Heart & Soul
Episode 24
Power Games
By Allan Craig
Wesley
sat in his black leather swivel chair, anxiously smoking a cigarette, while
"You need to be patient,"
"It’s a risk I’m willing to take," Wesley sighed,
although he couldn’t bare the thought of losing Alex, he knew he couldn’t let
her go with Matt.
"Well then, you need to think of something to fall back on,
something to keep her in Oakridge for the time being, and I think I have just
the thing,"
"What are you waiting for? Spit it out
"It’s perfectly simple really, I don’t know how you never
thought of it before,"
"I dunno
"Do you believe in me Wesley Abbot?"
"
"Let’s just say…I’m a good person who’s giving true love a small push,"
Madison laughed, the real reason being the same as it always would be, she’d be
owed a favour.
The
Megan entered a number into the telephone and waited anxiously for
it to be answered as Joseph looked on. The rings seemed to get longer and
longer apart, and Megan was almost ready to hang up. The phone was answered and
Megan took a deep breath.
"Leo, hi, it’s Megan…I’m fine thanks, and you?…I was just calling to see
how you’re getting on. We didn’t see you at the funeral and I just thought you
might want somebody to talk to…yeah, sure…whenever you feel you’re ready just…give
me a call…okay I’ll seeya than…bye," Megan hung up the phone and sat down
on one of the cream and navy striped sofas.
"Well?" Joseph sat down opposite her.
"He was just on his way to an appointment," Megan
sighed, rubbing her temples, hoping to get rid of the headache, "He’ll
call back."
"You better hope he does Megan, for your father’s sake."
The Abbot House: Lounge
Will sat in front of the TV, the screen glaring at him but he
failed to take notice. Engrossed in his thoughts, he didn’t even look when
Ashley stormed in the front door and flopped down onto the sofa next to him,
changing the channel.
"Earth to Will, come in Will," Ashley waved her hands in
front of her brother’s face, distracting him from his daydream.
"What’s up Ashley?"
"Oh nothing much…hey can you ask Megan if I can borrow her
driver’s license?"
"And why would I do that?" Will sat up, clearing his
throat.
"Cos me and Lisa are going to House tonight and they’re
really cracking down on ID…Lisa’s using her sister’s, and seeing as I don’t have
a sister…and I guess me and Megan look kinda alike…it would work," Ashley
smiled, proud of her plan.
"Yeah but remind me why I’d help my 17 year old sister get
into an over 21s nightclub where she’ll get hit on by lots of older guys?"
Will raised an eyebrow.
Ashley rolled her eyes, "For the satisfaction of knowing I’d have fun?"
"Dream on kiddo," Will laughed.
"You’re such a prick!" Ashley got up and stormed out of
the room.
Will sighed, changing the channel back onto ESPN.
Jazz & Co
Carrie sat at the bar waiting for Jessica. She checked her make up
in her compact; her face had gotten rounder, and she had heavy circles
surrounding her eyes, but she gave off a glow that outshone her bad points and
made her appear radiant. The urgent tapping of a pair of Jimmy Choo stilettos
made her turn around, her best friend standing in front of her.
"Sorry I’m late hun’," Jessica hugged her friend, "I
am having such a crap day. Large vodka and coke please," Jessica got the
attention of the bartender, "Easy on the coke."
"Aww what’s wrong?" Carrie asked, picking up her orange
juice and walking over to the newly free leather sofa with her friend.
"Well I told you how my dad was back in town? He’s only
fucking getting divorced from my mom," Jessica picked up a cigarette and
sparked up, before Carrie coughed to remind her friend that she was pregnant,
and watched as Jessica stubbed it out, "Sorry, I totally forgot. Yeah,
anyway, he’s just divorcing her…just like that! Can you believe it?"
"Jess, you’re a grown woman. Your parents’ve got lives to
live…if they’re not happy being married, then its for the best. What did your
mom have to say?"
"Dunno…she’s flown to
"Easy Jess," Carrie flipped her hair behind her
shoulder, tugging on her ear and clearing her throat.
"What am I gonna do Car’?"
The Bungalow
Josh walked into the half filled restaurant and scanned the
tables, before reaching Patrick and walking over.
"Thanks for meeting me at such short notice," Josh took
off his suit jacket and sat down, smoothing down his black t-shirt at the back.
"No problem. So, what’s wrong?" Patrick leaned forward.
"It’s Jessica. Since you’ve told her about the divorce, she’s
been…well…she’s not been herself," Josh ran one hand through his tousled
black hair, "She hasn’t been eating, she’s been drinking a whole lot, she’s
blaming herself for it."
Patrick took a packet of cigarettes out of his pocket, "You
mind if I…?"
"I don’t but I don’t think you’re allowed to in here."
Patrick put the cigarettes back into his pocket, "Look, Josh,
the last thing I want to do is upset my daughter…but I cant live my life the
way she wants me to just to please her. I’m a grown man…I only have one life.
Christine and I…it’s been over for a long time…too long," Patrick sat back
in his chair.
"I understand that Patrick, but you’ve gotta talk to her. She
had no idea anything was up between the pair of you," Josh reached into
his jeans pocket for his cellphone, "I’m gonna call her, get her to meet you
here. You guys need to talk."
