Sean and Emily were upstairs packing their bags.
„Are you sure about this Sean?" Emily asked concerned.
„Of course. There is no point into wasting time here any longer. The trial is postponed, mom is taking care of everything, what am I supposed to do here? Besides, we have jobs and college exams to attend, remember?" He gave back.
„I know, Sean…It's just….I don't think you should leave your mom like this right now."
„Oh she's just fine."
„What about your father?" She insisted.
„What about him?"
„Sean, if your father, God forbid, never wakes up again…you'll regret it for the rest of your life that you didn't say goodbye, or visited him once."
„Don't worry about me, Emily. I'm fine, he'll be fine…people like him always survive." He said turning around and continuing with packing.
„Sean, please, listen to me. When I came back to Sunset Beach, I thought I didn't need mom. I had so many hard feelings against her. But then…when our lives were at stake during the cruise and the Shockwave, I suddenly regretted all the time I've spent judging her, all the time I wasted on arguing with her. And all I wished for, was to get a second chance to …to make things right between us." Emily explained.
Sean turned around looking lost into her eyes. He nearly forgot how sweet, loving and pure at heart she was.
„Your relationship with your mom is something different. Your mom is different, Emily. My dad…" he shook his head taking a seat on the bed, „all my dad could do was to constantly hurt me and everybody else in this family. He never gave a damn about my feelings, about what I had to say." He paused laughing, „You know, other young people also have problems with their parents…guess it's a generation thing…but my parents? My dad? He is nothing the world has ever seen before." He shared.
„Sean, I understand how you feel but please, let's visit your father before we leave. Please, do it for me." She begged.
Sean looked confused and torn between listening to Emily and listening to his reason. Finally he gave in.
„Ok, I'll do it for you. But just for you. I can't have you upset with me." He smiled giving her a kiss.
„What are you talking about, Ben? What did you find out?" Duke was anxious to know.
Ben paused, picking up a file from his briefcase.
„This, my friends, is the reason to this whole house thing." Ben stated.
Duke pulled the file closer and began searching trough it.
„Ben, what is the meaning of this?" Olivia began.
„Olivia, do you remember the first time you met AJ again after all those years?"
„Of course, he was on the cruise ship with me after my miscarriage, he saved my life back then. If it wasn't for him…" she paused remembering how done she was with her life at that point.
„Well, it looks like it wasn't just coincidence he was there…Olivia, he planned his return months before the cruise." Ben explained.
„You mean, he knew I was going to be there?" She looked shocked.
„He knew a bunch of things about you, about Gregory, about your lives…. You see," Ben paused laughing, „he planned every little step."
„But, but what does this have to do with the house? I …" she couldn't understand.
„Telling from this report, he contacted Dave Baxter two weeks before the cruise, just a few days before Gregory bought this house. This copy from the fax he got shows that this whole money embezzlement was concocted by AJ and Baxter." Ben continued.
„But why? Why would AJ do that?" Olivia was still in shock.
„AJ knew Baxter was a board member and share holder, and, that he and Gregory weren't exactly friends. He asked Baxter to dig some dirt on Gregory, to then blackmail him into retrieving the money from the charity event and make it disappear. The house selling just came in handy, since Baxter had a reason to pay for something."
„But Ben, the house isn't sold." Olivia interfered.
„I know, and that's where Gregory was again the mastermind he is. He convinced Baxter a rental would be better, that it wouldn't come out since Baxter isn't paying a dime. Gregory still owns the house, Baxter is living for free, and no one has to know anything. Gregory gifted the house to Tobias so it wouldn't show up under his possessions any longer."
„No, no, this still doesn't make any sense. What about the 4 million dollars for this house? Where did that come from?" Olivia asked still looking for answers.
„I found out that Gregory payed Baxter the money in advance, all this went trough the bank accounts they both have in Europe. Gregory payed Baxter, so that Baxter then allegedly paid Gregory. You see, Gregory paid for this house, he just made it look like it was coming from Baxter." Ben explained.
„So it was just the 2,5 millions from the charity…" Olivia added.
„Which, and here is the thing, Gregory withdrew from the bank and gave to Baxter. He helped Baxter to make the money from the charity event disappear. Now the only question is: why? What could Baxter possibly have found out about Gregory that he wanted to keep a secret?" Ben asked while Duke shook his head at the reveals.
