Heart and Soul

Episode 87

Secrets and Lies

By Allan Craig

 

Kimberley watched as Joseph took a seat opposite Madison in a secluded corner of Fix as she slipped into the busy coffee house, hiding behind her copy of Commotion magazine as she watched Joseph slip into the table next to the pretty lawyer, sitting with his back to her as he browsed his newspaper.

 

“You took your time.” Madison whispered casually as she took a sip of her skinny latte. “I’ve got a full schedule today; I don’t appreciate you keeping me waiting.”

 

“Do you have the files I asked for?” Joseph skirted past Madison’s question.

 

“Is that all you see me as? Just some glorified document courier?”

 

“You know that I see you as far more than that, Miss Chase.”

 

“Spare me the formalities.” Madison produced a newspaper covered leather document wallet from her Hermes purse and slid it across the floor to under Joseph’s table. “There are copies of Shane Baldwin’s bank statements, his holdings, if you look through them you’ll find substantial transfers of funds into a company called Panther Holdings, who in turn have had dealings with a company called Compass Shipping. It’s all a front for some of his more dubious dealings. Make of it what you will.”

“Have you made any progress on that file I gave you?”

 

“He’s covered his tracks quite well.” Madison explained. “It’s going to be harder than we thought to prove what you said about Shane is true.”

 

“Isn’t that what I’m paying you for?”

 

“Listen, you’re not my only client. Just be grateful that I waited here at all for you.”

 

Before Joseph could say another word, Madison was already out of her seat and halfway across the busy coffee house, just as Kimberley lowered her magazine and watched her uncle pick up the newspaper covered document wallet and tucked it under his arm before making his way out of the café. Clearly whatever scheme he was concocting picking up legs, but if he thought he could get the better of her family, he had another thing coming.

 

 

“I hope you’ve got an answer for me.” Patrick announced as he walked through a half-renovated warehouse – a potential site for Monroe-Eldridge to purchase for development, with Marc.

 

“I’m not sure…”

 

“Son, this is one of the biggest opportunities in your life and I’m handing it to you on a plate. What’s the problem?”

 

“I don’t know if it’s such a good idea for me to be taking on a bigger workload right now. Megan’s barely coping with the girls as it is, I don’t know if we’d be able to handle it if I was around even less.”

 

“It’s not like I was the most hands on father when you and Jessica were growing up, and you both turned out alright, didn’t you?”

 

“Try telling Megan that…”

 

“She’s supposed to be your wife; she should be supporting you, not standing in your way. You know, son, you’re going to have to start thinking about what’s more important, keeping little Megan and her principles happy or doing what’s best for your daughters.” Patrick glanced at his watch. “Look, I’ve got a jet waiting for me at the airport. I’ll be back in town next week, you can give me your answer then, but this offer isn’t going to be on the table for much longer.”

 

 

“So Marc’s taking the job with his father?”

 

“I don’t know, I told him he had my blessing, but he wants us to decide as a couple.” Megan explained, folding a pair of jeans that she had just removed from the tumble drier before placing them into the basket that was rapidly filling with laundry.

 

“Well that’s a good thing, right?” Kimberley asked.

 

“I don’t know. If we decide as a couple that he shouldn’t take it, then he’s going to wind up resenting me for it, isn’t he?”

 

“Not necessarily…”

 

“I mean, I don’t want him to think that I’m standing in the way of this. It’s such a good opportunity, not just for him but for all of us.”

 

“Well then shouldn’t you tell him to take it?”

 

“And then what? We barely have time for each other as it is.”

 

“Megan, we’ve had this conversation, you’ve got to let other people help out with Cassidy and Emily. Otherwise it’s you that’s going to end up resenting Marc, not him resenting you.”

 

 

“Quit hogging the potato chips!” Ashley playfully nudged Tyler as they lay on the sofa of his apartment, engrossed in the Transformers movie that was playing out on Tyler’s 42” plasma screen.

 

“We had a deal. I get the chips, you get the M&M’s. Just because you’re finished with your candy, doesn’t mean you can move onto my chips.” Tyler insisted.

