2X19 “Yesterday Is Gone” Part 2
Written by: Chris Coleman and Kelly Zollo
Warning: Episode may contain violence, language and sexual situations
Special Guest Stars: Lowell Devonshire (Chad Michael Murray), JackieDevonshire (Blake Lively), Harvey LeClerq (Theo James), Pierre LeClerq (Scott Eastwood), Walter Fraiser (Tyler Hoechlin), Forbes Montgomery (Richard Madden), Audrey Montgomery(Rachelle Lefevre), Gloria Delacroix (Anika Noni Rose), Tony Delacroix (Trai Byers), Lauren Friaser (Jessica Brown Findlay), Agnes Monroe LeClerq (Claire Holt), Brenda Kincaid (Amber Heard), Steven Kincaid (Sam Heughan), Kathleen Davis (Rose Leslie), Tess Blisston(Evan Rachel Woods), Trisha Kohl(Logan Browning), Linus Devonshire(Cillian Murphy), Camilla Devonshire(Sarah Michelle Gellar), Jeremiah Beecher (Sterling K. Brown)

ATLAS FALLS DECEMBER 1980

Lowell stepped off of the elevator of the new DGI building. Regan was absolutely correct America was the greatest country on fucking earth. Tapping his foot on the ground he turned to look in the mirror. His face was looking absolutely fucking perfect. Hell he knew that his team that he put together had done amazing. Tomorrow the company would go public  and he had a few things to handle tonight though. Tonight he would show all these people whom he Lowell had deemed betrayed him who the hell he was. Lowell had put them all together for different reasons. Walter was a genius with technology, Harvey’s international connections were strong, Pierre was the best accountant in the world, Forbes mind in business rivaled his own and Gloria was the toughest woman he’d ever seen in business. He trusted her with his life and she had given him the information so it was time to strike before the snakes bit him. Looking down the table he saw Forbes conversing with Harvey, Pierre speaking with Gloria, Walter and Jackie. One of Gloria’s new lawyers was right by her side, Julian O’Sullivan. He walked to his wife and cleared his throat. As he saw everyone sitting down. “How do you all like the new office?” He asked rhetorically knowing everyone was impressed. They went from an office at a stripmall a couple of years ago to this. Walter’s tech had taken them far but his vision was about to take his family to the next level.

“Tonight we go public at twelve o’clock and our annual Christmas party will be bigger than ever before. The powerful of Atlas Falls and the country will be attending to see us the way we see construction, oil, technology, and fucking real estate will make us the rich men in America. The goal is not to conquer one field but all. Make a brand so powerful that everyone knows it’s name DGI is here gentlemen and tonight the city will glow with those letters on top of this very building. But you’re wondering where do each of you sit power wise right? Ten percent. I’ll retain eleven of course, making us the strong hold and giving us the power. Tomorrow we change the game like we’ve been doing since the beginning of the decade. We did it tonight is all about reaping the rewards. Smile I just told you all you’re fucking millionaires.” Raising his hands theatrically and clapping he saw their faces. They were shocked and all elated the pain of tonight would hurt even more. When Louise arrived with a bottle of champagne he smiled. “To us, to DGI.”

Forbes leaned back in his chair staring at Harvey then his eyes shifted to Gloria’s shock and unease. Whatever was going on that bitch had a clear part of this. Ever since he came on board of DGI he saw how Gloria was fighting to be Lowell’s right hand. She truly disliked Walter and he but she was too fake and passive aggressive to ever blatantly open her mouth and say it. Tony was a fool to marry that woman because she was a snake. Jeremiah Beecher was also her lover and he was disgusted with the Delacroix family as a whole. The woman clearly was wearing the pants and Tony was cooking. It was laughable but Lowell wouldn’t stand for her betraying his prized friend Tony. Their friendship was confusing and maybe he was crazy but he felt Gloria was holding something over Lowell’s head. Or she had placed something in his head. Watching Lowell fucking pretending to be king, when all of there connections and power had gotten him to the top. Was a hard pill to swallow but what was worse? Knowing his fucking wife was fucking the pompous fuck. Audrey and he were having problems but Philip had changed that or so he thought. The feelings of inadequacy that he felt was explosive. The jealousy that ate at him, because of all of this should have been his. He should have a wife like Jackie who wouldn’t dare betray him. His lip quivered, fighting back the emotion to not snap Lowell’s neck.

“Toast, to you Lowell the man who has brought all of this together. Turning us from mere men in the world of business into Gods.” Forbes swallowed the champagne with fury. Standing up he walked to Harvey and patted his shoulder. “I do hope you remember our conversation earlier about what’s next. We always should be looking forward, don’t you agree Lowell? What is next after Walter’s tech changes computers and technology as we know it. What’s next Lowell?” Forbes asked curtly but not giving him time to respond. “I guess we will all find out when another one of our ideas has your name on it. I’ll see you all at the party.” Forbes said walking out with the champagne flute in hand as he walked down the hallway of the new DGI he threw it against the wall as he walked to the elevator.

Walter looked at Lowell and then at Forbes as he stomped out of the office he actually felt bad for Forbes and maybe that was because of his own guilt when it came to Lauren. He didn’t want to be unfaithful to her and break up his family that he had with her and Braden but he wasn’t in love with her like he felt two people should be. Two people who loved each other like his brother liked to remind him had a fire for one another, they longed for one another and they certainly were not lusting after someone that wasn’t their spouse. He wished he had a family like Brandon did with Helen, that his parents admired his marriage to Lauren like they seemed to do with his brother and sister in law. He looked at Lowell they had been so focused on the Andromeda project since starting DGI and now that the money was starting to come in he felt like what they dreamed up as roommates at college was about to happen. Everything that he had dreamed of not running his father’s fucking bar for the rest of his life came into view, helping put Helen through the rest of nursing school and maybe then he and Lauren could have a real talk about where they stood, he had just bought the new house a few months ago. They could still split amicably hell if they wanted he could live there so could she and they just didn’t have to be married Braden would still have both his parents.

“He doesn’t mean it Lowell he’s just crabby and I know you are doing what is best for DGI and the Andromeda software you assured me of that. I mean that Lowell, I know you would never swindle me, your Braden’s godfather my best friend, Forbes is just trying to pit us against each other.” Walter said looking at his best friend his parents and Lauren told him to have a lawyer look over the paperwork and he politely declined friends didn’t screw each other over. He saw Jackie look at him and looked at her he had assured her that right now Audrey was just a distraction due to the company going public, Lowell was still madly in love with only her and he felt guilty every time he took Lowell’s side for hurting Jackie like he was hurting Lauren. “You know I am loyal to you and this company. Everyone here at the table is loyal to you and the company. Going public will make everyone here’s dreams come true what more could we possibly want?” He finished seeing Harvey roll his eyes at him. “Yes Harvey?” He said snidely.

Harvey looked around the table he and Forbes had talked at length about what was at stake going public and he didn’t like what he had heard through the grape vine and small office gossip. Office gossip he had overheard from Tess Blisston of all people that Lowell and Gloria were staging a coup to oust everyone from the company off Walter’s hard work. He should have been happy about it Walter had taken Lauren from him and he would never ever forgive him for it, he should be jumping for joy at what he felt was about to happen to him. The human in him however and philosopher instead always fell back onto what would happen when it did, how would he provide for Lauren and their son and he then felt sorry for Walter fucking Fraiser. He looked at Lowell and he shot him a look wanting him to know that he was not as naive as the rest of the players at the table as he pushed back his chair and adjusted the tie on his suit.

“I will make sure my affairs are in order before the party tonight.” He said looking at his watch he had time he could swing by the pub and hopefully talk to Lauren about everything. He always had a backup plan with money and this was no exception he was pulling his funds from the stock and going to invest overseas no one else needed to know about it. When the door opened and he saw Gloria strut in it took a lot in him to no reach other and lay into her verbally, what she was doing was wrong she knew it, Lowell knew it and by the end of the day the rest of them would harshly know it as well. “I see your lackey has entered so I think this is where I make my exit. Brother.” Harvey said pushing in his seat as he waited for Pierre to join him.

“I’ve always known you to be lackey not me, I’d rather be a paid minion than someone out in the cold. It’s where you belong.” Gloria hissed back as she pulled back a chair sitting in front of Pierre. Her dear friend who she hated to see hurt by all of this. When this was over Gloria would help Pierre stand on his feet. Smiling at him she felt his uncertainty as she folded her hands. Her eyes narrowed as she heard something about Forbes throwing a tantrum. No doubt that glass fit in the middle of DGI’s perfect hallways. Leaning back in her chair she looked at Audrey with a disgusted look on her face. That bitch was flaunting herself too hard. She shook her head as she looked at Lowell. “You need to tell her to stop looking at you like that. She is going to be a problem for us Lowell if you two get exposed.” She barked with a nasty whisper to Lowell. His disrespect to Jackie was so heartless hell who was she to talk she was screwing behind Tony’s back. It was all the excess of the moment. Lackey? Who was a lackey they’d never get to talk to Lowell like this. They were jealous she played the game better than them all because Lowell was her puppet.

“I suggest we all go about our daily activities tonight seems to be the night everyone will remember.” Gloria said looking at Lowell and Pierre. “Anthony will enjoy your company Lowell tomorrow at tennis at the indoor court at the country club.” Leaning back she stared at Audrey who she knew was the biggest problem in the future. For some reason Lowell was obsessed with having Forbes woman just to spite him. She didn’t fear whatever was next she feared what Audrey and Lowell’s dick could fuck up.

“You’re right.” Lowell said looking at Jackie as he walked to his wife grabbing her in his arms. Sweeping her into a kiss mid-conversation with some nobody. He was one of Gloria’s interns and she thought was brilliant legal mind. Kissing her and seeing Audrey’s face flush with jealousy and her leaving the room turned him on. Gloria thought she knew so much but he had this under control. He was about to fucking fire all of them and Andromeda was his, right along with the connections he’d taken from each man. He’d hire the best to replace them all and he needed the best possible team with him that no longer included any of them. “We have party people to enjoy the fruit of what we’ve fucking done. And you are my soulmate Jacqueline do you hear me? You are my everything my dear without you none of this would be. You know that don’t you?”

Jackie had looked around the room at their friends tonight was going to be fabulous Lowell was going to be handing out the bonuses and she was so excited for the weeks afterward. She wanted to upgrade Lauren front hat house that Walter had bought her right next door to her and Lowell, so they could raise their children side by said. She already had Gloria on one side and she wanted her other friend on the other side now. She watched as Forbes left the snake in the grass that was lying wait to make sure her husband fell on the ground he would be waiting a long time. She had nothing personally against Harvey, he seemed decent or really Pierre but Lowell had expended so much in such a short time bringing strangers into their mix that she was wary of them too. Walter she felt like she could trust much like Tony and Gloria, Walter and Lauren were their friends before business partners. Walter had assured her just a few weeks ago when she came to him crying about her fears of Lowell cheating over the last year that it was not true, he had taken her in his arms and assured her that Lowell only loved her and was faithful. She had hugged and kissed him on the cheek thanking him for always having her families back and now looking at Gloria she hoped that tonight moved them all to a new stage.

“The party tonight will be something that the town talks about for years to come. It’s all because of you Lowell and your dreams and hopes.” Jackie said pulling back from his embrace and kiss, he hadn’t kissed her like that in weeks and it felt like finally he was coming back to her. Walter had assured her he was pulling away due to the merger nothing more and nothing less and now that it was happening she had nothing to fear Lowell was coming back to her. She had been talking to Julian something or other, a new associate of Gloria’s before he had pulled her away and she watched as Harvey rolled his eyes and left with Pierre. She caught Audrey’s snide look and made sure she leaned in kissing her husband again for good measure she was his wife, Audrey was stuck with Forbes and would never have her Lowell. “Of course and you are mine, after tonight no one will question what DGI is or what we have planned for Atlas Falls, any longer.” She finished watching as the rest of the members left the room and exhaled after tonight she was sure nothing would ever be the same.

*********

“Hey Lauren, when are you leaving that Fraiser and getting a real man?” Benny Ruzzo shouted at her guzzling another beer.

“When I see a real man let me know Ruzzo.” Lauren said, spinning around the back and placing the last order of her night. This was always fun to do. Just taking some time for herself away from being Braden’s mother and a wife. Just being young again. Wearing her hair in a ponytail, a Fraiser Pub T-Shirt, acid washed jeans, and a pair of white Converse sneakers. Tonight would be the first night she actually got dressed since Braden’s birth. She was excited and more than anything, spending real time with her husband. When Harvey told her a couple of weeks ago that Walter was still seeing Brenda she just refused to believe him. Her husband was happy and so was she. As much as she enjoyed her friendship with Harvey and it could have truly been something. She wasn’t going to just give up on her marriage. That wasn’t what she planned and Brenda Kincaid would stop. She would stay away or lose her cushy life with Steven.

Lauren twisted her wedding ring on her finger thinking of her fat little boy at home. Her baby was amazing and he was only a few months old. She felt like she was finally fitting into her old clothes which was nice and she just was excited to be a mother. Going to The Pub sometimes was a good release and Walter’s mother loved babysitting Braden. He wasn’t fussy at all, in fact he was quite easy. She knew her husband’s big night was the Christmas party where Lowell usually gave his bonuses and made quite a show of it. Looking at herself in the mirror she felt beautiful enough to pull off this Dynasty looking dress Jackie convinced her to buy on Walter’s credit card. Waving at Lincoln she took off her apron and grabbed her purse in the back. When Lincoln offered her tips she waved her hand winking at him. Walking out of the bar the sun was beaming even though it was ice cold. Lauren slowly shuffled through the snow crunching on the ground. When she heard someone call out her name. Turning around she wanted to both frown and smile. “Harvey.” She said adjusting her coat. “What’s up? Are you alright?”

Harvey LeClerq knew a thing or two about business and men ever since Gloria joined DGI things were amiss and he didn’t trust her or Lowell as far as he could see. Also men were pigs when it came to power and greed or in this case just jack asses like Walter had been for years. He would never forgive himself for letting Lauren Cummings go years ago to be saddled with Walter Fraiser. He’d loved her for years perused her for years but when she insisted that she and Walter  were in love he backed down even when he caught Walter looking far too much at Brenda Kincaid. She married him and He walked away from the wedding and then he heard the truth she married him because she was pregnant making it even worse. He hadn’t come by the Pub in months because of it after her son was born he couldn’t. Partly he didn’t know if he could take how unhappy she looked and the other part because of how jealous he was  Braden should have been his. When she finally spotted him and spoke he knew what he was doing was selfish. But she had a right to know about the man she married, she had a right to know he was sleeping with Brenda behind her back.

“Lauren I’m well as well as I could have guessed. It’s fucking freezing out here do you mind if we head back inside? Pierre tells me you’ve done some redecorating with the bar. I need to talk to you.” Harvey said looking at her and not giving her an out or a chance to protest he led her in the back door of the Pub to the kitchen and office areas. She was the only woman who ever left him really speechless and nervous, the only one he ever really gave his heart over too hoping for a future with them. “I’m sorry I haven’t been around the last little bit. It was hard after I heard you and Walter eloped at the courthouse and then your son was born. I just need to know, is he treating you and your son right?” He finished and wanted to know where she and Walter stood before ripping the rug out from under her.

