Chapter summaries First Lie Wins: A Novel Ashley Elston

Chapter 21 Summary: Lucca Marino—Six Years Ago

Spoiler Notice: This chapter contains major spoilers for events set six years before the main timeline of First Lie Wins. Read at your own risk.

Summary

Lucca drives from Hilton Head to Raleigh, ignoring dozens of calls and threats from Matt. She parks outside AAA Bail Bonds on Monday morning, nearly forty-eight hours after leaving Andrew Marshall. Although she had been instructed never to return, she walks into Matt’s office with confidence. She bypasses the receptionist and enters Matt’s office unannounced. Matt is furious, demanding to know where she has been. Lucca tells him his plan was stupid and that she improved it. She demands to speak directly with Mr. Smith, the boss. Matt calls Mr. Smith on speakerphone. Lucca explains that Andrew Marshall would never have cheated; Matt’s plan would have backfired. Instead, she organized a cocktail party in Marshall’s suite and secured compromising material on Senator Nelson and several other politicians. She offers to send the flash drive directly to Mr. Smith, cutting Matt out. Mr. Smith orders Matt to leave and takes the call private. After questioning her methods, Mr. Smith accepts her results and assigns her a new job in Florida. Lucca leaves, dropping an origami swan on Matt’s desk. She reveals that similar swans are being delivered to multiple politicians, each containing a photo from Hilton Head. She has created a network of leverage.

Key Events

  • Lucca returns to Raleigh and enters AAA Bail Bonds against previous orders.
  • She confronts Matt, refusing to answer to him anymore.
  • Lucca calls Mr. Smith on speaker and reveals she changed the target.
  • She explains why Matt’s original plan would have failed.
  • Mr. Smith dismisses Matt and speaks to Lucca privately.
  • Lucca demonstrates her resourcefulness and secures a direct reporting line.
  • She accepts a new assignment in Florida.
  • Lucca leaves an origami swan as a reminder and reveals her bigger scheme.

Character Development

Lucca Marino undergoes a visible transformation in this flashback. Two years earlier she had been terrified and fled a violent scene; now she walks into Matt’s office “like I own it.” She challenges Matt’s authority, negotiates directly with Mr. Smith, and refuses to be controlled. Her willingness to go rogue shows growing confidence and strategic thinking. She also reveals a morally complex side: she saved Andrew Marshall from ruin but built a network of blackmail against other politicians. This chapter establishes the ruthless pragmatism that defines her in the main timeline.

Matt is portrayed as a blustering middleman who loses control. His threats fail to intimidate Lucca, and Mr. Smith humiliates him by ordering him out of his own office. Mr. Smith remains an enigmatic figure, cautious but willing to elevate Lucca if she proves useful.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • Power and Agency: Lucca seizes control of her own fate by refusing to follow orders. She flips the power dynamic with Matt and bargains directly with the highest authority.
  • Improvisation vs. Obedience: The chapter contrasts Matt’s rigid, failed plan with Lucca’s adaptive, successful approach. Her ability to think on her feet saves the operation.
  • Origami Swans as Symbols of Leverage: The paper swans represent hidden power. Lucca distributes them to politicians as a silent threat, creating a network of people who owe her favors. The swan’s fragility contrasts with the weight of the secret it contains.
  • The Cost of Loyalty: Lucca abandons the chain of command to do what she believes is right. Her growth requires severing loyalty to Matt and forging a direct bond with Mr. Smith.

Why This Chapter Matters

This flashback is essential for understanding Lucca’s skills, motivations, and the network she has built by the time of the main story. It explains her confidence when dealing with dangerous people and her willingness to bend or break rules. The chapter also introduces the concept of “favor currency” that will likely pay off later. Senator Nelson’s blackmail and the origami swan deliveries create loose ends that may resurface. Finally, it deepens the mystery of Mr. Smith and the organization they work for.

Study Questions and Answers

  1. Why does Lucca decide to go rogue on the Andrew Marshall job?
    She realized Matt’s plan was built on a flawed assumption: Andrew would never cheat on his wife. If they forced a setup, Andrew would be so ashamed he would drop out of the race, making any dirt worthless. Lucca salvaged the operation by blackmailing other powerful people at the same party.

  2. How does Lucca’s confrontation with Matt demonstrate her character growth?
    Two years ago she was terrified and fleeing a crime scene. Now she walks into Matt’s office unannounced, talks back, and demands to speak to his superior. She uses a time limit to pressure him and refuses to be boxed in physically or metaphorically. This shows she has learned to leverage fear and control situations.

  3. What is the significance of the origami swans?
    The swans are a delivery method for compromising photos. Lucca sends them to multiple politicians to create a network of people who will do what she asks to avoid exposure. Each swan is a threat and a promise: it ensures future compliance. The swan also becomes her calling card, a symbol that she is always several steps ahead.

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