Summary: Sydney plots to get rid of her competition for student body president. However her opponent might be more dangerous than she suspected.
Authors Note: Do you remember this story? Are you even interested? I wrote the first chapter over a year ago and I recently got an idea of what to do with the story. However I'm not sure whether to continue it so I'm asking for feedback on if you want more. I'm going to continue on with CI: the serial, but whereas that story is more humorous and light this will be somewhat darker and more angst ridden. Please let me know what you think!
Chapter 2: A War Is Brewing
"It isn't fair!"
Sydney threw herself back against the lounger with a dramatic huff. She was well aware that she sounded like a spoiled kid but she didn't care. It truly wasn't fair. Born the only child into one of the most prominent and important families in Manhattan, she was use to having everything go her way. All she had to do was smile, act sweet and things would just fall into her lap. The school election was suppose to follow suit. She had it in the bag until the poor, scholarship reject came and stole in from her. "It's not fair" she muttered once again to herself.
Kathryn stood over her daughter staring down at her with concern. Not two minutes ago Sydney came storming into the sitting room ranting and raving about some boy and life not being fair. This change in behavior had caught her mother completely off guard. Her daughter was usually so serene and in control, like herself. "Sydney what's going on?"
She looked up at her mother as if just noticing her for the first time. With a deep scowl she revealed "there's going to be an election after all."
"But I thought you were running unopposed?"
"Yeah so did I" she huffed. "An hour before MY victory was to be announced Garret Hardgrove announced he's running too. So now there's going to be an election and everything."
Kathryn took a seat beside her daughter on the lounger. Her face was now filled with anger as well. "Hardgrove?" She spat like it was a dirty name. "As in-"
"He's her brother" Sydney sighed in disgust. She was aware of her parents history with Annette Hardgrove or at least parts of it. She knew enough that her mother despised her and the family with every fiber of her being therefor Sydney hated them as well.
"And he goes to your school? How come I'm just hearing about this now?"
She shrugged "I didn't think it was a big deal. It's not like we hang out together or anything."
"Thank god for that" her mother sighed. "What's he like?"
"Annoying" Sydney snapped.
"Well obviously he's a Hardgrove. What else do you know about him? Will he be hard to beat?"
She nodded glumly "yes. He's a senior and he's popular and smart-"
"Wait a minute" Kathryn interjected. "Popular? Isn't he poor?"
"Of course" she replied. With a sarcastic smile she explained "but nobody cares, they all love him." Sydney purposely left off the fact that until earlier this afternoon she was just as smitten as everyone else. However now that he was trying to steal something that she felt was rightfully hers, she saw him as the lowlife Hardgrove he was. "This isn't going to be easy. How do I beat him mother?"
Before Kathryn could open her mouth to respond her husband came swaggering in the door, home from work. He stopped in his tracks upon seeing his wife and child with there heads together obviously in the middle of something. Although Sebastian was as close as a father could be with his child it was Kathryn who Sydney truly bonded with. The two were so much alike. Kathryn had done an almost frighteningly good job of carving her daughter into her mold. They were both under handed schemers at heart and Sebastian loved them for it but it also unnerved him sometimes. Judging by the look on their faces when he walked in they were most definitely hatching something.
Leaning over the armchair his eyes shifted from Kathryn's face to his daughters. He smirked knowingly at them. "What are you up to now?"
"Your daughters upset because she has competition." Glancing back at the youngest Valmont she added "pitiful competition at that."
"Who?"
"Garret Hardgrove" Kathryn revealed.
Sebastian reacted with surprise to the name "Hardgrove?"
"That's right he's Annette's little brother." Her voice filled with slight insinuation she asked "you remember Annette don't you dear?"
Valmont raised an eyebrow in response to his wife's tone. "Yes I think I faintly remember her."
"God why would you date someone like that daddy?" Sydney huffed "she's so...common."
Kathryn looked over at her husband and smirked in amusement. "When your father was young and stupid he had a hard on for low rent trash."
Matching her snarky tone he volleyed back "yes I imagine that's how I ended up married to your mother."
Sydney, paying no attention to her parents verbal sparing let out another dramatic huff "can we please focus on my problem here? What am I going to do? I can't let that hick beat me. I'd be completely ruined!"
"Now where have I heard that before?" Sebastian mused out loud as he perused the mail.
Turning her attention on her daughter Kathryn asked "well what is this boy like? Is he a goody-goody like his sister or a fuck up like your father?"
"Or a phony like your mother?"