„But, Ben why? Why would AJ do something like this? I can't even imagine…." Olivia was terrified.
„AJ came back into town to take Gregory down. He made sure he would have a possibility to compromise Gregory. Why do you think the FBI was after the embezzling? Who do you think gave them the hint? AJ just waited patiently, for the best possible opportunity to make his move." Ben continued.
„I…I just can't believe this…." Olivia was speechless.
„So you see, Duke, I am sure AJ would have brought this up during the trial, which makes it imminent that you know about it and are prepared." Ben finished.
Olivia sank into her chair as she couldn't believe what she just heard…AJ really came back to Sunset Beach to destroy Gregory. But what did Baxter find out? What could he possibly have blackmailed Gregory with to get him to go trough with this?
Olivia was still in shock to find out that AJ was involved with Gregory's money embezzlement. He knew Olivia had miscarried, he knew Gregory and her were breaking up, he knew she was going on that cruise and he picked up the perfect time to play the savior. God, how blind could she be, to believe he cared just for her after all those years? No, what he kept in his heart all those years was the hatred towards Gregory, nothing more. She was again just a tool to complete his plan, to drive Gregory crazy. She couldn't help remembering how she had told Caitlin once that she lets men use her. There it was, once again. Even AJ, who she thought was the sweetest of men, used her to get back at Gregory.
"Olivia, hey! Olivia!" Ben called her name.
"I'm sorry, I got carried away." She answered forced out of her train of thoughts.
"Look, Duke and I firmly believe that this has to be kept a secret until the trial. We need to find out what Baxter holds against Gregory first. If we find out, this will be an ace up our sleeves, and we can prove Gregory was blackmailed to embezzle money." Ben stated as Olivia just watched him speak.
"Olivia, I know Bette is your best friend but she is not allowed to know." He continued.
"But...Ben, you're asking me to keep this from her? To keep from her what type of man she is involved with? How he fooled us all into believing he was a good and caring man? I, I can't do that."
"Please, listen to Ben," Duke interfered, "if your friend finds out, she won't be able to keep shut, she'll probably hate him for having done this. And if AJ Deschanel finds out that we know, he will try to cover all traces that we've got until the trial. We probably won't be able to prove anything anymore. Do you want to risk Gregory's freedom?" He finished.
"We won't be able to prove anything anyway if we don't know what it is that Baxter holds against Gregory. He'll say we're lying and that's it. Now who, besides Baxter and Gregory is able to answer this question? You see, Baxter won't talk and Gregory...he can't..." she took a deep breath. "Now if I don't tell Bette, I am going to deceive her. For letting her live an illusion." Olivia added.
"How so? This has nothing to do with their relationship." Ben didn't understand.
"Oh but don't you see? It's what AJ did his whole life, Ben! First it was me, then when things got inconvenient it was Elaine, his big love. Then, 25 years later he claims that he loves me, always loved only me, fights for me," she paused her tone becoming calm, "and then all of the sudden, Gregory is exposed and imprisoned and he just, he acknowledges: ups, I don't love you after all Olivia, I love your best friend Bette. It's a scam! I mean, hah, I was happy when I thought AJ had realized he doesn't love me like he thought he did because to tell you the truth, I was in no mood whatsoever to have a relationship, not after everything that was going on with Gregory and his supposed death. I was happy for Bette, she deserves to be happy, God I wish nothing less for her than happiness. But...after what I just found out...I don't believe it's true anymore. And I have to warn her. I have to." Olivia finished her plea.
Both men were looking at each other and tried to figure out how to keep Olivia from revealing this to her friend.
"Look, I know you are worried about Bette. You and her were always like sisters, the happenings lately, your children being together, it brought you even closer than you've ever been before. But, think about Gregory, about the fact he really is innocent here and has been manipulated and blackmailed. We have to help him."
"Oh, so that Bette finds out about this whole thing in court? In front of god knows how many people? No, uh-uh. I can't do this to her."
"Look what Ben is asking you, is to keep this a secret until we find out what exactly Baxter is holding against Gregory. Please. Give us a few more days." Duke begged.
She was looking from Ben to Duke and back, unsure of what to do.
„And how exactly do you plan to find out?" She asked.
„We'll find a way, I promise. That's why need a few days to figure this out." Ben assured her.