Sterling Enterprises:
John’s Office
John sat down in the leather recliner. It felt odd being at his
desk now that he wasn’t the owner. Just another employee. There was a knock at
the door. John looked up to see Greg standing in the doorway.
"Come in, son" John smiled, thankful to see a friendly
face. He’d been getting all sorts of looks since he returned to work, "What
can I do for you?"
"I just wanted to see how you’re holdin’ up. First day back
on the job and all that," Greg walked in and sat down opposite his father,
"How does it feel to be back?"
"Fucked up, Greg, that’s how it feels," John took a deep
breath, "I don’t own this place anymore son, I’m not in charge anymore.
Kendall is. I don’t feel like I belong here anymore."
"Sterling Enterprises. Of course you belong here! It’s your
name. It’s your history! This company IS you!"
"Correction Greg, it was me, but not anymore it’s not. God,
if I hadn't been so STUPID to hand everything over to that…to Jackie then I wouldn’t
be in this mess," John slammed his hand down on the desk.
"Careful Uncle John, that’s MY desk you’re hitting,"
Kendall appeared in the doorway, "Greg, you’re my cousin and I love you,
but don’t you have work to do?"
Greg rolled his eyes, "Sure thing, boss." Greg joked,
but Kendall was not amused. He got up from the chair and left the office.
"What can I help you with Kendall?" said John
dismissively, not even looking at his niece.
"Well, first of all you can be grateful for the fact that you’ve
got a job and aren't out on your ass like a hobo on the street, and secondly,
you can fill me in on this whole…situation."
"What do you mean?"
"Like, how my mom, well, me I suppose, ended up getting all
your money and stuff," Kendall plopped herself down on the chair and removed
her pink tweed jacket, "Basically, I wanna know why you gave my mom
everything."
"I didn’t give it to her. Well I did, but not as a long term
thing. I signed everything over to Jackie so that I could divorce Diane and she
couldn’t claim a thing," John sighed, "When the divorce came through,
Jackie was going to sign it all back to me. But your mother passed away before
I could divorce Diane and not only am I still married to her, but now I don’t have
a penny."
Kendall wriggled nervously in the seat, she couldn’t help but feel
bad for her uncle, and she knew that it would be the right thing for her to
sign everything back to him, but she wasn’t parting with the money for
anything.
The Abbot House: Kitchen
Wesley entered the back door of the house and put his briefcase on
the kitchen counter. Alex, reading a magazine, sat at the table. She looked up
and smiled nervously when Wesley entered the house.
"We need to talk, Wes," Alex got up from her seat.
"About what?" Wesley poured himself a coffee.
"Us. It cant go on anymore. I love Matt, Wesley. Me and you…it’s
in the past, we need to move on. I have Matt, and you have Madison."
"Madison?" Wesley almost choked on his coffee, "Madison
and I aren't in a relationship. She’s my colleague."
"Come on Wes, when I saw you two at the bar the other night,
there was definite chemistry." Alex fumbled with her hands.
"Madison is a friend at the most, if you could call her that.
She’s just helping me with an important case," Wes put the mug down, resting
one hand on Alex’s shoulder, "You’re the one I want to be with. I know you
feel the same, don’t deny it."
Alex removed Wesley’s hand, "I cant do this Wes. Matt doesn’t
deserve this treatment. I’m sorry if I made you think we could get back
together. If Matt wasn’t around, then maybe, but he is, and I care about him
too much to hurt him."
"But do you love him, Alex?" Wesley placed both hands on her
shoulders and put his forehead against hers, "Do you love him so much that
you can’t stop thinking about him? So much that you’d do anything to be with
him? Does he make you feel the way I make you feel? Alex, don’t throw this
away. We’re meant to be together. And if it meant Ashley getting hurt so you’d
have to come back to Oakridge then it was a blessing in disguise. It was a
sign, Alex, we’re destined to be together. Can’t you see it? Please, tell me
you can see it!"
Alex sighed, overcome with guilt, "I’m…I’m sorry Wes. I’m
with Matt."
Alex pried Wesley off of her and ran out of the room. Wesley,
overcome with rage and devastation, took out his cellphone and dialled Madison’s
number.
"Hi…yeah it’s me…we’re gonna need to speed this plan up
again. I want him gone as soon as possible. It’s urgent."
The Bungalow
The restaurant was full, but quiet. Lit dimly, the place had a
romantic ambiance. Diane and Joseph sat at a table together, sipping wine.
"This was such a nice idea Joseph," Diane smiled,
leaning close to Joseph, "We have a lot of catching up to do."
"That’s not why I asked you hear Di," Joseph rested his
head on his fist, "This is strictly…business."
"Business?"
"Yeah, well, Sterling business."
"Well that’s nothing to do with me. I’m a
"Basically, Diane, I’m worried John might lose it completely
if he doesn’t get everything back soon," Joseph bit on his lip, unsure if
he could continue. It seemed like a good idea to tell Diane, but now, he was
wondering if it really was for the best, Diane loved John...didn’t she?…she
must care about him if she was married to him for so long, "I think it’s
important that we can talk Kendall round to giving up John’s portion of her
inheritance."
"I don’t know what you mean Joseph," Diane pretended.
She knew exactly what Joseph was implying, but she was already planning her own
way of getting her hands on the fortune. She wasn’t about to help someone else.
TO BE CONTINUED…