SCENE ONE
The sound of her cell phone ringing, her alarm blaring from her watch, and her one high heel clicking through the hallway all jumbled together, sending Lauren into a panic. She was late for her meeting at Jabot; she had promised Jack that she'd bring coffee and pastries for the entire board, which meant another inevitably awkward visit with Sharon at Crimson Lights, and above all else, she couldn't find her other heel. So there she hopped, through the house, searching for the one heel that she'd vowed she couldn't wear for a second day in a row, but truthfully, she had no choice. They were the most comfortable, most expensive, and strangely the most beautiful shoes she owned, and that was saying a lot for Lauren. Her closet was weighted down with hundreds of pairs of heels, but this one pair was clearly her favorite, if for nothing more than because Michael had bought them for her.
Sure, initially it seemed a strange choice for a husband to buy his wife a pair of heels, but these heels were special. They were the heels that Michael had vowed would help Lauren escort Fenmore's back to the forefront of retail. Corny? Possibly, but it meant the world to her.
Finally reaching her phone, she answered it, visibly out of breath. "Lauren Fenmore-Baldwin..." she leaned against the arm of the sofa and inhaled deeply, still eyeing around for that other heel that she'd kicked off in the throws of passion with her husband the night prior. After hearing his voice, she sighed. "Gavin, I don't have time right now. Whatever's going on there, FIX IT. That's why you're the manager." With that, she ended the call and threw her phone down onto the couch, just as Michael came rushing through the living room.
"Good morning, love you, gonna miss you, and all of that other good stuff." he quipped, just before pecking her on the cheek and rushing toward the door. "I'm late for a consultation." Just as he reached the door, he turned around and smirked. "And that heel you've been searching for all morning that you didn't want to admit you'd lost...it uhh...it made its way into our bedroom last night. I saw it under the bed while I was searching for my belt." Laughing, Michael opened the door, and as he shook his head, he stepped out into the hallway of their condo, bumping into someone who stood at the door. "Whoa...whoa..." he started in on his 'watch where you're going' routine, but seeing his only son, Fenmore Baldwin standing before him, his face lit up with excitement. "Fen?"
Lauren's voice met Michael's and echoed through the hall as she rushed over to embrace her son. "Oh my God...Fenmore!"
Fen stumbled back a bit, allowing his bags to hit the floor as he smiled and slowly reached up to hug his parents. "Hi...guys..." he stammered.
SCENE TWO
"He's GAY, Lily!" Hilary repeated once again, this time more for dramatic affect. She tried desperately to keep herself from laughing in Lily's face, but she failed, as a pesky smirk creaked through her pursed lips, sending Lily's blood into a rage.
"How DARE YOU?"
"Look, I didn't want to be the bearer of bad news. I really didn't." Hilary began, as she turned to walk over to the other side of her office at Jabot. "You may not believe this, but I was really happy for you and Jordan. I was happy that you were finally moving on from that sleep-inducing marriage you had with Cane...I mean, nothing against the guy, but he's definitely not the most exciting bachelor around Genoa City, and YOU...well, we all know that you've been the cure for insomnia for years now."
Lily glared at Hilary in disbelief, and then realizing that she shouldn't even be surprised by this, she chuckled and shrugged her shoulders, replying nonchalantly, "You know, I don't even know why I thought you were better than this. You're still pathetic and so desperately trying to ruin my life and the lives of my family."
Hilary rolled her eyes. "High school digs aside, I really AM here for you Lily. It's not every day that a woman learns that the man she was intending to marry has been carrying on some hot, passionate, secret affair with another man right behind her back...for what I'm assuming is MONTHS."
"Jordan LOVES me, and you just can't handle that, can you?" Lily returned. "Just like you couldn't handle that Devon had moved on with Abby, and you couldn't handle how happy Cane and I were in our marriage, and-"
"Whoa, whoa...fabrication much?" Hilary interjected. "Listen, say what you will about my part in that whole sexual harassment fiasco with Juliet, but let's be clear...she wasn't a robot I created to ruin your marriage, and I didn't drug Cane and make him betray you with her." she paused. "You know what...actually, I take that back. Cane IS actually a pretty exciting guy when he's not having the life sucked out of him by you." Realizing that she was there to inform Lily and then comfort her, Hilary took a long exaggerated breath and then looked at her sympathetically. "Look, I understand that despite my past news-reporting success with The Hilary Hour, I may not be the most reliable source to you. So...why don't you march up to that hospital and demand answers from Jordan. I hear he's doing a little better now."
