“3×21 “Mother Knows Best”
Written by: Chris Coleman, Kristi Clark and Kelly Zollo
Warning: Episode may contain strong language, sexual situations and violence.
Theme Song: Game of Love- Michelle Branch

Tess walked around her empty mansion, the sounds of music, loud talking, and RePlay wasn’t all over the house. As she opened the door to Belle’s empty room she exhaled. This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. For years Bliss felt ostracized from the Devonshire and Belle didn’t even know. Yet here they were standing with them. She hated it and more than anything she hated Jackie’s control and influence on her daughters. She was the only other woman to have his heirs and now she was facing losing her foothold with her daughters. She slapped Belle and knew it was wrong but she couldn’t stop herself. Her words infuriated her. Did she not deserve to have what Jackie did? She was taking from those other brats to give herself a chance at getting it all. She never had Lowell and neither did Audrey. No matter what his heart and soul was tied with Jackie. Did he have love for her? That was the question she truly fought with. He would have left her with nothing in that will. How was she to know if he loved her truly? He emotionally left her long before their marriage; he literally thought of Jackie while drooling, barely able to keep his mouth closed. In his most vulnerable he chose to subject her to the chaos and leave her with a legacy of embarrassment. She however turned the tables on everyone. Tess licked her lips as she closed Belle’s door her placing her head on beautiful wood she exhaled.

With her mind racing she slowly paced back and forth feeling the wind leaving her body. She had constant calls from the media and they were hounding her. LeClerq media was taking a soft approach but TMZ, CNN, ABC, NBC, FOX News and other media titans were taking a sledgehammer to her. Calling her the delusional widow Devonshire but her will was rock solid because Simon lost the physical only thing they needed to locate was the video. Tess wasn’t sure if Lowell did one but she also knew him enough he wouldn’t get a last say. His arrogance was once her attraction. Now these media outlets were trying to destroy her but she had a plan to slow down Jackie’s brood. Wearing a corset DVF wrap dress and off the shoulders Burberry cape. Maybe taking DGI wasn’t the smart move and she knew if the truth ever came out it would be the end of herself and Pierre. Not to mention that woman was alive and well. Pierre informed her who the silent partner was and she gritted her teeth.Gloria Delacroix or Beecher or whatever her fake name was now was a menace and her return would be a major distraction. She knew better than to show her face until Lowell was good and buried. Looking down at her phone she sent Fox a box of toys and no response from Bliss. Her daughters hated her and that ate at her. She was the main one hurt in this equation always before Audrey but never Jackie. He manipulated all of them but somehow she is always the villain. Walking into Lowell’s old office she screamed as she covered her mouth. Weeping opening as she walked to the fireplace and picked up the marble fire poker and began to destroy the office.

Tess first swang at a picture of Chauncey, Jackson, Max, and a baby Rory. She began to destroy countless awards DGI had received over the years. As she continued to slam the fire poker into a glass table with glass shattering everywhere. Walking Lowell’s portrait she swung and glass flew all around her. Using her cape she picked up a shard of glass and used it to slice Lowell’s face. Tossing the glass on the floor she pushed over his vase and walked out of the office. She saw Alee the house concierge looking at her, shocked, dropping the fire poker. She stormed down the hall to his bedroom and screamed again. “Get it out! Clear this shit out of here! I want it gone!” Rushing to his closet she tossed his suits on the floor like a mad woman. He had pushed her to this and she was exhausted with Lowell. No more was he going to destroy her. Storming out she saw some maids looking horrified at the office. “Call the fucking decorators it’s my office now! Get rid of all that shit!” With that Tess walked to her room further down the hallway and slammed her door. As she covered her mouth, horrified at what she just did. When she saw her phone lighting up she dug in her pocket of the cape. It was Pierre. “We have a major problem. If my daughters aren’t on my side what’s the point of all of this?”

Pierre had been at his hotel at the Crestwood; he had a few items on his agenda to take care of a trip to see Jayden before the opening and a phone call to Tess needed to be made. The others would be getting the meeting announcement or invite either in person or via text that Natasha wanted to have a last minute meeting at DGI over SandStar. In truth it would be there he would reveal what was on the thumb drive in his pocket and he fondly remembered the price he had paid for it the night before the real games would begin after that with Gloria getting what she wanted as well as Tess it was a win for everyone. He was adjusting his tie in the mirror when he heard the ringtone going off and knew who it was of course, Tess. He put it on speaker phone while he tied his Windsor knot and then also looked at the text from his personal security. So Harvey was in town of course he knew it was to see Greer likely to check on his daughter and her pregnancy but the tidbit that he was outside of Lauren’s house in the shadows had him burning with a rage. He was honestly frustrated with Harvey that Harvey couldn’t see Lauren for the woman that she was a weak Cummings girl that would always string his older brother along. They had a word for women like that in France, un truc féminin.

He listened to Tess ask about her precious daughters and almost told her that he had warned her as much but didn’t. They had something better: a tape that told a story, a scorned Natasha Hassan and Gloria on their side they didn’t need Bliss or Belle. But he knew his ally and friend needed her daughters; he’d kept Dru close to his chest as his weapon of choice and it was going to pay off. “You’re worried they won’t fall at your feet now that you’re trying to strip their ex drug addict brother of power? What if I were to tell you that his little reign of purity is over. His image will be destroyed, his wife devastated even more than Jackie was when you and Lowell were exposed. I had evidence to prove it. You asked me to make sure that Natasha was on our side and I have done that. His fall from grace with everyone and his siblings priceless your girls would be dumb not to flock to you.” Should she want more details he was happy to prove them even tell her about Dru he was ready to gloat. Ready for DGI’s reign to come to an end and for Tess to get everything she was due her revenge as the long mistress. “We just need you to hold it together until the meeting this evening. I am sure the text going out will raise a few eyeballs. Are you worried about Gloria? She knows her place in this.” He said his tone soft Tess was someone he was becoming soft hearted for she was carrying most of the weight and needed to play her part perfectly.

Gloria was a problem even if Pierre didn’t believe it. That was for sure. He was jailed because of her and she didn’t forget it. Her dear friend Agnes died without Pierre and left Greer with Harvey. She hadn’t forgotten the history that was at play and she vowed to make her understand the ramifications of her selfish actions. Her eyes narrowed as she looked at the phone. Pierre had his child or children she never really questioned if he had any other kids. It was easy for him to say but if Harvey came in trying to change what he and Greer had built he’d feel the same. Jackie was tempting them easily to her side because they craved a place with those other brats. All she could do is hold down what she had. Hearing she had finally nailed Jackson to the cross she knew she was going to get her respect. Exposing that junkie as the failure he had always been would be a delicious treat. Holding the phone to her heart she nodded. “You’re right we haven’t gotten this close to losing everything we’ve built.” Tess with a shaky hand pouring a glass of brandy.

“I just deserve to win. After all that Lowell put me through. I deserve a win!” She said to herself as she gulped down the expensive brandy. “I need to see you, my friend.” Truth was things were changing. He was more than a friend but Agnes hung over them like a ghost. Haunting whatever chance she had for a man to truly love her. They were friends but now it was more like partners. She had never felt so safe with any other man but now for some reason the fear that she had in her heart had subsided. “We will make those brats and that bitch understands DGI is mine now. Mine and yours, and I will get to stomp on Lowell Devonshire grave.”

Pierre had always had a soft spot for Tess Blisston even when she was younger and lovely, honestly had he not met and fallen in love with Agnes that summer he could almost asked her out. Instead he watched her throw herself into trying to appease her uppercrest parents and befriending Katheleen Davis to set herself on the likes of Lowell. Agnes was his heart and his soul and she always would be and the only thing he had left of her was Greer so he understood the plight that Tess was talking about. He loved his brother and would always be grateful that he was there for his daughter, but Greer was his only child and when she ran to Harvey that always seemed to hurt. He looked out the window for a moment wondering what he could say to Tess that would be a comfort of course they would see each other at the meeting coming up. He would relish the look on everyone’s face when DGI financially crumbled giving Tess the power and status she deserved to take Lowell’s children with her enemy down.

“They’re both just weak minded little girls chasing their fathers’ love only to latch onto Jackie. One day they will look back on this moment Tess and realize everything you have done for them after the way their father treated you. If we’re honest even then he chose his other family over Bliss he would have done the same even if he knew about Belle thanks to her, we both know that. They’ll remember they have taken you for granted in all of it.” Pierre said he wasn’t one to talk ill of the dead but in this case Lowell was hardly the best example of loving and caring husband or father he pretended to be. He finished his knot looking at himself in the mirror while he reached for his cufflinks taking his time while he placed them on. “I’ve invited Greer to our little meeting and will send out a copy of the tape to all our news outlets. I know you think she is hung up on the eldest Devonshire but she is instead pregnant with a Fraiser baby she has no loyalty to Chauncey any longer. Perhaps afterward you would like to go to the casino opening with me?” Pierre asked taking that step with Tess seemed to be the natural course for them.

Tess held her phone to face blushing feeling almost childish because at this moment she was an adult. The way she felt about Pierre had transformed over the last few months. He’d been her rock through knowing Lowell was betraying her. That he would leave everything to Jackie and the children. Giving Belle a payout and Bliss a position was nice but she deserved something. For the years of playing second to Jackie and how he truly left her feeling isolated and alone. How he didn’t leave Jackie after she got pregnant with Rory as he promised. That is the very reason she never told him about Belle. How could she? He would never leave that woman and showed how devoted he was to her while she was needing him. When she needed Lowell to love her he left her completely alone to deal with her pain. Her life was insane at the moment. Due to her marrying this man or that one she had never run a company. But laying in bed with the CEO, tycoons, and royals she learned a few things and she wasn’t going to take over DGI because it was her reward. Years of pain had led up to this very moment and Lowell would burn in misery knowing she had what he coveted most, DGI.

“I would love to attend my casino opening.” She spoke triumphantly knowing that Jackie and the DGI brats would die having her in attendance. “My daughter’s don’t see what I have done but knowing you do and will. That is enough for me tonight we will finally end Jackson and tomorrow we will have the company that Lowell held so close. It’s over and I assure you whatever proof you have will finally give me the upperhand. Let’s tango with the devil shall we? I’m ready to claim my spot in the sun I won’t burn because I deserve all of the spotlight after what he’s done. Let’s do this Pierre. Let’s finally take what is so rightfully mine.” Tess said, nodding her head knowing that everything would be alright now. She had Pierre in her corner and that would be all she needed. Bliss and Belle would come to the light, it would be only a matter of time. “Take a drink with me, handsome to us.” Tess commented into the phone as she raised her glass.

Pierre brushed a lint roller over his coat while she spoke, her voice seeming to steady on the other end of the line that was what he needed, her calm. Running the show while the brats lost their shit over the tape well more so Jackson himself, the rest would of course have their rants, looking like the madhouse they were. Tess needed to remain calm the last thing he needed was for Forbes to realize they were going to take DGI and sell it off bit by bit, his frenemy really thought that he wasn’t going to hurt the other man for letting him rot? Forbes could have spoken up just like Walter but instead said nothing there was no way he was letting Forbes get his hands on destroying that legacy that Lowell thought he left when he watched and sent him to prison as well. He poured himself a glass of cognac while his waitstaff came and took his dirty laundry away and he looked at the clock he had one more stop if they were going to pull everything off. A deal was a deal and as lovely as Tess’s voice was he needed to get to that stop with time to pull it off.

“Then it is settled after the meeting tonight you and I will arrive arm in arm to the red carpet, the eyes on us, not on Max and her little pet project that her father gave her. On the new CEO who of course will assign her lovely daughter’s to the places she feels fit best. Your sun will be so bright it may send Jackie into a damned cave to become a vampire.” Pierre said, pausing for a moment with a smile on his face at the thought of it sending Jackie into the background of Atlas Falls. He wanted to see her fall from grace, her children’s fall from grace for them to actually have to work from the ground up for once like in a way he and Harvey had. Granted his parents both had trust funds and were of course some of the most elite given his father was heir to land in France but they instilled that in their boys. “I poured myself a cognac and took a drink in celebration, I assume you can make it to the meeting and want to arrive on your own? I need to make a stop on the way but could swing by and pick you up unless you think that might turn a few heads and tip people off.” Pierre said, taking a second drink from his glass and putting it down while he waited for her answer to send instructions to his driver for the evening.

Tess smiled nodding her head. “I can arrive at the meeting by myself but we will arrive at the party together. I want to make quite the entrance.” Finishing her drink, pressing the cool glass to her neck. “My daughters will stand beside me or they’ll be left behind. This is my time and my power to own and have.To us Pierre, rewarding those who never had a chance to shine. My friend this is your conquest as well as mine. Forbes thought he was pulling the strings against me and all his threats, never knowing you were right there waiting for him to try it. Together we’ve made quite the team taking what is and now will always be mine. I will have the honor of being the last CEO of DGI as I dismantle it piece by piece. Leaving nothing but memories of what Lowell did to me behind. I’m scorching the earth and we win.” Hanging up she confirmed locations and where she would be meeting Pierre. At DGI and at the meeting to oust Jackson. Tess said triumphantly laughing as she walked out of his office. Toward her room to get two looks together one for the meeting and the other for the opening. Tonight was a show nobody would forget. They had to make a statement: it wasn’t too often you stomped your dead husband’s grave.

**********

Charles sat at the desk inside the office of the penthouse at Crestwood, his aide going over polling numbers with him for Anderson and Whitney. He promptly looked at his clock and if his eldest knew what was fucking good for him he’d be on time and not a minute late. He’d already reached out to a few friends Connor would be traded out of Atlas Falls as soon as possible to another team where he wouldn’t be an embarrassment. It was a damned election year all of his children knew better than these little stunts and scandal and if the latest rumor was true. Well his eldest better pray it wasn’t he had no time for his games anymore, let alone games with the town whore. Lex was always destined for more but he could never just hand over everything to him for this very reason his son never played the long game right. Unfortunately that meant the only one that was left was Whitney and Anderson for now, though if Anderson wasn’t careful it would be Whitney. Whitney Hessington-Walker had a nice ring to it, though if what his security details told him Ryan had gone a little too far this time. They had put in a good run and hopefully they would announce after the election his wife would be so disappointed. The door opened and he looked at Lex as he entered the room checking his watch he was in fact a minute early.

“Cutting it a little close don’t you think? I’m surprised you could pry yourself away from whatever errand case Julian has you on to actually show up. I would assume that you know why I’ve called you here instead of being distracted by whatever piece you are tailing at the moment hopefully not that atrocious nanny. Your sister is half a point behind in the polls meaning we are dangerously close to losing and that would be quite the shame. Did you know that Ryan has resumed his affair with Nova or that your sister is bringing Jon around Miles? Thank you Paul if you don’t mind Lex and I do need the room for a moment.” Charles said, signing a paper that Paul, his assistant, handed him about one of the bills on the house floor, placing the pen down he could tell the silence in the room was deafening. He watched his assistant scurry out before he got up from the desk and motioned to the seat he simply wasn’t asking him to take a seat either his son would or he would make him. “You see instead of handling all those problems we are facing like you are supposed to be doing. I had quite the most interesting chat the other day with Franklin here at the hotel. It came to my attention that not even Ryan can lie for you any longer. Would you care to tell me what you were doing here last night on the tenth floor?”

Lex was sweating the elevator ride up after his father summoned him. Not only the sheer fact that he had to meet his father. Alone. But also because he was racing the clock. God forbid he was 30 seconds late. Not surprising his father insulted him the second he arrived. The cases from Julian also known as the only fucking job he could get thanks to this asshole. He took a step back when his father stood up from his chair, Paul quickly closing the door meant he was trapped in this room. He cleared his throat and took a seat as his father directed. He stared across the desk at limp dick Chuck, careful not to allow his expression to betray his true thoughts when he spoke about Ryan and Whit. He was always trying to get the three of them to turn on each other. Occasionally even Connor when he remembered he had a third kid. Lex suspected he hated the fact that they always closed ranks against him. Even his darling little Whitney. “If they’re still behind this late in the game, it would seem your golden boy isn’t so pristine. What was it you said, something about him being the next JFK or some shit? Ryan broke up with Nova per your instructions. She’s having trouble accepting that and Ryan is dealing with it. It requires finesse to avoid a scandal. That’s what you want isn’t it? And Whitney’s playing nice in the sandbox with Jon, also what you told us to do. If he approaches her, what’s she supposed to do? Alienate the town hero? You want the headlines to read ‘Whitney Hessington-Walker, Lieutenant Gubernatorial candidate, shuns war hero and mental health advocate’? A lot of people in this town idolize Jon Harrison. He’s a fucking folk hero.”

He hoped he wasn’t laying it on too thick. Of course he knew Ryan was fucking Nova and Whitney was sniffing around Jon. He could feel the tension between them and not just that, this time there was something more. It was like neither one of them cared anymore. Miles felt it too. Sometimes he asked questions about his parents over bowls of cereal and Lex tried his best to answer honestly but not scare him. Morgan was still too young, maybe. Or just didn’t know how to articulate her feelings. The second his father mentioned Franklin’s name, it felt like the blood drained from his body. He swallowed against the lump forming in his throat. Shit. Did his father know about Dru? He’d expressly forbid him from seeing her. Had he put her in Charles’ crosshairs? What a stupid oversight. Of course his father would have people at his own establishment. And those people were paid handsomely to provide intel. “Was I on the tenth floor? I thought it was the seventh floor.” He rambled trying to buy himself some time to think. The best lies have a kernel of truth right? It wouldn’t be unheard of for him to be meeting a prostitute at the hotel. Not too much of a stretch since Dru was sleeping with half the town. “I was with one of the girls. I’ve been busy. You’re not leaving me much time to go out and meet anyone so I took the easy way out. I have needs, you know? Oh, sorry. That was insensitive. I guess you wouldn’t know. Things are going well with Dani.” Except for that fucking cousin of hers which was a problem still in need of a solution. He might’ve dealt with it by now had he not been distracted by Dru. “I took care of Connor’s video, didn’t I? I’m handling shit. Just calm down.”

Charles looked out the window for a moment folding his hands behind his back as he listened to his son drone on and on. Did he think he was stupid? He knew everything and everyone that entered one of his hotels where they stayed and went, he knew about Grant Johnson meeting with Jackson Devonshire the moment the reservation for a table was made, regardless he’d indulge in this game that Lex thought he was playing with him. “Anderson has proved to be more problematic than I would like. Perhaps you were right and I should have let your sister run on her own, you squandered your chances away years ago, but we are in the throws of it now the election. Now I have powerful friends in powerful places. I’m not above bribing a few to have your sister land out on top until we can find a solution to Anderson Kincaid. Nova is a blip and if she thinks Ryan is the prize to be won in this battle perhaps we let him fade off into obscurity. I know he is your friend but can’t you pick better ones, ones that won’t bring you or the family down with you? I already know your sister is going to want to file for divorce I would assume that when your loyalty is tested there you won’t be riding his coattails over your own flesh and blood and nephew and niece. It will hurt but I fully expect you to be on your sister’s side not his. Connor has been dealt with.” He said looking at Lex wondering if he understood the repercussions of turning on his sister in the middle of a possible looming divorce from Ryan. He saw the shock when he mentioned Connor.

“Not in that way what do you take me for a monster? I know the owner of a very lovely team in Ohio and he was more than happy to offer the Atlas Falls Ravens an offer they couldn’t refuse. The news should be breaking any minute now that he has been traded to the Levinston Mustangs for a second and third round pick. I’ve had about enough of his embarrassment from him and maybe this time he’ll learn to be more discrete in his indiscretions. As for you I was pretty sure it was the tenth floor.” Charles said looking at Lex in the chair for a moment while he walked back to the desk sitting on the edge there was another rumor he had heard from the bartender. It was one thing to stage a hooker on a bender or run down Skye that was warranted that protected the business fucking with the CEO of one of America’s top companies that brought him a profit down the line wasn’t the smart play. Especially not for a cheap piece of ass that was fucking three other men and if his son thought he wasn’t going to to put an end to this little thing with Dru he had another hard lesson he was going to learn. “Yes it’s going so well with her. I saw the pictures of her with her husband looking happily in love from Zach’s wedding. I told you to come here and visit her before she even was hired by Lowell and what did you say, I’m not ready dad.” Charles said the harsh reminder between them that he let that slip through his fingers. “Which whore was it? I think I would know if it was one of our girls. Are you sure it wasn’t the red head that is fucking three different men that we know of other than you, one I told you to stop with? She was on the same floor afterall with Jackson.”

