3X24 “In The Air Tonight”
Written by: Chris Coleman, Kristi Clark and Kelly Zollo
Warning: Episode may contain graphic violence, language and sexual content
Theme Song: In The Air Tonight- Daughtry ft. Brad Arnold of Three Doors Dow

Gloria felt the tension in the room rising so much that she knew it was time. “You know Dani honey since you got all the mouths of Walter and none of Lauren’s brain. You husband is fucking the nanny. We all know but you didn’t. So let me prove it to you.” Pressing the remote for the projector. As the white screen slowly lowered down. She connected her phone to the computer in the room. Nodding her head at Jeremiah he turned off the lights and a projector lowered. As the first part of the footage began to play she could feel Dani’s dread rising. There it was now it was all out in the open. He couldn’t man up and tell her so she showed her. Jackson and Dru walking through the hotel kissing on Dru. They looked close to her. Gloria saw no satisfaction in breaking another woman but this little girl was insufferable. So since she thought she could play with the big dogs she’d annihilate her image of Jackson. Pierre got the footage it wasn’t her concern how it was enough to get Natasha on their side. Now they could make a move to finally attack DGI enough for everyone to get what they wanted. Gloria didn’t come back for just her children but finally to have her time in the sun. Pausing the tape she looked at Dani. “So today you learned a valuable lesson Dani you fucked around and found out.” Stepping to the trembling woman. “Your husband ain’t shit just like his motherfucking daddy. Thought you had the crown and could have a mistress too. I mean Tess is a scallywag but she cleaned up enough to be CEO quite nicely because with all the dirt on Jackson he couldn’t carry the title.” Gloria said as she turned to Jackson “Now shall we go to the next part?”

Jackson stood frozen watching a haunting portrait of himself on screen. Clearly under the influence and his eyes began to well with tears. He watched as Dru led him through the halls. She had to know he wasn’t himself. This wasn’t him and as he watched it he felt violated and sick. He wouldn’t have done whatever was on the tape if he wasn’t under the influence. He jilted watching his body slam into the wall. He heard Dani exhaling in sadness next to him. When Gloria walked into his wife’s face he couldn’t even bare to look at Dani. He couldn’t even say he was sorry because he felt sick. As he gripped the table he lost the breath in his body. Jackson felt Chauncey hand on his back as looked back at his brother. Tears began building in his eyes as he reached out to Dani but couldn’t do it. He couldn’t touch her because he betrayed her. He ruined it. He ruined her trust in him and that felt so disgusting. “Stop it, you’ve proved your damn point you don’t have to subject her to this.” Jackson reached for the remote or phone Gloria was using.

Gloria backhanded Jackson so fast and stepped to him. “Boy you done lost your damn mind. No, this girl deserves to see exactly what type of man you are. You see Dani you can love a man but honestly you can never trust a Devonshire. You just so happened to do both. Boy pick your feelings you over here sniveling when you done fucked up. Embarrassing this woman what you don’t got anything to say now huh Jackson? Speak up boy? Cat got your tongue? Dani, wake up, you were used.” She said as it looked like Dru was riding Jackson like an equestrian in the Olympic games. “He had to beat the golden boy. Oh you didn’t think your love was special honey? Tricks and games I play them all too well but one thing I always knew and this to you as well Selina and you to you Mason. You’re not one of them! You were groomed to be the perfect wife Dani. Down to earth, salt of the earth, classy but not a pushover, and would even fight her own family for him. Oh you were the perfect tool to steer him away from Chauncey the smart pick. Jackson might be a junkie but he ain’t dumb. He was smart enough to pick you. Then when Lowell died alone with that one. It made him nostalgic to see a love like his own. Too bad he didn’t know how much alike it would be.” The lights flicked on and Dani’s devastated expression actually haunted Gloria. “You are a Fraiser, we are black we aren’t supposed to be in these rooms. But yet here we are and Dani, if you have any backbone you’d destroy him. Now as Natasha said it’s time for us to do business with SandStar solo DGI.”

