~Chapter 15~
Gwen sped back to Teresa's cottage. She had to get the bracelet before anyone else was able to find it. She would be ruined if it landed in the wrong persons hands. She whipped her car into the cottage drive and slung open the door and rushed into the cottage. She frantically searched around on the floor.
She was down on her hands and knees when she heard the floor creak behind her. Someone else was here in the cottage with her. She jumped to her feet. "Who's there?" She asked nervously.
Fox came walking into the living room out of Teresa's bedroom. He held the bracelet up for Gwen to see. "Are you looking for this?"
"I can explain."
"I'm sure you can, Gwen. Care to enlighten me?"
Gwen stammered for the words, "Teresa, called me today wanted me to come down so that she could see Sarah. I was surprised when she did. I thought the last thing she would want to do was see her after loosing Little Ethan. Anyways, the bracelet must have fallen off of my arm at some time during my visit."
"I don't buy it, Gwen. Something happened here tonight. I know it. Why else would Teresa be so upset?"
"You're crazy, Fox. Why would I want to hurt Teresa?"
"Don't feed me that crap, Gwen. We all know you hate Teresa. Do you know what Dr. Russell told me before I left the hospital? Do you, Gwen?"
Gwen swallowed hard, "No, I don't Fox."
"She said that if Teresa does miraculously pull through, that she will most likely have to re-learn how to walk, talk and maybe even feed herself. Do you know how degrading that is going to be for Teresa?"
"I'm sorry, Fox, but I didn't come here to hurt her, I swear..." Gwen said trying to defend herself.
You said or did something to her tonight, admit it!" Fox yelled.
Gwen jumped, "How dare you accuse me of trying to purposely hurt Teresa. What kind of person do you think I am?"
"Stop it, Gwen! You know exactly what happened here tonight and I swear if you don't tell me..."
Gwen interrupted, "Honestly, Fox, I don't have to stand here and take this." She turned to walk away, but Fox was after her. He grabbed her by the arm and twisted her around to face him.
"Oh, no you don't. You're not going anywhere until you tell me what happened here tonight. Is that clear?" Fox said through gritted teeth.
Gwen grimmaced at the hold Fox had on her arm, "Fox, you're hurting me." She tried to break free of his hold.
"Shut up, Gwen. What happened here tonight?" Fox shook her arm.
"So help me God, Fox, if you don't let me go, I swear I'll yell rape." Gwen spit back at him.
Fox loosened his grip slightly on Gwen, "Come on, Gwen, do you think people would honestly believe you?"
Gwen smiled, "Seems you forgotten about your sorted little past, Fox. Your repuation could come back and haunt you, you know."
Fox let her go, "Damn it!" He ran his hand down his face. "Fine, Gwen, you've conned your way out of it this time, but mark my words, I will find out what happened here tonight."
"Oh please. You have no proof that I did anything to hurt Teresa. I admitted I was here. She called me to bring down Sarah to see her. It's as simple as that."
"Somehow, Gwen, I have a hard time believing that."
"Believe it, Fox, because that's exactly what happened."
Gwen turned on her heels and had made it to the door when Fox spoke. "I'm on to your little games, Gwen, and I won't stop until I found out everything you've ever done to hurt Teresa."
"Oh, I'm so scared." Gwen mocked him.
"You should be." Fox said seriously.
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The young maid stepped into Julian's study.
"Here's your mail, sir." She handed him a stack of envelopes.
Julian nodded at her, "Thank you." The maid smiled and quitely walked out.
Julian sat the stack of papers down on his desk and opened the drawer to pull out his letter opener. As he did, he noticed the first envelope on top was handwritten simply with the name 'Father'.
'Interesting', Julian thought to himself. He picked up the envelope and opened it, pulling out a small piece of stationary. It read:
Father,
Meet me outside at the gazebo. I have something that I must discuss with you.
Fox
Julian folded up the piece of paper and stuffed it back in the envelope. 'What could Fox possibly want with him?' Julian placed the envelope into his drawer where no one would be able to see it. 'Oh well, might as well meet with Fox.' It wasn't like he had anything better to do.
Julian made his way down to the gazebo where he saw Fox pacing back and forth impatiently. "May I ask why you brought me out here, Fox?"
Fox stopped his pacing when he heard his fathers voice. "Father, I didn't see you? Look, we need to talk."
"That would be a first, Fox." Julian said coolly.
"I don't have time for your little remarks, Father. I have something important I need to talk to you about."
"Fine, but why bring me out here?"
"Do you have to ask why? You know as well as I do that every square inch of that house is covered with cameras. Grandfather knows everything that goes on inside that house." Fox said.
Julian nodded. "Point taken. Go on."
"I need your help with something, Father."
"I take it you've run up some gambling debts. Don't worry, I've always baled you out before. Why would you think I wouldn't this time? How much are we talking here?"
"This has nothing to do with gambling debts."
Julian looked slightly amused, "Then just what did you bring me out here for then, Fox?"
"I need your help to bring down Gwen Hotchkiss."
Julian laughed, "You're mad, Fox. Gwen Hotchkiss is a good girl. Unlike her mother, of course, Gwen doesn't have an evil bone in her entire body."