"Oh...alright. But just a few days. I have to keep Bette from hurting. I have to." She said as Ben and Duke sighed in relief.
„So, how do you think she'll react to this?" Doug asked as Charlie bit into his sandwich.
„Well…she'll be pissed for not asking her about it first." Charlie answered full mouthed.
„But she said we are free to chose."
„Yeah, but she probably didn't imagine we'll chose him in over 40 contestants…."
Olivia made her way trough the offices of the marketing department, heading to see her two managers, Doug and Charlie. She needed to hand them some papers and since she needed to get out of the house, se decided to bring those papers personally. Making her way trough the offices, Leo suddenly raised his head to greet his new boss.
„Good day Mrs. Richards." He said smiling. Olivia froze for a few seconds until she was able to reply a weak and surprised „Hello."
„You look absolutely fantastic today." He was being a gentleman.
„Thank you." She answered quick as she made her way to Doug's and Charlie's office.
„Just what on earth is that supposed to mean." She asked furious pointing out at Leo Foster who was still looking in her direction.
„Olivia, hi." Doug hurried to answer.
„Don't „hi" me! What is he doing here?" She demanded.
„Relax, Olivia. Hi is on probation here." Charlie hurried to interfere.
„Him? You hired him of all people?" She couldn't believe it.
„Well, you said we could chose whomever we think is best qualified for the job" Charlie tried.
„But you had at least 40 other people, you're telling me none of them was qualified enough?" She rubbed her forehead.
„As a matter of fact, no. He has the most experience, he has worked for some serious companies throughout the years and he is a very likable man. He fits in here." Doug defended their decision.
Olivia knew this wasn't about his qualities for the job. Doug and Charlie were probably right in every way. But she couldn't believe that he was here, in her company.
She learned from Gregory throughout the years, that such coincidences are too much and nothing good was to expect from them. Who was this man and what did he want?
„Okay, I'm sorry I lashed out at you. Both of you." She apologized. „It's just…I am really going trough a lot these days and I am really not in for surprises or any more news…"
„No, we are sorry. Look, he is on probation for a month. We can fire him any day, without any reason, so if you want him out of here just say the word." Doug offered.
„No, no, you had your reasons for giving him this job, now you know I trust both of you a hundred percent. We shall give him a chance." She said while thinking it was more likely for her to find out what he wanted if she had him under her observation. „I came here today to give you these." She opened her briefcase clumsily since she was stressed and all the papers fell on the floor.
Doug hurried to help her pick up the papers as he saw a picture of her and Gregory that fell out of her calendar.
„Olivia.." Doug handed her the picture. „…how is Gregory doing?"
She sighed as she knew someone will ask sooner or later: „He, he's still in a coma. The doctors don't even know why…" she tried to keep her composure.
„I'm so sorry, I know how hard this must be for your family. And you."
„Oh me? No, I'm okay." She lied „It's my children I'm worried about, that's all."
„Of course." Doug dropped it there knowing she was probably lying to protect herself. „Thank you for bringing the papers in." He smiled.
„Doug, Charlie, I will call you tomorrow. If you need anything, if you want me to come here and help you with anything…" she offered.
„It's out of the question, Olivia, take your time, we can handle everything around here. Plus, you're working from home, that's more than enough giving your situation." Charlie dismissed.
„Well then, I'll see you." She made her way to the door.
„Bye Olivia, take care of yourself." Doug asked as she swallowed a lump from her throat.
On her way trough the desks of the office, Leo stood up to stop her from walking further.
„Olivia, or, ahem, I'm sorry, Mrs. Richards." He smiled bashfully. „You seemed not to be aware that I'm working here now." He began.
„Don't get your hopes up, you're on probation." She replied cold.
„Ouch, that hurts. But I know the procedure." He finished smiling again. „I was wondering if we could grab a cup of coffee again, like we did in San Francisco. I really enjoyed your company." He asked.
„You must have enjoyed it a tad too much since you went trough all this trouble to get here." She made him understand she wasn't blind to his moves.
„Well, can't blame me."
„Just what are you up to, Leo? What is it that you want?" She lost her patience.
„As I said, a cup of coffee with you would be great." He insisted.
„Well," she said looking at her watch, „too bad lunch is over by a long shot, maybe some other day." She smiled fake.
Leo looked at her as she made her way out of the office, that determined walk in those heels, the dark locks bouncing on her shoulders.
