A/N: First off, I'd like to thank everyone for their reviews and for hanging on there with my story as it is still being written.
Secondly, I noticed that I'm confusing a lot of people... LOL This story, on some level, was meant to confuse and hold a lot of twists and turns. But I'm going to try to make some things clear if it'll help you understand yet refrain from giving too much away.
Maile did betray Fox once. As stated in the first half of chapter six, the beginning of their friendship was, on a certain level, a lie (at least from Fox's standpoint) from what Maile told Theresa. Don't worry, you'll find out soon enough what Maile did to Fox.
And Theresa now knows something is up between Maile and Fox. But think of it through T's POV, she's known Fox longer and she trusts him a lot more than Maile. However, she believes that if Fox, though still unforgiving about whatever Maile did, still trusts the young woman... there's got to be a good reason for that. And, Theresa has a feeling inside that Maile, despite it all, is good. Also, her relationship with Fox hasn't really changed... yet.
Chapter Seven:
"I hate the city life."
Theresa glanced up at Fox, whose gaze was focused on the ocean horizon. He stood tall in his black floral aloha shirt, opened with a white tank top, and black slacks. Fox removed his sunglasses for a moment, squinting his eyes. He looked down at Theresa, startling her with its solemn gaze. "I really do, Theresa. I don't know if it's because I've lived in boarding schools all my life, moving from one big city to the next... but I hated it."
She gripped the wooden railing, her eyes solely on Fox. "Harmony's not your normal big city environment, Fox. It's as much a small town as..." She trailed off, then glanced around and smiled, "Well, this town."
Fox smiled at the petite beauty before him. She was dressed in a simple white blouse and black pants. Theresa had insisted on dressing up for their business meeting with Mr. Omiat. However, Maile, whom had arranged the affair, informed them that it was a casual lunch meeting. Maile had picked out the perfect outfit for Theresa, one that was as casual as could be yet allowed her to be taken seriously.
The duo were waiting for Mr. Omiat right across the street from BJ's Pizza. Most of Front Street held buildings on both side of the street. The only exception was the quarter of a mile stretch sea front with its wooden railing that was left open for a beautiful ocean view. Fox wanted to leave early so that he could just regard the whole Lahaina town. At first, Theresa was confused by his request, but slowly he began explaining to her of its importance.
"Small town life fascinates me, Theresa. It always has. And again, maybe it has to do with the fact that I've had to grow up in big cities. Harmony... Lahaina... small towns that had more to offer than meets the eye." He sighed, "I guess all I'm asking for is stability. Something that I can count on despite all the dramas, all the trouble..."
Theresa let out a small laugh, causing Fox to smile in wonder. With a teasing glint in her eye, "For a guy that has never fallen in love before, it sure sounds like you're ready to go out there and start a family."
He winked at her, "There's a first time for everything, my friend." Fox returned his gaze towards the sea, while Theresa just stood there watching him. She found herself amazed by the man standing before her.
Fox was full of surprises, and Theresa was looking forward to getting to know the soul behind them. It was becoming like a quest, a journey to discover the true Nicholas Foxworth Crane. A man that has hidden himself behind so many facades just so that he can protect himself from getting hurt.
And who could blame him? Growing up, Fox was hurt by the people that, as their duty, were supposed to love and protect him. Theresa despised Ivy and Julian even more because of that. Though, Theresa wondered if they did a better job of raising Ethan than Fox if the outcome proved Fox, out of the two, to be a more independent and stronger man? As bias as she is towards Ethan, Theresa had to admit that Fox had a strength, a quiet leadership, in him that mirrored Alistair. Theresa, quietly fearing and loathing her father-in-law, had to admire Alistair and all that he's accomplished.
Knowing that Fox had the qualities in him to match that of the great Alistair Crane, Theresa wondered if Alistair himself knew that. And if he did, has he realized that he helped groom the wrong heir to the Crane empire?
~~~~~~~~~~~
"Can you say 'fox', little Ethan? F-O-X, fox." Maile held the animal book open, pointing at the sly creature in the picture. "That's a fox. And yes, this fox is a lot cuter than our Fox..." She laughed to herself while little Ethan attempted to snatch the book right from under her.
It took nearly half an hour for Maile to convince Theresa that little Ethan would be okay in her care. Fox wasn't much help for he was too busy watching cartoons with the little boy. Ultimately it was because of Fox's reassurance of trust that Theresa reluctantly agreed. Maile promised to leave her cell phone on and to bring little Ethan back in time, just after their meeting with Mr. Omiat. She explained that she was only going to stroll the little one to the Lahaina Public Library, which was a five minute walk from BJ's Pizza.
So here they were, in the quiet library on a beautiful sunshine day in good old Lahaina town. Maile kept little Ethan entertained by showing him countless pictures of animals.
"Theresa, I trust Maile. She's going to take good care of the little one. Believe me, this girl will put her own life on the line for me... and for anyone else that I care about."
Maile briefly shuddered as Fox's words of trust came back to haunt her. She knew that it was all a part of his strategy to blackmail her emotionally to keep her at bay. Beyond a doubt Fox had enough trust in her to last a lifetime, no matter the number of screw ups. However, to Fox, the powers of trust and forgiveness were two totally different things.