"He's a..." Sydney's face wrinkled in confusion as she gave it some real thought for the first time. "Actually I'm not really sure. He's friends with everyone who matters but I've never really seen him out doing anything that could be construed as debautry. Garret's sort of...low key. Mysterious. Annoying."
Kathryn seemed to give this some thought. "Well there has got to be something you could use against him. Everyone has got some skeletons in their closet."
"Some more than others" Sebastian added dryly.
"Just look into him, maybe there's something in his past." Pressing a perfectly manicured finger to her lip she suggested "perhaps we can hire somebody..."
"Oh my god!" Valmont exclaimed tossing the mail down onto the table with an exasperated huff. "You can't be serious?"
"What?"
"It's a fucking high school election Kathryn! You want to hire an investigator to dig up dirt on some kid?"
"He's not some kid" she argued "he's a Hardgrove."
"He's seventeen and he's from Kansas of all places! What do you think, he knocked over a seven eleven?" Turning to his daughter he told her "baby I don't think you have anything to worry about. If you don't win this thing it won't be the end of the world, you're only a sophomore. You should use this time to have fun."
For once Sydney was not listening to a word her father said. She was too consumed with the idea of digging up dirt on Garret. There had to be something and she was going to find it. Smiling brightly she told her parents "it's all right, I don't want you to hire anyone. I'll take care of this on my own." Getting up from her seat she headed up the stairs to her room but not before calling down "and don't worry daddy I plan to have LOTS of fun doing it!"
As he watched his only child disappeared up the stairs Sebastian shook his head. "Are you happy now? She's turning into a picture perfect miniature version of yourself."
Kathryn rolled her eyes as she stretched out on the lounger. "You say that like it's a bad thing."
"I just don't want her making the same mistakes."
"What mistakes?" Sebastian kept his eyes focused on the folder of negatives in front of him and didn't look up at his wife hoping she'd let the comment go. Luckily she did. "I didn't even realize Annette's brother was going to the same school as Sydney, did you?"
"I didn't even know she HAD a brother." Looking up Sebastian thought out loud "that's strange, Annette never mentioned him."
Kathryn shook her head "either way I'm not letting this pass."
"Meaning?"
Her green eyes filled with malevolent glee as she revealed "I think it's time I remind the Hardgroves of there place in this world. Tell me is Annette's still teaching at Huntington?"
Sebastian's eyes narrowed dubiously at his wife and he replied "I don't know, why?"
"Well I am still on the board there..."
"Kathryn don't" he warned.
However once a Valmont made up their mind there was no talking them out of it. Kathryn didn't pay any attention to her husband's warning. A devilish smirk came across her face as an idea began to form...
* * * * * *
"Oh my god, I can't believe you did that Sydney!" Brenda exclaimed as they stood huddled along with Courtney Martin outside Garret's apartment.
Rolling her eyes at her friends exuberance she quieted her "shut up it was no big deal." Sydney thought back to the door man who let them in and what she had to do to gain entry. Still dressed in her school uniform she unbuttoned the shirt halfway, displaying ample cleavage and pleaded with the pervert to let them sneak up to surprise a friend. The disgusting older man ogled her goodies for a few good minutes before letting them pass and slipping her a key to their door. Sydney shuddered at the thought of the dirty old man's eyes on her but it got them in. This may be her only way to dig up information on Garret. They were going to break in to his apartment.
"So what do we do now?" Courtney asked.
"What happens if we get caught?" Brenda asked nervously.
Sydney rolled her eyes at them. They were so fucking inept, she didn't even know why she bothered with them in the first place. "Look I'm going to go inside. You two wait out here and if you see anyone coming in call me on my cell, all right?" They nodded in agreement as Sydney went to unlock the door. Looking over her shoulder she spotted them huddled nervously together against the wall. "And for god sakes try not to look so conspicuous!"
Shaking her head at their stupidity she let herself into the apartment. Upon entering she wrinkled her nose in disgust. The Hardgroves lived on the lower West side in not a bad neighborhood but it wasn't exactly park avenue either. The place was cramp and crowded with two bedrooms, a living room and a small kitchen. The furniture looked used and the carpets was well worn. Still she had to admit it was cozy and neat as a pin. Sydney's home was lovely and filled with beautiful things but it felt different here.
After perusing some family photographs on the walls she headed into Garret's bedroom. The walls were pale blue, there was a double bed perfectly made in the center, a bureau, a desk, and a book shelf spilling over with books. Sydney looked over the collection and mused aloud "I guess you really are smart after all."
