Episode 155

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Episode 155

Scene 1:

"Good thing you're doing that," Dane remarked sliding into Rick's office and closing the door behind himself. "My aunt is on the warpath and she's looking for you."

Rick glanced up from the box he was filling with his personal papers and shrugged his shoulders casually. "I'm not hiding from her. She can come find me any time she wants," he returned.

"Rick, you might want to rethink this whole revenge thing on Jude. Gwen is not going to let you ruin him. If it were Hallie or maybe Ellen, she'd let it go. I'd be willing to bet she'd even let it go if it were Jamie since he can fight his own battles. But this is Jude. You know...the son who just found out about her? The one who hates her? The one she would do anything to win back? Come on, Rick. Use your head here," Dane pleaded. "Print a retraction and end this whole nonsense. I like having you here. It means I don't have to do much."

"I'm not afraid of Gwen Mason," Rick answered with a small smile. "Bring her on. But if you ask me, a man shouldn't let his mother fight his battles for him. And you know Dane, you've made this job interesting as well and I do count you as one of my best friends but Jude Fontaine, cousin or no, isn't going to get away with being the saint he pretends to be. And if he wants your aunt to fight his battle, bring her on."

"Oh my god, Rick. You think Jude wants her to take up for him? You're insane. Gwen will do what she wants without Jude's permission which makes her that much more dangerous!"

"And again, I'm not afraid of her."

Dane shook his head sadly. "You should be," he managed to get out as the door flung open behind them. Gwen stood in the doorway, anger seething from her. She narrowed her eyes into dangerous slits, eyeing Dane first.

"What are you doing here?" She demanded coldly.

"Working," Dane returned averting his eyes.

"Really? It looks to me like you're warning Rick or something of that sort. Am I right, Dane? Because I'm sure Mr. Upton doesn't need a warning of any kind. He's always struck me as a man who knows what he's getting himself into. Am I right, Mr. Upton?" She asked turning her glare to him.

"Of course I do. As a matter of fact, Mrs. Mason, I'm glad you dropped by." He reached into his jacket and drew out an envelope, dropping it onto the desk. "I believe you came to ask for this."

"What is that?" Dane demanded.

"My resignation. It is what you came for isn't it?" Rick replied turning his gaze to Gwen. "I assure you, Mrs. Mason, I don't want to be here any longer than you want me here either."

Dane snagged the envelope off the desk, jamming it into his pocket. "No way, Rick. Just print a retraction or something."
"Why don't you go find something to do, Dane," Gwen said with a dismissive wave. "Mr. Upton and I need to have some privacy."

Dane glanced between the two, not wanting to leave them as the battle began. The last thing he wanted was either one of their blood on his hands. The two of them stared at each other, waiting for Dane's departure to set off the first round of ammo, he decided. "All right. I'll go. Rick think about what I said," he said, wagging a finger at him in an admonishing gesture. As he stepped towards the door, he paused long enough to mutter to Gwen, "Try not to kill him just yet okay? He's not a bad guy, just in love with the wrong woman."

Scene 2:

"All right. I'll do it."

That was the message from Josh Manning on his answering machine when he got home. The thought of Josh's apparent acceptance of Jamie's job offer was a ray of sunshine in an otherwise dismal day. Chris had left the house without a word to him, seeming more preoccupied than normal. The newspapers that the housekeeper had dutifully saved for him all ran the same scathing editorial written about Jude and his Washington past, hinting at something less than legal. How had that gotten in there?

He picked up the phone on his desk and dialed Jude's cell phone, getting his voice mail. "Jude, it's Jamie. I just got back from New Orleans and saw the papers. Get back to me when you get this." He set the phone down just as the doorbell rang. He waved the housekeeper away and headed toward the front door himself. With any luck it would be Jude and they could decide a course of action for Rick Upton and the ridiculous rumors the man was bent on perpetuating.

"Jamie. Glad you're home." Stephen brushed by him into the foyer, waiting for Jamie to close the door.

"Good afternoon to you too, Stephen. Please, come in," Jamie said dryly. "What can I do for you?"

"I want you to buy me out of the Drop," Stephen said without hesitating. Jamie blinked in surprise but remained silent hoping for more of an explanation. "I'm leaving Conlan's Glen."

