Episode 15 – Self Discovery

 

 

Last Time:

 

–       Chardonnay had nothing to do and Gabe told her that she should go to college and get some skills. Later she visited Victor and suggested a couple of ideas, which he in turn rejected.

–       Carla was the one who had spotted Russell and Judi’s kiss. She talked to Judi and revealed that she had had an affair with a married man which ended up losing her a job.

–       Nate and Kayla argued about the threats he had been receiving. He got another text. Kayla spotted Paris with a phone. The two girls started fighting. Nate ended up unconscious after Kayla pushed him away.

 

Friday,24^th January 2003, Judi’s Apartment, Four fifteen p.m.

 

Judi Anders groaned as she heard the loud ring of the phone which was situated on her bedside table. She had finished work at nine that morning, but various different delays had stopped her getting to bed until one that afternoon. And now, after only three hours sleep, she was already being woken up.

 

Judi turned over and placed her hand on the receiver. A yawn escaped as she sat up in the bed and placed the receiver to her ear.

 

“Hello, Judi Anders” she began, as she brushed a strand of her hair back from her face. Judi was surprised when she realised that it was her daughter.

 

“Kayla, what is it?”

 

Judi sat up in her bed as Kayla started to talk. As she listened she realised that she would have to get to the hospital right away.

***

 

Friday,24^th January 2003, Golden Oaks Hospital, twenty minutes later

 

Kayla Anders paced anxiously around the tension filled waiting room. She had been here for almost fifteen minutes and all the waiting was getting on her nerves. She glanced over at Paris Robertson, who had also tagged along to the hospital.

 

She then turned her eyes towards the man, who had spotted Nate lying on the pavement and offered to bring herself, Nate and Paris to the hospital. Kayla stopped walking to and fro as she heard the door behind her open.

 

Kayla turned to see her mother standing there. She ran towards her mother’s welcoming, open arms. The two of them shared a hug for a second, until Judi pulled away.

 

“Kayla, what happened?” she asked. She looked intently at her daughter, making it difficult for Kayla to fabricate a lie. The two girls hadn’t really told the man what had happened, just saying there was an accident.

 

“Nate slipped on a piece of the pavement, I think, and then fell and hit his head. And then we brought him here” Kayla lied.

 

Kayla knew that she had to lie. If anything happened to Nate she could get in trouble – maybe even with the police. She knew that Nate would cover for her when he woke up. If he woke up. Judi’s slow response and the horrified look in Paris’s eyes made Kayla even more nervous.

 

“Have you phoned Leslie or Victor yet?” Judi asked.

 

“No, Nate asked me not to, before he went unconscious”

 

“I’ll go call them” Judi said. She opened her bag and took out her cellphone. She started to punch in the numbers but an outburst from Kayla stopped her.

 

“No” Kayla shouted.

 

“Honey, are you okay?”

 

“It’s just that I…” Kayla started. “I…”

 

Judi looked at her daughter intently. She was puzzled as to why Kayla seemed to against calling Victor and Leslie. Kayla could feel all eyes on her as various words flashed through her mind. She had to do something. Suddenly she got an idea.

 

“It’s all my fault and I promised him that I wouldn’t say anything. I can’t break his promise. What if something happened and I hadn’t kept his promise – for as long as I could anyway” Kayla continued. She felt tears well up in her eyes.

 

Judi placed her arms around her daughter. She hadn’t expected Kayla to start crying and knew that there was something her daughter was hiding. Judi looked up and noticed the man in the corner of the room, who had helped the teenagers out – Alex. He looked up at her and their eyes met for a short second. The door opened and a nurse arrived through the doors.

 

Kayla pulled away from her mother and looked at the nurse. Judi grabbed her daughter’s hand. Paris, who had been thinking about her feelings for Nate while Kayla was talking to Judi, rose from her seat and moved closer to the nurse. Alex also rose from his seat and also walked closer. Everyone held their breaths.

 

“Sorry to interrupt, but we have some news on Nate Samson” said the nurse.

 

“Is he going to be okay?” Judi asked.