Lauren nodded knowing that she had to give him the respect to speak with him. A few months prior to marrying Walter, she was sleeping with Harvey. Not only that the two of them had plans to be married. Funny how everything worked out, the peaks were always higher than the valley’s. Now here she was with a son and honestly Lauren was miserable. She knew she was running from her truth, Walter didn’t love her. As badly as she wanted the simple life with her husband, but both men she loved wanted grand lives. She always had uncertain feelings about Lowell Devonshire. Just seeing that man and how he was gallivanting around town disgusted her. He treated Jackie like a prized possession and everyone knew he was a lady killer. The women around town talked and rumors were swirling about Audrey and Lowell. They’d been seen all over town acting like teenagers.

“Braden is perfect. I find so much more to love about that boy everyday.” She said as she walked back into The Pub and then to the back booth for privacy. She saw a few of the employees looking. Just a few months before Braden’s birth Walter and Harvey had a huge brawl over his indiscretion with Brenda. Sitting down she removed her scarf and coat as she looked at Harvey, a person who saw through her facade of a perfect marriage. Her entire body got a shiver running through it. Lauren reached out to Harvey touching his hand. “I believe he’s still seeing Brenda Kincaid. She just had a little boy also and I think it’s ridiculous she’s still after my husband. I just don’t have proof and if I could find out if he’s cheating then I’d take Braden a go but that’s a lie because I just don’t want to break up Braden’s family.” Lauren looked at Harvey’s eyes and knew what he was going to say. Her lip quivered as she stared at Harvey.

Harvey made sure that she was comfortable ever the gentleman when it came to Lauren Cummings and he wanted to make her happy and could tell that she was sad, so extremely sad with Walter. He wanted her to be happy if for anyone herself and her son and Walter destroying that ate at him deeply, it concerned him too he should be able to move on, but even knowing seeing Freya DuPont he couldn’t. “He’s your son so of course he is perfect that doesn’t mean that asshole of a father of his is though Lauren, you’re smart and courageous. Beautiful and kind, talented with a brush beyond Atlas Falls that hasn’t changed and Walter is a damned idiot to let you just slip away from him.” Harvey said looking at her when he touched his hand everything changed and his body felt an electric spark. They were alone, no one around and he leaned in gently pressing his lips against hers and feeling her react like she used too before Walter took her away. He let his hands caress the side of her face, felt her quiver under his touch and let them move down the covered arms of her shirt to her hips. He was so lost in the kiss her body in his hands he was broken out when he heard glass shatter and she jumped back.

“I’m sorry that was uncalled for Lauren I didn’t come here for that. Or if I did I should have asked I should have never put you in that position. My feelings for you have not changed Lauren. Walter is out fucking Brenda. He’s doing it at this very moment and you have a right to know that. That he could never love you like I do.” He said seeing her touching her lips and he could tell that she still loved him deep down she still loved him over Walter and he ran his hands through his hair. He took a deep breath as he looked at her again. “Leave him come live with me at my condo, take Braden with you. You can file for a divorce, I’ll help pay your legal fees as soon as it is final we could go away together to Paris or anywhere you want. Have more children with me Lauren think of it as a girl as feisty and as stubborn as you, maybe two and a boy. Walter will never be rid of Brenda; you have to know that by now.” Harvey tried to plead with her to leave Walter before everything went bad and he decided to not tell her about that right now, not until she said that she could leave.

Lauren lips quivered as Harvey leaned in to kiss her. She didn’t need this at this moment because to be honest her heart was full of so much turmoil. Here she was looking foolish again. The Cummings girls sure knew how to pick them because her sisters weren’t in better shape. She just held back a stifled cry as she placed her hand on his chest looking into his eyes. “You have to give me time to see if he will change. Harvey I’m asking for a little more time and if I see that Brenda isn’t going anywhere then Braden and I are going to Paris. We will move with you and I will leave Atlas Falls forever with you. Nobody understands me the way you do Harvey. You’ve been so patient with me and I know everything culture wise I know because of you. I ate caviar with you. I saw art with you and I miss you so much because I’m so alone in this marriage and you are the only one who knows.” She leaned in and touched his face and kissed him again. In passing Jackie had said something about the girl Lowell and she met when they were in Paris with Harvey. Freya DuPont or something fancy like that. Lauren knew she was losing him and she also knew Braden deserved to have a family. “Difficult as it may be to Harvey it isn’t about my heart.” She kissed him again. “But I’m asking you to let me see if Walter is really done.” Lauren’s chest tightened as she savored his lips on hers.

She saw the disappointment on his face and she wondered exactly what was going on. “Harvey are you alright? You are talking about running away with me and Braden. Taking Walter’s son and raising him as your own and you hate him. You could actually love Braden that way?” Tears began to pool down her face. “I’m scared that if I leave he’ll try to take Braden and his mother told me that she just kept silent. Her husband fucking had an affair and she just kept silent. If that’s the grand Fraiser love then I don’t want it. I don’t want it because I want to feel like I do with you. I feel alive Harvey but I made a major mistake in marrying and a bigger mistake with having Braden, but he’s here. I love him and he’s everything to me. I don’t want him to think I didn’t try before I do what I know is inevitable which is to be with you.”

Harvey pulled away from her how could she still hold onto so much hope when it came to Walter Fraiser who would never treat her right. He was a conservative most of the time but he wanted Lauren to be happy and follow her hopes and dreams, it felt like kick in the gut when she kissed him again and again only to reject him for her life with Walter. “But is is about your heart I know a lawyer he could handle this quietly for you, he could free you and Braden from a man that doesn’t deserve you Lauren and that doesn’t love you. Walter may love his son, but if he love you he wouldn’t be at Hotel LaGordia at this very moment fucking Brenda Kincaid.” Harvey said looking at her crestfallen face as he said it so full of venom and hatred for Walter and his actions that he forgot in that moment that it wasn’t about hurting Lauren and he had int hat moment, he had cut the one woman he truly cared about in a vicious way. “I was trying to find a way to tell you politely he doesn’t love you Lauren. He didn’t marry you because he loved you, deep down in your heart you have to know that and have to believe that you deserve to be happy.” Harvey said looking at her and seeing the tears start to form on her face he didn’t want to be cruel or cold but everyone in town knew the only reason Walter had married her was because he knocked her up.

“You want me to put my life on hold while you what take years to figure out if you love him?” Harvey asked and it tore at this soul, he should have expected it though Lauren and Walter now shared a bond that he never would with Lauren they had a child together. He felt his chest tighten and un-tighten at her words, wait for her. For how long was he supposed to wait for her to figure out what she wanted? Years, days or weeks? He had already talked to his parents and even Agnes that he wanted out of Atlas Falls and the toxic culture that was happening. He wanted away from Lowell, Forbes, Steven and Walter. He wanted a fresh start him and Pierre reviving the beautiful estate in Paris and running their own investing firm that was his dream Pierre and Agnes. He and Lauren exploring the world and it’s rich culture together visiting Atlas Falls during the holidays or on special occasions, he wanted that with her and paused he could love Braden as his own. He could put aside his hate to love Lauren’s children but only if she would let him. “I’m leaving Atlas Falls after the party tonight, I’m going to Paris to help with some renovations to my family estate there. I want to start fresh away from Atlas Falls Lauren away from Lowell, Forbes and your husband, away from the reminder that you choose him over me.” He paused not telling her that Freya would be there in Paris too. “I need your decision by midnight tonight.” Harvey said looking at her one last time seeing her look around the bar before moving out of the booth and walking to the door and out into the cold of winter.

Lauren saw him walk outside and she felt her heart dropping. It was now or never either she left everything she knew and this sham of a marriage or she’d remain. Lauren grabbed her coat and slowly slid it on her shoulders. She had Braden’s birth certificate, social, and all her information. A passport would be needed but Harvey would get around that. She grabbed her bag and knew it was now or never. After all she deserved her happy ending and after tonight when Walter had it all she’d leave him without his son and wife. Lauren looked at Benny Ruzzo the local hood who worked with Carla Luciano she waved at him and headed out. Tonight she was going to finally be with the man who truly loved her.

**********

Pierre was flying high on the power that Lowell had bestowed on him over the last few weeks moving some of the company’s finances into better stock options. He had been a little reserved when it came to Lowell asking him to move money into that offshore account. Though he had done what he was asked, the risk as Lowell had assured him was worth the penalties they could pay with the trade commission. He had been worried about the FBI looking into the account as well but Lowell had assured him that nothing was going to come of it, handing him instead a hefty bonus to calm his concerns. On the way back to his condo he bought flowers and some chocolates wanting to surprise Agnes. They had been together for about two years now and he honestly couldn’t imagine his life without her and unlike his brother he was not going to pine away for a woman who’s heart was with another man. Or any of his other friends for that matter Lowell and Walter both married hiding behind the institution that was marriage and thus tying up good women in it. He was not going to be that type of a man and he swung the door open to the condo and placed his keys on the kitchen table. It was a quaint condo but he had put a deposit on a bigger place thanks to Lowell.

“Agnes?” Pierre called out turning on the brand new box television in the room they even had color now and he wanted to listen to the news. He could see the door to the bathroom was closed and he walked down the hallway seeing Agnes standing there in her robe, those luscious long legs peeking through and the bath water running. “Darling.” He said leaning forward and kissing her lips wrapping his hands around her waist and then pulling back. The room smelled like roses and sandalwood and he took a seat on the small stool as he watched her bend over and test the water. “How was your day?” He said looking at her, he was so proud of her finishing out her last semester at college on her own to get her arts degree he knew she had plans of opening up a fashion boutique. “I should tell you about my day Lowell promised us all that tonight at the party we would be getting a surprise, I’m thinking another bonus is one the way and I did just put money down on that bigger place for us. Harvey thinks we should all watch our backs, still he worries too much.” Pierre finished looking out the window and then back at her.

“I don’t want to talk about the business right now.” Agnes purred as she poured more rose oil in her bubble bath. “My day was bland other than I secured a deal for the agency.” She said, walking to her boyfriend. Working at an advertising agency wasn’t something Pierre wanted. If he had it his way she’d be pregnant and given up her career ambitions. She giggled thinking about a little Pierre who was just as pensive as her beloved. Wrapping her arms around him she turned his face from the view of the city to her. Kissing him deeply she dropped her robe walking to the bathwater and stepping inside. Turning her head she seductively submerged herself in the water. “Pierre I would love it if you could get the bottle of champagne out of the refrigerator?” Agnes closed her eyes giggling when the pop of the cork startled her. “You know Harvey talked to me the other day about moving to London. He wants you both away from Lowell. He doesn’t trust him and I trust Harvey. I like the girls we all are friends Gloria, Jackie, Audrey and even Freya Dupont. I don’t know what Harvey sees in that vapid woman but if she is helping him get over Lauren, God bless her.”

Agnes saw Pierre return with nothing on and rolling the bar-cart. As he stepped in the bathwater sinking behind her. She melted into his body and smiled at him taking a flute from his hand. “You know what I was thinking about? Us going to Paris to restore your family estate? Why wouldn’t we? Why wouldn’t we leave? My company has an office in Paris and you don’t have to stay here. I love my parents but I have to live for me and not them. So would you run away with me? Hell marry me.” Never a true traditionalist she began to smirk brightly. “Pierre LeClerq would you marry me and move to Paris, France with me? Matter of fact I’ll even quit the moment I become pregnant so you can have your me man, she woman moment. I’m hoping for a little girl who is going to give you absolute hell.” She laughed looking at him. “Well say something.”

He had obliged when Agnes asked him to get some champagne from the fridge and took a moment to remind himself that she was a goddess when it came to her body and he badly wanted in that bath with her. Deciding to strip down and return with two glasses and poured her a glass as he thought over her words about them all moving to London he wanted to stay here in Atlas Falls that was his home his parents were here but an adventure could be fun as well. “Harvey has always dreamed big when it came to where he thinks that we should be going. I told him that he has big dreams, dreams about moving on from here from our parents and yours and well my sweet I’d hate to take you away from them.” Pierre said looking at her seeing her take a sip and the drink and he followed suit. He pondered her words as she said that she wanted to move to Paris and he was actually shocked. He has always envisioned a life here with her, though it seemed that she at first didn’t want marriage. His parents were old fashioned and kept reminding him he was living in sin with Agnes, something that he was bound to keep going no matter their views which seemed to stem from the past.

“How about I join you?” Pierre said looking at her as she moved forward and he got in the tub and he couldn’t help it, the moment her bare skin brushed his he was painfully hard. He leaned back in the tub picking up the loofah to gently rub Agnes’s back as she drank her champagne. He did love her but he also didn’t want to cage her unlike how Harvey viewed his future with Lauren he always wanted Agnes to choose what she wanted. He felt her lean back against him and leaned down kissing her collarbone as the loofah went down her bare arms and circled her breast. “I thought you wanted to stay here in Atlas Falls where our parents were and where our friends are. You have your job at the agency and you are just about to take over those accounts you’ve worked so hard for over the years.” Pierre said letting the loofah travel to the other side feeling her body responding as he began to suck and mark her neck. “Besides I thought that you were opposed to the chains as you liked to call them of marriage, you did refer to it once as a shackle.” He whispered lowering the loofah between her legs and gently applying a small amount of pressure.

“Well I was three years younger then.” Agnes said looking up at him. “Pierre I have a bad feeling. I know this sounds so strange but it’s ever since the carnival a couple of weeks ago. I went to that fortune teller. She saw nothing but bad things card after card and it was something in her eyes.” She shook her head trying to shake the eerie feeling from her body. “It’s just I want to have what everyone else has. Is that cliche? I want a child and to be married because my life might be short. What if I die tomorrow or next week?” She said playfully touching his throbbing manhood as she swirled around and looked him in his eyes. “Pierre I’m serious we could do it. I was twenty-five then and I was silly but leaving everyone would be a challenge I want. I don’t care about these people here. If it wasn’t for momma and poppa I’d run away today. Do I like Jackie and Gloria and Audrey and all those girls yes but are they my cup of tea? No I’d much rather be doing art in the gallery and enjoying the company of Mozart. They have issues like adultery, lies, and betrayal. I have a man that’s absolutely devoted to me so why shouldn’t I give him a house full of kids and live in a Parisian fantasy I think I’ve wanted since I met you.” She laughed looking into his eyes. The job she could transfer and she’d explain that to him after they make love. “I’m serious so please think about it.”

With that Agnes aimed his stiff hard cock right on her clit as she slid down right on his throbbing manhood. She looked him in his eyes as the residual soap on her body suds transferred on him soaping his chest up. Her perky breast pressed against his firm chest as she leaned in and kissed him letting her tongue explore his mouth. She found it hard to believe it had been three years and they’d been falling even more in love recently. After she lost her baby it was clear Pierre wanted a child and she wanted to give him happiness. A little boy who could be just like him and a girl who knew all about the famous artist all around the world. She saw their golden hair and even more beautiful smiles. “I love you.”

