Determination colored Chloe's cheeks as she carefully wrote a detailed plan for the evening. She knew the importance of being fully prepared when doing battle against the enemy - and Jan Spears was most definitely a wicked foe.

His body casually relaxed on Chloe's bed, Jason watched his cohort with a sense of rare fascination. He understood that Chloe truly hated Jan, but he just couldn't understand why. There were a million little reasons for Chloe to despise Jan, and Jason tried to tell himself that Chloe's ultimate hatred was merely the result of all those little things adding up over the years. However, on some level, Jason was aware that there was a piece of the puzzle that he was missing. And, that piece explained Chloe's true hatred of Jason's former flame.

"What don't I know?"

Chloe's eyes were only partially clouded by confusion as she responded, "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh, I'm willing to bet you know exactly what I'm talking about, Lane. There's something that you're not telling me - and, it has to do with Jan."

A rather cold haze made itself apparent in Chloe's eyes. Her voice eerily calm, she stated, "Let it go."

Jason found himself overcome with curiosity. Chloe Lane had always been a mystery, but he had a feeling that her previous secrets were but a fraction as intriguing as whatever hidden truth she kept to herself that surely involved the infamous Jan Spears. Sitting up on the bed, Jason stared at his companion intently and questioned, "What did she do to you?"

Returning Jason's unwavering stare, Chloe countered, "I've got a better question - what did she do to you? I've spent enough of my life disliking you to know what you're really like. And, there is no way that you would just abandon Mimi and turn your rage on Jan if the only reason was a photograph of you and me. There's more to the story, Jase."

Jason considered denying Chloe's hinted accusations. Part of him thought about just lying and saying that Jan had done nothing but show Brady a single photograph. But, after years of concealing the truth, Jason had learned that it was far better to just reveal some things.

Scooting his body to the foot of the bed, Jason placed himself within three feet of where Chloe sat at the desk. His voice low, as though he feared the walls themselves would hear his secrets, Jason confessed, "You're right, if that photograph was the only obstacle, I would just tell Mimi about sleeping with you and try to win her back. But, I've done a lot of things that I'm not proud of and some of them just might be unforgivable in Mimi's eyes. Unfortunately, Jan has proof of my past screw-ups. And, until Jan is no longer a threat, I can't be with Mimi. And, even if Jan did disappear, I'm still not sure Mimi and I could ever be together. Brady Black will always be a problem."

Though she heard every word Jason had said and knew that it was something she couldn't overlook, Chloe chose to pay his comments no response. Instead, she said, "Why don't you go grab something to eat downstairs? I need to make a few phone calls, then we can get started on our game plan."

"Not so fast," stated Jason as he hurriedly rose from the bed and placed his hand over Chloe's as she was about to lift the receiver.

"Excuse me?"

Keeping his hand atop Chloe's as she sent him a glare that was nothing short of menacing, Jason said, "Whether you like it or not, we're partners. So, don't think that you're just going to banish me from the room. We're working together to make Jan pay, so don't try and get rid of me - even if you do hate me as much as I hate you."

Chloe quickly pulled her hand out from under Jason's and sent him yet another uncaring glare. Her voice full of the determination she had always possessed, Chloe stated, "Fine. You can stay."

"Thank you, that's so kind of you," sarcastically replied Jason as he returned to the bed and made himself comfortable once more. "Now, how exactly are we going to ruin Jan's life?"

"By bringing it to an end."

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

Silent were the sobs that gently racked Mimi's body as she stood on the balcony. The tears that filled her eyes and slowly slipped down her face had left their nasty red mark upon the tender area around her eyes. In the back of her throat was the familiar burning sensation that accompanies such wretched sobbing.

Through blurry eyes, Mimi watched the world below. It never failed to amaze her that the rest of the world went on as though nothing were wrong while she stood above them with a heart forever shattered.

In a way, she resented all the people who displayed the cheerfulness she had once known. It seemed terribly unfair that others were allowed to have the happiness that she so desperately craved while she was forced to suffer.

Her mind drifting back in time to an era of cheerfulness, Mimi recalled just how happy she had once been . . . before she had a handsome husband and expensive jewelry. When she had lived a simple, unpretentious life, Mimi had grasped such joy. However, that joy had quickly vanished once she stumbled into what was looked upon as a nearly perfect life by the outside world.

Using the back of her hand to wipe away the tears that streamed down her face, Mimi angrily muttered, "I never should have married Brady. I never should have lied and told him that I was pregnant . . . and, I wouldn't have if it hadn't been for Jan Spears."

All signs of the quirky teenager of the past were gone as Mimi stated, "I wish I were dead." Glancing down at the busy city street below, Mimi almost smiled as she quipped, "And, it won't be long before Jan does, too."

"Before Jan does what?" Brady questioned as he appeared from indoors.

Completely ignoring the question asked by her spouse, Mimi kept her back to him and stated, "I'm going upstairs to lie down."

Brady could only release a frustrated sigh as his wife pushed past him and back into the penthouse. Not once had she really made eye contact since he joined her on the balcony. She simply brushed past him despondently.

Left alone to look down upon the world bustling below, Brady mumbled aloud, "You're not the only one with regrets, Mimi . . . not by a long shot."

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

Belle struggled to keep her tired eyes open and focused on Katrina and the colorful blocks that so greatly held the child's attention. Using all her inner willpower, Belle fought against the drowsiness that was surely the result of a recent loss of sleep. And, Belle knew exactly why she couldn't sleep. Shawn Brady.

In Belle's mind, Shawn was never supposed to return to Salem. After having worked so hard to build a solid marriage with Philip, Belle could hardly deal with Shawn's reappearance. She had long ago forced herself to believe that her first love would never resurface in her life. Yet, he had.

On some level, Belle honestly loved Philip. Despite his many shortcomings, the former rich kid of Salem High had a heart of gold. He adored Belle and Katrina . . . and, his every action proved that to Belle.

Yet, memories of her relationship with Shawn seemed to haunt Belle's nights. It was to the point that the intense recollections of Shawn holding her close were causing sleep to evade her entirely. There had been nights since Shawn's homecoming when Belle had gotten less than two hours sleep, but she trudged onward with that almost innocent smile still forced upon her tired face.

Keeping a watchful eye on her daughter, Belle strolled no farther away than the balcony doors. As the rays of sun fought through the glass to gently warm her face, Belle wondered the same question that she had pondered for far too long . . . Where had it all gone wrong?