Chapter Nine
A Morning After Revelation
It was a bright and beautiful morning in Salem. Everywhere the birds were chirping and all was right in the world especially in the Kiriakis Mansion.
Chloe turned into the pillow slowly awakening from her peaceful sleep. As she opened her eyes she was immediately made aware that the other side of the bed was empty. Slowly, she sat up and looked around the room to see any evidence that Philip was still there. The shirt that he had worn the previous night was still lying on the floor near the bed and that wasn't like him at all. His room was always neat, or at least it had been every time she'd had to be there. She pulled the black sheet up to cover herself as she started to rise from the bed. To her surprise however, the bathroom door opened and with steam funneling out as Philip walked out in all his impressive glory with towel around his hips and his hair in damp disarray.
"You're awake." He said surprised to see her up and in the process of pulling the sheet off his bed to cover herself. Chloe's mouth opened and shut as if she was searching for some words to say something ... anything. It dawned on Philip then the reason why she was tongue-tied. "You thought I left?" He asked although it was more of a statement.
"I - yes, I thought you were trying to ... well I'm not exactly sure what I thought you were trying to do. But, I did think that you had left." Chloe replied honestly wondering what Philip had been up to.
Philip walked over to her sitting on the bed gripping the thin sheet to her chest. "I wasn't leaving you. Well, I was leaving but it's not like you think. I have to go to Titan for a couple of hours today and I figured if I went in early then we could do something together, later." He ran his finger over the edge of the sheet covering her chest, "Alone." His eyes briefly moved down to skin exposed above the sheet she was holding to her breasts.
Chloe inwardly sighed, happy to know that he didn't want to erase what had happened the night before. "I have to go pick up Lily later from Lexie's so we won't be completely alone."
"That's fine. I'd like to spend some time with my two favorite girls." Philip answered lowering his hand.
"So why don't Lily and I make a picnic basket and pick you up from Titan then we can go from there." She suggested knowing there was nothing Lily wanted to do more than spend time with her parents.
He nodded in agreement. "Sounds like a plan." He glanced at his watch. "Well, since it's already nine o'clock how about we meet up together at two o'clock?"
"Two o'clock it is then. Lily and I will meet you at Titan."
"Good." He turned and walked into his closet to pullout some clothes to wear, forgetting about the tattoo on his right shoulder blade.
Chloe waited until he had turned around before promptly picking up his blue shirt from the night before. She was in the process of buttoning it up when she noticed the tattoo on Philip's right shoulder blade. She walked closer to get a clearer look at it. She was standing a few feet behind him when she finally saw it clearly. It was heart broken in half by the stem of red and white rose - a Fire and Ice rose - that had four Chinese symbols representing the stem for the rose.
Philip turned around and was surprised to see Chloe standing behind him, especially wearing his shirt from the night before. She looked sexy and alluring as hell with her long hair tousled about her shoulders. If not for the distressed expression on her face he might have commented on it. "What's wrong?"
"I hurt you badly didn't I?" At Philip's frown of confusion she reached over, turned him around, and touched his tattoo. Running her fingers over the heart and symbols that broke it. "You got this because of me, because of what I did to you after you saved my life. I broke your heart." Even as she said the words a part of her was aching by the fact that she had caused him pain.
"Chloe, when I got this tattoo a lot of things were mixed up in my life. Not just with you but with everything. It was an impulse thing, nothing to do with us or our relationship." Even as he lied about the tattoo, he knew Chloe wasn't buying it. She was too smart to believe the lie. He turned around and took her hand from his shoulder. "Look, I need to get dressed so I can be ready when you and Lily come to Titan." At her unsure nod, he brushed his lips against her cheek and walked to the bathroom. Before he shut the door he told her, "Chloe ... the tattoo doesn't mean anything. It's just a tattoo."
Chloe stood in the same spot where Philip left her thinking about the tattoo and the reasoning behind it. She knew that the tattoo had to mean something to Philip he never would have done that without a reason. Regardless of what he claimed to be the reason she knew the truth. "He loved me and I broke his heart. I broke his heart."
Philip sat in his office on the phone with his brother giving him an update on the current situation with Titan.
"I'm telling you Lucas all the signs point to my beloved nephew, Brady."