“Hmm think about it.” Pierre muttered as she touched him underneath the water he looked at her enjoying the way they were now, in love and happy. He looked at her wide eyed as she leaned up and slid down on his cock and let out a groan as she did, his hips rose up making sure he hit her g-spot as he pierced her. He felt her clench at the action and let out a devilish grin at her watching her face while they made love was something he would never tire of. He thrust his hips gently upwards as she leaned down her nipples touched his chest sending his nerves into overdrive with the water and he began to move nice and slow on her. The water making gentle waves and he leaned up kissing her fully, wanting to taste her normally he would enjoy every inch of her delicious body when they made love, made sure that he pleased her first but for now this would work too. He could see it with her beautiful blonde eyed babies on the estate in Paris and he thrust hard upwards hearing her cry out in his mouth and he pulled back. “Fuck Agnes the things you do to me.” He said seeing her lean back he continued to move his hips back and forth.

He watched her move as she gripped the tub and placed one hand on her hip to steady his strokes smiling a bit when some water splashed on the floor and his other hand came up to her breasts. Tracing the fullness of them then with his fingers,  his thumb flicking her nipples slighting seeing her shiver at the action and continued with the other side. She was so beautiful her head thrown back in pleasure and the sun hitting her blonde hair through the window casting a light halo around her. “You’re so fucking gorgeous.” Pierre mumbled his hand gripping the back of her head turning it down to face him while he looked into her eyes his breathing labored. He paused for a moment feeling her tighten and then started again wanting to make sure they both were pleased at the same time his hand went lower to that nub between her thighs and he increased his tempo seeing the water start to splash out of the tub while he fucked her and his thumb traced her clit in small circles. “Yes I’ll marry you.” He said heavily looking at her being pushed to her peak.

Agnes felt her body beginning to tense up the more Pierre thrust inside of her the more pleasure she felt him swelling inside of her. Her eyes started to well with tears of pleasure. Wrapping her arms around his back and arching her back as he slid in even further. She started to scream out into pleasure as her eyes rolled into the behind of her head and threw her head back. As she kissed his collarbone she looked at him feeling him release inside of her. Agnes smiled as she touched his stubble on his perfectly chiseled face. “I’m not doing a traditional wedding. I hate white dresses and I think we can have fun it’s the eighties after all.” She laughed looking at the clock. “It’s almost time to be fake with all the fake people you ready?”

Pierre closed his eyes going into overdrive as she looked down on him and they came together he let himself explode inside of her gripping her hips as he did so. His mouth ,meeting her own with a groan he was ready to marry her and make a life with her outside of Atlas Falls. They had grown a lot as a couple over the last three years as a couple they had been through a lot together over the years and he had been patient. He has asked her so often over the years to get married the miscarriage that she suffered was something they both worked through and he backed off. He stayed there buried inside of her for a moment when she asked about them getting ready he had to let out a chuckle at her most of Atlas Falls was fake and at least she knew it. “I leave the wedding planning to you and your mother.” Pierre said pulling the plug on the tub as he helped her out of the tub and dried her off. “I think money won’t be an object and if it is I’ll take a loan out from Harvey.” He finished leaning in and kissing her before pulling back. “We’re going to take on the town tonight and anyone that tries to mess with us will know our wrath mark my words Agnes.”

“I don’t want a big frilly event and an Atlas Falls type wedding you know. I want a wedding about us and I’m so in love with you. I’m so in love with us having this chance to be together again.” She purred, walking to the vanity she sat down. “Well I think I need to get you a ring.” Agnes teased as she looked at Pierre who was behind her looking at her. “I love you.”

**********

Walter Fraiser really had to stop finding himself here in Brenda Kincaid’s bed. He was a married man and he had a son at home now too. Braden was a remarkable baby and he was always going to be grateful when it came to his son but his mother was something else all together. They had been having problems long before Braden was born but once he learned she was pregnant he did the right thing and married her much to Brenda’s protests. He was stuck in a rock and a hard place. Brenda herself was a married woman and even had a son with Steven in Anderson surely she knew it was the same with. Everything was moving so quickly with the bar and DGI that he was trying to juggle, his father had warned him about going into business with Lowell telling him to double and triple check it was even made clear with Lowell had named their company as DGI. He knew Lowell was his best friend and was going to do right by his family and their friendship, his father he had decided was much better suited in the bottle he lived in. Leaving him stuck with Lauren who was of course beautiful, but he didn’t love her like he did Brenda guilt ate at him as he looked at her, wondering how he got here especially when he thought of Braden at home.

“You should go or I should.” Walter said looking at her huffing at him as he reached for his pants and his boxers to pull them on and stand up buckling his belt. His shirt was haphazardly thrown on the small chair in the dingy motel room they were in, he was careful about his affair in that way he kept it out of Lauren’s face. He was also still a man that had needs and well Lauren was too busty breast feeding and all about the baby, they hadn’t had sex in months. So he found solace in the only person he could with Brenda in that regard in his life. His parents were already asking when they would have another and he had politely told them all he didn’t think it was in the cards for them. “I don’t think we can continue like this Brenda it is not fair to Steven or Lauren. I want to be a good father to Braden but I don’t want to do this anymore.” He said looking at her in his mind it was well past time they had this discussion.

Brenda stood up and her body looked perfect even after having Anderson. Teasing her perfectly feathered bleached blonde hair which was massive. Walking to the bathroom she looked in the mirror and picked up her pink Chanel lipstick applying it and placing it in her purse. As she closed the door she freshened up and got dressed. Wearing a cream and pink leather jacket, a knee length leather cream skirt, oversized socks and leather boots. Stepping out she looked at Walter hastily dressing and she hated this. Every time they got together he regretted or felt extreme guilt. She just couldn’t let him go and it became intoxicating to have him like this. Steven provided her a certain type of a life but Walter gave her body and mind what she wanted. She loved her son Anderson but suffering might be her teacher because more and more Walter was pulling away. “Stop talking like that please.” Brenda pleaded as she approached him touching his chest. “I could never love Steven like I love you Walter. You are my heart don’t you see?”

Stepping back she looked at Walter and knew he was serious at this moment. That he was trying to move forward with leaving this relationship. “You are leaving me? You are leaving me when you know she isn’t making you happy. The perfect boring Lauren Fraiser well you have her and I’ll stay with Steven! But you aren’t going to get to use me like this! You aren’t going to get to be sexually pleased by me and have your little perfect wife at home. No more Walter and if that’s how you want it let’s see how long boring little Lauren satisfies you?” Brenda walked to the table grabbing her purse. “Good-bye.” When she heard a knock at the door and it startled her. “Who could that be?” She whispered to Walter.

“Your heart that you’ve been dragging on for years. Leave Steven and I’ll leave Lauren there is no sense in this anymore Brenda we’ve been what carrying on for months now and both realized we chose the wrong people. I can give you what you want financially after tonight Lowell is making that big announcement about the company going public. You won’t need Steven’s money and I can provide for both Braden and Anderson if I need too.” Walter said looking at her he was tired of the back and forth, he wanted to be a good husband and father but he knew that it wasn’t possible until Brenda Thorpe finally admitted that she was going to leave Steven and they were going to start over together. He could do right by Lauren and Braden after the company went public and he was rolling in the money that Lowell had told him was coming. He wouldn’t have to worry about that Braden would be cared for. He could pay Lauren a hefty sum in the divorce and she if she wanted could be with Harvey and he could be with Brenda. It wasn’t too late for any of them to admit they made the mistake of rushing to marry people that they didn’t really love. “I need you to finally pick Brenda.”

Her silence said everything when she looked at him like he was insane and he wanted to laugh here he was with egg on his face again and he only knew they’d repeat the cycle again and again. He zipped up his pants and put on his dress shirt doing the buttons and picked up his wallet off the bedside table. “I wanted to marry you and you ran off and married Steven so don’t turn this around on me. In your words not mine you couldn’t’ see yourself with a pauper. So Lauren and I started to date, she got pregnant what did you expect me to do? Let my child with her be raised out of wedlock to my very catholic family and shunned?” Walter fired back so tired of her indignation that he was the problem with them and her back and forth. She married Steven and forced his hand, he tried to do the right thing. “You and I made choices Brenda, it’s not too late to fix those and just make everything easier for everyone. I feel guilty knowing we could just be together for real if we’d both just drop the pretenses that we have at home.” Walter said the door knocked again and he nodded his head at her it could be room service he did order some earlier. “I ordered some room service go ahead and open it.”

Brenda’s heart swelled as Walter said that Lowell was about to give him the keys to the kingdom. She knew that Walter’s brain would get him the success and lifestyle she wanted. She married Steven for status and she deserved it. She had clawed her way out of a shithole farm and now she was married to one of Atlas Falls richest sons. The truth was that the prestige in being a Kincaid was addictive but Walter offered her the fire she needed. She nodded her head and she bit down on her lip knowing Walter was speaking the truth. Her greed had solidified that she lost her soulmate. However she also was Ms. Atlas Falls and soon to be Miss. Pennsylvania. She had a baby and that was often looked down but as a Kincaid she’d get what she wanted. She’d have her own fame for her beauty and notoriety; it was the only way she’d get eventually out of Atlas Falls. “I will.” She said looking at him. “Walter I will leave Steven in a heartbeat because I love you.” Brenda walked to the door and her heart stopped as she saw her husband staring at her. Looking back at Walter she shook her head at him for being so dumb. Stepping backward she looked at Steven who walked in with the room service.

“Please calm down, we are all adults and this doesn’t have to be some grand thing this could be something very simple. I don’t love you.” Brenda said as Steven picked up the entree plate with the metal lid and threw it directly at Walter and her. “Steven!” She screamed ducking for cover and seeing it hit Walter in the eye. She immediately saw Steven and Walter tussling as her heart began to drop. “Stop it you’ll kill him Steven!” Brenda rushed to her husband and tried to grab Steven only for him to throw her off of him.

His fist rammed into Walter’s pretty face he’d had enough of him. “You bitch! You said this was over! You said that I was your husband and that I was enough for you. I don’t want to see your face near our son. I don’t want to see your face near me. I don’t want to ever see you again Brenda! Is that clear you bitch? If you want him you can have him but I swear Walter you think everything is going to be perfect for you don’t you? Lowell isn’t new money you ignorant fuck. He’s old just like me and he’s blue blood but you interlopers will never be. Just so you know Brenda I’ve been fucking your sister and Walter get up!.” Steven stood up and spat down at Walter who was dazed. “I want you to know something Walter, I’m the one who saw your momma’s heart attack. I saw her worming on the floor and I knew I should call the ambulance but she just told me that her son deserved Brenda. Funny they favored you when you are lower than they’d ever be baby you are on a niggers level. You are a farm hands daughter Brenda. Your daddy wasn’t shit, you mammy wasn’t shit and you are nothing but a social climbing whore. My daddy built this town, let’s see how far either of your forbidden love goes.” Steven shook his head stepping back looking at Brenda helping Walter up to his feet.

Walter hadn’t been prepared to see Steven Kincaid at the door and was thrown when the tray came flying at him to hit him in the face. Before he he knew it Steven was on him, Brenda was shrieking and he was getting plummeted on the ground in the face. He could feel the blood from his nose before he saw it on Steven’s fist and began to fight back as Brenda continued to scream. He was not a weakling and he landed a few blows to Steven’s side enough for the other man to climb off of him and his entire body hurt as he looked up at Steven showing his true colors his racist colors and it pissed him the hell off. People in Atlas Falls loved the Kincaid’s well most of Atlas Falls because it kept the elites running the city while people like Tony and Gloria had to fend and have less, it was gross and one way when he was in power thanks to DGI he wold make sure Steven Kincaid got his due and was outed for the racist that he was. His mother was barely recovering from that heart attack and he would never forgive him for leaving her to die had Lauren not arrived when she did, he shook his head that was unforgivable.

“I’m the piece of shit? You’re a piece of shit Steven always have been had daddy make sure you were expect from the draft. He and his powerful friends covering for your ass and the hate that you spew how dare you talk to her like that, hell me like that. That you’re better than we are.” Walter spat he never quite understood why his parents, Roberts or Greg’s always told them to avoid Steven. It wasn’t until the last political rally he had went to Pittsburgh for a political rally for equal pay, he and Tony had went and Charles Hessington had approached them. He knew Charles from college and they had taken a few classes together but when he told them to run and not look back, and all of them had fled the protest in horror he turned his head, and saw Steven in the crowd with a white hood in his hands. “Do you even know the monster you have married? Those boys club parties he attends has he ever told you what he really does at them?” Walter spat looking at Brenda Steven wanted to play this game they both could, he knew all about his dark little side and he had no problems sticking up for the people of Atlas Falls his little movement was not going to happen here.

Brenda looked horrified as she looked at Walter confronting her with the darkest truth about her husband. Did she know when she married him? No she didn’t but she figured out listening to Steven and his family go on and on about colored people. She would interject and say they are African-American’s and they’d laugh saying niggers had no place in America. Seeing Walter’s disgust made her feel dirty, she knew and vowed her children wouldn’t be like that. She didn’t want them to see color or race. Brenda looked at Walter and Steven. “I think I should leave with my husband.” Fear eased into her because the Kincaid’s would make her life miserable. She would never see her son again and that fear paralyzed her. “Walter, I need to leave with Steven and I won’t be seeing you anymore.” She said knowing what she had to say and do at this moment. Steven was exposed but more than anything it meant he wouldn’t be holding back against Walter or her. She refused at this moment to lose her baby boy or her standing. Until Walter was on his feet, she’d send him secret messages to let him know she was waiting but leaving now they’d be destroyed.

“You are so weak but what do I expect from a Irish piece of shit.” Steven snorted as he looked at Walter. “She’s mine and she’ll always be mine because the bitch is greedy. My money will always trump your broke ass. I’m rich and I step on anyone and anything to get to the top. I don’t care that she knows I’m in the klan! My son will be in the klan and so will she eventually she knows her place and you think you are going to change that? Brenda is mine Walter! She’s my possession and I can have her anyway. Did she ever tell you how she got pregnant. I was right after I found her with you.”

“Please stop.” Brenda said softly, no longer able to take it.

“I took it and I’ll take it again because she’s my wife. She’s mine.” Steven said snatching Brenda by her arm.

Walter sat up seeing one of the hotel staff run down the hallways to call security he knew who he was going to take this too if Steven or the Kincaid’s weren’t going to listen to reason he knew people too. Tony had told him about the cross they lit on his and Gloria’s lawn and Greg and squashed that along with Robert, he could go to Charles and he would know what to do. DGI was important but he also did want to help Atlas Falls, he could go to Charles’s father and then his father too. They could maybe rally people together to make sure that Steven’s racist views never came to light in Atlas Falls and maybe in all of that he could tell Brenda to leave Steven too and he could have Steven out of Atlas Falls and Brenda by his.

