Heart & Soul
Episode 25
Leo
By Allan
Craig
A sleek Audi TT sped through the streets of Oakridge. It pulled up
outside The Oakridge Plaza Hotel and drew to a halt. The driver door opened and
a man in his early twenties got out. Dressed in low slung, baggy jeans, a white
T-shirt and a black suit jacket that highlighted his athletic build, he ran his
fingers through his short, blonde hair and locked the door. He locked the door
and entered the foyer of the hotel and kept walking until he reached the
reception desk.
"Welcome to the Plaza," the receptionist smiled from
behind the large marble topped desk, "How can I help you?"
"I have a reservation," the man took out his Italian
leather wallet.
"What is the name?" the receptionist waited, her fingers
poised to enter it into the computer.
"
The
John sat at his desk, reading the newspaper. Diane opened the
door, slid inside, and closed it behind her.
"Good morning, hubby." Diane smiled fakely.
"What do you want Diane?" John looked up, eyeing his
soon-to-be-ex wife up and down. He couldn’t help but be turned on by the way
her low cut white blouse was tight around her petite, curvaceous, shape.
"We need to talk," Diane sat down on the chair facing
John, smoothing her black skirt down as she reached the seat, "about how
we’re going to get the money from
Madison Chase’s
Apartment
"Hello,"
"Hey
"Hold on I’ll buzz you in,"
"You look like death warmed up,"
"Thanks," Wesley walked in, "I can always rely on
you to cheer me up when I’m down can’t I?"
"I’m simply being honest Wesley. Can I interest you in a
glass of wine?"
"Whatever. So how are the plans progressing?" Wesley sat
down as Madison poured the glasses of wine.
"They’re full of promise," Madison handed Wesley a glass
and sat down next to him, "You’ll have Alex in the palm of your hand by
the end of the month."
"I don’t have ‘til the end of the month Madison, two weeks.
Max."
"That’s a huge risk to take Wesley. If you want this to work,
we need to plan every detail intricately otherwise it won’t work," Madison
rolled her eyes. She hated working with amateurs, "Are you willing to
wait?"
"If it will get me Alex…I suppose."
The Sterling Mansion
Leo’s car pulled up outside the marble steps. He checked his
reflection in the mirror, adjusting his hair. He took a small silver lighter
out of his pocket and took the top off, scraping some of the cocaine hidden
inside onto his pinkie, and inhaling it through his nose. He rubbed his nostril
with the back of his hand and clipped the top of the lighter back on, stuffing
it into his pocket. Leo turned off the engine and got out of the car, pacing up
the steps and ringing the doorbell. The majestic dark wooden door swung open,
it’s large window sparkling in the sunlight. In front of Leo stood his sister,
Kendall.
"Well well, look what the cat dragged in," Kendall
raised one side of her mouth with a sly smile, "You're timing never really
was that great Leo, mom’s funeral was like two weeks ago."
"Better late than never. Anyway sis, what have I
missed?" Leo put his hand in his pocket.
"Come in and I’ll tell you all about it," Kendall stood
aside, letting Leo past.
Kendall walked on into the conservatory. Leo stopped, looking
around the large foyer, stretching up two floors to the chandelier that dangled
from the ceiling. Sunlight streamed through the large window that spanned the
two floors, draped in cream silk curtains. He walked in the direction that
Kendall had done, but took a wrong turn before the kitchen, walking into the
small hallway outside the study. Inside, John and Diane sat talking.
"It’s going to take time, Diane, we cant rush this, or
Kendall will suspect something and we’re both out of here, and then it’s no
money for anyone," John warned.
"Oh come on, if brains were dynamite that girl wouldn’t be
able to blow her nose." Diane smirked, "Besides, she thinks I’m her
loving aunt Diane, she doesn’t have a clue that anything’s going on, and if she
did I’d be able to talk her round in no time at all. Trust me John, I’ll get us
everything back, but I want my cut."
"So the truth’s finally coming out," John laughed,
"I knew you weren't just in this to help the baby’s future. You’re a sly
one Diane I’ll give you that, but something’s telling me we should just quit
while we’re ahead. I’m still in charge of the company, albeit Kendall’s paying
my wages, but I’m in so much power that way, I can siphon a hell of a lot of
cash out of that company Di, and you, well, you can actually get yourself a
job."
Leo backed away from the door, shocked by what he had just heard.
He walked back out of the corridor and found his way to the conservatory, where
Kendall was sitting waiting.
"You know, sis, I think I’m gonna take off, how about you
come to the hotel with me and grab a drink or something?" Leo leaned against
the doorway.
"Hotel? Nuh-uh bro, you’re staying here. This is your house
too," Kendall stood up, walking into the kitchen and pouring two coffees,
"And it’s only fair you go through the same friggin’ inquisition I’ve had
from everyone in this goddamn family."
