Special Episode 1 – New York Complications, Part I
Monday, 17th February 2003, Mercedes and Sebastian’s
Apartment, Morning
Mercedes Spencer smiled as she watched Sebastian del Caro open his eyes. He looked up at her, and also smiled.
“Morning.” she said.
“What time is it?” he asked.
“Just gone ten,” Mercedes answered, “You hungry?”
Sebastian nodded, with a slightly devious smile. “Starving. I’m beginning to regret skipping dinner last night to christen our bedroom.”
”I better go and get something for you then.”
Mercedes slipped out of their bed, one of the first pieces of furniture to arrive, and slipped Sebastian’s dressing gown on, to cover her naked body. She then walked around the bed and out of the room. Sebastian turned over to watch her go.
The previous night they had slept together for the first time since arriving in New York, after Mercedes told Sebastian everything he wanted to know about her life before she met him. She had also told him why she hadn’t wanted to sleep with him previously and why she had slept with him on a night in 2002. All of this had brought them much closer together.
In the kitchen Mercedes was looking in the fridge, checking to see what they had. A carton of butter and a half full carton of milk. Also there was a packet of stale bread, which was a mix of blue and pale green fungi on the surface, almost finished.
Suddenly flashed back to the previous night, when she had opened up to Sebastian about her life as a prostitute and told him why she wouldn’t sleep with him, despite all his efforts.
A couple of minutes later Sebastian and Mercedes are sat opposite each other in the kitchen, talking about their day.
“Why don’t you come with me, to meet Isabelle and Heather?” he asked.
“I’m not sure, I wouldn’t want to intrude on you and your daughter.”
“You wouldn’t be intruding.”
“I still don’t know, what if she doesn’t want me there?”
“She’ll have to meet you sometime.”
“I suppose, but…”
“Come on. She’ll like you, I know she will.”
“Oh alright then.” Mercedes said. Sebastian smiled and took a large bite of his toast, made with the stale bread.
“What about the club?” She asked.
“I’m going there later, to check out the
location” Sebastian answered.
***
Isabelle and Heather’s Apartment, A few hours later
Mercedes smiled nervously at Sebastian as he knocked on the door of his ex-wife’s apartment. She was nervous about meeting Heather del Caro, what if they didn’t get on? What if she lost Sebastian because Heather didn’t like her?
The door opened. “Sebastian.” Said a blonde haired woman, with blue eyes and a wide smile. “How are you?”
“I’m fine.” Sebastian answered. The woman threw her arms around Sebastian, not noticing Mercedes. Sebastian quickly pushed his ex-wife away. As he pushed her away, she noticed Mercedes and her smile quickly slipped off her face.
“Well aren’t you going to introduce us Sebastian, love?” She asked, looking up and down Mercedes.
“This is Mercedes. She is my partner. She has moved with me.”
“Hi.” Isabelle said, coldly.
“Hello.” Mercedes greeted, holding out her hand.
Isabella was reluctant about taking it, but in the end she held out her own hand and took a tight grasp of Mercedes’ hand. Isabella then turned back to Sebastian.
“Heather’s been talking about seeing you again for weeks. She has really missed you. She really needs a father figure at her age. Don’t you agree Merc?”
“Ahem… yes.”
“And what about Neville?”
“Neville? Oh we finished months ago. Didn’t Heather tell you when you two were talking over the phone?”
“No, she didn’t. What happened? Did he not have enough money or something?”
“It was a mutual decision. We just decided that working together and living together wasn’t working anymore. Now I’m free, single and ready for offers.”
“Dad!” Came another voice, interrupting before Sebastian could reply. All three turned to look at a blonde haired teenager, who was standing in the door of the apartment. She had a slight resemblance of both her parents. Sebastian held out his arms and his daughter immediately ran into them.
“I’ve missed you so much, dad.” She said.
“I’ve missed you too Heather.” Sebastian started, still holding his daughter tightly.
“So, are you coming to the park with us now?”
“Us?”
“Me and Mercedes.” Sebastian answered.
Heather turned and gave Mercedes a look very similar to that of her mothers, a couple of minutes previously.
***
A New York Park, An hour later
“So what do you think of her?” Sebastian asked, as he and Mercedes made their way through the park. Heather was in front of them, playing with her dog.