*********

The cold air of the winter stung Gloria’s rosy cheeks. She had on a cream leather and lace St. Laurent dress for the party. Her long dark hair pulled up into a bun with a bang over her eyes giving her a sense of mystery. As she walked off of the balcony she could see Tony’s handsome face. The guilt started to stir inside of her. The things she was doing were reprehensible but at the end of the day what did she care? The way she looked at it was simple: she wanted to get to the top. Her husband never understood her ambition and what she wanted for DGI. The stock that they would get once the others were gone would be enough to start his dream. Walking to the refrigerator she looked at Tony and resented him in every way. Pulling out a champagne bottle she shook her head. He was weak and never did she want her daughter to be like him. She had no doubt that he knew about Jeremiah but too afraid of the true response. Pouring a glass of champagne for herself and Tony she looked at him. “Beloved.” She said walking to him as she saw his eyes beaming. “Tonight will be hard on you and me. I want to assure you that the purge that will happen won’t be Delacroix. We are safe.”  The look on his face said it all. He was confused and didn’t understand.

Seeing Anya with Selina she smiled as the young nanny tended to her daughter. She never had too many maternal bones in her body that baby was to satisfy Tony not her. “Tonight will not go the way you think. Many people will be hurt and I assure you that your friend Walter will be one of them. I don’t need you asking me a lot of questions. I work for Lowell and you don’t Tony but I think this is for the best for them and us. Lowell has made moves to assure his future in DGI and otherwise is secure and I agree with him. The betrayals going on at that company are far too much.” She lied with ease as she looked at Tony directly in the eye. “You know Jackie is sleeping with Walter.”

They’d been struggling for a while to get LaCallie off the ground but he was so close and he could hear his pops shouting at the top of his lungs that’s my boy as he stirred the food on the stove. Opening was just a few weeks way thanks to Gloria and Lowell investing and he knew the return would be worth it, they could open up their own chain and maybe just maybe he could pry his wife back from DGI. That was Tony Delacroix’s dream, he was going to make sure Gloria left DGI and that Jeremiah was in the ground if he had too. He knew he wasn’t that fucking stupid and Walter confirmed it to him weeks ago, the only good thing to come out of the last few years was Selina. His pride and joy was his baby girl and they could overcome anything as a family as long as they had each other. “I still don’t see why you have to cut Walter out. I get Forbes and the LeClerq brothers but Walter?” Tony asked looking at her she had worked her way up was a shark in the boardroom. He knew business was at stake but was still trying to decide why Walter he and Lowell were friends, hell all of them were.

He physically snorted when Gloria told him that Walter was out fucking Jackie, sure Walter had an appetite when it came to women. Surely that only had to be with Brenda though which was no secret around town they had been spotted left and right, hell when Lauren had asked him about it he had to lie to her fucking face to cover for Walter. “Jackie? I know he’s fucking Brenda everyone in town with half a brain knows that hell I would even wonder if Anderson is really even Steven’s son but Jackie?” Tony finished he refused to believe it about Jackie of all people who was completely loyal to Lowell had never even looked at another man when given the opportunity. He dipped a spoon in the soup tasting it one more time before writing a note down in his notebook and pouring two bowls while Gloria poured the champagne it was hopefully going to be the upscale pairing he was hoping for. Finalizing the menu before opening had been his full time duty over the last month along with helping with his daughter. “Who is your source? I know mine. I saw Brenda leaving a hotel room and Walter following. Jackie though with Walter?” Tony chided her as he sat the soup down in front of her.

Gloria’s face scowled as she listened to Tony go on and on about how Walter deserved a seat at the table. Better them than us and that was her logic. She couldn’t understand why Tony didn’t see it as such. When he turned face to face with her, she softened her harsh look and seduction quickly oozed out of her. As he placed the soup down she snatched his hand and looked in his eyes with a doll-like glare. She knew how to have this man wrapped around her finger and hell everyone was. She had Harvey and Pierre uncertain of each other and they were brothers. She told Forbes in a roundabout way that Lowell and Audrey were fucking. She was the boss around there when she whispered in Lowell’s ear to take Walter’s patent and put it under DGI’s name, not Walter Fraiser. She had meticulously fucking planned controlling these rich ass white boys and he was wondering why? Still holding his hand and staring into his eyes she gave a look of disgust. “My source? You don’t believe me? My very own eyes? You saw something tawdry because Brenda is a cheap trick. I was at the office around Thanksgiving and I saw them kissing and adults just don’t kiss now do they Anthony?” Letting go of his hand she looked so pissed as she picked up her soup spoon.

“Walter is getting what he deserves. It’s not my fault that he’s so dumb that he didn’t get his own lawyer when going into business. I am doing for DGI not Walter and I don’t care who looks down on us. But you do, don’t you Anthony? A little birdie told me that when you and Lowell were golfing you asked him to let Jeremiah be his lawyer soon. When we open up La Callie as a franchise. You must have lost your damn mind to try to undermine everything I’ve been doing. You must not be well because I assure you if you think that I’m quitting my job than you are much more of a buffoon than I thought. Jeremiah, interesting choice you made. You even set him up with my job because you know he’s that greedy. But I won’t stop sleeping with him nor will I be leaving you.” She gulped down the champagne. “This deal is about to make us millionaires and it’s because I have fucking worked to place everyone in the places. You’re all their friends and that’s good the nonthreatening black man, when they should have been worried about this bitch right here.” She cheered as she looked at Tony’s shock. “Power makes us great. You know what the old saying is you have to be twice as good as them to get half of what they have. I’m not here to play nice anymore Anthony? Now you either want La Callie to be a franchise or you’re going to cry for fucking Walter Fraiser? Your dream will be real and we will have the money to do it. Once we get rid of the dead weight. Tonight is needed for me and you. You might want to get a mistress. I’m tired of being the man in this relationship Anthony. Come hell or high water we are ending them tonight.” Gloria said leaning back in the chair. “Now go get on that tux and let’s show these white folk we aren’t the dumbest motherfuckers in the room.”

Tony looked at her mouth open and horrified when she started to speak about everything that was happening, had she seen Walter and Jackie with her own eyes? How was he supposed to not trust her word when it came to DGI and what happened there she was there day in and day out. Walter could have been sleeping with Jackie he supposed, Jackie could stray from Lowell and he wouldn’t blame her for it, he had changed so much since DGI was formed and he saw the lustful way that Lowell looked at Audrey Montgomery. Surely Jackie as a woman would grow tired of Lowell placing his dick in another woman and maybe she had wanted revenge too. He saw her pull back her hand and hated that he doubted her all the time lately, he was always wondering how much of the truth that she was telling. He took a breath as he sat down watching her pick up the spoon and knowing that he had messed up by questioning her. “I wasn’t doubting you Walter has always just been more careful about his indiscretions when it came to who he was fucking and the last thing I would expect would be for him to turn to Jackie. Unless someone told Jackie about Lowell and Audrey?” Tony asked him if he wanted to know if that is what Gloria had done or if someone else did and that is why Jackie would want to sleep with Walter.

He had picked up his spoon to take a bite thinking over her statement about Walter not hiring a lawyer Walter was sometimes aloof more time than not too trusting, but he and Lowell were best friends so why would Walter question that. Worse was he knew that Gloria had whispered about just putting DGI on the patent for the software, but he had thought at the time it was because she was doing it to help them all. He took the bite of the soup swallowing and then dropping the spoon when she mentioned his conversation with Lowell about Jeremiah. “I asked Lowell to send Jeremiah to London and for him to not look back on the decision. I would have thought that Lowell would have kept that between us, you want to keep fucking him that’s fine but don’t sit here and pretend to care about LaCallie you haven’t cared about that in awhile.” He shot back his voice wandering off. It was their first time getting pregnant and the stillbirth of their daughter Callie had destroyed them, Gloria immersed herself in DGI and he was cooking. “So once we are on top this will all be over then you’ll just run DGI? I want us to move forward for each other Gloria the restaurant was at one point your dream too or do you want to forget  about that? Forget about her?” Tony said not wanting to believe that the woman that he fell in love with was gone.

Gloria leaned forward as she thought about their first child who passed on and her heart had never been the same. That night she prayed to God until her eyes crossed but Callie died. She still died and God didn’t hear her prayers after that she refused to believe after that. She couldn’t believe in some imaginary man who pacifies people’s hearts. After the love she had for her baby was built into nothing. She hated Tony after Callie’s death because he just wanted to create this restaurant. The belief she had for God and Tony before Callie’s death was so strong but she became so broken. As she looked at him her eyes became like ice. “I will never forget my daughter and I will never forget our dreams. Or our daughter was snatched away and I will never forget it, do you hear me. God betrayed us and I will never forgive him for taking her from us.” Gloria pushed the soup away and stood up as she looked at him. “I didn’t come to fight you about Jackie and all this DGI mess. I love you.” She said with enough passion she actually knew she meant it but he wasn’t strong enough. These white people put a fucking burning cross in front of her lawn. No she wasn’t docile, she was going to destroy all of them.

“I don’t want to talk about Jeremiah or Lowell? Can we discuss the design plans of the restaurant? Or how about we tuck Selina into the bed? We can discuss everything after tomorrow.” Gloria touched Tony’s face. “No matter what happens tonight Tony I love you. I may have cheated but I’m not cheating now and our relationship is stronger. You have supported me for the entire relationship. Im sorry.” She looked upstairs at the nursery. He knew how to bring her back down to earth. One mention of Calliope made her heart burst in emotions. “Let’s go see Selina, come on we need to see our daughter.”

Tony saw her soften and for a split second he saw the woman he said yes to all those years ago before Calliope he had been so hurt and wanted another child. Not to mention to protests about the war and race, they had moved after her death the burning cross on the front lawn of their old house enough of a determent. Anita and Greg had stayed in the old neighborhood and he thought his brother in law was an insane cop working the streets staying in the Scottwood neighborhood but it wasn’t his place they had a son to think about too in Devin. He shook his head. He didn’t want to talk politics with her or about Lowell and Jeremiah. He wanted them to be normal again, that was what he wanted and he looked at her and followed her up the stairs when she mentioned tucking Selina in for the night. He was actually shocked that Selina wouldn’t be at the party too, he was sure that Lowell and Jackie would be showing off Chauncey and Walter and Lauren would bring Braden too.

“I love you too. We haven’t really talked in a long time after Selina came and you pulled away. I always knew Gloria and I will always hate him for it, you are my wife and I can at least forgive you for it. I just want us to be happy again.” Tony said looking at her as she began to lean down and tuck Selina in and he waved to the nanny on the way out, she lived with them a lavish expense he thought but he had been open to the idea. In honesty he warmed up to the idea when he realized that he was working so much and the nanny had honestly been a lifesaver. “I wanted to apologize to you I fought you very hard with hiring Anya but I’m glad that you did hire her. She’s very loyal to Selina and with the restaurant opening and you at DGI I don’t think I would have been able to juggle it all. I want to talk to you about Anita and Greg too, with all this at DGI would we be able to have enough to get her to leave Scottswood?” Tony said leaning down to kiss Selina’s forehead as they left the room and made their way to the bedroom and looked at her eyeing the closet. “I take it you picked out the most exquisite dress you could find?”

“I have found something to take the eyes off of Jackie if that’s what you are asking.” She said knowing her custom Nolan Millar gown with African print would be something none of the other women had in their closets. She touched her husband’s chest as she looked at him in the eyes. Her child wouldn’t be there. Who knew how the party was going to turn out. Looking at her baby girl she walked to her crib. “We should go get ready. We have a party to attend.”

**********

Lowell stepped back and looked at the mansion and it was done. After two years of renovations and redesigns that Jackie wanted. The mansion was absolutely stunning and he knew this was the first and only time this would happen. He wasn’t disrespectful but right now he had to get her. He had to touch her because Audrey was absolutely addictive and her face was exactly what he wanted. She would be performing tonight at the party and now he was going to strip her husband of everything. It felt good and even made him feel more powerful at the moment. As he looked around he knew what he was about to do was wrong but he couldn’t stop. He couldn’t stop himself from lusting after his so called best friend woman. Fuck Forbes but Walter who he thought was his best friend. How could he be seducing his Jackie? This was unheard of and he wasn’t planning on fucking over Walter but he was with his beloved. Jackie was untouchable and that piss ant thought he was good enough to have her? He could fuck Kincaid’s wife all he wanted but not his! Not Jackie. His blood boiled thinking of Walter touching Jackie’s skin. Gloria was right the other day when he saw Jackie and Walter hugging. He knew what she said was true. Walter had kissed Jackie and was planning on taking over his company. Harvey was a casualty of this war as was Pierre hopefully he did as he told him and Forbes would be going to jail for a long time.

When he heard the knock at the door he saw Audrey standing in a leather trench coat. She was so alluring and his loyal guard Waylon would not let anyone up here. For one day Audrey would feel like she was Ms. Devonshire. Hell the way he wanted it was Jackie as his wife and Audrey as his mistress for years to come. They were discrete nobody knew as far as Lowell knew. This was his happiness having the town’s two most beautiful women as his. Forbes touching Audrey made him sick. Opening the door he grabbed her and began to kiss her as he picked her by her thighs. “I’ve missed tasting you.” He growled looking at her snatching off her fedora and letting her luxurious red hair fall. “I have missed you.”

Audrey had came to the mansion for two things to finalize the last of some decorations that Jackie had asked her to do and to fuck the man in front of her once again, the thrill and the deceit of it all was enough to vividly imagine. Their affair had started a year ago, when he had approached her backstage after her performance of Ava Maria at the opera house. Forbes had been out with whoever was on the streets at the time Jackie was making the rounds with investors and Lowell Devonshire had found her in her private dressing room and fucked her hard against the wall to prove he wanted her. She hadn’t asked why when it happened and the nanny was taking care of Philip at home when it was done he had left to find Jackie. At first she wasn’t going to continue the affair only to find out that Forbes of course had a lady friend of the night and well she was tired of it. Her husband had cheated on her, cheated on her with a hooker and was having a full blown affair with one so when Lowell came again the following week and they repeated the action it lit a flame in her life. One she didn’t want to extinguish ever and knowing that Jackie adored her made it that much better. Perfect little Jackie Davis was a fraud and never should have landed Lowell Devonshire in her opinion and she was going to make sure that if she had her way Jackie would know someone else was pleasing her husband in ways she couldn’t.

“I missed you too.” Audrey said as she watched Lowell shut and lock the door behind him and a thrill went straight through her bones was Jackie home? Did she know? Would Waylon tell her? All of that floated from her mind when Lowell picked her up and kissed her and she returned the favor with a fever inside of her pushing back his coat off his shoulders and letting it all to the floor. She shook her head and lowered her hands to her leather trench coat revealing the green corset and black pencil skirt that was underneath she saw Lowell’s eyes fill with lust and she leaned in kissing him. Her hands began to start to undo the buttons on his shirt arching her hips into his hands as they began to explore up her thighs “Modern sheek is in. Do you like? Does she know you’re in here right now?” She asked seductively pulling back and then flipped open the button on his pants looking at his lust filled eyes as she reached her hand inside wrapping around his thick cock and began to slowly move it up and down.