 

“Yes, Dr. Anders, he will be fine. Well except for a large bruise on the back of his head” the nurse said. A sigh of relief spread through the room.

 

“Thanks Melody” Judi said.

 

“I wish that I hadn’t made such a fuss now” Kayla stated, releasing her hand from Judi’s grip.

 

”It was better to be safe than sorry” Melody said. “I’d better be going. Nate should be ready to go home in a short while.”

 

“Can I go in and see him?”

 

“Yes, sure” Melody said. Kayla walked past her. The young nurse turned to look at Paris, Alex and Judi.

 

“Are you coming?” she asked.

 

“No, I’ll be okay here” Judi said.

 

“I have to go home now” Paris said, picking up her bag. She walked past Judi, Melody and Kayla.

 

Outside in the corridor Melody started to walk Kayla towards Nate’s bed.

 

“You’re sure he’ll be okay aren’t you?” Kayla started. “He won’t need to come back here or anything will he?”

 

“No, Nate will be…” Melody began but was interrupted by the sound of her name. Kayla turned and saw a doctor calling her. “I better go. Your cousins room is just through those doors and then in cubicle number five”

 

Kayla continued walking towards Nate’s cubicle, but was interrupted by Paris calling her from behind. Kayla stopped, sighed and turned around. Paris was standing directly in front of her.

 

“What Paris?” she answered.

 

“You know what! Why did you lie to your mother in there?” Paris asked.

 

“That’s none of your business!” Kayla responded.

 

“It is my business when I am asked to lie for someone”

 

“I didn’t ask you to lie for me and anyway you haven’t lied for me”

 

“Well maybe I wont. Maybe if I’m asked by Nate’s parents I’ll tell them the truth”

“You wouldn’t dare”

 

“Want to bet?” Paris said, a conniving smile appearing on her face. “Oh and isn’t there one thing you forgot while lying to your mother?”

 

“And what’s that then?”

 

“If she asks then he’ll tell her what happened and she’ll know that you are a liar and a cheat – if she doesn’t already that is” Paris sneered. She turned and smiled triumphantly to herself. She detested Kayla and would continue to wind her up at any chance she got.

 

Meanwhile, back in the waiting room, Judi had thanked Alex for helping her nephew.

 

“It was no problem. Glad I could help someone” he said, flashing her a smile as she watched him pick up his leather jacket.. Alex walked past Judi and reached the door. “Bye then”

 

“Alex… wait” Judi said. She wondered what she was doing and the words hadn’t even started yet. Alex turned around and looked at the woman he had known such a short time, but felt very close to.

 

“I, I… maybe we should meet up sometime, for a drink. Nothing to formal, just a drink”

 

“Yeah, I’d like to do that”

 

“You would?”

 

“I think we need to talk” Alex smiled again. “About what happened… you know”

 

“I know”

 

“So when do you want to meet up, and where?” Alex asked.

 

“Tomorrow night. That good for you?” Judi answered.

 

“Well, I will have to work tomorrow night. One of my staff is away for a few weeks and I agreed to fill in for him”

 

“The perks to being your own boss?”

 

“I suppose I could take an extended break” Alex suggested.

 

“About seven thirty?”

 

“That’d be great”

***

 

The strip club, after midnight

 

Mercedes Spencer took off the necklace she was wearing. To an untrained eye, it appeared to be very expensive, but Mercedes knew it was just a cheap imitation.

 

“Night Mercedes” came Elektra’s voice from the doorway. Mercedes turned and smiled.

 

”Goodnight, see you tomorrow” she replied. After Elektra left Mercedes returned to changing her clothes and removing her jewellery. As she started to remove her make up, Mercedes noticed a movement in the corner of the mirror. She stopped with her make up and watched as Sebastian del Caro entered the room. He closed the door after him and walked over to where she sat.

 

He placed his hands on her shoulders, but she pulled away, feeling his warm hands on her.

 

“Please Sebastian. I’m tired” Mercedes said. She stood up and moved away from the dressing table. He followed her and grabbed her by the arm. Mercedes tried to stop him, but he was much stronger than her and she failed. They kissed and Mercedes started to flash back to an event which had happened several months ago, when she had slept with Sebastian after having too much to drink one night.