Lex shifted in his seat and adjusted his tie. It felt like it was getting hotter in the office. What did he have this thermostat set at? The fact that he’d insinuated he would screw Whitney over in a divorce was insulting. There were a lot of unflattering adjectives he could’ve floated, most of which would be more or less true but if nothing else he was at least loyal. To those who deserved it anyway. His brother and sister, always. Still Ryan was also a brother to him and he was sure after all their history this would go down amicably. If it came to that, all Ryan really wanted was to keep ties to the kids and be free to openly see Nova. Making old Scrooge write a fat alimony check would be fun for him, though. “I’ll handle the divorce if it happens. Whitney knows I’ll be there for her but Ryan’s not out to take anyone to the cleaners. He’ll want joint custody of the kids, we can work out a visitation schedule, we’ll give him back the assets he brought to the marriage and a nice payout to boot and he’ll be fine. I’ll mediate, you sign the check when I tell you.” It was sad to give voice to the idea. It wasn’t just their marriage or the kids, he was being affected, too. What about the fact that he needed them? When Ryan got back he’d sit them down and have a talk with them. Ryan and Whitney were being selfish as fuck right now but maybe they’d snap out of it. Did his father have alcohol in here? Actually on second thought maybe he should keep his wits about him.

He was still reeling from this when his father brought up Connor. Did he really want an answer to what kind of monster he was? “Bro! I mean, Dad. Sir. That is completely unnecessary. I got rid of the video. Those overpriced PR people you hired got ahead of the story and put their spin on it. Connor’s in the clear. You don’t need to send him away. How’s it going to look if he leaves town during the campaign? The tape wasn’t even that good. Definitely not memorable. I’ll talk to him, make sure he understands.” Lex was starting to freak out a little. Ohio? Who goes to Ohio? It was probably worse than being dead. All for a sex tape? Like the one he helped Dru make? He not only made a sex tape, he was working with the very person he’d been told to stay away from. Suddenly his father moved closer, looming over him. “Those pictures were fake. You oughta be able to spot a fake smile. Trust me, Jackson and Dani are on the road to splitsville. I wasn’t ready before because I’d just found out she had a miscarriage. I found out I was a father and no longer a father all on the same day. It was a little much. I needed time to process. I’m pretty sure Whitney knew. She should’ve told me.” He looked at his watch. Was it right? Surely he’d been here longer than this. He tried to look shocked about Dru. Actually he was a little but only because he’d been so damn stupid to think he was flying under the radar. “Wait, Dru’s fucking Jackson Devonshire now? I definitely did not see them at the hotel. That place is going to get a reputation. You better nip that in the bud. Wow, I dodged a bullet with that one. I guess you were right about her. She’s probably got the syph or something anyway. Jackson can’t keep his hands off my sloppy seconds. I’m starting to think he’s got a thing for me.”

Charles looked at his son sweating like a rat caught in a cage but watched as his demeanor shifted. That was the one thing Ava had always told him Lex had a part of him, the darker part which was why he was the best at what he did for the family and conglomerate. It is what made him an impeccable lawyer to boot the ability to twist and deceive, to win. “I know you are loyal to your brother and sister but sometimes I think you also think Ryan is somehow included in that curve of loyalty. Do I wish it was different for your sister and Ryan of course I do your mother would be turning over in her grave at the thought of the divorce. But it is easier in this case to have your sister catapulted even more above Anderson, a working devoted mother amicably splitting from husband of several years. Get those single household votes in line. Perhaps if you and Ryan hadn’t continued to behave like spoiled frat boys over the years none of this would be happening but it is. As for your brother he needs a lesson and you know I am not above teaching any of you one every now and again. That tape was a disgrace to Connor himself and our dignity next time maybe he won’t fuck some washed up designer in a club where her ex is for the entire world to see.” Charles said looking at his eldest as both their phones buzzed and he looked at the headline briefly the trade was a done deal.

“As you can see it is done. If Connor wants to visit he can, perhaps when the time is right I can negotiate his return to Atlas Falls. Until then I think he will find Ohio fitting. I think unlike other people in this family he’ll understand. He won’t be tempted to get on my bad side again. No you weren’t ready hence why I covered for your ass with her at the hospital when your sister called me. Regardless, I think we can agree that Maggie was hardly worth all the trouble she caused. I still don’t have what I want, do I?” Charles said looking at his son he tried his best at the time to stay out of it. His son and Maggie were supposed to be nothing more than a fling but it wasn’t the best idea after your fiance at the time caught you fucking said mistress at your sister’s wedding to repeat the action the following day. He had buried the entire incident in the press at the time, Whitney begged him to so he had publicly as far as everyone was concerned Dani and Lex ended things amicably when it was the furthest thing from the truth. “Didn’t look fake to me by any means, regardless she certainly didn’t look like she was falling back to you in them. Can you blame her chasing after her own nanny? I had hoped that putting you in charge of the fundraiser meant you would be smarter this time. Clearly that was a mistake. So you’re telling me to my face if I had Franklin look at the footage from that floor I wouldn’t see you or Ms. Price cross paths?”

Lex had to fight not to roll his eyes to the comments about Ryan. Their father was literally the one that told her to marry Ryan and now he was acting like the problems were everyone else’s fault. Ryan was like a brother to him. His father had pushed them all together and the trio had bonded. His father didn’t even know about the wild nights the three of them had years ago. Or actually, he probably did. Whitney had stopped when Miles came along but he and Ryan had gone strong for several more years until his father stepped in and laid down the law about appearances with Whitney and Ryan in regards to their marriage. “So, Whitney’s divorce is a political stunt to attract votes? Got it. How do you suggest we explain that to Miles and Morgan? Grandpa decided he didn’t need daddy around anymore because he wasn’t attracting the right demographic? Why don’t you give them a chance, they’ve been on the outs before. Why do you have to meddle in everything?” This time around, he didn’t even care about the election beyond the extent necessary to keep his father off his back. He wasn’t sure if Whitney really wanted to run or she was doing it because it’s what their father wanted. Everything they did was wrapped up in his machinations. Him sleeping with Maggie back when Dani had the miscarriage? Another one of Chuck’s grand plans. “You paid Maggie to sleep with me. How is any of the fallout my fault? Dani should’ve told me she was pregnant. Whitney didn’t knock her up. What was she going to do? That was a dick move on both their parts. And that’s another thing, stop referring to them as ‘our girls’. They’re your girls. I’m not touching the B Agency with a ten foot pole. I have told you numerous times, I don’t want any part of that shit.”

He looked at his phone when the notification came in. “You’re kidding? You’re going to let him find out like this? I guess he was supposed to be shackled to someone boring like Dani, too? I am trying with her but she’s being stubborn. I’ll get her back and I won’t cheat on her. Or at least I’ll be more discreet. Funny, I don’t recall Whitney ever getting one of your lessons.” He typed a quick text to his brother telling him he’d call as soon as he left dad’s office. At least he’d get a vacation from this prick and him, Whit and the kids could always visit. However, the message he read loud and clear. It was about Connor’s screw up but he was also using Connor to make a fucking point about Dru. As if he needed another problem, it was becoming abundantly clear he’d have to have a talk with this Franklin asshole. The fact that his father paid these con artists to spy and he had to pay them on top of that to respect his privacy was extortion. “What’s with the interrogation? Jesus.” He ran a hand through his hair then smoothed it out. “I’m thinking. I had a few drinks that night.” He said when his father gave him an impatient look. “Ok, so yeah maybe I do remember seeing her. I mean, I thought it was a different night but I guess if you’re saying it was the same day, you would know. I saw her with Jackson actually. He was high as fuck, too. She asked me to come to their room and I thought Devonshire was acting like an animal as he does and she needed my help. But no, they tried to get me to party with them but I’m not about that life anymore. In an election year, too? Needless to say I was shocked. I gave them a stern lecture about me being the Governor’s son and I went back to my own room with my own hooker. Which I thought was on the seventh floor but I guess if you say we were on the same floor,” he shrugged. “Weirdly they had a camera in there so I don’t know what happened but I am not on that video.”

Charles almost punched his son in the face. The smartassness had to stop in his mind, but for now he’d just roll it out, it wasn’t like Walter was going to give him the Pub on a whim. Besides his daughters soon to be divorce from Ryan would be the thing to cement his legacy even further in the state, Ava would be smiling down from heaven at it God rest her soul. He loved his wife dearly and he had vowed a long time ago that meddling in his children’s lives was something that had to happen to protect what they had built, his wife understood that. “I’m sure you and Ryan can work out something to make the family look good. I have to meddle because it seems that none of you are up to par with the task of carrying on my legacy and this family’s good name. Whitney has never needed the reminder about who is in charge here of our family, seems to be the only ones questioning that as of late are you and your brother. That legacy just so happens to include the agency and I trust only you with that wasn’t it one of the reasons you claimed to let Dani go?” Charles finished glaring at his son and he almost cackled at him about how deflecting he was of the entire situation with Maggie. No wonder Dani wasn’t falling at his feet. Hard to accept him back when he refused to admit that he was the one carried on with Maggie. “I seem to remember instructing you to use Maggie for your own pleasure for a few nights not have a full blown affair with a fucking hooker. Yet you wonder why she didn’t tell you and now we’ll never know if she would have or not now don’t we? Be a man, admit you were wrong and maybe you’d make leeway with her instead of whatever it is you’ve been doing with her.”

He got up from the desk waving his hand for now he was tired of the entire back and forth but there was the matter of what Franklin had told him meaning he would have to look at the tape. The bit about Jackson being high though was interesting and taking Dru to a room piqued his interest. Frankly he didn’t care what Jackson did or who he fucked as long as it crushed his goddaughter’s heart and she went running back to his son. “It’s an interrogation because the last thing I fucking need this year is you involved in some cocked up scandal with Jackson Devonshire and the nanny that was a display for everyone in town and on her kness for you in your office, while we are building a hospital wing after your mother for fuck’s sake. I don’t care if he fucked her or whatever happened, what I care about is our name staying out of it. Now if him fucking her leads to Dani needing legal advice or someone to lean on.” Charles said, waving his hand at Lex for a moment as if for him to get in line and step it up. His son always had a soft spot for the bad girl, the ones that couldn’t be saved Maggie, Skye and now this fucking whore Dru. Any woman that was fucking three different men well now four was not worth his son’s time maybe if she had something he wanted of value. He moved back to the chair gripping his son’s shoulder. “I am sure you can be the concerned party with Danielle if needed in that case and not royally fuck it up again. Shouldn’t be too hard once she learns her husband is back to using drugs and fucking their nanny. Get Dru out of your system before I decide to remove her from the equation. She’s distracting you from what you told me you could get this time. Do I make myself perfectly clear?” Charles finished pushing down on his shoulder for good measure and waiting for an answer.

Lex felt a little of the tension ease when his father seemed to accept the story he gave about Dru; however, he’d be heading right down to the Crestwood to take care of this tape problem. And the Franklin problem. Any luck and Ryan would be back in town to meet him there. It never hurts to have backup in these situations. His father seemed to be controlling his temper well considering he’d seen that muscle in his temple twitching. That usually spelled trouble but he was showing restraint which made Lex realize that Dani still gave him a bargaining chip. Not Dani exactly but what she represented: the Fraiser Pub. It was comical that Walter thought his father considered him a friend all these years. He gritted his teeth when his father grabbed his shoulder, applying enough pressure to the pressure point there so he felt some pain and the promise of more. It had been his go to since he was a kid. To any casual observer it looked like a friendly, even affectionate, moment between father and son when it was really sending a message. Call him a pussy or weak or whatever but that shit hurt and he’d practically agree to anything to get out of this office. He was a fucking lawyer, he’d figure out how to talk his way out of it later. “I understand. Apologize for Maggie, be a shoulder to cry on. I’m focused on Dani, I am. Dru’s one of those non factors of yours. I fucking swear I’m not going to be involved in any scandal.” He thought about warning Whitney that their father was on the warpath and she better stop fucking around with Jon but he might need to use that for a distraction in the future. Dani Fraiser Devonshire, that last part making his stomach sour, was not the same milquetoast girl he’d once known.

Partially he was satisfied with the answer for now and he squeezed Lex’s shoulder for good measure releasing him. It was exhausting waiting for his children to step up to the plate almost as exhausting as it was to pretend to be Walter’s new best friend all these years, but the end game was always worth the price, Charles moved back around his desk pulling out his chair as he sat down. “Take care of it then or your brother in Ohio will not be the last thing that I need to take care of now that we both understand that there shouldn’t be any more roadblocks. Once Walter learns what we know let’s just say he will owe me, I can talk his ear about who to hand it over to and you will get the Pub. Do what you told me you would years ago when your mother hand picked Dani for you, get me that Pub. You can go now.” Charles said waving his hand off at Lex while his assistant came back in to hand him more documents he didn’t brother looking at his son while he heard the door shut.

**********

Pierre had hung up after the call with Tess much more excited about their plan and the upcoming meeting before arriving at the casino, which is where things would tip in their favor. He thought about it on the way down to this waiting towncar, the news playing the tape that he would give to Greer to air on the news, the widespread shock that would come and the amount of investors that would pull out. Natasha would move part of her company to BE Energy and DGI would sink into misfortune and they could sell it off, Lowell’s heirs would end up broke perhaps in the unemployment line if needed. A small taste of what he had gone through when it came to a prison sentence where he missed out on years with Greer, years he could never have back. Lowell’s family deserved to pay in a way so did Walter’s, it was why he had latched onto Dru Walter could have saved him testified for him, but instead chose to shut his mouth and let him rot behind bars. He waved to his driver inside the limousine while he looked into the mirror. “St. Christopher’s the employee entrance make it fast.”

He leaned back in the seat watching the houses and buildings pass by as they made their way through the mid afternoon traffic towards the hospital. Of course there were other ones in the city to go to but St. Christophers was hailed as simply the best. He tapped his foot in the car to the classical beats from the radio. He didn’t care much for hip hop or rock or whatever the young people were calling music nowadays and Agnes had a fondness for the classics. He looked at his phone message when Hsrvey connected him about the meeting asking if he needed to be there and typed back a quick reply absolutely not, he and Greer could and would benefit from what he had. Besides he didn’t need to see Harvey’s disappointed or disgusted face and when the car came to a stop he waited a few moments seeing who he needed to exit the hospital. He motioned for the driver to roll down the window as he looked at the handsome and very up and coming medical genius. “Dr. Bradshaw or should I call you by your real last name Dr. Beecher please get inside we have a lot to talk about.” He finished looking st the young man who reluctantly got into the car.

Jayden had just got out of a six hour surgery where he had removed a frontal lobe tumor. The board had watched the entire thing and knew they were weighing the investigation into David meaning he had to be perfect. Which of course he was when it came to the surgery the patient would recover hopefully flawless and he even saw board members pointing and whispering, David’s days would soon be numbered. He checked his phone to make sure he and Yasmine were still on for the casino opening. He was going to pick her up after he went home showered and got ready. He’d of course pulled out his best tuxedo the night before and was honestly looking forward to a night out with Yasmine by his side. The girl was the ultimate catch in his mind. Smart, beautiful, street smart and it didn’t hurt that she was Forbes Montgomery’s daughter that could come into use for him and his aspirations later. He was still hiding something from her and the rest of the town but both of his parents had requested that he lay low when he arrived it was one of the reasons he had invented his backstory and even went as far as to legally change his name on his medical license using his grandmother’s name on his dad’s side. Back where he came from he wanted to spread his wings on his own and not live in their coattails.

Should anyone have found out about the name change like the board it would be easy to explain that away as just that his parents were well known overseas he wanted to make a name for himself. He knew that he would eventually have to come clean to Yasmine and on the way out the door when one of the nurses approached him, he had to bite his lip and rebuff her with a firm no he really did like Yasmine Montgomery and he wasn’t about to throw that away for a nurse he fucked in a closet a few months back. He may of been a man whore back in the day but he knew that girls like Yasmine didn’t come around often, when the car pulled up and the window was rolled down he almost rolled his eyes at Pierre LeClerq, he knew he was he’d seen the swarmy ex convict enough through his childhood. When the door opened he took a look around the parking lot making sure there were no eyes watching them before stepping inside. “Hello Pierre I haven’t seen you in years, I think the last time was when you came to my parents like the snake you are slithering around. Whatever do I owe pleasure of you visiting me? I’m not even part of the company.” Jayden said, leaning back in his seat in the car while the door shut.

“I hear you are on the up and up here at St. Christopher’s even completing some of the best surgeries to date, good for you all that medical genius at work. Have you spoken to either of your parents recently? You do know that your father has been popping up in and out of town, visiting old friends, making more enemies. Your mother on the other hand has been waiting patiently. Have you spoken to your siblings yet?” Pierre said looking at Jayden move uncomfortably in his seat seeing how he hit a nerve with his siblings, Selina and Mason, the ones that Gloria left, he had to feel someway about them and from the looks of it, nothing good. He knew jealousy could be a motivator for any sibling that competed with the others for their parents affections. He also knew that Gloria’s biggest regret was leaving Selina and Mason. In particular Selina he had always observed and well when Gloria walked back into his siblings life the man before him would have to deal with his resentment to his siblings. “I did almost run into them the other day at your brother’s wedding. Did you look at his picture in the papers? I know your mother was there in the shadows, your father too, almost like they are replacing you already or maybe you were the replacement that they always wanted. Your mother in particular, she’s not offering you anything at BA now is she?”

He filled up a glass of brandy to hand it to Jayden in the car seeing him swirling his drink and knowing that he was getting to him clearly Jayden was content in his bubble not know about his parents lurking around Atlas Falls. He looked over at him in the seat taking a drink out of his own glass while he knew the next part was how he needed to get Jayden to do his bidding. “Yasmine is such a lovely girl, her father however I do have to remember if he even remembers you. Gloria was pregnant the last time I think she and Forbes really talked with you of course. Your mother is a smart woman, your father as well, have you thought about how either of them will react to the news you are dating her? On the upside seeing how disappointed your mother was in the last few choices in partners for your siblings, perhaps Yasmine will be a step up.” He said snidely seeing the scowl pass on Jayden’s face he was going to get a rile out of him when it came to the entire situation enough that he would do what he asked to Brenda Kincaid and frame David in the process, unfortunately David was just a means to an end. “Now I think I can help you with that. Turn an ear to your mother but I need you to do something for me. Something that could impact your career and have long term ramifications, kill your little problem with David in the process. Imagine you as Chief of Staff Yasime by your side, your mother and father shutting their mouth for the most part at the thought of you taking an ex-stripper.”

Jayden had been wondering what it was that Pierre wanted. He was always such a leech growing up when it came to him being around his parents. He’d seen the pictures in the paper; he didn’t know Mason well enough to actually get an invite to his wedding even as a doctor at the hospital. Which was fine with him, honestly he hadn’t really processed how it would go down later if and when he was discovered how his siblings would react to him. He’d thought about them over the years and knew that his jealousy over them was a dead give away by the way he gripped his glass. Sometimes his mother would reminisce about her past in Atlas Falls and it made him wonder if she wanted him because she loved him and their father or because she had replaced the children she left behind. He would never be as clever as his older sister Selina or as dapper as his gay brother but he had his own brilliance when it came to his career with medicine. He took a drink of the brandy in his glass for a moment thinking over everything that Pierre had said, the self loathing almost rising instantly he’d show everyone and then his ears perked a bit when he mentioned his career and also Yasmine.

“Yasmine is a lovely girl and be careful Pierre she’s no longer a stripper she’s Forbes’s daughter meaning she has some clout to her name and her past is just that the past. She’s moved on from it, runs her own dance studio for underprivileged kids in her old neighborhood, not the scandal I think you think it is. I can handle my mother and father.” Jayden said looking over at him not quite sure if he was even believing his words or not when it came to handling his parents. He knew deep down both of them would have a ton of reservations when it came to a woman like Yasmine regardless of the fact that she was Forbes’ daughter or not when it came to her past. Her past was something that he knew they would frown upon their neurosurgeon son dating a woman that used to take her clothes off on a pole. His mother would never but then his mind drifted off to David. David was an egomaniac who had been handed his position because Ophelia had put in a good word for him not based on merit. “As for my career it’s soaring at the highest level that it can be right now and nothing will derail that. David Rhodes isn’t fit to run a department let alone an entire hospital so again what do you want and what does David have to do with it?” He asked looking at Pierre and then out the window seeing his phone buzz with a text from his mother that tonight her plan was going into action.

“Selina is beautiful and cunning fooled the likes of Chauncey Devonshire enough to win his daughter over to her in court, your white niece that is. Mason is a successful lawyer married to one of the noblest cops in town, they’re basically town pariahs from your mother’s death years ago of course, poor Selina and Mason while all those people lied to their faces. Imagine how they will feel when they find out they got you as a brother, fireworks that is what.” Pierre said looking out the window at the weather, the clouds rolling in and a slight chill passed over him. Hopefully most of that would pass or maybe not the weather was always so unpredictable at times in Atlas Falls the swells of storms could cause havoc and he twirled the ice for a bit before he spoke again. “I know you had to ask yourself that growing up from time to time how much different your life would have been if Gloria had stayed, though I doubt Tony would have rolled over and welcomed you as his son, he knew your momma was fucking your dad for years. Your mother despises Forbes. How do you think this will pan out exactly?”

