A/N: Welcome back, loyal readers :) My deepest apologies for the long delay since posting a chapter, it's been a whirlwind summer and unfortunately the more recent weeks have resulted in some sad news for a few of my dear friends and family :/ We lost a few of those close to us and as you can imagine it's been hard to write, let alone concentrate. But in the past few days I've found this story to actually be a helpful diversion and I'm hoping I was able to give it enough time and attention to satisfy your interests with yet another chapter. So please let me know how you liked it, I will save this preface as the only note rather than leaving one at the end. PS. I tried to weave multiple elements of 'Addiction' throughout this chapter to tie in with the theme. Let me know if you catch them all :) Thanks as always for your patience and enjoy!
Chapter 36: Addiction
Addiction – an impulse that, once indulged, is impossible to pacify. Even when starved, the hunger survives…
Emily tiptoed down the steps of her beach house, sighing with irritation as she sought to quench yet another hunger pang with a midnight snack. Disoriented by the changes her pregnancy was bringing on, she could not help but think of both her sister and Amanda while beginning a conquest of the refrigerator, souring as she realized she was the last one to experience motherhood. More so, she could only commiserate the side effects with Charlotte now, as Amanda's incarceration for just over a week lingered painfully like the nagging in her stomach.
A sliver of moonlight lit the room just enough for her to move through the darkness towards the table in solace, but she stopped short when she found Daniel asleep there instead. His head rested in the crease of his elbow amidst an array of legal documents, explaining why he had not come up to bed hours sooner. Sympathizing, Emily nursed a mug of ice cream with her right hand and used her left to stroke Daniel's brow as she slipped into the seat beside him.
"Another long night working on the case?" her voice met his ears once he stirred awake.
He raised his head groggily, and half a page was nearly stuck to his cheek. "For all this, I should've gone pre-law at Harvard instead of majoring in business," he mumbled, pulling it away while stretching the muscles in his face and running a hand through his hair. He shuddered to think what time it was by the dark shadows of the downstairs.
"That would've come in handy on more than one occasion," Emily replied. She scooped a spoonful of ice cream into her mouth and shared the next with Daniel apologetically. "Sorry I turned in early; it's not like me to get tired so fast..." she trailed off regretfully, realizing it to be yet another side effect of her condition. She angled to look at the papers spread on the table. "Looks like you and Stevie made progress after I went up?"
"Stevie knows her stuff," Daniel affirmed, switching on a light to straighten up. "You were right, she seemed pretty certain that a judge could easily rule the evidence as circumstantial. And since my father never documented the previous threats she made against him, it's his word against hers." When he glanced at Emily she had an assured look.
"Well, let's not forget you had a similar conversation with your father that night and you were on the video too," she reasoned in support, and he ducked his chin in fair acknowledgment. "With the amount of people walking around with motive to go after Conrad, Amanda should at least have the option to be out on bail."
Daniel shrugged at that point. "But rumor has it the judge is leaning towards denying it and that's Stevie's concern. She's worried he'll view her as a flight risk… and then of course, there's always the chance my father's already paid him off..." He shook his head in disgust, sharing the next bit of information as he went to get a glass of water. "But there is good news. She said they're going to allow Amanda visitors starting tomorrow."
Emily eyed him from the dining area. "So why don't you look relieved?" she probed.
He took a long swallow, staring off into space. "This whole thing, the arrest, the murder charges…it's just bringing back a lot of memories…" he paused to recollect, and immediately Emily knew what he was referring to. A minute later he verified it when he sat back down, posing a question in deep concentration. "Em, I remember you telling me that the night of our engagement party Tyler was telling the truth – he really had started figuring out all your takedowns," he began. "But you never told me what it was that tipped him off?"
"Besides breaking in and finding my infinity box?" she answered smugly, glancing over at her old hiding spot. Daniel grunted beside her and she felt inwardly relieved that they could speak about it freely; knowing just how sensitive a topic it once was. "Tyler had already stumbled onto the sins of your family and was about to expose them by the time I got in his way," she simplified for him. "But his fixation with you made me an obstacle he couldn't avoid, and that was what drew his interest." After a pause she raised her brow to the question. "Why?"
"It's just feeding a theory I have about my mother," he responded, divulging in part where his thoughts had been circulating. "Except her fixation is with Patrick. Think about it, Em ever since he died, she's been trying to put together what really happened out there." With clarity Daniel stared into his wife's unassuming eyes. "I think she's investigating you."
Emily gave it only minimal credit. "I think it's pretty clear she's investigating 'Amanda Clarke', not Emily Thorne," she argued instead, wording it to overstep the irony.
"I disagree," Daniel retorted with determination. "Even by exposing Amanda's murder attempt, she was going after you," he emphasized. "You told me yourself that she discovered your connection from juvie, which means she knows how inseparable your bond is. Orchestrating her downfall was her way of trying to bait you."
"Into what?" Emily rebuffed, starting towards the sink.
Daniel turned to follow her with his eyes. "Losing your cool, maybe," he reasoned. "Em, all anyone had to do was look at your reaction – you were beside yourself."
"I was angry at the injustice," Emily corrected him, clunking her mug into the sink. Her irritation was rising but this time she sensed it was because Daniel had a solid point. As warranted as her actions were, even she had to admit they called unnecessary attention to them during the arrest.
"And you had every right to be," he concurred, coming over to stand in her proximity. "But let's take this for what it is. My mother may not have figured out your identity, but she's clearly staging your undoing. Face it Em, she now wants the same thing you came here for – revenge."
Emily absorbed his admonition with intensity, knowing his warning came from a place of concern. Despite all that happened, there was a greater purpose behind it and as much as she wanted to focus on her friend, she still had a mission to complete. One that clearly was about to meet resistance from Victoria's own.
"Well she's not going to get it," Emily breathed in prophecy, centering her gaze. "I've always been able to stay a step ahead of her, and I'm certainly not slowing down when Amanda is on the line – this is her family and the rest of her life we're talking about, this isn't a game!" Regardless of directing her enthusiasm at Daniel, he knew her determination was reserved for the responsible party. "The difference is, I went after people who deserved what they got for the crimes they committed," she clarified. "Not the innocent."
It was Daniel's turn to illuminate her with the ugly truth. "Babe, you and I both know Amanda is far from innocent," he reminded, taking her hand and dropping his gaze humbly to the floor. "Look, I don't want to see her suffer either but... this isn't going to be easy. We need to be prepared for whatever comes from it."
Thinking his words would be the last, Daniel edged towards the stairs in suggestion while still grasping Emily's hand. But she was still locked in her thoughts, and not quite ready to return to sleep. "You're right..." she trailed, prompting him to look back once he was a few paces closer to the steps. When he did, her expression had lit up as if stumbling onto an idea. "I once told you the only way to overcome your mother was to beat her at her own game," she resolved, facing him. "Well that hasn't changed."
Daniel waited in expectation for what his better half had on tap. "You've got a plan," he presumed aptly. "What do you suggest we do?"
She cocked an eyebrow with mystery, before cleverly answering.
"Raise the stakes."
SCENE
"So, tell me again what exactly the plan is for your next target?"
Nolan kept up with Emily's pace as she strode across the tarmac, hoping to get an answer prior to them boarding his private jet. As usual, Emily had not given much detail other than asking for the transportation as a favor and then providing him with a time to meet her there. She was similarly reserved throughout their brisk walk, responding to his question only by handing him an invitation.
"Monte Carlo Night?" Nolan read from it aloud, realizing it was to an event she was hosting. He looked over with intrigue. "We're flying eight-hundred miles to invite Louise to a charity affair; couldn't you have just put it in the mail?"
"Hand delivery is so much more personal," Emily uttered over her shoulder as they ascended the stairwell. She loosened her scarf and removed her sunglasses once they were inside the plane, relaxing out of her old Hollywood look to explain while they got seated. "Louise is clearly looking for social acceptance, or else she wouldn't have been so easily tempted by Victoria. Based upon my research she's been spending the past year grazing the circles of the elite—in between visits in and out of rehab, that is. "
Nolan twisted his jaw in curiosity as he sat across from her. "Searching for?" he wondered.
