Chapter Thirty-Two The Plan
Bastian went back in and sat down, his brain racing at a mile a second as he tried to figure out what to do and what exactly Casey’s plan was. He couldn’t figure out how she planned to use a slideshow to humiliate Mirabelle. If the pictures weren’t selfies and Mirabelle had no idea they were being taken, it would be obvious, which would make people question how she got them in the first place. And he might be biased, but Mirabelle was gorgeous with a knockout body, so unless the pictures had her in unflattering poses or places, he doubted very much they were humiliating beyond the general embarrassment of having a bunch of strangers and your former in-laws see you naked.
And even then, Bastian didn’t think Mirabelle would be as upset about it as Casey was clearly hoping she’d be. Mirabelle had a very positive body image of herself and usually wouldn’t be embarrassed by people seeing her naked. She went to nude beaches fairly frequently with Marie when they travelled together, loved to dress up in sexy, revealing costumes for Halloween and had even done a couple of burlesque “boot camps” that were sometimes offered when touring burlesque shows came to the city. She would be furious that the pictures were taken and shown to everyone without her consent, though, which just made Casey and Eddie really fucking stupid to even attempt it.
He also couldn’t figure out how she planned to use a slideshow to humiliate Mirabelle. For it to be the most effective, she’d have to show it somewhere everyone, including Mirabelle, was all at once, and besides the actual wedding ceremony and reception, she was running out of time and options. “Victor, what are the rest of Eddie and Casey’s plans in regard to the wedding? Is there something else happening that all the guests are attending?
Victor frowned as he thought about it. “Tomorrow, the families and the wedding party are moving over to the Stone Chalet. The wedding rehearsal is at four, and the rehearsal dinner is at seven, but those are just for people who have a role in the wedding and their spouses. Saturday is the wedding, and Sunday is the gift opening and brunch.” he recited after a moment. “Why?”
“I'm trying to figure out when Casey is planning to play her slideshow.” Bastian leaned back in his chair. She wouldn’t play it at the ceremony, maybe the cocktail hour or reception?
“What did Mirabelle have to say about it?” Robert asked as the room began emptying and people left to take their seats.
“She never took any nudes,” Bastian said, absently playing with his empty scotch glass. “She knows better. Revenge porn has become a pretty big issue in divorces.”
“So how would Eddie have a folder of her nudes?” Benji leaned forward, placing his beer bottle on the table and then resting his elbows on his knees as he studied Bastian curiously over his folded hands.
“It's either photoshopped pictures, or Eddie was taking them without her realizing,” Bastian said. “She wants the USB. I’m just trying to figure out when Casey plans to show it, and the only time I can think of that makes sense is during the cocktail hour or the reception.”
“I don't think she'll play it then,” Peter said after a few minutes. “She’s too much of an attention whore.”
“If the goal is to humiliate Mira, Mira would have to be there. We aren't invited to anything else but the wedding,” Bastian pointed out, but he knew Peter was right. Casey wouldn’t want the attention taken off her.
“Yet,” Victor said pensively, looking worried.
“We might get invited to the gift opening, but we don't have a part in the wedding to be at the rehearsals.” Bastian pointed out. “And I really don’t see her doing it at the gift opening because that’s usually just family and the bridal party.”
“Actually, Casey doesn’t have to show it during the wedding or with Mirabelle there. She could send it out as an email before the wedding.” Benji pointed out. “She could use a throwaway email account, then no one can prove it's from her; it doesn't get sent to anyone who cares about Mira, but when she walks into the wedding...”
“Everyone else starts laughing.” Bastian ran his hands over his face. “Which is why she's trying to set me up with the strippers as well, to add it to the slideshow and humiliate us both. Fuck.”
“This is a mostly easy fix. I need access to her email.” Benji stretched, and a lazy grin crossed his face. “And Bast needs to put together a file with all the evidence in it.”
“What are you thinking?” Peter raised his eyebrow, a slow grin crossing his face.
“Well, as a Cyber Security Analyst for the largest bank in Australia and a former hacker, I think I can manage a virus that, when uploaded to a computer, will change all the attachments to a file of my choosing.” Benji leaned back in his chair, looking incredibly pleased with himself.
Bastian felt his heart rate pick up as a rush of excitement went through him. “That’s.. Wow. That would be amazing. You really think you could do that?” Benji nodded with a smirk.
“I can have the virus written in an hour or two tops.”
“Robert,” Victor turned to his son-in-law, a look of determination in his eyes. “Do you think Greg can get screenshots of the group chat so we can send those as well?” Victor leaned forward. “Because if we're going to scorch the earth, I'd like to make sure we don't miss anything.”
“I think that will depend on if we can promise him that we don’t out his wife as the one we got the screenshots from,” Robert said slowly.
Bastian nodded. “Absolutely, I won’t add anything that makes it obvious it was sent by her. And there’s no pressure either; if he can’t get them, we understand. The proof of Eddie and Casey’s affair will be enough to knock them down a few pegs.”
“I also think Eddie needs to be aware of this,” Victor explained quietly. “And he won't believe me or any of you when it comes to Casey. Whatever he decides after he knows is on him. But I want him to have all the evidence because we're giving him what's left in his trust on Sunday and disowning him. The child will get a trust set up when we see a paternity test proving it's his, and if anything should happen to myself and Francesca before the child receives it, well, I know a pair of lawyers who will be retained to look after it in our place.”
Robert nodded, his expression softening when he heard the pleading in Victor’s voice. “I’ll go see what he can do.” He stood up and walked off in the direction of the door to the field.
“While I can definitely start working to hack Casey’s email account, it would be infinitely easier if I had access to her computer or tablet, something she’s already logged in on,” Benji said calmly. “Otherwise, I need to know what domain she uses and her email address.”
“That won't be a problem.” Victor shook his head with a smile. “I'm paying for their room, so it's under my name. I'll ask the front desk for an extra key.”
“Then we need to get back to the hotel as soon as possible.” Benji stood up, clearly excited to wreak a little havoc. “I have to write the virus, and Bast has to put together the file.”
“Actually, I think just you and Bastian should go,” Peter said cautiously. “Victor has to get you into the room, but he should come back. It will upset Eddie and look suspicious if we all go. Benji and Bast ate the same thing at the restaurant, so we can say they're sick. If someone asks where Victor is, he made sure you two got to the hotel all right and is coming back.”
Victor let out a heavy sigh. “You're right.” They looked up as Robert came back, grinning triumphantly.
“He's gonna send them to you. They have the same cloud account, and the screenshots are saved there. He’s just as eager to bring down Casey as we are, and as long as Bast promises to make sure there’s no way it can be traced back to Helena, which I assured him you would, he is more than happy to help out.”
Victor, Peter, and Benji filled Robert in on what had been decided while Bastian called for a cab and sent a text to Mirabelle.
Play nice, Bunny; we have a plan.