He leaned forward in the seat getting to the other part of his visit, the part about David, Jayden didn’t know that he was actually here to help out Dru he was after all a man of his word. She’d gotten her revenge on her siblings but her parents. If he helped push Brenda to an early grave well, it would kill two birds with one stone. What he had gathered from his newest protege was simple: she cared for Walter while she seemed to have more hatred for Brenda. “I need a prescription filled for a patient that is under David’s care, she is in need of a liver transplant and well she’s just not deserving of receiving that liver. The local town drunk is not such a well kept secret that she thinks it is, she has plenty of enemies. I simply want you to fill out her current medication with something that makes her appear more drunk than she normally would be. What she does from there of course would be up to her. I have old friends on the hospital board and you’ve said David has been sloppy, you have access to his medical files on his patients it would be a simple call to the pharmacy that Brenda uses. If you do this for me I can guarantee you that this little investigation into David will result in him losing that precious position at this hospital. You take over as the man that you seem to think you are to everyone.” He finished looking at Jayden’s at first shocked expression as the young doctor thought over the offer in his head.

Jayden had to wonder if what he was saying about his siblings was true or not if they would swarm to their mother like Pierre liked to think they would. He wondered how they would react to him; they apparently had accepted Tony’s son with Jamal; why would he be so much different in that regard? He had to grit his teeth when he mentioned how his parents had gotten together so he’d have to talk to them. It wasn’t like he asked to be born into some long term tumultuous affair that they had behind Tony’s back. It was better than the bullshit his mom would spoon feed him growing up that they were star crossed lovers. “You’re boring me Pierre with your riddles about my siblings and myself I’m sure they’ll be understanding. As for my parents, I’ll tell them about Yasmine when I am ready. I’m sure they’ll appreciate the fact that she was rising up from the ashes before her father stepped in and besides my mother hates the Devonshire’s. Me swooping into lure Yasmine from Rory well that’s just icing for me regardless of her being a Montgomery.” He said, taking a sip of his drink.

“You are well informed about the hospital aren’t you? David is under investigation for abuse of power so far to my understanding it’s not looking too good for him in that entire situation with Belle Devonshire. He was treating her father even though it wasn’t his specialty Lowell dying from a stroke because of it. He was Belle’s boss, a complete abuse of power plus the way she just quit her job before the Summit. Lots of questions and you are right. I want that position.” Jayden said considering his offer he frankly didn’t know Brenda Kincaid but he did know that she was an ex-alcoholic or at least perhaps even still one. He didn’t know how David had managed to put her name on the list for being a transplant recipient. Did she really deserve to be on that list? It would be easy to do this to send David off to wherever he came from and ruin his career and it wasn’t like Pierre needed to twist his arm. “So you want me to place a call for her to have a barbiturate? That is what you are saying based on her currently being on dialysis and other symptoms with her liver failure. I do this, how in the hell do I know she’s not going to read the label and know something is up and David didn’t fill it? I like risks I take them, every time I pull off my surgeries but I need a little more than just you trying to blackmail me.”

Pierre nodded at him, well played indeed but he already knew that when he looked at Jayden and he placed his glass down. The conversation and the company if he was honest waning on him. He checked his watch and he was running out of time for this to work and either they could sit here and go over schematics or not. “The pharmacy tech that is on today where Brenda fills her medication Sally has already been taken care of and will do it, people have secrets and she was willing to keep hers. Her mother has a pain killer addiction and she’s been taking from the pharmacy for years to supply it, there is one barbiturate that looks like the current medication Brenda takes. She is just waiting for a call from Dr. Rhodes. Now are you in or do I need to go find someone else?” Pierre asked, handing Jayden the burner phone, the number already in for him to call. He leaned back in his chair folding his arms while he looked at Gloria’s youngest son.

Jayden held the phone in his hand and waited a few moments before he hit  send on the call, waiting a few moments while the girl on the other line picked up. “Hello Sally this is Dr. Rhodes I am calling in a prescription for Brenda Kincaid. Lorazepam the regular dosage, yes the medical license number is still the same and prescription number.” Jayden paused for a moment while Pierre handed him one of David’s prescription pads. “897652 she really does need this filled today. Thank you Sally.” He hung up looking at Pierre nodding at him. He didn’t need to know the fine details like which label they would switch and he saw the driver open his door signaling that their meeting was over and he simply got out of the car starting his own in the parking lot. He didn’t say anything else while he watched the driver close the door and Pierre rolled away back to the shadows. For a moment he debated if he was wrong or right for being a part of what he just did but then decided it didn’t matter he wanted that position as chief of staff the costs be damned while he turned and made his way to his parked car.

**********

Jackie made her way up to the Sterling Condos once reaching the elevator she pressed the penthouse floor. Honestly she was trying to make peace with Max and reach out to her about lashing out at her family lately. She understood that she was still apprehensive about Bliss and Belle but that was not what Lowell wanted. Lowell had wanted her to take his other girls on and she had decided that she would follow his Las wishes. Which meant that she was going to navigate her own daughter accepting that had had sisters which meant that she had to quit attacking them.  She needed to focus on her own career and her family that was expanding with Sebastian. She was two weeks away from her due date, it was concerning that Max wouldn’t even let her plan a baby shower for her and Sebastian. She knew that Sebastian’s mother was in town and had overheard that Max refused to let her stay with them or Regina had refused either way her daughter needed to come to terms with the fact that Regina was going to be a part of her life. Her entire life was going to change when her son was born and she and Sebastian needed to decide what they were going to do.

She didn’t have to be staying home to raise a child; she and Sebastian could agree to that and no one expected her to just give up her career. But she expected some sense of duty or even love for the unborn child whereas Max was treating it as indifferent as if her son was a business transaction. It alarmed her a bit had she and Lowell not stepped in to let her know that it was alright to want both but she also knew that her only daughter had always been spoiled was a good word for it, vain even that she wanted attention on her. She and Lowell had indulged her too much; she knew that was true, Max had never really had any consequences and had always been the center of their attention as far as being their only girl. Once she reached the door to the penthouse she softly knocked on the door waiting a few moments while she heard feet on the other side and smiled as she saw Max open it, welcoming her inside. She peered around hoping to see Sebastian and frowned a bit when she didn’t see him. “Where is Sebastian?” Jackie asked, taking off her coat to hang it on the rack.

Max had been going over every single detail for the opening and even told Sebastian that she would be ready in a few hours. She was going to spend some time with her mother. Honestly she had wanted to get a stylist for the evening to show off her figure and they had come through on her gown but her hair and makeup she had been shocked when her mother had insisted that she be the one to help her. She was going to look flawless for this event. The eyes would be on her and the casino, hell Ronan and Gia could walk into the background along with her sister and Hunter. She decided that she could learn to bite her tongue better where that was concerned and play nice because it was required of her for Belle’s scheme with Tess, it didn’t mean that she couldn’t at least think those thoughts though. She felt the baby kick as she made her way to the door silently hoping that he would wait to make his entrance when he was due and not ruin her night at the opening. Sebastian had gone to see his mother at the hotel and she had to grit her teeth. That woman was insufferable, maybe even worse than Brenda was and she put up with Brenda for years on end. She opened the door looking at her mother as she came in and walked back to the kitchen taking the bottle of sparkling water on the counter taking a sip while her mother got settled.

“He’s with Regina for a lite dinner and a drink before the opening. Honestly, better him than me. She’s been trying to force us to pick some date for the wedding. Sebastian finished the nursery a few days ago. I think you will approve of it being a lovely pale blue and I did look at some references from the agency you sent over. As long as they have a background check I am sure whoever you and Sebastian pick will be fine.” Max said seeing her mother looking at her and she resisted the urge to roll her eyes at her own mother she had enough enemies within her own family as of late. She reached into the fridge taking a bottle of water out for her mom as well while she gave her the bottle. She loved her mother dearly and she knew that she had to at least chill it down with her about the baby. “We’ve narrowed down a name. I know it may shock you but I have been thinking about a name, maybe not to the lengths that Jackson or Chauncey did. I think we are going to go with Enrique Lowell Devonshire Navarro, though Regina thinks he really should just be Navarro. I wanted to go with Lowell Enrique but I was overridden.” Max said seeing her mother’s eyes light up just slightly at the name.

Jackie made her way into the kitchen with Max taking water when her daughter handed it to her in order for them to share a drink before she started on her hair. She had her dress brought over the night before with Max’s dress. She loved her daughter and her heart swelled at the mention that she and Sebastian had settled on Lowell’s name as part of their son’s name. It was a way for her daughter to honor her late father and maybe that was her way of grieving and accepting his death. “I would love to see the nursery while I am here. I had always assumed that you and Sebastian were remodeling the Thorpe farm and the nursery would be there but perhaps that wasn’t exactly done.” Jackie said seeing that the mere mention of the old farmhouse made her daughter’s skin crawl. It wasn’t Max’s fault they had raised her in excess and the Thorpe farm wasn’t exactly that but Sebastian had vision and it seemed that only Chauncey had decided to live in the mansion. She respected Jackson had his own house, that Bliss had hers, that Rory had decided on a posh upscale condo at the moment for himself. It was Max’s choice where she made her home too.

“I know you weren’t too keen on that idea but I can see the benefits of being away from the hustle of downtown. Maybe that is what Sebastian is looking for. Should you both decide here on the penthouse as well I am sure he will come around to that as well. As for the nanny, you can take time off when Enrique is here Max. Your position at DGI will still be there, the company will still be there after you’ve taken a moment.” She said softly and saw Max glare at her. She really wished that she would take time for herself to bond with the baby when it was time. She took a sip from the bottle of water before she sat it down and reached out grabbing Max’s hand while she led her up the stairs so they could start getting ready for the party. She paused at the nursery door, the baby blues on the walls, the fully ready crib and the rocker in the room, Sebastian was ready but was her daughter. Once they had made it into the bedroom she waited a moment while Max took a seat at the vanity and she picked up the brush to start working on her hair. “It looked lovely. I am sure he will be very comfortable there. I was thinking we could do a french twist to show off that neck and cheekbones. Do you remember when I would do your hair when you were younger?”

Between Regina insisting that she and Sebastian pick a date and then everyone pestering her about the old Thorpe farm Max felt like she could scream. On what planet did anyone that knew her, would think that she was going to live on a damned farm with cows or whatever the hell they had on there? She could barely tell you what cows ate but she knew that Sebastian wanted that farm for the land to start a branch of his vineyard here in the states. She had leaned on the doorway to the nursery Sebastian and the designer they had hired had impeccable taste and she had a small input in it when they had thrown some swatches at her. In truth it would be perfect of their son and the rocker looked comfortable enough but she didn’t plan on breastfeeding, she didn’t think that she would have time and as they made their way into the master suit and she sat in the vanity she looked at her mother in the mirror. Yes her mother had always been the one to help put her together before a dance recital or beauty pageants, proms hell her wedding to Hunter as well this time was no different. She closed her eyes for a moment feeling the brush glide through her hair and she was transported back to when she was a little girl and it was just her and Jackie.

“It’s very sweet that everyone is so concerned by what I am going to do once the baby comes I have every intention of returning back to work as soon as I can. Dad respected that he even told me it was perfectly fine for me to want to do that. I’m definitely not Bliss or Dani in that regard in not going to stay home for months on end.” Max said looking good at her mother brushing her hair while she picked up the moisturizer in front of her applying to her skin. It was always smooth, something that she had always taken care of her skin and she also attributed that to her mother’s flawless routine that she had adopted over the years, she looked much better than most of the women in town. She eyed her dress on the hook the big reveal would be when she put it on all eyes would be on her if Dru Price could show off then she could too. “I do remember we would always make a girls spa day of it when it came to things, you would make sure I was pristine. We would go shopping the day before, a lovely spa that morning and you’d make sure I was the belle of the ball. I find it odd that he named her Belle like she is some princess from a fairytale.” Max said, slighting her own sister to her mother and she got a cautious look. “Oh please not you too.”

Jackie stopped brushing Max’s hair the moment that she slighted Belle, had she perpetuated this with her to take jabs at her name? He tugged on the hair while she moved it to the bun position wondering if Lowell had any input on Belle’s name, she thought not because Belle had gone to the Archibald’s. “I think we all have a reason to be a little concerned you are going to have a son, you and Sebastian have yet to hammer out what you guys are actually going to do going forward so yes I am concerned. You both need to have a plan and I am happy to help out as needed. I loved doing it for the twins, I am sure Regina is wanting to help as well now I know you may not have gotten off to a good start with her. But she is also his grandmother. Surely we can all work something out.” Jackie said, pulling the hair through the pony tail holder and then fluffing it a bit to start the rest while she looked at Max again in the mirror. “Have you come to a conclusion about what you and Sebastian are thinking for the wedding? Not an actual date or anything but I would like to start preparing at least a location if you had one in mind. Perhaps something different than your marriage to Hunter.” She used some hairspray to keep that part in place while she saw Max reach for some eyeshadow to start her eye and she began to twist the hair.

“You need to be nicer to Isabelle. I don’t think your father had any say in her name. She was born and then Tess simply gave her to the Archibalds, he had no input and he didn’t even know she existed. Arguing with her constantly I know you think is something you need to do to prove you are the only and favorite girl of your father’s but he had so much love for you all Max he wanted all his girls to get along and become close, he wanted you all to be a real family.” Jackie said admiring the bun while she finished the twist and began to place the bobby pins into her daughter’s hair, hoping that she was getting through to her on everything that she was feeling and experiencing with Bliss and Belle. It had been the one thing that Lowell asked her to watch over all his children which so happened to include his children with Tess, she thought of Bliss as her own and Belle she was warming up to. If her children could see her accepting both of them then they could accept Belle and her place in the family as well they could mend those fences. “I want you to at least try and work with them and the outline that your father had at the company he had reasons for doing what he did and where he placed you all. I know it is hard but you will always be my only daughter Max, they aren’t taking your place.” She said looking at her daughter in the mirror.

Max was working her foundation into her skin, applying her eyelashes and then working on her smoky eye to match her dress as she looked at her mother. She wasn’t going to settle down on a location for the wedding, she wasn’t going to marry Sebastian he hadn’t even asked her it was something that Regina was forcing onto him and now her. Why did they have to be married? Why couldn’t things just stay the way they were? She had no desire to be married again at least even in her crazy relationship with Philip he got that. “I am perfectly content to have the baby and things stay the same between myself and Sebastian there is no need to set a date or venue he hasn’t even asked me and if he did I think he would know that I would say no to the idea. Regina wants me to marry him for tradition. I’ve been married before but it didn’t suit me and before you start on this notion that everyone has to be married to have kids. I will have you know there are plenty of long term couples that are perfectly content to raise children together without the confines of a ring on their finger and stupid marriage vows. My son doesn’t have to change that and Regina should just be glad I’m not just making him Enrique Devonshire and I conceded Navarro.” Max finished as she buffed out the smokey eyes and then applied her lashes seeing her mother’s mouth hanging open at her in the mirror. God now they could all move on from this silly notion that she was going to be barefoot, pregnant and married.

She placed the eye shadow brush back into the gold cup on her vanity while she reached for the dark red lipstick applying it with ease. She nearly snorted at her mother defending Belle to her for now she’d go along with their little scheme on Tess because it was the only plan they had. Getting up from her vanity she took her dress going into the bathroom on suite while she slipped into the dress looking at herself in the mirror. It was perfect hugging her body in all the right places and she shimmied into the dress feeling the baby kick while she placed her hand there, no contractions she was not giving birth at the opening, no way in hell. “Isabelle needs to mind her own business and stay out of my way just like Bliss does, I really had hoped you would have had my side mother in all this. First Bliss comes to town taking over my entire life Hunter, my place with dad and then Belle comes along and tries to become a younger version of me?” She said slipping on her heels and stepping out of the suite and seeing the shock on her mother’s face. She didn’t care how much skin she was showing or if it was appropriate she was going to flaunt it. “I doubt eyes will be on either of them don’t you think?” Max asked, looking into the mirror.

Jackie watched as her daughter finished her eyes and makeup before heading into the room to change into her gown. Frankly, she was still trying to come to terms with how stubborn Max was behaving and she hoped that Max came to her senses before it cost her someone like Sebastian who she was very fond of. She had no idea that Max felt that strongly about marrying again but she did understand where her daughter was coming from with it, perhaps she had her fill of marriage after Hunter and realized it didn’t work for her. She wrung her hands for a bit at the thought surely Max and Sebastian could come to an agreement and even be happy without the confines of a marriage or a proposal? Regina would have to come to terms with that for their mutual grandson and perhaps it was time that she and the other woman sat down and talked about it. Pressuring her daughter so soon after her father’s death was not going to sway Max to her side. As for her sisters Jackie felt that perhaps they were all turning a corner uniting at the company or at least she hoped they were and she did hope that Max came around.

When she saw what Max was wearing she had to do a double take. It left hardly anything to the imagination and was hardly appropriate for the event. She had no idea why Max thought that wearing it was appropriate or that she was making a good decision. “That is what you are wearing? I didn’t realize that you were that ready for the entire town to see everything.” Jackie managed to get out the shock finally wearing off, her daughter was beautiful there was no doubt about that but she simply looked like Dru Price from the Summit function and it screamed a desperate cry for attention to her very pregnant body. Shouldn’t that be something that only Sebastian got to see and cherish. Regardless it was Max’s choice on the gown and there was little to no time to go find something more appropriate for the occasion. She was simply baffled as she saw the look of pure satisfaction on her daughter’s face at the dress.

Honestly she knew that her mother would flip out about the dress, that’s what she was banking on that everyone would look at her and talk. Talk about her and her body, forget the baby that was just something that she would have to get used to but in this case she wanted eyes on her. She was embracing her natural beauty and that so happened to include her stomach that she hated she was going to go back to her diet and regime as soon as the baby came. She wanted her body back but for now she was willing to embrace it if it meant that all the eyes at the party would be on her. She looked in the mirror looking at her mother and nodded while she made sure that every single hair was in place as well as her makeup was perfect. She was Maximilla Devonshire and it was about damn time that the entire town remembered that. “Jackson’s nanny is not the only one that can wear something risque. Shouldn’t it be on a Devonshire this time not some wanna be nobody?” Max asked, turning in the mirror looking at her mother and then the clock on the wall.

Her mother needed to get ready and then they would be ready to get to the hotel to pick up Sebastian and Regina and she went to her mother’s dress on the rack, opening it to look at the gown. For her mother it was bold not like something that she would have worn when her father was alive for sure. It was almost like her mother was coming out as well and for a split second she wondered if her mother’s dress would be the talk of the party over her own outfit and then quickly dismissed it she had no reason for her to be jealous over her mother. “You are going to be gorgeous tonight too. It is time for this town to remember who we are. The summit of course was a step that way but this mother will catapult us even more.” She watched as her mother went into the room to change while she looked at herself again this was going to be her night and nothing and no one was stopping her.

**********

Greer briskly walked into the Rawlings as the cold air of a December in Atlas Falls startled her. Call her crazy but before she headed to the casino opening she wanted some truffle french fries. Her cravings had gotten extreme and she wasn’t going to stop until she had The Rawlings french fries. It was almost a new year full of new opportunities. Rubbing her belly she’d be married, living a boring life with Brock this time next year. That scared her because could she be the wife Brock needed? She needed him to be the father to her baby and he needed a wife. Someone who loved him so much that he never left their side. Unfortunately she’d come to terms with the fact that Chauncey didn’t love her the way she deserved and Brock did. He treated her as if she wasn’t less than she was more. That made her feel alive and honestly it made her know which way to go. As she walked inside and was seated at a table she saw Chauncey was sitting drinking alone. Where was the lovely wife? Rolling her eyes she ignored him and truly felt like what she was doing was right. What she had done was the move to secure happiness for her child.

The waitress returned with her decaf tea and a glass of water. Squeezing the lemon in the water she looked up and saw the towering man before her. What did he want? “Please I’m not giving Maddie any advice so you can go. I didn’t mean to have an influence on your daughter. In fact I’ll do you a favor Chauncey, I’ll tell her to stop calling me completely upset that you are such an asshole to her. You win, I’m out of your life just like you want. However I can’t help but notice where’s the lovely wife? More and more Chauncey Devonshire is looking lonely. Poor unfortunate soul. Waiter can I get my order to go and please more truffle on my fries than last time.” She saw him looking confused at her.