His breathing became rapid as his eyes began to fill with lust and hunger. He wanted to taste her body as she started jerking him even more erect. Precum oozed out of his tip as he leaned in sliding his tongue inside of her mouth. Lowell became enthralled in the moment. She wouldn’t get to fuck him all over because today he’d mount her liked the whore she was. Untying her corset his face was gleeful and devilish because he was about to fuck Forbes’s wife from behind. Treat her as if she was nothing but she loved it. This wasn’t Jackie forte at all due to her prim and proper upbringing but Audrey was wild and uninhibited which made her everything he needed and more. Right now when he was about to lose all his friends and let go of the one person he believed he could trust. Gloria wouldn’t lie and her seeing Walter coming on to his Jackie. His pride and joy well that wasn’t going to happen. Not in this lifetime or any lifetime no woman was bigger than Jackie. He’d bagged the best fucking woman in Atlas Falls. He could have had Agnes, Lauren, Brenda, and any other woman but Jackie was the creme dela creme of them all.

Seeing the corset falling to the floor he cupped her titties in his hand using the other one he pulled up the skin tight pencil skirt. Immediately seeing no panties, he turned her around and he aimed and pushed into her from behind and started to thrash her wetness and pulled her hair as Lowell rammed in and out of Audrey knowing that she was going crazy for him. Lowell loved the power he had over Audrey if he said leave Philip and Forbes she would and he knew. He knew she was in love with him and he did care but not like Jackie she wasn’t his wife and she would never be. Audrey was revenge and good sex. Yanking her hair back feeling her running. “Don’t you run from daddy’s dick do you hear me?” Lowell commanded Audrey slamming his thick dick into her tight pussy. “Tighten it up you hear me?”

Audrey let out a delighted squeal when he took her even deeper into their little game and her hand squeezed around him tighter and she felt his juice on her palm. Her cry was quickly stopped when Lowell’s tongue slid inside her mouth and she kissed him back licking and biting as his hands went to her corset. She had to wonder if this is what it would be like for them from here on out that she would be so weak as to always cave to his demands. Lowell had something though that Forbes didn’t Lowell had power and her husband was trying to slide in on his coattails had for years. Jackie was a society bitch and never should have bagged Lowell not when she was destined to be with him, so she had to settle for Forbes Montgomery not this time. She felt her breasts flutter free and Lowell looking at them and before she knew it her skirt was hiked and he turned her against the wall and rammed into her. “Lowell.” She gasped at the action the thrill of what he was doing when he pulled out and slammed back into her. When she felt him pull on her hair she couldn’t help it and leaned back exhaling as he got rougher with her in pleasure.

Wanting to change the pace a bit she tried to move only for him to tell her to stay where she was and she looked over her shoulder at him seductively as she did so, seeing him thrashing her and she let out a moan. “Is this better for daddy?” She asked tightening her muscles around him and seeing him almost quiver and cum inside of her and she looked at him trying to gain control over her body sexually. Instead she spread her legs giving him more access and leaned her head against her arm on the wall sliding up and down on him slowly watching his eyes flutter. “I didn’t say stop just showing you what you’re having right now baby.” She purred seeing his eyes fill again with that animal lust and she let out a small sigh into her arm and reached around grabbing his ass to pull him deeper in. “Tell me should I be as loud as we want this time? Did you know when Forbes fucked me the other day I imagined it was you? That it was you in that moment. Rumor has it that Jackie is fucking Walter I wonder if she thinks that too?” Audrey asked innocently stirring an already boiling pot in him, she wanted him and wanted him hard in a way that Jackie probably never even had.

Grabbing her throat from behind he wanted her to shut the fuck up. Who did she think she was? Teasing him with the knowledge that everyone had. Jackie was fucking Walter and he was going to make that son of a bitch pay. He was going to destroy Walter and he began to go wild. It was primal the way he was slamming his body into Audrey. When she spread her legs he gasped looking at her face contorting in pleasure. Tightening his grip around her neck he began to moan as loud as he could releasing two powerful cum-shots inside of her. He could feel her juices running down her legs and the shaking as he kept thrashing her making her call out his name. After he had enough he stickily pulled himself out and took out his silk handkerchief and wiped himself clean. Throwing it away and looking at Audrey still spinning from the powerful orgasm he smiled at her. Approaching her slapping her ass, Lowell smirked. “I have to go to the house in a few moments Jackie is surely looking for me by now.”

He began to pull himself together not even looking at her. Lowell stared at his reflection in the mirror. “Audrey it’s really unattractive babe to hear Forbes fucked you. I think he’s pathetic and it’s kind of pathetic you let him in your body still. You’re mine you know that not his? I love you in a way that he could never.” Lowell lied with ease coiffing his hair to make the pompadour even higher. Adjusting his suit jacket. “I need to go you know the way out right?” Lowell walked up to Audrey and kissed her cheek. “Just what I needed though babe.”

Audrey was so enthralled in his throwing her hips back viciously into him and when his hand wrapped around her neck she let out an exhale and a moan with it as well. He felt so good, so hard and stiff inside of her of course she had lied about sleeping with Forbes but he didn’t need to know that, Forbes was off fucking that bitch on the streets and well she had her own itches that needed to be filled. Lowell was feeling those itches and if she had her way, she was going to make sure he saw that Jackie was not the woman he should have married of course she was reprimand proper of Atlas Falls but she was a fucking star in this town. People paid money to open her mouth and sing so that is what she did as Lowell fucked her opened her mouth and moaned crying in pleasure at the action. She came when he did letting out a scream his name rolling off her throat as she did. She felt him pull out and looked at him lowering her skirt, he could be so callous at times but on the other hand charming too and when he slapped her ass her cheeks turned bright red while she bent down and picked up the corset.

“Hmm perhaps I heard Walter booked a room at hotel LaGorida it was the talk of lunch with my mother. I do hope that she likes what I’ve helped on with the house and for the party tonight. I was good for me too hopefully Waylon enjoyed himself.” Audrey said walking to some tissues and cleaning herself as well before going to her purse. If there was anything that Forbes was good at it was knowing the right people in the right places like Michael and Olivia Madden and she took out a baggie from her purse making sure that Lowell saw it, Jackie probably didn’t know about that either and she put her key in the packet before rising the key to her nose and huffing. The hit of the cocaine hit her and she licked her lips at Lowell. “I think I can make sure I’m not seen by your wife and one of my best friends I did after all help you pick this place. Do you want some?” She asked looking at him moving towards the bag and she held it back from him just a bit. “Not so fast baby I want a proper goodbye kiss from you first.”

Lowell shook his head he didn’t need to snort anything tonight. He had to be on his game people like Charles Hessington and others would be here. Folding his arms he looked at her and took the bag. “Not tonight but tomorrow we can have some fun.” Leaning into her he kissed her lips and touched her face. “We will be meeting up with each other very soon.” Before he walked out of the room not looking back.

**********

Jackie had put the last of the vase on the entryway table the mansion looked beautiful and when she saw the taxi cab pull into the driveway she was so ecstatic her baby sister was home from UCLA for her it was going to be the best Christmas holiday ever. Katie hadn’t even met Chauncey yet, she had wanted to come home when he was born but she insisted that she finish out the term. She had been so proud when Katie pulled straight A’s even though her parents were always pushing her to do better. When they insisted that Katie stay at the old house she had insisted that she stay at the mansion with her. She was going to be the big sister that Katie always wanted growing up now,so she was going to do better and not be so jealous of her little sister and maybe they could heal that distance between them. She already had big plans for Katie. Her father was retiring from the country club in a year and Katie would be done with school and she wanted to run it with her. Of course she would remain on the DGI board and attend meetings but she loved the country club. She and Katie could open up a day spa there or even a gym, something that was becoming all the rage around town. When the door opened and she saw Katie she rushed to her hugging her.

“I am so happy you are here! Did they feed you enough on the plane?” Jackie asked motioning for one of the newly hired maids to help take the bags away seeing the shock at the excess and lavishness of the house on her sister’s face. She was so ready to show off the remodel to Katie Audrey had worked with her so hard and helped her so much finding the right architect and all the contractors. Once the first million came in and soon they were up to another ten after that she could be as exuberant as she wanted. “Lowell let me be in complete charge of the remodel. Katie stables and a full size Olympic pool,  guest houses. Think of all the lavish parties we will host. I also can’t wait for you to meet your nephew, he looks just like Lowell.” She finished gleaming at her baby sister.

Kathleen looked around the home as her mouth hung open. Her father was very well off but this was lavish beyond her dream. She just prayed she got a guy as good as Lowell. “This is breathtaking. I don’t believe my nephew and sister live here.” She said taking Jackie’s arm as she paused taking it all in. “It looks like all those art books Tess is always reading. We flew in together, thank you for letting her fly with me. We had fun on the plane. We had this cutie pilot and we got to go to Renards before the party. Daddy would freak if he knew that you had me shopping at Renards. We went to Renards for prom and he was so annoying about the prices. He kept saying that it was a mortgage for a dress. Either way I’m excited that you spent a mortgage for my dress tonight.” She laughed holding up a bag from Renards. “I’m also raiding all that expensive jewelry everyone says Lowell lavishes on you. I’m twenty you know so when I went to Paris, I drank and I was so grown.” Katie laughed leaning on the wall, grabbing her sister’s hand. “I always wanted to be you Jackie.”

It was a confession that she had to tell her because Jackie had the life that she always wanted. “I know we haven’t always been the best friends but I’m grown now and I’m not going to let anything keep us apart now. Jackie I’m sorry if I was a brat back then. If I wasn’t good to you.” She walked into the kitchen and she gasped looking at the huge room. Then she saw this cute little cherub baby. Rushing to the toddler she sat down in the chair and saw the nanny move out her way. “Well little guy I do think your parents were horrible for naming you Chauncey. Hey you will call your aunt Katie and I’ll kick their asses.” She said, grabbing the spoon and beginning to help feed him. “Jackie your life is really perfect.”

Jackie followed her around the foyer and into the kitchen her life as perfect she had her doubts and she shook her head at them Lowell had always been a flirt but she was certain the rumors were not true. Audrey had laughed them off and claimed they were just rumors Lowell of course had donated to the opera house and made her sound crazy when she mentioned the rumor they were sleeping together. She exhaled one of her best friends wouldn’t do that and she hadn’t been up to socializing that much since Chauncey had been born. Lowell had been working so much and then they had the house remodel too. Her body got stiff when Katie mentioned Tess Blisston, she never had liked Tess but that wasn’t her place to really tell Katie who to be friends with, she just didn’t like how Tess looked at her husband. “I wanted tonight to be perfect for everyone including you. Besides now that you are home for winter break we could discuss what you plan to do when you graduate in the spring.” Jackie said seeing her feeding Chauncey of course she and Lowell had a nanny but she was still very hands on with him.

“He loves to come to work with me don’t you handsome and he’s just starting to talk too.” Jackie said seeing Katie’s eyebrow raise, it was the same look she actually got from their parents. Her mother thought when she and Lowell got married that she would be a stay at home wife and not work, her father had asked if she was going to quit running the country club. “I’m still working. It’s the eighties I swear it’s archaic to think that I shouldn’t work and put my degree into use and Chauncey loves it at the club and sometimes Lowell even takes him into the DGI building. Gloria had Selina a few weeks after and you remember Lauren right? Her and Walter had their son Braden around the same time.” Jackie said and then she saw Chauncey point to his gold sippy cup.

“Wa wa.” He said and Jackie let out a chuckle as did Katie when she handed it to him.

“You don’t think it’s all a bit too much excess, Lowell says it’s just us finally getting our due but the other day you wouldn’t believe the dirty looks I got from people that used to be nice to us Katie. I told him the gold sippy cups would be a bit much but Lowell insisted when he had them custom made.” Jackie said sitting down at the long kitchen table and then looking up when she saw Lowell enter the kitchen, he had changed clothes since the meeting earlier in the day which made sense he had said he was going to go for a run with Waylon. She smiled at him watching him smile at her sister he was always so kind to her. Even when they were dating he made sure to be kind to Katie who could be a bit much. “I was wondering when you would get back the party starts in a few hours. How as your run?” She asked.

Lowell looked at Katie and was absolutely shocked at the skinny kid he remembered no longer was before him. Here was a grown woman and she looked just as beautiful as Jackie. She had this childlike twinkle. Since he got with Jackie he’d always carried a soft spot for Katie. She seemed to adore him and he thought of her like a little sister. Like most sisters they had their issues but he was sure they’d be good eventually. Waylon and he listened to Jackie question if they were living in excess. He silently waited on Katie’s response.

“I personally think that if mom and dad had this much money Jackie then we would have had this also. We were always well off but this is so much more. It’s what I always thought you’d have. Jackie everyone in Atlas Falls knew you were going to be a star. You were going far and Lowell has finally elevated you both to where we all knew you were going.” She touched Chauncey golden hair and smiled. “He really looks like you both Jackie.”

“I think he has my jaw line already.” Lowell said as he took a towel from a maid. He leaned down and kissed Jackie and opened his arms up for Katie. “Kathleen my dear the men will be fighting over you tonight. I think you deserve that too.” He hugged her missing his own little sister Camilla. “And please tell your sister not to give a damn about what Atlas Falls thinks. They all want us to be frugal like the rest. We are in the eighties and this is what America is about. Access to the excess baby we are about to be filthy rich even more so after tonight. I want you to be prepared, this is our future. And when we have more children, God they’ll really be jealous.” He picked Jackie up and pulled her to him kissing her.

“Well I appreciate it because I got to ride in a private jet and they all saw me getting a limo to my college. It was truly amazing and everyone is talking about DGI so I don’t care either Jackie. Plus when I graduate I’d love an internship at DGI. Plus you hired a lot of hot guys.” She giggled looking at them. “You two are too cute. I hope I have what you two have.”

Jackie was so excited for the party to celebrate the milestone of the business with all their friends and family and to welcome Katie home. She had picked out the perfect gold dress had went shopping with Lauren for it together. Maybe this was what she needed for her and Lowell to get back on track too no one knew maybe the staff. But they hadn’t shared a marital bed in months, he was always working and she was so busy planning the party and at the country club it had just escaped them. “I am sure the young men will be salivating over you, you are after all a Davis.” Jackie said teasing her sister as she kissed her husband. “I say we all have a party to go get ready for now though. I can’t wait for tonight.” She said looking at her husband, sister and son wondering if life could get any better for her. “I was so glad Audrey helped with some design choices when she wasn’t too busy at the opera house.” He felt Lowell tense a bit and she looked at him. “Everything alright I know she mentioned that she and Forbes might be separating soon.”

“I would only hope I’m beating the correct proper gentleman off of me.” She teased right back. “I think Waylon can show me to my room and Chauncey me and you have a lot of time to get to know each other. You see I’m your totally cool aunt who is totally about to spoil you for the rest of your life.” She leaned in and kissed the beautiful baby. “He is adorable and no he doesn’t have your jawline Lowell because his cheeks are too cute and chubby.” Katie nodded at Waylon. “Oh Tess said she’s coming over to get ready I hope you don’t mind.” She skipped out with Waylon showing her to her room.

