Disclaimer: I Do Not Own Revenge, I Just Love It

Happy New Year!

Chapter 17: Clear Head

Nolan sighed inwardly as his eyes scanned the front Hamptons blog page on his laptop from where he sat on the barstool by the kitchen island. There was one disparaging comment after another about him. It had been 24 hours since he had stepped into the harsh limelight with Amanda Clarke and had officially released a statement expressing his public support of David Clarke and belief that the Grayson's were guilty.

It was public suicide. His public image and social status had taken a steep nosedose, and although he had expected this, it didn't change how much it hurt. He had worked so hard for years to build a respected reputation, and he was at the cusp of achieving it. He had definitely proved himself in the technology industry, his billion-dollar company spoke for itself and making Forbes 30 under 30 had been a nice touch. But within the actual Hampton's community, he was somewhat of an outcast. He wasn't refined enough for the wealthy Hamptonites, but he was too rich and flashy for the regular Hamptonites. Consequently, most party invitations skipped him, unless it was a charity event where tickets were sold, and money was expected to leave his pockets.

He thrived on positive attention though, and owning a billion-dollar company, automatically gave him good buzz.

Until now.

Through aligning himself with David Clarke, he'd already lost about half of his followers on all his social media accounts, and #BoycottNolcorp, and #NaughtyNolan were circulating viciously. Consequently, his phone was blowing up excessively with messages and phone calls from the members of his board. They were furious with him. He'd had brand deals lined up which had been promptly cancelled and new products set to launch for retail. His products would now have to be put on hold indefinitely though or else his sales would take an embarrassing dive.

Even worse than his company taking a hit though, was the attack on his integrity. They were no longer calling him a predator from the nasty rumour that he was taking advantage of Amanda Clarke. But now people were going so far as to say that his company was built on the blood money of David Clarke, and that he even supported the terrorist attack. It was ridiculous and incredibly hurtful, but strangely instead of weakening his resolve, it strengthened it. The pain he felt from the misdirected public outrage was but a speck of what David Clarke had experienced. David had unfairly braced it all, and so this was the least that Nolan could do if it meant helping clear his name.

He only hoped that it would in some way help. The fact that his name was circulating every major news and blog site in correlation with Amanda and David Clarke's name meant that people were talking about it. And surely, even if it was but a small minority, surely, some people might start to believe or even just consider that him and Amanda were telling the truth about David's innocence.

They had to be careful though, more careful than they had been before. Their actions were putting pressure and negative spotlight on the Graysons. And the Grayson's were dangerous and fought dirty. If it hadn't unexpectedly been for Daniel, Amanda would be in police custody right now facing harsh charges for cocaine possession and distribution. The Grayson's had failed but that only meant that they would have to try something else, something Nolan feared could be worse. They needed a concrete plan asap.

"Good morning, Nolan".

His thoughts being interrupted by his favourite and only house guest, Nolan turned his head towards Amanda, who had sauntered into the kitchen and couldn't help but teasingly say, "Ah my favourite jailbird?"

Amanda frowned at him, refraining herself from flashing him the middle finger, "too soon" she muttered.

"Victoria!" Conrad bellowed as he walked into the living room to see her sitting on her favourite armchair, flipping through the latest edition of Voulez magazine. "What did you do?"

Slowly lifting her eyes from the magazine and onto Conrad, Victoria flipped the magazine shut, "What did I do?" She repeated with a hardened expression on her insulted face.

"You assured me you would take care of Amanda Clarke, and yet she is still a problem to this family. And worse you got our son involved in this. Cocaine possession….. What were you thinking?"

"Don't patronize me Conrad. Our son has a mind of his own. Getting Amanda put away for cocaine possession and distribution would have been an effective plan. He intervened on his own accord."

"You're his mother, Victoria, you couldn't stop him. How did he even know?" Conrad replied snidely.

"Well, you can thank your head of security for that. Daniel saw him at his school, and with what Amanda's been whispering into his ear he put two and two together".

