Tomorrow

POV: Leah

Sitting around all evening with this news from the doctor was eating me alive. Waiting for the clock to strike ten and Jenny to walk in through the door. I needed a distraction, but she had inventory after work.

Turning my phone back on was a big mistake. Over 100 missed calls and even more messages from the guys. I don’t know how they all found out I was pregnant, but the truth was out… well except for what I learned today.

I was only kidding myself thinking I could keep it a secret as long as I locked myself away. The friends-with-benefits relationship was over, and they all made it known. I can’t blame them, but I wished someone warned me that it would eventually blow up in my face.

We all broke the rules and now have to deal with the consequences. I wished they could all be friends, but it looks like the baby turned them into enemies. At least they all had a common goal now, to claim me as their own.

They wanted me, they wanted their baby, and they wanted to leave this life behind. I always looked at them differently and liked them for each of their own unique personalities, but deep down they are all the same. It was beautifully tragic in a way.

I needed to break the news to each of them, but unsure how. It was a problem for tomorrow.

**********

POV: Adrian

My blood boiling at the thought of fighting Jared and Cameron for what is rightfully mine. They were never supposed to get involved. Shit, I royally fucked up.

Leah was creeping into my mind, running through thoughts of her every second of the day. The news from Leah's appointment was still stinking in and I was processing how to move forward. I don’t know how she is going to confront each of us, but she needs to do it soon.

“Boss, I got an update on the ledger.”, Hendrix messaged me.

The news pulled me from the bottle that was drowning my tormented soul. I was turning into my father. Unsure if it was a bad thing or not.

It didn’t come as a surprise that Monica would figure out where the ledger was. She was cunning and determined but often misguided. It was right in front of our faces the whole time and we missed it.

“Get me a location on her.”, I ordered.

“She’s headed for the city. She bought a plane ticket that departs tonight.”, he responded.

She was headed back to my stomping ground. This seemed odd because if she had the ledger then she could take it and run. The information for each account and deal would be listed in it.

She would be one of the most powerful criminals and I have given her all the proof she needed to take over as Cooper's successor. The lab report containing the evidence that Cooper was indeed her father was used to change her name. He always told everyone that he wished he had a child to carry on his business.

I decided to recall everyone back to my apartment to regroup and brainstorm a strategy to take the ledger back from her.

**********

POV: Leah

Jenny came rushing to my room once she got home from work. She had been avoiding her parents and telling them that I needed support right now. A terrible breakup or something sentimental.

“Hey, babe! How was your appointment today?”, she came into my room cheerful.

“It was fine.”, I didn’t look at her.

“That’s a total lie, why can’t you look at me?”, she questioned.

“I will tell you later after I process. Can we talk about something else now?”, I pleaded.

“Okay, but I will ask you again about your appointment. Anyway, we are all set with Monica for tomorrow!”, she smiled ear to ear.

Jenny had come up with a deviously good plan to expose the truth. I wasn’t willing to hurt her in the event she was actually pregnant. Causing harm to an unborn child is reckless.

Over the last week, Jenny has been communicating with Monica via proxy. It was a really good plan that didn’t involve much work on my part. We were determined to expose her for the fraud she really was.

Jenny went to the adoption agency where I had seen Monica at a few months ago. In full detail, I described the lady whom Monica had tried to bribe. Jenny needed to be sure to work with this employee and her only.

We bought a fake belly online and Jenny wore it to her appointment. Explaining in detail the made-up situation that left Jenny exploring adoption agencies. It was a complete tear-jerking sob story that came from a few different movies we loved.

Needing everything to line up perfectly, we told them the type of family we were looking for. We wanted a hard-working mother and a family that made a lot of money. We wanted someone who came from money and could offer the baby the finest things in life.

Expressing the fact that money was an important role in the decision and giving a false due date to align with Monica’s. This was the perfect way to ensure that our fake baby was going to Monica. Always ending each sentence with something about money.

Our made-up story made Jenny look like a money-hungry whore who wanted to sell her baby to the highest bidder. We needed that leverage because I knew from experience that they listen to your wishes, but often give the baby to the person willing to donate the most. Not all babies go to a good home, it was often only picture-perfect.

Yesterday Jenny had gotten a call that a woman wanted the baby and would pay whatever the price was that we set. To keep it from looking too suspicious we asked the mom in question to pay for some maternity clothing and essentials. We just wanted to see whom the money was coming from.

Today, Jenny picked up a check at the agency for $1000 from the one and only Monica VanCooper. I see she changed her name to align her crooked ways with her lack of a moral compass. It didn’t matter because we had her on the hook.

Getting a check from Monica wasn't enough proof that she was faking a pregnancy. Jenny called the agency and asked them to set up a meeting. This is the part of her plan where I came into play.

Monica would never expect me to show up to the meeting. It would throw off her game and increase her agitation. Jenny would be hiding in a corner with a camera rolling.

Jenny came to share the great news that she accepted the invitation to meet. Monica picked the location, the Daybreak Downtown Hotel. Of course, she wanted to be on her own turf.

She wanted to show off her money now that she was sporting the VanCooper name. It also allowed her full control of the security system. Jenny would need to sneak in there before Monica to get a good hiding spot.

“Are you sure that you are up for this babe?”, Jenny sat on my bed staring at me.

“I am. She needs to be knocked down a few notches.”, I paused.

“The part I am struggling with is… do I want to submit the story to the tabloids and ruin her, or do I take the high road and have you email it to Adrian.”, I confessed.

“Babe, this woman has ruined your life.”, Jenny was so supportive.

“Yes, but do I stoop to her level? I have already lost myself once. I can’t risk losing myself again.”, tears rolled down my face.

“Listen to your heart. We will have the photos and video. Let’s get it over with and then you can decide.”, she always knew exactly what to say.

Jenny was right, I would be able to decide what I want to do after we get the proof. There was no need to overthink it tonight. Tonight, I needed to rest and think about how to break my news to the guys tomorrow.

**********

POV: Adrian

Hendrix was on his way back, so I hopped on the CCTV surveillance to track Monica. Occasionally switching the view to see Leah. She and Jenny have been up to something, but I haven’t figured it out since she won’t talk to me.

The airport footage shows that Monica had ditched the painting, so she must have the ledger in hand. This was perfect because I had a connection with the TSA here and I could call in a favor. A surprise search should be able to apprehend the ledger.

“Hey Joey, it’s Agent Beneventi. I need to call in a favor.”, I called in the big guns.

“Anything for you man. I still appreciate you saving my life, so I’d do anything for you.”, he seemed like he was doing well.

“There is a Monica VanCooper coming in on the red-eye flight from Denver. I need a search of her belongings. Can’t tell you exactly what we are looking for, but it will be an odd ledger containing accounts, codes, and shipment information.”, I was vague because I had never seen the ledger before.

“You got it. I’ll call you when it’s done.”, he assured me.

Just when I thought this day couldn’t get any better, Valerie messaged me. Cooper was starting to wake up and when he did, she was going to ask him about the location of the ledger. She wanted to see him go down just as bad as the task force.

Tomorrow couldn’t come soon enough. Hopefully, all of this would be over, and I could finally move on with my life. It was a bittersweet moment, but there was no time to sleep tonight. It was time to prep for the takedown.

-To be continued-