darkest before the dawn

“Thanks for meeting me. I hate to be doing this so close to the wedding... But thank you for meeting me again.” Liana stared into her coffee vacantly, hoping the twinge of shame she felt didn’t register in her voice. She wasn’t a great liar in the first place, but even then she was sure Monty could see right through her. “I haven’t been able to have my mother look through the documents you provided. She’s out of state until next week. But, that’s not really what I want to talk about.” 

Bri: Lol well thank you

Bri: Krys threatened to rig the bouquet toss, or like bumping everyone else out of the way….

Bri: When are family Christmas parties not weird?

Liana: UMMMM you realize I 100% HAVE to rig the bouquet toss now? You know me... I have good aim.

“Of course, I’d expect nothing less.”

“Yes, on a rather solemn note, I believe that I do.”

“...And?”

Liana: I maintain that while I technically do not fit the definition of "bridezilla" I HAVE had my moments lately. So, to make it up for you I SORT OF last minute switched the bridesmaid/groomsmen order so you're coming in with Riah.

Liana: Just because I'm getting married doesn't mean I don't notice when my best friend has sudden sexual tension with... I'm pretty sure the only other employee at your bar?

He finally drops his fake but probably actually really very good American accent.

“Look. Liana, I know this sounds severe but that’s because it is. You’re also forgetting that I went undercover for a year to do this, and to do it slowly and secretively so that it might actually work. A year of my own life! Why would I undertake this kind of task if this degree of dedication was not required? 

Henry and his family are master manipulators and the sorts of schemes they put others through, I assure you, are so many leagues beyond my own that once you know the truth, you will see that what I’ve done is a mere and insignificant white lie in comparison. I didn’t want another innocent to suffer or be pulled into these machinations. Henry knows that I’m onto him, and with the bad blood between us, if he’d known I had befriended you, he’d have put a stop to it in a moment. You were targeted because of your family. Your father and mother have influence, power… The Westons are always seeking more of that. The things they did to my family would shock you to your very soul… The impeccable, diabolical manipulations… They are masters of their craft. And I need not remind you that they were able to bring about my family’s absolute ruin without the legal and emotional binds of wedlock… If you don’t believe me, just see for yourself. It’s all here.”

He produces a folder from within his jacket, as though he’d been expecting this moment to arise at any given time, and he probably has had and carried this for months though because he’s so fucking weird. (ooc: It’s a folder of documents relating to a completely fabricated scandal between the Westons and Carlyles and how the Westons allegedly brought about the financial and reputational ruin of the Carlyles, which Monty paid a lot of money to have forged. There are printed out articles from British newspapers, and should she go online to try and look for these things, I feel like somehow…somehow, with all his money…Monty has that covered, and you can legitimately find results…Somehow… Or something. You can help me decide the actual details ooc because who the f knows? Not I. And then this will just be like. WTF when she also finds out Monty was the best man, but that could make for an especially weird revenge f***……IDK. I’m flyin by the seat of my pants. DETAILS TO BE ANNOUNCED AT A LATER DATE….. /ooc)

“It was all very hush-hush, people being paid off not to talk or leak information and whatnot, on both ends, which I’m sure you can understand. I’m sure your parents have done similar things before out of necessity. It’ll take you a while to go through everything… Once you’re done with that, I can proceed with my tale, and hopefully then you’ll be able to see things more clearly with the insight this will provide you, and we’ll get into Henry’s ex-flame Lorelei and why I went about things the way I did. You’re welcome to do this at my residence, should you like, or take it with you and then call on me once you’re ready to follow up. I’m truly sorry for the pain all of this will cause but… it will be nothing in comparison to the pain you’ll experience if you don’t find out before it’s too late. You’re a smart girl and you’ll begin to piece it all together once you learn more of the facts, starting with the ones in there.”

“I think I know you well enough to know you know what you’re doing, giving this to a psych major with a lawyer mom. I’ll be triple checking the legitimacy of this.”

A slow, slow clap is his immediate response.

“Well done. I knew you were clever enough to figure me out. In fact, I never intended to fool you and fully expected you to discover the truth. I’m afraid, however, that as fun as it is to play along with this tone you’ve established, you’ve got my intentions all twisted. In truth, I was hoping I might be able to help you, but if you’d outwardly known too soon, Henry would’ve figured me out and it would’ve all fallen apart.

I know, I know… It seems terribly sneaky and deceitful of me and all that may very well be true… but when you’re dealing with a Weston, well… I’m afraid you’ve got to be. Please, will you at least grant me the time to explain in depth? I understand you’re upset and confused but I wouldn’t have gone to all this trouble if it wasn’t necessary, or for a good reason.”

“I don’t even know where to begin with how fucked up this is. I’m about to get married, I don’t have time for this bullshit.”

Fuck. “God, I love you. Even if you do know me way too well. Honestly, I’ve probably got stronger ones on what I don’t want, so if I give you a list of ‘no’ will that help?”

“Jonathan Waters? Lorelei and I went to school together in England. Honestly, I never thought I would see her ever again. Things, uh, they went south between us. Hard.”

“How come you’ve never mentioned her? I mean, I told you about Conor... And isn’t it a little weird that she’s here and it’s never come up that you know her?”

Krys: Okay, no, that's weird. Like *never* never? Not even like, in passing?

Krys: I've honestly never felt right about her

Krys: Maybe they were friends or something and she went postal on him? I've never felt right about her, and I feel like she would be capable of some shady shit

Krys: Like, low-key find out if you should be ready to file restraining orders...

Liana: I don't want to jump to conclusions, but no, we've never talked about his dating history. Or really his life before college at all? I've heard about his family but I've only actually met his parents.

Krys: I mean, definitely stressed, but you're right. Something does seem...off...now that I think about it. Maybe there's something going on with classes? Or family?

Liana: Maybe this is awful, and I don't want to be like, a crazy girlfriend but I sort of think... He's lying to me? At least not telling me the whole truth.

Liana: He NEVER talks about high school or his dating history or anything and I've never cared! I mean, he knows about me and Conor Kennedy, but that's the only real relationship I've had other than him?

Liana: But his brother sent me this picture of him and his friends and high school and that girl Lorelei was in it and they seemed... Close? And that weird guy from my therapy group was there?

Krys: I mean, I don't know if I'd say "normal" but I don't think it's like, a *problem*? I mean, if it's stuff outside of wedding planning, then definitely not a good sign, but if it's wedding stuff, I think you're fine.

Krys: Like, I get that you want him to be more involved with everything, and I super support that, but I think he cares more about the act of "We're getting married" than he does about the details

“Working our way through to main courses? …I’m sorry, that was a really bad one, forget I said it… I can help without bribes, I promise. What needs my opinion?” 

“What, you’re not interested? I thought your favorite thing about me was that I don’t have sex for pleasure, I have sex to win. Look if you really don’t have strong menu opinions I can just ask Krys or Bri...”

“Hun, we’ve already got notes for most of that right here,” Henry pulled a folder out from a stack on a nearby bookcase, and set it on the table. “I know you’re super stressed right now darling, but we’re so close. Just take a deep breath for me, okay?”

“Although…the begging doesn’t sound terrible either. I think some creative liberties could be taken regarding stress relief methods.”`

“...Fine. We’ll do this your way.”