”I think she’s great. She looks just like you.” Mercedes said, looking ahead at the fifteen year old.
“And Izzy?”
“She doesn’t like me, does she?”
“Well…” Sebastian started. “No, but she doesn’t matter.”
“Are you sure of that?”
“Of course I am. I don’t love her anymore, I know what she really is. A lying, cheating, greedy woman.”
“Who will always be a large part of your life because of Heather.”
Sebastian sighed. “That’s true, but she’s in the past.”
There was a short silence for a moment, as the couple walked arm in arm behind Heather.
“I’ve got an idea. Why don’t I go get us some coffee’s?” Sebastian suggested.
“Why don’t I go, leave you and Heather to catch up?”
“I’ll go, it’ll give you two a chance to get to know one another.”
“I…” Mercedes started, but Sebastian had already turned and started walking away.
Mercedes continued to follow Heather, who was now running after her dog who had spotted another dog, who it seemed to like. Mercedes smiled, as Heather turned around. She had managed to regain control of her dog and walked back to where Mercedes’ was.
“Hi.” Mercedes greeted.
“Where’s dad gone?” Heather asked, ignoring the greeting.
“He’s gone to get a cup of coffee.”
“Oh.” Heather replied. Mercedes couldn’t tell if she was disappointed her father had left her alone or not. She looked up and noticed an ice cream stand.
“How about an ice cream?” She suggested, smiling.
“No thanks, I’m fine.”
“Sure?”
“I said I was fine didn’t I?”
“Alright then, I’ll go and get one for myself.” Mercedes said. She started walking, but noticed Heather hadn’t. “Hey, you coming?”
“My mom has always told me not to go anywhere with strangers.” Heather retorted, a faint smile on her lips. She was happy at how stinging her insult had been to Mercedes.
“So you think I’m a stranger then?” Mercedes said, quickly recovering from Heather’s words.
“Well, I don’t know you do I?”
“You don’t like me, do you?” Mercedes asked, moving back to Heather.
“No. But me and mom aren’t going to let you steal him away. We’re his family, you’re nothing.”
***
Mercedes and Sebastian’s Apartment, New York, Evening
“…me and mom aren’t going to let you
steal him away. We’re his family, you’re nothing.”
Those were the words which Mercedes kept repeating over and over in her head. Did Isabelle and Heather really have something planned, to break Mercedes and Sebastian up, or was it just Heather’s imagination? She wondered.
“There is a really large space, which I was thinking we could use as a dance floor, and then I was thinking we could get rid of the wooden steps, and replace them with circular metal staircases leading up to the seating area. Or maybe we could have seats around the…” Sebastian continued, until he noticed the blank expression on Mercedes face. He looked down at her untouched dinner.
“Are you okay?” He asked.
“What…? Oh, yes. I’m fine.”
“It’s just you haven’t listened to a word I’ve said since I got back from seeing the club.”
“I’ve just been thinking.”
“About what?”
“Seeing mom tomorrow. I’ve only seen her once since I got back.” She lied. “Do you want to come with me?”
“I… okay.” Sebastian replied.
***
Saturday, 15th March 2003, Sphere Nite Club, 12pm
“What time is best for you?” Sebastian asked Mercedes as he took a seat opposite her in one of the newly installed black leather booths in their new club.
“For what?” Mercedes asked, without raising an eye from the papers she was looking through.
“Heather’s party of course.” Sebastian explained patiently, knowing how worried Mercedes’ was at the upcoming opening of the club in just under a week.
This time Mercedes left down her pen, and looked up at Sebastian. She took a deep breath.
“I don’t think I’ll be able to go. I have to stay here and check the order.”
“Well we can go later. I just want to get there before all the guests, so I can give her our presents.”
“I don’t know. Her birthday is a family thing, and I don’t want to intrude. And I want to check everything here, before Friday.”
“You’ll have plenty of time to do all that next week. And you are family now. I’m sure Heather would like you to be there.”
“I…” Mercedes began, trying to think of another excuse. “What if the delivery guys are late?”
“How about I get a taxi over, and then you drive over after me when the delivery has been done?”
Mercedes knew that there was nothing she could do. If she came up with another excuse, Sebastian would wonder why she didn’t want to go to the party.
“Okay.” She said.
“I’ll go call them then.” Sebastian said, sweeping past. Mercedes sighed wearily.