Chauncey had left the house early to meet with a general for one of the weapons contracts his father always mentioned even the weekends couldn’t wait for work. His mother was bustling about over to his sister to get her ready and he had left Natasha at the mansion to get herself ready as well. They had been discussing Madeline lately, Natasha actually thought he was going to consider sending his daughter off to boarding school after the incident with the coffee that wasn’t going to happen. Madeline was a lot of things spoiled and entitled being two of her strongest characteristics but she was also his daughter and he wasn’t going to be off sending her to a boarding school of Natasha’s choosing, now if she wanted to go that was an entirely different matter. She had gone to see Logan’s family for a week after the incident at Mason’s wedding and she seemed in better spirits than when she left. He and Natasha had carried on of course but he seemed to be getting bored with her or bored with the entire arrangement so running into Greer was something that he couldn’t help but smile about. He sat down at the bar ordering a gin and tonic for a moment while he looked over at her.

“I just needed a moment before the casino opening and saw you over here and I thought I would come by to apologize about the other day at the wedding. Maddie is starting to test her boundaries at home which seems to include dragging you into the middle of that. Truffle on fries is quite the combination made for kings not paupers. Logan liked those when she was pregnant too.” Chauncey said, reaching for his glass on the counter and taking a si, Logan had liked the same on her fries. Coincidences he supposed women could have any cravings though he slightly smiled at it, at one point he had thought that Greer was pregnant with his child the dates seemed to line up after their one night over Valentine’s day weekend. Then again she insisted that it was Brock’s baby and had chosen to stay with him over coming to him hell he even thought he had seen a glimpse of her at his wedding to Natasha. “She is getting ready at home. We are meeting at DGI for some last minute deal with BA Energy, I received an email this morning about it. If I seem to remember you were the one that cut me out first Greer it was not the other way around. I was angry when you revealed everything to my family. But you came to me when Brock’s family ousted you at your own engagement and then left again.” Chauncey finished looking over at her.

Greer scoffed as she looked at him holding up her hands as she shook her head. “You are joking, correct? That’s not how I remember events. Correct I told your family because we were caught and if I didn’t then your father wouldn’t have trusted you to keep you at DGI. You scrutinize me for revealing the truth when I’m the reason you are still at DGI. By flipping on me it gave your father reason to keep you after the betrayal. So get mad at me all you want but I did you a favor even if you don’t see it. Secondly I thought after Valentine’s day we turned a page that we couldn’t deny each other and you ended it. You pushed me away Chauncey so don’t pretend that it was me. I went back to Brock and that’s how we are here. Please don’t try to rewrite history every step I’ve made after you pushed me away is a reaction to your actions. You didn’t want me anymore and married the one woman I hate most in the world. So tell me am I supposed to sit back and mourn you? Did you check on me? Did you look at me? Did you notice I was hurting? So please don’t place whatever you are dealing with your daughter and wife on me. I’m sick of it. You play nice with me when we are alone and yet you treat me like trash when we are around others. If my company isn’t to your liking, you are more than welcome to leave.” She said with a coyness. When he mentioned Logan like truffles on her fries she gritted her teeth while pregnant. Was that a sign he knew something?

“I cut my losses and when I can’t have what I want I make lemonade out of lemons. I hope you and Natasha are happy, truly Chauncey. If she is your forever then you deserve to be happy. To be honest with you, that’s all I ever want. But I don’t need to be stressed at this point so please if you are here to argue any points of the past I can’t. I’m thinking about my child and you aren’t conducive to that. You hurt me and you make me feel unloved and unwanted because you threw me away. You let me go so please stop it. Stop trying to guilt me when you gave up on us. Jackson fought for Dani and that is the least I can say about your brother. He didn’t just give up on her and you did! You ran for the easy way! You want to know why Lowell didn’t pat you on the head and give you the kingdom? You don’t do the hard thing Chauncey! I was the hard thing and unfortunately losing that baby didn’t stop him from seeing Natasha wasn’t the right thing. Lowell liked me even at my nastiest and most people do because I’m unrelentless and a phenom. I’m the alpha and fucking omega. I’m the one woman who will challenge you in ways you can never be challenged by another. Other women will catch your eye because you are a man but I am your equal and by marrying that scallywag you showed me you aren’t my equal. My soulmate would never reduce me to secondary to that woman! You have crossed all the lines and that’s a sweet story about Logan but I’m French darling and truffles on fries was ours first. So I don’t think our craving shows that we are nothing but rich girls. Not some cosmic coincidence for you to talk or grace me with your overly inflated presence. Good day Chauncey.” Greer flipped her hair as she looked at him.

Maybe she was partially right and he didn’t expect a woman like Greer to wait in the wind but he had other obligations. He needed to get back on top at DGI and chasing the woman that outed your first coop was easily not the way to go. So he did settle with Natasha in a way merging three two families after his brother had taken SandStar; it was a win-win plus he signed a prenuptial with her before the wedding. He thought about that night on Valentine’s day a lot where he and Greer made love in the hotel and he had offered her what he was able at the time. He had to marry Natasha for DGI to secure his place not that it did any good and maybe she was right about that but it was worth a shot, he and Natasha had an agreement. “I gave you the option to stay with me and you didn’t agree to my terms, I had to lay low with everything going on with my father. Besides it seemed like you moved on to Brock so quickly my head spun and you brought him to the DGI party. What was I supposed to think? I thought maybe after Jackson married Dani and I learned that you didn’t push Natasha we could try again so when you came to me of course I cared I thought you would stay and we would work something out down the line.” Chauncey said, biting his lip for a moment before taking a sip of his drink, his mind wandering to what she was saying which he knew was true but if she loved him shouldn’t she have known how far he would go for DGI? He had to crinkle up his nose for a bit at her when she mentioned his brother though they were trying to get along. He was not Jackson, he didn’t slum.

“I came over here to apologize to you about the other night. Apparently I shouldn’t have done that. You act like I’m in love with Natasha, she provides a means to an end for me at DGI I had to marry her for the company. You wanted a man like Jackson, you should have chased him from the get go. I’m not my baby brother whipped by a Fraiser of all people. Then again maybe that is what you are now whipped by poor Brock Fraiser. I’m surprised he could afford the ring or did he have to borrow money from you?” Chauncey said his face flashing hot at her she did it all the time at least there was passion there with Greer. There wasn’t really that spark working with  Natasha outside of the bedroom and that was why he was growing tired of her, he and Natasha had really nothing in common and he certainly didn’t love her. He still needed her at least until this business with Tess was over with and then when the time was right if it all went to plan then he could make a move to out his brother. “I didn’t come over here to fight with you. What if I told you I made an error in judgment when I married Natasha thinking it was in the best interests but for now I have to stay until this entire business with Tess is over with? What if I told you that I don’t feel the flame I did with you with Natasha would that even matter to you, you’re with Brock pregnant either his child and going to marry him. What difference would any of that make?” Chauncey finished for the first time at least trying to be honest with her.

For the first time in a long time Chauncey wasn’t speaking around his feelings. It just was too late at the moment. Gulping she knew if she told him right now he would hate her. She just wasn’t sure what to do. “We both made errors.” She leaned in and touched his hand. “I should have tried to figure out a way to get us both out of that mess. I should have had a contingency to figure out how to fix your relationship with me and DGI. I knew you had to choose and I wouldn’t be it. I just thought that we were something more. Chauncey we can’t have this conversation because it’s not real. I have a life and you do as well. You married her and you left me. I went to Brock because he honestly made me feel like I was special. I wasn’t trash and left behind. You just abandoned me and made me feel worthless. Every man I loved leaves me from my daddy on up. Zerick, and now you so I just don’t know what you want from me. You will never accept this child as anything but a Fraiser and I made a bed and I’m lying in it. I have laid in that bed for months and days. I don’t know what this is doing but it hurts me. Now you want me? After your failed arranged marriage falls apart. Yeah Chauncey that’s how a girl wants to be wooed and loved. You don’t love me, you love the idea of me. Someone so ferocious and equally hard as you. But I still need love and I thought that you really did love me.” Greer said as she pulled her hand back.

“I just want you to know it would have made all the difference in the world. I would have told you that.” She paused as the words were right at the tip of her tongue. “I would have told you how much I missed our time together. I would have a vacation planned for us in the Maldives. Taken you to my favorite tailor in the south of France. Given you all I could but we can’t even admit that we are more to each other so why? Why do you keep doing this to me? You are a very selfish man. I came to you at your father’s funeral and begged. I begged you for a chance and you still turned me away. When will you see I was all in for you. I sacrificed us for your love of DGI. So whatever is next isn’t on me Chauncey. It’s on you.” Grabbing her purse knowing that she had to do this for her baby. “Please inform Maddie that I don’t wish to see her nor will I be reporting on your family anymore. Me personally. I need a break from this whatever this is. Our baby deserves a family.”

Chauncey knew he was selling himself out to Greer at this very moment telling her things he had only thought about in his head. She had to know that yes he married Natasha and at the time thought it was the best thing for them to do in order to save DGI. Then she fell down the stairs and he had been so blindsided at the thought of Greer pushing her that he didn’t even think it through, until it was too late and he went to track her down only to find her with Anderson he went through with the wedding because too much was at stake to not go through with it. “I had no choice Greer. I was on the outs with my father and I thought if I could just marry Natasha to solidify our alliance with her company he would reward me and look how to shit that turned out? He handed the entire thing over to fucking Jackson of all people, I couldn’t exactly divorce her even when I found out that baby was possibly not mine while my father had literally just died. One more thing for DGI to worry about Greer was my maybe impending divorce if you must know she’s cold and callous at least with you there was some sort of warmth there. Some sort of understanding you get me in ways she doesn’t or I used to think that you did.” Chauncey said, picking up his drink and taking a long swig before placing it back down on the counter.

He almost spit out his drink when she hinted that he couldn’t love Brock’s baby as his own. She was completely right there was no way in hell he was ever going to put up raising Fraiser scraps. The family already had enough of those with his nephew and niece, as cute as they were he’d never take them in, that was what Jackson chose. The last woman he loved and fell in love with died giving birth to his only child, then there was Selina who he knew didn’t love him back like that or in that way. “Is that what you really think that I didn’t love you? I let my family hate me for almost an entire year left and right so they wouldn’t go after you. I went along with this SandStar thing with Natasha for you so that when the time is right I can oust Jackson from his comfy ass seat that he stole from me. I had it all cooked up and arranged with Natasha, I’d help her get SandStar back, we’d amicable divorce when the time was right and then marry you. I offered you that when you came to me, went back to Brock and now it’s his baby not mine. But you’re right I’m not going to be raising a Fraiser. I’m just trying to be honest with you and apologize for the other night I was out of line. I want Maddie to have people in her life that she can care about and look up to that shouldn’t change based on us not working out. Please don’t walk out of Maddie’s life based upon my poor behavior the other night you understand her in ways Natasha or Selina never will.” Chauncey said was it the best plan now looking back probably but he should have moved up the timetable but he thought he had time with Greer only now that was gone.

Greer looked at him as she bit her lip looking in his eyes. “I can’t.” She said softly. “You know this baby means the world to me. I never thought I’d be a good mom. In fact it’s my worst fear. To screw a child’s life so badly that they are as broken as us. I want my child to be happy and honestly I don’t think we are healthy for each other. I’m grown enough to know that. I understand you so that means I know what we can do to each other. How deep we can hurt each other and Chauncey you just said you could never love this baby. You just told me that and yet you’re saying I understand you more than anyone else. I accept Maddie and you look at my baby as if it’s trash. That kills me. Do you hear me? This could be your baby for all extensive purposes should have been yours but I messed up. I fell for the guy who showed me that I deserve an undying love. Not the one that is so passionate that it hurts. That one is dangerous and I honestly can’t imagine a life with a child. I know we bonded over my mother dying in birth and Logan. That was something real and I know how badly it changed you and I know it’s haunted me. So I won’t give my relationship with Maddie up but I need you to stay away from me and my baby. This is over and that one night meant a lot to me. I thought you saw me and I thought we were having a baby until the times just didn’t add up.” Wondering if she had just stepped in a pile of mud. “How things could have been different if we had this baby but we don’t.” Greer saw the waitress arriving with her togo box.

After tipping her with a fifty dollar bill and waving her hand to tell her no she didn’t need any change. “This is my shot to be normal and I’m taking it. Not to have this endless love that’s a cycle of mistakes. I can’t go through that with him and you can’t accept him. You’ll find her, Chauncey the woman who makes you whole, I thought it was me but things change. I wish nothing but the best for you Chauncey. You deserve it.” Rubbing her belly she couldn’t believe it but tears were falling. “I do wish sometimes that you were the father but that’s a fantasy.” Grabbing her purse she stood watching him standing, she almost tilted over to fall. Her balance was so bad. Feeling herself falling into Chauncey arms she shrieked. “Whoo!” She stared into his eyes. “We are fine, me and our baby are fine. I mean my baby.” She felt like a rookie because things were slipping out left and right. “My baby.”

Chauncey looked at her when she said she couldn’t honestly. He respected a woman’s boundaries as awful as he was most of the time he at least did do that. Though part of him felt that maybe there was something more going on with her, why put all this space and distance between them? What was she so afraid of when it came to her unborn child? Did a child need love if he and Greer got together down the line, wouldn’t he have a father to provide that to him with Brock of course he’d accept the child that wasn’t really an option. He knew Greer and the child would come as a package deal but it wasn’t like it was his child, it would be Brock’s. Brock was completely capable of being a father unless he wasn’t and then maybe he’d consider it, he’d been in competition with a Fraiser before and he always won. With Braden back in the day sure Selina was torn but she always came back to him and his bed and look how that turned out they weren’t even together now any of them. If he wanted he could make Brock fiend him off in the long term once women had him they always came back. He attributed the tears to hormones. Logan had been the same way and he instantly got up from his seat when she fell back looking at her when she said our baby.

“You know for a moment I actually thought you showed up at my wedding to Natasha I realized after it was probably just a staff member at the hotel. Thank you for not just dropping Maddie, she needs you in her life. What do you mean our baby? One moment you’re talking like you were so sure it was mine and then you aren’t, is there something you aren’t telling me and it’s not like doctor’s haven’t been wrong.” Chauncey said honestly he was concerned about her; she had just been in the hospital before Zach’s wedding word was that she had collapsed or something along those lines, then she had doubled over in pain with him on the stairs with Maddie. Looking at her he made sure she was steady on her feet leaning his body into hers for a moment while he placed his hand on her stomach. “The polite thing to say would be I’m out of line, but I’ve never been that with you. You want honesty I’ll give you that, You know what I love about that night is that image of you riding me over and over again, the way your body snaked and I know for a fact Brock will never give you that. Brock’s capable of being a father and loving that child. What does that have to do about how you or I feel about one another.” Chauncey finished seeing her face and she still wanted him even when she just told him she didn’t.

Greer looked up at Chauncey and felt the heat from his words. Her eyes blurred with tears as she shook out of reality of what she had done. He’d take her back if he knew. Not because he just loved her. That was what she knew. He had ample opportunity to tell her she was the one and waited until now. Just like Chauncey to tell her now when she was so certain he didn’t belong in either of their lives. “I was thinking about Brock and it slipped. Now I said this child isn’t your Chauncey and if it was it is not like it matters now does it? You are telling me now when I begged you to tell me that I was the one. I was the only one who made you feel anything since Logan. We both know that. Selina is your best friend unfortunately and Natasha was a waste of time. Both of them could never understand you the way I do but now. Now things have become complex and no matter which way we both turn we are hurting someone including each other. This child is more important than either of us and doesn’t he deserve a chance for a mom and dad? I deserve a chance to make it work with Brock and not have you doing this to my emotions. So that’s why I’m saying stay back. I’m weak to you. I’m weak for you and I think we both get why. Valentine’s day should have never happened and it did.” It gave her this little boy with the man she truly loved but it also gave her the doubt that he would be here. He wouldn’t be here without their son and that shook her until now. Brock didn’t deserve to lose this child now that he loved it. Now he was saying everything she needed but it was too late.

“Chauncey this isn’t your baby!” She almost shrieked trying to get this through his head. “You don’t love it and by proxy that means you can’t love me. You can’t want me completely and unlike you I accept all of you including Maddie. I knew she was a handful and I took on that responsibility but you can’t. Your ego would destroy you to take care of a Fraiser and that’s fine but I can’t let you hurt him or me at all. I can’t have my son thinking he’s not good enough for the Devonshire’s and unfortunately you will make him feel less than.” Holding her belly she looked into his eyes. “My father is waiting for me and I’ve had enough of this conversation. I guess I’ll see you in the next lifetime.” Briskly rushing away unable to handle this at all. If she stayed a moment longer she’d ruin Brock and her future, and prove Atlas Falls right. Brock wasn’t the father of her baby and she didn’t love him the way she loved Chauncey. That she was a horrible person and didn’t deserve Brock. How she would betray him? This little boy didn’t deserve to grow up in the expectations of a Devonshire when he could grow in the love of a Fraiser. It wasn’t right or logical but Brock would protect and nurture her son in ways she hadn’t seen from Chauncey. Plus knowing this was Chauncey first son he wouldn’t be able to let him go.

**********

Belle strutted on the ship after live streaming her entire time getting ready on RePlay. It was the life of an influencer to be honest she’d be offered to fly out and walk a fashion show and sit at another. She was being invited to the it events the Kardashian’s, Hadid sisters, and all of the elite culture architects would be in the building. Staying with Bliss and Hunter wasn’t bad for the moment. It wasn’t ideal in fact their quaint little home was cute but she knew she needed her own space. Playing with Fox was a highlight. The kid was perfect for her RePlay and TikTok not only was the kid a prince, he was a star. Exhaling she hadn’t heard from Jamal and honestly she was avoiding him. Relationships tended to be sticky when it came to love for her. Most men liked how wild and uninhibited she could be until they were together. That meant she had to change and she knew that all that she liked him but was that enough? Love had eluded her and she wasn’t in the mood to be played with again. Jamal and she were fun and she didn’t want to waste the potential but she also didn’t want to be hurt. He was a music executive playboy and she was a socialite.

The photographer tapped her and she walked to the back drop with him and took pictures. Looking around Max and Ronan had made one of the most elegant casinos she’d seen. Gamblers could rent rooms on the boat, it was lined in the best, and looked like something out of a futuristic movie. Posing alone she felt someone come behind her as she looked behind her Jamal stood before her. Smirking as they posed together she looked up at him. “I personally was enjoying my shine by myself. But you look very handsome tonight Mr. Delacroix and I have to say your mom called me.” She snickered looking at him. “She invited me to The Crestwood for tea, I’m wondering exactly what that is about?”

Jamal had arrived at the opening parking his car in the massive parking lot that the Devonshire’s had constructed, locking it when he got up before he looked over at the casino. He waved to a few fans of the app and posed for a few influencers on the carpet before he spotted Belle on the carpet honestly since their little tryst at Mason’s wedding he’d had a hard time getting her out of his head. Even now he adjusted his pants discreetly thinking about it, he’d been working nonstop on Ivan’s album and it seemed that Belle needed her space as well. He had always been young and single, a player of sorts but he couldn’t even look at some fine ass looking girl at the club without some sort of guilt creeping into his head. He walked up slowly to him while he looked at her eating up the press in a dress that was gorgeous, her hair perfect, the perfect makeup and that golden dress hung to her in all the right places. He followed her staying in the shadows wondering how she was so different from her siblings, she’d never worked a real day in her life and it wasn’t like her older siblings even knew how to relate to her, maybe that was why he was so drawn. She was only a few years younger than him when she had turned he chuckled; he didn’t mean to startle her.

He wrapped his arm around her waist when the paparazzi wanted a photo of them, his own smile coming through while he looked at her smirk. They made a lovely couple hell a hot couple if he was honest and why shouldn’t they be comfortable like that, they were both single and once the camera was gone he looked down at Belle keeping his hand on her hip for a moment, satisfied when she didn’t push him away. “I know that you were enjoying your big moment hence why I was happy to be on the back end watching from the other side for a bit admiring that dress. My mom called you probably because she suspects something is going on with us. A staff member probably saw you leaving the hallways from my room the other night. She means well you can tell you that we’re just friends if you want I didn’t rat you out if that is what you are asking. I’d rather have you all to myself a little longer. I really like you Belle and if you want to hide this we can but I don’t think that we should ignore what happened.” Jamal said his eyes lost in hers under the lights of the casino wondering who saw them and then wondering if he really cared or not.

Belle blushed as she looked at Jamal playfully rolling her eyes as she slapped his chest. Cameras were flashing and the lights seemed to sparkle against their skin. As she grabbed his hand and walked with him off the red carpet. Facing him and walking backwards now she couldn’t stop smiling. “Oh please, as arrogant as you are, do you really believe that we could keep this silent? That’s honestly comical in the social media era but I’m in my I like a guy and I guess we are in the dating era and if that’s okay with you. I don’t think it’s a problem for us to be dating so no I’m team no secrets and team tell everybody that Jamal Delacroix is mine. Not that scallywag Val or dead Rachel or the stripper with the heart of gold. Not theirs but all mine.” She leaned in and kissed him while she saw flashes of light. Belle knew Greer would have those pics as well as Page Six so she pulled out her phone. Clicking on the RePlay app she checked her reflection and touched his chest. “Ladies and Gentlemen of all ages he’s mine.” Grabbing him by his lapels she kissed him again and turned off the live.