“I don’t want to talk about Audrey or Forbes because they have their own shit to handle. But after tonight Forbes, Harvey, and Pierre won’t be around.” It was irrational to tell her what he was planning for Walter. Even if it wasn’t true he had to do it before another tech giant scooped up Walter and the patent for Andromeda which was in his name and DGI’s. Making Walter’s program his and tonight he was about to make them all very rich. The truth of the matter was he knew Harvey wanted to leave, Pierre was loyal but he’d do whatever Harvey wanted, and Forbes wanted to be him. Walter once valued his friendship but he’d been different since he began his affair. He hated to rationalize it because he was wrong but Walter was with that gold-digging secret racist. It was a well known fact that the Kincaid’s was old money built on slaves and African-American’s backs. He didn’t like Steven or Brenda for that matter and with her in his ear he heard Walter making demands a few weeks ago. Like he was the boss. No he was the boss and Lowell was going to show them all tonight.

“Go get ready baby good energy only tonight you hear me? No matter what we are getting what we deserve tonight.” Lowell said as he kissed her hand and picked up Chauncey. “I’m going to give him to the nanny to get him ready. I think I’ll call Tony and Gloria to bring Selina. I know she said something about not bringing her which I think is insane.” Lowell kissed Jackie and smiled at her. “Audrey and Forbes are about to be a non-factor.”

**********

Tonight was in full swing and the party at The Devonshire mansion was over the top in the worst way. He thought it was gaudy but everyone seemed to love the excess of more and more. Forbes’ jealousy was reaching a fever pitch because he deserved the accolades and love that Lowell was getting. Mayor Kincaid was thanking Lowell for bringing jobs into Atlas Falls. Isn’t that rich when his connections brought the building where the men were assembling DGI computers. He felt empty tonight because he knew Audrey had seen him. He saw her getting dressed singing opera songs to herself. Forbes wondered if Audrey thought he was crazy. The song was from Carmen. She thought she would get Lowell. No that wouldn’t happen and he was going to make her miserable. For the rest of her life he was going to drive that bitch miserable.

As he walked to the bar he turned around and saw a leather clad dress that was scandalous. He had always had a thing for ethnic women. This one eye color was so stunning and her body was so curvaceous that he bit his bottom lip. “Pardon me? I wanted to look up at the solarium which I hear has an amazing view of the stars. Could you accompany me? I didn’t catch your name? I’m Forbes Montgomery executive at DGI.” He extended his hand to the woman picking it up to kiss. “I’ve been waiting for someone like you. Someone so stunning that nobody could deny.”

Trisha was coming down from her last high and well she had to put food on the table some city council member had offered her money and so she did what she was told. She as up about three hundred dollars on the week enough to pay the light bill and maybe a little extra for her habit. She had been invited to the party tonight by her employer and she knew she was being watched so when Forbes Montgomery approached her she smiled her best and followed him out of the room. Taking his arm in hers she knew he was rich almost as rich as Lowell but in her mind at the very least he would be easier to get payment from. The party was not her cup of tea, all the excess of champagne and gold all around and she of course saw the drugs being passed around. Perhaps later if she had enough she could get that little extra treat that she needed for herself. The dress had been picked by her from her employer she caught his eye along the room she was with the elite of Atlas Falls and then she caught the eye of the man that had introduced them and her heart fluttered. She had thought that Jeremiah knew her troubles when her friends told her to go talk to him and he had introduced her to Carla Luciano. At first she wanted to be her own woman on her own terms but she had to eat and provide and not be on the streets too. If she bagged Forbes maybe she could get out from under what she was involved with.

“Trisha.” She offered him when he asked for her name in her line of business she knew that men like him hardly even cared what the last name was and it was better if she didn’t say. She had heard stories and it wasn’t like she hadn’t seen Forbes around the wrong side of the tracks looking for company she did have to wonder where his wife was and instead shook her head. “You sure we should be in here? I don’t think Mr. Devonshire or his Mrs. would be to happy with someone like me wandering around their estate.” Trisha managed to get out while they walked she wasn’t stupid, she knew her place in society and it wasn’t like Lowell like hookers or escorts at his beck and call at DGI even worse at his home. She knew that the women in that room all thought she was trash too but what had they ever fucking had to do to eat and not sleep on the street.

“To be honest I could care less what Lowell or Jackie think. Especially Lowell, he isn’t the ruler of me. Walter, Pierre, and Harvey can kiss the ring, I’d much rather my own throne.” He took her hand and walked up the staircase with her. “Plus as much as I can’t stand Lowell right now he’s one of my best friends. Not only that but I think that he’d understand my lust considering he’s fucking my ungrateful wife.” To be fair he didn’t know why he admitted that to a complete stranger but he was feeling enraging. Seeing her face and how she looked he smirked. “Didn’t expect a rich white man to be so real?” He laughed looking at her expression. As they walked into the solarium his breath was taken back when he saw how beautiful the stars were. Not only he looked at the gaudy plate of coke on the table. Which wasn’t surprising Lowell loved nose candy. “Care to partake?” He lifted up the little gold spoon and took a dip sniff. Then leaned down and scooped the white powder for Trisha. Pressing one of her nostrils in he heard her take deep snort. Then he sat down pinching the drip out of his nose.

“You’re not someone from around here or are you? I’ve never seen you but Trisha, I’d like to. I am completely preparing to take my son from my wife and I might be interested in something with you. So my question how much? Five hundred? One thousand? How much is it to fuck you without the pain of emotions?” Picking up his bourbon and taking a sip of his drink. “The only thing is getting me through all of this, is simple Ms. Trisha. I’m going to destroy Lowell and Audrey.”

Trisha wished she wasn’t so damn weak when he led her over to the table and held up the coke to her, but she closed her eyes and take the snort letting the coke hit her as she wiped at her nose. Music faded in and out as she did and she was trying to keep up with what Forbes was telling her so his wife that opera bitch was fucking Lowell? When he asked her how much she looked at him, she could name her price if he wanted a night with her hell if she wanted she could even double her asking price. She saw him sit down on the chair and for a moment she pitied him that he was going to pay her to fuck him when his wife was out fucking someone else. It was the eighties though and maybe that was what the world was coming too, everyone in bed with everyone else the drugs flowing word on the street was that they had seeped into Atlas Falls and the rice were not ever going to give it up meaning she would have to adjust or die. There was two rules in her part of town you watched your back on the streets and banded with your women and you locked your fucking doors at night. She moved to him sitting on his lap.

“A night with me? You could have had any of the other girls in the room and my boss would have let you.” Trisha said looking at him feeling him feel her body through her dress. A lot of men lost function while high and she had to smirk at him his drive was clear as she felt him harden as she drug her hand down his shirt and to the waistband on his pants. “How do you know that I won’t ask you an outrageous price?” She purred leaning down to his ear and moving her hips on his lap feeling him shudder.

“Because without that job or with it I’m fucking rich and outrageous is what I do best. I don’t think you heard my name. I’m Forbes fucking Montgomery and I’ve been played and I don’t like being played because I’m usually the king on the fucking chessboard but I let this Great Gatsby wannabe destroy what I could have had. This should be mine and Lowell took it and I hate to say it but he did it better than me right now. Trisha I don’t know you but I want you to myself. I want you on retainer. Do you understand what that means? I’m going to pay you to only fuck me. I don’t want any other man with you but me. I’ll pay an obscene amount of money to do it and you name it but for the next few months I want you with me. Tell me how much.” He whispered kissing her neck drunk and pissed. He was going to destroy Lowell and that fucking bitch. She was his greatest weakness. He’d never loved someone like he loved Audrey. Where would he be without her? Why didn’t he please her? What did she want? What couldn’t he give it to her?

One single salted tear fell down Forbes face and he sucked it up before he released emotions pent up. He would kill her before he let her be with Lowell. He slipped his tongue into her mouth and the smell of her perfume plus the coke made him light headed. Everything felt good. “Tell me you only want me.” He said to her desperate to feel in control. Desperate for someone to want him even if it wasn’t the person he wanted to want. His fucking wife. That bitch pushed Trisha back and laughed holding up a finger his emotions were swirling. Lowell had went all out with the good shit. “Take off your clothes and lets fuck. Matter of fact let’s go find Lowell and Jackie bed and let’s fuck in there. Come on!” He downed the last of his drink.

Trisha listened to him and for a moment she actually felt sorry for him and taking his money but the prospect was too much for her to pass up. She felt him emotional in her arms and couldn’t help it but feel like maybe he just needed her body and he knew for most women that was gross but what if she could do that for him? Clearly his wife wasn’t doing it for him and when he kissed her, she returned the favor dipping her tongue in with his tasking the booze and the coke in his mouth. She was so lost in the kiss she yelped when she felt some grab her scalp and throw her back and she looked shocked at Audrey Montgomery before her staring manically at both her and her husband she went to move only for Audrey to toss her back and she stood there awkwardly watching Audrey dance with Forbes in what she could only imagine was some fucked up form of foreplay for them.

“Really Forbes right at the party in front of the entire town? I guess you have to make up for the things you lack behind closed doors to flaunt it around and with one of Carla’s girls?” Audrey said her eyes darting between Forbes and then the whore that he was with and she almost let out a laugh at it just to belittle him and push him to rage. She looked at him taking a sip of her champagne and then looked at Trisha. “Well you heard him in fact I’d love to watch this unfold you fucking her in Lowell’s bed knowing that I already fucked him there. You see this would be all about me not you and what you are offering him isn’t that right dear husband?” Audrey said seeing the disgust on the shore’s face as she circled her keeping her in the room and she looked at Forbes. “Can you even get it up at the moment with me here or did you just need to see my face to do it?”

“I should go let ya’ll figure this out.” Trisha managed to get out looking at Forbes seething at Audrey and waiting for them to let her leave the room.

“It was hard as a rock bitch.” Forbes spat grabbing his dick as he slapped her ass. “I’ll call you Trisha, this is going to take a while.” He walked up to Audrey and grabbed her face. “You have fucked up, you betrayed me this time and I won’t forgive it. I’m going to make your life hell. I’m going to take my son and leave you with nothing. Maybe someone will come into our home one night and slit your throat while you sleep your treacherous whore. I want you dead bitch.” He wrapped his hands around her throat completely enraged. “I should snap your neck. I should kill you right here. You are nothing but what I love is that Lowell will never love you. He’ll never truly love you because he’s doing it to spite me.” He laughed looking at Audrey, squeezing her neck even tighter. “You broke my heart bitch!” Forbes said with tears falling down his face. “You broke my heart.” The color was leaving Audrey face as her eyes rolled behind his head. Forbes could see she was passing out and he dropped her on the floor.

**********

Walter had his tuxedo on something that he and Lauren had splurged on a few weeks ago, despite others rolling in the money he was partially grateful that Lauren made him put money away. He thought it was silly and they did fight about it, but he saw the sense in it too he hadn’t said much to her when he returned home, he knew she knew about Brenda almost as if it was an unspoken between them. When Brenda didn’t call after being escorted out by Steven he made a few calls and Charles had assured him that his father could handle things politically the Kincaid’s wanted to rule Atlas Falls they could, their hate however would in inflict the good people of the town though. When Charles had mentioned that maybe he should have went in to politics he laughed it off and then he had invited him and Lauren up for the summer. Charles and his wife Anna were lovely enough that Lauren even made friends with her. Maybe that was what they both needed an escape from DGI and Atlas Falls from Brenda and everything that was going on, maybe that was what he needed. Of course that meant getting through the rest of winter and spring but they;d be financially set by them surely they could swing the trip. He saw Harvey looking at Lauren across the room, saw Forbes wander off and rolled his eyes at Pierre before he saw Lowell. His only real friend left in the room.

“You know for all of Forbes hallowing you sure know how to shut him up though I still wish you hadn’t of roped him into the business. I’ve made a lot of mistakes the last few years with Lauren and Brenda, seems that it might all come to bite me in the ass if Lauren has her way. I at least have you in all of it still.” Walter said taking a sip of his drink as he saw some of the other board members partaking in some of the weed and coke that was around, he’d stick to his whiskey and knew that Lauren would do the same. He did trust Lowell an was so tired of people telling him to watch his back they had been roommates at college and they brainstormed the entire company up together and when he got the software to work right now they were ready to explode in the world. “Do you ever get tired of it Lowell lying to Jackie? I’m tired of it you know this back and forth I have going on with Lauren and Brenda. You’ve been good to me by not telling Lauren. Maybe expanding to have a board and all these other people is what turned us this way you know? It was so much simpler a few years ago. I miss that time.”

“I mean one day I’m sure my conscience will eat away at me. I mean I love Jackie but I sometimes wonder if I missed out on being a bachelor. These last few months were hard on me and Jackie. She worries about the perception of Atlas Falls and I have neglected my duties as a husband. I have guilt but I mean I can stop anytime with Audrey. She’s crazy and it’s electric but that’s partially because I’m not in a good place with Forbes. I’ll never love Audrey or any other woman that I screw around with. Not like Jackie and I think that’s your problem.” He looked at his friend. “You know I heard the funniest rumor that you and Jackie were fooling around. But I think that has to be a joke right considering you are in love with Brenda. That’s the difference between us Walter, you feel for your mistress and I haven’t. I love Jackie more than life itself and unfortunately I like sex with Audrey but not more than I like my life with my wife.” He looked at his best friend. His heart swelled thinking about him touching his wife. “I am so angry even thinking about it. Yet who am I to judge you know I am fucking Forbes wife.”

As he folded his arms and thought about college and smile emerged from his face. They used to drink and laugh so much. Before he couldn’t think about what he was going to do to Walter, Gloria’s words echoed in his head. “I don’t believe it of course but hey it’s called rumors. I miss college also. I used to love how we used to party all night. Walter why didn’t marry Brenda? You are hurting Lauren. She’s a good woman you know? She’s dealt with your disrespect with grace and she could have left you plenty of times for Harvey and she protected you. You should be worried Walter not me. My wife has no idea yours knows.” Picking up a glass of champagne he felt sad as he looked at him. “We both are playing with fire but you are the one that will burn.”

Walter looked at his best friend they were more so than that, he felt they were brothers. He had dreamed of going into business with Lowell for years and of course Tony said Gloria could help all six if them became close friends. He wanted that to last he wanted all their kids to grow up together and maybe he had been foolish when he married Lauren. On the flip side condoms were not reliable and he knew that long before he and Lauren had sex and continued to have sex when Brenda chose Steven. He had been heartbroken and latched onto Lauren so when she got pregnant he did the honorable thing for everyone concerned. “Brenda made her choice and I’ve made mine or Braden made it for me. I couldn’t very well have a child out of wedlock to my very firm Catholic family Lowell. But you are right I need to do better for both of them.” He took a sip of his whiskey and nearly choked. “Jackie and I?” He murmured wondering where that had started.

“Surely you can’t believe that Lowell your wife is the godmother of my son and one of Lauren’s closest friends. Not that Jackie is not beautiful she is but I would never betray you like that maybe Forbes or Pierre, hell Harvey would in a heartbeat too. But me?” Walter asked and he had to wonder who put that crazy rumor in his head he had a few ideas mainly he could see Harvey doing it. Just to spite him and the fact that he married Lauren and they had a child together. “When Lauren was pregnant we talked about if it was a girl how perfect it would be if we were related down the line. I think of you like a brother Lowell hell even more so than my own brother people like to gossip because they can. Jackie is completely loyal only to you you have my word on it.” Walter said taking another sip if his drink wondering who had set off these rumors at DGI. “As for the burning Audrey has her way she’s going to go after and tell Jackie it’s a game to her and Forbes and at least my wife knows.”