 

“Just shut up and give me some.”

 

“You’re gonna have to fight me for them.”

 

“Is that right?” a mischievous grin appeared on Ashley’s face before she pounced across the sofa. “Hand them over, punk.”

 

Tyler pulled Ashley close, kissing her playfully on the lips as they wrestled over the potato chips, until the sound of Tyler’s ringing cell phone silenced them both. Tyler pulled away, reaching in his pocket and pulling the cell phone from his jeans.

 

“Let it ring!” Ashley urged her boyfriend, her hands already unzipping his sweater.

 

“This is important.” Tyler glanced at the caller display before pulling away from Ashley and rising to his feet. “I’ll be two minutes.”

 

As Tyler made his way into the other room, Ashley slumped down on the sofa, beginning to feel that Tyler wasn’t being exactly honest with her. She turned up the volume on the television defiantly and waited for Tyler to come back into the room. “Sorry, that was the hospital, they need me in tonight.”

 

“But I thought we were having some quality time together?” Ashley moaned.

 

“We will, some other time, I promise.”

 

As Tyler buttoned up his coat and leaned in for a kiss, Ashley pulled away. “Don’t even.”

 

“What’s wrong with you?”

 

“I don’t know, I’m not the one who’s running out in the middle of what was supposed to me a quiet night in together, am I?” Ashley snapped.

 

“This is work, baby, it’s important.”

 

“You’re not on call tonight.”

 

“They need me, alright?” Tyler slid his cell phone into the pocket of his jeans before making his way out of the apartment. “Will you be here when I get back?”

 

“Don’t count on it.” Ashley pursed her lips, her gaze focused defiantly on the TV screen as Tyler exited his apartment and closed the door behind him.

 

 

“What about the baked almond?” Alex asked as she held a paint chart against one of her living room walls.

“It’s okay…” John mumbled as he typed into his laptop.

 

“Okay? Just okay?” Alex shook her head and tossed the paint chart onto the pile already gathered on the hardwood floor. “Burnt eggshell?”

 

“Why does everything have to be baked or burnt or blasted or brushed?” John took a sip of his coffee.

 

“I don’t know, why don’t you write to Dulux and ask them?”

 

“You two are like an old married couple.” Will laughed as he looked up from his sandwich.

 

“Not yet, and at the rate it’s taking us to pick out a paint colour for the living room, god knows how long it’s going to take for us to plan a wedding.” Alex sighed.

 

“I told you, just set the date and tell me what to wear and I’ll be there.” John muttered.

 

“Isn’t he just the most romantic man you’ve ever heard?” Alex asked.

 

“I’m staying out of this one.” Will insisted. “You know, mom, instead of giving yourself a heart attack about which shade of beige to paint the walls, maybe you should be doing something more constructive to keep yourself occupied.”

 

“Like what? Set up a lemonade stand?”

 

“I was thinking more along the lines of volunteering at the hospital. Cal says they’re always looking for people to help out.”

 

“I have a friend on the board, perhaps they could use someone like you on their fundraising committee.” John suggested.

 

“If I wanted the stress of a full time job, I’d want paid for it, thank you very much.”

 

“Well maybe that’s not such a bad idea?” John interjected. “I mean, you always were ahead of the game when you worked at Sterling, wouldn’t you like to come back to work? You always were one of the best editors we had.”

 

“I’m not going to be subjected to a story of forbidden love in the boardroom here, am I?” Will asked. “Because if I wanted that I could go rent a movie.”

 

“Don’t be stupid.” Alex playfully slapped her son’s shoulder. “Although you may be onto something there, maybe going back to work wouldn’t be such a bad idea.”

 

“I’ll make a call.” John picked up his BlackBerry.

 

“I didn’t mean at Sterling.” Alex insisted. “I want to do this on my own.”