"Really? Running off with my cousin?" Jamie grinned. The idea of anyone running off with Hallie was absurd enough to make him smile. "Shouldn't you wait until her divorce is final?"

Stephen's line thinned into a grim line. "I won't be going anywhere with Hallie. We're through."

Well that was unexpected. Jamie nodded sympathetically but he wasn't too bothered by the end of their affair. Hallie was a viper and she would undoubtedly ruin Stephen who was, despite some past ruthless behavior, a decent business man. Better to let her ruin Luke Conlan's career than Stephen's.

"You don't seem too surprised," Stephen noted.

"I don't suppose I am," Jamie replied heading towards his study. Stephen followed at a short distance, pausing in the doorway, watching him as he approached the bar. "Hallie's relationships don't usually last too long. She has a tendency to self-destruct." He reached for a bottle of Jack Daniels and two glasses. "I know it's early, but you look like you could use a drink."

"I could, thanks." Stephen took the proffered glass and downed it without hesitation. He held the glass out to Jamie for a refill. "Self-destruction seems to be what Hallie is best at."

"I know it's none of my business, but what did she do?"

Stephen's eyes clouded over. "She cheated on me," he said simply.

Jamie let it go at that. No need to go into details after all. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry, just buy me out."

"No can do, Stephen. All my funds are tied up," Jamie said apologetically. It wasn't exactly true, but he had no desire to get himself stuck in the middle of one of Hallie's mistakes. "Besides, you should be asking Jude to buy you out. You have a partner to consider and it isn't me. Think about Jude. His life is finally turning around with Maura. Even if you don't like the guy, he deserves first crack to buy you out. "

"Only because of you. You're the one who fronted the money for the Drop in the first place. Without you, it would never have happened. Come on, Jamie. I can't stay here."

"Yes, you can," Jamie replied, swallowing his own drink. "You made a mistake with Hallie. But you've got a great investment right now that is paying off for you. A year ago, if someone had told me that downtown Conlan's Glen would be renovated and rejuvenated, I would have laughed. But you did it. Stay and be proud of yourself. Don't let Hallie ruin your accomplishment. Stay and make the Drop even better than it already is."

Stephen stared at Jamie for a long moment before setting his glass down on the bar. "I'll think about it," he said. "But your brother is about to be stormed by some nasty press. He's made an enemy in Rick Upton and that man isn't about to back down."

"All the more reason you should stay. Jude is going to need your partnership if this press stuff continues."

"Or this press stuff will ruin the Drop," Stephen added. "Ever consider that?"

"Of course I have," Jamie replied irritated. "But I have no intention of letting some mean-spirited gossip ruin my brother's life. I owe him that much." He turned away from Stephen. He did feel guilty about Jude's life even if none of it had been his fault. Gwen had stolen his life from him and left him with a lot of lies about himself. Jamie was determined to make at least some of it up to him. No matter what he had to do. If that meant taking Rick Upton on himself, then that was what he intended to do.

Scene 3:

"Who rained on your parade?" Ellen slid into the booth across from Jory.

"What?" Jory asked rousing himself from wallowing in his own self-pity long enough to look up from his coffee.

"I said who rained on your parade. You look dreadful," Ellen noted taking in his haggard appearance. No sleep for the last couple of nights had taken their toll on him. "Oh. It was that woman again, wasn't it? What has she done now?"

Jory frowned following Ellen's glare to where Gina and Kevin were exchanging public displays of affection at random at the bar. For once, it wasn't Gina. His problem was bigger than that. The last he had seen of Georgia had been that night at her apartment when Ian had shown up and she had let him in but not Jory. She wasn't returning his phone calls and she hadn't been into work. Looking at Ellen, he wondered if she knew where her husband was at that minute because if he had to guess, he would say Ian was with Georgia Corelli.

"We could think of something. After all, two heads are better than one," Ellen was saying when he tuned back into her.

"What are you talking about?" He asked getting annoyed at her presence. "And why are you in such a good mood?"

"Well, I was talking about how to get rid of Gina but you apparently weren't listening," she answered raising an eyebrow at him. "As for my mood... Why wouldn't I be in a good mood? I've married the man of my dreams and made my mother livid all in the same week. Life couldn't get much better."