"Contentment, maybe? Sanctuary… easy access to her vices?" Emily supposed, still yet to settle on a definite reason.
"Well, she clearly hasn't found it if she's already trotting back over the Mason Dixon line..." Nolan supplied.
"She left the day after Amanda's arrest," Emily informed, handing Nolan photos from airport surveillance as proof before gazing out of her window in thought. "That's not a coincidence. She either fled because she thought someone was onto her, or Victoria terminated their relationship once she had what she wanted. I'm betting on the latter… which means she'll be desperate for another mark and she'll see this," Emily glanced down at the invitation again. "As an opportunity to get back in the mix."
"Nice lure," Nolan remarked with a devilish smirk. "I'm guessing once you have her on the hook, you're going to pump her for everything she knows?" A stern look from Emily told him that was just the tip of the iceberg for what she had planned. "Well, racketeering must be the flavor of the day," he continued, studying alerts on his phone. "The word on the Voulez gossip pageis that ah, Pascal LeMarchal has been doing the same. Since he came back in town, he's been sending several highly renowned art pieces over to Grayson Manor."
Emily turned her nose up irritably. "He's trying to woo Victoria?"
"Don't think it's his first time either," Nolan guessed, this time accessing an email on his phone. "Even though Amanda accidentally burned the drive we actuallyneeded from Stevie's law firm, I was able to send off the remains to my buddies in tech reconstruction. As of this morning, they salvaged this—" he stopped to hand it over and Emily took it from him anxiously.
"A note?" she deciphered the visual onscreen.
"But more importantly, a note with borders slightly smaller than normal – meaning it was written on European stock." He gazed at her knowingly. "Like the kind they only make in France…?"
Emily sat back, reading the note over and over again until it was committed to memory. It was clearly a fragment from the cover-up to frame her father, but the acronyms used only told part of the story. "So Pascal is involved?" she resolved at last.
Nolan nodded slowly. "Sure seems like it. Only problem is," he pointed out, gesturing to the bottom. "Pascal's initials are PL and this note makes reference to a TWM to help frame David… any ideas?"
Emily focused with all her might, but despite her extensive immersion in her father's trial and the people that had betrayed him, that particular set of letters did not trigger a connection. "None come to mind," she finally sighed, handing it back to him. "Forward it to Daniel—he's meeting with Stevie today maybe she'll recognize it."
"Already did, and I'm also hacking LeMarchal Media's mainframe to run it through," Nolan advised, lacking his usual optimism. "I've got my best people on it, but it could still take forever to find a match..."
"Well, we don't have time to waste," Emily continued with determination. "I'll make sure Pascal attends the charity event and hopefully we can find out something there if nothing else turns up," she decided. She reached over to retrieve her phone to make the call and no sooner had she leaned forward when a distinct popping noise could be heard, followed by a button that came tumbling from her direction right over to Nolan's shoe.
"Whoops," Nolan observed with a quirky look, picking it up while Emily realized it had come from the waistline of her dress. "Hmm," he mumbled awkwardly, handing it over. "Suddenly I'm bad mojo to all your favorite outfits," he joked.
"That's the second one I popped this week," Emily sighed, more to herself than to Nolan and he realized for the first time just how snugly her shape was beginning to fill out. She rolled her eyes and shoved the button into her purse irritably, pulling down her scarf to conceal where the opening now was.
"Face it Ems… or should I say, Moms," Nolan remarked like a proud older brother. Emily glared at his wormy grin, and waited for the obligatory pep talk to follow. "Your life's about to change in the next few months, and with it – your wardrobe," he concluded. But one look at her taut expression told him it was not the most tactful way to allude to her subtle weight gain, and he opted instead for a more caring approach to her pregnancy. "Are you sure you're up for this?"
Emily stared back without hesitation, even as the plane engines could be heard revving up for takeoff. "Amanda is sitting in a prison cell, Nolan," she reminded him indignantly. "I have to be."
SCENE
Amanda took deliberate steps as she approached the glass that separated visitors from the prisoners, slowly sinking into her chair as if she were carrying lead weights in the soles of her shoes. Though she sincerely loved the man waiting to speak to her on the other side, it pained her to once again be the cause of his torment and embarrassed her to be so defined by her surroundings. She had sworn she could never again be behind bars, and yet here she was; only able to speak with her husband under supervised visitation through a phone and a glass divide.
It was Jack's anxious look of plea that moved her to finally pick up the receiver, and she did so with angst, silently hoping the torture would not last long. They stared at each other wordlessly for the longest time, and when Jack put his hand against the glass she felt the tears welling up immediately. "How's Carl?" she finally whispered.
"He misses you," Jack replied, and immediately it warmed her to hear the familiar tenor of his voice. "We both do," he added with sincerity. "But, we're gonna get you out of here."
Amanda blurted in a rush to choke back her tears. "Not this time."
As usual, Jack was insistent. "Look, I know it seems… I know it seems bleak," he admitted, acknowledging all that had happened surrounding her arrest without really saying much at all. "But Daniel's been working with Stevie all week to have the evidence dismissed—" he went on.
"It doesn't matter," Amanda stopped him abruptly, staring far into his eyes. "I've decided to plead guilty at the arraignment," she confessed, watching as his heart sank before hers but determined to continue. "I know what I did, and I'm not hiding it. I'm sick of hiding things," she admitted self-consciously, glancing downward. "From everyone."
"Amanda," Jack pled, nearing closer to the glass as if it would help change her mind. "No matter what you've done the world deserves to know the truth," he emphasized without saying more than was necessary. "Everything that happened, what they tried to do to you—"
"And how it made me just like them when I took things into my own hands," Amanda inserted, shaking her head softly. She condemned herself with every resolute expression, and almost wore a touch of pity in reply to his insistence. "I lost my way a long time ago, Jack," she admitted. "I've been trying to push through, carrying on like it's nothing but, it's affected me in ways I'll never fix."
Amanda paused to catch her breath, realizing her epiphany was a result of all the wrongs she had done suddenly flashing before her. "I've let you down so many times," she went on to admit, struggling to bear the greatest burden of them all. "Even recently… there's things you don't know about."
"Amanda, whatever it is we'll get through it—" Jack tried to insist but she was determined.
"I can't live on your forgiveness anymore, Jack!" Amanda uttered through a sob, shaking her head hopelessly. "I haven't earned it," she sighed, and finally took the breath she needed to pull herself from his presence. "I have to say goodbye now," she forced from her lips, turning so she did not have to watch his face flood with disappointment.
"Amanda wait—" he begged again, but the glass that separated them kept him restrained.
"Goodbye Jack," she whispered, rising in her seat to abruptly end the visit. "Tell our son I love him."
SCENE
"Alright, first things first…"
Daniel gathered his thoughts across from Stevie in the corner of the Stowaway that had essentially become their new meeting office for all intents and purposes. Though the beach house was ideal for keeping Emily in the loop, the bar was more convenient to provide regular updates to Jack, especially on the first day he had been granted a visit to Amanda. Conscious of it, Daniel kept an eye on the door for him while presenting Stevie with his hypothesis on what they could expect.
"If I know my father, he's going to run the expo he planned on Amanda in the next issue of Voulez," Daniel guessed, grimacing at the thought. "Meaning he's going to manipulate the storyto paint himself as the victim. To counter it, we fire back at his credibility – everything we've got from his affiliation with Grayson Global, the SEC investigation, his public entanglement with a mistress during the political run, and concluding with his strategic framing of David Clarke for his own terrorist actions." He took a deep breath as he envisioned the outworking of their strategy. "Once we shed light on what really happened, it will only fuel the theory that Amanda's arrest is just another one of his attempts to destroy the Clarke family."
Stevie absorbed pensively, having begun to digest with Daniel's help just what a monster her ex-husband truly was. "It's an airtight approach," she assessed confidently. "But only if we can produce the evidence to tell the story. Otherwise it's just another conspiracy theory."
"That's where your own expertise paid off; Nolan forwarded this over this morning," Daniel informed with a grin, scrolling on his mobile device and handing it over for her to see. "He was able to salvage a note from the drive you told us about. Recognize any of the initials?" To his disappointment, Stevie could not make a connection but he continued regardless. "Well, the dimensions of the stock used nearly confirm it came from Pascal LeMarchal. Revealing his alliance with my father on this plot may just be enough to stop the public from believing a word of whatever story he prints."