Conrad sighed deeply, loosening the tie around his neck. David Clarke should have been long since forgotten. The man hadn't crossed his mind in years, but with the resurgence of his daughter, there was a thin crack forming, trying to break through their past lies. He wasn't particularly worried, what could one little girl really do? But with the media loving the attention on her, and Nolan Ross speaking out against them and coming out as her ally, he could slowly feel it…. pressure. She needed to be taken care of. Conrad had come too far to lose it all by underestimating one girl, but first, he needed to ensure his son was on their side. Daniel was a good son but he looked at the world differently from him. He was a dreamer and he liked to see the good in people which were both weaknesses. Daniel still needed to be molded into a true Grayson man and for that he needed to learn their harsh reality. "It's time he knew the truth!"

"Daniel is not ready for the truth" Victoria objected instantly, standing up from her chair now and walking closer to Conrad so they were face to face, "He is only 16. It's too big a burden for him to have to carry. We're supposed to protect him from this Conrad. That was the whole point wasn't it?" She had done what she had to do for her family, for Daniel.

Conrad paused, contemplating her words. Their actions although abhorrent was to protect the Grayson legacy and fortune which their son would gain to inherit. Conrad had made a deal with the devil years ago and the price he'd paid had been steep. It had changed him, and the moral compass inside of him had shifted, but it had made him stronger. Conrad hadn't realized the true cost of power, not back then, but power was built upon the backs of the weak and the people that sacrificed for it. He needed his son to understand that. "It's time Daniel proves himself as a man, Victoria" Conrad responded adamantly, "Daniel needs to understand how to protect the Grayson legacy".

Victoria shook her head, a fierce protective look boring deep into Conrad's frigid eyes. "Daniel is not like us, he is much too innocent. He will not understand."

"You're not thinking with your head, Victoria" Conrad responded with narrowed eyes, "Amanda's been whispering in his ear. Do you want him to learn her truths or our truths?"

Victoria winced at Conrad's words, recalling the way Daniel had looked at her the day Amanda Clarke had gotten arrested and he had confronted her. He knew. Daniel knew about her relationship with David Clarke, he knew she had framed Amanda Clarke, and deep down he probably knew the whole truth about what they had done to David. She had denied it all, but she had seen the anger and confusion in his beautiful brown eyes. He hadn't bought it. The last thing Daniel had asked her was why Amanda was such a threat to the Grayson's. But he hadn't stayed for her answer. He hadn't stayed for more of her lies and denials but he also hadn't stayed for the truth. Daniel didn't really want confirmation of what he had probably started to believe, just like she didn't really want to tell her innocent son the truth, they were both evading. Or that's what she had thought until he went to the defence of Amanda Clarke and took the blame for the cocaine. Ever since then he'd been locked in his room, and had said all but five words to her if they happened to cross paths. Maybe Conrad was right, maybe they did need to tell Daniel their side but she just didn't want him to have to bear the burden she had, and if she was being honest, she didn't want him to hate her.

"He'll despise us", Victoria murmured sorely.

"Then let him" Conrad responded unwaveringly. "As God's sick joke, Daniel has fallen for the Clarke, and teenage boys do stupid things for girls they like. That means that he will keep interfering with how we deal with Amanda unless he understands the extent of the things we could lose."

"What if you're wrong? What if he doesn't side with us?" Victoria astutely asked, voicing her most hidden fear. Daniel was their son, but he was slowly turning into a man of his own. She had seen it, even before Amanda, the way he would look at her when she flaunted her wealth, or his hidden contempt when Conrad went on one of his spiels about him continuing the Grayson legacy. He had more than everything he needed and wanted in this world, but somehow craved for more. It wasn't more power or more money, it was something else, something she hadn't quite figured out.

"If I'm wrong?" Conrad repeated with a chuckle, his face scrunched up in disbelief. One girl Daniel had known for less than a year, over his family, his luxury lifestyle, and his fortune. The answer was clear. Daniel wouldn't like it, he'd be angry…. disgusted with them. But he would have no choice but to resign himself with their past transgressions and move on.