 

 

Diane clutched her designer purse against her petite frame as she rode up the elevator to the top floor of Sterling Enterprises’ downtown office, eagerly tapping her stiletto clad heels as she waited for the mirrored carriage to reach its destination. As much as she tried to maintain a confident posture, it was hard for her to breeze through the offices of the company her former husband once owned when she no longer possessed the status that came with being Mrs. John Sterling.

 

“I’m here to see Shane Baldwin.” Diane pouted as she approached the pretty blonde sitting behind the glass desk of the executive suite.

 

“And you are?” the girl’s face remained fixed on her computer screen.

 

“Diane Sterling.” Diane couldn’t believe this girl had no idea of who she was. Still, she barely looked out of high school, obviously employed more for her perky breasts than her typing skills.

 

“I’m sorry, you don’t appear to have an appointment. Mr Baldwin is a very busy man.”

 

“Just pick up that phone and tell him I’m here.” Diane insisted, leaning over the desk and peering down at the girl, making it clear she was not to be messed with. The girl obliged, mumbling down the phone before placing it down. “Very well, please take a seat; I’ll let you know when Mr Baldwin is ready.”

 

Diane sat down on the cream sofas that overlooked the city, elegantly crossing her legs as she tried to appear composed, hiding her anger at being kept waiting. “Just make sure it isn’t too long.”

 

“Mr. Baldwin will see you now,” the girl peered over her desk, almost waiting for Diane to sit down before ordering her back up to her feet. “I’ll walk you through.”

 

“I’m perfectly capable of making my own way, thank you very much.” Diane tossed her long chestnut hair over her shoulders as she strutted through the double glass doors that led to Shane’s office.

 

“Diane, to what do I owe the pleasure?” Shane raised an eyebrow upon catching sight of Diane making her way into the office.

 

“I think we’re both aware that your presence at this company is… well, no longer required.” Diane announced as she perched herself on the edge of Shane’s desk. “And we’re also both aware of the fact that Joseph and John have come to you with a very generous offer—“

 

“If this is some sort of attempt on your part to seduce me into reconsidering selling my half of Sterling Enterprises, then your efforts are seriously misguided.” Shane let out a sly chuckle. “And as for the offer your former husband and your future husband made me, it was insulting.”

 

“Considering the amount of damage your presence here has done to this company’s public image, I would say it’s more than enough.”

 

“You really have no idea what you’re talking about, do you?”

 

“I beg your pardon?”

 

“Well it’s becoming quite clear that Joseph is keeping you in the dark about his efforts to buy me out, and I cant help but wonder if perhaps you’re beginning to realize that it isn’t the only thing Joseph is keeping you in the dark about. Quite why you’ve seen fit to bother me with the troubles about your relationship, on the other hand…”

 

“I can assure you that this visit has nothing to do with my relationship with Joseph.”

 

“Why am I having trouble believing you?” Shane remarked. “And furthermore, why are you getting the impression that any of this matters to me? I’m not going anywhere, Diane, and your attempts to try and change my mind have achieved nothing more than making a complete fool of yourself. Seriously, leave the big business to the big boys – and by that, I don’t mean that pathetic husband-to-be of yours. At least John has determination, intelligence, a work ethic…what does Joseph have? He may have the mindset of somebody devious and underhand, but he lacks the intelligence to follow through on any of his hair brained schemes, which is why he’s always there in the shadows, trying to steal something that doesn’t belong to him.”

 

“And you’d know all about that, wouldn’t you?”

 

“I bought my half of this company from Kendall, it was all above board, and the way the financial situation is right now I see absolutely no logical reason why I would part with it, especially to that rat you call a boyfriend. Quite what he thought lying to me about Kendall wanting to sell her half of the company would achieve is beyond me, and I don’t have time to entertain his childish attempts at doing business with the big boys. Now, if you don’t mind, I have a company to run.”

 

“Very well.” Diane bit her tongue, refusing to give Shane the satisfaction of getting a rise out of her as she rose to her feet and stormed out of the office, leaving Shane with a wicked grin on his face. As she waited for the elevator, a small tear gathered in the corner of her eye as she began to wonder what she was doing staying with Joseph when the only things that seemed to be important to him were money, power and Sterling Enterprises.