"Oh come on Philip, you and I both know you don't honestly think he did it. You know I love your nephew just as much as you do but even I know he would never be that stupid. It's obviously a set-up and not even a clever one at that." Lucas snorted. "Even you could come up with something better than that."
"Gee, thanks." Philip said dryly as he turned his chair around from facing the window to see Brady standing outside his office. "Lucas, looks like I have a visitor."
"Brady right? Say no more, keep me informed on the status of the situation." Lucas hung up the phone on his end, as did Philip.
"To what do I owe the honor of your illustrious visit?" Philip asked as he leaned back in his chair awaiting Brady's response.
Brady walked into the office and stood in front of the desk. Taking a moment to survey his surroundings. "I think you know why I'm here, Philip." He paused briefly. "You know I never stole anything from Titan, from my Grandfather. No matter what you think of me, you know I'd never do that."
"I know, no such thing."
"Damn it Philip I--,"
"You what?"
Brady became frustrated as he pounded his fist into the desk. Philip remained impassive by his anger. "I know you think setting me up will benefit you in the end but, it won't. Everyone will find out what you've done and no one will remain by your side." Philip laughed.
It was unbelievable; his nephew actually suspected he would steal money -- from himself? It was too ludicrous to even consider, not to mention, completely off base. "Let me get this straight; you think I framed you for stealing money from myself?" He asked incredulously, laughing for a second more as he sat up straight. "That's ... well it's too stupid for words. Frankly, I expected a better defense from you than that. So let me clear this up for you," His facial expression turned cold. "The paper trail leads back to you. Every account, every slip of paper has your name on it, not mine. I have absolutely nothing to do with that. And you know it."
Brady realized as Philip basically restated what he said that the idea of Philip stealing the money didn't make sense. But, even with that in consideration, he still firmly believed Philip had a hand in it. "Okay so the paper trail may lead to me. But, that's not the only reason, and you know why. It's all about Chloe and we both know it."
"You stealing from Titan has nothing to do with my wife. But, since you brought it up, what exactly is it that bothers you so much? Could it be that Chloe choose me over you?" He stood up. "Or could it be that Mimi choose to come to me when you rejected her? What pisses you off more?"
"You leave Mimi out of this. This has got nothing to do with her. It's all about Chloe; it's always been about Chloe." Brady's eyes frozen with anger as Philip's were gleaming with knowledge.
"I beg to differ. I've been on the brute end of your anger over both women. And while Chloe has always been a rather sore spot with you, Mimi is the only one we've come to blows over. Don't think I've forgotten our fight that night." Philip's eyes were steely as he watched for Brady reaction.
"I know," he growled. "But, you didn't know all of the facts-"
Philip interrupted him. "I don't need to know all the facts. All I have to know is that you slept with my best friend, got her pregnant, caused her to lose the baby, and left her alone so you could go run off to some other woman. I remember being there for her in the hospital because you couldn't bother to pull yourself away to be there for her. I know that I was there when she needed me the most. And you weren't, that is all I need to know." He quietly finished and then moved back to his seat. "You know for someone so willing to bring up all my dirty deeds, it makes me wonder how certain people would react to hearing some of your own."
Brady scowled. "What are you playing at Philip? You think I'm stupid enough to think you haven't already told Chloe about our little chat in hospital or our other misadventure. Fat chance of that." He leaned down bracing his arms on Philip's desk. "I bet you couldn't wait to tell Chloe all about how I warned you off her fifteen years ago. About how I convinced you to leave Salem indefinitely or all about Mimi and the baby."
"Well, I actually haven't told her anything--,"
"Come on now Philip let's be honest. I know you told her how I warned you away not once but twice. You had to have told her, how I played on your weakness, your love for her, and got you to leave Salem for good. Yeah, I'm sure she knows all about my affair with Mimi and how it ended."
"No Brady, Philip never told me any of that." Chloe said surprising both Brady and Philip as she entered the office, blue eyes bright with anger and all. "So how about you fill me in."
Chloe had gotten dressed in causally in powder blue Capri pants, a white tank top, and a matching over shirt. Her hair was pulled in a low ponytail and she wore a matching pair of blue sandals to complete outfit so she at least looked presentable when she picked up Lily. Even though, in truth her mind was still on the fact that she had broken Philip's heart. She had managed to fool Lexie and Brandon when she arrived to pick up Lily. And she had thought her daughter hadn't noticed the difference as well but soon found out that wasn't the case.