The room was quite tidy expect for the desk which was filled with papers. She looked through some of them, one looked like a credit card statement. Sydney was about to open it up when suddenly her phone went off startling her. "Shit!" Reaching into her bag she pulled it out and hissed "what?"
"He's here! Garret's coming!" Brenda whispered excitedly into the phone. "Get out of there quick! Hide!"
Sydney shut off the phone and shoved it along with the papers she had found into her bag. Running out of the room she whispered "fuck!" Looking around the cramped apartment she realized there wasn't any place to hide in the shitty little place. There was also no escape either. As the front door slowly started to open she dashed into the living room and fell back onto the couch. Tossing her bag aside she tried to look as causal as possible.
Garret entered the apartment but didn't notice her at first. Perusing through the stack of bills in his hand he dropped his bag on the floor and started to head to his room when he suddenly realized he wasn't alone. Finally he looked up and did a double take. "Sydney?!"
"Hello Garret" she replied as if it was perfectly normal for her to laying on his couch in the middle of the afternoon.
"How did you get in? Wait don't tell me, you flashed the doorman?"
Sydney grinned "Mr. Harper was quite accommodating."
"I'll bet." Looking her over curiously and asked "what do you want?"
Rising to her feat Sydney leaned back against the arm of the couch and tried to appear as confident as possible even though at the moment she was scared as hell. "I've come to discuss the school election...and you dropping out."
Garret grinned back at her bemused and crossed his arms to his chest. "What makes you think I'm dropping out?"
"You will" she replied matter of factly. "Unless of course you want everything you've worked for since arriving at Manchester to disappear."
"Such as?"
"Your scholarships to all those ivy league schools, all the friends you've made, the respect you've earned."
Garret approached her and practically stood over her small frame. His dark brown eyes looked almost black as they burned into her. They were so intense it was all she could do not to fall back on to the couch. "And you think you can do that?" He asked.
"I know I can" she replied icily. "I'm going to win this election at any cost. If I have to ruin you to do it, so be it."
To her utter amazement he laughed. He fucking laughed at her! "You think you're tough don't you?"
Sydney's eyes narrowed at him as she hissed "don't patronize me you half wit. I could buy your whole apartment with my allowance and still have money left over to buy a new Gucci purse."
"And that of course makes you better than me"
"I'd say so, yes"
She expected him to argue that, call her a brat but no instead he only stood even closer to her and said "why don't you tell me the real reason you broke into my apartment Syd? Or perhaps I should just call the police and you can explain it to them."
Her usual quick mind suddenly froze at the question. He had her trapped and they both knew it. There was only one thing for her left to do. She kissed him.
Grabbing the back of his neck she quickly crushed her mouth to his praying it would distract him. Wrapping his arms around her trim waist he pulled her body tight against his with sudden force and kissed her back. Sydney hadn't expected to enjoy it, in fact she thought it would be disgusting. But as the kiss became more intense she found herself not only enjoying it but wanting more. She loved his scent. He smelled like cigarettes and soap, not heavy expensive cologne like the other boys wore. Garret's lips her so soft, she opened her mouth just enough to give him access and he tentatively pushed his tongue inside her.
His hands which were resting on her lower back slowly slid down her body. While one staid on her hip the other moved to her leg. Slowly she felt his hand inch up her skirt until his fingers pressed against her lace panties. Feeling his hands suddenly 'there' Sydney's eyes opened and she was startled to find that Garret's eyes' were open as well as they kissed. Unnerved she broke the kiss and took a step back.
The room was filled with silence as she looked back at him with uncertainty. He touched his mouth as his eyes' continued to burn into her as if studying her. Suddenly the sound of the front door opening sounded through the apartment. Sydney took another step away from him.
An attractive blond women entered carrying several grocery bags. Although she didn't recognize her Sydney assumed this was the infamous Annette. She was rather taken back by how pretty she was. True she didn't have her mothers classic beauty but she was naturally pretty with medium length blond hair, blue eyes and a curvy figure. For a moment Sydney could actually tell why her father might have found her appealing.
"Hey sis, need some help?" Garret greeted her as he went to take the shopping bags from her arms.
Annette smiled "thanks. I've been carrying them since I got off the subway." Setting her other bags down on a nearby armchair she finally looked up and realized them had a guest. "Hi"
Garret stepping back into the room introduced them. "Oh Annette this is-"
"Hello Sydney" she said catching both of them off guard.
