I leaned in. “Then humble up. You’re David, she’s Goliath—and you’ve got one stone in that sling. One chance.”
Saph tapped her temple. “One stone, one shot only.”
“Exactly. Let her think she’s above you. That’s how you win.”
“Wouldn’t a café downtown be better?”
I shook my head. “No. You’ll need Alistair’s jet. That trip will be one she’ll never forget.”
“Wait—you want me to get her on a plane? Are you fucking insane? You’re talking about leaving me trapped on a jet with Saira?” Saph dragged a hand down her face and rolled her eyes. “Oh, Lord, help me. This won’t work. She won’t even meet me.”
I groaned, leaning in. “Listen, Saph. No offense, but you’re a pebble in her shoe. She wants you gone more than you realize.”
Her brows knit. “Meaning?”
“She’ll meet you. She’ll be dying to. Because she wants to see you beg. She wants to watch your face crack while she grinds you under her heel.”
Saph shook her head. I caught her face in my hands, stilling her. Her baby-blue eyes locked on mine, and for a moment my chest kicked hard—I understood exactly how Julian had fallen under her spell.
“Believe me,” I said quietly, “Saira will say yes. Right now she’s the cat, and she wants the mouse. She’ll be waiting for you to crawl to her, desperate and broken. That’s what she craves. Let her believe it. Play along.”
“Then what happens?”
I held Saph’s gaze. “Jules already did the hard part. His statement about Saira’s role in the rape and her illegal activities is being handled. The police will search her home on the day you take her inside the jet.”
Her mouth parted, but I cut in before she spoke. “So you meet her at the café. Let a few tears slip. You’ve got the chops for it.”
She snorted a loud laugh. “You think?”
“Sweetie, you can pull it off.” I slid my hand over hers. “Beg her to stop, make it sound like you’re breaking. Then tell her Julian’s flying in and hint he wants to make peace. I’ll give you the gate. She’ll follow, because deep down, she can’t resist him. She’s obsessed.”
“Right, I’m listening.” She nodded.
“The thing is, Jules won’t be at the gate,” I said. “You’ll keep walking. Security will wave you through, straight onto the jet. Saira’s ego won’t let her question it. She’ll follow. She thinks you’re harmless, and she loves a challenge. Picture Cruella de Vil strapped into a roller coaster.”
“Vee.” Saph’s cheeks flushed crimson. “I told you, I cannot be trapped alone with that woman.”
I smirked. “Who said you’d be alone?”
Her brows knit, suspicion sparking in her eyes.
“You’ll have Alistair, a cop, and maybe Julian onboard if he agrees,” I went on. “By the time the jet’s in the air, the police will have raided her house and dug up everything they need. Every crime Julian laid out in his statement. We’ll time it to the minute. She’ll be arrested while you’re above the clouds.”
Saph’s lips parted. “So we’re taking her down while we circle the sky?”
I tilted my head, a slow smile spreading. “Exactly. You’ll be giving her a trip she’ll regret for the rest of her life.”
Saph laughed, eyes alight. “God, I love it. When did you turn into such a bitch?”
“Honey, I was born with it.”
A few minutes later, Damian emerged from his room, taking the stairs two at a time before slowing at the entrance. “Vee, can I go to Jake’s?”
I watched him shrug into his water-resistant jacket. Outside, rain streaked down the living-room windows in heavy sheets.
“Have you asked your father?” I asked.
“He told me to check with you since you’re in charge of dinner tonight.” His green eyes locked on mine, wide and pleading.