“That’s true but Forbes and Audrey won’t want to live in Atlas Falls soon.” Lowell said clearly letting Walter know he wasn’t going to accept Forbes anymore. “I think it’s best for everyone if I cut ties with Forbes because we are on our way to the top Walter. We don’t need him anymore. His money helped us in the beginning but he’s just a succubus you know. A vulture and I can’t even pretend anymore Walt I hate that son of a bitch.” Lowell eyed Walter and felt his soul searing with the pain of what he said. He was right, they were brothers and what he was about to do was going to kill Walter. He’d always looked up to Lowell and he’d always trusted him but he had to make his mark. Leave a legacy on the world and there were no friendships in business. What he was about to do was going to revolutionize the computer industry and the home computers he was dreaming for people. This was his vision but Walter’s program and it made him sad because Walter would always hate him forever.

Lowell walked up to Walter and hugged him tightly knowing it was the last time he was going to hug his best friend. As he stepped back he knew Walter was looking at him funny as if he was crazed. He laughed, shaking his head as he felt emotional for some reason. Earlier he was so sure he was ready to hurt all these people but now he sees his past in his face and knowing what he was about to do. “I have to make the announcement Walter but you remember one thing man. We were brothers.” Lowell walked away from Walter and to the stage.

Walter looked at him wondering what he was going on and on about whether they were good the best of friends and he did agree with Forbes getting out of the business and the company perhaps if they left town it was for the best. It could get back to just being him, Tony and Lowell back when it was simpler.

**********

“Tonight we celebrate not only DGI but the glorious fruits of our labor. This home was curated and created with the eye of none other than world renowned opera singer Audrey Montgomery and my wife’s illustrious eye Jacqueline you make me the man I am. I want to take over the world to give it to you.” Lowell paused as the crowd swooned and clapped. “Tonight is about our company going public, my other investors have sold their stock to be on the board of directors. However tonight I would like to thank Forbes Montgomery, Pierre LeClerq, Harvey LeClerq, and Walter Fraiser for their contributions to DGI. While once valued participants of the company I will not be going public and they sold their stock into DGI to me. Well people who worked for me. Forbes you have secretly been trying to fund your own company and you thought my friends and associates wouldn’t tell me. I’m fucking revolutionizing computers Forbes not you. My name will be in the history books not you. So if you four thought this was a bonus or some slam dunk event you all are fired. Harvey you’re planning on leaving soon right? So this doesn’t matter to you? Pierre you’ll follow because you are a lap fucking dog.” He hadn’t even looked in the direction of Walter because he could feel the rage searing from him. Stepping into the podium he looked at them.

“DGI, that’s my company now and my family will own it. Each of you will receive a severance package. I will also refer you Walter to any company, I have connections in Apple but you all are no longer needed for my company to thrive. I will be promoting Gloria Delacroix to COO of DGI and for our foreign affairs my sister Camilla and brother Linus will be taking on DGI European offices and affairs. And I do want to inform each of you to play nice boys I have security everywhere. If you would like to leave the door is the gold plated one.” Lowell said snidely seeing Jackie’s horrified face as her face was tear soaked. “You’re fired. All of you.”

Lauren had stood by Walter and was here tonight to tell him she was leaving him and going to Paris with Harvey. When Lowell said that her heart dropped and she looked at him. Her lips quivering as she gasped seeing the shock on Walter’s face she turned to see Pierre and Harvey fuming and Forbes was laughing. He was laughing almost manically it scared her how demented that man looked at this moment. He’d always been a little off but he was laughing as if this was some game. Lowell had got them all to sell the stock to DGI that they got when they formed the company saying it was going public and now he had all the stock back in his control. Lowell had taken and tricked them all. “What are you talking about! Walter’s program is what made DGI a success? You can’t cut him out! You can’t cut any of them out!” Lauren sneered back at Lowell. ‘You son of a bitch you talk to us! You don’t get to just walk away!” She screamed as she picked up her dress. “Did you know this Jackie? Huh? Did you? Oh don’t cry look at this place! That’s why he had the money to do this! He was taking from all of us!” Lauren screamed looking at Harvey. Then she looked at Walter.

“And I want a divorce.” Lauren said looking at Walter. “I want a divorce and I want to get away from you and all of this Harvey yes.” She said as the room erupted shocked as she looked at her husband. “I know where you were today. And with who.” Lauren said with a voice above a whisper. As she looked at Walter humiliated and shocked she was adding to his pain and she felt vindicated against what he had done to her. “Braden will be leaving with me.”

Forbes looked at Lowell who was standing grand; he outsmarted them all with Gloria. As he licked his lips stepping forth. “I’m going to fucking destroy you! You pathetic piece of shit! How dare you! How dare you! You are going to pay, you hear me? Every moment of your life you will have to look after me on your back. I will step on you one day. Do you hear me Lowell? I will destroy you one day!” Forbes tried to charge at the stage as he was grabbed by guards. “Get your fucking hands off of me. Get off of me! You keep fucking him when he destroys you Audrey I’m going to laugh.”

Walter stood there shocked and horrified Andromeda was his doing his brain and long hours went to long nights if coding. Hours where he was tired and Lowell would always tell him it would be worth it their goal would be worth it and now he was standing there wondering how it came to this as he glared at Lowell. “How fucking dare you you looked me in the eye and didn’t even have the balls to tell me privately. Everyone in this town was right about you. You’re a selfish bastard. My family was right about you my wife was right about you but you told me we were in this I together. I kept your secrets and lies even now because fuck others don’t deserve it.” Walter said looking at Lowell Lowell horrified then at Jackie’s tear stained face but what broke him the most was Lauren. He had treated her so badly but now that they would be left with whatever Lowell thought was a severance he knew she knew a divorce wasn’t or couldn’t happen neither of them could afford it. “Stay the hell away from me and my son. Yours will end up just fucking like you are.” He reached for Lauren as he saw her precious Harvey walk right by with Pierre and Freya and saw her face fall. “We’ll work this out at home I swear it. I’ll do better don’t take my son from me too.”

Harvey had watched the announcement earlier in the evening congratulating both Pierre and Agnes on their engagement only for Freya to drop one of her own. He didn’t have the heart to tell Lauren he would be unable to leave with her to Paris. He would not be like Walter Fraiser was to his child and as much as he wanted to help and love Lauren his obligations were now to Freya. He pushed her hastily through the crowd he had gotten out earlier in the day with enough left Forbes and Walter would be the ones with nothing and it shamed him but he and Pierre were set. When they passed Lauren and Walter he didn’t make eye contact as he saw Freya take a breath her hand on her stomach. “Come on stress is not good for the baby.” He saw Lauren look at him crushed and he didn’t have the strength to face her before walking out of the party.

Jackie had went to the podium with him prepared to hand out the yearly bonuses and then she stared at the monster behind it. These people were her friends maybe not the LeClerq brother or Forbes but Lauren and Walter were their best friends Lauren was a bridesmaid at the wedding same as Gloria. She was bawling as the room erupted and people were shouting Forbes lunged for Lowell and she saw security hold him back and she chased after him as he darted off the podium only to run into Lauren. Her best friends emotionally drained face asking if she knew as if she was in some sort of sick game with whatever Lowell had thought he was doing was right. This was not what they had talked about when they started the company.

“Lauren I had no idea you have to believe me! There has to be some sort of mistake he wouldn’t do this to you guys without a reason or maybe he’s just being irrational. Give me a moment to look into this please.” Jackie pleaded looking at Lauren look at her with so much hate something in all their years she had never done. She realized how bad what she had said came out and could tell Lauren didn’t believe her and she looked at Lowell who was still charging down the hallway and screamed at him. “What the hell is wrong with you? Those are our friends!”

“Jackie they all were going to betray us! They all were going to eventually do the same thing they were planning it. Gloria informed me of Forbes trying to create a company with Harvey and Pierre behind my back. Walter is collateral damage but I’m sorry if you want to be friends with them but this is business. We had to do this or else everything wouldn’t be ours.” He touched his wife and wiped her tears. “Lauren and Walter won’t forgive us but we will move on. We will have to because what I just did just made me public enemy number one. I know it doesn’t make sense right now and it’s all confusing but Gloria will explain. Go in the study and she’ll explain everything to you okay? Just believe me this is for all of our good.” Lowell said touching her face. “I love you so much and I know this is hurting you but I wanted to secure our future. Our child’s legacy and so Chauncey’s child will have this. This house that fucking gold spoon. It’s our legacy Jackie and I demand it for us do you hear me. I did this for us.”

Lauren watched Freya and Harvey walk out of the party and her dreams of the future cracked in her face. She looked at Walter and felt her entire body stiffen. “I’m still moving out.” She said with fury as she began to walk away to the car, tears in her eyes seeing Walter follow her. She was pregnant. She was pregnant with Harvey’s baby. It should have been her. She loved Braden but she didn’t want to lose Harvey over her child. Yet somehow she had picked one too many times with her family with Walter. “I hate you.” She seethed looking at him. “I hate you so much.” Lauren cried as she looked at him disgusted while he started the car to take them away.

Katie was absolutely shocked and the town was buzzing; she looked over at Linus and Camilla shocked expressions. They didn’t know that they were getting that big of a promotion. It was clear to her. Her baby pink gown sparkled as he walked to the bar and looked at Linus and smiled. He was handsome but she wasn’t in the mood for anyone after the uproar right now. She saw Tess finally enter the party. Of course she was late. She looked so much better than her. Katie felt instantly insecure because Tess looked like she belonged. That white dress was scandalous in all the right way, and the mink stool made her look even more luxurious. Standing up she waved at Tess to come to the bar. She walked to her friend. “You look amazing!”

“I feel amazing because my mother let me borrow her diamonds for tonight.” She said twirling around in the mermaid bedazzled gown in gems and jewels dripping off her. Tess looked around and didn’t see Lowell after all everyone had heard the gossip. Katie could act oblivious and pretend Lowell wasn’t screwing Audrey. However she wasn’t his type. She knew that he’d want her once he saw this version. Last time he saw her was her prom and she was a little girl and friend of Katie’s. Now she was a grown woman and she was going to sink her claws into Lowell Devonshire and never let go. She’d just dyed her hair to a platinum blond and it was down her back silk and beautiful. Turning around she saw a man approaching them with glasses of champagne. “Isn’t that Linus Devonshire?” Tess whispered to Katie.

“Yes and he’s approaching us. I have to tell you what happened. Lowell just fired everyone in front of everyone; it was crazy Tess.” Katie smiled at Linus. “Hello how are you tonight.”

Linus smiled at them both making sure he got the glasses right as he passed them out. “Just fine and you two ladies I am sure are enjoying the evening. Shall we walk and chat?” He asked seeing them both drink the champagne and smiling as led them to one of the elaborate tables in the room.

**********

Gloria stood above the party on the foyer watching everything unravel. Tony was speaking with none other than Charles Hessington. As she sipped her champagne she tried to calm down Jackie. She was irrational but she somehow convinced her to take Chauncey upstairs with Selina. Gloria was happy she brought her daughter because it seemed to calm Jackie down. Exhaling she had exposed Forbes plan on taking on DGI with his own company. Not only that she used Lowell to get a bigger foothold into DGI and now she had the power. Everything she wanted was hers and she felt like all her scheming had come together. She was COO of DGI and she’d soon manipulate Lowell to make some killer acquisitions and DGI would be one of the most powerful companies in American history. Some would call it a monopoly but she was going to make sure the government understood what DGI was about to do. It was going to stand for more than commercial success but America’s ideals. The power Lowell would wield would be hers because she’d drive him anywhere they needed to go. DGI was hers as much as his but he didn’t know it.

As she turned around she saw Jeremiah approaching her and her face ran hot. He made her entire body sweat with the fever. She’d never been around a man like that. A man who could make her feel the way she was feeling. He embraced her darkness and enjoyed her intelligence. He wanted her to control DGI and most of all he wanted her to be the most powerful woman in the country. Which they had accomplished by decimating everyone Lowell trusted. He lost Walter and that was his biggest mistake but he wouldn’t see that until it was too late. Eventually DGI wouldn’t stand for Devonshire Global Industries but Delacroix Global Industries. “Well is this not a glorious moment. All our planning has finally paid off I’m COO of one of the fastest growing companies in America.”

Jeremiah had stood back in the shadows watching all the pieces fall where he and Gloria wanted them too and reveled in it. They were going to take the power from the rich elites of Atlas Falls and watch them all fall flat on their faces and he and Gloria would resign supreme. No more questions about answering to Lowell or some other rich fool no he was going to be the poison that sucked into Atlas Falls and didn’t let go he was the one that had brought Carla Luciano and Michael Madden into the town and they were there to stay. He had seen Jackie’s little outburst and knew the town was gossiping about it he started the gossip that she was maybe a bit unstable after having Chauncey. He watched the chaos while they were in the shadows wrapping his arms around her waist feeling her shiver to his touch like she always did. He let his hands roam a bit in the shadows this woman would forever hold his heart and it was such a shame that she was tied to Tony but for now he could work around that. He watched their work like setting gasoline to an already lit ember and leaned down running his lips on her neck.

“Just like we planned and soon when Lowell is leaning on you fully we can pull the rug out from under him just like we planned. You played your part just like you should have the loyal wife to his best friend and advisor all while turning him paranoid about everyone else in the room.” He whispered and brushed his hand over her breast through the dress exhaling as he did. They’d been fucking on and off for years except when she was pregnant with Tony, he had thought that Callie’s death would pull her finally from Tony only it backfired and she broke off their affair and conceived Selina and he wondered if it was more out of duty or love. “You know once that happens I fully expect you by my side when we start up the new division just like we planned as my full partner without that gaudy ring of his on your finger. Beecher and Alfonso Conglomerate or Alfonso Beecher whatever you prefer of course. You are sure that the LeClerq’s are taken care of? Harvey was asking a lot of questions.”

“Pierre planted the information on Forbes. Forbes will be going to jail, Pierre and Harvey will leave for Paris and it’s over.” She said turning around looking deeply into his eyes. “It’s over, we won and it tastes so damn good. If Harvey somehow figured everything out would he help Lowell? Would he? I doubt it because he hates him and that’s enough for us to be able to take over everything we want.” Gloria said as she touched his lips. Her nails tracing the outline of his face. “Steven Kincaid was here with Brenda. I have to say if we don’t take down that weak motherfucker then I’ll be happier. I know he was the one who burned that cross on my lawn. I assure you I won’t forget it and that bitch Brenda thinks she married into some great dynasty. Racist and old money that is fading.” Gloria leaned and kissed his lips as she touched his chest. “My husband and I are trying to work things out for now. Which benefits us because he’s Lowell’s last confidant. Tony is the last person in his corner and he’ll need him and I’ll pick Tony’s mind to see where Lowell is. I can’t be seen with you for a while.”

Gloria knew that Jeremiah wouldn’t like that but she had to make Tony think she was loyal. This was vital because she had to keep Lowell and Tony off their tracks. Seeing Tony from down the stairs she looked in Jeremiah’s eyes knowing that she was going to piss him off but this is why he loved her. “I’m sorry Jere but there can’t be anymore us. I can’t do this to my daughter or my husband. It’s over and I need you to understand and respect that.”