"You’re not gonna take ‘no’ for an answer, are you?" Leo
raised an eyebrow.
"Nope."
"Well then I guess I better go and get my stuff. I’ll be back
in an hour or something," Leo headed towards the door.
"Oh before you go," Kendall followed him out, "Wipe
your nose, you’re showing. God you’d think you’d be a little smarter than that.
I thought you had stopped."
Leo stopped in his tracks, taken aback. He sensed Kendall edging
closer to him, and defiantly turned around, unashamed of his actions, "Well
then you’re deluding yourself. I told Jackie what she wanted to hear. I wasn’t
gonna let a little smack get in the way of my inheritance."
"Mom wouldn’t have cut you out. She worshipped the ground you
walked on," Kendall folded her arms, "You were the golden boy. I was
just the ditz that was dithering away her fortune on Rodeo Drive."
"Save the sob story Kendall. I’ll be back in a while with my
stuff," Leo reached for the doorknob, "We can get Chinese or
something, reminisce about the good times with mummy dearest."
The Bungalow
Patrick entered the restaurant, the lunchtime rush just dying
down. He sat down at the bar and watched as Pamela chatted to some customers,
her natural wit making her a hit with the diners. He caught her eye and she excused
herself, walking over to him.
"Hi. Patrick, isn't it?" Pamela smiled, tucking her hair
behind her ear and playing dumb.
"Good. You remember me. So is there a Mr. Lockwood?"
"You don’t waste any time, do you? No, I’m young free and
single. Well, free and single anyway."
"You’re not a day over 30, don’t be telling me you're
old." Patrick chuckled.
"I’m thirty six. But keep schtum, understand?" Pamela
shot Patrick a cheeky smile.
"Listen, this may be a bit forward, but would you like to go
out with me sometime?" Patrick looked at Pamela, a glint of hope in his
eyes.
"I thought you’d never ask," a grin appeared on Pamela’s
face, her eyes lighting up with delight.
Sterling Enterprises:
Greg’s Office
Greg sat with his back to the desk and the door, looking out his
large window at the city of Oakridge, on the phone to Carrie.
"Well don’t be getting too comfortable, I am taking you out for dinner
tonight. It’s your call…Chez Antoine or The Bungalow…okay then I’ll decide…just
make sure you’re looking sexy, like that will be hard…" Greg heard a knock
on his door and turned around to see Joseph standing in the doorway,
"Listen, I better go, I’ve just got a visitor…I’ll be home around six…love
you too…bye."
"Things going well with Carrie I take it?" Joseph walked
into the room and sat down on the other side of Greg’s desk.
"Joseph, what can I do for you?" Greg swiveled round in
his chair to face his uncle, folding his arms and leaning back.
"I need a favour." Joseph cut to the chase, leaning
forward with his arms on the desk.
"Shoot."
"Well, since Kendall got control of this place, she doesn’t
seem to be handling it very well," Joseph straightened himself out,
"I was wondering if you’d have a little word in her ear, you know, suggest
to her that maybe she let me take over for a while, until she’s over Jackie’s
death."
"You’re unbelievable Uncle Joe, do you know that?" Greg
laughed, "A. That’s what my dad is for. She’s put him in charge, which is
kinda fair considering it’s his company, and B. Even if he wasn’t, why would I
be doing this for you, I mean what’s in it for me?"
"You know, you’re getting more and more like your father
every day Greg," Joseph got up, "I take it you wont be helping me,
but think about it, if you did, that kid of yours that’s on the way would want
for nothing. Interested now?"
"I’ll humour you. Sit back down, tell me what you want me to
do, and I’ll consider it."
Reilly’s Bar and
Restaurant
Matt and Alex sat in a leather booth in the busy restaurant,
perusing the menus in silence. Matt looked across the table at Alex, trying to
catch her eye, although it was clear she was in another world.
"Something wrong?" Matt asked, attempting to break the
silence, and cut the tension.
"No," Alex scratched behind her ear, briefly smiling, "Nothing
at all."
"You sure?"
"Of course I’m sure," Alex flashed another uneasy smile,
"Nothing’s wrong. Why would there be anything wrong?"
"I just get the feeling that-" Matt began.
"Seriously Matt, nothing is wrong. If there was I’d tell you," Alex
cleared her throat, quickly changing the subject, "I think I’m gonna have
the salsa burger with cheese, what about you?"
Matt sighed, "I guess I’ll have the buffalo wings."
"I’m just gonna go to the bathroom, can you order me a diet
coke too please?" Alex got up and quickly shuffled across the restaurant
to the bathroom. Once inside, she let out a huge breath.