"It's a good tactic," Stevie admitted, despite still having reserves. "But the prosecution will dissect this if we go to trial, and they'll want something more concrete than a cryptic note."
"Well if I know my wife," Daniel responded with certainty. "She's already got Nolan working on figuring out who 'TWM' is and possibly getting him to come forward in the event we need his testimony."
Stevie gave a respectful nod in return, seeing how thoroughly prepared he was. "Well, safe to say that's a solid bet that works in Amanda's favor," she remarked, intensifying her gaze at Daniel. "You ever consider a career in the legal field?"
He chuckled with a measure of surprise and went back to making a few notes in his file. "Nah, justice is Emily's field, not mine," he downplayed. "I'm just standing in for her."
Stevie leaned forward with interest. "But you're proficient at it," she pressed, recalling his vigor from the previous eve. "And clearly you're committed – it's not every day you see someone take on their own father just to defend a close friend of their spouse's," she observed. "That kind of objectivity goes a long way in the courtroom."
Daniel remained modest despite her accolades, knowing there was more to his dedication than her perception. "Well, it's not really all that difficult to stay objective when it comes to my father," he deflected instead. "I've watched him do some pretty vicious things growing up," he recalled, pausing to study her curiously. "I still can't believe you were married to him."
Stevie grinned in spite of herself. "Conrad wasn't always so terrible," she offered candidly and as she expounded on her memories, Daniel looked up from his writing. "He was so relaxed and charming the first time we met, we ended up having such a great time… We dated for barely a summer before wanting to get married right away. The night of our engagement we left for the airport and took the first flight to anywhere," she recalled softly as nostalgia set in.
"Really?" Daniel replied, gazing off with intrigue. "That sounds a little like me and Emily…" he realized somewhat worriedly after drawing the comparison. "So what do you think changed by the time he met my mother?"
Stevie took a moment to think, sensing she was giving him insight to things he had only come to know for the first time. "Well I suppose one reason was how young we were and how quick we rushed into things," she reflected, growing serious. "But in truth, Conrad wasn't solely to blame… much of what tore us apart was the addiction I wasn't yet ready to admit I had."
Again Daniel drifted off to ponder her words, respectfully not pursuing any further. "That must have been difficult," was all he responded.
"Yes, but that's the beauty of divorce," Stevie added with optimism and a hint of pride towards her field of expertise. "Something your father appreciated then and I'm sure your mother is grateful for now."
Daniel nodded without expression, retreating to his own thoughts. Though her encapsulation was brief and clearly referred to her alcohol habits, he could not help running a parallel to him and Emily, and her seeming addiction to revenge. He tried not to dwell on it as he continued working, but deep down the similarities were too striking to ignore and were all that weighed on his mind as the day went on…
SCENE
"To Victoria – back in our midst and back on the market!"
Victoria beamed at the center of a small assembly of gal pals on her patio, raising her glass to the toast while attempting a show at modesty. "Oh, I don't know about that," she feigned with a laugh, only too happy to celebrate that her divorce had at last been finalized, the last among a week's worth of victories.
"What about Pascal LeMarchal?" one of the friends in her elite circle hinted with a smirk. "He was rather dashing at the opera. Didn't you two date before Conrad?"
"It's a regrettable mistake of my youth," Victoria quickly batted it away, sipping at her glass. "One that I'm loathe to repeat or discuss."
"Ah, just like your mystery friend that night," another chimed in with an exacting look. Victoria inquired with a sidelong glance. "You know, the dishy little thing that came over just before it was time to go in—we never did get an introduction?"
Victoria recollected with a sneer. "Oh yes, dear Louise," she recalled. "I fancied her a protégé but alas, she had to return home to handle some private matters. I don't expect you'll be seeing any more of her anytime soon." She took another sip to deflect, masking her ongoing concern.
"Or Amanda Clarke, for that matter," another quickly piped in. "I still cannot believe that girl went after Conrad when not a year ago you publicly welcomed her into the family!" Several others echoed agreement with gasps and nods, while Victoria basked in the foremost triumph.
"Yes, well with Charlotte back home with the baby I'm simply relieved that a miscreant like Amanda is no longer free," Victoria swore, quickly switching gears from concerned mother to empowered ex-wife. "As for what she tried to do to Conrad—well I can only fault her for not succeeding," she quipped, prompting the others to erupt in laughter again.
The irony only heightened when not a few moments later Victoria spied Conrad walking about the inner halls of her home. "Case in point," she added with a gesture, before irritably setting down her glass and excusing herself to go inside. "Get out of my house," she jabbed upon meeting him midway through the foyer.
"Your house?" he retorted just as spryly, raising a document in his hand. "This placard I intercepted at the front door argues otherwise," he inferred, handing it over.
"Well, then you should keep it for when you go groveling back to Stevie," Victoria shot back angrily, crumpling it up to toss back in his direction. "Because the only paper I want from you is the property deed you promised for holding up to our agreement." It suddenly dawned on her that his demeanor lacked the enthusiasm Amanda's arrest warranted. "You should be beside yourself – I got you what you wanted, now get me what I asked for."
Conrad rolled his eyes, leveling a hand in her face before advancing towards the study. "With all due respect Victoria, as much as I appreciated the assist, your release of that footage was a bit premature." He strode past her with finesse, heading straight for his old liquor stash. "My plan was to destroy Amanda first in the media before seeking her arrest," he complained dryly. "With the case pending to reopen, I can't just go to Stevie without the proper counsel."
Victoria sauntered forward with interest. "And you don't find anything peculiar about your ex-wife's decision to actually represent Amanda Clarke?"
"Oh… when did you decide to do that?" Conrad jibbed sarcastically at her choice wording.
Victoria huffed at his dark sense of humor. "You know what I'm talking about, Stevie is a part of whatever combat Amanda and countless others are waging against this family," she clarified with intensity, struggling to get him to see the danger. "Her sudden arrival all but confirms it!"
"Be that as it may," Conrad glossed as usual, draining his glass. "I'm afraid I'll be limited in my discussions with Stevie… wouldn't want any legal ramifications for visiting her without my lawyer present," he hinted, walking back towards the foyer.
Victoria followed on his heels, ensuring he headed straight for the door. "Well, you could simply tell her you're there to discuss her other revelation?" she suggested, shifting tone.
Conrad paused on the top step and turned back as Victoria opened the door to let him out. "I'm sorry, what revelation?" he inquired genuinely.
"Oh, Conrad," Victoria sighed with pleasure, releasing the door to close on her response. "All the morning newspapers you flip through, and you always skip Page Six."
SCENE
"Papa, this is outrageous!"
Pascal took his eyes off of the intricate charity invitation he had received just that morning to address his daughter's random and enthusiastic intrusion into his office. "Margaux," he grumbled irritably. "What is it now?"
"When were you going to tell me about your collusion with Conrad to greenlight his expose on Amanda Clarke?" Margaux demanded, storming in with a fury. She held an article in her hand as reference. "I have to read about your plans in one of your affiliates, Page Six, right under the column you printed about Stevie Grayson. And I quote, 'Amanda Porter's attorney, who is by no coincidence the mother of her husband, Jack Porter, will be lead defender to the spawn of terror who has clearly inherited her father's legacy'!"
With that Margaux thrust the article onto his desk, bearing an angry glare while Pascal not once flinched in response. "Is that all you've come to discuss?" he rebuffed her.
Margaux shook her head incredulously. "Releasing the tip that got Amanda arrested was one thing, but forcing this expose into Voulez goes far beyond!" She stood back in shock of the man she once respected that now appeared weakened and corrupted. "If there's anything you've taught me about journalism, it's to show integrity in anything that bears our name. This… this is clearly nothing but Conrad's attempt at manipulating the media into his favor!"
"Stevie Grayson hasn't denied a word from that column," Pascal retorted, finally standing to eye level. "It's clear she's not ashamed of her relation to the Porter family… and as for the expose on Amanda," he paused, betraying a hint of regret but not enough to stop him from proceeding. "It's out of my hands."