The older women smiled hesitantly at Sydney in a way that made her feel a little uneasy. Still she didn't waver and automatically went into her good girl act that she performed whenever she was in the presence of an adult who wasn't her parents. "Hi it's so nice to meet you Annette. You have a lovely home."
Annette shared a quick look with her brother and replied "thank you."
"How did you know my name?"
"You have your fathers eye and your mother's...tone."
There was a harshness in Annette's voice that made Sydney instantly dislike her. She was fairly good at reading people and she was getting the feeling that Annette felt the same way towards her. She had to get out of there.
Making a bee line for the door she told them "well I have to be going now. I'll see you at school Garret." Sydney grabbed her bag and then turned back once more to her opponent. "Think about what I said."
He gave her a funny sort of smile. "I wouldn't count on it."
* * * * * *
"Are you all right?"
Annette flinched at the sound of her brothers voice and looked up to find him staring down at her with his serious face filled with concern. She offered him a half smile and replied "yeah I'm fine. Is she gone?"
Garret turned around and looked through the blinds of the window. "Yeah she's gone" he grumbled.
The young girls expensive perfume still filled the air unnerving Annette. She was completely caught off guard to come in and find a Valmont in her living room. It felt like the past just came rushing in. "God that was weird seeing her again after all these years."
"You've met her before?"
Annette nodded "when she was in my first grade class. It was only for a day but she made quite an impression. She's all grown up now." Getting to her feet she shook her head and sighed "she looks just like her mother and acts like her."
It was true Annette nearly fell over when she looked up and saw that same beautiful face filled with superiority and confidence. Sydney looked just like Kathryn but she had a lot of her father in her as well. The sneer and the eyes were all Sebastian. The attitude however was pure Kathryn and it drove a shiver through Annette's body. That phony politeness when all the while she was judging and plotting her next move. Having the girl in her house made her nervous but having her around her baby brother made her angry. "What was she doing here anyway?"
"I'm running against her for student body president."
Forgetting a moment all about Sydney, Annette's face filled with happiness as she embraced her brother. "Oh my god, Garret that's so great! I'm so proud of you why didn't you tell me?"
Pulling away from her he gave her a lazy smile and shrugged "it's not that big of deal. I just thought it would look good on my high school transcripts."
Annette threw him a skeptical look. "Garret you've already been excepted to Harvard, Brown, Yale and Columbia. You don't need to impress anyone." It was true her brother was a genius. He skipped one grade in elementary school and he could have skipped more but her father and step mother thought it might hurt his social life. As it turned out they needn't worry. In a school filled with spoiled rich kids and cliques Garret was one of the most popular boy's in school.
Taking a seat on the couch he picked up the mail and started looking through it again. "I just thought it would be fun."
"Fun?" Thinking back to what she walked in on earlier she asked "Sydney Valmont is your competition?"
When Garret nodded in response Annette began to worry again. "Garret I want you to be careful. Those people don't play fair."
Looking up at his sister Garret's eyes flickered wickedly "well neither do I sis."
This Annette also knew to be true. Her brother often joked that the goodness gene must have skipped a generation. While she often prided herself of being fair, honest and a genuine good person Garret was not and usually never hid that from her. He was more ambitious and driven than Annette ever was. While all she ever wanted was to have a decent life filled with happiness Garret made no secret of the fact that he wanted a better life for himself than there father had. He was smart and determined enough that he would probably have no problem reaching his goal.
"Here you got something" he tossed her a letter from the pile at her.
It was from Huntington, the private school Annette taught at. As she opened the letter and took in the contents she said out loud "looks like they've already started. Dammit!"
Garret jumped off the couch and stood beside her concerned. "What is it?"
"My application for tenure...it was denied" she sighed.
"Well did they give a reason?"
"No just some bullshit..." Annette trailed off and then crinkled the paper in her hand angrily before throwing it to the ground. "Kathryn Merteuil is on the board. She probably heard you were running against her daughter so she made sure I wouldn't get it. Do you see Garret? This is what I'm warning you about. These people will destroy anyone they have to, to get what they want."
Turning away from her Garret bent down and scooped the piece of paper off the ground. He read through it then tossed it in the garbage. "So, what you want me to drop out?"
"It might be best."
She started to walk to the kitchen when her brother called out "no way." Annette looked back at him surprised. Garret's face seemed to darken before her very eyes as he sneered "there's no way I'm letting that little bitch win."
* * * * * *
Later that night Sydney stood outside Steven Reynolds home and rang the bell. Clad in a revealing black dress with only a cashmere pashmina to guard her against the cold she waited impatiently for him to open the door. She had called an hour ago to let him know she would be dropping by. He had eagerly agreed to be waiting for her.