 

Mercedes had felt so bad following that event, nearly leaving town so she wouldn’t feel so upset. Sebastian was the first man she had slept with after giving up her time on the street corners in New York. Ever since she had pushed Sebastian away and had tried hard to fight her feelings for him. But she knew that she couldn’t keep them, or him, away forever.

 

Neither noticed the door of the dressing room open. In the doorway stood Honey. She stopped walking as she spotted the man she wanted in a kiss with Mercedes. Honey turned around and started to run away.

 

Outside she lay against a wall and started to think. All she could see was Sebastian kissing Mercedes.

 

Back in the dressing room Mercedes pulled away from Sebastian. He had freed his grip on her arm and she left the room.

 

“No Sebastian” she said as she left. Outside a tear started to roll down her cheek. She knew that it would be hard for her to be properly intimate, without alcohol, with anyone ever again following those years.

***

 

Saturday,25^th January 2003, Samson Mansion, Seven p.m.

 

Nate Samson dropped the remote control in anger. There was nothing at all on TV except films he’d seen before, sports which he wasn’t interested in and so called comedies which were so badly acted they weren’t worth wasting time on.

 

Nate reached for a handful of popcorn, but stopped as he heard the doorbell ring. He wondered who it could be. Chardonnay was out with her friends and Victor was having a meal with Leslie somewhere in town.

 

“Paris” Nate said, surprised at who he saw standing before him. “What are you doing here?”

 

“I thought I’d drop by and see how you were. Can I come in as it is freezing out here?”

 

“Yeah sure. But how did you get here?” Nate asked as she walked past him.

 

“I walked from my house and the guards let me past” Paris answered as she walked into the living room.

 

“How are you feeling?” she asked taking a seat.

 

“Fine, though I still can’t remember what happened?”

 

“You don’t know?”

 

“Well Kayla told me, but I can’t remember falling or anything. Just you and her fighting” Nate answered. “Want a drink?”

 

“No, I’m fine. So what did Kayla say?”

 

“That I had tripped on the pavement, but she didn’t have a chance to go into details as Judi arrived to take me home” Nate said as he sat down opposite Paris.

 

“And have you told your parents yet?”

 

“No, I didn’t want to worry them”

 

There was an awkward silence for a minute until Paris and Nate started to speak at the same time.

 

“No you go first” he said.

 

“Okay, you know yesterday when Kayla went crazy?”

 

“Yes”

 

“Well what was she talking about? She accused me of sending you texts to you and then called me a bitch”

 

“I…”

 

“It’s something to do with New Year’s Eve isn’t it?”

 

“Yeah. I have been getting these strange notes and texts and…” Nate began. He silently reflected on the biggest problem he had faced in his life. Paris moved over to where he was sitting and placed her hand on his back. She placed her other hand on his. Nate turned and looked into her dark eyes.

 

Paris moved closer to Nate. She liked him much more than anyone other boy in her life. Suddenly the sound of the front door opening interrupted the moment. Paris and Nate pulled away from one another and looked up at Gabriel.

 

“Gabe, what are you doing here?” Nate asked as a bemused Gabriel looked at Paris.

 

“I finished work early and thought I’d get a bite to eat before I meet Chardonnay in town later. She gave me a set of keys last week”

 

“I have to go” Paris said as she stood up. “See you Monday Nate”

 

“Bye” Nate said. Gabe smiled at his fiancé’s brother.

***

 

The Ritz Bar, Twenty five minutes later

 

Alex Blake left the orange juice down on the counter of his bar. He looked around as he waited for the woman to pay. It wasn’t too busy yet, but Alex knew that it would be busy later that night as the town’s young and wealthy twenty something’s arrived for a birthday party.

 

As he looked around Alex noticed the time – seven twenty five. Judi would be here shortly.

 

“Thanks" Alex said as he took the customer’s money.

 

“Keep the change” she said, smiling.

 

“Corey, you’ll be okay here by yourself won’t you?” Alex asked, walking towards the head barman.

 

“Yeah boss, I’ll be fine. I’ll call you if I have any problems” Corey Rafter answered with a smile.

