Their steps were soaked in both hesitance and anticipation as they approached the door. Jason and Mimi each understood that what they were doing could never be undone. They were attempting to not only separate themselves from the lives that had built but to also construct a new, happier life together.

And, that first hideous step would no doubt be the most difficult. Mimi had to tell Brady that she was leaving him - for his bartender.

The door released a light creak as Mimi pushed it open to reveal the place that had been her home for far too long - a place that she never should have called home at all.

Stepping into the penthouse, Mimi tightly gripped Jason's hand. Somewhere, in the very back of her mind, Mimi realized that Jason had never even attempted to explain the conversation he had shared with Shawn - the conversation that had led Mimi to believe that Jason was using her. Then again, Mimi also realized that she had never even considered telling Jason how exactly it was that she had come to marry the infamous Brady Black. Even Mimi understood that some secrets were best left hidden in the past.

Just as Jason was using his free hand to shut the front door, Brady came swaggering down the stairs. Even in his own home, Brady forced himself to show only his strengths - never his weaknesses.

Quickly taking notice of Mimi and Jason's lock of hands, Brady demanded, "Just what the hell is going on with the two of you?"

It had been a long time since Mimi had truly felt intimidated by Brady. Yet, as he stood at the foot of the stairs glaring at her and Jason, Mimi felt that old feeling returning. Quietly, Mimi stated what was most certainly the obvious, "Brady, we need to talk."

His eyes focused solely on Jason, Brady casually asked, "About what?"

Rolling his eyes, Jason commented, "Gee, Sherlock, I wonder."

Brady took a single step toward the couple and stated, "Why don't you go back to the slums, Masters, and let me talk to my wife alone."

"Like hell I will."

"Brady," began Mimi. "Don't start a fight. Let's just get this over with, okay?"

Finally moving his icy glare from Jason to Mimi, Brady asked with slight annoyance, "Let's get what over with? What are you babbling about, Mimi? And, why in God's name are you holding his hand?"

Rather simply, Mimi said, "You were wrong. You were so very wrong. It wasn't Shawn."

After a brief moment of confusion, Brady understood exactly what his wife was trying to say. Returning his gaze once more to Jason, he asked with disbelief, "You're the guy screwing around with my wife?"

"No," countered Jason. "I'm the guy who's in love with your wife - and going to take her away from here."

"What?" Brady incredulously questioned. "Mimi's going to leave me, and the two of you are going to have some happy life together? . . . . Over my dead body."

Before Jason could make a single defensive remark, Mimi said, "Brady, just because you were stupid enough to let Chloe go, it doesn't mean that I have to sacrifice everything that I want."

"Whoa," Jason curiously interrupted. "What's up with Chloe? What happened with her and Brady?"

While Brady muttered something about it being none of Jason's damn business, Mimi explained, "Well, the other night, Brady and Chloe found their way back to each other. But, he's such a fool, that he pushed her away the next morning."

His mind overloaded, Jason wondered if the other night was the night that he was suppose to keep Mimi distracted at the Cheatin' Heart. He was almost certain that it had to be. Almost smiling, Jason said to himself, "I'll be damned. The girl pulled it off."

"What was that, Masters?"

Glancing up at Brady arrogantly, Jason replied, "Nothing. Nothing at all."

However, Jason's arrogance quickly diminished when his foe sent him a truly chilling glare. Without even bothering to look in Mimi's direction, Brady stated, "Mimi, Philip and Belle both had to go out, so Katrina is upstairs. Why don't you go up there and check on her?"

After receiving a light nod from Jason, Mimi hurriedly made her way up the stairs. Though she was usually quite inquisitive, Mimi had no desire to hear what happened between the man she had married and the man she wished she had married. She feared that the conversation would just be a little too difficult to handle.

Once he felt that Mimi was safely out of earshot, Brady confidently began, "You are not going to be with Mimi. No way in hell, pal."

"First, I'm not your pal. Second, you can't stop me from being with Mimi. Wake up and face the facts. She and I love each other, and she can't wait to get away from you."

Releasing a deep, mirthless laugh, Brady commented, "Oh, Mimi will be staying with me. I've given up too much to ensure this marriage's longevity. I won't have some screw-up bartender ruining things for me."

"And, how do you plan to stop me?"

As Brady erupted into laughter, Jason felt his entire body go cold. On some level he almost understood Brady Black. Brady didn't have Chloe; therefore, he didn't want Jason to have his true love either. And, Brady Black was determined enough to make sure that everyone was miserable.

His laughter coming to an abrupt stop, Brady walked to his desk and lifted up his briefcase. Quickly working the combination, he opened it and pulled out a single manilla envelope. Handing the item to Jason, he pompously said, "This is how I plan to stop you."

With extreme hesitance, Jason unclasped the envelope and removed its contents - a single photograph. Horror clearly washed over his face as he realized just what it was that Brady was holding over his head.

Offering a slight explanation, Brady said, "That whorish ex of yours has a real hard time holding her liquor. Did you know that? Well, no matter, it seems she really enjoys running that mouth of hers while she's plastered. And, let me tell ya, she didn't have any problem telling me about your secrets, Masters."

"I don't know how Jan got this photograph, but I'm willing to be that she wasn't just drunk when she gave it to you. So, what did you do to her, huh? Drug her? Threaten her? Maybe you just paid her off. Is that it?"

"Does it really matter? I think it's time that you faced the facts. Neither of us is going to have some sappy romance with our true love. And, if you're honest with yourself, you'll admit that you don't even deserve to be happy. Now, are you going to leave - or am I going to show this to Mimi?"

Wordlessly, Jason left.

~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~

After leaving Chloe's hotel room, Philip drove across Salem to a house he undoubtedly considered Satan's lair. Grumbling to himself, Philip gruffly knocked on the door - dreading what would greet him.

When the door opened, Philip pushed his way into the house with a groan and remarked, "Put some clothes on, would you?"

Closing her previously open robe that was wrapped around her scarcely clothed body, Jan sarcastically replied, "Gee, Philip, come on in. Don't wait for me to invite you."

While Jan slammed her front door shut, Philip stated, "It's time for you to fulfill your end of the bargain, Jan. I slept with you, so now it's time for you to get rid of Shawn, and help Chloe and Brady get together."

With a wry smile, Jan merely shook her head at Philip's innate naivety. Dropping her body down on the couch, Jan propped her right leg up on the coffee table, giving Philip a generous view of her thigh and more.

As confident as ever, Jan replied, "Sorry, Phil, there's been a change of plans."

His jaw tightly clenched, Philip walked closer to Jan and loomed angrily over her. In a growl, he asked, "What are talking about? What change of plans?"

A wicked smirk gracing her lips, Jan answered, "Well, it seems that I won't be helping you after all - but, hey, thanks for the roll in the hay."

Philip's right hand instinctively tightened into a fist, and it took all his strength to not throw a punch in Jan's direction. Though he had never hit a woman, Philip felt quite tempted to use physical force against Jan.

Leaning down so that he was eye level with the vicious brunette, Philip coolly responded, "I warned you, Jan. Even you know better than to cross a Kiriakis."

"Whatever," said Jan as she waved her hand toward Philip in a dismissing manner. "In case you've forgotten, your daddy kicked the bucket quite a while ago, and you're nothing without him. Face it, Philly, you lose."

"Not quite," Philip cryptically responded, his eyes lacking any warmth as he glared at Jan. Knowing that words would never really be enough to handle Jan, Philip turned away from her smirking figure and departed the home.

Reaching his car, he placed the key in the ignition and vowed one thing. Jan Spears would finally pay for all that she had done.