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21 – We're Bleeding for Nothing
Maxie's Apartment - July 29th - Lulu's POV
My brothers, Tracy, Edward and even Carly warned me about getting involved with Dante. 'He's just like his father.' I could hear Tracy lecturing and practically begging me not to go through with the wedding. But being a typical Spencer I was stubborn and determined to do what I wanted; not to mention it was supposed to be a simple marriage of convenience: no love, no attachment and no feelings. Convenience had proven to be a great misconception when the flirtation and attraction quickly blossomed into some kind of relationship. When I finally let my guard down and everything seemed to be going right, it all blew apart; just like it had with every other guy I made the mistake of caring about. For some absurd reason I thought this relationship would last, but the joke was on me. It was one thing for Dante not to trust me and have me followed, but it downright disrespectful and mean to throw the abortion back in my face; especially when he was so understanding after finding out.
Refusing to spend another night under the same roof as Dante, I went back to my old apartment and had not left in two days. Maxie had been trying to pry whatever had happened out of me, but I was not ready to hear the 'I told you so's' yet.
It was day three of my seclusion and I imagined Kate was threatening to have me fired or had already done so since I had not shown up to work and missed the big photoshoot. Eventually I would show my face, but needed a few days to figure out how I was going to spin the story of Dante and I getting divorced without completely humiliating myself.
Before I could get too deep in thought, my bedroom door swung open letting streaks of light into the otherwise dim room. "That's it!" My best friend echoed walking across the room and pulling the curtains to reveal the start of another hot summer day. I groaned pulling the sheets over my head, not wanting to face the day. Darkness fit my mood and I wanted the room to stay that way. Maxie grabbed a hold of the sheets and pulled them from the bed with a vengeance. "I've been covering and making excuses for you for the past two days. I know Kate is a terror to work for 99 percent of the time, but you're actually good at your job – not as good as I am but good nonetheless – so whatever has you closeted in here either you tell me now or you're on your own with Kate."
"Do whatever you want." I replied, honestly not caring about the threats Kate made against me.
Maxie sat at the edge of my bed, a now serious expression shadowing her usual vibrant face. "Oh my God are you dying? You can tell me; whatever it is I can take it."
I kind of laughed a bit at her melodrama. "Dante and I got into a horrible fight."
She scoffed and waved me off."That's it? You guys fight like every week. I'm sure in a few days you'll be back to your teasing, flirting routine."
I did not blame her for ignoring the severity of the situation. The fights between Dante and I were just as passionate as the attraction, so it was difficult for us to actually stay mad at each other. Unfortunately this was different. There was seemingly no coming back from the dark place we had entered, and the sad thing was I had no idea how we got here. In the matter of a few hours Dante and I had gone from bliss to misery, for nothing.
"It was bad this time. Dante has pictures of me and Johnny in the city, now he's convinced that we're messing around. I tried to tell him it's not what it looks like but he wasn't hearing it. He's already made up his mind that I betrayed him and it got so bad he threw the abortion back in my face."
His words had been echoing in my mind ever since they were spoken. The abortion was something I would forever be sensitive about because very few people respected my decision not to continue the pregnancy. When Dante did not judge me it was a relief because I felt like he truly understood my reasons for the decision. Then to have him turn around and use everything I confessed about my feelings against me hurt to the core.
Maxie darted from the room, then returned seconds later to show me her phone. "Were these the picture he had?"
I scrolled through the few pictures and recognized the one Dante had confronted me with. "Yeah. Please tell me you're not in this with him. I have absolutely no interest in Johnny." I said firmly. It was bad enough that I had lost a man I was falling for, but I did not want to lose my best friend as well. Maxie and I had come such a long way from being sworn enemies. I did not want to revert to that.
"I know that. They were sent anonymously to Crimson's email that day you were in the city."
"I never knew Dante was such a spiteful bastard. It's bad enough that he was having me followed but to send the pictures to you is just ridiculous. It's like he's trying to ruin my life." I yelled, not believing this was how low he had sunk.
