𝓛𝓮𝓪𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻 𝓑𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓭

𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓇𝓉𝓎-𝓉𝒽𝓇𝑒𝑒

You never know who your true enemies are. Some do their outmost best to hide, some you never knew existed, some you barely considered.

But enemies have that awful habit to show up in your life one way or another.

The only question is: when?

+ + + +

As Nellie returned from her thirty minute lunch break, the small office wasn't empty. As she shut the door close, Nellie sensed her presence was unwanted.

Almost immediately, the air tensed and the two individuals rose up from their seats. Fred visibly relaxed when he noticed it was Nellie but the woman across of him threw her a distrusting glare. Her presence alone was enough to make the young girl freeze in her tracks.

The woman straightened her back, taking up even more place in the room. Her perfectly applied make-up did nothing to intimidate Nellie. However, the dangerous and angry look she threw her, did.

"Hermione, meet my assistant, Miss Hearst," Fred interrupted the tension. At the mention of the woman's name, Nellie's heart skipped a beat.

Hermione Lodge was here. Hermione Lodge, the woman competing against Fred Andrews in the mayoral campaign. Hermione Lodge, the mother of Veronica Lodge, her half-sister. Hermione Lodge, the woman Hiram left her for.

Nellie couldn't help but stare at the woman, afraid she'd recognize her from a rainy night many weeks ago. Afraid that her face showed of the mistakes Hiram Lodge had made. Of the promise he'd broken when he'd promised to be faithful to the woman standing in Fred Andrews' office.

She couldn't help but compare her kind and loving mother to the woman standing in front of her. She couldn't help but admit that her father most certainly had a type. Hermione Lodge had dark, thick hair as well and eyes that were filled with emotions. Nevertheless, Nellie couldn't understand her father would leave her own kind and loving mother for a woman who was so ruthless and posh.

Dhalia was down to earth and pleasant to be around. Hermione Lodge looked as if she'd walked straight out of the Devil Wears Prada trailer.

When Hermione spoke, Nellie's world finally steadied as if the scene no longer played in a hazy dream. "You should really learn your employees not to interrupt when you're busy with important matters," she said. Her dark eyes fixed Nellie on her spot. She couldn't help but helplessly look at Fred, uncertain of what was expected of her.

Fred however, merely shook his head and scratched his retreating hairline. "Hermione, she's a kid. Still learning the job, we both know how hard the world can be."

Hermione Lodge let out a huff and shrugged. "Well, in that case, she can make me a coffee." She sat back down at her seat, her long painted nails tapping on a stack of papers. Nellie looked at Fred for instructions. In her mind she was already pouring some of the hot coffee over Hermione Lodge's stuck up face. Imagining the browns seeping into the stiff white blouse and ruining a piece of unmistakably expensive couture.

When Fred only nodded and sat down as well, Nellie took that as a sign to comply to Hermione Lodge's wishes.

As she fiddled with the buttons of the machine, the conversation that had been so abruptly interrupted by her arrival, resumed.

"Listen, it doesn't have to go this way," Hermione said, her voice remarkably softer than before. However, Fred Andrews didn't want to hear it and already shook his head as Nellie served two small cups of coffee on the desk.

"It does, Hermione. You know where I stand with the prison. It's simple, I refuse to cooperate." he said, his eyes looking tired at the woman in front of him.

"I always knew you had strong opinions, Fred. I just always assumed you'd know when they were standing in the way of your family's happiness." The beautiful woman's voice got a sharp edge to it.

"Is that a threat, Hermione?" Fred answered in disbelief. The gorgeous woman shrugged and tossed a lock of hair behind her shoulder. "A warning, Fred." she clarified.

"Don't forget that I have your best interests in mind. Yours and every other citizen of this town. After all, that's the reason I'm running for mayor."

"We both know Riverdale can disappear for all you care," Fred muttered, the threat to his family infuriating him. "My decision is made. Andrews Construction will not be a part of the SoDale project. Not the prison, not the residences for its employees. Mary will take care of the legal side of this agreement but I wish you'd stop bombarding me about it. This is my final answer and you don't need to try and convince me otherwise." Fred's tone had turned hostile and frustrated.

Hermione Lodge simply recognized her defeat although her eyes told she still had a fight left inside of her.

"Fine, if this is the way you want to play this game," she managed to say between pursed lips.

"Hermione, this isn't a game. We're talking about Riverdale's future here." Fred interrupted, watching as Hermione stood up ad strode towards the door.

"You're missing the bigger picture," Hermione Lodge said solemnly before she shut the door closed behind her.

The silence filled the small office once again. Fred looked helplessly at Nellie. She could see the fatigue displayed in his eyes.

"Another cup of coffee?" she awkwardly suggested to which Fred Andrews only nodded, focusing back on the blueprints of one of the smaller projects of Andrews Construction.

+ + + +

Squinting at the message of Fangs, Sweet Pea bit his lip. His chin rested on the palm of his hand. Fangs message came just after another one of Jughead Jones. They hadn't parted as friends that afternoon, Sweet Pea knew that. He'd threatened the young Serpent Prince but he didn't regret it. It was something he knew had been long coming, ever since Jughead had joined the gang.

What did bother him was that the reason he finally snapped was Nellie. He was terrified of the fact that she held so much power over him that after a single kiss, he was ready to cross unwritten rules of the gang. He'd threatened F.P.'s kid for God's sake. He rubbed his hand across his face.

Jughead served him a peace treaty on a silver platter with his urgent text. Illuminating the dark shadows of the trailer, his message was clear although no context was given.

I need you at Cooper's. Betty and Alice are in trouble. No Serpent stands alone.

It was the last part that almost physically hurt Sweet Pea. He hated Jughead with every fiber of his body but he was a Serpent nonetheless. A part of his family. No matter what, he'd have to be there. He owed his loyalty to the Serpents. That meant to every single member, even if he wanted to punch the smug look off his face.

With a grunt, Sweet Pea stood up. It took him few steps to reach the front door and clasp his fist around the worn material of his leather jacket.

Before he burst through the door, he quickly reached for his phone again and wrote to Fangs to get the younger Serpents together at the Cooper residence. Then, he searched for Nellie's number.

I've got some Serpent business. Don't worry about me.

When he reread his text, he couldn't bare how desperate he sounded and deleted the last sentence. Instead he wrote:

I've got some Serpent business. I'll pick you up at Andrews Construction afterwards.

Pleased with the changes, Sweet Pea pressed send and tucked his phone away. Patting his pocket, he felt the security of his knuckle dusters and pocket knife. The adrenaline of a potential fight rushed through him, made him almost jump of the stairs to his motorcycle. In the distance he heard other engines roaring to life, a smug smile tugging at his lips.

After everything, his Serpents still listened to him.