"You're ridiculous." Lily replied quickly as she pushed past Hilary and stormed out of her office.
Hilary watched Lily's exit with muted amusement as she called out, "I'm only trying to help!". The sound of her office door slamming shut provided Hilary with some much needed relief, as she released her laughter, before grabbing the bottle of water from her desk and drinking it.
SCENE THREE
Lily stormed through the hallway of Jabot, nearly bumping into Olivia. She stopped abruptly. "Aunt Liv...what are you-...what are you doing here?" Lily questioned with a half-smile.
Olivia hesitated and then she shrugged. "Well, I was going to surprise you at your wedding, but due to the circumstances...actually, how IS Jordan holding up?"
"He's getting better. He's awake and responding now." Lily answered.
"Well that's good. I was actually just here hoping I'd run into-..." Realizing that Hilary's pregnancy was to be kept a secret, Olivia quieted.
"Actually Aunt Liv, I'm kind of in a rush. How about we meet up a little later for lunch, and we can catch up?"
Olivia smiled and replied, "Sounds good to me." before gently rubbing Lily's shoulder and then heading past her toward Hilary's office. She stopped at the office door and watched Lily disappear onto the elevator, and then quickly she knocked on Hilary's office door. "Hilary, open up...I know you're in there!"
From inside, Hilary threw up her eyes, obviously annoyed, and then she opened the door. "Well well well, if it isn't the good doctor. Too bad you were absolutely NOWHERE to be found when I actually NEEDED you yesterday."
"I was spending the evening getting caught up with family, and besides, I'm not practicing here in Genoa City anymore. I tested you and referred you to a prenatal doctor. That's the best that I can do."
"Like hell it is, Olivia. Look, I've trusted you with a very important secret." Rubbing her stomach, Hilary walked back over to her desk and sat down. "I'd like to think we've built a bit of a rapport with one another, and that I can count on you not to go blabbing around town, especially to Neil or his family."
"Neil's family is MY family." Olivia responded. "And as vindictive and manipulative of a person that I think you are, your private business is just that. YOURS."
"Good. Let's keep it that way." Hilary answered quickly before sighing. "Now is there anything else? I assume you didn't come here to check on my wellbeing, so spit it out Olivia. What do you want from me?"
Knowing that Hilary would absolutely detest what was to come from her lips, Olivia hesitated. She immediately looked away, avoiding eye contact, and after clearing her throat a bit, she turned her back to Hilary and headed to the other side of the office. "I need you to come clean...Tell Devon that you're carrying his child, BEFORE things get really serious with he and Abby."
SCENE ONE
"So what brings you home, son?" Michael asked, forgetting all about his consultation, and sitting on the couch next to Fen, who looked visibly tired.
"Well...I kinda just got on the road and drove to clear my head, and I ended up here." He forced a smile onto his face, but seeing his mother's expression, he knew that he'd just talked himself into a bunch of questions-...questions he wasn't prepared to answer.
"Well is everything alright? You needed to clear your head? What's on your mind sweetheart?"
His mother's caring voice briefly comforted Fen, though he knew that she wasn't prepared for the truth, so instead, he returned the comforting feeling with a reassuring smile. "Everything's fine, Mom. Just studying to pass the bar, and I'm sure Dad can tell you how stressful that can be."
"It's absolute hell. I loved it." Michael replied, chuckling.
"Well if stress can bring you home, then I am appreciative for it." Lauren replied, before reaching forward and placing her hand on Fen's shoulder. "And YOU, Mr. Baldwin...are going to be treated as a king for as long as you're here...and don't think you're going to rush back off so soon." she stood back up, grabbing her purse. "Now I have an important meeting to attend, but tonight, Fen, we're all going out for dinner at the Athletic Club, and I have to tell everyone to meet us there...including, but not limited to, your uncle Kevin, Gloria, Summer-"
"Uhh...that won't be necessary." His voice interrupted his mother's impending rant, and he cleared his throat. "I uh...I kinda already have plans for tonight. You know, nothing major...just kind of hanging out with some of the guys."
Taken aback, Lauren paused, and then she slightly frowned. "Oh..."
"Well, we'll have plenty of time to smother you, isn't that right Lauren?" Michael interjected as he stood from the couch. "But for the time being, get yourself settled in, there's plenty of food spoiling in the refrigerator, and if all else fails, that italian place down the street still delivers the best pizzas in Genoa City."
