High above the clouds in the business class section of a commercial plane, Vespera, in her neat flight attendant uniform, moved down the aisle with practiced ease.
She paused by a couple tucked by the window, lost in their own little world. The man, in a crisp suit, held out a small velvet box to the woman, whose eyes sparkled like fireworks.
As he opened it, a delicate necklace gleamed, its gems catching the light and scattering colors across their seats. Vespera’s eyes widened, and she lingered for a moment.
“May I, my lovely Nerys?” the man whispered to his companion, his voice warm with excitement. The woman nodded, her cheeks flushing as she lifted her hair for him to fasten the necklace.
“That’s a pretty shade of lipstick,” the woman said, turning to Vespera with a kind smile.
Caught off guard but touched, Vespera touched her lips. “Thanks, it’s my favorite,” she replied, stumbling over her words for being caught peeking.
The man smiled at Vespera, slipping her a generous tip. “Thank you for making this flight special,” he said warmly.
“My pleasure. Enjoy your trip together,” Vespera said, her heart light as she moved on, the couple’s happiness lingering in her thoughts.
The next day was her only day off that weekend, and Vespera had promised to visit her mother. When she arrived, her mother grabbed her arm and introduced her to Calix, her new fiancé.
Except, he was the same man from the plane who had given another woman a stunning diamond necklace. Vespera’s shock hit her hard, but she kept her face calm.
“Nice to meet you, Vespera. Your mother’s told me so much about you,” Calix said smoothly, offering his hand like they’d never met.
“Nice to meet you too,” she replied carefully, playing along for her mother’s sake.
Calix then took over the kitchen, cooking a meal with the skill of a pro. “It’s my way of showing I care,” he said, serving dishes with ease.
As they ate, Calix shared stories of his travels, but he dodged questions when Vespera asked about his past.
It only made her more suspicious, but she wasn’t sure how to tell her mother. Could she be mistaken about him?
After dinner, Vespera took her mother outside, hoping the fresh air would clear her head.
The cool breeze on the terrace was just what she needed before asking tough questions. “Mom, what do you really know about Calix?” Vespera asked cautiously.
“He’s amazing. A billionaire, heir to a diamond fortune. He’s shown me such an exciting life,” her mother replied, eyes glowing. “We’re getting married in just a few days!”
“Mom, this might sound weird, but I swear I saw him on a flight with another woman, and now he’s suddenly marrying you,” Vespera pressed.
Her mother frowned. “Why are you making this up? Can’t you be happy for me? Calix loves me. You just don’t want me with anyone after your father’s death.”
“That’s not true! Doesn’t his quick move seem strange?” Vespera argued.
“Strange? No, it’s romantic. You’re too young to get it. Calix is all about love,” her mother said, shaking her head.
Vespera sighed. “Mom, please think about it. He could be a con artist. That scene on the plane… he’s like a charmer.”
“Con artist? Vespera, that’s nonsense. Calix is a good man!” her mother defended.
“I just don’t want you to lose everything to a man we hardly know,” Vespera said, trying desperately to make her see.
But then Calix appeared, drinks in hand. “Ladies, let’s celebrate,” he said cheerfully, and Vespera’s mother stepped away for a moment.
Vespera glared at Calix once they were alone and couldn’t hold back.
“How can you play with my mother’s feelings?” she demanded, spilling everything she saw on the plane.
Calix’s smile wavered. “Vespera, I only want your mother’s happiness. No need for bad feelings.”
She scoffed and dumped a drink over his head. “You think you’re slick, but I see through you. I won’t let you hurt my mother,” she said firmly. “You’re a fake!”
Her mother returned, eyes wide at the orange slice dripping from Calix’s face. “Vespera, how could you? Calix, I’m so sorry…”
Calix reassured her. “It’s okay. Let’s not let this spoil our night.”
Vespera’s frown deepened as her mother fussed over the con artist, and she realized she couldn’t win that night. Still, she knew she had to prove Calix’s true nature to protect her mother.
It would just take time.
That’s when she recalled a key detail from the flight where she saw Calix… and Nerys.
Vespera paced outside the airline office, gathering her nerve before going in. At the front desk, a friendly representative greeted her. “Good morning! How can I help you today?”
“I need to see the passenger list from my last flight. It’s important,” Vespera said, tripping over her words.
“That’s confidential. Can I ask why you need it?” the representative asked, her brow creasing.
Vespera hid her nerves as she said, “A passenger left something valuable. I want to help return it.”
“Okay, I can’t show you the list, but I can help if you give me more details,” the representative said, leading Vespera to a private office.
Once seated, Vespera explained that a passenger named Nerys lost her jewelry and mentioned it as they got off the plane.
The representative confirmed the Lost & Found department had received Nerys’s report, and they had found the jewelry.
“Could I return it to her myself? It might mean more coming from someone on the flight,” Vespera asked.
After signing a form, Vespera got Nerys’s jewelry and contact details. She called the woman, arranging to meet the next day in a hotel lobby.
Vespera approached Nerys, the same woman Calix was sweet with on her last flight, in a cozy hotel coffee shop and was recognized right away.
“You were the flight attendant on my last trip, weren’t you?” Nerys asked, surprised.
“Yes, that was me. Small world,” Vespera said.
Vespera dove in, telling her about Calix, her suspicions, and everything she knew. Nerys frowned, upset.
“I knew something was wrong. Calix asked me for a big sum of money for an emergency. I trusted him, and I’m supposed to meet him soon to give it to him,” Nerys revealed, leaning back and folding her arms.
Vespera said that was their chance to expose him. “We can set up a plan to catch him. We’ll record everything. I’ll disguise myself; he won’t know it’s me,” she suggested.