 

 

“Okay, okay, I’m coming.” Carrie yelled at the ringing telephone as she gave up on the basket of laundry she was in the process of sorting. She paced into the kitchen and removed the phone from its stand, raising it to her ear to be greeted by the sound of the phone being hung up on the other send of the line.

 

“Who was that?” Nate asked as he walked down the stairs that led to the kitchen.

 

“I don’t know, they hung up,” Carrie shrugged her shoulders as she placed the cordless phone back in its stand. “That’s the third time that’s happened this morning.”

 

“What does the caller ID say?”

 

“It’s a private number.”

 

Nate peered through the blinds out of the window, surveying the back yard of the townhouse he shared with Carrie to see nothing but Adam’s swing set blowing gently in the breeze.

 

“What’s wrong?” Carrie asked, sensing that Nate was on edge.

 

“Nothing,” Nate insisted, making sure the locks on the windows were securely fastened before trying to change the subject. “So how does dinner at the Metro sound?”

 

“You sure do know how to surprise a girl,” a grin appeared on Carrie’s face. “But I have plans with Kristen tonight. I think she’s a little stressed with getting the house ready and planning the wedding and needs something to take her mind off of it. I’m sure you’ll find something to amuse yourself with, right?”

 

“Right.” Nate managed a smile, knowing that his night was going to be spent securing every last nut and bolt on every door and window of the house. Something wasn’t quite right, the dead calls, the feeling he was being watched, and he knew he couldn’t afford to take any chances where the safety of Carrie and Adam was concerned.

 

 

“What’s all this in aid of?” Marc asked as he entered the kitchen, catching sight of a candlelit table set for two.

 

“To say sorry,” Megan managed a faint smile as she kissed Marc on the cheek. “I know that taking the job with your dad is important to you, and I don’t want you to end up resenting me for standing in your way.”

 

“You know I could never—“

 

“Not now, maybe, but years down the line, when the girls are growing up and we’re running ourselves into the ground, I don’t want you to feel like I stopped you from furthering your career at my expense. I want you to take the job.”

 

“I don’t know, Megan, as much as I want to take this, I don’t want it to come between us.” Marc explained, knowing all too well from his upbringing how a demanding career can destroy a marriage. “What we’ve got; you, me, the girls, it’s all I want out of life, I don’t want to let this job jeopardize all of that.”

 

“It won't.” Megan hoped, “And besides, if a few months from now we think it’s all getting a little too much, we can talk about it again and re-evaluate the situation. For now, let’s just give it a try, see how things work out.”

 

“Are you sure?”

 

“Positive.”

 

“In that case,” Marc picked up the two glasses of champagne that were waiting for him and handed one to Megan. “A toast; to new beginnings.”

 

“To new beginnings,” Megan clinked her glass against Marc’s as she planted a gentle kiss on his lips, maybe a new beginning was just what they needed.

 

 

“Well, well, well…isn’t this a surprise?” John asked as he caught sight of Patrick Monroe sat at the bar of the Oakridge Country Club. “I thought you were based in Manhattan these days?”

 

“John Sterling, good to see you.” Patrick shook his old friend’s hand. “What can I say? There are a few lucrative opportunities in Oakridge that I’m looking into right now.”

 

“I suppose the fact that you’re now a grandfather has somewhat of a bearing on your decision making process as well?”

 

“Less of the grandfather talk, you might be okay with that term but I’m not quite ready to embrace it just yet.”

 

“How long have you been back in town?  Megan never mentioned you were back…”

 

“Not too long, I’m still back and forward to Manhattan until I get settled. I met Alex a few days ago, didn’t she mention?”

 

“Not that I can recall.” John glanced at his watch, not overly impressed at the fact Alex had met with his old friend and hadn’t bothered to inform him. “Listen, I’m meeting a client for dinner right now, how about we catch up some time over a drink?”

 

“Sounds good, give me a call.” Patrick produced his business card from his pocket and slid it down the bar to John. “Was good seeing you, Sterling.”