"And straight into mine?!" Margaux protested irritably.
Pascal replied to her in a fatherly tone. "You will lead this article and see that it gets published in this month's issue and it will be a spectacular success," he prophesied, intimating that she did not have a choice in the matter. "Conrad has held up to our end of the partnership, and he's earned his way. Don't worry; he'll be out of yours soon."
At that he walked around her to leave, but not before she spun around in dispute. "Not soon enough," she objected, heaving a great breath. "Papa, you may consider this my notice."
Pascal stopped short, his attention finally captured as he turned back. "You're serious?" he questioned angrily.
"The competition has made an offer and I am seriously considering. Every ounce of integrity will be wiped clear from Voulez when this goes to print, and I want no part of it." Margaux held her head proudly, at last taking the stand she realized would have behooved her to take long ago. "You know exactly what Conrad did and yet you would continue to let the world believe he was the victim? I don't understand why you would do something like this…" she trailed off with a shake of her head, until a reason suddenly dawned upon her. "Unless… there was something in it for you?"
Pascal remained silent at her allegation, only stared her down in anticipation of her disgruntled exit. It followed without disappointment when Margaux turned for the doorway a moment later.
Before leaving she hung back to utter one last condemnation, implying she already knew what her father had gotten out of the deal. "Well I certainly hope she's worth it."
SCENE
"Hey, where are you?"
Emily answered her phone without breaking concentration on her line of sight; just several feet shy of where Louise was browsing an upscale clothing store. Nolan lurked not far from her side, providing a form of cover so that Louise did not realize she had a tail. Meanwhile, Emily spoke softly to Daniel on the other line.
"Just got back from a long day of legal research with Stevie," he replied, setting his keys on the table with a sigh as he returned home. "We were making progress up until late this afternoon when Jack came in. He told us in so many words that we could forget the case – Amanda wants to change her plea to guilty."
"What?" Emily reacted in shock, and a glance over at Nolan reminded her to watch her volume. "That doesn't even sound like her, she must still be in shock."
"Either that or an attack of conscience," Daniel considered. "Jack said she mentioned being tired of hiding things … I'm thinking this might have to do with what Charlotte stumbled onto a few weeks back," he remarked, shaking his head. Emily's silence on the other line told him she was already considering it as a factor. "Anyway we can talk about this more when you get in – what time are you coming home?"
Conscious of her election not to tell him her exact whereabouts, Emily tensed in response. "Ah, probably later than usual, I'm um, shopping for maternity clothes," she answered, browsing through a rack of dresses.
Nolan looked over with a smug confirmation, noting she was technically not lying. But it didn't stop him from finishing her brief answer in a whisper. "In Downtown Charlotte," he mouthed, while she ignored him with a glare.
"Oh," Daniel cracked a smile as he traversed the stairs. "Well, that's actually kind of cute," he remarked sweetly. "Hey, they still make negligée for maternity right?"
"I guess you'll find out when I get home," Emily hinted back. "Don't wait up," she urged him with added incentive. "I'll wake you in my own special way." She hung up to Daniel's added pleasure, not only enjoying her playfulness but also relieved to hear she was engaged in something other than the usual plotting.
Unbeknownst however, it was quite the opposite. "Bad girl," Nolan immediately followed up in observation, edging in close. "And I don't just mean that racy little comment to Danny at the end. You didn't tell him you were flying out of town?" he accosted.
Emily's eyes stayed fixed onto Louise as she approached the checkout line before acknowledging her meddling friend. "He didn't ask," she supplied with a cavalier tone, scolding him with a sidelong glance. "And I don't remember asking you, either. Now do you have the device ready or not?"
Nolan held up a small remote control and Emily nodded at it as her cue. She walked over confidently to Louise and pretended to accidentally brush by, causing her to drop both her phone and the bags she was toting in hand. "Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry," Emily made a big spectacle of her apology, crouching down to help her pick the items up.
"That's alright, clumsy me—" Louise began, making eye contact as she sought to pick up her things. "Oh, hey there …" she gasped somewhat anxiously upon recognition.
Emily volunteered an easy out first. "I've seen you before haven't I?" she pretended to place her. "Were you at the MET opening of Pagliacci last week?"
Thankful she had not recognized her from her stint in the Porter household, Louise grinned emphatically. "Ah, yes that's right," she nodded, flipping her hair over her shoulders. "What um—what brings you down to these parts?"
"Well, besides the Dolce," Emily fawned at the affluent store. She handed Louise her purse, noting that there were several rather prominent pharmacy bags falling out. "My ah, therapist recently relocated and you know how it is when you're attached to someone," she offered her prepared response seamlessly. "I just had to schedule a visit after the long week I've had."
Louise perked up in interest. "I'm so sorry to hear that. Funny, I came home for the same reason," she divulged, quickly realizing her prescriptions were all but giving her away. She tucked them back into her purse, hoping the other had not noticed. "I've had quite the trying week myself…" she defended.
Emily squinted, sensing she might be easily coerced into talking given the right circumstances. "Well then, maybe this will cheer you," she offered, producing the invitation she came to deliver. "I'm hosting a charity Monte Carlo night in a few days, and I'd love it if you could come. I find giving back to others to be the best way to cope with stress – wouldn't you agree?"
"Um, sure," Louise replied hesitantly, studying the invite. "It's just I hadn't planned on returning back up North for a little while. Things are just a little too fast-paced up there for me…" she alluded, starting to beg off.
"Tell me about it," Emily jumped in quickly. "One minute my in-laws are defending each other and the next they're divorcing," she divulged intentionally, watching Louise's eyes widen. "I'm sure during your stay in the Hamptons you had to have crossed paths with them – Victoria and Conrad Grayson?"
Louise tried not to sputter. "Ah, you know, I think I might have once or twice," she fibbed. "Though I didn't hear of their divorce, is that confirmed?"
Emily smiled curtly. "As of this morning," she reeled her in slowly. "It's just a shame what those two will do to go after each other. One minute Victoria is dragging him through the mud for infidelity and the next she's on a witch hunt for his shooter from last year… but after her son took his life I really can't blame her. She never did accept Patrick's condition, and it's drove her nearly mad ever since."
As Emily let her final baiting comment hang in the air, she watched Louise stare off into the distance, guessing at that moment she was reconsidering just how genuine her alliance with Victoria had been. Confident that it was enough to make her question if she were just a pawn in a divorce battle, Emily seized a glance over at Nolan and with his nod she leaned down to pick up one more item.
"Whoops! Almost forgot – you dropped your phone," Emily offered kindly, handing it over.
Louise broke her trance to respond. "Oh thank you," she replied, snapping out of it. She attempted turning it on but there was a malfunction. "Looks like I dropped it once too many," she sighed at the blank screen.
"Ugh, now I feel responsible," Emily feigned sincerity. "Alright, that's it. I absolutely insist you come to the affair so I can make good on it– my treat, please," she offered irresistibly.
Again Louise glanced down at the invitation, and up to Emily. Her words had the intended effect, not only causing her question Victoria's motives all along but further deepening her guilt for possibly helping to orchestrate an innocent woman's demise. "Well, I suppose I can make an appearance," she finally gave in, letting her conscience get the better of her.
"Wonderful," Emily apprised. "I look forward to seeing you there." She waited for Louise to leave before allowing Nolan to rejoin her side. "Nice work," she commended him.
"Oh, I just set her phone back to factory settings," he explained. "She won't be able to turn it on, so she'll just have to turn up."
Emily exhaled her agreement. "And when she does, I'm going to see to it that every dirty deed she did for Victoria comes back on her. Starting with revealing all her little secrets," she led in, holding up a prescription bag she had been able to deftly swipe from Louise's bag.
"Whoa," Nolan perceived, peeking as Emily emptied the contents. "Those are some heavy meds, Ems… you think Lady Ellis has a drug addiction?"
"It would explain all the visits to rehab," Emily concluded, deducing the same.
Nolan suddenly softened with a touch of sympathy. "Well if that's the case… shouldn't you just let her self-destruct on her own?" He insisted with a serious look. "I mean come on, Ems what if she really had no idea what she was doing? It wouldn't be the first time Victoria used someone with a weakness."
