A Naughty Proposal♡💍

Chapter 13 : Hatching Plans

The next day, Savannah musters some courage and decides to tell Lucas about the ring.
Sav: "Hey Lucas. Could you come here?"
She opens the secret pocket of her purse and shows him Zia's ring.
Lucas: "Is that what i think it is?"
Sav: "Yeah. And i need your help."
-"Savannah, you swore you hadn't stolen it."
-"I didn't , Lucas. i swear. Zia planted it on me."
-"How ? When?"
-"When she took me on that ridiculous girls' day brunch. I didn't think of it before, but now i remember. She tricked me into making me think that i had dropped something. So i bent down out of her view momentarily. It gave her the perfect opportunity to slip the ring in my bag."
-"That's insane."
-"You believe me, don't you?"
-"I don't know what to believe anymore."
-"Look, i know that you and Zia have a history. And the relationship that you two share is different than what we have...But come on, Lucas- you should know what she is capable of by now."
-"I...see you point."
-"Zia's been playing both of us since the moment we set foot on this ship."
-"I just don't get why she would do that?"
-"To cause problems between us. To plant a seed of distrust."
-"Okay, okay. I get it. And i believe you, Savannah."
-"Good. The issue is...what are we going to do about it?"
-"Can't we corner Zia and get her to admit that she planted the ring on you?"
-"She'll never admit to anything."
-"How about we break into Paxton and Zia's cabin."
-"Yeah, and put it back in her jewelry box! Lucas this is...a solid plan. But we have to be careful. We'll sneak in, return it, and get out."
-"Paxton will think she just misplaced it."
-"The tricky part will be to make sure that they're both out of the room. And that they stay there long enough for us to slip out undetected."
-"I know Paxton is going to be working in the business center all day."
-"But what about Zia? We need to keep her occupied too."
-"I think i can handle that. I'll see if Zia will meet me for a coffee or something."
-"Oh..."
A sudden insecure feeling catches her off-guard and she looks elsewhere.
Lucas: "Did i say something wrong?"
Sav: "It's a good plan, but...I just don't like you and Zia alone together. She still has feelings for you. Plus, she's manipulative and ruthless."
-"Look, Savannah, this is a good plan and we have to do everything we can to make this work. And while i appreciate your concern...i'm a grown man. i can keep my hands to myself."
-"It's not your hands i'm worried about."
-"The fact that you you worry about me like this...it's ridiculously sweet."
Lucas smiles and Savannah feels herself melt a little inside.
She thinks :"I have to look nice to blend in with everyone else on that floor. It's going to be a posh crowd."
She wears a short black dress , lace up sleeves and straps on the chest.
Lucas: "That's really pretty."
Sav: "And i will fit right in."
-"One last thing...how are you going to get into their room without a key?"
-"I've thought of that. Zia's not the only one who can play people in order to get what she wants."
-"Sounds evil...but i like it."

Savannah wanders the hallway in front of Zia and Paxton's room, looking a little lost. Finally, she sees a housekeeping staff stroll by.
Sav: "Oh, please, help me!"
Staff: "What seems to be the problem, ma'am?"
-"Silly me, i've locked myself out of my room. Is there any way that you could let me back inside?"
-"Perhaps your husband might have the other key. Let me see if i can fetch him for you..."
-"But you see...he's busy. He is in the middle of an important conference call, so i can't disturb him. Do help a lady out?"
-"I understand, Madam."
-"Thank you! You're so kind."
-"Sure. No worries, ma'am."
He lets her into Zia and Paxton's room.
Staff: "Just for added confirmation may i have your name, Miss?"
Sav: "Um...My name is Zia Landricks. And my husband's name is Paxton. We're on our honeymoon."
The housekeeper appears to buy her story.
Staff: "All right, Miss. Have a great day."

Savannah tiptoes into Zia's luxury suite.
She thinks: "I need to be quick."
She go through Zia's drawers and finds the jewelry box. It's full of expensive pieces.
"Wow. Zia is lucky i'm not a thief."
Everything looks beautiful, but she's especially drawn to the ruby necklace.
"This looks like it has a riyal past. Maybe i'll own something this nice someday."
She fishes out Zia's ring from her purse and slip it into the box. She close the drawer and sight out in relief. She's about to leave the room when she sees a piece of paper sticking out of the desk drawer.
 "What's this?" It's a legal document.
 She says: "Oh my gosh! It's divorce papers! Paxton is planning on leaving Zia. No wonder she's so eager to latch on to Lucas. She doesn't want to give up this lifestyle."
 She takes out her phone and takes a few pictures for proof. then she read the reason for the divorce.
 The document states that Zia had an extramarital affair with an ex, Lucas.
"Paxton is trying to make it look like Zia slept with Lucas. That's...cruel. I mean Zia is definitely trying to work her way into Lucas's bed. But she hasn't been able to get there. He's accusing her of something she didn't do. But why?"
The realization of why he's doing that suddenly hits her.
"Alimony! Zia doesn't have any income. He'd have to pay her a fortune in alimony payments.
She's just about to forward the picture of the divorce papers to Lucas when she hears footsteps outside the door.
"Darn it! Paxton must've come back early."
She chooses to hide inside the closet. She slips inside the closet. She makes her way between Zia's coats and dresses to create room for herself. "Phew." 
She peeks through a tiny crack to see Paxton.
Paxton: "Yes, i'll have those papers faxed over to you tonight."
Sav's thoughts: "He must be on the phone."
Paxton: "No, Zia will not be joining us. Things aren't working between us."
Savannah almost starts to feel bad for Paxton.
Paxton: "And hell hath no fury like a Paxton scorned."
She hears drawers open, and the television turned on. Paxton isn't planning on leaving the room any time soon. 
Sav's thoughts: "But i need to get out of here. Right now."