 

John responded with a polite smile before pocketing the business card and making his way into the restaurant. There was always something about Patrick Monroe that didn’t quite sit right with him, and this time was no exception.

 

 

“So have you heard from any of the schools you applied to yet?” Joseph asked as he sat at the dinner table with Diane and Taylor.

 

“Not yet, although it’s only been a few weeks, the letters should start arriving any time now.” Taylor explained, the discussion of her academic future only serving to stir up even more resentment towards her father and his intentions to steal Sterling Enterprises.

 

“It must be such a nerve-wracking time for you.” Diane added.

 

“Taylor’s a smart girl, she’ll land on her feet,” said Joseph.

 

“Can we just cut the crap already?” Taylor snapped. “I don’t get why we’re sitting her talking about college when we all know you’re putting all of us on the line here. What the hell gave you the idea that going behind John and Kendall’s backs was a good idea? With Shane Baldwin’s lawyer no less, are you out of your mind?”

 

“Sweetheart, this is none of your concern.” Joseph attempted to assure his daughter.

 

“Isn’t it?” Taylor slammed her silverware down on the polished mahogany table. “Unlike you, I actually give a damn about the rest of our family and when they find out what you’ve been up to they’re going to want to shut you, and us, out. How do you think Megan is going to feel when she thinks her mother’s stood by your side through all of this? Do you really think she’s going to want to let Diane be part of the twins’ lives? Or what about Kimberley? She’s one of my best friends and for all I know she could totally turn her back on me when all of this hits the fan. Have you really got no consideration of what your actions will mean for us?”

 

“Taylor, you’re being foolish.”

 

“Is she really?” Diane interjected. “Taylor’s right, Joseph, what you’re doing is complete lunacy. Think how long it’s taken for everyone to accept you as part of this family again after your last stunt.”

 

“Which you weren’t exactly blameless in.” Joseph reminded his fiancée.

 

“That’s not the point, at least I’ve learned from my mistakes. My family is important to me, Joseph, and if you cant see that, then I don’t know if we can have a future together.”

 

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

 

“Don’t tell me I’m being ridiculous! You’re the one who is going behind the backs of your brother and your niece for the sake of half of a company that, for all you know, Shane Baldwin will never part with. What’s to stop him from telling everyone exactly what you’re up to?”

 

“I can assure you that everything is -”

 

“Spare me. I don’t want to hear anything you’ve got to say.” Diane pulled her seat out and rose to her feet, tossing her napkin on top of her half finished meal and stormed out of the room.

 

“Me either.” Taylor added, following Diane out of the room and leaving Joseph eating alone. Joseph took a sip of his red wine, wondering if maybe Taylor and Diane had a point. What was the point of having money and power if there was nobody to share it with?

 

 

“You’re being paranoid.” Kristen insisted after hearing Carrie detailing the strange events that had occurred earlier in the day. “Prank calls like that happen to everyone.”

 

“But it’s not just the calls.” Carrie explained, taking a sip of her wine as she sat at the bar of Jazz & Co along with Kristen. “Nate’s been acting really odd since all of this began…”

 

“You make it sound like acting strangely is something totally out of character for Nate.” Kristen yawned as she reached for the bottle of chardonnay and topped up her glass. “Besides, worrying about the walking question mark that is Nate Rutledge hasn’t exactly got you anywhere in the past. Nate’s a big boy, he can look after himself.”

 

“But if he’s putting me or Adam in danger…”

 

“I’m staying out of this.” Kristen had learnt from past experiences that voicing her concerns over Nate’s past to Carrie was not a wise move. Safe in the knowledge that her role was to keep quiet and let Carrie vent, Kristen took another sip of her wine.

 

“You know what I mean though, Kris. I guess it’s time I realized that burying my head in the sand isn’t getting me anywhere and took action…”

 

“And what if you don’t like whatever it is that Nate’s hiding from you?”

 

“So you think he’s hiding something?”

