Why did I need peaches? Let's just say I was hoping to kill three birds with one stone.
If my memory served me well, Elise had been allergic to peaches, while I was allergic to beetroot. And since I didn't know if I was working with her body's biology or mine, I had to cover both. I couldn't risk the plan failing because the book gods decided to throw me a surprise party.
Thoroughness was survival.
Back in my room, I shut the door and put on the thick gloves. The light was dim, but bright enough to see what I was doing.
I peeled the peach carefully, sliced into it, and mashed it against one spoon until the surface was fully coated. Then I repeated the process with the second spoon. I did the same with the beetroot, coating both spoons thoroughly.
The smell of the beetroot brought back traumatic memories, but I pushed through. And when I was done, I slid both spoons into a small ziplock bag.
Why was I going this far? Because I needed two-three things: Judith's humiliation, and leverage.
But more than that, I needed a doctor. I needed to know if this borrowed body hid any other landmines. I had been poisoned, died, and now resurrected. I was pretty sure, medically, I needed to be thoroughly checked.
The problem?… I was broke. Elise hadn't exactly been financially sound. Her inheritance from her late mother had never reached her because her so-called father had tricked her into giving him temporary power of attorney.
Temporary, my foot. She had never gotten around to revoking it. She simply just let him take everything.
I lay on the bed for a second, staring at the dusty ceiling. "Gosh, Elise… why didn't you ever fight back?" I whispered.
I remembered yelling at her, while reading the book, for being so blind, and easily manipulated. But now, being here, I could already feel the chains they had wrapped around her. They had broken her spirit long before the soup. It hadn't been stupidity—it had been despair.
I clenched my jaw.
That wouldn't be me. I would make every single one of them pay for life.
If there was anything John loved more than his life, it was his reputation.
So if I pulled this off, he would have to spend his precious money on me to protect his precious image in front of our precious senator.
It was time for dinner.
I quickly put on the dress I had been given. Seeing it on my body, it wasn't anything fancy. Just enough to look presentable.
I headed upstairs and started helping Mami set the dining table. Silverware, glasses, folded napkins—everything sparkled under the grand chandelier.
Judith entered the dining room, already wearing her signature fake smile and enough perfume to fumigate the whole house.
She pointed at Mami. "I want the wine glasses here. Matt sits beside the senator. Rachel next to his wife, and Ashley next to me or her father."
I greeted her softly. "Good evening, Mom."
She ignored me completely, like I was invisible. Not even a glance.
She hadn't said my name when calling out the seating plan, which meant the unassigned chair was mine by default.
"Insufferable" I muttered, rolling my eyes as she strutted away.
When Mami wasn't looking, I discreetly slid one of the coated spoons into my plate setting. The second spoon stayed hidden as backup, in case the seats got shuffled.
Not taking chances.
Soon after, Judith called everyone into the living room for a small pep talk. "This dinner is important. Senator Bubley and his wife are highly respected people. We must look perfect tonight. No mistakes." She turned to Matt and adjusted his tie. "Remember to make small talk with the senator."
"We'll be good, Mom," Ashley chirped, then smirked at me. "Did you hear that, Sofia?"
I kept my face calm, voice soft. "Yes, Ashley."
But too bad I wasn't one who always adhered to rules.
The doorbell rang. Showtime.
The Bubleys arrived. They looked so young and polished, smiling warmly as everyone shook hands with them. Judith, ever eager to please, welcomed them like she was hosting royalty. She even laughed at John's lame joke.
Everyone was introduced to them, and when it was my turn, I had to stifle a laugh. The way Judith gushed about me, you'd think I was her biological daughter and the rest were her stepkids.
We gathered around the table. Before the food was served, John and Judith launched into small talk with the senator and his wife. They talked politics, policies, business, the usual, with Matt and Rachel chiming in occasionally.
Then the senator asked a question. Something about how a current government program would hold up in the long term.
Everyone jumped in, offering vague, flattering answers. Basically ass-kissing. But they were all wrong.
I leaned back, lips twitching. They didn't know, but I did.
"Actually," I spoke up, trying not to sound too ballsy, "contrary to what the average New Yorker believes, the program will collapse under its own weight within five years. The funding model is too heavy on the state. What you need is a hybrid model that shifts the burden onto private partnerships while still keeping the public trust intact."
Silence fell over the table.
Judith narrowed her eyes.
Rachel took a sip of her wine. "Sofia, darling. You don't interrupt when adults—"
But Zach lifted a hand, stopping her. His gaze was locked on me, intrigued. "No, it's fine. Go on, young lady."
Dear Rachel, I hadn't known I was still a kid. But thanks for the reminder.
I smiled slightly. "If you want long-term stability, Senator, you'll need to push for gradual integration. That way, you satisfy both sides and cut down backlash."
I sat up straighter. "And honestly… if you ever decide to run for governorship, which I think you will, this will be your winning tunnel. People are tired of extremes. They want balance."
Judith stiffened in her seat, and John looked angry. "Sofia, how dare you try to dictate—"
Zach laughed. "Calm down, John. You have a brilliant daughter."
His wife leaned forward, smiling. "How do you know all this, dear?"
I shrugged lightly. "I just… follow political news closely."
The truth? Back in my world, I had slogged through an 800-page textbook titled 'Raw Politics in New York' while working on my thesis, and Zach Bubley had been featured in it.
The food was served, and Brooke immediately complimented it. "This smells absolutely amazing."
I held my breath, waiting. Come on, take the bait…
And she did. "Oh my! Really?" Judith beamed. "Thank you. Cooking is my passion. I made everything myself from scratch."
Oh, even better.
I saw Mami shake her head in the corner, and I bowed mine, holding my smile.
As everyone dug into their plates, I braced myself.
You can do this, girl.
I took the first bite, smiling at something Rachel was saying. I felt the peach and beetroot juices burn together in my mouth. Heat flared in my throat, and my skin prickled. I felt the rashes creeping across my arms, hidden beneath my sleeves.
Around me, everyone laughed and ate, oblivious to the incoming pain.
Could I die from ingesting beetroot? Maybe.
Was I insane for doing this? Absolutely.
But the thing is, I had never cared much for playing safe.