"Speaking of the man of your dreams, where is he right now?" He leaned forward, picking up his coffee mug.

"Why should you care? I thought you hated him."

"I do. But do you know where your husband is?"

Ellen's eyes narrowed. "He's at work."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course I'm sure!" Ellen snapped in a flash of anger. "Why do you want to know?"

Jory's shoulder lifted slightly. "Just wondering."

"No you weren't. You never just wonder. That's the annoying thing about you, Jory Conlan. Now, spit it out. What is wrong with you lately?"

"Nothing," he grumbled. God, how could she be so savvy and yet so maddeningly naive? It was obvious to him just where Ian was and work wasn't it.

"You are a very bad liar, Jory. It isn't Gina, otherwise you would have heard what I was saying earlier. So what is it?"

"How are you so certain Ian is at work? How do you know he isn't off somewhere else-"

Ellen interrupted, "Cheating on me? If he knows what's good for him, he won't. Besides, why would he cheat on his pregnant wife?" She smiled sweetly at him ignoring the surprise in his eyes. "I mean, Ian can be mean sometimes, but he isn't that bad. You really don't like him do you?"

"You're pregnant." Jory echoed. "That's why he married you."

"Well, I like to think I'm somewhat charming as well. But being pregnant didn't hurt. Now why would you question his fidelity?"

"Because the last time I saw him was at Georgia Corelli's door and I haven't heard from her since then."

Ellen waved the accusation away. "Oh don't be ridiculous. He's not still sleeping with her."

"How do you know?" Jory demanded.

"Because that was part of the deal." She must have understood the look of confusion he knew was plastered across his face because she continued. "All right, I guess I'm going to have to tell you after all. But you have to promise to keep it a secret. I'm counting on you Jory." He nodded quickly, crossing his heart childishly. "Okay, Ian and I dated a long time ago. I've been in love with him since I met him. But we always seemed to be at cross purposes. But when he came back, I knew this was the right time. But he was seeing that nurse...sorry, but that's what she is! They had a fight and he came to me. I was careless and things happened. I'm not sorry they did."

"When?"

"The Moonlight and Roses Ball. She locked him in a closet, Jory! And I wanted to go home with him and I wanted to sleep with him. I don't see anything wrong in that."

"So you got pregnant and forced him to marry you?" Jory asked, still confused at what her big secret was.

"Not quite." She looked around the room, scanning faces in the crowd of patrons at Connie's. Looking for what, he couldn't say. "The truth is Jory... Ian McCormick has always wanted what he didn't have. He's always wanted social standing and acceptance. I've known for years the whole reason he went after me in college was because of whose daughter I was. When he left town, I thought maybe he'd given up on trying to be part of the elite. But when he came back, I knew he hadn't changed. He still wanted to be on top. After John Stafford died, there was an opening and he wanted it. So I offered it to him-"

"On the condition that he marry you?"

"Well, yes. But he turned me down."

"This was before you got pregnant?"

Ellen blushed. "Technically. You see, I'm not really pregnant. I lied."

Scene 4:

Adam Hatcher lugged his bag across the street, finally finding the building that his new team decided to set him up in. "Fancy," he mumbled sarcastically. Despite all of the luxury estates in Conlan's Glen, Adam ended up in possibly the most decrepit building in the state of Virginia. The closer he got however, the more confused he became. The front of the building was boarded up and there were a group of men surveying the property.

"Um, excuse me, sir," Adam approached one of the men. "Is this 400 Aberdeen?"

"Yeah, but you're not getting in there," the man replied gruffly. Reading Adam's look of shock, he continued, "The building's been condemned. It's an eyesore anyway, if you ask me. They'll knock it down and build something nicer, that fits into town better."

"Great," Adam muttered, "I'm supposed to be moving in here."

"I hope you find alternate plans then," another man responded.

Adam trudged off, frustrated and annoyed. He ran a hand through his dark brown hair and just wondered around helplessly until managing to find his way into a coffee shop, where he dropped his bag beside a table.

