Worldwide Industries

As the vote continued, Lucinda looked around the room and narrowed her eyes at most of the board members who were making their votes. Like Lilly she didn't understand what people saw in Ripley Wells.

All she could see was another version of James Stenbeck in the man and that scared the crap out of her on the inside. She didn't even want to think of James and the troubling past that Lucinda was a part of at times of her own. Lucinda wished she could have been more stronger against James but the man had this pull on her that couldn't be broken a part. John, as much as she loved him, was no match for James, Stenbeck automatically gets the upper hand on him. It only made him think what Wells could do, was he worse than Stenbeck or just the same. But as the vote was about to conclude, Lucinda took out an envelope and opened it before she looked around. So far it wasn't looking good for Lilly with now other board members voting for Wells, but Lucinda had one ace up her sleeve that none of them didn't see coming. Was it going to help or hurt both of them? Well the voting had just ended and now, as one of the board members stands up to read the result.

Board Member - "The votes are in, the ones for Mister Wells is 15 and the ones for Misses Snyder are 14. The IPO has been finalized for Mister Wells"

A moment of silence took place before the board members chatter among themselves. Lilly covered her face in his hands in defeat and not sure of what to do while Dusty comforted her. Ripely grinned and sat back before he stood up looking at all of the board members. Iris was impressed with Ripley and how he handled it, but Lucinda stood still not saying word, or even showing a reaction which was strange. She would be the first person to call out the BS that's going on for this sham of a board meeting right now, but nope, that wasn't happening

Ripley - "Well I guess that's it…makes me the brand new CEO of Worldwide Industries. I control the company and a lot of things are going to change"

Lucinda - "Hold it Mister Wells…were not done here"

Ripley - "Excuse me?"

Lucinda stood up and had the envelope still in her hand before she pulled out a piece of paper that had a lot of information on it. Ripley wasn't reading it or looking at it as he felt he won the whole thing fair and square, but did he?

Lucinda - "You know, for being James Stenbeck's brother, you're not that smart at all. I guess your track record in business shows how much you lost your touch"

Ripley - "What on earth are you talking about?"

Lucinda - "In case you or any of the rest of you've forgotten, I am an actual member of the board here at Worldwide myself, that means I get to cast my vote too"

Lilly, Dusty and Iris were speechless as Wells glared at her. So that's why she didn't say anything or done anything to stop this since this used to be her company"

Ripley - "You wouldn't…"

Lucinda - "Yes I would. Do you think I would let the likes of you come into the company that I created, that my daughter owns and let you own it…I don't think so"

Lilly - "Mom, what are you doing?"

Lucinda - "Giving you the last of my stock that I kept around for good measure just in case something like this happened. That should be fifth teen to firth teen…and you know what that means?"

Ripley - "What are you talking about?"

Lucinda - "You and Lilly are co-owners of Worldwide Industries"

Lilly and Wells looked at each other as Lilly smiled a little bit while Ripley looked like a sore loser after he just got out maneuvered.

Ripley - "No…no…NO! That's not true, that's not legal, have one of the members look at it!"

Lucinda - "Don't mind if I do"

She gives the board member who told the previous vote the paper as he looks it over. Nodding his head he looks up at Ripley and nodded again.

Member of the board - "She's right, this is a hundred percent legitimate and with that, it's now fifth teen to fifth teen. You and Misses Snyder are co-owners of the company sir, though your IPO has been accepted"

Lilly was rejoiced, Dusty grinned and Lucinda crossed her arms with a satisfied look on her face. Ripley was furious deep down inside before Lilly stood up, walked up to him, then puts her hand out.

Lilly - "Well what do you say Wells? Ready to take over the world?"

Ripley shook his head and started to walk away from her before motioning Iris to join him. Iris immediately got up and grabbed her stuff so she wouldn't get scolded at.

Ripley - "You haven't heard the last of us…come on Iris…were leaving"

Ripley and Iris leave the office as the meeting concluded. Every board member left as it was only Dusty, Lilly and Lucinda in the room, feeling great from what just happened. They didn't have to answer to Ripley Wells, the scum of the earth of who they think he really is.

Lilly - "Mom…thank you…"

Lucinda - "You don't have to thank me Lilly. It's a good thing the doesn't have full control of the company, he would be a disaster"

Lilly - "But he co-owns Worldwide, which means we'll have to work together. I can't even trust him mom, neither can I trust Iris"

Dusty - "Don't worry about Iris Lilly, I have my eye on her. You need to focus on Wells, if he slips up then I think you got him. That is he if he messes up and embarrasses the company, then the board can kick him out"

Lucinda - "Mister Donovan is correct Lilly, just do what you can and eventually he'll slip up. Now, I need to leave so I can meet John at the airport since were leaving for our vacation. I love you Lilly, you can do this"

Lilly - "I love you too mom…and again…thank you"

Hugging her mother, Lilly watched her leave the office so that she can exit the building and join her husband for some fun for the vacation. Lilly breathed out a sigh of relief, glad that this didn't blow up in her in her face or she would have had egg all over her face. She would also have to face her mother for failing her, letting her down again and not living up to the expectations once again but either way Lilly felt Lucinda would have been supportive anyway. Lucinda and Lilly have come a very long way in their relationship as mother and daughter. They both know what went wrong in the past and have fixed it as Lilly instructs Dusty to go back to his office and start to work before she sits down in her desk propping her feet up, laying back with her hands behind her head, grinning like a total winner. Outsdie, Ripley Wells got into the limo with Iris, not saying a damn word as he wasn't happy with what just happened. He should of seen that coming but for now it looks like he's working side by side with Lilly for Worldwide Industries which puts a dent in his plans. At lest one good thing came out of this, he doesn't have to deal with that maniac Donovan Curry anymore, right?