Dani stood there looking at Gloria not sure what was happening until the screen finally dropped and she had pressed play on the phone she was holding and immediately she knew her face had given whatever facade she had been holding in over the evening crack. Watching Jackson with Dru cozy at the hotel, kissing her at the hotel, hanging on her at the hotel. The hotel that he had told her the night before that he was alone at because he had drunk too much, with Grant another lie. She watched as Gloria came right up to her, listened to Jackson protesting against whatever Gloria was going to do next and saw him try to reach out shooting him the coldest look she could. She saw Gloria backhand him and she jumped debating if she even wanted to comfort him or not instead she stared ahead watching the trainwreck on the screen. Maybe this was her reality check that she needed to watch her husband on the tape kissing on Dru in the elevator and let out an exhale she didn’t know she had been holding. When it showed them both on the bed Dru and him clearly fucking she simply just let the tears stream down her face in silence. It was worse than what Lex had done, way worse because she actually loved Jackson.

She looked over at Jackson for a moment, his tears or maybe they were fake ones who knew anymore. She fully backed up from him bumping right into Mason. She brushed Mason’s hand off her shoulder, her body shaking. She felt sick like she was going to throw up or scream, and then looked at everyone staring at her like they pitied her and she hated it. She would not be that girl that stayed like her mother had with her father, like Jackie did with Lowell she wouldn’t. She had believed in Jackson with everything she had, hell she loved him that much even when Lex was coming onto her she rebuffed him over and over again, yet he felt the need to have an affair with the woman in their house that watched their children? She had stood up to her entire family for the man in front of her the man that could barely look at her and for what to be made a fucking fool out of. Between what she had just seen playing out before her and the coke she found at their house it was too much. “Congratulations I guess you did get everything you really wanted, the company.” She finally managed to get out her voice cracking at Jackson before she simply grabbed her purse and walked out of the room gasping as she did. She let the tears fall down her face pretty sure she heard someone chasing after her.

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3×23 “See You Again”
Written by: Chris Coleman, Kristi Clark and Kelly Zollo
Warning: Episode may contain language, violence and sex.
Theme Song: See You Again- Whiz Khalifa & Charlie Puth

Dani had parked the car, the drive over being filled with silence. Her mind was still racing a million miles a minute trying to decide what she did and didn’t believe anymore. She wanted to believe Jackson but she found the bag in his coat in their closet. How did it get there if it wasn’t his? What reason would their housekeeper have to put it there or the dry cleaner? Combined that with everything he said the night before none of it was making sense or sitting right with her at all and she didn’t know what to do. It wouldn’t be fair to just walk out on him after everything they had gone through but the drugs were a hard no for her, it should be a hard no for him now. It wasn’t just about them anymore they had two children to think about and as she got out of the car and shut the door seeing him do the same she stared at him wondering what they would do. She was not his mother or any of the other women in his life that he thought that he could just lie to and she’d stand there and take it she wasn’t anyone’s doormat. She made that promise to herself a long time ago, she’d never do that again with anyone. She felt her watch buzz and looked at the message from her brother. What was so urgent he needed to talk to her about? She ignored it with everything going on with her and Jackson. The last thing she needed was to deal with more shit from her family.

The ride up the elevator was again made in silence what should have been them presenting themselves as this unbreakable couple and front seemed too large and looming. Who in the hell called a meeting at this hour on the same night as the casino? All of it made her uneasy but she wasn’t ready to let apparently Natasha get the best of them seeing how she was the one who set the meeting. Did that mean that Chauncey was up to something too? He knew what Lowell had wanted and when the elevator finally did stop she reluctantly took Jackson’s hand in hers. “For now until we get home later and work this out we need to be what your dad wanted us to be as the couple in charge of this company. I’m mad Jackson beyond mad. I don’t know what to think anymore. It was in your coat. But I know a meeting like this means something is happening. We need to keep things the way they have been,” Dani managed to get out her eyes ahead, keeping up appearances at least for now had to be done and walking into the conference room she was surprised to see Selina, Elliot and Mason in there. “Would anyone like to tell us what is going on?”