"What the hell am I supposed to do?" he wondered aloud while searching through the oversized duffle bag for his cell phone. When he finally found the phone, his excellent luck continued. He reached his friend's machine. "Hey, Crista. It's Adam. Just wanted to tell you that I'm in Virginia and I'm homeless. My apartment was condemned before I even moved in. Hope stuff is going better for you in the Cove." And he hung up the phone and sighed loudly, before letting his head drop against the table. "Ow."

"You'll want to watch the tables in this place," Stephen remarked at the kid from where he sat waiting for Jude. Might as well do what Jamie suggested and offer Jude the buy out instead. He doubted Jude would take him up on it, but he still had to make the offer. Besides, Stephen was more than curious about the tabloid stories circulating about Jude. What better time to ask?

"Tables tend to hurt when you hit them like that." There was something oddly familiar about him, though what it was he couldn't put his finger on. He'd overheard the young man's conversation and felt a twinge of pity for him. "Everything all right?" He asked conversationally.

"Yeah, I learned that the hard way," Adam responded, rolling his eyes. "And yeah, everything's fine, minus the whole not having a home anymore thing." Adam lifted his head slightly to look at the man speaking to him, and then narrowed his eyes. He knew that face. But no, it couldn't be who he thought it was...could it?

"Ah. Well, I didn't mean to eavesdrop on you," Stephen apologized taking a sip of his coffee. The kid was scrutinizing him with a suspicious gaze making him downright uncomfortable. Raising his eyebrows a bit, he smiled mildly at him, trying to put him at ease. He was familiar though... From where he couldn't say. "There are plenty of other places in town though. You could try closer to the Outskirts. Couple of nice apartment complexes out that way," he offered.

Adam shrugged, trying to ignore the discomfort he felt looking at the face of the man. "I can't afford anything right now. I moved here for a job and the team-uh, company," he quickly corrected himself, not wanting to advertise that he was in the area exclusively for sports, "was supposed to put me up there until I could afford a place of my own." As much as he wanted to, he couldn't tear his eyes from the man staring back at him, who looked so much like his stepfather.

Scene 5:

She didn't wait to knock. The door was open and Liza's car was in the drive. Hallie pushed the door open, listening for a split second, placing the direction of Liza's voice before she continued through the house. God, how did anyone live like this? She wondered nearly tripping over half a dozen toys in the hallway. She found Liza in the kitchen, her back to the doorway, up to her elbows in baby food and children. The sight made Hallie's stomach turn.

"How precious," she said announcing her arrival in the Gennaro kitchen. Liza's back stiffened and both children in the room swiveled their heads around to gape at Hallie's sudden appearance.

"Mia, take Mattie into the other room and watch TV, okay?" Liza said to the little girl at the table as she lifted her toddler out of his high chair and setting him on his feet.

"But we didn't finish lunch," the girl whined.

"You can finish later. Just go now, all right?" Liza's mouth thinned into a firm line and pushed the two children towards another open door before turning to face Hallie head on. "What the hell are you doing here?" She demanded furiously. "How dare you just walk into my home as if you were the Queen of Everything!"

"How dare I? Well, seeing as we're playing this little game, how dare you spread lies about me!" Hallie responded.

Instead of surprise, Liza's face settled into an expression of satisfaction. "Why would I spread lies about you? That's ridiculous," she replied smoothly with a hint of amusement. "Besides, you do a pretty fair job of spreading lies, maybe you spread them about yourself?"

"Right. I know it was you, Liza."

"Oh? All right, what exactly did I say?"

"You know perfectly well what it was," Hallie snarled. "But if I have to repeat it I will. Did you think I wouldn't find out you were the one who told Stephen I slept with Luke?"

"Of course not," Liza smiled. "In fact, I was counting on it. You're so sure all your little games will work out. Well, guess what Hallie? When it comes to me and my son and yes, even Luke, I'm not going to let you play your games with us anymore. I told Stephen all about your night with Luke. And judging by the way you just showed up here today, I'd say he kicked you to the curb didn't he? God, how did you expect him to react? You can't just cheat on the man you love after all and not expect some sort of fall out."

"I didn't cheat on him. Luke and I never slept together," Hallie said holding herself stiffly. "He was drunk and passed out. So you're completely wrong, Liza."