“Now the world knows and I will do no such thing if Ophelia Delacroix wants to meet with me. I’ll do it. In fact I’ll impress her.” She said cheerfully. “Honestly I thought that you were something I needed to get out of my system but afterwards. Well I couldn’t get you out of my head there I said it. Jamal you’re intriguing and fun and I want to have fun. So as long as this is fun and makes me happy we are good. No secrets okay, and keep it real with me and I’ll keep it real with you and I think we can have a lot of fun.” She looked over at Bliss and Hunter. “I’m thinking that I need a new apartment. I think I can find something my trust is quite substantial and the money I’m getting as an influencer. Well I don’t have to stay with my big sister for long but maybe you can show me a trendy neighborhood. Somewhere that my mother wouldn’t fly her broom stick in.”

He didn’t actually think they could keep their relationship secret forever; he wasn’t stupid and his mother clearly had caught into them. It was likely a staff member at the house that had tipped her off about the fact Belle was in his room at his brother’s wedding. He didn’t see it as a problem if they were dating but he was hesitant he still hadn’t told Rory about it. He beamed in the spotlight with her soaking it up. She was an influencer and he was head of a record label. It made his star rise too if he was with someone like Belle but that wasn’t why he was with her. He embraced her with his own lips when she leaned in and kissed him for her RePlay followers. “I didn’t think it would stay under wraps. We didn’t really decide after the wedding if we were a real thing or joy. I for sure want more than a hookup but I also wasn’t going to pressure you into it either. Mason’s wedding was fun for us both and I didn’t want to bog you down with specifics, my mom is probably going to grill you about everything. She really does mean well and not in the way that your mom does. I know you think of her like that as your mummy but you also have two parents that I think loved and raised you too. My mom wants what is best for me and after Val and Rachel just don’t take anything she says or does too personally and I can be there if you want.” Jamal said smiling at her while he grabbed them both a glass of champagne handing one to her.

“I’m not about the game this time or playing the field when it comes to us. I’m in for as long as you are, that is all. Listen I love chilling with you, causing trouble, and making love to you but I want to address the other thing. Rory has been my best friend since we were kids. You are his baby sister. The last time we beefed over a girl it was because he was with Yasmine and I hated she went to him after everything I was doing. It’s just different with you. You aren’t some girl from the club, you’re his sister.” Jamal said while taking a sip of his drink while he looked over at her it wasn’t like he still liked Yasmine that they were friends. He and Rory were guided now and he didn’t want that to change if things with South with him and Belle they’d worked hard to get over the Yasmine shit. He was partnered with Rory in RePlay; his artists had exclusive rights with it and the label was so tied to that relationship. “I think that maybe we should tell him tonight before he finds out from his own app ya know? It just feels weird to hide it from him. As for your own place I take it that living with the newlyweds that are expecting is not exactly your vibe. Might get a little crowded and you don’t want to go back to your mom’s obviously.”

Belle exhaled in utter frustration knowing that Rory was and could make a big deal out of her romantic future with Jamal. Rolling her eyes she shook her head. “I’m not sure that I should be getting any man’s approval on my relationship. Unfortunately I do believe that you Americans have such a different view of romance. However I know you two are best buds and I won’t and I mean won’t ever come between you. Just come on if we are going to be going forward I don’t want him to have a tiff about it. So go tell my big brother that you’re banging me.” She said laughing seeing how he wasn’t truly nervous about this. “Oh please, did it affect Jackson and Mason when Chauncey and Selina were together? No, so I don’t think we should be afraid. This is good he’ll eventually appreciate you keeping me out of trouble and I’ll appreciate it once this stance is over so let’s do it.” She took Jamal’s hand and looked at him. “We are going public in every way including with my brother.”

She glided across the room to Rory who was standing alone. Where was Aspen? She paused as she looked at him staring at them. Her heart was actually beating. “Rory, you look quite debonair tonight brother. So I was talking to Jamal and I think that we should have some kind of conversation. I mean we are all close in age and I think it was bound for one of us to date our friends. Rory I mean you all grew up with Aspen? So what would you think dear brother? If Jamal and I have been seeing a lot of each other, I would love for your approval. Of us being together as a couple.” Belle bit her lip as she looked into Rory’s befuddled expression. “Brother say something because now you are alarming me.”  Was it all out war when Chauncey and Selina broke up? What had happened? Was she igniting some long dead war? “I really like Jamal, Rory and he’s making me happy.” She laid on Jamal’s shoulder looking at his nervous face. She had never seen him look like this. Which made it all the more cute. “Say something Jamal.”

Rory had gotten ready to go to the opening. He had gone to pick up Apsen to get a text from her instead that she wanted to arrive with her parents. He figured that was her signaling that she wanted to make a grand entrance or she was upset with him. Honestly he knew that he hadn’t been the best partner as of late he had been pushing off setting a wedding date or really doing anything related to a wedding. Not that he meant to or maybe he did, he knew one day he wanted to get married and have kids but did it have to be so soon after his father had died? Was he a hundred percent sure that he wanted to marry Aspen? His mind was still jumbling when he had spotted his sister and Jamal walking across the room together and honestly he was worried about it. Belle was young, and he felt protective over her and Jamal had a reputation to boot almost as bad as his older brothers and he took a sip of his champagne as Belle spoke. When she brought up it was almost the same as Aspen he knew that wasn’t the case.

“Didn’t you just break up with David not too long ago? I’m not judging but you just broke up with him and Jamal you literally just got out of that mess with Val. Our father just died and if this is some cry for attention Belle I’m not even sure what to say. What happens when Jamal’s eyes wander just a bit cause bro we all know you like to look have you seen some of those girls he has at the studio. This isn’t even remotely the same thing as me and Aspen and you know it.” Rory said looking at Jamal when he spoke, he grew up around Aspen but she didn’t have older brothers or sisters and it wasn’t like he was best friends with them. He didn’t think that Belle knew what she was doing when it came to her current dating situation. “It’s bad timing and as Jamal’s best friend I can tell you there is nothing about this that is beneficial to any of us. I don’t want to be put in the middle of your breakup like all of us were when Selina and Chauncey broke up. Or do you not remember how awkward it was for all of us when Selina left Chauncey jilted at the altar for Braden.” Rory said, looking at Jamal.

Jamal had no idea what he was going to say or do when it came to Belle dragging him over to Rory but he quickly realized that he was nervous to see Rory and worse Rory didn’t look happy. Honestly he hadn’t ever sweated this much with a girl but it was different Rory was his best friend since they were kids and that was what was at stake. He and Belle broke up or things went south. It wasn’t like he wouldn’t see her around, she was a part of Rory’s family now she lived in Atlas Falls. Looking over at his friend and then down at Belle he tried his best to grin or at least give his best reassuring look to Rory. He didn’t think he was selling it well as Rory listed every idea and thought that he had been thinking about since it happened. How if it didn’t work out there would be distance between them all, he was still thinking that part of Selina and Chauncey lingered between them all Maddie was his niece but all Chauncey’s siblings felt like they had to pick a side at any time or any argument between his sister and him.

“I remember how it was when your brother, like constantly cheated on her left and right and she stayed because of Maddie and when she had enough ya’ll like pretended to be shocked. Belle is right, she’s an adult and a few years younger than us isn’t not like I’m robbing the cradle or anything. She’s independent and smart and it’s not like I watched her grow up or anything. As for that shit with Val I’m trying to move on from that and I thought you’d be happy for me. Sure there are other girls at the club or at the label that I could date but I happen to really like your sister. I didn’t say shit when you went after the girl I wanted.” Jamal said looking at Rory like he had almost grown two heads but he got it was a big brother looking out for his little sister but if Rory wanted to act like his shit didn’t matter he was going to put him in his place. Rory knew that he liked a girl back when he was running for Ronan and living his double life, the problem was he never said Yasmine’s name directly. “You went after Yas when you knew I liked her and you just swooped in and ruined it. I have a lick of happiness and so does she. Maybe you’re projecting because of all that stuff with Aspen and Yas. You wanted her to be part of your family right? Belle wants that too and this isn;t her way of causing drama is it Belle? Man, it just happened.” Jamal said hoping one more impassioned plea from Belle would be the end of it.

“For once this isn’t about shock value or drama, it’s what I want.” Belle looked at Rory knowing that this could be a problem for her newly minted relationship. Her eyes locked in on her big brother grabbing his hand. As she tilted her head pouting slightly, letting her big blue eyes do the work. “Rory, I did just get out of a relationship with someone who was significantly older and more experienced than me. I also got hurt and I don’t want that pain again. Look there’s no telling if this is going to work but one thing we both promise is that you won’t be placed in the middle nor will you be bound to either of us. I won’t do that to you or him. Even if he hurts me and don’t I deserve what you have with Aspen?” Or was it Yasmine? He was torn between the cousins but she wasn’t judging and all she was asking for was the same. “Jamal makes me happy right now and that’s what matters right? That Jamal makes me happy?” Touching Jamal’s peach fuzz on his chin she smiled at him and looked back at her brother.

“Please don’t make this hard on us big brother. I truly think we have found something special and if it doesn’t work then that’s our business. Not yours and I want you to know you won’t be placed in this. Although you should take my side because I’m your sister.” She snickered as she grabbed Rory and Jamal’s hands with each of her own. “Look he’s going to be my boyfriend but your approval will make this easier so what do you say?”

Rory knew there were two options here, one he was a complete jerk, maybe even taking a note on how to be one like Chauncey and a protective brother. Or option two he could suck it up and be the supportive brother that Jackson was to him and Aspen towards Belle and Jamal. His mind drifted that way how Chauncey would rile him or worse give him awful advice that would lead to him breaking some girls heart, Jackson was different, supportive of his decisions even if deep down it felt like neither he or Dani approved. If they didn’t Jackson didn’t pester him about it they seemed to to just support his decision when it came to everything with the choices he was making. He saw Jamal and Belle looking at him intently waiting for some sort of answer. He heard the bells go off at the craps table and the crowd gathering there clapping  and cheering knocked him out of his thoughts.

“Ok you’re my baby sister and it’s your choice just keep me out of the awkward drama. I think this is one time that I’m going to take the high road and stay out of it. You’re a grown woman and I would like to think that Jamal, as my best friend, knows how he should treat you so you guys have my blessing.” Rory said looking at them both seeing Jamal finally smile at him and he was pretty sure he saw some color come back into his face. He took a drink of his champagne looking at them both seeing the relief on their faces while looking at the craps table again. “Ok I’m gonna turn and walk away so I don’t see you two making out or whatever, I’ll be at the craps table if you want a lesson little sister waiting for Aspen.” He said, looking at them both before walking towards the table.

Jamal wasn’t aware he had been holding his breath around Rory or looking that damned nervous until Rory said he was given them a blessing. Honestly he loved his best friend and didn’t want to complicate things further between them they’d been through a lot. He looked down and smiled at Belle leaning down to capture her lips with his own letting his tongue slip into her mouth for a searing kiss, they had hurdled obstacle number one together and come the morning every newspaper in town and the country would know they were a couple. Plus if his girlfriend had anything to say about it those RePlays would be coming the rest of the night too. Pulling back he smiled at her before squeezing her ass just a bit while he playfully nodded to her. “Go have fun with Rory  make sure he doesn’t bet everything away. I’ll catch up with you in a bit.” He said hearing his phone ring watching Belle walk off towards her brother. Tonight was going to be a night to remember without all the crazy drama attached to it.

**********

Only a few hours and Steven would be turning over in his grave. Walter was a simp because her ex-husband never allowed a river casino to be in Atlas Falls. Mostly because his mistress Carla was dead set against Ronan and the Madden’s getting it first. That was the irony because not only had Ronan outlived Steven but so much chaos had come into their lives since his death. Wrapping her fur around herself tighter as she waited in line for her prescription. Supposedly David was sure this could slow down the process of psoriasis of her liver. Folding her arms she tapped her foot wondering what possessed David to place her on a new medication at this time of night. But if it gave her more time with her children and grandchildren it would be perfect. Recently everything was out of a storybook with Walter. He was protective and was her rock which was shocking to say the least. She always knew Walter loved her but to have him going to dialysis and have him holding her when she was sick. That meant something to her.  As she looked at her phone she knew Walter would be arriving to pick her up shortly. Which would leave her little time to get dressed for the casino grand opening.

As she turned around her breath was taken. She truly reminded her of her mother. That was it. The girl had something that drew people to her. It was a certain sexuality she honestly hadn’t seen since she was a teen herself. Dru was in a Balmain dress and a sheer black cape that was floor length. She looked elegant more than she had ever before but she also saw something else. She was hurting. Something that she had known for a long time, something was digging at this girl and if Walter Fraiser wouldn’t dig into her she would. “Oh Dru darling you are all dolled up for the casino opening. I do have to ask who is your date? Is it the enigmatic Ronan trust me sweetheart every girl loves danger, or is it the mysterious Zerick Davis one of the newest Devonshire scions, maybe it’s Philip Montgomery why I must say he’s quite delicious, or is someone else I do know your attention span is fleeting.”

Dru had been following Brenda for an hour now. In the pit of her stomach what she was doing to her mother was wrong. She was about to make sure she died basically. Word is if she drank a drop of liquor David Rhodes would take her off the transplant list. Well this drug would mock the feeling of being drunk and then she’d lose her chance of survival. It was what she deserved. She let Lowell Devonshire talk her out of keeping her. The trajectory of her life would have been so different if she just faced everything. The hate she had was intense for Brenda and all she could do was watch her fall. “Quite frankly Brenda it’s none of your business who my date is. In fact you should mind your own business. I mean the news story broke, you are dying right? I mean look at you, your perfect alabaster skin is dull, your eyes aren’t bright as they used to be, and you look weak. Tell me how do you feel, old lady. I mean the grim reaper is knocking at your door and you just seem perfectly cheerful.” Dru placed her hand on her hip.

“You always seem so concerned about me, why is that? Do you think I want Walter? I mean that’s laughable. You should be using all your time to be with him and your beautiful daughter. She’s marrying a prince that is something out of a fairytale. I however think it would be a nightmare having to be with one person your entire life seems unrealistic. Some people call me a whore as you were insinuating. I however like to think of my sexuality and my body as a weapon. I’ve gotten everything I wanted from Atlas Falls except one thing.” Dru said looking at her holding a pregnancy test behind her back truly not wanting her to see. She wasn’t going through any of the typical signs; she however was late and if there was a baby cooking she would get rid of it immediately. How couldn’t she? She was about to be the most talked about woman in Atlas Falls.

“Notoriety? Class? A piece of self dignity.” Brenda said as she smiled thinking of Brooke and Atticus. “My daughter is perfect and her engagement is none of your business. I mean how you are getting around Atlas Falls. I’m afraid you’d slither your way into anyone’s bed. Oh I wasn’t easy but I did some things that weren’t right. When you are dying as you so eloquently put it my girl you think about all of the mistakes you’ve made. My past is very checkered but I am not you. In fact you are a sad little girl.” Grabbing Dru’s arm she knew she spotted a pregnancy test and shook her head. “Let me give you some advice about children. For once it’s not about you. It’s about that child and I honestly think you’d make a shit mother. Selfish and self serving that’s what you are. Really if I could turn back time I would have been braver and I would have kept my baby. Now I can’t rewind it Dru. Listen to me and understand one thing, little girl.” She said stepping forth handing the prescription she was emailed. “Your life isn’t about men, it isn’t about your quest to be superior isn’t real. Your vapid quest for power is null and void if you don’t have someone real in your life.”

Brenda looked back at the little girl as she bit her lip. “You have a life that you can have but you can’t have it doing what you’re doing. I can see that it’s something burning inside of you and it’s truly not my place to discuss or figure it out but Dru listen to me. You don’t want to end up like me dying and heartbroken by the choices I’ve made. I have done things that brought shame to my life and I have gotten nowhere from it. Instead of me being that woman I strived to be better and I eventually became better Dru don’t you want that? Don’t you want a chance to change everything? Your reputation and what you want? A status in this city because that’s all I see over you.” Brenda leaned back as she looked at her face. “Plus you have nothing in this city once you lose your little job. Once that’s over no matter what sex appeal you have it will never be enough. Honey wake up your time is tick and what are you going to do with that notoriety you seem to enjoy so much.”

“Just stop!” Dru snatched away from her mother immediately regretting following her. Her eyes began to burn with tears as she looked at her. “You weren’t brave because Kendall died never knowing or that you even thought about her. You are a fake bitch who has gotten off by being the first lady but you aren’t a good person. You are in fact a weak sniveling insignificant.” Before she knew it a hand ran across her face. The shock of her hand to her face was enough to make her gasp. Before she knew it she was cupping her face and tears began to flow down her face.

“Enough young lady! You knew my daughter but don’t get to judge me for her? You will never know the nights I stayed thinking about Kendall. How did she smell as a baby? Did she have that scent of baby that I love? Did she get good parents? Did she know how much I loved her! You seem to judge everyone when your sins are on display right now! I see you little girl. In fact I was you once upon a time but I’m not a whore and I’m not a insecure little child. You petulant little bitch. You seem think that you have some kind of possession over Kendall and the pain people have over her. You knew her, I birthed her! I made mistake and I should have kept my baby but you won’t get to berate me anymore. You won’t talk down to me! I can be your mother so you will show me a modicum of respect! No more! I have tried but when Jackson and Dani are done with you, I can promise I will throw you out of this town myself. You ingrate! I’m trying because I can honestly respect your hunger but because you are my daughter’s only friend. My only connection I will always try with you but you don’t get to keep disrespecting me. You are from the slums and I am as well but don’t get it misconstrued I will rip you to shreds and leave you for the crows. You have no clue who you are messing with and what’s worse you have no clue what I will do to you. Little girl enough is enough you aren’t my daughter and she is the only person I have to explain something to. So when I get to heaven and I meet her then I have to explain until then go to hell! Oh is it Jackie’s nephew, the mobster, or a Montgomery? Oh Dru figure out who is the father of your baby before coming for me.” Brenda snatched the prescription from the pharmacist and stormed out of the store. Her chest heaving, barely able to breathe. As she walked to her car she got inside and covered her mouth.

Dru stood with her chest heaving in a very similar way to Brenda. She gripped the shelf and looked in the window at the pharmacist. “Ring me the hell up so I can get out of here. What are you all looking at huh? That bitch is going to pay!” As she exhaled thinking about her mother slapping her. She snatched the pregnancy test and rushed toward her car. “You were talking to kendall.” Dru said barely above a whisper. Wondering if revenge was enough. Brenda had to pay so much more and Walter as well. Looking at the test, if she was pregnant, who would be the father of her baby? Gasping, she started up her car and sped away. She had to attend the event of the year.

**********

Blythe opened the door to her bedroom, the trail of her Jenny Packman silver gown flowing behind her. She and Aspen had always gotten ready together for events and she was so grateful that for this one it was the same. Her silver sparkling gown flowing behind her the luxurious fabric draping her body in all the right places, hopefully as a board member it wouldn’t be a disaster. She had yet to vote on the actual CEO spot but knew Lowell likely had divided it up among his children, she didn’t fully trust Tess’s claim to be CEO either. She remembered years ago how hard it was for Aspen to sometimes fit into a gorgeous dress for a function to the point her daughter was referred to as frumpy. Aspen was anything but that now that she had finally blossomed into the girl that she was filling out the curves and getting taller and for a split moment she wondered to what genes those were Walter or Lauren’s before she shook her head there was no proof. So it was just that to her a rumor at best, her drinking that night over that glass in the room had made her imagination run wild at it. Randall had called to tell her that he would stop by before the opening for Aspen of course like they used to and she put on the last of her setting powder before she exited and went to her daughter’s room.

The door closed of course and she stood there not sure how long she did pondering over her options. Was Randall coming back over to give Aspen a false sense of them becoming a family again? Not that she loved Randall like that anymore but she couldn’t stand that he handpicked Lauren Cummings from the ashes of their marriage to get with. The elusive Lauren Cummings

“l’m every man’s mystery dream back in the day but she knew the truth Lauren would never be over Harvey LeClerq and then she had to wonder if something had happened to Randall’s new romance. Did Lauren find out the truth about the book that Randall was working on that led to him suddenly wanting to come over and check on her and Aspen before the opening? She took a breath while she touched her stomach at the book, perhaps she needed to reach out to Philip to see if he could help her intervene. To check and make sure her exes mind didn’t wander too much to some absurd theory. She pushed the thoughts down while she raised her hand and knocked on Aspen’s door. “Can I come in and see?  You’re going to look amazing and Rory will be beaming with you on his arm tonight.” Blythe said, looking at the door in front of her.