“Hi Izzy.” Sebastian greeted.
“Oh, hi Sebastian.” Said Isabelle on the other line.
“Is Heather there?”
“No, she has just popped out to get some things for the party.” Isabelle lied, as she watched Heather through the door, putting up some decorations.
“Oh, okay. Just tell her that we’ll be there around six.”
“Of course, why wouldn’t she be? She might be a little late though, as she has to wait for a delivery, here at the club.”
“Oh, will she now.” Isabelle said, an idea suddenly forming in her head.
***
Isabelle and Heather’s Apartment, 6pm
“Mom, I don’t know about this.” Heather said, as she adjusted her hair.
“You want your dad and I to be together, don’t you?”
“Yes, but…” Heather began, but was silenced by the stern look on her mother’s face. She looked towards the door, as she heard a knock.
“That’ll be him. Tell him I’ll be out soon, I’m just getting changed. And make sure you let me know when she is coming, so I can get ready.” Isabelle said, walking away.
“Okay.” Heather sighed, as she walked to the door. She opened it, and smiled.
“Hi dad.” She greeted warmly.
“Hi. Happy birthday.” Sebastian said, also smiling.
“Can you give me a hand with these?” He asked, handing her a large bag.
“What are they?” She asked, suspiciously.
“What do you think? Your presents of course.” Sebastian said, walking past his daughter into the apartment.
“But dad, this is too much.” She said, looking into the bag and seeing all her new clothes, make up and other things.
“They are for all the birthday’s I missed when I wasn’t here.” He said, smiling.
“Thanks dad.” Heather said, feeling guilty. He held out his arms and they shared a small hug.
“So, where’s your mother?” He asked, pulling away.
“She’s still getting ready. She’ll be out in a moment.” Heather said, avoiding her father’s gaze.
“Oh. Mercedes will be here soon. I was speaking to her as I was in the elevator and she said that she was on her way.”
“Great.” Heather replied, with false enthusiasm. She continued to avoid her father’s gaze, looking at the presents. “Why don’t you go and wait in the lounge, mom will be out in a minute or two. I have to finish getting ready.”
“Okay.” Sebastian replied, slightly surprised by his daughter. He walked through the lounge and spotted some decorations which hadn’t been put up properly. He decided to adjust them.
Heather walked into her bedroom. As she walked past the window, she noticed Mercedes stepping out of her car.
“Damn.” Heather said to herself. She picked up her phone and punched in her mother’s number.
“Is she here?” Isabelle asked, as she examined herself in her mirror.
“Yeah.” Heather said, sighing.
“Thanks.” Isabelle said, turning around and walking towards her door, wearing only a dressing gown. She opened the door and made her way into the lounge.
“Sebastian, I didn’t realise you were here yet.” Isabelle said, feigning surprise at her ex-husband’s presence.
“We said six, didn’t we?”
Isabelle nodded as she moved nearer Sebastian, who was still adjusting the decorations.
“Why don’t you sit down. They’ll be fine.” She said. “I need to talk to you about Heather.”
Sebastian turned to Isabelle and asked worriedly, “What is it?”
“Sit down. It’s just…” She began, as Sebastian sat down. The sound of a knock on the front door had interrupted her.
“That’ll be Mercedes.” Sebastian said, looking at his watch as Isabelle moved closer towards him.
“Heather will get it.” She said.
“Hi.” Heather said, frostily after opening the door to see Mercedes standing before her.
“Hello.” Mercedes said, meekly. “Happy Birthday.”
“Thanks.” Heather replied.
“So where is your dad.”
“In the lounge with mom.”
Heather walked towards the door of the lounge, with Mercedes in pursuit. Mercedes was a few steps behind Heather, and didn’t notice Heather’s eyes meet Isabelle’s. Sebastian’s back was sitting down, and didn’t see Heather in the doorway behind him. Isabelle immediately moved closer to Sebastian, and kissed him passionately.
Mercedes smiled at Heather as she reached the door. Her smile quickly disappeared as she spotted her boyfriend in a passionate kiss with his ex-wife.
“Sebastian.” She shouted. He pushed Isabelle away, and turned around.
In Part II:
Murder, lies, affairs – all uncovered in one shocking episode which will tear Mercedes and Sebastian apart – but will it be for good?