"If I could get you to turn on your beloved David, Daniel will hardly be a problem" Conrad couldn't help but snidely add as he watched Victoria's eyes darken in anger, and her hand predictably fly out viciously towards his face. Catching her wrist tightly, restraining her hand, Conrad smirked, not being able to resist having riled her up, before he leaned in closer to her ear and whispered, "Family sides with Family. Daniel is no martyr".

"Sorry to trouble you, but I'm looking for Amanda Clarke, is she here?"

Jack frowned at the middle-aged man who casually took a seat on the barstool in front of him. He had short almost messy brown hair, with large glasses that framed his face, and a mischievous air about him that instantly put Jack on guard. Although to be fair, Jack was wary of anyone when it came to Amanda, with the exception of Nolan Ross.

"She's working" he replied firmly, looking over his shoulder to find Amanda with her back to them talking to one of their regulars. The man followed his gaze to Amanda, a small upturned smile flitting across his lips.

"Ahh too bad, when does she get off?"

Jack narrowed his eyes at the man suspiciously, but before he could respond and send him away, the man as if reading his thoughts tried to appease him by quickly adding, "I don't mean any harm, I'm an old friend, I just want to talk to her.

"About what?" Jack questioned defensively.

"Well that's between me and Miss Clarke, is it not?"

Jack scoffed, shaking his head, "I have to get back to work" he said rigidly, turning his back on the man.

"Well, let me help, I'll have a Gibson then"

Jack paused momentarily but didn't turn back around to acknowledge the man's request. He didn't care if it was bad business, or that his dad was watching him with a frown at the cold shoulder he had displayed towards a customer. This man was not a customer, he was a risk towards Amanda.

Begrudgingly letting the bartender know of the man's drink request as he walked past to the other side where Amanda was standing, without even looking back, Jack just knew that the man's beady eyes were right on them.

Leaning in close to Amanda, Jack whispered, "there's a man who wants to talk to you".

He could feel her tense at those words, and he put a reassuring hand on her shoulder, "should I tell him to leave".

Amanda shook her head, "No I want to know who he is and what he wants".

She knew that she should probably be more cautious when approaching people that sought her out. It only made sense to assume that all the people who had sided with the Graysons and framed her father, also wanted to see her silenced or even harmed. But she refused to live in fear or hiding, and facing these people seemed like a better idea than cowering. One reason as to why she publicly stated her father's innocence was to make the Grayson's and their accomplice's nervous and draw them out of the woodwork anyway. She could use them, she had to find a way to use them to her advantage.

"You're looking for me," Amanda stated boldly as she approached the strange man, with Jack close behind her.

The man was delicately sipping on his Gibson, but his eyes instantly looked up to observe her upon hearing her voice.

She recognized those mischievous eyes, they were a deep brown, almost black. She had once trusted them, trusted him and his slick words.

Flashback

Amanda watched with defeated eyes as a man who she had never seen before walked into her foster home bedroom and took a seat opposite her. Adjusting his glasses on his face, he pulled out his notepad and pen and extended his hand towards her.

"Leo Treadwell," he greeted softly, drawing his hand back towards him when she refused to shake it, "I'm a journalist, how do you like it here Amanda?"

Amanda simply stared blankly at him with pursed lips. How did he think she liked it? What a stupid question.

"I'm told your prior foster home was destroyed by a fire".

Amanda shrugged, fidgeting in her chair, "Sometimes good things happen to bad people" she mumbled.

"Indeed…. I'm here because your father says he's innocent that he didn't do what they're saying".

Lifting her eyes up to him in surprise, Amanda opened her mouth to respond but faltered and instead painfully replied, "They proved it in court".

"Courts have been known to make mistakes. Do you think they made a mistake Amanda?" he asked gently.

Amanda paused almost fearfully before leaning forward in her chair so she was closer to him and whispering, "I have to say he's guilty or they'll put me away just like him"

"I am not going to let that happen," Leo replied firmly, his words sounding like a promise she desperately wanted to believe.