Placing her makeup brush down she looked at her reflection in the mirror of her vanity. Instead of speaking she grabbed her eyebrow pencil and began to fill her brows. “Yeah come in.” She wondered if her mother was here to criticize her. For years she starved herself, she did every diet, and tried to look like Blythe. She was exquisite in her youth and for some reason she just had a fat and ugly phase. She could remember forcing herself to throw up. She never developed an eating disorder but she did try it for a period because she couldn’t handle it. Her best friend was Brooke who was always stunning and her insecurities were out of control then. Hell they still were out of control. What Yasmine said to her truly hit close to home. She definitely knew that she used her environment and sex work against her. Her race was never the issue but she was an elitist and knew for certain Yasmine didn’t belong. She was almost done but the gold lipstick might be too gaudy for Rory so she chose a smokey burgundy.

Blotting her lips she looked up at Blythe in the mirror and saw her face. “What did I do wrong now? I mean I don’t have the energy mother to fight tonight. Why are you looking like that?” She said, bawling her fist up. “God I must look a mess, I need to change. I don’t want to embarrass him or ruin this mom. If I look horrible just say it so I can find another dress. Oh my God I got this tailored at Renards and I look a mess.” Biting her lip her hand was shaking as she lowered her head and began to cry. “I’m sorry it’s just been a hell of a week. Rory isn’t showing me any attention. It’s like I’m bothering him when I’m around and I might have gotten him but I didn’t win. I didn’t win and I just have to look perfect and I don’t want dad to see me like this.” She grabbed a napkin and wiped her eyes trying to not ruin her makeup. “I saw Yasmine earlier. You also might hear I tore apart the private dressing room in Renards. She just presses all my buttons and I can’t stand her. I hate her mom!”

Blythe was staring at the girl in front of her the way the blue of the dress with the gold hit against her skin and she swore for a moment she was looking at a younger version of Lauren only with red locks like Walter’s sister. A chill went down her spine looking at the daughter that she had raised with Randall, her little girl not Lauren’s. On the other hand that red hair reminded her so much of her sister and a lot of that she knew she could pass off with Aspen now if anyone asked. She didn’t even realize that she had been giving Aspen a look, whatever that may have been disappointment or love, horror she wasn’t even sure. She made a mental note that she needed to be more careful when it came to anything related to Aspen being Victoria she needed a better poker face. No one could ever know the truth or she would lose the little girl before her and she listened as she started to talk about a run in with Yasmine Kohl at the Renards, did the other girl have no class wasn’t there somewhere on the other side of town like Scottswood that she could have sought a dress at. Clearly the street rat urchin was still trying to fit into places she didn’t belong and after that awful little incident with Yasmine that caused her daughter to miscarry. Everyone else in town may have forgotten but she had not and never would forgive that girl walking to Aspen she wrapped her arms around her tightly.

“No you look amazing just like your aunt Audrey, blue was her color too. You look stunning and I’ll call Renard’s in the morning and sort everything out. Rory Devonshire better be treating you right if I have anything to say about it, you’re his fiance for heaven’s sake perhaps I need to pay him a visit in his office. I understand that his father died and that is likely why he is pulling away. I’d never speak ill of my former boss but he certainly would be frowning about him treating you like this.” Blythe said the half lie or truth depending on how you looked at it slipping out. Wanting to reassure Aspen that everything was going to be alright with her and Rory, Aspen had been in love with Rory since they were children. Her daughter deserved this life that she had worked hard for and it certainly didn’t mean taking her clothes off to do it and she made a note to make sure that Rory wasn’t out fucking Yasmine again how horrible had that been for that to have been revealed at his own brother’s wedding. “Yasmine is a street urchin always will be and it doesn’t matter how much she tries to throw her new Montgomery name around. You have every right to hate her based on that fight she caused that day she knew you were pregnant.” Blythe said, holding her daughter even tighter, hoping she was saying and doing all the right things.

Hearing her mother’s calm and soothing tone did something to her. Something that she hadn’t felt in a long period of time. She felt understood and seen by her mother. Touching her mother’s hand as she looked into her mom’s eyes. “He loves her mom. He truly does and I don’t know anymore if it’s pity or love. I think it might be both. I am so tired of this city showing her love and treating me like I’m the bad one. I lost a baby.” She said, touching her empty stomach. “Max is running around acting like it’s not a big deal she’s having a baby. All I want is my baby back. All I think about is that it would be time to give birth soon and now I’m stupidly missing a baby that never was.” Aspen wiped her eyes as she gripped her mom’s hand. “I know everyone thinks I should be over this but logically it still hurts and Rory is hurting as well. We are trying to figure out this emptiness. I know he isn’t cheating he just is distant and right now I need my fiance and I need my friend back in Rory. That woman is so infuriating. In fact, that woman is just flouncing around town. She is free and I know I yelled and pushed her first but I can’t help but feel so angry.” She wiped her eyes as she looked at Blythe. “You are so beautiful mom and thank you for being here to get me ready.”

Turning her head hearing a knock at the door. “Be easy on him, he’s all broken up about Lauren. Although I do think she has every right to be infuriated with him. He’s hurting and he really loved her. Mom, if you could, I don’t know a good date for him tonight. Or a wingman I am sure that Lauren will calm down and I’m going to act like I don’t know what’s going on only because I want him to tell me. I know we’ve been talking more now mom and that’s new for us but I’m enjoying it and I don’t want my mom and dad fighting tonight. In fact this is going to be my big moment to show Rory I can be a Devonshire woman. We are all going to beat this slump and we are going to be happy I know it.” She said knowing that those words were hollow with all she had done to get Rory. All the lies and scheming. “Plus I’m sure it’s some handsome man out there. What about Julian O’Sullivan or um Pierre LeClerq he’s a dick but he’s a daddy. Umm come this is fun hooking my mom. Thank-you so much for being here.”

Randall had gotten his suit on at his house clicking send on the email with the manuscript attached there was no holding back now his visit with Lauren had confirmed it, he had betrayed her. He didn’t know if it was a deep soulmate kind of love they had. He had thought it was a mature one only now it was gone, he was to blame but he had an entire career he had to protect. A career that he wasn’t going to jeopardize for Lauren Cummings so that meant he was attending the casino opening alone. He then had heard from Blythe saying they needed to talk and it couldn’t wait and she had invited him to come by the house and go to the opening with her and Aspen. He had no idea what Blythe wanted to talk to him about but he was going to find out, seeing his daughter for now would cheer him up from his foul mood. He had thought about the ending to the book on the way over; he left it an open-ended question to have the reader decide which version of the events they wanted to have happened. Victoria dying in the lake or Forbes rescuing the baby and giving her to himself and Bythe or another family that loved her. He had no proof that Aspen was in fact Victoria, Forbes could have done anything with the child.

Opening the door he looked at Blythe and Aspen huddled together in what only he could call a much needed mother and daughter moment and his heart swelled with so much love and pride. It wasn’t often it happened honestly they had always had a contentious relationship but things had gotten better. “You look simply stunning and Rory is lucky to have you on his arm.” Randall said entering the room and giving her a hug while he looked over at his ex wife wondering what Aspen was on about with Yasmine now, why couldn’t her new cousin take it on her to leave his daughter alone? He got it was complicated but Rory had clearly picked their daughter. Yasmine was always trying to antagonize her after everything that had happened. “If Yasmine is bothering you again would it help if I talked to your uncle about it?” Randall said offering that up as a possible solution they were all adults but clearly perhaps Forbes could hold some sort of sway with their Yasmine, he saw Blythe’s face almost go ghost white and he had no idea what it was about.

Blythe had been ready to give Aspen advice, solid advice about losing a baby she needed to heal herself, she was young and there would be other children no you didn’t forget but you moved forward. She and Randall had done the same as their marriage and relationship grew over the years and it led to them adopting but the last thing her daughter needed right now was a baby. Her mind flashed to holding that precious purple dress inside Audrey’s study how harrowing it was, how real it made everything and realized she was almost shaking when Randall mentioned Forbes’s name. Philip knew and he promised her that Aspen would never know but what if she told Randall would he protect their daughter and stand by her side, by their family or would he drop it all for Lauren? She wasn’t ready for that just yet so she shook her head holding up a hand when Randall moved to comfort her and saw the fear in Aspen’s eyes she could curb this for now how strange she was acting. It was long past time for Aspen to know a partial truth, maybe not the whole truth but the partial one.

“I’m fine I was just wondering who you reminded me of in that dress, and not your aunt Audrey, your real parents thought the resemblance is actually quite striking. Sweetheart it doesn’t matter how hard Yasmine tries to outshine you left or right you will always shine the brightest for us. It doesn’t matter and no I don’t think going to Forbes is worth the hassle he’ll take her side we all know that, no you hold your head higher and show this entire town that she is not the girl that won Rory you are.” Blythe said looking at Aspen’s semi shocked face and saw that Randall was gaping at her, in truth it was long past time for them to tell her about her adoption. In fact now was the perfect time when she was so lost on who she was, maybe that was why she felt that she had no idea who she was. “You’re adopted, we’ve wanted to tell you for a while Aspen but you were so little when you came to us not even one and we went through so many miscarriages and losses. We couldn’t take it anymore, you were literally a miracle that we wanted so badly. Nothing will take that from us, especially Yasmine of all people, thinking she is above you in any way.”

Aspen chuckled as she looked at her parents. “I already knew but thank you for telling me. I heard you two talking years ago. I was twelve and I wondered why I wasn’t pretty or good enough. Until I heard and mom I’m sorry because that’s what made me lash out so much in my teens. I went through a lot of anger until it was gratefulness, that those people aren’t my parents but you two are.” She said looking at them with a smile. Using a napkin to protect her makeup. “Blythe and Randall are my parents. I don’t care who those other people are because honestly they have given me away. They left me and I don’t want to know them. I surely assure you both I don’t see any other family. The Montgomery’s and Sinclair’s are my family and I thank you for loving me as your own. I used to think I wasn’t pretty as you, aunt Audrey or Cassie. I really used to feel less than. Then I lost weight and wasn’t the fat girl anymore. It changed my outlook and I know I’ve been a handful but I am looking out for myself and I want nothing more than to keep you both in my life. So if you are worried about me looking for them. I’m not and I’m not in the least bit curious. So if that was the life altering news you were telling me. I’m over it.”

Standing up she smiled at her parents and they looked pleasantly surprised that she was taking it so well. “Look, I have a party to attend. I want to make my presence known and this dress is killer. So even if Rory is being aloof tonight I’m going to knock his socks off and make him see that I’m the only girl in the picture.” She said, grabbing their hands. “Okay let’s go? Plus Dad let it slip a year ago so even if I didn’t know I knew.” Kissing both of their cheeks. “Thank-you for choosing me, thank-you for loving me when I was awkward and loud. Daddy thank you for loving me always and I just want you both to be proud of the woman I’m becoming and I will be.”

Blythe had watched Aspen’s reaction taking it all in partially in fear and partially knowing that she was her daughter and no one else’s, her eyes shot desperately towards Randall pleading almost. If he knew what she did deep down he would shut his mouth and just let this be, let them be, let Aspen be and he wouldn’t go around poking with Forbes or the past. She wanted to make sure their family was still intact and that meant her ex choosing them over his relationship with Lauren and his career. She wanted her and Aspen to grow closer from this revelation and was relieved when she took their hands and let them know that no matter what they were her parents that she had no desire to find her birth family. She was the only girl in the picture and if Rory Devonshire thought that he was going to go off and embarrass her daughter again for Yasmine, he would get an earful from her, she didn’t earn her board seat for anything at DGI. She’d side with Tess in a heartbeat if she had to in order to put Rory in his place when it came to her daughter.

“Like I said Rory is a fool if he thinks that you aren’t the woman for him after everything you both have been through. Tonight he will see that. That dress alone should tell him that you are the one for him and not the other way around. He will see you as the gem and diamond in the rough that you are. Nothing will change that will it Randall?” Blythe said hoping that her ex-husband agreed with her that nothing would change no matter the outcome and the truth would just remain buried in the past.

Randall hadn’t realized that Aspen had caught onto his words the year before he had thought that he had covered them well enough at the time but perhaps this wasn’t the curse that he thought it would be. If Aspen knew and she didn’t care that meant that he knew that he could be the one she leaned on down the road, he caught Blythe’s eye for a moment and he’d seen that look before. The look that said don’t poke the nest or chase a story and he wondered if she knew something that he didn’t about what he suspected about Aspen and her possible connection to Lauren. He made sure to remain calm, his eyes not giving anything back to Blythe just yet he and he didn’t want to seem odd or out of sorts with Aspen. He wanted to tell the truth and he looked at the clock. He could drive Blythe and his daughter to the event and then let them know something came up. Drive over to the Montgomery mansion and hopefully catch Forbes there before he left to discuss his suspicions and then go from there. No one would none the wiser.

“I think your mother is right and if we waste time debating or discussing something so insignificant to all of us any longer we will be late for your big entrance onto that boat. You of course will knock off Rory’s socks in that gorgeous gown that I am sure is going to be hitting your card in a few days. Your mother and I will pay for it just like your wedding. You are our beautiful, smart and talented daughter and that will never change Aspen. We’re always going to be a a family and I will always be there for you both. Shall we?” Randall finished holding open the door for them all to walk through and then doing the same to the front door to his waiting car. Opening the door for them both and then getting behind the drivers wheel while he pulled out listening to Blythe and Aspen laugh and make small talk on the way to the casino, the darker thoughts of the fact that Victoria Fraiser may be sitting in the backseat of his car floating the recesses to stay there.

**********

Miranda looked at herself in the employee’s mirror before tucking in her white shirt making sure the wire was hidden and making her way onto the floor. The party was in full swing or at least as full as it could be before the VIP’s arrived meaning she had to be on her game. There was already so many people on the floor and she knew that she wasn’t scheduled to be at her table yet dealing that wasn’t until another hour at least but in the meantime like most of the rest of the employees who weren’t there yet and the rest of the town this was a night and an event to remember so watching the crowd wasn’t out of the ordinary. The press was setting up and people were mingling around the restaurant waiting in line for a table, the slot machines humming and going off and even she had to admit it was a super chill vibe that was welcoming to everyone that was old enough to play. She hated to give the Devonshire’s any credit but in the case it wasn’t a bad thing, it brought in more jobs to the area and she could see herself and KC enjoying an evening at a casino. Maybe not this one obviously since Ronan was there and involved but she had to give credit where it was due, she could get sucked into it all.

She tugged at her shirt honestly. It was such a Max move to make the girls wear a white fitted shirt and a skirt that was barely above their knees or it was Ronan’s doing. Frankly she couldn’t wait for this little undercover operation to be over so she could go home, put on her jeans or sweatpants, a sweater and lounge around the house for a few days with her husband and Quinn, make love and then start the next assignment with Zach. Until then it was wishful thinking but the most important thing being they needed to put Ronan behind bars for something, after their encounter the night before she wasn’t even sure if she should come in if she had been made or not. She rounded one of the corners when she instead came face to face with Gia Falcone and her right hand Hector Gonzales and a slight chill went up her spine. Why wasn’t this bitch over there with Ronan smiling for the cameras and the press and why was she staring at her all weird. Did someone tell her about Ronan coming onto her the day before while she was gone and it wasn’t like she acted on it. “I’m sorry Ms. Falcone, I didn’t see you there.” Miranda said in the fakest most polite tone she could muster with a straight face looking at the black widow in front of her.

Gia put a hand on her stomach as one of the dealers rounded the corner, still reflexively moving to protect the baby that no longer needed her. But for now she still needed him. Soon enough she’d be putting her son in Max’s arms and saying her final goodbye. As much as she detested Regina’s old world values, she knew her little boy would get the respect he deserved from the old bat. The funeral she couldn’t give him because of Ronan. She found a perverse pleasure in the fact that Ronan would never know the whereabouts of his true son. If this is how it had to be, she would win in the end. Every shitty thing that had happened to her since coming to this town was directly connected to Ronan Madden and it was all ending with her son’s death. But she couldn’t think too long about the fact that her son was gone or allow herself to mourn because Ronan would get suspicious. And if Ronan got suspicious and started digging, she’d end up dead alongside her son. So she pushed the need to mourn the dead child inside of her to the back of her mind or she wouldn’t survive the inevitable fight with her lover. Her eyes slowly trailed up and down the woman in front of her and she recognized her as the latest in a long line of women to catch Ronan’s eye. She had no business being in this area of the casino and her eyes scanned the room for Ronan. Had he sent her to spy for him? Or worse, was she working for Kelly? At least Ronan or Max ended up doing something right with these skimpy uniforms, the woman couldn’t easily hide a weapon. Nor was Ronan stupid. An attempted murder in the middle of the opening night crowd wouldn’t look good for him or old man Devonshire’s hapless brood.

Gia studied her face, remembering her now from that seedy club Ronan had owned with Philip Montgomery. She never forgot a face and it had served her and Hector well over the years. She ran one long, pointed nail across the name tag affixed to her shirt, tilting it up so she could read it. “Mia,” she said, glancing at Hector to take note and check her out later. Can’t be too cautious when your life’s literally on the line. “You should be more careful. Can’t you see I’m pregnant? Not that it would have stopped you from what I hear. If you’re looking for Ronan, he’s not here though I bet if you open up a few more buttons on your shirt he’ll show up in no time. Oh, don’t worry your pretty little head about that. Ronan’s not worth my time. I’ve got bigger birds to fry.” She looked over at Hector when he corrected her. “Fish. Right. Silly me. Pregnancy brain,” Gia said, playing it off, repeating an inane remark she’d heard from Bliss Kincaid. She thought about her small collection of birds. The raven, soon the nightingale and thought that Ronan would fuck up the theme if she had to kill him. Perhaps a coma then if Hector would agree. Mia’s eyes darted between her and Hector, to where they’d been focused when they heard her approach. Gia moved quickly closing the gap, a hand coming down hard on the slot machine beside them to further obscure the view. Hector closed in on the other side. “That area’s off limits, little mouse. Management only. It’s where the magic happens,” she said flashing a Cheshire Cat smile that she sensed was more disturbing than disarming. “Hector? I think our new friend has lost her way. Would you like to show her back to the pit?”

Miranda had been watching the entire event unfold more like surveilling instead of watching as there was already an enormous crowd on the boat and it wasn’t scheduled to take off for at least another hour. The red carpet already had a ton of traffic alone. Everyone was there from Devonshire all the way down to she was pretty sure her parents’ neighbors, it was nice but also made it a mess from a sting perspective. She didn’t actually think she had hurt Gia or her unborn baby but she hadn’t been watching where she was going exactly; she’d been looking to see if anything was out of the ordinary when it came to the opening. She most certainly hadn’t actually bumped into her or anything like that; her stomach and child were perfectly fine. She watched her looking at her shirt and outfit and then realized maybe she was so upset about the incident yesterday where Ronan had coke into her. Where she had left a bit shaken, reminding KC that night that nothing had happened though she had wanted to stab Ronan repeatedly. She had refrained and played it cool as Mia, a former stripper turned blackjack dealer at the casino with a smile on her face. Stories about Gia and her lap dog Hector weren’t something to play around with and she knew that doing her best not to be uncomfortable with how he was staring at her, reminding herself that right now she wasn’t Miranda or a cop and if they wanted this bitch and Ronan that was how she had to play it.

“Of course I’m sorry Ms. Falcone just thought I’d like to take a look before my shift begins. You and the boss throw a nice party and he seemed to be alright with that idea yesterday. If you’re wondering about that little thing that happened between us yesterday at the bar I think he’s lonely at the moment. You certainly skirted off somewhere and then the other one hasn’t been by in a while either.” Miranda said looking at them both seeing the slight rage pass on Gia’s face about the remarks about Dru it wasn’t some sort of secret that Ronan was hooking up with Dru Price it seemed that most of Ronan’s men knew it and by the looks of it Gia knew too. She decided to play up the part a bit looking over Gia’s shoulder. She wasn’t even near the offices and there were plenty of people around wanting to start to play the slots. What were they doing huddling in the recesses of the casino floor by the slots when they should be walking the carpet and taking pictures. “Seems like the red carpet is almost done. There’s going to be a lot of people over here to start to play. I didn’t think that slot machines were that important to management. The gaming commission was pretty leery the other day about cheating. You don’t think they would be looking at the slots do you?” Miranda finished hoping that before the creep Hector put his hands on her one of Ronan’s goons would step over and break this entire meeting up.

