Run, Girl (If You Can)

Lacy knocked on the door to Graydon's office and heard a firm "come in" before opening it.

The decorations were about what she would expect from a nouveau riche. Modern art pieces that were expensive but tacky hung on the walls, along with diplomas and award certificates. Someone was full of himself. 

He gestured for her to have a seat and she sat in the relatively comfortable chair primly. "I assume you know why I'm here."

Graydon smiled. "You finally came to your senses and want my help. Let me guess…Alistair Hale offended you by not giving a proper apology."

She was too incensed to care how he guessed correctly and went off on a rant.

"It wasn't an apology at all! He said that he couldn't control his son and that none of this was his fault so I should just forget it. He even called me an old maid! Just because the Hales are slightly above the Knightons doesn't mean he can get away with treating me like this. He promised Aaron to me!"

"He's notorious for not keeping his promises," Graydon said wryly. "You should have gotten one from Aaron; I've heard he's much more dependable."

Lacy pouted. "You claim to know how Aaron treats me…you know that isn't possible."

"So you are at least slightly self-aware. You know Aaron hates you so you went to his father instead thinking he wouldn't be able to refute. Isn't that a bit too underhanded?"

"Who's side are you on here?!"

"Mine, of course," he answered with a smile. "It's in my best interest to help you. I'm sure you've heard rumors about the discord between father and son lately."

Rumors? She had just heard it straight from the horse's mouth! But what did Aaron distancing himself from his father have to do with anything?

"I have a source inside Hale Investments. Apparently he has been proposing ideas left and right that his father doesn't agree with. If I didn't know any better, I would say he's preparing to take over the company by force."

Aaron was a brilliant businessman…everyone knew of his accomplishments. Unlike many in their circle, he wasn't a vice president in name only. He truly cared about the growth of his family's company. But would he really kick his father out?

"You seem like you want that to happen," she said shrewdly. It was clear in his tone; he found the rumors amusing.

"Well aren't you a smart one," Graydon said as if he were praising a small child. "I won't deny that I'm eager to see how this all plays out."

He leaned forward, clasping his hands under his chin. His posture was relaxed and there was a slight smile on his face but the glint in his eyes was sinister.

Lacy eyed him warily. "Where does helping me fit in here?"

"Simple. We both don't care for Alistair Hale. Isn't Aaron the best way to get to him? I help you gain Aaron's trust and in turn you help him boot his father out."

It didn't seem right to her to help depose her future father-in-law, even if she had lost all respect for the man. What if other people found out about it? She would be gossip fodder for years. But if the rumors were true and it was what Aaron wanted…wouldn't he like her better for helping him accomplish his goal?

Her mind was made up. "What do you need me to do?"

Graydon smiled wickedly. "You'll see."

===

November 2013, in another lifetime

It had been about a year since Lacy successfully ruined Keeley's chances of bearing the next Hale heir. Why hadn't Aaron divorced her yet?

None of this made sense. Hadn't Alistair been positive he would leave her once he wasn't able to carry on his bloodline? Lacy was young, healthy, and perfectly capable of bearing him a child. Why hadn't he come to her? What was he waiting for?

Everyone in the circle knew that giving birth to sons was vital for a wife to keep her position. Lacy's own mother had suffered shame and degradation over the years for only being able to bear a single daughter.

Brann didn't cast her aside because her maternal family was too important to lose ties with, planning instead to hand over his empire to his future son-in-law. Lacy knew there was no love lost between her parents.

It was the way things worked. People married each other for benefits. So why had Aaron married a girl with absolutely nothing to offer him?

He knew how things were supposed to work better than anyone. He had believed in the system. What changed? He couldn't have actually fallen in love with that woman; his heart was made of stone.

One of the reasons Lacy believed they would end up together was that she could benefit him most out of everyone in their circle. She was beautiful and well-connected.

She didn't even care that he didn't love her at first if it meant she got to be with him. She was confident in her abilities to soften him over time by impressing him in bed. So how? How did this nobody manage to win his favor instead of her?

"I know what you did," a teasing male voice whispered in her ear.

Lacy jerked back, startled, and saw an abnormally handsome man leaning over her. "Excuse me?"

He had his hands in his pockets and looked perfectly at ease, a carefree smile on his face. "I know what you did to Keeley Hale. Talk about harsh. That poor girl never did anything to you."

"You don't know anything," she said crisply, preparing to walk away from the jewelry counter she was perusing by herself. None of her friends were available today.

"Oh, so you don't care if I go tell Aaron you had his firstborn son killed?" the man asked casually.

Lacy stopped dead in her tracks.

It was wild enough that he knew about her false ectopic pregnancy scheme but how did he know the child was a boy? The fetus was too underdeveloped to tell by looking at it but Dr. Rothman conducted a blood test to determine its gender when Keeley came in for her checkup. 

When he reported back, Lacy knew she had to get rid of it. If Keeley gave birth to the next Hale heir there was no way the family would be able to kick her out. She only did what was necessary.

"How did you—"

"Let's say Dr. Rothman and I go way back."

"What do you want from me?" she asked uneasily. This sounded a lot like blackmail.

The man grinned. "I want to propose an alliance. I have a particular interest in tearing the Hales apart. With Keeley out of the way, her husband will be all yours."

It was a tempting offer but she had no idea who this guy was. There was no way she could trust him, especially with the way he approached her.

"Who are you?" Lacy demanded.

"You can call me Mr. Gray for now. Here's my card. Think it over and get back to me," he said before vanishing as quickly as he had arrived.