Everyone was right; Dante was just like Sonny in more ways than one. When they felt betrayed their first instinct was enact revenge on the person who hurt them, and at the moment I was his target. Even though he had hurt me I did not once consider telling everyone that this marriage was one of convenience, yet it was so easy for him to turn on me without a second thought.
Maxie rummaged through my closet and pulled out a black, grey and white mini dress I had bought a few weeks ago but had not got around to wearing. "If he is trying to ruin your life, sitting in here all creepy and morbid like a character from a Stephen King novel won't help. Get up, put this on and let him see that he can't get to you." She ordered before leaving me to my thoughts once again.
That was going to be difficult to achieve because Dante was getting to me, in the worst way. In the short period of time we had been bound together by marriage, my heart had somehow tangled with his and now it seemed impossible to break free. Maybe I needed to treat this like a band-aid: pull it off in an instant instead of slowly prolonging the pain. When I left Harbor View Towers I had taken whatever could fit in one duffel bag. Now, I needed to go back for the rest of my things but was not ready to face Dante out of fear of what I might do or say.
Reluctantly taking Maxie's advice to finally come back to the real world, I took my cell phone from the night stand and dialed Dante's number hoping it would go to voicemail.
"Hello."
Why did I call him again? It seemed like forever since I heard his voice. I'm not sure if I was expecting some sort of a change - maybe anger or hostility - but there wasn't. It was his normal voice, like this was just another conversation we had daily: same pitch, same timbre, same tone; and I missed it more than words could describe.
"Lulu."
He said my name. How did he know it was me? Duh Lulu caller ID. I was being ridiculous, having this weird mental conversation, willing myself to articulate the reason for calling. I shook my head hoping to clear up the daze I was in and finally began to use my words. "Sorry, hi. Are you at the penthouse?"
"No, why?"
"I wanted to get the rest of my things and I figured it would be easier if we didn't have to see each other." I told him honestly. It sounded cold when the words were said aloud, but it was a necessary evil. I needed more time to process and come to terms with the fact that our relationship had ended before it barely got started. Even so, it hurt walking away from the 3 months we had together just as badly as it would have if we spent 30 years together.
"Oh." He answered almost sounding disappointed. Either that or I was simply hearing what I wanted to hear. "Well I'll be gone all day."
"That's fine. Goodbye." I quickly hung up, then collapsed in the center of my bed wanting to spend more time in solitude. How is it that just the sound of his voice could have me in a tailspin; feeling so many different things I had lost count?
In my head, this conversation had gone so differently. Dante would apologize for not believing I was not sleeping with Johnny, tell me how bad he felt for the abortion comment and for not trusting me, and swear to spend the rest of our time together making up for the indiscretions. Then he would beg me to come home and after some hesitation on my part, I would eventually give in and we would have our version of happily ever after. Unfortunately that conversation would remain a fantasy because after several trials and failures, it was beginning to sink in that happily ever after was not in the cards for Dante and I.
Dante's POV
I pushed the phone back into my pocket and leaned against the park bench wishing that the beautiful day outside would match my mood. Ever since Lulu walked out we had not had any contact, and I could not blame her for being just as angry at me as I was at her. Regardless of how I felt, the abortion comment was uncalled for and had no place being used as a weapon against her. Several times I made an attempt to go to Crimson to apologize but made it as far as the outside of the building before I chickened out and retreated. It did not help that my mother worked at the Metro Court and I did not want to risk running into her.
When Lulu called a flicker of hope lit in me that maybe she had called to finally tell the truth about Johnny. If she did I would forgive her because I missed her more than I thought possible. The penthouse did not have the same warm homely feeling that it used to. I missed waking up to the smell of her shampoo that always seemed to linger on my pillow, the way she would devour a stack of chocolate chip pancakes drenched in syrup then lick her fingers contently when she done, that cute quick smile she would give when I caught her singing off key or dancing to music when she thought no one was around and just the simple comfort of knowing she was there. I had gotten used to her presence and now it was difficult to be without it.
"From the look on your face I would say that was Lulu." Brooke-Lynn guessed sitting next to me.