Damn it he loved her bossy act. Instead of giving up, Leo got it like it was a challenge he was happy to accept.
Leo knew almost everything there was to know publicly about the Richards, plus a few dirty details he got from Cole when he had to track her down, he knew what and who he was dealing with.
He even knew that Gregory was in a coma in the hospital and even if he survived the stroke, he would probably rot in jail for the rest of his life. He inhaled the trail of her perfume she left behind, anticipating the day he'll be able to make his move.
Olivia didn't want to go home yet, she needed to get out of the house from time to time. She decided to go and see Gregory, as she did every day the past week.
The nurses were already used to her habit of visiting him, even the police officers posted in front of Gregory's door didn't bother asking her any questions any more.
Olivia dropped her purse on the chair next to Gregory's bed, looking down at him, her eyer filled with tears.
„I don't know how long I can keep the camp up, Gregory." She began talking to him.
„Things are really complicated around here, I wish I stayed in San Francisco." She lamented walking trough the room.
„Oh what am I saying? Of course I can't stay away from here, my whole life is here….I knew your whole trial would be a hard thing to get trough but…I didn't see all of these things coming. There is so much going on and the trial hasn't even started yet… if you would only be here, awake, you'd know what to do and what to say, like you always do." She paused „ God Gregory, I can't do this alone. I can't even be there for Caitlin anymore, I can't be the mother I want to be to Trey, Sean…he is leaving to college again since he says there is no reason for him to be here anymore…Cole and Annie are acting suspiciously every time I'm somewhere near them, especially Cole….I think he suspects something about Trey…. And all the things finding their way to the surface, all the secrets and lies… Duke and Ben are helping me a lot… but… I honestly don't know what to do. I am not strong enough!" She began crying. „I'm not strong enough to face all this and worry about you." She admitted.
„Please, Gregory don't leave me here alone… I can't do this by myself….I just, I can't…" she cried looking out of the window.
„I know, Liv." She heard his voice but was too frightened to turn around and make sure. She slowly turned her head around and looked confused and shocked at Gregory who was smiling at her repeating: „I know, Liv, I'm here."
Her hands were trembling as she tried to understand what she just saw before her eyes. Gregory was awake and looking at her with his comforting look in his eyes.
„Gregory…" she let out, wiping the tears from her face and eyes. „Oh, Gregory, you….you're…" she turned to him smiling and checked as if still in doubt about his state.
„I'm okay." He answered whispering.
„But, but that's wonderful, I'll get Tyus to check on you!" She said enthusiastically and headed for the door.
„No! Olivia, don't!" He shouted but still trying to keep his voice down as Olivia held the door knob in her still trembling hand.
„What? Why?" She couldn't understand as she watched him tear the wires and infusion off of his arm and body.
He stood up looking at her, knowing it won't be easy explaining this. Gregory was always getting weak when it came to Olivia, never being able to watch her suffer and hear her crying. He couldn't bear this in the past and he had to acknowledge he still couldn't bear it up to this day.
"Olivia...come here ." He asked as she silently followed his request.
He was still shaky on his feet but was doing a good job at standing.
"Gregory, please sit down." She worried as he laughed.
"Must be my blood circuit since I'm bound to this bed for days."
"That's okay, really. Sit down. Why won't you have me get Tyus for you?" She was confused.
„No, please, he can't check me up yet…not yet." He begged.
„But why? You're not making any sense…unless…" she paused standing up from the bed revolted. „Gregory Richards!" She hissed. „When exactly did you wake up from the coma? Or better yet, were you ever in a coma?"
„Olivia, please, listen to me." He tried standing up again.
„What should I listen to? Hm? More of your lies?"
„Listen, I woke up a few days ago…but…." He began.
„A few days ago? Gooood I can't believe you!" She turned away from him disgusted.
„Olivia, you have to believe me…I really suffered a stroke. I, I remember being with Ricardo in my cell…he wanted to know why Cole was snooping around. I got so worked up at the thought that Cole was again up to something that I…I don't know….suddenly all went dark on me…" he explained while she was still quiet and furious. „I don't remember anything after that. All I know is, I woke up in the middle of the night, here. I…I didn't know where I was until I realized I was in the hospital. I tried to move but it was so hard…until I had the chance to move and stand up, a nurse from the night shift came in to check up on me. I was so startled that I closed my eyes again and kept shut…she didn't notice anything, she just adjusted a few things on the machines and she left."
