Let's Test Her

Sterling

I couldn't shake the looming feeling like I needed to watch my back right now. Just because Elise said she would stop doesn't mean that she will. She's relentless, the fact she caved so easily hasn't been sitting well with me the last few days.

"Relax." My father spoke from the otherside of his desk. "The more you think about what may happen the more likely you are to make reckless decisions."

"How so?" I raised a brow.

"Well, you'll prepare yourself for more scenarios than you need." He responded. "You have more power than you think."

"So what do you suggest I do?" Any advice from the mind of Damon Tipton would be helpful right now.

We don't always see eye to eye, but I know when I need to involve him in things. He's able to help guide me, show me the best way to go about things. Which is exactly what I need right now.

"For starters, you need to expect the worst." His eyes looked intensely into mine. "You have to be prepared for anything and everything, the best way to do that is think of the worst case scenario."

"In this case, it would be Elise still using the information about mom." I sighed. "And still refusing to let me go."

"Exactly." My father nodded. "Now, how would you prepare for that?"

"I don't know." I responded through gritted teeth. "By getting even, by making that bitch pay for continuing to come after me for reasons she refuses to disclose."

A smirk crossed his lips. "Seems the Tipton in you is coming out, keep that up and you'll be fine."

"Sure." I scoffed.

"Look, your mother doesn't care about her past coming up." My father continued on. "If it doesn't phase her then we need to not let it phase us, besides that's something that has nothing to do with you. I already have the damage control planned for that."

"Which is?" I questioned.

"You'll see if the time comes." He responded by not even giving me a real answer. "Now, what do you do if Elise still refuses to let you go?"

"Do whatever I have to." My tone darkened. "Hell I'll do anything at this point to get the psychotic bitch to leave me alone forever."

"Good." My father nodded. "Now start thinking of punishments she'll face if she goes against this deal the two of you made."

I thought for a moment, thinking of all the ways I could make her pay. Some of my thoughts seemed a little darker than others. For example, following my father's lead by locking her up until she's too crazy to even remember me in the first place.

My father's voice pulls me out of my thoughts. "How far are you willing to go? What consequences are you willing to face to deal with them?"

"I'll go as far as I need to." When I told Isabelle I'd kill for her I meant it with every fiber of my being. "I'll face whatever consequences there are to come from handling her, as long as in the end it keeps her from harming Isabelle."

My father glanced down and then back up at me. "Do you want to know how I see this all ending?"

"Yes." I nodded, after all he is the one who always plans ahead.

"I see this ending with us burying them, making them worthless and into nothing." His confidence in his words was obvious. "If she does anything they will lose it all, I'll make sure of it myself."

"And what if that's not enough?" I asked.

"Then we take the next steps." There was a flash of darkness in his eyes. "We won't get into that right now, instead we'll save that moment when that time comes because it's ultimately our last resort."

"Understood." I nodded as I knew exactly what he was referring to. "Have you gotten any more information on her birth?"

"Not yet." He relaxed as I changed the subject. "I have someone working on it, unfortunately it's a lot to go through so we need to be patient, besides with Elise being quiet right now there's not as much of a rush."

"Yeah." Uneasiness knotted in my stomach. "But there's no guarantee for how long she'll keep quiet."

"Well, how about we test it out?" A devious smirk appeared on his face.

"Test it out how?" I pressed for him to answer.

"There's an event coming up." He informed me. "It's this weekend actually. What I want you to do is take Isabelle to it. Not as your assistant but as your date."

"How is that going to test Elise?"

I've had dates with Isabelle. I don't really see how this one would be any different from the rest of them.

"Because she'll see it." He responded. "At these events there's always paparazzi, they'll take some pictures of the beautiful woman at your side, maybe even comment how lucky she is and wanting to know more about her. It'll literally be plastered everywhere."

"How are you so sure?" It's not like the media cared about me as much as they do him.

I'm just Damon Tipton's son. While I do have women throw themselves at me and people who like to gossip, it's not nearly to the extent that he expects it to be.

"Well, if I'm being honest the only reason your life along with Scarlett's isn't plastered all over the internet is because of me." He confessed. "Any story that's come up about my children has to be run by me first and most of the time I shut them down as I want your privacy to be respected, this one though it one I'll have no problem letting slip through."

I wish I could say I'm surprised.

"Okay, say we do this and it runs. Then what?" I folded my arms across my chest. "We wait to see how Elise and the rest of the Tunts react to this whole thing?"

"Exactly." He smirked. "If Elise really meant what she said during your little exchange then she'll have nothing to say about this. However, if she begins acting up again then we know we need to be prepared to strike."

It all made sense.

This especially would rile her up too. She's never gotten to go to an event with me, both because I didn't want her to and my father pretty much denied her an invitation.

"Okay." I nodded. "I'll get it all set up."