Standing up, Amanda walked over towards her bed and slipped her hands underneath the mattress where she kept a picture of her father, before hesitatingly showing it to the man in front of her.

"I keep this here where they can't find it" she whispered, "I don't think he did it".

"I don't either," Leo Treadwell replied to her complete surprise. This was the first time an adult had affirmed her beliefs about her father. She was so used to being berated and threatened if she even spoke of her father in love let alone of his innocence. "How would you like to help me rescue your father?".

Flashback end

"Miss Clarke" he said politely, extending his hand towards her, only to find that once again she rejected his handshake. Chuckling quietly to himself, amused by her similar antics as to when she was a child, Mason smiled at her. "You don't remember me, do you, Amanda?".

Amanda paused, willing herself to keep her composure when all she wanted to do was strike her hand across his devious face. How could she not remember him? Leo Treadwell. He was the only person who had ever listened to her as a child and affirmed her beliefs in her father's innocence, going so far as to say that he wanted to prove it. She had been so desperate to trust him back then, that she had believed him when he had told her that he would write the truth about her father. But when his book came out, it brandished David as a true monster and expert deceiver.

It was his book that had been the final straw for her. She had harboured hope for so long that her father was innocent, against the whole world that said otherwise. But his book had extinguished her last flame of hope regarding her father and sent her in a downward spiral of hating him for what she believed he had done. Treadwell had made her believe that her father was guilty and for that Treadwell needed to pay.

"Should I?" Amanda finally responded, feigning ignorance, wanting to see how he would respond.

"I wouldn't have recognized you either. It's been a long time. Mason Treadwell….I interviewed you when you were a little girl, a couple of times actually, it was for my book about your father, The Society Connection".

"Right," Amanda said rigidly, "So what brings you here?".

"I could ask you the same. Back here in the Hamptons not quite a decade later…. I would think that the memories are quite painful".

"The Hampton's is my home, and I'm here on my own terms", Amanda responded with narrowed eyes.

"Is that so?" Treadwell murmured, "Well some people perceive you as a victim of the scandal, one who might be carrying an unfounded grudge, especially given your scandalous announcement".

"Don't tell me you're surprised, Leo," Amanda retorted, using his real name to get under his skin and let him know that she did remember him. "I told you these things seven years ago when you came to see me after my father's trial. You told me to trust you and I did. I told you the truth that I had seen my father and Victoria Grayson together romantically and that there was another man there that night on the porch".

"You were a child, your mental state was in question, I couldn't possibly take your word for it" Mason responded dismissively.

Amanda wondered how many times he'd had to repeat that to himself to come to terms with what he had done.

"No you chose to take theirs, and what about your words Leo. You didn't print a word of what I said to you!"

"All stories have competing truths, I simply settled on the most logical".

"And you were paid handsomely for that endorsement I'm sure" Amanda retorted viciously. "You massacred my father's name".

"No, they didn't need me to do that".

Amanda glared coldly at Mason, he was right about that, the damage to her father had already been done and inflicted by the Grayson's way before Mason, but that didn't excuse how he had perpetuated their lies further and profited off her father's pain, and worst of all crushed the last of her hope, " You helped. You and I both know the facts….you're a fraud, and one way or another the truth will come out. Now leave!"

"What about my way?" Mason challenged confidently, her anger instead of scaring him off, exciting him. That's what he needed, somebody fierce and bold to be the impetus of his next book, someone people would want to read about. "I'm here because I want to interview you for the memoirs I'm writing about your father. Getting your accounts of the scandal would be sensational to my readers."

"You're out of your mind, why the hell would I help you profit further off my father?".

"It would give you a huge audience to tell your side of the story about your father."

"You mean the truth," Amanda responded coldly.

Mason shrugged his shoulders and pursed his lips, not daring to admit out loud what deep down he knew to be true. That would mean he would have to confront his lack of journalistic integrity and come to terms with how he had sold his soul and an innocent man to advance his career.

"No, you'd twist my words, or omit the important details, pander to the Graysons".

"No, this story will be all yours, you'll be able to show people the father you knew, and how you believe he was framed."

