Chapter 5 SCHEMES AND PLOTS

Jace walked into the dining room looking mad and irritated.

His jaw hurt slightly from the punch, he held it still processing the shock.

His mother, Mrs. Sarah Dane looked up immediately. “What happened to your face?”She said with a look of concern as she sat around the dining room with Uncle Ben.

Uncle Ben laughed before Jace could answer. “Looks like somebody finally fought back.”

Jace pulled out a chair and sat down. “Ryan lost control.”

Sarah frowned. “Over Lisa?”

“Partly.”

A maid placed another plate on the table quietly before leaving.

Jace poured himself a drink. “Dad announced the succession plan today.”

That got their attention immediately.

Uncle Ben leaned back. “Succession plan?”

Jace nodded. “One chairman. One controlling stake.”

Sarah slowly dropped her fork with the pasta still stuck there ,“Go on”

“It’s based on who grows their side more, I think dad wants an exponential increase. The winner gets the company. Majority control. The loser keeps ten percent.”

Uncle Ben smiled faintly. “And who’s already leading?”

Jace smirked. “Me……Obviously.”

Sarah looked unconvinced.

“You sound too relaxed.”

“Because Ryan isn’t competition.”

“He punched you.”, his mum reminded him.

Jace’s expression darkened slightly.

“Ryan had always been emotional, didn't know it would burst today.”, Jace said, still checking his jaw.

Sarah folded her arms. “Still, he has never reacted like that before.”

“He reacted when I mentioned Lisa.”

“You shouldn’t underestimate wounded people,” Uncle Ben said calmly.

Jace looked at him.

Ben continued eating. “Especially men who have spent their whole lives swallowing humiliation. Eventually something breaks.”

Jace leaned back in his chair. “You both are acting like he’s suddenly dangerous just because he threw one punch.”

Sarah looked at him carefully. “I expected him to sulk. Drink. Maybe disappear for a few days. Like he used to.”

“So did I,” Jace admitted.

“And instead?”

Uncle Ben nodded slightly. “There it is.”

Jace tapped his glass lightly. “Construction is already behind Energy. Dad practically handed this to me, he just wants it to look justifiable.”

“Don’t be so sure,” Sarah warned immediately.

Jace smirked. “I know how to handle him.”

“You think you do.” Sarah sighed. “I don’t care about Ryan’s emotions. I care about results.”

Jace relaxed again. “Then there’s nothing to worry about. The company is mine, Ryan has always been unfit for the position.”

“And ignored…...”, Uncle Ben spoke up.

The table became quiet for a moment.

Jace looked irritated already. “Can we not pretend he’s some tragic victim?”

Ben chuckled. “You really dislike your brother.”

“Brother?” Jace laughed shortly. “Please. If dad was not so careless, we won't be having this conversation”

Sarah gave him a look. “Whether you like it or not, he is a threat”

“Barely.” Jace’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“Desperation changes people.”, Uncle Ben added.

Sarah nodded once. “And Ryan has been desperate his entire life. It's a strength to him”

Jace scoffed again. “That’s exactly why he’ll fail.”

Ben smiled faintly. “That confidence will either make you the chairman or destroy you.”

Jace leaned back. “I’ll take the risk.”

His mother looked thoughtful for a moment.

“Construction still has advantages.”

Jace looked at her immediately. “Not enough.”

“You need to be careful,” she said quietly.

“Of Ryan…….be for real”

“I mean it. No careless mistakes. No distractions like that bitch.”, she issued sternly.

Jace smirked slightly. “Lisa isn’t a distraction.”

Sarah gave him a sharp look. “I hope what you have with her ain't serious”

“That’s not exactly a problem, she's just a whore”, Jace shrugged. “A useful one, I just wanted to prove a point to my supposed brother.”

Ben laughed softly. “You are just like your father, you have an eye for pretty women”, he said, throwing a glance at Sarah.

She ignored him.

“Ryan still has support inside the company……and outside”

Jace frowned. “From who?”

“People who knows his worth…..those who pity him too”

“That’s useless.” Jace looked irritated now.

“I’m not losing to Ryan.”

“He's unpredictable though”, Uncle Ben blurted, “Just like his mom”

Sarah's expression turned to annoyance.

Jace went quiet for a moment before taking another sip from his glass in front of him. “You really think he changed because of today?”

Ben nodded slowly, happy that they were finally realizing.

Jace stared at the table for a few seconds before standing. “I’m going upstairs.”

Sarah looked at him. “You can shag her but don’t make it serious……she's a power slut”

Jace smirked faintly. “You don’t like her ……… I don't too”

“I don’t trust people who attach themselves to power too quickly.”

Jace chuckled. “Are you talking about yourself…..”

Ben laughed openly this time.

Jace adjusted his sleeve and started toward the stairs.

Sarah picked up her wine slowly.

Ben watched her for a few seconds before speaking.

“You look worried.”

“No.”

“That’s a lie…….I know you more than you think”

She sighed. “I just didn’t expect Ryan to react that way.”

Ben nodded slightly. “Neither did I but it's bound to happen.” He leaned back in his chair. “He’s been enduring a lot”

Sarah stared down at her plate. “You sound sympathetic…….are you softening up?”

“I’m being realistic.”

She gave a short laugh. “You’ve never liked him.”

“And I won't start now.”

She took another sip slowly. “Mark believes pressure reveals character.”

Ben nodded. “And now we’ll see which son embodies him more……you seem afraid.”

She looked annoyed. “Don’t say that.”

“You think if Ryan gains power, old things will resurface.”

Her silence answered for her.

“Don’t you think it's time.”

Sarah immediately shook her head.

“No……it's too risky”

“We cannot keep hiding it forever.”

“No.”

“Sarah……”

“I said no.”

Her voice came out loudly, she looked towards the stairs to know if Jace heard.

Ben stared at her for a moment.

“He deserves to know.”

“And what happens after that?” she asked immediately. “Have you thought about it?”

“Yes.”

“You think he’ll react calmly?”

“No.”

“Exactly.”

Ben rubbed his jaw thoughtfully as silence settled briefly.

The sound of cutlery against plates filled the space softly.

Ben spoke again.

“If he finds out another way……. it's worse.”

Sarah laughed bitterly. “There is no version of that truth that ends well.”

“He has the right to know.”

“He has the right to be alive too.”

Ben’s expression darkened.

“You think Mark would go that far?......I know my friend well”

Sarah looked at him carefully, “I bet you know his wife well too…….so well that you fuck her”

Ben leaned back again. “Now this is why I love you……you are dangerous.”

He looked toward the staircase where Jace had disappeared.

“If he poses a risk, we eliminate him……. this won't be the first time we cleared obstacles.”

Ben looked proudly at her.

“My beautiful demon…..”

She gave a sly smile then picked up her fork again.

“So what

do we do now?” Ben asked.

She resumed eating slowly.

“We make sure Jace wins…..no matter what.”

Ben watched her for a moment.

“And if Ryan becomes a problem?”

Sarah’s expression did not change.

“We do like I said earlier.”