"I cant take this anymore," she thought, walking to the mirror and
looking at her reflection, "I have to end it now, before someone gets
hurt."
Alex couldn’t shake off the memories of coming here with Wesley, every piece of
décor in the restaurant reminded her of something. The walls were closing in on
her, and there was no way out.
"How did I let myself get into this mess?" Alex began to
cry, "Why couldn’t I have just stayed away? Stayed with Matt? Been happy?
No, I come back to Oakridge and my life fucks itself up. I can’t do this
anymore. I need to leave Oakridge. Leave Wesley. Leave Matt. Leave everyone.
Start again. You really are stupid Alex, do you know that? Why did you have to
come back?"
The Sterling Mansion
Megan opened the door to see Will standing before her.
"Hey, how does an afternoon of pizza and beer sound?"
Will smiled, holding up two cardboard pizza boxes and a two six packs, "I
rented Love Actually."
"Sounds like fun, come on in buddy, I’ll go see if the TV room is
free."
Fix Coffee House
Ashley sat at a table waiting for Lisa to show up. She ran her
finger round the rim of her mocha cappuccino repeatedly as she grew anxious.
Across the quiet coffee shop, Leo entered and headed straight for the counter.
"Can I get two double shot lattes to go, one with chocolate
and one with caramel," Leo winked at the female behind the counter and
turned to look around. He smiled at Ashley, his perfect smile and wild eyes
drawing her to him. She smiled back, opening a book that someone must have left
on the table and pretending to read it. Leo walked over to her and pulled up a
chair, sitting down next to her.
"This seat taken?"
"Not at all," Ashley tried to contain her smile,
attempting to play cool. Leo lifted up the front of her book to see an
‘Oakridge University’ cover.
"What you reading?"
"Nothing anymore," Ashley closed the book and slid it
away, turning to face Leo, "I’m Ashley."
"I’m Leo. Need a refill?" Leo moved closer.
"No I’m cool thanks. So, Leo, I haven’t seen you in here
before. You new in town?"
"Yeah. This time yesterday I was still in the East Village,
and now here I am in Oakridge."
"You’re from New York?"
"You could say that. I was born in Houston, moved to LA when
I was three, Paris when I was eight, London when I was twelve, then back to
Houston when I was sixteen, and then when I finished high school I went to NYU
to study business, but I dropped out junior year. It wasn’t me. Now I’m in
Oakridge, I’ve got family here, a little bit of a mess just now so I thought I
better come down and see everyone and try to stop world war three from breaking
out. But enough about me. I wanna know about you."
The Sterling Mansion: TV
Room
Will and Megan sat in front of an empty pizza box and 12 empty
bottles of beer. The film was drawing to a close, and Will turned to look at
Megan. He leaned closer, admiring her long, shiny blonde hair, and perfect
skin,. She rested her head on his shoulder as the final scene of the film
began, and closed her eyes. Will kissed Megan on the cheek, and she jumped back
up, stunned.
"What the hell was that?" Megan sat up straight.
"A kiss," Will responded, confused.
"Well I know that but why were you kissing me?"
"Because you’re my girlfriend."
"Since when? We’re friends, Will, that’s all," Megan got
up and turned on the lights.
"But we’re in love."
"Correction, Will. We were in love. Years ago," Megan
started cleaning up the mess on the coffee table, "I think you’ve got the
wrong idea about us Will."
"But what about the weekend away?"
"What about it? Friends can go on weekends away as well you
know Will. We didn’t sleep together, didn’t that give you the idea that I
wasn’t interested?"
"But…but…but we were married," Will stuttered, "I
thought we were getting back together."
"And what gave you that idea Will? This is all going on in
your head."
"I better go." Will got up to leave.
"Yeah I think you better." Megan stood aside, letting
him past.
The Bungalow
Patrick sat at a table alone, watching the door and looking at his
watch. Five minutes late. The door opened and Jessica walked in. She had turned
up, although by the look on her face she wasn’t happy.
"You came," Patrick smiled as his daughter sat down,
"Can I get you a drink?"
"Let’s make this quick dad, I’m in no mood to talk to you.
I’m only here to make Josh happy," Jessica took off her coat and looked
around the restaurant, deliberately avoiding eye contact with Patrick.
"Don’t be like that honey, I just want us to sort this out."
"There’s only one way you can do that. Don’t divorce mom."
"Your mother and I are both grown adults Jessica, I cant
force her to get back together with me. It was a mutual decision. We both
realized it wasn’t working and ended the marriage."
Jessica slouched back in her chair, angry that her father was
right, "I suppose. But you have to realize, this isn't easy for me. All my
life I’ve had you two as a unit. Mom and dad. And now it’s not going to be that
way."
"Change is hard, honey, but sometimes it’s for the
best."