But Emily stayed resilient, not budging from her stance. "And it won't be the last time we use her to our advantage."
SCENE
"Is it true?"
As unexpected as Conrad's presence was at her door, it did not take Stevie long to decipher the reason. He stood before her with distress smeared onto his face, shakily holding onto the frame in a manner that made her question his sobriety. "Conrad—are you drunk? You shouldn't be here," Stevie scolded him in spite of it, her legal instincts kicking in. "I don't have to explain to you the inappropriate nature of why."
"Let's just put all this prosecution and defense formality aside for one evening, shall we?" he ventured, walking in without invitation. "Is it true," he repeated as he reached her couch and spun around. "Is Jack Porter really your son?"
Stevie closed her eyes submissively, finally letting the door to her hotel room swing shut. "I'm sorry you had to find out this way," she admitted, walking over. "But considering the battle we're about to embark on, Jack didn't want anything out there you could use against him."
Conrad let out a half chuckle, not even considering the connection to the case at hand. Truthfully it had been the last thing on his mind, despite how favorable it was already leaning. "It hits harder than I expected," he divulged in explanation, sitting down. "I never suspected The Stowaway was anything but a refuge for your addiction, but to hear that you had a child with another while we were married?" he emphasized bitterly.
Stung by the truth, Stevie had no choice but to own it. "Conrad, I know how it must feel to have this kept from you for so long, especially after we once planned to have children of our own," she prefaced. "But in truth, by the time we went our separate ways there was no coming back. Victoria had already stolen your attentions and I was barely hanging on by a thread… I knew it was already over."
He agreed solemnly. "Well I suppose I was destined to be branded a fool either way," he reflected, his thoughts trailing next to Victoria's similar record of secrets. But for a moment he grew very still, and there was an honest glint in his eye when he looked up at Stevie. "And yet somehow, it hurts more coming from you," he resolved. "The one I should have never let get away."
Stevie sighed audibly to a rare admission from him, and old feelings awoke in her heart that she had long tried to suppress. Still she did not let them through, only felt compelled to let him hear her honest side. "Conrad, once I gave Jack up I did want to make it work with you," she confessed cautiously. "But after losing you to Victoria… and my son … I had nothing. I fell apart again."
"I hated you for leaving," Conrad breathed in response. "But now I realize I drove you away. I loved you Steph," he added, and the honesty in his voice weakened her resolve. "We had our demons – maybe I still have mine – but we had some very good years before they took over."
Forcing herself not to return the declaration, Stevie merely nodded and braved through. "Well now, it seems we've found ourselves on opposing sides again," she attempted to regroup, standing slowly. "That being said, I think its best that you leave. I have no intention of softening my stance. I'm not going to rest until I see justice for that girl – and for the Clarke family as a whole."
Conrad rose groggily, meeting her eye level with an inkling of his own. "Of course I have to respect your dedication… it's the one thing I do admire about all the women who have entered my life. They stand by what they believe in."
She cocked an eyebrow at his lopsided smirk. "I guess that's your idea of a compliment?" she charged. "Well if you're feeling so full of respect and admiration, then why not speak to the prosecution about dropping the charges against Amanda, hm?"
There was a long pause and Conrad regained focus and started again for the door. "Perhaps you were right. I can see now why it's not recommended to have these conversations while a trial is pending—"
"Conrad, wait," Stevie stood in his way to stop him, and stared him dead in the eyes. "Off the record," she prefaced. "Why are you doing this to her? After everything she has been through, why put her through any further pain?"
"Her pain?" Conrad accosted irritably. "May I remind you the prosecution is charging her for my attempted murder—"
"An event brought on by retaliation to countless other attempts on her own life," Stevie defended without missing a beat. She glanced around aimlessly until her eyes finally fell on a document a few paces off and she stepped away to retrieve it. "Here," she offered, extending the deed to Grayson Manor into his hand. "I usually wouldn't make this offer, but I know you have it in your power to make things happen. So here it is – I'll cease fire on reclaiming Grayson Manor if you find a way to drop the charges and grant that girl penance, just this once."
Conrad let out a muffled laugh. "And let her walk free? So she can finish the job?" he shook his head disdainfully. "No deal. And ah – you're forgetting this is Victoria's trump card – not mine," he began to hand it back.
"And you're forgetting that I've been made well aware of the truth regarding your conspiracy to frame David Clarke," Stevie alleged proudly, watching as Conrad's countenance sunk in response. "Or did you think my client wouldn't give me full disclosure? You know as well as I do, that this is only your last ditch attempt to silence her from exposing you, something that you can gamble with by letting this go to trial…" she dangled, pressing the deed into his grasp again. "Or put to rest for good by accepting my agreement."
Her ending stipulation finally hit home and though Conrad had quite a measure of faith in Amanda receiving full comeuppance, he also did not realize the extent to which Stevie was willing to go to war. "You're beginning to sound like the other former Mrs. Grayson," he grumbled bitterly, taking the deed back to signal his tentative compliance.
"Considering that nothing prevents Victoria from testifying against you now," Stevie further reasoned. "If I were you, I'd take that as a warning." With that she took a final breath, proud of herself for firmly holding her ground, and swung the door shut upon his exit.
SCENE
There was a touch of coolness in the air when Charlotte came to visit Jack the following day, and she was surprised to find the Stowaway emptied of its usual bustle. "Hey," she greeted upon walking in, setting Declan's carrier on an empty table. "How's it going?"
"Not too good Charlotte…" Jack replied upon looking up from behind the bar. He came around to sit with her, his physical appearance speaking volumes to his low spirits. "I closed down for the next few days – said it was for inventory but really I just don't have the energy to get back into the same old routine. I'm going away for a little while with Carl."
"Jack, I'm so sorry," Charlotte digressed, understanding. "Daniel told me Amanda decided to change her plea – this must be so hard for you, on so many levels."
Jack merely absorbed it with a sigh. "Looks like we've both had practice dealing with stress regarding Amanda," he replied and his look intensified. "She told me about what you saw… Is that why you left?"
Charlotte lowered her gaze in admittance. "Jack, I was so disappointed in her, and I couldn't believe she would hurt you like that?" she confessed. "By the time I finally got the whole truth on what happened, it was too late… but I know why she went after my father – I know about what he did. I just wish there was something we could do to help her."
Jack nodded, rather appreciating that for once Daniel had brought his sister up to speed. Regardless of the other secret that remained outstanding, it still made it easier to discuss things with her openly. "Your father is a powerful man," Jack lamented in a tone all too familiar. "And unfortunately, so is your mother."
Charlotte nodded regrettably. "I know." She glanced over at her son, palming the fringe of his blanket while he rested oblivious to the goings on around him. "I don't want to go back to living with her… but at the same time I don't feel like I belong here either. Do you ever just want to move on and start over?"
"That's kind of what I'm doing," Jack replied slowly, and suddenly his plans started to make sense. "Look, I haven't told anyone this yet but if Amanda goes through with pleading guilty, I'm moving away from here. I don't want Carl growing up in a town where his mother is a pariah, having to deal with constant lies and smearing of her name." He paused heavily, reflecting. "I've already seen someone else go through that and I know what it can do them. This visit to Carl's grandmother's is to hopefully find somewhere up there to live."
"Oh my God, Jack…" Charlotte exhaled in realization, though she had to respect his choice. She suddenly brightened up with an idea of her own. "Please – let me come with you?"
He furrowed his brow. "I'm not sure about that—"
"Jack, I promise I won't get in the way," Charlotte assured him. "But everything you're saying is exactly what I'm looking for too! Besides I've wanted to take Declan to meet his extended family for a while now. Please?"
Jack couldn't help but concede to her desperate urgings, sympathizing with how similar their plights were. "All right, you can come along for the visit," he relented. "But after that you're coming back here to your other family," he hinted, knowing Emily would not be pleased to lose her sister's company. He expected she might even have some words for his own choice, but that was up to him. Whereas putting permanent space between her and Charlotte was not something he was willing to take responsibility for.
But for the moment, Charlotte's relief at the getaway was clearly visible. "Thanks, Jack – I really needed this."
SCENE
"So is this the show-stopping number you were out until 11 last night looking for?"