Worldwide Industries

In the board room, all of the members of the board of directions chatted amongst themselves and waited alongside Lilly and Dusty themselves. After the blackout, Lilly wanted to reschedule the finalizing of taking the company public but not awarding it to Ripley Wells. At least she was able to provide and show why Wells should not take over the rest of the company based upon his attitude and behavior in the past. Lilly wanted to bring in those he was accused of assault and so many other things but what she heard from Dusty was that the board, well half of them were disgusted with his behavior. The other half though saw Ripley as someone who wanted to change and not hurt the business so in a way the board was split in half. It would take a lot for all the board to be on the same page, to throw Ripley Wells out of the door for the company. But she wasn't going to let that man take over, she would die or kill herself before working for the man. He was no good and would turn this company inside out. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw her mother Lucinda come into the board room catching everyone's attention, even Dusty and Lilly didn't expect to see the woman who use to run the company here for something like this.

Lilly - "Mother?"

Lucinda - "Surprised to see me dear?"

Lilly - "What are you doing here? I thought you and John were out of town for your next vacation coming up"

Lucinda - "And miss all the fireworks before I leave? I think not my dear, John is at the house waiting on me"

Dusty - "You picked an interesting time to stick around for this. I am not sure you want to see the end result Lucinda"

Lucinda - "And what? It's not like whoever this Ripley Wells person here is all that threatening and menacing is he?"

Ripley - "Hello everyone"

Ripley comes into the room with Iris as the board members, Lilly and Dusty watch them come in. Lucinda was taken a back of seeing Ripley Wells for the first time as he noticed her right off the bat. He reminded her of someone she hated and loathed back in the good old days.

Lucinda - "You…are you Ripley Wells?"

Ripley - "Yes I am…and you must be Lucinda Walsh. Ripley Wells at your service, but if you have not heard or know…James Stenbeck was my brother"

Hearing that name caused Lucinda to freeze and almost shake. He was James brother? To Lucinda she remembered most of the time her relationship with James was anything but hostile and caused her to turn her back on the people she loved the most. Was Ripley the same as James was back then? Clearing her throat, she straightens herself and showed a fake smile spread across her face.

Lucinda - "I never knew James had a brother but his mother clearly wasn't no angel herself or a saint rather. So you want to be the one who takes the company public I see?"

Ripley - "That's correct Miss Walsh, everything so far has been legal and a couple months ago we were about to finalize the deal until your daughter objected"

Lilly - "And do you know why mom? Mister Wells over here has a history of mistreating employees, using some of the female employers as sex objects and taking things to another level"

Ripley - "I thought we already went though with this Lilly. I already explained myself to you a billion times by now, the board members know it, you know it and mister Donovan knows it too"

Dusty - "Don't look at me to save your behind Wells, you know what you did but we'll see what happens today"

Lucinda - "And what are you doing here Iris? Are you so desperate to cling to this man before he drops you like a sack of potatoes?"

Iris - "That's none of your business but as you should know Lucinda since you've been living under a rock, I am Ripley Well's assistant"

Lucinda chuckled and shook her head. This had to be one big joke, there's no way James would of stuck with someone so dysfunctional as Iris. He would of gotten rid of her on the spot and make sure to leave nothing behind.

Lucinda - "Oh goody, so now you're his puppet and he tells you want to do? That should be a fun present after getting a free ticket out of jail"

Ripley - "Can we please end all this chit for chat? It's time to finish this once and for all to see who comes out on top"

Lilly - "I couldn't agree more" *She looks at the board members* "Were ready to begin. Everyone of you can take your seats and now vote on either approving the IPO that Wells has offered or not. This will affect the company as a whole, if he's confirmed he will become the new CEO of Worldwide Industries"

Lilly, Dusty, Ripley, Iris and the rest of the board members sit down before the entire meeting begins. One of the board members officiates the voting by informing them they couldn't change their vote. It had to be one vote and one vote only that they were clear of. Going around the table each board member started to vote for or against what Ripley offered. Sitting back in his chair, Ripley watched all of them make their choices, the ones who voted for him and the ones who voted against him. Ripley made not of those he needed to gain on his side while the others that vote against him can't be trusted at all. Lilly, despite her not showing it, was on pins and needles wishing it could already be over. Some of the board members who voted for the IPO that Wells offered caused her to shake her head, realizing how they were going to be bamboozled and fooled by the man. At least she has Dusty as support including her mom, but Lucinda was the wild card, what was she going to do if Lilly failed? Was she going to get a lecture from her mother or would Lucinda support Lilly? And don't forget Iris, she'll support Wells whether she likes the guy or not but she would never think of turning against him.

END OF EPISODE 34