Okay so," you begin, twirling a pigtail around your finger, "I've been thinking about how to handle Melissa. And I figured out the perfect plan!"

"I'm listening."

"So like, I'm not gonna try to be all smart and sophisticated or whatever," you explain enthusiastically. "I'm just gonna be me! All pretty and confident but kinda... ditzy? That way she'll think I'm just some dumb slut Daddy's banging."

Maria makes a thoughtful sound. "That's actually rather clever, Ashley. Melissa does have a tendency to underestimate people she considers beneath her intellectually. If she thinks you're harmless, she'll be more willing to engage."

"Exactly!" You bounce excitedly on the sofa cushion. "And then I can just compliment her and be super sweet and she won't see me as a threat at all!"

"What about your outfit?" Maria asks. "Melissa will judge you on appearance first. We need something that screams expensive but doesn't look like you're trying too hard."

"Becky's gonna help me shop tomorrow," you assure her. "We're thinking Harvey Nichols, somewhere fancy like that."

"Good choice. Aim for elegant but revealing—show off that figure Rick's clearly enjoying, but make it look designer. Melissa respects money, even when she's judging how it's spent."

You giggle at Maria's bluntness. "What about when we actually meet her? Should I wait for her to come to me, or should I go up and introduce myself?"

Maria considers this carefully. "Let me make the first approach. I'll mention that I brought someone Rick's been seeing, gauge her reaction. If she's curious—and she will be—I'll bring you over. You just focus on being charming and non-threatening."

"I can totally do that!" you assure her. "Oh, and Maria? Rick doesn't know about this, right? Like, we're keeping it secret?"

"Absolutely," Maria confirms firmly. "Rick explicitly forbade you from attending. If he finds out beforehand, he'll stop us. We tell him after it's done, once you've already made your impression on Melissa."

"Perfect!" You wiggle happily on the sofa. "This is gonna be so amazing!"

"One more thing," Maria adds, her voice dropping lower. "Melissa can be... intense. She has a way of getting under people's skin with subtle jabs. Don't let her rattle you. Stay in character—sweet, pretty, a little dim. It'll drive her crazy in the best possible way."

"I won't let you down, Maria," you promise earnestly.

"I know you won't, stepdaughter," Maria replies warmly. "Now I should get back to work before Rick wonders where I've gone. See you Friday night."

The call ends and you set your phone down, grinning at Becky. "Maria's totally on board! We're gonna be such a good team!"

18:25 | Tuesday 5 Aug 2025 | Rick's Penthouse, London

[QUEEN BEE] | [Medium] | [Friday 20:00] | [3 days, 1 hour, 35 minutes remaining]