Mason had hung up the phone with Zach on his way into DGI, the cryptic text coming in from Tess herself saying that DGI would need legal representation at this meeting, he had no idea what side she was hoping he would represent. If it was her she would quickly learn otherwise on the plus side it meant that Jackson would be there and he could give him a head’s up about Dru. Let him know that their trip to Miami was successful to the point that they had proof that Dru wasn’t who she said she was, meaning if Zach was right she had been gunning for her family since she came home. It would make sense with all the strange coincidences that had happened to Dru walking into that cushy job at the Pub, getting close to Lauren. If he had to guess that meant that Dru was behind that entire incident with Tamara in which Braden had to resign. There was also the reveal of that photo with Steven with Hunter and Anderson, the Kincaid’s had enemies but that seemed personal. The last thing was Dru’s attachment and getting to be the nanny of the twins, and her recent run-ins with Walter and Brenda, something was up. He had gotten into the conference room a few minutes before Dani and Jackson had and was equally confused as to why Selina was in there waiting too.

“Hey I was just about to ask Selina about it, all I know is that I got a text from Tess about DGI needing some representation about this. My guess is Natasha is going to try and strong arm someone out of the SandStar deal.” Mason said leaning down to hug his sister and then turning to Jackson and Dani hugging both and leaning into Jackson’s ear. “I need to talk to you in private as soon as this is over about Dru.” He finished pulling back and then looking at Elliot scrolling on his phone and Selina doing the same. Why was Elliot there? It wasn’t like he had anything to do with DGI and he knew his sister was having tension at the company too but he didn’t think she’d want to turn against his best friend even if she thought Chauncey deserved to be CEO over Jackson. “Before anyone says anything else I want to add that Selina isn’t on Tess’s side. I don’t think anyone really is at this point.” Mason said, looking at his sister and then back at Jackson and Dani. He, like the rest, was not sure why Tess or Natasha had called his meeting on the eve of the casino opening. He’d much rather be there with his husband than playing games with Tess.

Jackson shifted in his shoes uneasy for the entire first time in his marriage. He knew who had done this. It was clear. This woman was some sort of wild wildebeest who had played everyone. Now she had all the ammunition she needed to make him feel like he was going to lose. Dru was going to get run out of town. She was done. It was over and she had once again struck his marriage. He didn’t know how to prove his innocence after all he did that stupid night. How did all that happen? He was so shook and heartbroken that this shit wasn’t needed at all. Whatever scheme Natasha or Tess were planning would be thwarted. “I want you to ensure and lock down every board member on our side Mason. I want everyone to know Dani and I are the CEO, not that bitch and whenever she arrives we will break her. Whatever this is. We are the rightful winners. We won and I’m winning in my marriage. She believes me and I’m asking her to keep believing in me. That’s all I’m going to say as for all the deceit running rampant, I don’t doubt Selina is on our side Mase. I in fact think she might not be satisfied but she will always be our ally in whatever coup Tess is up to and now my bitch of a sister-in-law is doing.” Jackson said antsy to get to the party.

If he could get to Dru maybe he could minimize the damage she was going to do. What had Dani and he done to this woman? She had made a fortune just being the twin’s nanny. All they had done for Dru she had stooped this low; there was no telling what she would do now. How could he ensure that his wife’s heart wouldn’t break and he would not lose everything. The twins were flashing in his head echoing in his heart crying out to somehow fix this. She had plotted this perfectly. As he cleared his throat he picked up the portfolios and his stomach dropped. Contracts for SandStar. What was that witch Natasha up to? The pit of his stomach clenched wondering if Chauncey knew? Was it him behind this? Did he just want DGI? Could he trust his brother with the truth about Dru? He had so many things running through mind that it happened so easily. He thought about a bump of coke or a pill. Either would cut the edge he was feeling and he hadn’t craved drugs in a long time. Rubbing his stubble he saw Mason looking concerned. “I’m good and we will fix DGI.”

