Deceptions of the Heart II: Love is going to be the death of me

Vengeance

It was 9:00 pm when a taxi stopped outside an apartment complex. The door of the backseats opened and Lizzy stepped out. Closing the door behind her, she pulled out some money from her purse and paid the driver.

When the taxi finally left her by herself she took time to observe the building. It was the place she was supposed to meet the mysterious person who texted her earlier that day. Hesitantly she approached the entrance door.

The building's interior was cold and empty. It almost seemed as if it was abandoned (that would be in case no one resided within it). The young woman was supposed to meet the mysterious person at the second floor. She approached the elevator. She opened the door which made a squeak that sent unpleasant shivers down Lizzy's spine, and then she entered. She pressed the button for the second floor.

The elevator trembled once it reached it's destination causing Lizzy to let out a small yelp. The girl pushed the door open (of course the door squeaked again) and excited.

She then pulled a folded paper from her purse. She unfolded it and checked the name that was written on it. She started searching for the certain name on the name tags that were stuck on the door bells. Once she found the door she was looking for she rang the bell.

The girl waited for a couple of minutes before the door opened. Her eyes widened once she saw a familiar old man standing at the door frame.

"Elizabeth! Nice to see you again!" The elder man greeted Lizzy.

"Mr Rider! You're still alive!"

The man just chuckled at the girl's remark.

"Come in! You sure must be tired after your efforts to arrive here" he welcomed her warmly.

Lizzy was now sat at the couch in the living room of Mr Rider's apartment. The old man had prepared two cups of tea and he was now serving them on the coffee table.

"Were you the one who sent me those messages?" Asked Lizzy as she took a sip from her tea.

"Yes I was" replied Mr Rider. "I learned about your divorce with Max. That boy sure will never have some mind".

"For how long have you been alive?" Asked Lizzy again.

"I was never dead!" Mr Rider said proudly. "But the rest should stay a secret".

"Why did you want me to meet you Mr Rider?" The girl asked once again as she started to have suspicions about the elder man's intentions.

Mr Rider who had sensed the discomfort in Lizzy spoke calmly.

"Please call me Leonard. We should be friendly towards each other since we're going to collaborate don't you think?"

Leonard's statement caught the young woman off guard.

"We're going to what!?"

"Collaborate!" Announced Leonard proudly. "I'm well aware of your feelings towards my son Elizabeth. I as well know that he is head over heels for that waitress... What's her name again? Oh right. Roxanne. So how about I help you experience the sweet taste of vengeance?"

There was silence in the living room for a couple of minutes. Lizzy seemed to be in deep thought. The old man was piercing her with his impatient gaze. She then spoke.

"I don't know Mr Rider- I mean, Leonard. I'm not used to go this far".

"Don't deny my offer!" Mr Rider cut her off. "I know quite well what you want. So its a yes? Or a no?"

Lizzy dived into her thoughts once again before she answered.

"Fine. Let's say I accept your offer. What do I win?"

"The heart of my son of course! And the opportunity to make your rival suffer as well as the sweet taste of vengeance".

Lizzy thought for a couple more minutes.

"I'll accept" she said finally.

Leonard looked at her with a pleasant expression.

"That's what I like to hear".

Another couple of minutes of silence passed with the elder man and the younger woman enjoying their tea. Leonard then decided to break it.

"You know that I appreciate you Elizabeth. You're like the daughter I never had. But I won't forgive you for one thing" he said as he pierced the girl with his gaze again.

Lizzy just raised an eyebrow not knowing what the elder man was talking about.

"Sure you can pretend that you don't know. I'm talking about your affair with Richard Lawrence".

Lizzy was hit by realization.

"Oh... About that... I only did it to get rid of Roxanne. I just wanted to make her suffer for a bit".

"Yet my son was hurt!" Snapped Mr Rider. He then added in a calmer tone: "don't do that again. At least you helped Max get rid of him or else I would have disinherited you from the family completely!"

Lizzy could only nod her head to Leonard's statement. She realized the harm she had caused to Max and now his father. She promised that she wouldn't have any other affairs and just like that the night continued with Leonard explaining his plan for her vengeance.