Hector looked at the woman and wanted to snap her neck the moment she touched Gia. Watch where the fuck you were going. Just seeing the look in her eyes he felt her nerves. So she knew who they were. Good she should be scared of Gia because these whores weren’t going to keep embarrassing Gia fucking Falcone. They had cultivated a reputation and it’s very few women who were mobsters. Gia was one of them. She wasn’t a woman to be cheated on or treated as if she wasn’t the rarest flower in the room. “I have business to attend to, in fact I can’t wait to see how the fireworks go off tonight. I hear it’s going to be explosive.” He said, stepping to Mia. “You are a beautiful girl Mia. I would hate for anything to happen to a hair on your head. Don’t get dreams bigger than your brain. Ronan isn’t yours nor is he Dru Price. I presume that’s who you’re talking about. Listen us men we fuck who want and do what we want. But this one is the deadliest of them all you see, she has something you don’t. Me I’m behind her and I’ll carve your body up in ways you have no idea. Your mother won’t recognize you. Your dad will weep at the sight of you. I enjoy doing bad things Mia. Do you understand what I’m saying? I enjoy hurting people very badly and if you continue to flaunt you breast in front of Ronan. I’ll cut them off like a Thanksgiving turkey.” Turning his neck. He looked at Gia.

“I will kill for you over and over again. You are the epitome of a goddess.” He turned to look at Mia. “You shouldn’t be dealing with mortals.” He stepped a little closer, invading her space. “But before I kill you know my favorite part. I love to see them scared and pleasure them right before they go. That’s if I torture them so watch yourself Mia. I’m going to handle what needs to be done. I don’t want you around when I get back bitch. Or I might just start having all the fun I want with you.” Hector walked away as he looked at Gia knowing that there was no turning back. They were truly about to do something major that would endanger everyone here. However Gia needed a big diversion to get Max baby and he promised her a child so he would deliver literally and figuratively. “I’ll be seeing you Mia.” He said in a sing-song voice.

Miranda had been transported into some drama that was clear when Hector threatened her. Did women really just automatically drop their panties for Ronan that quick? Clearly that was what both Gia and Hector thought was going on and she reminded herself to remain as calm as possible when he stepped into her space, her heart beating hard and fast into her chest at what he was saying. Clearly he was disturbed beyond disturbed if she was being honest with herself and she’d seen a lot as a cop, she’d seen murder photos and crime scene photos of Hector’s work but to hear it personally was hard. She looked at Gia Falcone. Was the woman smiling at it all like she was actually enjoying the way Hector described how he would kill people?She was pregnant. What if he wanted to turn and do that to her son or daughter? Maybe she should have let Ronan kiss her or whatever he wanted the other day, at least that way she wouldn’t feel like a piece of prey to the creepy bodyguard that was eyeing her up. She had no intention of staying right by the slots longer than she had to anymore, she had a call she needed to make.

“I understand Ms. Falcone again. I didn’t realize this area was off limits. I was just trying to enjoy a little time around the floor before my shift started. You also don’t need to worry about me and the boss man, I turned him down.” Miranda said looking at Gia and hoping she bought it, it was the truth at least the second part she had booked it so far and so fast away from Ronan the day before that Gia had to know that and could even look it up on camera. Maybe she was playing the game wrong this time, maybe Gia needed to think of her more as an ally and it wasn’t like she had a shred of loyalty to Dru on the matter of her little affair with Ronan. “I know better than to go behind your back and fuck around and find out. I didn’t even do that in the club and Ronan was kind enough to hire me here, as for his little companion maybe you want something back on her. I can keep an ear out if you want.” Miranda said her voice slightly unsteady when she spoke and it was truly the nerves from what Hector had said, her mind was racing. They needed to book this bitch and her henchmen and she needed to take a hot shower to erase the garbage she just heard the creep spew at her.

Gia couldn’t help the smug smile as Hector spoke. It’s about time someone around here showed her the level of respect she deserved. There was a time when people feared her; had Ronan made her soft? Because that thot strolled over and started talking to her like they were hanging out in the break room and no one had ever been that bold. Mia deserved every ounce of fear Hector gave her after insinuating it was Gia’s fault that Ronan was a bastard and a dog. Aw, was poor Ronan lonely because she’d left town for a few days? That was too much to ask? She didn’t even try not to roll her eyes hard. But even worse, she brought up Dru Price. Out of all the women Ronan was banging she hated Dru Price the most. Dru was trashy and she didn’t care, in fact she embraced it. Always willing to spread her legs for Ronan or probably half the town. “Do yourself a favor and don’t think, we wouldn’t want you to strain your last few brain cells. You’re going to need them to count to twenty one.” Now Ronan’s little plaything wanted to be her eyes and ears? She couldn’t tell if Mia was stupid or desperate. Either way wasn’t a cute look but it was useful, both were easy to manipulate. For now, she needed to be rid of Mia. She and Hector had business to attend to and she’d lost sight of Max standing around wasting time with this ditz. She immediately felt anxious not knowing where that walking incubator had gotten off to with her baby. “I’ll make you a deal. You check in with me weekly. If I like what I hear, I’ll let you go. If I don’t like it, well… I’ll let Hector surprise you. He can be surprisingly creative. Now run along little pet, daddy Ronan’s waiting. Have fun tonight, I’m told it’s going to be a fucking blast.” Gia said, watching her walk off, making sure she didn’t circle back to snoop. Waving at her when she glanced back, Gia felt comfortable she was gone for good and joined Hector.

Miranda knew when to keep her head down and make a hasty exit and now was the time to do that. She listened to Gia speak, trying her hardest to not give anything away; her and Hector were both clearly deranged. She took the moment to plan her exit walking back to the employee entrance where she could use the restroom, she stopped halfway to turn and glanced back at Gia and Hector for good measure, a chill going down her spine when Gia waved back to her, yeah the bitch was crazy. She kept her composure as she pushed through the employee area keeping her head down for good measure. She still had time before she was supposed to be on the floor. She made sure she moved quickly to the restrooms. Once inside she made sure no one was inside the hallways or near the restroom. Once she was inside she locked the door and for good measure made sure she wasn’t being watched before she pulled out her secure line. She waited for it to ring a few times and then spoke once she knew that KC had picked up.

“It’s me, they’re for sure up to something the black widow and her sidekick they’re antsy about something and my guess is it is not the gaudy gold everywhere. Almost like I’m not sure how to explain it. I have a feeling, they’re doing something and Ronan is in the dark here. Listen, tell the commissioner that we need to move tonight. All hands on deck, is KC there?” Miranda said, biting her fingernail for a moment and then taking a deep breath. “Gia and Hector threatened me, not me the cop but me Mia. Zach I need to make sure that he and Quinn are okay.”

“KC is at the station with the commissioner, Jon, and Devin are on their way. Miranda if you feel like you aren’t safe I’m coming in there. You are my best friend and I’m not going to let them hurt you. I’ll kill that sonofabitch first before I let him hurt you or anyone else. I’m coming in.” Ripping off his shirt and grabbing his dress shirt. “Give me ten minutes, I need to blend but I’m coming okay? Nobody will hurt Mia, Miranda, Quinn, or KC. We are taking Gia and Hector down. That threat was enough to finally bury that bitch.”

**********

Julian stood over the boat watching the water crashing against the massive vessel. It looked beautiful and he was sure Lowell would be proud. It was something about this ship that reminded him of the man. Sturdy but hollow it was beautiful on the outside but inside it reminded him of the man as well, complex and intricate. He’d definitely done a number on Jackie Devonshire that was for sure. For the last year he’d tried to get closer to her but more and more he was feeling uncertain if it could happen. He wanted it to happen but she always was so preoccupied with the children and now DGI returned to the kids hands. That was scary because until they found the true will it was looking like Tess pulled the ultimate coup against the kids. He didn’t want to see her in pain and that was what she was constantly in. The kids didn’t see Jackie’s regret but he did. He saw how she thought about fighting for a man who embarrassed her constantly. She was looking for a way to avenge him by getting her children that company back and he wanted to protect her. He wanted her to be alive again and not frozen in time. A beautiful woman as vibrant and amazing as Jackie shouldn’t be subjected to Lowell any further. However she needed to see that.

When he saw Jackie entering the boat he touched his chest. Damn it, why did she have to look like that? She was stunning and he honestly lost his breath. Helping her onto the boat he smiled at Jackie. “Why I don’t think it’s a woman old or young that’s rivaling you tonight. Jackie, you look exquisite.” He bowed to her and then raised up to see her blushing. That moment gave him hope. Hope that she would finally be able to let go of Lowell Devonshire. He knew she wouldn’t until the company was returned. “I want to ask you something. Can we share a dance tonight? I think you deserve to have a little fun and this is a celebration. The Devonshire’s have another asset and DGI numbers although in flux are rising. I think you should be proud of Jackson and Dani.” Taking her by the arm he escorted her into a flurry of photographs. Greer’s newspaper called Jackie the modern day Jackie Kennedy which was easy to agree with. She was stunning and beloved just as the first lady. In fact although Brenda was the first lady for years Jackie was the true lady of the city.

Jeremiah slinked across the room watching Jackie walking through with nothing but adulation from the crowd. Tomorrow everything would dissipate and Jackson’s indiscretion would be revealed for the world to see. People would be aghast as the newly reformed Jackson was still the cokehead loser that he was before. He couldn’t resist himself; he had to rub in all the dirt that he had on the Devonshire’s in her face. Slinking down the red carpet as he looked at Jackie and his dear old friend Julian. A smirk registered on his face he always had it bad for Ms.Devonshire so it was clearly his time to bask in the diva’s light. However, what a fall from grace, Tess has the last name and power while she had her children. He guessed that was something. Jeremiah posed for the camera as he watched Julian and Jackie right by them. “Well Jackie and Julian I’d never thought I’d see the day you’d have her old chap. She is loyal but sadly to the wrong person. I must ask.” He said turning the other way looking directly at Jackie.

“How does it feel to lose everything and have nothing left to remain? How does it feel to have your entire family life in flux? As many times as Lowell played God with people’s lives this must be some type of karma. Your children are losing so much and you just have to watch. You could have stopped him so many times but you just stood by and watched him set fire to so many lives. Oh my love you are desperate aren’t you. Desperate to have a moment of peace but your life is full of chaos and I for one can’t say it couldn’t be happening to a better person.” Jeremiah said with a satisfied smile on his face.

Jackie had been so stunned with Max’s attire that she hadn’t fussed too much while Max had done her hair and then her makeup, her daughter was nine months pregnant and was going to show the entire world everything it felt like. Once the baby was born she knew what she had to do was really talk to Max about maybe seeing someone about Lowell’s death, yes she had always been selfish but now it would affect her grandchild too. Her dress was flattering of course it was off the latest runway and she had her own driver take her to the event looking at her phone on the way over that her son and Dani would be late due to a last minute meeting at DGI beforehand which was odd but she’d let them handle it. They seemed more than capable and since she and Lauren had helped pick up things for the twins until Dru was gone she was certain of them as the leaders of the company. Chauncey was still unhappy with Natasaha; she had hoped that would fade overtime that they would find a middle ground; maybe it was impossible. She did need to speak to Rory about the wedding with Aspen; she wanted her youngest to be sure so far only one of the last two marriages was looking promising. She smiled for the cameras and took Julian’s hand when he held it out to her to lead her up the stairs.

“You flatter me Julian but I’ll take it as a compliment it’s totally not my color but I thought it was time for a change. A dance tonight sounds lovely but then again I’m not sure Max has a dance room set up here and I’ve never been good at blackjack. DGI will be fine. I trust you and your team to find a way for my children to have what is rightfully theirs between this and the AeroWest deal which was finalized last night we’re going to be in the black again.” Jackie said, looking at the dashing Irish man in front of her, her heart fluttering for a moment while she looked at him. It had been a long time since a man looked at her like that and then guilt took over Lowell did at the last dance they shared before he died. She had gone to say more only to have Jeremiah approach them and she did her best to put on the most fake smile ever for the press while he shot his venom around. “I seem to think that right now my family is just fine. Jeremiah all my children are alive and healthy, same with my grandchildren and this little stunt with Tess will be over. You’re right Lowell wasn’t perfect and he hurt a lot of people Jeremiah including you probably what would you like me to do cry into a cup for you? It’s funny that you have everyone believing you’re innocent when deep down you know you were just as treacherous as that bitch I called friend.” Jackie asked, feeling Julian by her side she wasn’t going to cower to the man that along with Gloria ruined all those lives too.

“Bitch what awful words for the deceased Jacqueline. Watch your mouth you wouldn’t want to stir any ghost. Sometimes when you think a ghost is gone they come back to haunt you. My how things change wouldn’t you say Julian? I mean here you are an ex-lawyer for DGI like myself but both of us are successful in a multitude of ways. While you Jackie is lost in the shuffle. Lowell was telling you the vipers would slither out and collect what’s due and that’s exactly why I’m here. Those deals mean nothing when secrets you don’t even know about are about to be exposed. One little scandal and poof everything your beloved family has worked for is gone. You have some things to atone for Jackie so your tears won’t be the only thing I want. I want your family’s legacy my dear and people in high places want your head on a block. So treachery is exactly what I’m looking for. I want blood for blood and that will mean you losing one of your children or grandchildren. I don’t really care which but you will pay for exiling me after Tony cried a river for Lowell to do his dirty work. Just like that man always weak and needed a white man to do his job.” Jeremiah said, looking at Jackie getting more and more irritated and annoyed.

“I am enjoying tonight. It’s the last night in history that the Devonshire’s of your stock will have DGI, and it’s the last time you will be able to look down on the rest of us. Your empire has fallen, Rome is done and your reign is through. Oh Jackie what I wouldn’t give to see Gloria’s face to know you are nothing but dust now. A memory of an ill gotten time where your thieving husband stole from so many. You know what I love about our history Jackie. It’s repeating itself over thirty years ago. Lowell almost failed but this time we will do what no one has. Destroy the Devonshire dynasty.” Jeremiah cackled as he clapped his hands together. “You are about to lose everything. I assure you of that.”

Julian stared at Jeremiah and his face flushed with rage. He didn’t like how Jeremiah attacked Jackie and he damn sure wasn’t going to stand and allow it. “Understand this Mr. Beecher you will not speak at this event to Jackie like this anymore. You should and will back down or else I’ll make it clear that I’m not just Jackie’s friend, that I’m no longer your friend. Jeremiah you are boasting for some win that isn’t here yet. Trust me I’m fighting for these kids and Jackie and if you want to see me in a courtroom I’d love to show you how much better and sharper I am than you. So if you want to continue to make an enemy of me I’ll assure you that your mouth is writing a check you won’t be able to cash. I’m the best Jeremiah and you know it hell everyone in the United States knows it. Check my resume. I have a vested interest in keeping Jackson holding the cards. You are on whatever high horse that you think you’ve won but remember I’m a weapon none of you counted on. So go hide under whatever rock you slithered from or I’ll have you thrown out of this party? Are we clear Jeremiah? No more veiled threats and no more attacks on her tonight.”

Jeremiah’s face scrunched up as his eyes narrowed. “Motherfucker, you could never scare me. But she needs to fear all the ghosts coming to get her. Oh this is going to be so much fun. All the lies that Selina has found, and all the truths she has dug for. Aren’t you tired of being a second mommy to the Delacroix kids Jackie? All the secrets that Mason doesn’t know? Or Selina? How many more secrets are buried with Gloria that are clawing to come to the surface. I’m not going to be denied by your uppity white asses anymore. You can’t throw me out because I was invited as owner of BA Energy. I’m here because I have more to do in this town. I’m here because you wouldn’t let me have space but now that Lowell is rotting with the worms crawling out of his skin. I and so many others have room to finally do what we want. Get revenge, good day Jackie and Julian. This conversation was enlightening. You still think you’re at the top Jackie but your kingdom is crumbling tonight it begins and tomorrow you’ll know exactly why I’m here. Ghosts always haunt those who hurt them the most.” Jeremiah adjusted his tie as he used his cane to smoothly walk away.

Jackie controlled her rage about it all. Who was he to ever judge her and Selina and Mason adored her, they were her godchildren what was she supposed to do? Just disappear out of their lives because their mother was a two faced bitch that destroyed her marriage back then? That she was never her real friend in her eyes, just someone that Gloria used along her road to the power that she so desperately craved. She appreciated Julian sticking up for her and her children but there was something that Jeremiah said that hung on her like a threat lingering in the back of her mind BA Energy was his company which wasn’t super shocking but she thought he had only been an attorney over the last thirty years. What did SandStar suddenly want to do with BA Energy and why call it a last minute meeting? The cameras were flashing on her and Julian clearly trying to get a reaction from Jeremiah showing off by stomping away with his cane into the ground.

“Something is going on at DGI tonight now I can’t exactly be there but Mason is working for you he can help navigate this. I need you to find out everything that you can about BA Energy. You have to have contacts. I’m worried I had thought everything with SandStar working with us was going well but that thing that happened with Natasha and Madeline perhaps I read too much into it. I’m not blind I know Natasha hasn’t been exactly warming up to our family and her marriage is less than ideal. But to call this meeting with BA Energy I have a feeling that something is going to happen tonight and if I know Jeremiah it will be nothing good.” Jackie said, wrapping her arm through Julian’s while she waved for the cameras, letting the press soak up the moment. She had to be here at the casino for Max. It was her big night. Meaning she had to rely on the man next to her and Mason to protect her middle son and the company her late husband had left in his hands. “Shall we head inside for now and find out if there is a dance floor or not?” She finished smiling at her date for the night.

“We shall but one moment.” He pulled out his cell phone texting Mason to attend that meeting at DGI while digging up as much information as fast as possible on BA Energy. “Mason is on it and I also forwarded an email to Simon. Whatever tonight brings us we together will fight it. Jackie is that clear. You’ve been let down one too many times and I won’t allow it to continue. Whatever threat they are, they will have to deal with the best lawyer in Pennsylvania and that’s me. I have two of the best lawyers in Atlas Falls on my side whatever Jeremiah is doing. We will be ready and waiting.” Julian took her hand and smiled at her. “I happen to know that there is a dance floor and that you are an exquisite dancer. So shall we show these young ones what we can do? I hear Belle is queen of RePlay and they do all those little dances on there. Well I can do that and more, let’s show her how we did back in our day?”

**********

Hunter made his way from the living room and into the bedroom picking up the last of the magnetic tiles that Fox had been playing with on his way with a smile on his face. Honestly there wasn’t really anything else to him that was better than the mess of life, in some ways it reminded him of his own childhood. He remembered his father when he was younger picking up toys when he was home when his mother wasn’t drinking herself literally to death now that he knew of her diagnosis. Even months later it was hard for him to separate out the man in the picture that had leaked a year ago to the man that he knew growing up. They had hired a sitter for the night since everyone in his family and the Devonshire’s would be at the opening and he made his way up the stairs to the playroom seeing Fox content with the young woman they had hired more like teen friend of Dylan’s that came with excellent references Keke Watkins who was having the time of her life on the carpet fort Fox had made. He smiled before turning and heading to the master bedroom where he saw Bliss putting on her lovely gown for the evening’s events. She was simply glowing and he couldn’t help himself as he walked up to her kissing her neck while he placed his hands on her belly knowing their baby was inside growing happy and healthy.

“You look simply stunning and radiant. Fox is settled with Keke in the playroom. I think that girl has no idea how well he can make a fort or how well he is set to try and stay up way later than he should. I let her put her guest bag in that extra bedroom that we set up since I wasn’t sure how late you are going to want to stay out and we did pay her for the night.” Hunter said tracing his fingers on her back for a moment and looking at her bump that was slightly elevated under the dress, his mother and Tess, even Jackie had been excited about the news. He was wondering lately what his legacy would be however working at City Hall as Walter’s whipping boy? Anderson had clearly wanted to run for Governor and if the polls were any indication that wasn’t going as well as he had hoped. He went to the master closet taking off his current clothes and putting on his matching red tuxedo while he looked over at her. “Tonight is just as much about you as it is Max, hopefully she can keep the drama down to a minimum without us freeing up that land on the lake this casino would be dead in the water. I also don’t want her stressing you out too badly. It’s not good for you or the baby and this time I’m not in jail so I can be there to make sure it doesn’t happen.” Hunter said, leaning over and giving her a kiss on the lips.

Bliss had been looking in the mirror, more admiring the swell of her stomach than the beautiful gown, when Hunter embraced them. She smiled at his reflection in the mirror, neither looking away as his lips found her neck. This was one of those moments to savor. They were so happy, so in love with each other and Fox and the baby that was growing inside of her. She slid her hands on top of his. “I don’t doubt he’ll have her wrapped around his finger in no time. It’s not every night one opens an epic casino and since we have paid for the night, we could slip off to my office for our own private after party. If you want to, of course.” She grinned at him as he went to the closet, knowing it wasn’t even a question. Who needed champagne when you had the anticipation of sneaking off with the love of your life like a couple of horny teenagers. “In a couple of hours, we’re going to welcome the entire town to celebrate this incredible casino that we poured so much into. Not even Max can ruin this night for us. I refuse to let her. I’m optimistic after our meeting with Belle. I think Max might be starting to see that she can’t bully us into following her agenda. Rory’s in our corner. Chauncey as much as he can be on anyone’s side, I guess. Jackson and Dani are on fire. I think, whatever this is, she’ll come back around after she licks her wounds. And if not? We’ll push ahead without her. I just wish she would let herself be happy, if not with Sebastian then at least with her son.” They’d been equally horrified by Max’s entire attitude toward the pregnancy. It was unfathomable that she was so close to delivering and still so stubbornly refusing to open her heart. Like people might think less of her for it.