"Until the Grayson's intervene and you cower to them like last time, you're afraid of them", Amanda stated with derision.

Mason scoffed, "I didn't cower, I struck a deal, and yes, of course, I'm afraid of the Grayson's, and you would be wise to be afraid of them too. I'm even scared of you, you're reckless, young, and angry which is a deadly combination. But even more than you and the Grayson's I fear becoming irrelevant. My name is losing traction, The Society Connections was my breakthrough but that's in the past. I need something new, something refreshing to attract an audience. I saw how much buzz you generated with your announcement, and yes most people are brushing it off as nonsense but you've pulled people back into thinking about David Clarke, and so this is the perfect time to write your story."

Amanda narrowed her eyes at Mason's. "Unfortunately, I don't trust you. Your words don't hold any value, Leo"

"It's Mason now" he finally corrected irritatedly, "And I thought you might say that so I have further incentive for you".

"Whatever it is, I don't care for it," Amanda said stubbornly as she turned her back on Mason and took a step to walk away.

"Not even the recorded interviews I have of your father from prison" Mason spoke loudly recapturing her attention instantly as he knew he would.

When she had turned back towards him completely and he had her full attention again, Mason continued, "If you let me interview you and write about your side of the story for my memoirs, I will show you those videos which I imagine would be very valuable to you and your cause".

Amanda narrowed her eyes fiercely at Mason, "I don't want to see them, I want to have them".

Mason shook his head, "These are very valuable to me too Amanda, I will show them to you, and only on the completion of the memoirs with the help of your interviews will I gift them to you as thanks."

Jack put his hand on Amanda's shoulder, "Amanda I don't think" he began to whisper, but she shrugged him off instantly, smirked at Mason Treadwell and extended her petite hand, "Deal"!

Mason smiled back widely, shaking her hand with a long and firm grip before placing his business card in her hand, "Meet me at my house at 7pm tomorrow, I will send you the address".

"Mason Treadwell speaking"

"Quiet" Amanda mouthed, as she put her cell phone on speaker and looked expectantly towards Jack and Nolan who were seated beside her ready to listen in on her conversation.

"Hello, it's Amanda, there's been a change of plans for tonight. As I'm sure you're well aware Nolan Ross is a good friend of mine and he has concerns about your intentions with me and what you plan to write. I trust his judgement, and so I won't be interviewing with you tonight."

"I'm sorry to hear that Miss Clarke, but I thought you were interested in the tapes, are you really fine with leaving them unheard".

"How about a new deal?"

"I'm listening"

"Nolan Ross has agreed to interview with you tonight in my place. As a friend of my father's and a friend of mine, I'm sure his story can be very useful to you as well. If you can gain his trust, you have mine, and our original agreement will stand."

"Hmm" Mason murmured on the phone, considering her new offer, " Wired magazine's man of the decade, number 7 on Forbes youngest billionaires….and friend of David Clarke"

"6," Nolan mouthed to Amanda and Jack, who only rolled their eyes at his boastful correction.

"That would certainly be an interesting interview".

"So we have a deal?" Amanda questioned, as a smirk crept onto her face.

"Deal" Mason responded.

"Nolan will be seated at the Edgewater Restaurant at 8pm sharp. Don't be late"

"Never with a client", Mason mused, "And I do enjoy a good wine and dine".

Hanging up the phone, Amanda smiled deviously at her two counterparts. "He took the bait".

Knocking on his son's door with three firm knocks, Conrad didn't wait for Daniel's permission before opening the door and stepping inside.

Daniel was laying on his bed with his beats headphone snug around his ears, scrolling through something on his phone.

It had been three days since Daniel had turned himself into the police station, although Daniel had been released that night on bail. Personally, Conrad had wanted to teach him a lesson and leave him in there for the night as punishment for his rash actions, but Victoria had not been sold on that idea and he had not been in the mood for a fight.

He had dug into Daniel hard when he had come home though. He couldn't comprehend why Daniel had done something so foolish. Daniel had nothing to gain from it.