 

“There’ll be no need. I’m staying here for my break” Alex said as he left the area behind the bar. He looked towards the doors of the bar and spotted Judi Anders make her entrance. She saw him and walked towards him.

 

Judi looked very different from the way Alex had seen her dressed before. Her brown hair was curled at the bottom and she was wearing a black dress. Alex stood still, watching her walk towards him for a moment.

 

“Hi” he greeted.

 

“Hello” she said rather nervously. She took a deep breath and smiled.

 

“You look great” he said, making a gesture for her to take a seat at the bar. She took a seat.

 

“Thanks… so do you” she replied, as he himself took a seat. He nervously laughed.

 

“So how’s Nate? Did he get home okay yesterday?” Alex started. Corey smiled as he spotted his boss with Judi.

 

“He’s fine. I brought him home yesterday”

 

“And Kayla?”

 

“She’s at home, but I think she is going over to Leslie’s later to see Nate”

 

“Leslie?”

 

“My sister, Nate’s mother. They live on the outskirts of town, five minutes from the apartment” Judi said.

 

“She is married to Victor Samson is she?” Alex asked.

 

“Yes, how did you know?”

 

“He wants to take over my father’s company”

 

“Sorry to interrupt, but do you want anything to drink?” Corey asked.

 

“I’ll just have a soda in case I have to drive anywhere later” Judi answered.

 

“I’m fine Corey” Alex replied. Corey quickly got Judi her drink and left it down on the counter for her. She put her money down on the counter.

 

“It’s fine” Alex intervened.

 

“Thanks” Judi said, smiling. She was feeling more comfortable than she was a couple of minutes ago.

 

“So you mentioned that Victor wants to take over the company?” Judi started again.

 

“I’m thinking of taking up his offer. I never knew about the company until a few weeks ago and you are the only person I have told apart from my mother”

 

“What about Grant though? How did he and Jenna find out if you didn’t tell them?”

 

“I think he must have found a letter or overheard me tell mom. Then he roped in Jenna and you know the rest”

 

“Sorry, you probably don’t want to talk about this, do you?” Judi said, seeing Alex’s reaction to her questions.

 

“Alex, I need your help” came a voice from behind the bar. Alex and Judi turned to see Corey stood there.

 

“What is it?”

 

“Difficult customer” he replied, with a sigh.

”Back in a second” Alex said, standing up. He smiled at Judi before walking away.

 

Meanwhile Judi hadn’t spotted Chardonnay, who was secretly smiling to herself after seeing Alex and her aunt together. Chardonnay watched as Judi’s cellphone started to ring, but Judi didn’t answer it. Chardonnay was surprised as she watched Judi grab her bag and walk out the door. Chardonnay then saw Alex arrive back at the bar and noticed the puzzled look on his face.

 

Outside Judi started to run. She had to get out of there. She knew that it was wrong to spend time with Alex and build up his hopes for a relationship if she was close to somebody else – Russell. Judi turned around as she heard an old man coughing behind. He was sat on the pavement, in dirty clothes. A small can was in his hand, with a few cents in it.

 

“Are you okay?” he asked Judi.

 

“What? Me?”

 

“Yes, you”

 

“I am fine. Just thinking about someone”

 

“People make life so difficult these days, spending too much time thinking and not enough time concentrating on what they want in their heart” the old man said. Judi took in his words. She realised that what he was saying was true.

 

Judi opened her bag, took out fifty dollars and put it in the man’s can.

***

 

The strip club, almost midnight

 

“Damn it” Honey said as she kicked at the bin. Her plan to seduce Sebastian hadn’t worked. She had tried to seduce him in the dressing rooms just a few moments ago, but he had left her. “Damn it” she repeated again.

 

This time she kicked at the drawers. One of the drawers opened and she spotted something which immediately caught her attention. Honey got down on one knee and looked at the item. She took it out of Elektra’s drawer and smiled.

 

“Ok Elektra, you are going to wish you hadn’t left my gun lying about like this” Honey laughed.

Continue with Episode 16 - Preparations

Read Episode 14 – Knock on effect

Return home