"Are you okay Mommy?" Liliana asked her mother as they rode the elevator up to her father's office. She was wearing a pale green short set with her hair in curly pigtails.
"Of course I am, sweetheart, why do you ask?' Chloe said looking down at her daughter pasting a smile on her face.
"You don't look it, Mommy." Lily answered honestly.
Not wanting to lie to her daughter or tell her the real problem she replied honestly. "I just have something on my mind, that's all. It's nothing for you to be worried. But, I'm fine really." Lily nodded put at ease for the moment.
"Okay. So did you and Daddy make up yet?"
"We weren't fighting. Sweetie, why would you think that?"
"You weren't sleeping in the same room like other parents. Melissa told me that was because you were fighting, that's what happened with her Mommy and Daddy when they were fighting. Her Daddy slept on the couch but now he's sleeping in the bedroom 'gain." Lily told her mother as a way of explanation.
Chloe frowned slightly; silently thinking she was going to have to talk to Melissa's mother. "Well, Daddy and I aren't fighting and weren't sleeping in the same bedroom because ... because ... well we just weren't. But, you'll be happy to know that we are now, okay?"
"Okay." She replied.
The elevator arrived on the executive floor, Chloe held her hand out for Lily to take as they exited the elevator. They were at the corner around from Philip's office when Lily announced she had to go to the bathroom. "Alright, you go ahead. Do you want me to wait on you or can I trust you to behave yourself in the bathroom?"
"You can trust me Mommy." Lily replied
"Alright, then I'm going to go to your Dad's office." She said giving her 'I mean business look,' Lily nodded and ran into the bathroom. As soon as Chloe saw Lily go into the bathroom she continued her walk to Philip's office. As she neared the room she heard voices and realized he wasn't alone. It was only when she arrived at the doorway that she saw who it was. Not only did that surprise her but, the topic of conversation surprised her more.
"Well, Brady aren't you going to say anything?" Chloe asked.
"What are you doing here?" Brady asked her in response, as he was surprised she was even there, the shock evident in his face.
"You're in my husband's office," she replied stating the obvious as she walked over to Philip whose face was solemn. She kissed his cheek before returning her gaze back on Brady accusingly. "Now, I think you owe me an explanation. I'm waiting to hear it." Realizing that what he had to say was going to damage whatever sort of relationship they had, she knew what she had to do. She turned to Philip. "Lily's in the bathroom. I don't want her to hear this so could you--,"
Philip nodded knowing that she needed to hear what Brady had to say for herself with him there. "Yeah, I'll go meet her." He kissed her on the lips before removing himself from around the desk to leave the room. It refreshing to know that for once, it wasn't him who was to receive the brunt of Chloe's anger it was Brady. And it was Brady's fault and not his own.
Chloe stood behind Philip's desk as she placed her purse down on it. "So let's hear it Brady, let's here exactly what you did to Philip that you were so sure he had told me about just to get me on his side?"
He thought about it for a moment trying to decide if he should tell her the whole truth about everything. Or the consequences if he didn't, having Philip tell her his own slanted version of it. "You have to remember I was doing this for you. Because I knew that with Philip in Salem you would never strive to do better for your career." Chloe frowned but nodded, thereby urging him to continue. "It was after you had your surgery. I went to see Philip one day; he was by himself waiting for Kate and Victor to arrive. This was after you told me you were going to end things with Philip. He was lying in the bed when I arrived ..."
Fifteen years earlier ...
Philip had been sitting in his hospital bed waiting for Kate to come back from a meeting. He was surprised to see however, when his door opened that instead of it being his mother it was Brady. "Brady what are you doing here?" He asked.
Brady walked into the room and walked over to the bed. "I came to see you actually."
"Yeah right, we don't have anything to talk about." Philip snorted as he moved to sit up. "So why are you really here because I know it's not to see me? You could care less about me."
"That's not true Philip, I-"
"Please don't insult my intelligence. I know you aren't here to see about my welfare or my health. So why don't you just cut to the chase so I can get back to my solitude."
"You're right; I'm not here to see about you. But, I am glad to see you made it through the surgery alright. Back to my reason for being here, I'm here about Chloe."
He nodded. "I figured as much, so what does Chloe want, is she alright?" He started to sit up only to have Brady gently push him back down.
"She's fine, at least physically that is."