The paper work she had stolen from Garret's room had been of absolutely no help. All it told her was he paid his bills on time and that he'd gotten all A's in his physics class. Big fucking deal. Everything that went on earlier that day had been for nothing. Now the only idea she had left was to get some help. That's where Steven came in. As far as Sydney knew he was one of Garret's closest friends and as it happens she also knew he was completely hot for her. Ever since she had arrived at Manchester Steven had been panting after her. Tonight if he agreed to help her he might just get what he always wanted.
There was of course one down side to this plan. Sydney had already promised her parents that she would have nothing whatsoever to do with the Reynolds, especially their son. She could understand her mother's dislike for the poor, socially repugnant Hardgroves but the Reynolds had money and were on top of the social latter. Sydney just figured it had something to do with her mother once dating Court Reynolds. Well that was a million and a half years ago and in Sydney's mind it was well past over. Besides her mother would understand. She had to beat Garret.
Steven opened the door with a drink in his hand signaling to her that obviously his parents weren't home. With his athletic build, chiseled face, and sandy blond hair it wasn't difficult to see why Reynolds was so popular. Next to Garret he was the best looking boy in school. Leaning against the door frame Steven gave her an appreciative once over and drawled "well if it isn't little Sydney Valmont. Don't you look all grown up out of your school uniform."
She arched an eyebrow at his comment. "Invite me in Reynolds and make me a drink."
His smirk broadened as he moved aside to let her in. "Confident and assertive. I knew there was a reason I liked you Valmont."
Sydney entered the posh townhouse and was immediately struck by how different it was from Garret's home she'd been in earlier that day. You could fit the whole Hardgrove apartment in the living room. Strangely enough she felt more comfortable in this setting than in the cozy, homey apartment on the West side.
As Steven walked over to the bar in the living room he called back to her "what will the lady have?"
"A martini, very dry"
While he busily made her drink she tossed her wrap aside and considered what she was about to do. Sydney was no virgin and yet sex was never that big a deal for her. Most of the boys she had been with were less than memorable at best and rarely did she get any pleasure out of it. Usually it was just a means to an end. A way to get what she wanted from them. On a few occasions she had fooled around with Steven and found it to be quite enjoyable. She honestly liked him and was more than attracted to him which is why she put of fucking him. She didn't want it to be just a one time thing. Now however she really didn't have a choice.
Handing her the drink Steven reclined back on the couch and finished his own off. Setting the glass down he asked "so what was so important that I had to stay in tonight?"
Sydney took a big gulp of her drink then set it down. "I wanted to talk to you alone. I need your help."
"Well you know I'll help you in any way I can Syd."
She smiled down at him "good. It concerns the election. Tonight was suppose to be my victory party."
Steven nodded in understanding "but Garret decided to run against you."
"Exactly. I need to win this election Steven. If I do I'll be the youngest student body president in Manchester history."
"Besides your mother" he reminded her. "So I'm guessing you want my help to..."
"Destroy the competition."
His smile faltered and he sat up not quite relaxed anymore. Sydney had been curious how he would react to her request. She wondered just how close Garret and Steven were. "Sydney I'd love to help but, I mean Garret's my friend."
"And I'm not?" she pouted.
He smiled faintly at her and replied "of course you are but I've known Garret awhile. I'm sorry but I just can't do that to him. He's been a good friend."
Sydney's turned up her nose at the sentiment and huffed "he's also a piss poor nobody who only got into Manchester because his father was the headmaster."
Steven snickered bemused "Sydney I didn't know you were such a snob."
She smiled coyly at him "there's a lot you don't know about me Steven." Reaching up she slowly pulled the straps of her dress down and let the garment fall to the floor. Now standing before him totally naked she purred "would you like to find out more?"
Steven's mouth fell open as he gawked at the supple curves of her young body. Shifting his body he laid back on the couch, licked his lips and told her "well he's not that good a friend..."
* * * * * *
Meanwhile in an apartment of the lower west side Garret Hardgrove stared miserably out the window as he sipped a glass of bourbon. His glass was not crystal like the Reynolds but rather an ordinary cheap cup. Like everything else in the apartment it was cheap and ordinary.
Garret had always known he was cut out for a better life. Even back in Kansas, where he spent most of his early years he knew he wanted to have a better life than his parents had. Sure they were happy together, both were teachers and made a modest living. However their life always seemed so sheltered and boring. Garret wanted more. He wanted to know more, see more, live more. The prospect of living the rest of his life in the dinky little town where nothing ever happened terrified him.
