Chapter 5 5 the plan

The Plan

*NOVA'S POV*

Bonny finally arrived at The Royal Crest, slipping through the doors with a look of relief on her face. She had changed so much from what I recall. She was now taller and had dyed her hair silver. The new hair color complimented her olive skin tone perfectly. Her straightened hair framed her round face, and she was dressed in a striking purple suit dress with black heels. Her style had evolved, and it suited her remarkably well.

She had a bright smile on her face as she walked towards the table I was seated at. "Nova!" she exclaimed with genuine excitement. We embraced tightly, a heartfelt hug that only old friends can share.

"Sorry I'm a bit late, I got held up in traffic."

"It doesn't matter, you're here now," I said smiling at her.

"Plus, you're only a couple of minutes late," I added as we settled into our seats.

"You look stunning, and you haven't aged a day since I last saw you," she said, her eyes full of admiration.

"Bonny!" I chuckled. Touched by her compliment.

"Have you seen yourself in the mirror? I'm pretty sure little girls look at you wishing they could be like you in the future," I teased.

"Now you've got me blushing. I'm glad you're finally back."

"I'm glad too," I said, my smile tinged with a mix of relief and sadness.

We chatted about the mundane details of life, our shared memories, and caught up on everything that had changed since we last spoke. It was a welcome distraction, but beneath the surface, I couldn't shake the heavy burden of Nora's death. The conversation, though light-hearted, felt like a temporary reprieve from the darker thoughts swirling in my mind.

"So," I said, after a while, taking a deep breath. "You remember I told you on the call, I had a lot on my mind I wanted to talk about?"

Bonny's expression softened, sensing the shift in my mood. "Yes, I remember. What's going on, Nova?"

"I found out that Nora passed away," I said, struggling to keep my voice steady.

"What do you mean by found out? Haven't you always known?"

"That's the thing my parents didn't even tell me until a few days ago," I said angrily.

Bonny's eyes widened with shock. "Oh, Nova, I'm so sorry. I heard a little about her death, but I didn't know the details. How could they have kept that from you?"

"I'm not sure," I said, bitterness creeping into my tone. "It's been really hard to process, especially since I've also learned so much more about her life and how unhappy she was."

"That's awful," Bonny said, her voice filled with sympathy.

"Bonny I couldn't even be there for her and it hurts," I said, my eyes starting to well up.

"Don't blame yourself, Nova. You didn't know," she said gently, squeezing my hand.

" I really, just want to get answers."

"What do you mean?" She asked.

"Nora mentioned The Brass Lantern in her diary. Based on what she wrote, her husband Ron Rowland frequented that bar."

"Ron Rowland... I know who that is," Bonny exclaimed.

my eyes widened at her statement. "Really."

Bonny nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah, he's one of our VIP members."

"I really would like to meet him. I need to get some answers. I need closure."

"Well that shouldn't be a problem if you regularly visit the bar, you're bound to meet him."

"Though I did hear that he would be traveling out very soon for a huge business trip. He might drop by the bar before his journey," she added.

"Thank you so much, Bonny. I think I'll disguise myself, I don't want him to recognize me and get spooked out by my resemblance to his dead wife," I said firmly.

Bonny's eyes were filled with concern. "Hunny I may not have experienced what you're going through right now, but I Totally Understand how you feel," she said still holding my hand tightly. "Do what you need to. I'll be here for you."

"Here is my key pass," she said, handing me a card. " just show it to the guard if you come by and I'm not around."

"Thanks again Bonny, I owe you," I said gratefully.

"No, you don't. Just promise me you won't do anything stupid," she said smiling softly.

"I'll try," I said, letting out a light laugh. "I promise."

As Bonny and I wrapped up our meeting, I felt a renewed sense of purpose. The conversation had been a much-needed outlet, and I was more determined than ever to make Ron pay. I thanked Bonny once more before heading back home, feeling hopeful. I had made progress and as luck would have it, the timing was just perfect.

As I arrived back home, the weight of the day's revelations still hung heavy on me. I shut the door behind me, my mind already racing with the details of my plan. I needed a strategy that was both meticulous and effective.

My opportunity to get back at Ron was glaring at me.

"What better way to make him pay than to make sure he loses his huge business deal?"I murmured to myself, with a grim smile on my face.

First things first, I had to think about how to disguise myself. I needed to be completely unrecognizable when I approached Ron at The Brass Lantern. "A different hair color and eye color with heavy makeup should do the trick."

I needed to get a hold of something potent enough and undetectable to incapacitate Ron without causing him any lasting harm. This way I could easily kidnap him.

"Our family cabin would be the best place to keep him locked up and question him," I said giggling.

The details of my plan were critical, and every element had to be meticulously arranged. I needed to be precise and efficient to pull this off without a hitch.

My next steps were clear, but the road ahead was fraught with uncertainty. I was about to embark on a risky plan to exact my revenge and uncover the truth. The stakes were higher than ever, but I was ready to risk it and make Ron Rowland pay for every pain he had caused Nora.