[It all comes down to a single phrase: "plausible deniability." Veronica had insisted upon a business that wouldn't be run illegally—had known what it would take to get there. For her, it isn't long before she realizes that to have that deniability, she has to have some meat shields standing in her way. She has to have people who are willing to bend over backwards, able to incite loyalty in people—
And she has to do it without involving Archie. Her father thinks she's foolish. If he can't be trusted to be involved in Lodge Industries, then he should be used. Hiram tries to remind her of this every day, and she insists that Archie is off limits. Her father got to him once. Isn't that enough?
Apparently not.
Before long, Veronica's schemes are trailing behind her father's. For all the honesty and agreements between them, she knows she's just on the other side of the chessboard trying to keep him in check. The problem is that she hasn't posed much of a threat. Not yet. And she knows that the way things are going, eventually Fred and Archie Andrews will either have to be all in or cleared off the board.
Veronica tries.
She tries.
And along the way, there is so much deniability until she calls Archie over. Her father? Her mother? Gone on a business trip to Los Angeles. Apparently they want to beckon some investors to come over and consider shooting in a sleepy town like Riverdale. Apparently it's inspiring—and, of course, Lodge Industries would be influencing them. Behind it, she knows that it's just another front, another sketchy and skeevy way of ensuring that the Lodges own Riverdale.
So, that's why Archie's on his way. Veronica knows that the Andrews never wanted to be the one barricade between the doom and gloom of a Hiram Lodge World, but here it is. Maybe she should be talking to his father, but—well. Something tells her that she has to win over Archie first.
Like her father, Veronica has a flair for the dramatic. When Archie arrives, Andre will direct him to the Lodge study. Within, Veronica will be waiting—complete with her father's favorite chess set prepared for a game on his desk. The rum is already in her glass, and she's waiting.
Veronica knows that if this move doesn't result in a checkmate, Archie Andrews may never live to see graduation.
It's a risk she has to take.
After all, Archie's life is on the line regardless.]
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And she has to do it without involving Archie. Her father thinks she's foolish. If he can't be trusted to be involved in Lodge Industries, then he should be used. Hiram tries to remind her of this every day, and she insists that Archie is off limits. Her father got to him once. Isn't that enough?
Apparently not.
Before long, Veronica's schemes are trailing behind her father's. For all the honesty and agreements between them, she knows she's just on the other side of the chessboard trying to keep him in check. The problem is that she hasn't posed much of a threat. Not yet. And she knows that the way things are going, eventually Fred and Archie Andrews will either have to be all in or cleared off the board.
Veronica tries.
She tries.
And along the way, there is so much deniability until she calls Archie over. Her father? Her mother? Gone on a business trip to Los Angeles. Apparently they want to beckon some investors to come over and consider shooting in a sleepy town like Riverdale. Apparently it's inspiring—and, of course, Lodge Industries would be influencing them. Behind it, she knows that it's just another front, another sketchy and skeevy way of ensuring that the Lodges own Riverdale.
So, that's why Archie's on his way. Veronica knows that the Andrews never wanted to be the one barricade between the doom and gloom of a Hiram Lodge World, but here it is. Maybe she should be talking to his father, but—well. Something tells her that she has to win over Archie first.
Like her father, Veronica has a flair for the dramatic. When Archie arrives, Andre will direct him to the Lodge study. Within, Veronica will be waiting—complete with her father's favorite chess set prepared for a game on his desk. The rum is already in her glass, and she's waiting.
Veronica knows that if this move doesn't result in a checkmate, Archie Andrews may never live to see graduation.
It's a risk she has to take.
After all, Archie's life is on the line regardless.]