Daniel ran his eyes over Emily's crimson floor-length gown as he escorted her into Monte Carlo Night, receiving a fair look and smile in return. They made a terrific entrance into their first jointly-hosted affair as husband and wife, and the invited press captured it with several candid photos before letting them pass through into the game hall.
"This is the one," Emily responded softly, turning to let him admire. "Comfortable and elegant," she described, draping a hand over where its form cleverly hid her midsection. "And not too revealing."
"That's debatable," Daniel retorted, glancing at where the shoulder sash dipped into her growing bustline. "Though I shouldn't be surprised seeing as you got it from Charlotte…?"
Emily had to turn back from where she was already half a pace ahead. "My sister? No, Daniel I bought this myself—" she aimed to correct, but to her surprise he held up a receipt in his hand.
"As in Charlotte, North Carolina – where you went yesterday, I'm guessing?" he clarified, exposing she was caught. Her face dropped as she took the evidence from him, but he was surprisingly calm as he drew close. "And if you're wondering why I'm not getting on your case, it's because it's not like you to be so careless leaving something like that around. I presume you wanted me to find out?"
In spite of his optimistic assumption, Emily's concerned look revealed it had been an honest oversight. "I um, was planning to tell you later," she confessed, facing him penitently. "I needed to follow a lead on Louise, so I asked Nolan to take me. I know – I should have said something, but you've been working so hard on the case with Stevie I just wanted to handle this myself."
"Mm," Daniel mulled it over, still reflecting on his earlier conversation with Stevie about addiction. It came as no surprise that Emily was still busy with her own plans, but admittedly he had been hoping to be wrong. "So what came of it?" he asked, trying to discard his anxieties.
"Looks like she did," Emily answered triumphantly, at that moment gesturing back towards the door where Louise had just arrived. "And once the other guests arrive that I've been planning for, it should make for an interesting night," she hinted.
Daniel followed her line of sight and then turned back. "Well, as usual the house wins," he conceded, nodding to her in reference. "I'll let you slide this time, but just remember the higher the stakes are, the greater chance you might lose it all to whatever game you're playing," he warned, softening to lean in for a kiss and a whisper to her ear. "Starting with that dress later on."
Emily smirked, stroking the lapel of his jacket before they parted ways. "Well then, make sure you bet on red," she bid him, sauntering off with a coy look to go find Nolan.
He caught up with her seconds later, linking by the arm. "Nice job on the House of Cards, Ems," he quipped, scanning the room to observe every detail of the affair, including its guests. "And I see Louise left the Valley of the Dolls long enough to accept your invitation—you planning on giving her a warm welcome?"
"Not yet," Emily answered patiently. "I want to let her make her rounds first. Once she runs out of people to schmooze with she'll be desperate by the time Victoria arrives – opening her up to create the perfect distraction."
"For you to focus on Victoria's date," Nolan supplemented proudly. "I take it Pascal responded in the affirmative?"
"Exactly," Emily verified, angling towards where Daniel was over playing crapes at a nearby table. "By the way I ended up telling Daniel about our impromptu field trip," she admitted. "Thanks again for coming with me."
Nolan grinned, with a hint of nostalgia. "Who knows, it might have been our last," he glanced downward suggestively, moderating his tone. "With your new family on the horizon, and things finally lining up, the time is rapidly approaching to hang up the red sharpie...Are you ready for that?"
In spite of the reminder, Emily restrained her sentiment and focused on the door where Pascal was just walking through with Victoria on his arm. With determination she answered before leaving his side. "It's not over yet."
SCENE
A small crowd had begun to form around Daniel when Margaux finally made her way over to his side, and she watched for a few minutes as he won relentlessly at crapes, the crowd yelping in his favor after each dice roll. When a break finally opened between his next turn, she leaned forward to interject.
"I'm taking a position as CEO at a competitor in Rome," she announced, just as he released the die in his hand. To his dismay, it was a losing roll and after a discontented sigh from the crowd, he responded without facing her.
"Well look at that," he observed irritably. "My streak of good luck seems to change whenever you get around." Daniel shook his head and continued, hoping it would hint for her to walk away.
But Margaux took the insult in stride, keeping resilient in her stance. "I came to say goodbye, and to apologize," she pressed. "I know now how grand the mistake of allowing Conrad to take over Voulez was – and I'm truly sorry for what's happened with Amanda."
At that Daniel finally broke away to face her. "But you don't plan to do anything about it?" he questioned, presuming her response.
"It's why I'm severing ties with him—" she began, sensing he did not think it was enough. "My father made a deal that I can't get him to break," she went on to insist. "Conrad's exclusive on her makes him see dollar signs—" she tried to explain.
"It's a story, Margaux," he cut her short. "You're a journalist, you know there's a hundred stories he could print, why this one? I'll tell you why," he rushed to answer his own question, gesturing for her to look over where Pascal was in company with Victoria. "Because just like my father he's trying to cover himself; they're in this together – just like they were years ago when they framed David. And once again they want to finish the job."
Margaux allowed her gaze to hang on her father in thought before turning to address his allegations. "You really believe Pascal had something to do with this?"
Conscious of how vital persuading her to see the truth was, Daniel gave an enthusiastic response. "I know he did," he emphasized. "You don't believe me – dig a little deeper. You'll see for yourself that the real story lies with the people we're unfortunately bound to for the rest of our lives."
A moment passed while Margaux retracted to ponder the possibility, allowing Emily the opportunity to come over to Daniel's other side. "I hope I'm not interrupting," she offered knowingly, catching the tail end of the conversation. "Glad you could make it, Margaux," she greeted, glancing over to where Pascal was with Victoria. "Well, if our families are any indicators, we'll be sharing each other's company more often, hm?"
Catching her reference, Margaux endured with a scowl. "Charming," she feigned interest. "But as it happens I just accepted an offer overseas."
"Margaux's leaving Voulez for a CEO position in Rome," Daniel supplemented.
"Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that," Emily forced dismay, despite nurturing a feeling of satisfaction. Ever her observer, Daniel picked off on it but kept it to himself while she continued. "Well, if tonight ends up being your final sendoff, I certainly hope you enjoyed yourself. Perhaps you'll even win a parting gift before last call?" she added sweetly, before turning back to Daniel. "Darling, they're waiting for us at the high stakes table."
"I'll be right over," Daniel nodded as Emily left. "Best of luck in Rome, Margaux," he wished the other in farewell, placing something in her hand once she had looked up. "Just remember not everything is left up to chance – some battles we have to win on our own."
With that he walked away, leaving Margaux in deep thought as she stared down at the dice he set in her hand, wondering if she had made the right decision.
SCENE
"Well now, you don't wait long to snag a new beau at all, do you?"
Victoria froze mid swallow and lowered the drink in her hand, turning slowly to address the familiar Southern voice behind her and immediately regretting accompanying Pascal to Monte Carlo Night. At the time it seemed like a perfect opportunity to spy on Emily and see what alliances she was likely forming with Stevie Grayson. But with the night half over and Stevie nowhere to be found it was a fruitless expedition, and had just quickly escalated into a realm of discomfort.
"Louise," Victoria stammered, shifting to walk with her away from Pascal. "I was under the impression that you had returned home?"
Louise relaxed in her private company, immediately airing her frustrations. "Well, after helping you put that poor girl behind bars, I could barely look at my own reflection, let alone be seen around town," she confessed, twisting her fingers into her palm. "Victoria, I haven't been able to sleep since everything that happened – what we did was wrong! I can't help feeling guilty about it."
"What that girl did to Conrad was wrong," Victoria rationalized with a scathing look. "I thought you'd realized that?"
"And since when do you give a hoot about your husband—" Louise argued, correcting herself. "I'm sorry, ex-husband? You certainly didn't waste any time scouting your fancy French playboy – Pascal LeMarchal, no less!" she echoed in a whisper, implying she was familiar with him. "Not to mention you never followed through with your promise to help me, and none of any of this has a thing to do with your son?" Louise stopped her rant to catch her breath, staring at Victoria with complete disillusion. "If you ask me, I think you're the one who's been hiding things all along."