She recalled a conversation she had with Fox briefly after he discovered her betrayal.
"Fox, I'm not at all sorry for what I did to you! What I had to do... because in the long run, it's going to change your life for the better! So please don't throw away our friendship because of one wrong that I've done to you."
"Maile, despite what you did... I'm not throwing away our friendship because of it. I apparently see in you what my grandfather saw. You're an amazing young woman that has a unique sense of loyalty, knowing when and when not to cross that line. You're observant and passionate to get the job done at whatever costs. You have an ease, a sense of compassion, that radiates enough to gain trust, yet you have enough courage to betray it when it deems necessary..."
"You're not describing a friend, Fox. You're describing an employee... a bodyguard, even."
"Isn't that what you are, Maile? Isn't that the side of you that you've only shown to me time and time again? Yes, you also have a great, even twisted, sense of humor. And your wit almost matches my own. Not to mention that you're beautiful and young... but so far, your employee side seems to heavily outweigh, even dominate, your friend side."
"So why don't you just end us now? Why keep our so-called friendship? Hell, why call it a friendship when it's nothing more to you than a business association?"
"Because, unlike my grandfather, I'm not paying you for your trust and quote-unquote 'friendship.' He could fire you at a moment's notice and that would forever severe you loyalty and trust towards him. I bet that as long as he's paying you that very handsome amount, you'd even kill for him without batting an eye. However, with me it's different, isn't it? And grandpappy Alistair knows that too... why else would he allow you to keep seeing me whenever you want? He knows that even if I were to disown us, our friendship, because you still care for me, you'll kill for me. I trust you, Maile. Hell, if I really knew what love was... you could say that, as a friend, I love you. But, I'm never going to forgive and forget what you did to me. I'm going to hold that part of our friendship over your head as insurance."
"Emotional blackmail? Is that what it's come down to, Foxworth? Well what if I don't want any part of it?"
"They call it 'emotional blackmail' for a reason, Maile. Look me in the eyes and tell me that you don't care about me as much as I think..., as much as I know, you do. Come on... look at me..."
"Fox..."
"That's what I thought. Love, emotions, friendship, trust, even forgiveness... all very powerful weapons. If you're not careful, they can be turned against you when you least expect it. Believe me, I had to learn that lesson the hard way..."
From the very first day that she met Nicholas Foxworth Crane, Maile knew that he was the type of man that you'd want as a friend, an ally, and never as your enemy. He knows that. She knows that he knows that... which was why he would always have this hold over her no matter what the outcome.
Maile regarded little Ethan, fearing yet admiring his blood line. This little boy was one half from a family of descent human beings... and the other half of a family of steel wanting to succeed and become the best at any cost. It was the best of both worlds, compassion and edge, and Maile had a feeling that someday little Ethan might become his own worst enemy.
The little boy looked up at Maile, eyes full of wonder as he seemed to be looking into her soul. Maile smiled ruefully, "You're just like him... and I don't know if that's a good or a bad thing."
"Anyone up for some ice cream? My treat."
Maile nearly jumped, her hand reacting as she reached for her small black bag. When her eyes fell upon the owner of the voice, she sighed with relief. "Rodney Garcia, you son of a bitch." She mumbled a quick apology to little Ethan, whose eyes held onto the strange man before them.
A young man, mid twenties, with short raven hair and with a tan body like a surfer, stared down at Maile with a teasing glint in his eyes. Wagging his finger, "What would Mr. Crane say if he knew that I caught you off guard like that? You, one of his best youth informants?"
Somewhat nonchalant, "Somehow I have a feeling he already knows that..."
"A spy watching a spy?"
"That's how he works, Rod. Just because we're his eyes and ears, doesn't mean he trusts us more than his own eyes and ears."
Rodney smiled at little Ethan, his eyes in awe at the little one. "This him? This the kid that's the talk of every underground association?"
"His greatest masterpiece to date... and probably not his last..." Maile sadly gazed at little Ethan, softly running her hand over his head.
"I don't know whether to be impressed or scared as shit about all this... it takes someone really powerful to orchestrate something as big as..."
"A life?" She raised an eyebrow at Rodney. He nodded silently as she softly added, "It takes something twisted inside for one to play God..."
Rodney sat himself down across from Maile, sighing, "Well, all moral ethics aside, you have to admit, if he can get away with murder, sure as hell he can get away with birth."
Maile slowly placed her hand over her black bag, and softly without bringing too much notice to herself, "Speaking of murder..." She carefully unzipped her bag, revealing only the handle of the small gun. "I'm guessing you're here to tell me why the hell Alistair insisted on me packing."
Rodney nervously eyed little Ethan, who was now focusing on the other picture books before him. "Got the safety on?"
"I'm not an idiot, Rod." Acknowledging little Ethan, "Why the hell do you think I protested against carrying one in the first place?"
"Well, when I'm through with what I have to tell you... you're going to insist on firing the first shot."
A/N: Hehehe... I'm certainly not making this story easier on you guys, now am I? Can you imagine if this was a Passions episode? Heck, if Gawd forbid one of the producers happened upon this fanfic and decide to go with this story line... I'm all for it! I don't need profits, I need TheRox! Please be patient when it comes to the next chapters because you're only now climbing towards the climax... and it's going to be a whopper of a climax!