Brooke-Lynn had been good company since everything blew up. I was grateful to have her trying to keep me distracted, but it was not working very well. No matter what I did my thoughts would always come back to Lulu. "She wanted to make sure I wasn't at the house so she could get her stuff."
Brooke-Lynn scoffed unapologetic, making her disdain for my wife well known. "I can't believe she isn't even trying to make your marriage work. Talk about faithless and self absorbed."
"Brooke." I warned, exacerbated by the constant rivalry. "I don't want this to be harder than it needs to be, so I'll stay out of her way so she can move out in peace."
Even though I was still mad at Lulu, I did not like Brooke bad mouthing her. If they wanted to hate each other that was their right, but I was not going to fuel the fire by insulting Lulu behind her back to someone who hated her. Just like I would never bad mouth Brooke to Lulu.
"What about getting back at her for whatever she did?"
Guilt scoured the pit of my stomach thinking of what anger had driven me to do. At the time I felt justified in making her feel the way I did. I wanted to see that same look of hurt I had when she heard I had betrayed her, but now it made no sense. My words had cut just as deep as my actions could have. "Forget about that." What Lulu did not know, could not hurt her.
"If that's what you really want, then ok." She agreed, but did not appear pleased that I was being so docile about it all.
I never actually told Brooke why Lulu and I were splitting up; all she knew was that I was angry about something Lulu did. Even though she and I were close friends, knowing her and Lulu were bitter enemies made me reluctant to tell her the intimate details about what was happening between us. After all she was not exactly the most objective party when it came to Lulu.
Before this conversation took a turn for the worse I got up from the bench and decided it was time to move on from this topic. "I've got work to do, so I'll see you."
She simply nodded obviously irritated at the sudden change, but I reasoned it to her just being an over protective friend as always. Brooke-Lynn may have changed in some ways over the years, but one thing I could count on was that she was not malicious and would never intentionally do anything to make me unhappy.
Harbor View Towers - Lulu's POV
Maxie was in a good mood and felt sorry for me so she agreed to help me pack up my stuff. Leaving the penthouse did not really bother me since I never really considered it 'home'; it was Dante I had a problem leaving. Every one of Sonny's numerous relationships had come to an end in this penthouse which made me wonder if the place was cursed. I knew it was absurd to think that the universe or some unknown cosmic magic had anything to do with the demise of Dante and me, but I needed to hold on to some reason that would help me make sense of how we got here. After all being cosmically ill fated sounded a lot better than splitting up over petty jealousy and trust issues.
Tough love was Maxie's remedy for getting me over this breakup. According to her I was wasting my energy sulking over Dante when it could be better spent getting even. I did not want to turn this into a battle of who would cry uncle first. For now all I could hope for was to get out of this marriage as quickly as possible and get back to my normal life before Dante Falconari and that ridiculous will turned everything upside down.
"You know you're going to have to face him at some point." Maxie reminded me as we got off the elevator on the top floor.
If I had my way that day would never come and I could avoid him forever. "I know that but some point doesn't have to be today."
I unlocked then opened the door and halted mid step feeling like someone had punched me in the gut, or worse put a knife through my heart.
"Hi baby…"
No! This could not be happening! Maxie and I froze in the doorways completely disgusted at the sight before us. My stomach literally turned several times seeing Brooke-Lynn lying on the couch – my couch – in her underwear.
She sat up and began to put her clothes on, making no attempt to hide the smile on her face that I had caught what was obviously meant for Dante. "Oops, I thought you were Dante." She apologized, her voice dripping with fake sweetness.
[i]How could he? [/i] I could understand that Dante was hurt by what he assumed I had done, but his need for revenge sank deeper than I could have imagined. He knew that I was coming; he knew Brooke and I could not stand each other. To allow her in here knowing there was a chance we would run into each other was salt in an open wound. My imagination began to work overtime thinking of all the ways they must have defiled the penthouse and I had not even been gone a week. Had he done things with her that he did to me? Things that we had had planned to do but never got the chance? It was like Dante had easily replaced me without any lingering thought or feeling, and all I was left with were thoughts of what could have been.