Fen half-smiled. "I'm sure I can manage while you two are away." he responded as Lauren once again pecked her son on the cheek. He watched the two of his parents then reluctantly head out of the apartment, leaving him there alone-...the way he'd wanted it all along.
With a sigh of relief, Fen sat back down on the couch, grabbing his phone. He dialed a number from his speed dial, and then waited impatiently for an answer. "Hey...they're gone. You can come over." he murmured.
SCENE THREE
Hilary looked at Olivia in amused disbelief for a moment, and then chuckling, she shook her head and threw up her hands dramatically. "You're absolutely unbelievable."
"It's the RIGHT thing to do."
"You're a DOCTOR, Olivia. Not a shrink, and certainly not my conscience. I'm doing what I know to be right...for me and this baby."
Olivia watched Hilary cradle the small, almost unnoticeable bump, and then she shook her head. "Nothing good is going to come of this."
"Yeah? Says who?"
"Says anyone who is thinking logically!" Olivia turned and headed over to face Hilary. "Look, Devon and Abby are really starting to take things seriously, and what do you think will happen when he finds out that he's about to be a father?"
Hilary chuckled. "Maybe he'll leave the little slut and she can go sleep with some other poor unsuspecting woman's husband...Oh wait...you weren't here to witness her sleeping with Summer's husband, or Sharon's boyfriend, or-" then suddenly she stopped. She narrowed her eyes a bit, and then after an exaggerated laugh, she clapped her hands very slowly. "NOW I get it...you know, I don't know much about you other than your holier than thou disposition, which quite frankly is off-putting, but I DO seem to recall Neil and Devon mentioning to me that you and Ashley Abbott are gal pals...THAT might explain why this sudden interest in me settling things with Devon, and even you mentioning abortion to me." Shaking her head, Hilary headed over to her desk and sat down, crossing her legs. "YOU, Olivia have managed to trust you even LESS than I already did. This is all for your own selfish reasons...to protect your friendship with Ashley and her tramp of a daughter."
"Firstly, let me clarify, that I always lay out ALL options to women who are learning of their pregnancy. And secondly, my friendship with Ashley has absolutely nothing to do with me suggesting that you do the one decent thing in this entire scenario, and just tell Devon the truth, before someone gets hurt." Olivia looked pleadingly into Hilary's eyes. "He's not just dating my best friend's daughter...he's my NEPHEW, Hilary, and I won't allow you to play these ridiculous games with his life."
"OH?" Hilary's eyes widened, and she chuckled. "And what exactly does THAT mean?"
"It means..." Olivia hesitated. "It means that I'm going to do whatever I have to to protect my family."
"Even if it means breaking your oath?"
Olivia smirked. "We haven't known each other very long Hilary...but I'm sure even YOU know that I'm much smarter than I look." she whispered, before glaring into her eyes deeply, and then turning to head out of the office.
SCENE TWO
Hilary's words bombarded their way into Lily's head as she stood at Jordan's hospital room door, and for a second she felt too afraid to walk in. All she could hear was "He's GAY...Jordan is gay", and though she knew this couldn't possibly be true, it didn't stop the words from making her feel sick in the pit of her stomach.
She reached her hand slowly forward to open the door, but her mind was demanding that she turn around and go home. Hilary was a well documented liar, but something about this felt different. She wasn't sure exactly where these types of accusations would come from, especially since Jordan was an ex of Hilary's as well, and above all else, the small void she'd felt in their relationship was now as glaring as ever.
"Lily?"
She heard Chelsea's voice speak from across the hall, and slowly Lily lowered her hand from the door and turned around. Though her eyes were filled with tears and she was trembling, she attempted to smile, but failed miserably.
"God I know you must be going through hell." Chelsea whispered as she embraced Lily, who buried her head in Chelsea's shoulder and began to weep. "He's got tons of support and people who love him. He'll pull through."
Lily pulled away from Chelsea and after wiping her eyes, she sighed. "Thank you for being here."
"It just all happened so fast." Chelsea responded quickly. "I mean, one minute we were in his apartment talking, getting him ready for the wedding, and the next minute he was being run over-" Chelsea stopped abruptly as images of the car screeching through the parking lot and plummeting into Jordan flashed before her eyes. She closed her eyes quickly to rid herself of the thoughts.
"I just don't understand who would do this!" Lily exclaimed. "Who would want to hurt Jordan?"