Jessica smiled, realizing her father was talking sense. Pamela
walked past the table.
"See you tomorrow night Patrick," she smiled, and
continued through to the kitchen. Jessica’s smile disappeared.
"Why would you be seeing her tomorrow night?" Jessica
folded her arms, demanding an answer.
"I’m going on a date with her," Patrick squirmed uneasily in his
seat, taking out a cigarette and lighting it.
"You are unbelievable, do you know that! You’ve not even been
divorced five minutes and you’re already chasing the first piece of ass that
shows you any attention," Jessica got up from the table and grabbed her
jacket.
"Pamela is a nice lady. She’s good for me."
"Oh get real dad! She has to be nice to you. It’s her fucking
restaurant and you’re the customer."
"Well why did she agree to go it with me then?"
"I don’t know, and I don’t care," Jessica slung her
handbag over her shoulder, "I’m outta here. Stay away from me, and stay
away from Josh. I want nothing more to do with you."
The Sterling Mansion:
Guesthouse
Carrie sat flipping the pages of a magazine when there was a knock
at the door. She got up and walked over, opening the door to see Diane in front
of her.
"Hi," Diane smiled, a cheerful look across her face,
"I thought I’d pay you a visit, see how the pregnancy’s getting on."
"Diane. Hi." Carrie stood in front of her mother in law,
confused by her friendliness.
"Mind if I come in?" Diane entered the guest house and sat down on
the sofa.
Carrie closed the door and sat down on an armchair.
"I was just wondering if you fancied going out for a bite to
eat?" Diane fluffed a pillow next to her, "After all, you are eating
for two now."
"I said I’d meet Jessica, sorry," Carrie lied, feeling increasingly
uncomfortable in Diane’s presence.
"That’s fine, some other time maybe. Oh well, I must be
off," Diane got up, "I’ll see you later."
"See you later Diane."
Diane walked out of the guesthouse and closed the door behind her,
the smile dropping from her face instantly.
"That little bitch is out of this family the second she pops
that baby," Diane thought, "There’s no way she’s staying married to
Greg and getting her hands on any more money. No, as soon as the baby is born,
she’s out. One way or another."
Josh & Jessica’s
Apartment
Jessica slammed the door shut and threw her bag onto the sofa. She
heard the sound of the shower stop abruptly and a towel clad Josh came rushing
into the living room.
"What the…oh, its you. For a minute there I thought we had a
burglar." Josh sighed.
"And you would have stopped them with what? That towel?"
Jessica barked, storming over to the drinks cabinet and pouring herself a very
large vodka.
"I take it things didn’t go too well with Patrick?" Josh
took a pair of boxer shorts out of the laundry basket and put them on.
"Oh they went well, until I found out he had a date with
Pamela fucking Lockwood!" Jessica guzzled the drink.
"Well how about I take you out tonight, we can forget all about the
situation." Josh put his arms around Jessica, kissing her cheek.
The Sterling Mansion:
Guesthouse
Greg closed the door as Carrie came out of the bedroom.
"Hi honey," Carrie smiled, "How was work?"
"Okay, except from Joseph trying to get control of the
company," Greg sat down.
"What?"
"Never mind. How was your day?" Greg undid his tie.
"Pretty much boring," Carrie handed her husband a
drink," Although Diane came to see me. She was actually nice."
"See," Greg got up, hugging his wife, "I knew you two could get
on."
"No Greg, I think she’s up to something," Carrie pulled away.
"Or maybe she’s just changed," Greg tried to defend his mother,
putting the glass down on the table, "People do change, you know."
"Not that much. And not that fast."
"Oh come on Carrie!" Greg raised his voice, "You
moan when she’s not friendly to you and you moan when she is! She can’t
win!"
"It’s not that Greg," Carrie breathed calmly, "It’s
just you know what Diane’s like. Especially to me. She hates me Greg, for
taking her little boy away from her. The only thing that’s keeping her from
killing me, like she’s said so, is this baby"
"How dare you!" Greg yelled, "That’s my mother you’re talking
about! She wouldn’t hurt a fly!"
"Oh get real Greg! Your mother hates my guts and you know it! She’ll never
accept me as a part of this family, your father knows what she’s like and
that’s why he’s divorcing her! Why do you think he left town for so long? It
sure as hell wasn’t for business considering the heap of shit he left for you,
and why do you think he signed everything over to Jackie? For a birthday
present? He didn’t want Diane getting her hands on everything. She’s a gold
digger, a leech, a user."
"She’s my mother!"
"And why do you think that is? Just to keep John from leaving
her all those years ago the way he’s doing now!"
Greg looked at his wife in disgust before picking up his car keys
and storming out of the house.
"Greg wait, Greg I’m sorry!"
TO BE CONTINUED…