"I know," Liza smiled again. "But I don't care. Consider that a payback."

"You think you're very clever don't you? Well, I have news for you. Go say goodbye to your son because in about two hours Joshua Benton will be here to take him away from you. And then you'll have nothing."

Liza's smile disappeared, replaced by an angry glare. "Do your worst, Hallie. Joshua Benton is an evil man but he isn't the father of my son. He has no claim to him and I doubt he would believe you after I get done with you."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"I know this man, his name is Dan Fleming. Really the worst sort of man too. A tabloid reporter. I went to high school with him in New York but he lives in Washington now. I think a story about the CEO of Mason Enterprises and how she schemed her way into the position and then took up with her ex in a disgusting display of infidelity. How do you think the Board of Directors would look at that? Personally, I don't think they would like it at all. And are you really willing to lose your hard won position over little old me? Think again before you call Joshua Benton, Hallie. Because I can do just as much damage as you can." Hallie narrowed her eyes at the smug expression on Liza's face before turning away and leaving the house. This was not over. Not by a long shot.

Scene 6:

Once the door closed behind Dane, Gwen took a good hard look at Rick Upton, sizing him up as an opponent. He had the reputation of being intelligent and insightful, but only someone looking for trouble would attack Jude in her newspaper. Yes, technically it wasn't hers but a part of Mason Enterprises, but Gwen still considered ME hers after all. Even if Hallie was running it into the ground. An intelligent man like Rick wouldn't have started a fight with the Masons unless he had no other options, she decided. So he was a desperate man and desperate men always had weaknesses.

"This is certainly a lot of trouble to go to in order to impress Maura Conlan," Gwen remarked after a moment. "Especially when she doesn't seem to be that interested in being impressed by you, Mr. Upton."

"I don't know what you're talking about, Mrs. Mason. All I did was print an editorial about a questionable venture your son is involved in. Maura had nothing to do with my decision to with printing it," Rick replied tossing a notebook in his box.

"Of course not. Except that my son happens to be her new boyfriend," Gwen pointed out. "I know about your history with Maura. But going after Jude isn't going to win her back."

"I'm not trying to win her back. I just want her to see what kind of man she's in love with."

Gwen's forehead creased in amusement. "And just what kind of man is Jude? I'd really love to hear this," she added settling into a chair across from his desk.

"He's a fraud," Rick said without hesitation. "I've done some research you know. Being a lobbyist in DC puts you in all sorts of social and business circles. Played with a lot of socialites, some married and some not."

"I'm sure Maura is aware of Jude's past. I don't see how that makes him a fraud."

Rick tossed a stapler into the box followed by his nameplate. "It makes him a fraud because he used each and every one of those women to push his own political and business agenda. I've seen some of the things he had interests in and strangely enough, the women he chose to get involved with were linked to those interests. You know about how he boffed the boss' wife, right? Cynthia Mitchell?"

Gwen stiffened considerably at the name. Of course, she knew about her. Gwen had paid the woman a great deal of money to just go away. She was a mistake Jude had made and he had tried to rectify. Unfortunately, he didn't know how to deal with a woman like her. But Gwen did. Women like Cynthia Mitchell responded to threats and power and money and she had responded to Gwen's offer just as Gwen knew she would.

"I hardly think that an indiscretion like that gives you the right to call my son a swindler and a cheat." She smiled amiably, sizing him up. He was a man who was accustomed to getting what he wanted, she could see that much. Not having Maura Conlan must be driving him mad, she decided. She doubted he could be bought, not when he was so righteous about Jude's finances. Still, he must have a weakness besides Maura. She would have to find it. "Besides, Jude is a good man despite his family. I know you must think I'm some sort of interfering old crone but I do watch out for my children. I cannot let you attack my son in this manner. And I will do what I have to do to protect him."

"Fine. I can respect that," Rick replied hefting the box off the desk. "Just as long as you keep in mind that I have no problems taking him down. Or you either if I have to."

"Is that a threat?"

"Take it as a warning, a friendly one for now. But I have nothing to lose," Rick pointed out. "And that makes me far more dangerous than you. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm not your employee anymore and I want to get you out of my sight," he added brushing past her.