She turned and admired him in his tux, almost wishing she could have him all to herself tonight. If it were anything other than this opening, it would be tempting to bail. That stint in jail almost turned their fairytale into a nightmare but they were putting all the horrors of the past year behind them now. Kissing him back, in this moment she was feeling happy and content and a few other things she’d tell him all about later tonight in the office. “I feel sorry for anyone betting against the house tonight because I am the luckiest girl in town. I love you Hunter Kincaid. I couldn’t have done any of this without your support. It also helps that you work at City Hall. I’m not saying that’s why I married you but it didn’t hurt.” She teased, running her hands along the lapels of his jacket. “Speaking of City Hall, I know you hate working with Walter. Don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful that he helped get you released from jail but he’s so awful. To Dani, at least. I don’t know what your mother sees in him. Have you thought anymore about what you want to do now that we’ve gotten this project to the finish line? Your brother has his sights set on the Governor’s office. Brooke is killing it as Queen Regent in Isla Del Cruces. And not that there’s anything wrong with being at the City Planning office but I know you want more.”

Hunter was pretty sure that Max could try and take the spotlight and if he knew his ex wife and his current wife’s sister she probably would. It was part of who Max Devonshire was and honestly he was glad that they had split up and he found the real love of his life in Bliss, he felt bad for Sebastian in a way. It was none of his business or even Bliss’s really but everyone was concerned for how Max was acting lately. When Bliss mentioned that they could sneak off later in the party to her office on the casino he couldn’t help the grin that formed as he pressed his hips into hers his hands gripping ehr his as he kissed her again he definitely could be up for that invitation later in the evening. “I think it is going to be a packed house and in that case after the photo ops with us, Max and Ronan I think we can find time to sneak away for a bit and fully indulge in our night alone and then maybe travel up to the ski resort for the rest of the night if you want. I promise even if Max tries she is not going to take all the spotlight tonight it’ll just make you and your sibling look better. Hopefully she took everyone’s advice to her lately to heart and she starts acting more like a soon to be mother opposed to spoiled rotten overindulgent princess child. Her son deserves that, you know parents that love it and want it around and I don’t doubt Max deep down loves her baby but I can’t imagine wanting to be so detached from it you know? I want to be there for everything with our child from that ultrasound that we had all the way up to all the rest of the upcoming appointments. I want to be there for everything before and after I’m already soaking every minute up with Fox.” Hunter smiled at her when he finally released her to start on his tie and then he thought over what she said about Walter and City Hall.

It wasn’t that he liked or disliked Walter, he was just an asshole was the best way to describe Walter Fraiser always had been, even when he was on city council before he ran for mayor against his mother when his father was murdered. He wasn’t even a bad mayor per say he just wasn’t the mayor that Atlas Falls deserved and soon he would be up for reelection if he chose to run. “It’s fine I guess I just never thought my dreams would lead me down the road to working for Walter in the planning commission you know. I always assumed that someone with the Kincaid last name would be in the mayor seat; it’s been like that for over three generations at least. My dad wasn’t this awful person that whoever posted that picture of him at the wedding, I didn’t know that Steven Kincaid.” He was thinking a lot about his father as of late how he would be now, who he was back then a picture he knew didn’t tell the whole story. His mother seemed pretty adamant about it that his father had changed he knew he did. If he was this monster racist why was he working with Tony so much in the Scottswood area why did he spend so much time trying to fix it. “Rumor is Anderson is not going to win the Governor seat his numbers are too low and Walter lets just say he may run. But I feel that Atlas Falls could go younger, we need someone young in the office that gets it. I thought about running against Walter a while ago but it wasn’t the right time with Max and besides she would have been against it.”

When he grabbed her, Bliss’ squeal of delight rolled into laughter and then she whimpered low as he pressed into her. He had learned all the right ways to touch her or maybe they just fit together so perfectly that his moves were the same ones that drove her mad. That adorable boyish smile he’d flashed her made her heart beat faster. Her body was humming from his touch. Spending a romantic night together at the resort would be the perfect cherry on top of this night. “If you’re trying to lure me to the ski resort for a night of debauchery, the answer is yes. A thousand times yes and make sure they put the do not disturb sign out. I hope you’re happy with yourself. I’m going to be having inappropriate thoughts about you all night,” she grinned, kissing him back. “I promise that if, or rather when, Max tries to steal the spotlight it’ll barely register because I’ll be looking at you. Seriously though, everyone knows this wasn’t a one woman show and I’m so exhausted with the constant back and forth. What mood is she going to be in? Does she like me or hate me today? I can’t keep giving her my power. It hurts that she continues to act like she can just erase me or Belle but I try not to think about it. We’re here and we’re staying. She can’t keep denying reality.” She took his hands and placed them on her little baby bump. This pregnancy was so different from Fox. Hunter was an incredible husband, loving father and a true partner. Despite the little jail hiccup which they’d talked through and moved past. “You will be there for all of it. Right by my side, which is my favorite place to be. One of my favorite places because above you and under you are really nice, too.”

Bliss heard the interest in his voice when he spoke about the mayor’s office. Between her fathers death, Brenda’s illness and the casino they hadn’t really discussed much other than what was in front of their faces. She could tell this was something he’d been ruminating on for awhile and she detected a question in his statement that Max would have stopped him when he first considered running, before they’d ever met. At that moment, she thought Max was absolutely the most selfish person she’d ever known. How could she want to hold him back from his dreams? “Yeah, I don’t think anyone has ever uttered the words, ‘l wish I could work for Walter Fraiser’. You would be the most kick ass mayor this town has ever seen. Not to take anything away from your father but you have so much to give. Walter’s competent but he lacks vision and does nothing to bring people together. He’s not facilitating conversations that lead to the kind of change that results in tangible improvements to peoples lives. He hasn’t embraced diversity and seems completely unaware of the National conversation regarding inclusion. Walter’s finger pointing and buck passing isn’t moving us forward. So, if you’re asking me if I think you running for mayor is a good idea or if the timing is right, I’m with you 100%. I believe in you. I know your father wasn’t an awful man because you wouldn’t be the amazing man I married if he was. Besides, you are not your father. Anderson’s done a lot of work to rehab the Kincaid image, with both of you tackling it, I think you can make a difference.” She took his hands. “I know it’ll be a lot but even with the baby, we’ll make it work. I’m not naive, I know things may come up about my past, Dimitri, my parents even but we’ll handle this. As long as I have you and Fox and this little one,” she put both of their hands on her stomach. “I have everything I need and we’ll be fine. We’ll handle it together.”

Hunter couldn’t help the warm smile that fell across his face when she mentioned that she would love to engage in more debauchery with him at the ski resort, he could absolutely make that happen. Honestly he felt like since his stint behind bars things were on the upswing for them and between all the casino stuff, her morning sickness and helping Fx adjust at school they needed to make some time for them too. Looking over at her while he finished putting his cuff links on he playfully rubbed a spot on her lower back, tempting to go lower and then pulled away. The after party would for sure be worth it. “A night at the ski resort it is then I’ll call and make the arrangements, Fox will be fine here with Kiki and if there is a problem we are no more than a little over forty minutes away. Tonight is about you and all the work you put into that casino to show that you can handle running a part of DGI too everyone likes to think of Max as some genius and she is good at what she does but you are the one who helped her and Roan bring this project in under budget and make is succeed. Max simply made a lot of the design decisions.” Hunter said looking at this wife, Max had always had an eye for the finer things. It was what made it easy for her to pick those things, but Bliss had been the one to make sure it all came in under budget. That was all Bliss not Max and it was about time that people saw that, that Bliss and Belle were part of their dad’s legacy too.

He didn’t think that Walter was the worst mayor ever to set foot in Atlas Falls he wasn’t, he wasn’t even the best he was just mediocre was a good word for it. Did Walter even want to be mayor? He was pretty sure the only reason the man had run was to stick it to his dad and Lowell. “Walter ran to stick it to my dad before he died, my mom and probably even Lowell. I don’t think he cares much about actually being mayor, he just wanted a win and that’s part of the problem. It’s still weird As hell that there could have been a half sibling out there for me with him and not in a good way you know? But I think I can help Atlas Falls and carry on his legacy.” Hunter finished while he looked at Bliss he knew now was the best time to talk about what running for office meant. It meant they would be under a certain type of scrutiny that her past would be constantly brought up especially in connection with Dimitri. “Running for political office here in the States means we’re going to have a lot of eyes on us and with that picture of my dad it is one thing that we can overcome, my dirty mess of a divorce with Max will be there and what happened with Philip when that gun went off. It won’t be to the scale of Anderson, Cara and the rumors of Natasha but it will be there. I’m more worried about you, Fox and the baby especially if they start to badger us about Dimitri. He’s going to come up alot and I don’t want that to cause you any distress. Water wouldn’t be above playing dirty either if he runs again and I wouldn’t want that to come between you and Dani, she’s kinda become like your best friend here and now our sister in law.” Hunter said softly looking at Bliss wanting her to understand it wouldn’t be easy by a long shot.

Bliss took Hunter’s face in her hands and kissed him. “I know you want to protect me and the kids,” and she smiled at that, soon they’d be a little family of four. “And I love you for that but I’m not made of glass. I have been through hell and back more than once. I made it on my own back then but I’m even stronger with you here. We’ll have a PR team to handle these things. A campaign manager. Plus are you forgetting I used to be a queen? I have some experience with this sort of thing. This is your dream and more than anything, I want to help you do this.” She helped him put on the last cuff link and smiled as she admired him in his tux. So handsome, he was the real prince in her life and she felt they could finally fully enjoy being together without the drama and sadness and destruction. Finally the morning sickness had subsided, the past with Dimitri was over, she would always miss her father but was moving forward, her and Belle were getting closer, her mother, well not everything could be good but there was enough to cancel her out.

“You haven’t brought up your sister, Kendall, much. It’s sad what happened to her. I wanted to give you space to feel your feelings about it all but if you want to talk, I’m here. Even without her around, Walter and your mother don’t seem to be losing any steam.” She saw him shudder a bit at the thought and nodded in solidarity. He might be a permanent fixture in their lives but Brenda was happy. Even if no one understood why. “Dani is one of my best friends and I’ll talk to her if this is what you want to do. I think she’ll understand if things get dicey, but you’re my forever, Hunter. If it comes down to me choosing, it’s always going to be you. So let Walter do his worst, let the press ask their questions about everything you mentioned. As long as I know you’re there and I can come home to you, I’ll be ok. All of us will. Oh, she’s moving. See? Even she says it’s fine. I can’t wait until you can feel it,” Bliss said, smiling brightly as she felt the baby flutter inside of her and her hands went to her stomach. Hunter was looking at her with a question on his face. “Did I say she? It’s just, I have a feeling it’s a little girl. I shouldn’t think that until we know for sure. We do want to find out, don’t we? I mean, Belle apparently needs to know and she’s not going to leave us alone about it.”

Hunter looked over at her and honestly his heart swelled knowing that she was okay with him running for office, he’d speak to his mother about it and they could start looking for a campaign manager to help, perhaps even Anderson could have a reference. He would even ask his mother to do it; she had done it for his father many times in the past. Perhaps he could convince her that she was meant to do this for him, that was if he could pry her away from Walter to actually hear him out. “Atlas Falls can be pretty cut throat is all I was trying to say, definitely different from the one than say Isla Del Cruces, they’re going to say you are a foreigner and a Devonshire to boot, that you can’t relate to the smaller people like in Scottswood. They’re going to ask about Dimitri and I just want you to be prepared for that. You know that I’d never let anyone hurt you or our children and I won’t ever do what I did with Dimitri again. I was just trying to take the heat off you, Tamara, Selina and Jackie. I wanted you all to be safe. He deserved what he got and then some and I’ll protect that secret to my grave and in some ways we have Walter to thank for that I guess.” Hunter finished looking at her before he leaned in to kiss her lips knowing that they were a team and the entire world of Atlas Falls would soon know that. When she mentioned his half sister he shrugged and almost shuddered.

He hadn’t mentioned Kendall because he didn’t actually think of her as a sister more like something they had got lucky to miss out on. Anderson was his brother and Brooke was his sister, the only two siblings of his that mattered. “I think I can speak for all of us when I say that I’m not going to cry a river over a sister I never met that died. A sister that clearly was something that my mother and Walter wanted more than their other families.” Hunter said trying not to sound super cold at the idea but also knowing from what he heard Braden and Dani felt the same. Brooke told him as much. Anderson didn’t seem to care one way or the other because he was hopelessly devoted to their mother. For all the things that everyone said about his father he was a good father to him and his siblings and knowing now that part of his family was a lie it was easier to not wish Kendall existed. “I don’t think Dani will be upset; she seems to be annoyed with Walter just as much as the rest of us. Besides I think if anyone else can convince her your brother can work that angle with her we’re not just friends, like family. Kinda amazing your brother and my best friend married someone you were able to connect with in Dani too.” He said placing his hand on her stomach while he leaned in kissing her when she said it was going to be a girl, he’d been dreaming about that lately whether or not they’d have a girl or a boy. He wanted a girl with golden hair like her mother, they already had a boy who was perfect and that was like his very own. “I say we find out so Belle won’t bug you about it but my instincts say a girl Bliss Kincaid.”

**********

Hector saw Gia in the VIP section and swiftly moved through the crowd. His face was stern and it took about forty minutes but he had set the device. Inside of the engine room the bomb was ticking. They had an hour to make moves and then it would be show time. Even if they had to use the detonator beforehand, it was ready. He sat down beside her as he looked into her eyes. “I can kill him in the chaos, I can use the debris to beat in Ronan Madden’s skull. He’d be another dead husband. I do believe that it’s time to discuss if I should end his life now or now? I’m sick of this. You saw how that girl talked to you? Max Devonshire talked to you? I will not have it. Is that clear? I’ve killed for you over and over again Gia. I will not let your reputation continue to become basic. I have sacrificed so much and he just plays you like a violin. You just let him continue to gallivant all these women in your face as if it’s a joke. Mia, Brooke, Dru and God knows who else. Has that dead baby inside of you gotten you that weak? Is he sucking the life force from you? Do you not see what I see when I look at you Gia? You are a goddess. The epitome of death follows you. You have made a life that others dream of and here you are now about to steal a baby for a man? A man I could kill right now in open public for you. All of it is for you? Let me do it. Let me show you how devoted I can be to the cause.” Hector said, begging her for a chance. Begging her to show him that she hadn’t gotten weak as he saw.

“I will always do what you say Gia but I won’t like it. In fact, if you want him to live. Then you will have to deal with all of it. I will be by your side but isn’t this doing too much for what? Do you love him? Is he that important to you? Or is it Sebastian? Is he that important to you? That you must have his first born even when he doesn’t know it? I mean which one is it? Gia is Sebastian the one I have to worry about or is it Ronan? Have you succumbed to the hate that could turn into passion? I need to know. I deserve to know because one day I want a chance to taste every morsel of you. I also want my life, and if Momma Navarro finds out. Ever what we are doing then I think we both know that we are beyond dead. Sebastian has changed but his mother hasn’t. She is still the same evil old witch who ran the entirety of Europe. Admit it you targeted him because of who she was. She was the original you with a lot less blood shed as far as I’m concerned but you two are mirrors of the same reflection. So is it Ronan you’re doing this for or Sebastian to have what you always wanted with him?” Picking up someone’s drink from a waitress tray who was passing daring her to say something. “I know which one it is in my mind but do you?”

Gia was watching the throngs of people move through this hideous casino, stroking her stomach and starting to feel the first stirrings of adrenaline. The thought of this entire place going up in flames. Ronan thought he had the golden touch? That he was invincible and he couldn’t fail. He was about to get a lesson in respect. She couldn’t believe her ears when Hector sat down next to her and started spewing this venom. “You sit here and insult me like this? On the night when my child is coming into the world?” She demanded incredulously. “It’s always this same whiny shit with you. You’re jealous. You were jealous of Sebastian, still are and now you’re jealous of Ronan and acting like even more of a little bitch. I’m sick of explaining this to you. You think you’ve sacrificed? I’m the one out here marrying these despicable, worthless, cheating rats for us. I finally have one thing for myself, one thing! This baby! And you don’t even want to let me enjoy that? Always making everything about you. Maybe you should talk to someone about your mommy issues. Maybe, you need to go find your nephew and fuck him in the ass again until you feel better.” Gia laughed at his face. “That’s right. I know about that. I made you who you are, how dare you talk to me like this. I brought you out of the gutter and I have given you everything you have. Now you are going to repay me by shutting the fuck up and giving me everything I want. Tonight that baby is mine. No Sebastian, no Ronan. Forget about them. It’s up to fate if they live or die.”

“Now you’re scared of an old lady? She has changed, she’s geriatric! She’s old and grey and senile. Are you getting cold feet? If that’s it, just say it,” she shrugged. “I’ll do it myself and probably better than you.” She slapped the drink out of his hand. “Did you even set the detonator like I told you? Do I need to go check it? Remember what happened in Florida? Or what almost didn’t happen because you crossed the wires. If you were back there throwing a fit because I looked in Ronan’s direction for thirty seconds and you screw this up for me, we’re done. That’s right. Done! I said it.” She stood up and paced the floor stroking her stomach. Her dead baby floating aimlessly inside of her. For a second she almost reconsidered at the thought of Momma Navarro finding out. She was the one thing in all of this that might stop her but she felt desperate imagining not having a baby in her arms. She couldn’t turn back. Hector couldn’t begin to understand the pull she had to that baby. Her own baby’s soul had moved into Sebastian’s baby. She could feel him calling out to her. “I need that baby and that baby needs me. If your fragile male ego can’t handle that, tell me now. Tell me you bastard if you’re going to let me down like every other pathetic, impotent man that has stood by my side. Because I have plans to have a baby tonight. You’re right about one thing, Momma Navarro was once my hero. She was everything I wanted to be and what would she do with a bug like you? Defying her? Shaming her? Who’s going to miss you? Ivan?” She laughed harshly knowing she was all he had. She picked up a large piece of the broken glass. “So what’s it going to be? Are you going to stop this or do I have to end you? Tell everyone it was self defense? Because I think my new little friend Mia will tell everyone what you said earlier. I’ll just cry and tell them you came after me and you’ll rot in hell alone. Without me.”

“I guess the threats are going both ways. You are sitting here threatening to kill me when I set a bomb and about to kidnap a fucking baby of the modern day Walton family? I have given you my all and here you are constantly disrespecting me. It will be a cold day in hell before I leave your side but I also won’t continue to be second. You think I don’t know what you’d do to me? I enjoy the thought you are the only one fit to end my life. I do think you are reaching. I am standing by your side, set a bomb on board a boat, and haven’t blinked an eye about killing Max Devonshire. Does it look like I’m upset about that? I’m upset because you have never showed me concern the way I have showed you. You threaten me and I’ll kill for you right now. You want him to want you and it’s pathetic. It’s sad and I don’t like weakness coming from the woman I banked on. Now you can pretend like I’m the one who is twisted but shall we look into that jagged little shard of glass called your heart. You aren’t doing this because you need a baby. We can survive anything, you’re doing because you’re just as twisted as I am. Max had the nerve to challenge you, and you still haven’t let go of Sebastian but want Ronan. Am I right? Don’t ever threaten me again Gia. Don’t. It won’t end well for either of us.” With that he stood up and kissed her forehead. “I will die for you but you won’t disrespect me.” He whispered to her.

Turning around he looked around the boat with a glee. The device would go off in an hour and it was so much that it would burn, and melt. So many lives snapped away in a moment’s instance. That made his dick hard just thinking about him taking out so many people at once. The elite but death never cared about wealth or stature. It was what they deserved. That’s when he saw him. He was switching through little fruit. Ivan surely loved this Simon and that was all he needed to know. Hector wanted to crack his pretty face. If he couldn’t kill Ronan and that would hurt the one person who he could. Gia wouldn’t care about him killing Simon and tonight he’d write a secret in blood. He would tell his nephew why he hated him so much. Sins and secrets were at play and he was going to tell him exactly why his father and he hated him. Why did he creep into his room late at night? He stalked Simon down the hallway and was going to take some release before he carved him up.

Ivan had been watching his uncle and Gia. He walked past the woman. “La puta.” He said as he walked past her. He could tell she heard him but he didn’t care. What was a nine month pregnant woman going to do to him? He stayed behind Hector with a glee. It was finally about to end. He had fear in his heart because Simon was done with him but he wasn’t going to let him get hurt. Pulling out his gun he knew that one of them wasn’t getting out alive. That would be him. His heart pounded as he watched Simon walking into the private bathroom, and then Hector followed. This would end tonight one way or another.

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