"You cannot let her get away with this." Maxie muttered nudging me in the side, but I was still shell shocked and unable to find my voice. I could not understand how Dante could change so quickly: having me followed and being mean for spite were not like him. This had to be a dream or some alternate universe. "Desperation isn't a good look, not to mention how pathetic you are resorting to breaking and entering." Maxie spoke since I had gone dumb.
"Sorry to disappoint you but I have a key." Brooke proudly informed us taking the keys lying on the center table and dangling them in front of me. "Dante didn't want me to have to wait in the hall until he got home so he gave me a key."
I could feel my face redden, recognizing the Brooklyn Bridge key chain holding the keys together. Dante had spare keys to everything all over the place so I had gotten him the key chain to keep the spare keys all in one bunch and put them in a safe place. Now the keys were dangling from Brooke-Lynn's fingers taunting me with every jingle. "You need to leave." I told her finally, before all my overflowing anger and frustration caused me to do something that would get me arrested.
Brooke-Lynn folded her arms holding her ground. "Like I said Dante gave me a key, so he obviously wants me here." She repeated, acting like some keys were the Holy Grail and be all end all.
I took a step towards her not intimidated in the least and spoke firmly so she knew I was not in the mood to be messed with. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. "I don't care if he gave a diamond encrusted key to world." I held up my left hand flaunting my rings the same way she felt the need to flaunt the keys. "These rings mean Dante and I are still married, so this is still my house and I said get the hell out before I have you thrown out."
We glared at each other hatefully until she pushed past me angrily, and I could not resist smiling that I still had one up on her, even if it was just a marriage on paper.
"Divorcing you is the best decision Dante ever made." Brooke seethed. If her head could explode it probably would have being reminded that I was legally Dante's wife; a title she seemed to want so badly. But being the bitch that she was, Brooke had to get one last jab in so before going through the door she leaned into Maxie with a mock whisper. "And if I were you I'd watch your boyfriend. You never know when someone might steal him from you."
I rolled my eyes but Maxie made a lunge for Brooke so I grabbed her to prevent a physical fight from ensuing. "She isn't worth your time." I warned keeping a hold on my best friend until Brooke-Lynn disappeared behind the elevator doors. While I would have loved to use her head as a mop, it made no sense because it would not change anything. If Dante wanted to risk getting an STD that was his problem, as long as he kept his hooker out of my way.
Maxie struggled out of my hold, angrier than ever. Brooke-Lynn got under her skin more than anyone else at the moment and as much I could attest that Maxie had changed a lot in the past few years, she had not changed enough to let this slide without a fight. Her heart was wrapped up in Johnny and when someone threatened to take something that Maxie loved, it does not spur a good reaction. "She is not getting away with this."
"Maxie don't." I tried to stop her, but I knew my words fell on deaf ears as she left the building in a rage. This was not going to turn out well at all.
Fake Restaurant/Office- Dante's POV
I was deep in thought trying to figure out how we were going to outsmart the Truvios out of their shipping routes, when Maxie barged through the door nearly swinging it off its hinges. For a second I was worried after seeing her face colored a deep shade of red and her eyes glazed with anger like she was out to kill. "Put a leash and a muzzle on your dog before I do it for you." She screeched definitely as an order and not a request.
"What are you talking about?" I asked staring puzzled at her crazed demeanor.
"Brooke-Lynn!" She slammed the door shut and began yelling like a lunatic. It was kind of amusing to be honest - this petite blonde yelling at the top of her lungs, arms flailing furiously for no plausible reason. "She's like one of those annoying little Chihuahuas that won't shut up. Yap, yap, yap, yap yap, that's all she ever does. If you don't do something about her I will and trust me you're not gonna like what I have in store for her."
Maxie had a reputation for being a drama queen so I did not feel the need to dissect the cause of this witch hunt she was on for Brooke. "I know how much you dislike each other so try not to be offended if I don't take you seriously." I told her, then returned to the files in front of me. Their drama was their business and none of mine. I had enough things to deal with in my life.