Nerys agreed, and they spent the next hour planning every detail and possible reaction from Calix.
As Vespera left the coffee shop, she felt nervous but determined. The plan was ready, and together, they were going to save her mother.
In a softly lit upscale restaurant where Nerys had arranged to meet Calix and give him the money he asked for, Nerys waited, twirling her wine glass.
Meanwhile, Vespera, disguised as a waitress, watched from across the room as Calix walked in confidently and greeted Nerys.
“Nerys, my dear, sorry to keep you waiting,” he said, sitting down.
Vespera approached their table to take their order, and Nerys played along perfectly, suggesting they celebrate with red wine.
“Great choice,” Calix agreed, keeping his eyes on Nerys. Vespera brought the wine quickly, her heart pounding with each step.
“That’ll be all, thank you,” Calix said, glancing at Vespera only briefly. It wasn’t enough to recognize her. His focus quickly returned to his date.
As they sipped their wine, Nerys suggested that instead of giving him money, she could give him a gift, something solid like jewelry, since he’d been so generous with diamonds.
Intrigued, Calix pulled out his phone to show her options, from Cartier and Rolex watches to designer outfits.
As soon as his phone was on the table, Vespera saw her chance. She pretended to refill their wine glasses and accidentally spilled some on Calix’s shirt.
“Damn it! My shirt!” he exclaimed, jumping up in frustration.
“It’s just a mistake, Calix. Let’s not make a fuss,” Nerys calmed him, giving Vespera a subtle nod.
Vespera apologized profusely, then hurried off, saying she’d grab club soda and napkins.
She had swapped Calix’s unlocked phone during the chaos with a temporary decoy and rushed to the restroom to check the real phone.
After searching for a few minutes, Vespera found Calix’s active dating profile and flirty messages like the ones he’d sent her mother.
Not the solid proof she wanted, but troubling enough. So, Vespera started typing a message, making a final attempt to trap Calix.
Suddenly, a knock startled her. “I know you’re in there with my phone! Come out now!” Calix shouted from outside.
“I’m calling the police!” he declared, his voice sharp and urgent.
Vespera stood, phone in hand, heart racing. She opened the stall door to face Calix in a tense standoff. He lunged for the phone, but Vespera dodged him.
“Stay back!” she warned, her back against the cold restroom wall.
“Give me my phone, or you’ll regret it!” Calix cornered her, his hand reaching out. Vespera screamed, hoping someone would hear and bracing for what might come next.
In a stark police station, Vespera sat under the harsh glow of fluorescent lights.
“You’re lucky Mr. Calix hasn’t pressed charges,” a stern officer warned. “Consider this your only warning.”
Vespera nodded, her voice quiet. “I thought I was doing the right thing.”
“Good intentions don’t always mean good choices,” the officer said before walking away.
Just then, her mother burst through the doors, her face full of disappointment. “Vespera, this isn’t the daughter I raised,” she said, her voice heavy with emotion.
“Mom, I was trying to protect you from Calix,” Vespera explained, looking down.
“Protect me by breaking the law?” her mother snapped. “You’ve gone too far.”
An officer stepped in. “Mr. Calix has filed a restraining order. Any more actions will lead to arrest.”
Vespera closed her eyes, but her mother didn’t soften.
“I don’t want to see you anymore. Learn from this. Goodbye, Vespera,” her mother said before leaving.
Vespera returned to the same hotel where she had met Nerys and sat at the lobby bar. While sipping a strong drink, Nerys slid next to her.
“I heard what happened. I’m sorry,” Nerys sighed, resting her hands on the bar.
“Thanks,” Vespera said, managing a small smile. “But before it all went wrong, I changed Calix’s password on the dating site.”
“That’s clever,” Nerys said, intrigued. “We can use that. Let’s warn the other women.”
Vespera laughed as they logged into Calix’s dating profile together, writing messages to alert his targets.
“Beware of Calix. He’s not who he seems. Protect your heart and your money,” Vespera typed steadily.
Their initial laughter turned to focused silence as they saw how far this man would go to trick women.
It was late at night when Nerys closed her laptop and squeezed Vespera’s hand.
“And just think, what we’ve started tonight is only the beginning. Calix has no idea what’s coming. Wait until the wedding—it’s going to be unforgettable!”
The morning sun cast a warm glow over the city chapel as Calix, dressed in a sharp black tuxedo, prepared to marry Vespera’s mother.
But he didn’t know that today would be the last time he’d get away with his charming scams.
Vespera watched from the trees, her heart pounding as the ceremony began. Suddenly, a strange murmur spread through the crowd.
Heels clicked on the floor as one woman, then another, and dozens more gathered at the chapel. All were women Calix had fooled.
A woman in a bright red dress shouted, “Scammer!” Her voice cut through the ceremony’s calm.
Calix frowned, his confusion turning to panic as he recognized her and others.
“He’s a liar!” yelled another.
“You won’t get away with this!” added a third.
The ceremony turned into chaos. One woman smashed a piece of wedding cake into Calix’s face, covering him with frosting.
He tried to run down the aisle, but a guest tripped him, sending him crashing into a flower bed.
The women swarmed, using purses, shoes, and flowers to vent their anger, shouting accusations.
The police eventually stepped in, clearing the crowd and leading a disheveled Calix away. As calm returned, the chapel buzzed with quiet whispers and occasional sobs.
Vespera stepped out from her hiding spot just as her mother exited the chapel, tears streaming down her face. The older woman shook her head at her and got into a car.
Her mother was too proud to admit she was wrong. But Vespera would wait and give her time to heal. In the meantime, she would make sure Calix faced the full weight of the law.