He use to envy his older sister Annette who lived in New York. His father had lived there too when he was headmaster at the elite prep school Manchester. But then he had met and fallen in love with his mother and when she got pregnant with him they moved back to Kansas thinking it would offer him a better life. In Garret's view they were very wrong. As he grew older he began to have a growing thirst for knowledge realizing the power that came with it. He read anything he could get his hands on absorbing every word in hopes that someday it could be used to his advantage.
When his parents realized just how bright their son was his father began to talk of moving back to the city. They thought Manchester might offer him a better education and more opportunities. Knowing they could never afford it Mr. Hardgrove decided to take his job back realizing it would allow his son free tuition. However the first year he was to attend his father died of a heart attack. His mother had to stay in Kansas with her job and reluctantly Garret stayed with her. He hated attending his shitty public school but he loved his mother dearly and didn't want to leave her alone. The following year however she died in a car accident.
His junior year Garret moved up to the city to live with his older sister Annette. He loved the culture and the energy of New York. Manchester however was a different story. The first few weeks he hated it. Nearly everyone who attended was filthy rich and from a prominent family. They were the son's and daughters of the elite and they knew it. Garret soon learned that it was either sink or swim and he chose to swim.
It was all so incredibly easy. Normally anyone else in his position would have been labeled an immediate outsider. However Garret was smart and better yet he was charming. The whole faculty had loved his father so they immediately embraced him, thus insuring his good grades without even trying. He joined the hockey and lacrosse team so he was immediately in with the jocks. He saved up money from his after school job as an auto mechanic to buy the right clothes to fit in with the preps when he was invited to parties. And with his good looks he had no problem attracting the opposite sex.
By the middle of his junior year Garret was one of the most popular guys on campus. Everyone adored him but he couldn't stand any of them. Since arriving in New York he hadn't made one honest to goodness friend, they were all phonies. Steven Reynolds, who he claimed as one of his closest confidants was really in Garret's mind just another alcoholic idiot rich boy who was as easy to manipulate as all the rest. The women in the school were usually as easy as they came and he took great pleasure in seducing them and breaking there hearts the next day. Meanwhile they all loved him.
Except for one of course.
Sydney Valmont, he hated her worst of all. So beautiful, so ambitious, such a bitch. She was a god damn sophomore for crying out loud, she should've been on the middle of the food chain but instead she was on top. Partly because she was so attractive, partly because she had the Merteuil-Valmont pedigree but mostly because she was just at good as manipulating and fooling people as he was.
Garret had long ago heard all about what Kathryn and Sebastian had did to his sister. Valmont had used and tossed away Annette in favor of the rich bitch Kathryn Merteuil, a woman who had done everything in her power to hurt his sister. Like Annette he was filled with contempt for these people but unlike her he wanted to do something about it. Garret wanted revenge.
It was a few weeks ago when he spotted Sydney and her cronies laughing and talking about how her victory for student body president was in the bag. Then Steven had told him that he was already planning a victory party for her. This had annoyed Garret a great deal. He decided for a laugh that he would run against her, if only to prove that a Hardgrove really could beat a Valmont.
He knew she would play dirty so he wasn't terribly surprised when he came home to find the upper east side princess lounging on his couch. Undoubtedly she had been looking for dirt but he knew she had been unsuccessful. He wasn't stupid enough to let incriminating things lie around. Still he had been caught off guard by the kiss. Garret had always figured her to be a slut but it had surprised him none the less. It had been...different than he would have expected, warmer some how. Yet he knew it was all an act on her part to keep him distracted so he didn't let himself dwell on it too much.
Finishing off his drink Garret thought about the letter his sister had received. If it was true that Sydney's bitch mother was responsible for his sister not getting tenure than he wasn't just going to let that stand. What started as a joke, a way to knock the little princess of her pedestal had now turned into a war. This was now going beyond some stupid high school election. Garret wanted revenge on the Valmont's once and for all. They had broken his sisters heart and beat her down. He was not going to stand for it. Garret was a Hardgrove but he was no pushover. He could be just as vindictive as any of them. Even more so.
As far as he could tell there was only one thing the Valmont's truly held dear and that was their daughter. Garret decided then and there that he was going to make it his mission to bring her down. He was going to destroy Sydney Valmont and her perfect little world if it was the last thing he did.
- to be continued (Please Review)