Victoria finally conceded with trepidation, at least partially recognizing her misstep. "For my failure to see to your social strata I sincerely apologize," she offered, appeasing her. "The night of Amanda's arrest at the opera I was under a great deal of stress. But I certainly have not been attempting to mislead you this entire time – and I'd be much obliged if you'd let on as to where you've been getting your information from?"
Though Louise was tempted to reveal her source, a friendly gaze from Emily across the room impelled her to stay mum. "That's not important, is it now dear?" she fired back instead, bending her mouth into a sassy line. "You hired me essentially to destroy that family – and you nearly drove me back to the same vices I've been trying to get away from," she alluded, piquing Victoria's curiosity. "So now you're gonna do something for me – starting with better accommodations than the South Fork Inn."
Victoria squinted in interest, and put on her best semblance of agreement. "Alright – what is it you want?"
SCENE
"Jack, I'm so sorry I'm late I had some legal things to take care of—" Stevie stopped short upon entry into Jack's upstairs apartment in the Stowaway upon noticing that he appeared to be packing his bags. "What's all this?" she asked.
"Taking some time to get away," Jack answered without facing her. "And don't worry about Carl; I closed down the bar so I could look after him. Charlotte and I are getting ready to take the boys to see their great-grandmother. It'll be her first time meeting Declan Jr, so… should be nice."
Stevie observed the curtness in his voice as he attempted to keep lighthearted and treaded carefully in spite of it. "Well, as lovely as that sounds I certainly hope your decision to leave town isn't because of Amanda…is it?" she trailed off, posing her guess while his back was turned.
He looked up in thought, conveying just by his body language that she was on the right path. "Look, Stevie," he began upon turning around. "I haven't known you a very long time. But from what I can tell you're a good person, and you've honestly done more than anyone else would to help Amanda, and I appreciate all of it. But at this point, I don't know if there's much more you can do for her."
Stevie took a seat nearby and watched as he sighed heavily, admitting a truth he had been trying to avoid. "Because at the end of the day, she is guilty as charged; I know it, she knows it – and she's tired of hiding it. And to be quite honest, trying to convince her to lie about it just so the Graysons can get their comeuppance won't be worth it in the end – you know what those people are capable of."
Once Jack was finished he returned to gathering his things, giving Stevie a moment to consider how to tell him the latest information. "Yes I do," she replied in agreement. He glanced over at her confirmation but there was still hope in her eyes. "And yet, some of the power they have can still be to our advantage," she offered, standing again. "I spent today inking the final details but the deal I made is as good as final. At Amanda's arraignment next week, the prosecution is going to drop the charges and close any further investigation."
Jack nearly dropped the articles in his hand. "What?! Stevie, tell me you didn't make a deal with Conrad?"
She held up her hands in apology. "I'm sorry, but I couldn't let her suffer any further after all she's been through. And if took a little prized property to get him to change his mind," she acknowledged with little attachment. "So what? It's the least I can do for the son I should have been there for years ago."
With her admission, Jack was nearly moved to tears and could not help but embrace her, ever thankful for the risks she had taken – risks he was certain involved more than simply offering over the deed to Grayson Manor. He feared what else the deal encompassed but for the moment he could only concentrate on his gratitude and the hope his mother had just restored.
SCENE
"Pascal LeMarchal," Daniel greeted Emily's opponent just as she was about to take her seat at the poker table. It was the last round for the evening and a small crowd was gathering to watch, just as he extended a firm handshake. "You must be a man of much confidence if you're taking on my wife for the final deal?" he hinted, eliciting a knowing glance from Emily. If all went to plan this would be the move to find out just how involved Pascal was on the conspiracy to frame David.
But to their surprise, Pascal humbly shook his head no. "I'm afraid I would fold too easily, and your guests would not receive much entertainment," he begged off. As they watched, rather than pull out the chair opposite Emily for him, he gestured for another to take his place. "Instead I had a different opponent in mind?"
Following his proposal, Victoria took the open seat and glowered across to Emily. Pascal stood behind her proudly, just as Daniel did the same at his wife's side. With only the poker table to divide them, it was as if each side were now in perfect symmetry. "Well I hope the offer still stands?" Victoria charged Emily when she did not immediately respond.
Despite the snag in her plan, Emily took the challenge in stride and nodded to the dealer to begin. She felt Daniel tensing beside her but kept her poker face, concentrating instead on her hand, with the occasional glance in Victoria's direction. And since it was clear the other's prickliness was a result of her run-in with Louise, she maintained a superior air as the game began to unfold…
"Queen of spades," the dealer announced as the final hand approached. The stakes were high but it was clear neither opponent was backing down. "The bet is to my left," he addressed Victoria.
Her eyes rested on Emily across from her and for the first time in the duration of the game, she broke form to talk across the table. "Well it seems the winner of this hand takes all," Victoria observed. "Though as a Grayson I'm sure you can appreciate the necessity of remaining loyal to family—" she added with intrigue, placing her bet. "$120,000."
The crowd gave out a low hush at the steep amount, while Emily did not even bat an eye. "Interesting choice," she responded, restraining irritation. "I heard the defense was requesting that figure for Amanda Porter's bail?" One look at Victoria told her she already knew and had done it out of spite. But rather than give her the satisfaction of defeat, she simply met the amount and raised her fifty-thousand. "But as always my loyalties will lie with your son, if that's what you mean?"
Victoria watched her pernicious daughter-in-law lean back in illustration, while Daniel placed a proud hand at her shoulder behind her. Their display of their unity only solidified the growing doubt in Victoria's mind. "I think you're bluffing," Victoria accused her without recourse, calling the bet. "In fact, I think you've been bluffing ever since the day you came to the Hamptons. What's to stop you now?"
"Well maybe I like to throw you off your game?" Emily fired right back.
The dealer finally interjected their sparring. "Cards please," he requested, directing a glance at Emily. She complied slowly, turning over two 8's, and three queens. "Full house," he announced to the admiration of the crowd.
Victoria studied the hand and twitched ever so slightly, enough for Emily to notice. "For once, she wins legitimately," she finally conceded, replying more to Daniel than the other's triumphant expression. The crowd broke into applause and Pascal attempted to peer over Victoria's shoulder but she quickly turned in her hand face down.
But before Victoria could leave, Emily motioned for her to wait. "Victoria, before you go there's something you should know," she called out, still with the attention of the surrounding audience, including both Nolan and Louise. "You're right – I have been bluffing," she admitted, sending tremors through Daniel as she took his hand warmly. "I've been keeping a secret – one I'd very much like to share with you now."
Her announcement garnished Victoria's rapt attention and she turned back with interest, watching as Emily stood from her seat and glanced down at the hand spread on the table. "Our house is really about to get fuller," she continued, looking up proudly with a dramatic cradle of her belly. "Because Daniel and I are expecting."
SCENE
Excited gasps could still be heard from the dissipating crowd as Nolan finally made his way over to his Emily's side, where Louise was giving massive congratulations. "Well, isn't that just wonderful!" she gaped, and Nolan couldn't help rolling his eyes at her gaudy excitement.
"I'm sorry I wasn't able to chat more this evening," Emily was apologizing, while still basking in the glow of her announcement. "With my condition I tend to get a little uncomfortable at these affairs… just last week I made quite the scene at the opera," she added for the benefit of Margaux and Pascal's ears nearby.
"Of course," Louise understood easily and a glance at the growing line to congratulate Emily gave her good sense to take her leave. "Well I plan to be in town for a while now so let's get together soon to do lunch, hm?"
"Of course," Emily nodded her agreement, adding. "And I haven't forgotten about your phone. If you give me the address where you're staying I'll be sure to have it delivered."
Louise left with a smile, allowing Margaux to fill her place before Nolan could get through. "Well, that was quite the pleasant surprise," Margaux wished her. "And quite the finish to a thrilling evening. Congratulations… this is one announcement I wish I could cover."
Sensing her change of heart, Emily smoothed it over with prowess. "Well you still can," she offered. "Daniel and I have always given Voulez exclusive rights to the biggest moments of our lives, and despite his severance I know he wouldn't want any other publication at the helm," she paused dramatically, driving home the point in a low whisper. "Especially if it were to take priority over other competing stories…?"