Awkwardly Chelsea looked down at the tiled floor of the hospital, trying desperately to restrain herself from telling Lily the truth. Sure she had a right to know, but this couldn't possibly have been a good time to tell Lily that her son was responsible for running over her fiance. So instead of being completely open, Chelsea swallowed her honesty and plastered a hopeful smile on her face. "Paul is on it, and I'm sure he'll find the creep in no time."
"Yeah, I hope you're right." Lily replied, before stepping forward. "I'm just gonna-..." she motioned for the door, and Chelsea smiled.
Lily opened Jordan's hospital room door, and seeing him lying there, asleep, she turned away. She couldn't bare to see him there motionless that way, and though he wasn't unconscious, she knew that he was in pain, and the thought alone made her sympathize with him.
As she sat at his side and grabbed his hand, gently kissing it, his eyes slowly opened, and he turned his face a bit to look at Lily, simultaneously wincing in pain.
"Baby...you're in pain. Don't move." she whispered.
"Lily-"
"I'm here, Jordan. Everything is fine, and I'm here."
"The wedding...the guests-...your family-"
"They understand, and everything is fine. Besides, you don't need to focus on any of that right now. You just need to focus on getting better." she once again kissed his hand, and then stood from her chair next to his bed, and began to fluff his pillow to make sure he was comfortable. As she went on about her task, Jordan's eyes drifted off to the door window, where he could see Kevin peering into the room. Their eyes met, and though he wanted nothing more than to have Kevin there next to him, Jordan quickly looked away, just as Lily kissed him on the forehead.
"So just relax...you'll be out of here in no time, and I just saw Chelsea in the hallway. She came to tell me that Paul is working really hard to find out who it was that did this to you. And when he does, I'm going to make sure we nail whoever it is. Someone is going to pay for this." she called out angrily.
SCENE FOUR
Kevin's eyes drifted away from Jordan long enough for him to turn around, just as Chelsea's raise hand collided with his face. The slap echoed through the hall, causing Kevin to grab his face in pain and then frown. "Chelsea, what the hell's your problem?"
"How could you do this to them?" Chelsea called out angrily.
SCENE ONE
Fen opened the door and looked his girlfriend Frankie up and down for a second, and then with a smile, he widened it, allowing her to walk in.
Her five inch black stiletto heels clicked on the hardwood floor, and as she stood in the living room looking around, she smiled. "Quiet, not exactly as large as I'd imagined...but quaint. It'll do, I suppose." she said as she eyed Fen.
"What's under the coat?" Fen questioned, as his eyes remained fixed on the long trench coat.
"I think you know." Frankie responded quickly.
"Show me."
"Ah ah ah...not so fast, Mr. Baldwin." Frankie replied. "First, I want you to do something for ME."
"Like what?"
She lifted her finger, gently tapping her chin, and then a devious smile creased her tan skin. Her long brown curly hair had been pulled up into a bun, and her hauntingly green eyes latched onto Fenmore's, sending him into a trance. "Take off your clothes." she whispered.
Fen chuckled. "You're kidding, right?"
"This coat won't be coming off, until I see some skin. And by 'some skin' I mean ALL skin." she answered, before checking her watch. "And we don't have all day."
Fen contemplated for a moment, imagining his mother or father bursting into the apartment and seeing him standing there completely naked. He tensed a little, but then seeing the curves that Frankie was failing to hide under the trench coat, his hormones made the decision for him.
Before long, he'd stripped down to his black Calvin Klein boxer briefs, and slightly cold and a bit uncomfortable, he reached up, placing both of his hands behind his head, almost as if being arrested.
"I said ALL skin." Frankie demanded with a smile. "Come on, it's nothing I haven't seen before."
Fen chuckled. "Dude, you're wild." And though the possibilities of this going chaotic were apparent and abundant, he conceded, allowing his briefs to hit the floor with a soft tap, and then he stood, proudly, smiling. "Now...your turn."
Frankie giggled, as she playfully reached forward, slowly untying the belt around her coat, and finally, she opened her coat, and dropped it to the floor, revealing the black business suit she was wearing under it.
Fen's smile quickly flattened into a grimace, and then he laughed. "You've GOT to be kidding me."
"Don't worry. I'm enjoying the view." Frankie said as her eyes drifted down to Fen's chest, and navel, and then down to the rest of him. "And from the looks of it, I'm not the only one enjoying this."
Fen quickly stepped forward, pulling Frankie into a kiss, just as Lauren placed her key in the lock outside of the apartment.
END