„When was that Gregory?" Olivia demanded the truth.
„Last week, the night before you, Annie and Tobias came here." He admitted.
„Last week? So when I saw you moving your arm and eyes, you were awake?" She shouted.
„Shhhh, Olivia please…"
„Last week?" She repeated „you're faking your coma for a week now?" She continued raging.
„When I noticed that I could pull this off so easily, I thought of something…" he tried explaining.
„What, you thought of all the ways you could torture your family?"
„No, God no! I know listening to you every day and wishing I could tell you that I was fine, that I was alive and doing well."
„So what kept you?"
„Fear. That once you find out, you'll stop coming, the way you didn't come to me while I was in jail." He admitted.
„You're not making any sense. So why tell me now?" She was holding tears back.
„Because I can't stand to hear you cry, I can't stand knowing you're in pain, Liv."
„Don't you „Liv" me! What the hell is wrong with you?"
„Olivia, listen, I am doing this for a good reason."
„What possible reason can you have to torture your children like this?"
„Look, as long as everybody thinks I'm in a coma, there will be no trial. And if can delay it long enough, we can get the results of the paternity test and find out for sure…if I am the father of your son or not." He explained sad.
„I—I just can't believe this! Gregory, you are mad! You are trough and trough mad, sick!" She continued.
„I want this to work out for us, I want things to be good again." He tried.
„NO, what you're trying is to make everyone mad around here! God, Gregory I came here every single day, talking to you, being worried to death about you! Your children are sick because of you, mentally. And now, you're telling me, you're fine? You're standing here as if it were the most natural thing! God, how can you live with yourself like this?"
„Olivia…"
„No! Don't call my name, don't! Why, Gregory, why are you doing this to me? Do you even know what I'm going trough?" She hissed forming fists with her hands, in an attempt to hit his chest.
Gregory caught her wrists and held them still. They both froze for a few seconds, Olivia eyes darting at him full of anger as she looked into his calm eyes that drove her over the line every time. His calm look was irritating her so much, asking herself how could he be so calm when she was losing it.
She felt his arms strong around her wrists and tried to free herself from his grip, but before she could protest or move away, he pulled her with his right arm by the base of her neck, into a deep and hungry kiss.
Olivia tried to protest and free herself from his burning grip, but he wouldn't let go until she slowly, stopped pulling away. Her fists opened to warm hands resting on his chest and shoulders, her lips leaning into his, returning the hungry kiss he started. What was she doing? They parted their lips slowly, as Gregory watched her, smiling down on her. She couldn't look into his eyes and just stood there, petrified in front of him, lips bruised and parted, unable to speak. Gregory pulled her close into an embrace: „God, I'm so happy I told you. I missed you so much. I'm sorry, I'm sorry for shouting at you at the police station, I'm sorry for hurting you, for letting you think I was still in a coma. I'm so sorry, Liv." He said rocking her in his arms. Her eyes were glossing with tears forming ready to fall, she couldn't believe what he was able to pull off just to serve his purpose. How could he be so convinced he was doing the right thing? She thought he must be out of his mind, he really completely lost it.
Gregory looked at her, her eyes finding his. „Please don't cry. I never could bear to see you cry, it rips my heart apart." He begged as she sniffed her tears away. „Please, don't tell anyone. Not yet."
„The test results will arrive on Tuesday next week." She said fully detached from the situation.
„That's great. Now all we need to do is hang on a few more days." He said excited.
Olivia bursted into a laugh: „You're asking me…AGAIN…to lie for you, to hurt our children for you and your wicked plans…?"
„I'm asking you to give me chance to get out of here, out of jail, to be able to come back home and make it up to you. All of you." He begged. „So, are you going to play along and do this for me?"
They both heard a rushing sound at the door, as if someone was about to come in. Gregory jumped into bed startled as he clumsily tried to stick the wires back on his skin.
„Here, let me do this." She said, still cold. Olivia sticked the wires and introduced the infusion back into his arm, with exercised moves, from the time she worked as a nurse herself. It was like riding a bike, once you know how, you never forget.
„Are you going to help me?" He asked again.
„I think I just did." She said flatly and turned around as the nurse entered the room. She picked up her purse and walked out, the empty look on her face still on. How could he? How can he?