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“3×22 “Behind the Curtain”
Written by: Chris Coleman, Kristi Clark and Kelly Zollo
Warning: Episode may contain language, violence and sex.
Theme Song: Red Hands- Walk Off the Earth

Dani had tried her best to unwind from the night before and her outburst, from Jackson stating he needed to head back to some weekend rehab retreat, the night before she didn’t think either of them slept well. So they decided a day at home with the twins was in order. They took them to the park and spent some time together, watching them toddle in the grass and she had been a little shocked at the text about a meeting at DGI before the casino opening. She had no idea why Natasha decided to call one with a company called BA Energy. She had gotten the twins settled with Dylan in the playroom, they really didn’t need Dru to watch them; her nephew was more than capable. She had noticed that Jackson had gotten uneasy about the mere mention of Dru which wasn’t that odd they were replacing her and tired of her antics. She’d sent in her recommendation to Jackie that morning, a lovely older woman from Sweden that was married wanting to work a few more years for her retirement. She felt Jackson doing the zipper on her gown and smiled at him putting the last of the mascara on her lashes. It was a subtle dress. It wasn’t her night that had been the Summit, it was Max and Bliss’s night.

“There was no way I was going to be able to do that little clasp in the back. I sent that application for Alice back to your mom. I think she’s going to be a good fit, much better than Dru. Do you have any idea what this entire thing with DGI is about? I thought things were okay with Natasha and we seemed to have all been working together pretty well. She has a lot of nerve first accusing Maddie of throwing coffee on her and then this stunt right on the night of the opening.” Looking at her reflection in the mirror she felt put together after her explosion the night before maybe it was the fact that Jackson had just held her most of it. But it felt like things were going to at least look up for them going forward they could overcome what was going on with her sister regarding Randall’s book. They could figure out everything with him and she only hoped that meant that Mason was onto a damned lead when it came to Lowell’s will. Maybe they needed to hire a private investigator they could certainly afford one, She honestly didn’t think Maddie had thrown the coffee. Was she a teenager yes but never had she seen her resort to throwing things on people. She finished applying her deep red lip before turning around wrapping her hands around Jackson’s neck kissing him gently on the lips before pulling back. “Thank you for last night. I know I was a mess. You look a million miles away are you alright?”

Jackson had been thinking about his father and the choices he made. Was that all he was bad choices? A night ago he was in bed with Dru Price another notch on her disgusting bedpost and now he wasn’t sober anymore. Things had shifted in a couple of hours and his life wasn’t the same. He tried to pretend and he tried to act like everything was normal but he knew it wasn’t. In fact it was eating him alive, Jackson and Dani never had lies between them. However, seeing Dani breaking down over Victoria and how her life had been since her death. Then knowing that he was a liar and that his promises meant nothing made him sick to his stomach. He watched Dani playing with the twins and he just pretended to be busy with business when he was trying to contemplate his morality. Who was he as a man? What was next for them? Whatever the situation he would have to fix this. His soul was honestly aching and that wasn’t what he wanted. In fact he wanted to numb this dulling of his humanity. What type of man kept this type of secret? Was this how Lowell felt between Tess and his mother? Those questions haunted him.

“You were a mess? What about me? I’m always a mess, I mean I’m a junkie.” He said lowering his head. “You have been through a hell of a lot Dani and your family has taken you for granted. We all have taken you for granted.” He said, wrapping his arms around her. “I promise I won’t anymore you hear me?” Jackson whispered in her ear. He laughed thinking about Maddie tossing some expensive latte on Natasha. “I can see my niece tossing a drink on someone but I also think she’d do it with a lot more flare. Unfortunately for all of us she was always on dad’s knee listening and absorbing his flare. It’s like he put a little of himself inside of that kid because she’d hire someone to whoop Natasha’s ass before breaking a nail. I just don’t see it happening that way but I’m not her father and if Chauncey thinks she’s out of control well. I can’t stop him but this meeting with BA Energy is bullshit and I don’t know what Natasha is doing but tonight we are going to stop that harpy in her tracks because we are a team.” Or at least they were in his mind or were once before he ruined his own life.

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