Daniel of course saw it differently though. He had indignantly told them that he had chosen to protect Amanda because it was the right thing to do and because it wasn't fair that Amanda be punished for something she hadn't done.

Conrad disagreed. However brave and noble Daniel thought he was being for taking the fall for Amanda, was but a fraction of what he actually was because at the end of the day, Daniel knew that he would just be protected by mummy and daddy. He knew that even in police custody, he had a blanket of security which would leave him with only a slap on the wrist even for such a serious charge. Conrad doubted that Daniel would have done the same thing if he were to face the same serious consequences as Amanda. At some point, self-preservation would have kicked in, and Daniel would have prioritized himself over her and his morals. Just as Conrad had done years ago, albeit on a much larger scale. That was the thing with Daniel, he often looked upon his privilege as though it was somehow a burden, but then ironically used it upon his own convenience. Daniel just needed to accept who he was, and embrace it wholly; the money, the power, and the legacy, instead of fighting against it.

"Daniel get up, we need to talk" Conrad spoke firmly.

Daniel looked towards his father apprehensively, and slowly removed his headphones before sitting up on his bed and swinging his feet over the bed and onto the floor. "What" he replied rigidly with a frown.

He'd been making the purposeful effort to avoid both his parents in his confusion of what to do next. He'd thought having taken the fall for Amanda that she would have at least responded to one of his calls or texts, but there was only radio silence on her end, which only heightened his confusion. He felt so lost like he had fallen deep into a tunnel and no matter what way he tried to dig himself out of there was still no exit. Why had he even helped her? Amanda certainly didn't view him as a friend anymore, and it had just made everything with his parents so much more difficult. When he had confronted his mother that day, her defensiveness and evasiveness confirmed things he hadn't wanted to be true. However, it didn't explain anything. He kept wishing for a true explanation, something to help him understand the depth of the past. Although deep down, he could feel the cowardly part of himself that didn't want to know; who just wanted to go back to when his biggest problem was figuring out how to win Amanda's heart. Was that what was holding him back from asking? His mother hadn't been forthcoming but his dad might be. In Conrad's arrogance and inability to see his mistakes he often had no problem being candid.

"I know you're angry with your mother and I, Daniel." Conrad began to speak. He wasn't usually one to defend his wife, and many times he had spitefully pitted the children against her and vice versa on her part. But if anything, Daniel believed in family values, and the best way to get through to him was to put on a unified front with Victoria. "Her plan for Amanda was wrong, but it was not out of spite. I need you to remember that both your mother and I do what we need to do to protect the family, we always have. You've seen firsthand what that girl is doing. She is trying to destroy our family. We do not aim in anyway to hurt her, but she has to be stopped."

Daniel shook his head slowly in frustration….wrong was a simple way of putting it. Illegal was a better word but he knew that there was no point in arguing with his father over that. Taking a deep breath and exhaling, Daniel looked up squarely into his father's cold grey eyes, and found the courage to finally ask what had been gnawing on him from the inside, "Why is she such a threat to you Dad? Is it true...what you did to her father?".

Conrad narrowed his eyes at his son. So it was as he had suspected. Amanda had told him her version of events. "Daniel" He spoke staunchly, "I need you to forget about what you think you know from what Amanda has told you. She is not a reliable source. She was nine years old when her father was arrested, much too young to understand the depth of what happened. Can you promise me that you'll listen to me with a clear head? You're my son, and I'm telling you this because I trust you with the truth."

Daniel paused hesitating, thinking about the hatred in Amanda's eyes when she had told him. Thinking about her father's journals which for all he knew could be made up with just as many lies as truths. How much had her anger for his parents or her love for her father clouded the real truth.

"Daniel" Conrad pressed, his voice jolting Daniel from his thoughts.

"I promise," Daniel replied firmly. Clear head. He owed his parents that.

Conrad nodded his head at his son in confirmation, and then opened his mouth to speak, "In order for any of this to make sense, I have to start back at the beginning…."

A/N Thanks for reading. Please let me know what you think of this chapter.