Catching her drift, Margaux raised her chin and leveled a glance at her father. "Perhaps I could arrange that before my departure," she extended, suddenly realizing that the timing had not been coincidental. With a squeeze of Emily's hand in promise she turned, escorting Pascal by the arm to speak with him.
At last Nolan had Emily to himself to speak in confidence. "Well played, maestro," he commended her at once. "Dropping Baby Grayson on Grandma G and using it as a diversion to stop the tell-all on Amanda in Voulez?" He tapped his palms together in light applause. "Not to mention the perfect cover those prego 'mones give for why you ran out of the opera last week in a tear," he acknowledged, clearly impressed. "I'd say that's a revenge grand-slam."
"Not exactly," Emily sighed in spite of his celebration. She turned discreetly, drawing him to follow her gaze to where Victoria was talking to Daniel privately. "It wasn't my original plan but when Pascal subbed Victoria I realized she wasn't going to let me get any closer to him. I think Daniel's right – I think she's onto me."
Nolan wrinkled his brow in alarm. "You think she knows everything?"
"Not everything," Emily conceded. "But she's getting close. Look, I don't have proof but I've been studying Victoria's face for years… she folded the winning hand. I'm sure of it." She stopped to take a breath and posed for a few cameras with her hand at her belly before reconvening in a low tone. "Hence, why I needed the distraction to gain the upper hand again."
"Well in this case, at least it's the truth," Nolan considered optimistically. "Let's just hope it throws her off for a while."
"Yeah," Emily agreed, glancing towards the exit with another thought churning. "In the meantime I need you to stay on Louise; I saw her chatting with Victoria and she said she's staying in town. Since Pascal is clearly off the table, she may be the only lead we've got left."
"On it," Nolan complied happily, and as he departed Emily hung back to overhear what she could from Daniel and Victoria's conversation.
"…how far is she along?" Victoria was trying to corroborate.
"Does it matter?" Daniel retorted. "Shouldn't the more important question be are you happy for us? Or are you too busy going after Amanda to focus on anything else?"
Victoria sucked in a sharp breath at his intolerance. "Daniel, I merely read from the report – I had nothing to do with that," she defended, while he glared at her in disbelief. Her expression only darkened with intensity. "And even so, doesn't her relationship with that girl strike you as odd? After all she's done to our family—"
"No, it doesn't," Daniel nearly bellowed back. "And have you forgotten who you're talking to? I specifically remember you and dad trying to eliminate her. Now I'm warning you, stop this torment of my wife or I guarantee you will never see your grandchild as long as you live!"
With that he stormed away, almost directly into Emily's path where she was waiting a few paces off. He gestured for her to come along without speaking and she followed suit, leaving one last glance at Victoria behind them. Her triumph that evening had been twofold and both women knew it, and yet their war was still raging on with neither prepared to surrender.
Audio recommendation: Gold Dust Woman – Fleetwood Mac
MONTAGE
Stevie saw Jack to the door of his bar, promising to lock up while he departed with Carl, as Charlotte and Declan waited for him at the car. She waved a pleasant goodbye, all the while enduring a sinking feeling at her heart. The promise she had made to Jack had been a result of a dangerous deal with Conrad, one she was now fully depending on to ensure Amanda's freedom. With the increased burden and a recurring sense of loneliness, her gaze drifted to the bar as she started through the door and she froze in step, dared by the faint scent of bourbon lingering in the air. She was nearly about to give into the temptation when her sight fell upon a mounted photo of Amanda and Jack on the wall, reminding her of the cause she was fighting for. Gaining motivation, at long last she resisted and finally walked out the door.
SCENE
Pascal glanced down at the third unanswered text he had received from Victoria since leaving Monte Carlo Night. In spite of her seeming willingness to have company, while she was with her son he had accompanied Margaux back to Voulez, where she had requested one final audience with him before her departure. He waited in her office until she had completed a last minute rearrangement of the issue slated to go out the next day, and brought it for him to see. Margaux spread it out on her desk proudly, allowing him a look at the revised cover – instead of an expose of Amanda Clarke it had been changed to a photo of Daniel beside Emily, posing proudly to display their baby announcement. Pascal stared at it for some time before finally looking up at his daughter's expectant eyes and slowly nodding in agreement. She beamed with pride as he left, and once he was yet down the hall he tapped out a response to Victoria's messages. On my way over.
SCENE
Victoria let down her hair and padded through the halls of her home with a glass of wine in hand, hoping Pascal's visit would bring some measure of comfort to a less than thrilling evening. Once again her home was empty, and a brief peek into Charlotte's room confirmed it would only continue that way in future days. On her bed was a note explaining she had taken Declan to visit his family with no specific date of return. Victoria discarded it irritably and began to sigh in exasperation, wondering what her efforts to decipher the schemes of her enemies would truly leave her with in the end. Just as she was pondering on retracting her course, the doorbell rang – giving her added incentive to put her concerns on hold. She opened it eagerly, expecting Pascal to be on the other side, but instead was face to face with Conrad. Before she could chastise him he extended the one thing that could make her forgive his unexpected presence – the property deed to Grayson Manor.
END MONTAGE
"So… the secret is out."
Emily tensed when Daniel finally spoke, breaking the notable silence that had permeated the ride home and the walk into the house. She removed her earrings and set them on the mantle before turning to where he stood at the edge of the living room. "I know what you're going to say," she anticipated, readying for his criticism. "And you're right; I should have discussed it with you first."
But for the second time that night, his reaction surprised her. "Actually… I'm glad you did it," he admitted with a smile, watching her eyebrow raise curiously. He removed his tuxedo jacket and flung it across the couch, taking a seat to finish. "See, now that the world knows you're carrying my child, it means you'll have to be a lot more careful what you do… and where you fly," he implied triumphantly.
Emily let out a half chuckle in relief and came over to nestle into the space next to him. "Yes, I imagine the public will ensure that I take things easy," she relented, thinking it a fair price to pay for her diversions the day before. "Not to mention my caring husband," she added, brushing her lips onto his. He returned the kiss to cement that she had been forgiven and drew his arm around her, resting his hand on her belly for a few quiet moments.
A few moments passed while she enjoyed the affectionate gesture and she finally looked up at him in interest. "Daniel, you do know why I did it?" she exhaled.
"It wasn't hard to figure out," he reflected, concentrating again on her brown irises. "After my mother replaced Pascal I knew you figured he would be a dead end as far as getting information. And it was only a matter of time before I expected you to concoct some kind of diversion to stop that story on Amanda from breaking…all in all, it made sense."
"When I overheard you and Margaux talking, I took a gamble," Emily confirmed, shrugging the irony. "Let's hope we can count on her to do the right thing."
"I think she will," Daniel guessed optimistically, and quickly balanced his slight leaning in her favor, adding. "I'm trying to have faith in the people who I know are working at breaking their habits."
His choice of words caught Emily's interest. "For instance?" she probed.
Rather than go into detail, Daniel summarized the point. "Well, let's just say Stevie gave me a newfound understanding of what it is to have an addiction," he hinted, and Emily nodded into his chest in understanding, without realizing she was at the top of Daniel's list of concerns. "At any rate," he changed the subject. "I'll reach out for an update from her in the morning. She was out of the office all day – maybe that means she has something."
"Hopefully it's an answer to this riddle," Emily supplemented, leaning forward to examine the note still displayed on her laptop in the center of the coffee table. "Nolan put his best resources into checking Pascal's mainframe and said he couldn't find anything in his search for 'TWM'…"
"Well with my mother bewitching Pascal I think it's safe to say we won't get any answers from him," Daniel affirmed, shaking his head. "I don't know, babe – I'm fresh out of ideas…"
Just as they both were about to give up, a voice could be heard from the back door. "I've got one," it announced and Emily stood, recognizing the person coming through the sheers.
Daniel was on his feet next. "Aiden?" he identified in surprise.
Their long suffering friend stood before them, wearing the exasperation of a man returning from a journey worse for the wear. His exhaustion was highlighted by a forlorn expression upon his face as he held up a printed copy of the note they had just been looking at, and claimed ownership with deep guilt.
"TWM is Trevor Warren Mathis," he announced, inciting shock into both of them. "Pascal was talking about my father."
END OF CHAPTER