 

“I didn’t mean it like…”

 

“No, you’re right. I mean it’s not like he’s exactly being open or honest with me. What am I supposed to believe? That everything’s going to be okay if I just put all of my trust in him, trust him with my future, with my life, with the safety of my son?”

 

“I don’t know what you want me to say,” Kristen felt like she’d had the same conversation with Carrie countless times, but nothing was coming of it; she didn’t know what Carrie wanted her to say, although she knew that it would be something that eased her doubts over Nate, something Kristen wasn’t entirely sure she could reassure her sister about.

 

“I’m sorry; I shouldn’t keep boring you with this. I guess I just need to decide if putting myself through this all the time is really worth it.”

 

“You mean?”

 

“It’s time that I figure out what it is I want for my life, whether or not Nate is part of it.”

 

 

“Am I totally overreacting?” Ashley sighed as she paced the floor on the phone to Kendall, who assured her she was not.

 

“No, you’re not.” Will interrupted as he channel surfed.

 

“Kendall, I’ll call you back.” Ashley hung up her cell phone and narrowed her stare at her brother. “Do you mind? I was in the middle of a private conversation.”

 

“Well then you should take that private conversation back to your own apartment.”

 

“I couldn’t take it anymore, mom was driving me crazy with her paint charts and fabric swatches.” Ashley sighed and flopped down on the sofa opposite her brother just as Cal entered the apartment. “Well look who’s home…”

 

“Hey Ash,” Cal smiled at his cousin. “What brings you to our neck of the woods.”

 

“My mom’s decorating…” Ashley shuddered. “How was work?”

 

“Pretty manic, actually; sometimes I just think people all wait to get sick at the same time just to make it that much more fun for us.” Cal sighed as he unbuttoned his coat.

 

“Yeah, Tyler said he got called in to work.” Ashley added.

 

“Tyler wasn’t at work…”

 

“Are you sure? He told me he got called in.”

 

“Positive.”

Will couldn’t help but feel a little suspicious about Tyler’s behaviour.

 

 

“Diane, you’re being ridiculous.” Joseph sighed as he followed Diane into their bedroom, watching as she took a seat at her dressing table with her back to him.

 

“You’re the one that’s being ridiculous here. I mean, didn’t you get your hands burnt enough the last time you attempted this?” Diane remarked. “Why am I even asking you? It’s not like you’ve ever learnt from your mistakes in the past, why should this time be any different?”

 

“This isn’t going to be a mistake.” Joseph assured his fiancée.

 

“It’s taken me long enough to regain any sort of semblance of a relationship with my children. What you are doing is going to put that in serious jeopardy, yet you continue against my wishes. You’re supposed to be doing everything for the both of us, that’s what you usually insist anyway, but clearly the only person you’re looking out for this time is yourself.”

 

“That isn’t fair.” Joseph protested.

 

“No, what isn’t fair is the fact that I’ve got to stand by while you throw away everything you’ve done in the last few years. It’s only now that this our family is even considering letting you into their lives again, and this is what you do?”

 

“It will be worth it in the end.”

 

“Will it? Will it really? When this all goes to pot the odds are more than likely that Greg, Megan and Kimberley will take their father’s side, and John isn’t going to be very happy when he finds out what you’ve been up to. Where does that leave me? Did you even bother to factor what I might want into this equation, or did you just assume I’d follow you blindly?”

 

“You’re supposed to be my wife-“

 

“That would require us to be married, and the last time I checked, we weren’t. And why would that be, you ask? Because you insist on devoting all of your time and your energy to this foolish notion that you can successfully take over Sterling Enterprises instead of facing facts and focusing on our future, a future which right now is beginning to look extremely bleak. Now if you don’t mind, I’d like an early night…alone.”

 

“You’re not seriously…”

 

“Aren’t I?” Diane raised an eyebrow, her icy glare telling Joseph that his presence in their bedroom was no longer required. His shoulders dropped as he walked out of their bedroom, leaving Diane to sit alone at her dresser, forced to face her reflection in the mirror; somehow the life she had imagined with Joseph wasn’t quite playing out as she had hoped.

 

TO BE CONTINUED…