Jeremiah knew what she was saying about Steven was true it was something they would have to have a plan for but maybe he could sway the city council to have things his way. Charles was his friend and maybe his father could pull some strings let Steven think he had power when in fact he had none hell if he wanted maybe he could bring Carla into it. Carla could keep Steven and his father in line with the right girls and he nodded his head at her when she mentioned that Pierre had planted what they needed as much as he felt Gloria was in control he had other plans with Forbes, he didn’t want to burn that bridge just yet he may have need of it later. He always had a backup plan for himself that was something that would never fail and he had no problems fucking over Pierre LeClerq to get there and leaving Forbes to it. Together they had created enough hate in the room between people to last decades and he and Gloria would be better for it. He outed at her a little infuriated that she was putting him on hold again when it came to her marriage to Tony.

“I would have thought this last year would have proved to you that I was loyal to you and willing to ride of into the sunset with you as my queen but you still want to pick Tony over me.” He said looking at her touch his lips and he felt a little burned at the action. He knew for appearances after tonight that it would have to change but he didn’t think she would be that quick about it. Her hand pulled away from his chest and he looked over at Carla Luciano she would fill his bed till then and he saw her looking at the way his eyes wandered. “I’m not a saint Gloria and a man has needs since you’ve laid down the boundary for now.” He said quietly as Tony approached them.

Tony had been thrown for such a loop when the announcement happened saw Lowell and Walter go at it like he never had in all their years of friendship. Saw Lauren and Walter leave and a chill settled over him at the way they stared at him in it all. He knew what was going to happen because of Gloria earlier but now seeing it happen he felt dirty and ashamed, he got Lowell going after the LeClerq’s and Forbes but Walter and Lauren was a pill that was so hard so swallow. He saw Gloria and Jeremiah touching and reminded himself that Gloria had just told him it was over and he wanted to believe it and he looked at the man that was fucking his wife for a good few minutes. Their affair was over now and he took a deep breath knowing that Gloria and he were now set for life that Selina was too, the restaurant was going to launch and make them both even richer.

“Can Lowell really do this? I mean legally of course.” Tony said looking between them and he half expected Gloria to answer and was shocked when Jeremiah did instead.

“Yes he can I arranged the paperwork to be worded that they turned their shares over to Lowell that the patent for the Andromeda software was also given to Lowell completely and became the property of DGI. Pick your jaw up Tony it’s unbecoming of you honestly. Did you really expect for Lowell to share with everyone?” Jeremiah said and he let out a laugh at the foolishness when he realized that is exactly what Tony thought would happen. “Your wife and I just took down some of the richest and most powerful people in this little town and cemented your daughter’s future a thank you would suffice I would say.”

Tony stared at them both as he looked Gloria in the eyes. “Tell me that you didn’t just fuck over Walter and Lauren for the hell of it and to get off with him. Tell me to my face that you had valid reasons for doing it to people that were are friends and helped us.” Tony said looking at her and not seeing her falter she did it because she wanted too and he looked at her with sadness and part disgust. “Are you going to DGI London? If you are I think it for the best that Selina of course stays here with me until you return.” He finished.

“I am going to London just to set up Camilla and Linus. I assume you will be able to handle all the changes. Selina can stay.” Jeremiah will be attending London with them and they could be together. Tony didn’t need to know that as of now. She’d send for Jeremiah in a few weeks and they’d be together. As she looked at Tony and touched his face. “You have to be strong because they will hate us now. We are different and we are the rich and elite. No more burning fucking crosses on our lawn because we could pay people to not hate us now. We have the power.” Gloria bit down on her lip. “That’s all I ever wanted, my daughter to have shot to be just like them without ever having to try as hard as we did.”

**********

Katie stumbled down the hall she had so much to drink already and had outed at Jackie as she had stormed over and hauled her away from Brenda and Steven Kincaid. They had go into an ugly spat over it that had resulted in Jackie rushing off in tears at everything that had happened and of course she regretted it but Jackie had everything she wanted. Yet here she was not allowing her to have any fun at the party and she let out a laugh at a party that Atlas Falls would talk about for years to come and she looked down the hallway seeing the library door open and Lowell staring out at the city lights. She was honestly shocked shouldn’t he be down there schmoozing it up with the rest of the town relishing in his sweet victory instead of moping or maybe he wanted company. She wasn’t fucking stupid her ears were open at the party and well Jackie had pissed her royally the fuck off earlier telling her to stay way from the Kincaid’s and grilling her about Tess too. She moved towards him at the window and saw him looking out at it and quietly spoke.

“Jackie doesn’t understand does she? Why you did what you did? Hell she probably blames you too, well that makes two of us. She’s always going on and on about wanting her own way, wanting money and you and you give her everything and she screams at you in front of everyone.” Katie said seeing him taking up her words on it and then she took another sip of her drink not sure what came over her as she turned her body to his. He was so handsome and he did look really lost and maybe they could comfort each other. Her sister was clearly out of her damned mind to reject him at the party and make him out to be the bad guy or maybe she could finally bag a man like Lowell and Lowell himself. She knew she was thinking crazy and she wasn’t sure why as she let out a laugh before rising up on her tiptoes and leaning into his lips. “You know I used to want to be her even now. Unlike her I’m not stupid enough to know that you’re fucking Audrey, Tess told me it’s all over town. I’d let you be free, Lowell be who you should be.” Katie giggled innocently at him before crashing her lips onto his.

Lowell grabbed Katie by her shoulders and immediately pushed her back wiping his mouth almost repulsed by what just happened. “You know nothing about being an adult.” He said, shaking his head. “I thought because you weren’t a skinny little bean pole you had learned what it meant to grow up. You’re jealous of your sister and always have been. It’s so clear and apparent that it disgusts me. Look at you drunk and you believe that you can have your way with me because she screamed at me? Your sister means so much to me that I’d never and you mean so much to me that I thought you would never. This is sick and I think you should take a moment to get yourself together. In the morning I’ll arrange for you to get a hotel. If you think so little of Jackie then you shouldn’t stay in her house.” He spat at her ferociously as he stepped to her this time with a little more might and no longer seeing her as the little sister that he loved.

“Katie you and Tess can listen to town idle gossip if you’d like but I am not fucking Audrey.” The lie came out so easy it scared him. “I love my wife and the fact that you thought I was sleeping with Audrey that it validated this little stunt. I think of you like family, how could you do this to her? She loves you and is trying. Get yourself together then go to your room, sleep it off and maybe if I am not in too much pain after sleeping on the couch you can stay. This didn’t happen and you need to respect your sister more.”

Katie was horrified yet confused too what did men actually want people like Tess and her sister had so much sex appeal and she was sure that this meant that Lowell would want her like that. She looked up at him as he lost his temper with her and she swore that she felt so light headed that it wasn’t possible had she truly drank that much? “You’re so full of shit you and Jackie pretending for the good people of Atlas Falls that you two have this happy little perfect marriage. My parents talk Lowell, Audrey’s parents talk and you know who else does?” Katie spat wondering if she should throw Linus and Tess in there and she shook her head at him at his rebuttal to everything. “Me, respect my sister that is rich coming from you. How in the hell do you look at her every night and your son knowing where you’ve been. Keep telling yourself those little lies that you want to believe.” She rubbed her bare shoulders feeling a bit of a chill in the room she had always been jealous of Jackie.

“So what I’m jealous of her okay she got to bag you and everyone fawns all over her, so I wanted to be her at one point okay is that such a fucking crime? Jackie this and Jackie that you would never believe how my parents drown on about her and you and this fucking house and the money.” Katie spat not sure what was coming over her at the moment this was so unlike her that it honestly startled her a bit all the rage she was feeling and the room was starting to spin and she closed her eyes. Perhaps her and Tess hadn’t of partaken with Linus in that line of coke on the table but it was a fucking party and she was to tired of being the good Davis girl. “I just thought if you could see me as her you know that maybe I could be her if only for a second. Please don’t tell her Lowell this would kill her. I have no idea what is coming over me at the moment.” Katie said sitting down on the couch in the room and realizing she was starting to cry at how foolish she was looking and how furious her brother in law was with her.

“I can’t deal with this or you right now Katie, God grow the fuck up.” Lowell spat at her. “And I suggest you and all the others stop gossiping because that would kill your sister. You know that don’t you? I love Jackie and whatever is going on I wouldn’t cross that line with you. I love you like a fucking sister Katie! God! I would find you a guy who is just as good as me fuck that I wanted better for you! You aren’t this girl! You aren’t that dark and fucked up Katie. God you don’t want me you want to hurt Jackie. You want her life but you got what she wants! She wants to be out there in the world. She wanted to be in the business world and you have everything she could want! God!” Lowell stormed out of his study frustrated with Katie.

Tess watched Lowell storm out of the study and she smirked Lowell didn’t want that little girl. She strolled into the library seeing Katie passed out. It was more than likely the lines she wasn’t ready for all of this. She walked to her friend and tapped her cheek seeing her passed out. Running her hand through her hair she looked at the room and her breath was taken. She heard someone coming and for some reason Tess wondered if Lowell was returning or who was coming in the room. Tess shuffled to the closet closing the door slightly to see everything.

Linus had waited and abided his time at the party taking in the compliments as he did, Lowell was shipping him and Camilla off to London and he had to laugh at it, taking a drink of his whiskey. He’d show Lowell that listening to his bitch of a wife to send him to London had consequences as he waited in the shadows. Jackie was the main problem between him and Lowell and she always would be telling his brother to stick with Walter. He had dreams and goals too of course it was better for him but that didn’t matter now. Walking into his brother’s study he downed the drink in his hand locking the door behind him.

**********

Rolling off of the sofa he grabbed his boxers And pants looking at he woman next him her body limp the after effects of what he had slipped into her drink in full effect of course, he had been eyeing Kathleen Davis for months after his brother married Jackie and well now she was his and he looked down at the blood on her dress a virgin to boot. He adjusted himself not wanting to think about what just happened. It was mutual between them and that was the story he would stick to. Katie was always looking at him watching him and tonight he had her hard in most every surface in the room and now that they were both satisfied she was like some glassed over doll he had played with. He had gotten the roofie from Carla Luciano earlier in the evening after he had told her that he needed something to take the edge of a woman he was interested in. In truth he didn’t want Katie to fight him seeing her look at Lowell with stars in her eyes he just wanted to have her and now he had. He ran a hand through his hair looking around the library as he did making sure it was in order.

“I only wish we had more time. You were such a good baby being quiet. No one heard so it’s okay and if Lowell or Jackie asks you to tell them you wanted it too.” Linus said leaning in and brushing a hair out of her tear stained face. Most women fought him lately and so when his friend was able to find something to relax them that was when he felt like both of them could be pleased in this case fucking Katie was simply payback. Payback for Lowell never treating him like a brother and for fucking Jackie whispering in his ear about all the women that kept making up lies about him over the years. There was that secretary bitch that had the audacity to tell them that he had forced her to suck him off when the truth was he heavily implied if she didn’t she’d be fired. Lowell had dismissed her and warned him to not bring sachem if he needed a fucking partner to get a hooker. Jackie looked at him like he was trash and she was better than him and he almost laughed knowing his brother was fucking around on her. “I’m going to London soon, maybe you can come too.” He finished getting up and buckling his pants looking at her. “Anyways call me.” He finished opening the door and leaving her on the couch in the room.

Tess opened the closet door and covered her mouth. Strolling with dread to her friend she stooped down and looked at Katie. Tears started to fall down her face. “I’m so sorry Katie.” She said falling down on her bottom. “I should have stopped him but I was so scared oh my God. Oh God what did he do to you.” She said, touching her friend’s head as she looked at the blood on the sofa and she gasped. Katie was virgin. This was her first time? Oh God. She wiped her eyes knowing she needed to call the police or someone. Tess rushed to the door and looked down the hallway. Trying to find someone to help her as she started to grip the walls she looked up at Forbes Montgomery standing before her. Not only Forbes but Steven Kincaid were walking with him. He looked shocked at how weak she was. “You have to help me.” She whispered looking at them. “He raped her.”

Forbes looked at the young girl who looked beautiful but so broken in the moment. “What’s going on Tess Blisston right? You’re the Blisston’s daughter what’s going on?” Forbes was leaving the mansion when Steven Kincaid stopped to speak to him. He wanted to invest in his company. Which was smart because he was going to scoop up Walter and hopefully they could together sue and get back his program. Forbes looked at Steven and saw his concern. “Who was raped speak up?”

“Kathleen! Linus Devonshire raped Katie!” Tess cried as she fell into Forbes arms.

Steven had been at the party with Brenda and they had a heated confrontation when they got home spouting on about his ties to the klan and him telling her to shut the hell up. It was bred into him and something that was going to be in his children too he had meant that or at least that was what his family wanted. Sometimes he was tired of it so when Forbes had asked him to invest in a new business venture he didn’t even blink and he looked at Tess Blisston as she shrieked in the hallway about Katie and he followed Forbes down the hallway towards the room. His parents were good friends with Katie’s and he always thought of her like a sister in some ways. What he saw was horrific. Katie sprawled out clearly not even there mentally barely physically and her skirt hiked around her blood on the couch and he looked over at Forbes horrified. What if this had happened to Brenda or his mother? Or someone else at the party?

“Get me a washcloth!” He screamed at Forbes and Tess seeing Katie foaming at the mouth he went and leaned her up helping to clear her airway as his brain raced if he called the police his father would shame him. He was fucking sick like that and he saw Katie take a few breaths seeing the color on Tess and Forbes face return. “You’re sure it was Linus? How much coke did she have tonight?”

Tess grabbed Steven a rag from the minibar, handing it to him. “I don’t know she was doing a couple of lines. I told her not to if she never did them.” Tess said looking at Katie. “Oh my God is she going to die?” Tess screamed looking at Steven. “We can’t have the police come to here everyone is high and it’s all these drugs around they’ll arrest everyone. I’m sure it was Linus I saw him.” She said looking at Forbes as she flipped her hair. “He just got on top of her and raped her.”

Forbes’ mind started to swirl. “She’s right Steven we can’t call any police we have elected officials in here and all of us will go down if this is exposed. So let’s get her to the hospital.” His mind started to swirl effortlessly thinking of ways he could use this against Lowell.

Steven didn’t think the hospital would be the best either and people talked there and before he thought more about it he spoke. “She can stay with me and Brenda for the night. My mom is a nurse. I can have her come and check on her tonight. Tomorrow we can confront Linus and Lowell, I can talk to my father about an arrest. Fucking hell.” He said wiping Katie’s forehead as he spoke and for the first time shame filled him as he had thought it was that black lawyer who did it and he shook the thought away real men didn’t think that way. “Help me help her up. We can go out the back.” Steven said seeing Forbes help him lift Katie and straighten her dress, he watched as Tess gathered her things from the room, he could have Brenda call and tell Jackie the room needed to be cleaned. He heard the door close behind him and for once in his upbringing wondered what in the hell he had been doing the last few years and where his humanity actually had went as they walked silent with Katie down the hallway.

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