She picked up some of the papers on the desk and threw them at me violently. "Wake up Dante, she's playing you and you're falling for it. To your face she acts all innocent like she's all about your best interest, then provokes me and Lulu every chance she gets; especially Lulu. When we got to your place earlier the skank was lying on the couch in her underwear."
My head snapped up at the accusation, not believing Brooke would do something like that. "You're insane."
"If you don't believe me ask Lulu. Brooke-Lynn was in there comfortable like she owned the place, practically bragging that you two were sleeping together. It's bad enough what you're putting Lulu through but letting Brooke-Lynn flaunt your hook up in her face is just cruel."
I respected the fact that Maxie was Lulu's best friend and she felt the need to take her side, but I was not going to let her make me out to look like the villain in the story when Lulu was just as guilty, if not more so than I was. "What I'm putting her through? I didn't want this. She was the one who ran off with Johnny and lied about it." Now I was angry and yelling, making the argument go from bad to worse.
"Lulu didn't run off with Johnny. I sent her with him on his jet because I thought it would be quicker. He dropped her off and she spent the day doing work for Crimson. You can call Federico he can verify Lulu was on Crimson business."
This was the same story Lulu had given, but that did not explain why there were pictures of them looking like a couple. I wanted to believe in Lulu. I would have given anything for some proof that she really did not betray me and this was all some big misunderstanding, but there were so many other incidences of her and Johnny looking too friendly that I would be a fool to ignore all the evidence pointing to a relationship. But what if you were wrong all along? What if you accused her of something she didn't do? My conscience echoed.
I had to get to the bottom of this soon before things got to the point of no return, because if I was wrong I had no idea how I was going to get Lulu to forgive me after everything I said. "Since you seem to have an answer for everything, explain the pictures because I know you saw them."
A frustrated groan lingered in the room as if I had asked the dumbest question in the world. "Obviously taken out of context. Any person with a camera can take a picture at just the right moment and make it look scandalous when it was completely innocent. How do you think tabloids and gossip columns make their money? Tell your photographer, or whoever you hired to follow Lulu, nice try but she wasn't doing anything wrong."
Maxie had a point there. Pictures could be misconstrued, but things about this still made no sense. Where did these alleged fake pictures come from? Why did Maxie have them? Another thing that bothered me was this was the second time I had been accused of having Lulu followed. I trusted her so there was no reason for me to keep track of her comings and goings. They made it sound like I was some jealous, psycho boyfriend wanting to keep her locked in a tower all to myself. Admittedly I was jealous, and I did want her to myself but not in a crazy obsessed sort of way.
"I wasn't having Lulu followed. I came to Crimson looking for her but neither of you was at your desks. I saw the pictures on your computer screen and emailed them to myself so that I would have proof to confront her with if she denied it."
"The pictures were sent to Crimson's email from an address I didn't recognize, so when Lulu told me about them I figured they were from you." I shook my head in denial just as confused as Maxie was, and not liking how strange and complicated this was becoming. "So if Lulu and I had nothing to do with this, and you didn't send them, who would be following Johnny and Lulu around in…" Maxie stopped mid sentence and began to pace the office babbling incessantly to herself. If I did not know better I would have sworn the anger was making her lose her mind. "It was her. It must have been. She's been flirting with Johnny, dropping all these weird hints. She's the only one who had something to gain from this. It had to have been her. Crazy bitch."
"Who?" I snapped, wanting to be let in on the new theory.
"Brooke-Lynn! She sent the pictures."
I placed my head in my hands, feeling a migraine coming on. A few days ago I was happy, at peace, and content with my life. My biggest issue was dealing with my over protective and intrusive mother. Now I had an allegedly cheating wife, a suspected conniving best friend, and an angry wife's best fried all at each other's throats. I watched the picture on the desk of me and my siblings surrounding my father; his smile almost teasing me from the grave. This was his type of drama filled life, not mine, yet here I was living up to the part of the Corinthos legacy I hated. Even from the grave, Sonny Corinthos was making a mess of my life. Thanks dad. Thank you so much.
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