Philip released a breath. "So then what's the matter if it's not physical?"
"It's us actually. Well you to be more specific."
"Me?" Philip asked incredulously not knowing what he did to make Chloe so mad.
"Yes, you. You see Philip, Chloe doesn't know I'm here she didn't want me to tell you this."
"Tell me what?"
"Chloe wants to move on with her life. Now that her bone marrow transplant was a success she can get well again and focus on her singing, her dream of becoming an opera singer. But, she can't do that if she's involved with you."
"I would never hold Chloe back from making her dream of becoming an opera singer come true. I love her."
"Yeah, well she's knows you love her and that you saved her life, that's the problem Philip. She's thinks that since you saved her life she is somehow tied to you forever. That she can't pursue her dream now because you will want her with you."
Philip shook his head. "But, that's not true. I want Chloe to pursue her dream of becoming an opera singer. She's not indebted to me because I give her my bone marrow."
"You and I know that but she doesn't. That's not all Philip. Chloe is also afraid to tell you this because she thinks you'll freak out. But, I think you can handle it so I'll tell you. She and I are involved."
"Involved?" He repeated knowing his worse nightmare was coming true -Chloe loved someone else. His heart was breaking.
"Look Philip, I know you love Chloe. But, if it's really love you have to let her move on. You have to let her go. So when she comes to tell you that she's ready to move on don't make her choose between her dream and you. Let her go." Brady said to his uncle before he left the room noting that Philip's expression was frozen as if hearing that Chloe was involved with someone else broke his heart. Shrugging he left anyway ...
"So that's what happened when I visited Philip." Brady said unable to hide any remorse he may have felt. "Just remember Chloe I did it for you so you could have the career you always --,"
Chloe looked at Brady and couldn't believe she had ever been engaged to him. How could he have done that to her, to Philip. "How could you Brady, how could you do that to him. And to me?"
"Chloe I was looking out for your best interests."
"No, you were looking out for your love interest." She replied angrily her blue eyes blazing.
"Chloe I did it because I knew you would never leave Salem and make something of your potential. Philip was holding you back."
"Philip never held me back he encouraged me to sing because it's what I loved to do. While he may not have been as critical of me as you were he always made me feel supported. But that is not what this is about. It's about you using his vulnerability against him so he would leave Salem and make me think he didn't care about me. I can't believe you did this Brady. You were supposed to me my friend not my protector."
"I'm sorry Chloe. But, I did what I thought was right. I did the only thing I could think of to protect you and if it hurt Philip in the end it was well worth it." Brady added as he tried to explain his viewpoint.
Chloe couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Well you know what Brady I would have been a success with or without you or Philip by my side because I am my own person. You not only insult me but you underestimate me if you think I defined myself by Philip. I," she pointed to herself. "Made a success of out my passion for opera all on my own with my own hard work and not you or anyone else can take the credit for that."
"I wasn't trying--," Chloe interrupted him holding up a hand.
"I wasn't finished yet." She paused seeing Philip on his way back to his office. "You abused my trust and my friendship. I don't want to talk to you or see you again for a while. I want you to leave Brady. Now." Philip entered the office again this time with Lily.
Lily saw her uncle Brady and ran to see him as soon as Philip put her down. "Uncle Brady what are you doing here? Are you going on the picnic with us too?" She asked.
Brady looked down a Lily forcing his eyes away from Chloe's hurt and betrayed ones. He kneeled down and somehow managed to smile for the little girl. "Not today Lily, I have some work to do. But maybe another time."
Chloe walked up behind her daughter and placed her hands on her shoulders. "Say goodbye to your uncle Brady, Sweetie." She told her daughter.
"Bye Uncle Brady." Lily responded promptly before running to go sit in her father's chair behind the desk. Brady then rose glancing once at Chloe and left the office.
Philip moved from his stance by the door to go to Chloe. He looked back at Lily to see her spinning around in his chair. He opened his arms and Chloe walked into them.
Chloe returned his hug, closing her eyes for a moment trying to erase what had happened. "I'm sorry Philip, I didn't know." She whispered.
Philip pulled her back, away from him but still within the frame of his body. "Don't worry about it. It's all in the past."
"But, Philip," Chloe started but was silenced by Philip's mouth coming down hers.
Lily stopped spinning the chair around to see her parents kissing. She smiled, they were really a family.
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