Fox looked at his Father for a moment. This was going to be harder that he thought. "Look, I'm sure you know that Teresa is in the hospital as we speak fighting for her life." Julian nodded. "I was with Teresa right after she overdosed. She muttered something about Gwen and the baby and about loosing Little Ethan."
"Come on, Fox, she was probably delirious." Julian shrugged off Fox's allegations.
"Something happened there tonight at the cottage, I know it. I came back to the cottage to see if I could find anything and I found one of Gwen's bracelets on the floor."
"Did you confront her with this?" Julian asked.
"Yes, and she admitted that she was at the cottage today."
"That doesn't prove she did anything to physically hurt Teresa."
Fox wasn't getting anywhere, but he wasn't worried he had something up his sleeve. He smiled, "Look, Father, what would you say if I knew away that you could rid yourself of Rebecca. We both know that Eve and T.C. are on the brink of divorce. That would free you and her up to be together if that did happen."
Fox had Julian's full attention now. "Care to explain this to me Fox?"
"If you help me prove that Gwen has been out to hurt Teresa, then Rebecca will no longer be able to blackmail you. You'll have something just as strong to hold over her head. You drop Rebecca a nice little chunk of money and her and Gwen leave Harmony for good. Freeing you for Dr. Russell. If Rebecca won't back down so easily then we'll expose her and Gwen to everyone here in Harmony. They'll be forced to leave then. It's as simple as that." Fox laid out his plan to Julian.
Julian smiled, "You my dear, Fox, have a deal." Julian held out his hand.
Fox took it and shook his father's hand. "Deal."
"Seems you've discovered my weakness for Eve, Fox. What's yours?" Julian asked.
"No different that yours father." Fox said.
"And what would that be?"
"The love of a good woman."
"Teresa?"
Fox nodded, "She's nothing like what all of you have made her out to be, Father."
Julian had to agree, "I guess you're right, Fox. I must be on my way. I'll see what I can dig up. I'll let you know if I find anything."
Julian turned to walk away. "Father?"
Julian looked over his shoulder, "Yes, Fox."
"Thanks." Fox said quitely.
Julian smiled and nodded, "No problem," He paused, "son."
Gwen sped back to Teresa's cottage. She had to get the bracelet before anyone else was able to find it. She would be ruined if it landed in the wrong persons hands. She whipped her car into the cottage drive and slung open the door and rushed into the cottage. She frantically searched around on the floor.
She was down on her hands and knees when she heard the floor creak behind her. Someone else was here in the cottage with her. She jumped to her feet. "Who's there?" She asked nervously.
Fox came walking into the living room out of Teresa's bedroom. He held the bracelet up for Gwen to see. "Are you looking for this?"
"I can explain."
"I'm sure you can, Gwen. Care to enlighten me?"
Gwen stammered for the words, "Teresa, called me today wanted me to come down so that she could see Sarah. I was surprised when she did. I thought the last thing she would want to do was see her after loosing Little Ethan. Anyways, the bracelet must have fallen off of my arm at some time during my visit."
"I don't buy it, Gwen. Something happened here tonight. I know it. Why else would Teresa be so upset?"
"You're crazy, Fox. Why would I want to hurt Teresa?"
"Don't feed me that crap, Gwen. We all know you hate Teresa. Do you know what Dr. Russell told me before I left the hospital? Do you, Gwen?"
Gwen swallowed hard, "No, I don't Fox."
"She said that if Teresa does miraculously pull through, that she will most likely have to re-learn how to walk, talk and maybe even feed herself. Do you know how degrading that is going to be for Teresa?"
"I'm sorry, Fox, but I didn't come here to hurt her, I swear..." Gwen said trying to defend herself.
You said or did something to her tonight, admit it!" Fox yelled.
Gwen jumped, "How dare you accuse me of trying to purposely hurt Teresa. What kind of person do you think I am?"
"Stop it, Gwen! You know exactly what happened here tonight and I swear if you don't tell me..."
Gwen interrupted, "Honestly, Fox, I don't have to stand here and take this." She turned to walk away, but Fox was after her. He grabbed her by the arm and twisted her around to face him.
"Oh, no you don't. You're not going anywhere until you tell me what happened here tonight. Is that clear?" Fox said through gritted teeth.
Gwen grimmaced at the hold Fox had on her arm, "Fox, you're hurting me." She tried to break free of his hold.
"Shut up, Gwen. What happened here tonight?" Fox shook her arm.
"So help me God, Fox, if you don't let me go, I swear I'll yell rape." Gwen spit back at him.
Fox loosened his grip slightly on Gwen, "Come on, Gwen, do you think people would honestly believe you?"
Gwen smiled, "Seems you forgotten about your sorted little past, Fox. Your repuation could come back and haunt you, you know."
Fox let her go, "Damn it!" He ran his hand down his face. "Fine, Gwen, you've conned your way out of it this time, but mark my words, I will find out what happened here tonight."
"Oh please. You have no proof that I did anything to hurt Teresa. I admitted I was here. She called me to bring down Sarah to see her. It's as simple as that."
"Somehow, Gwen, I have a hard time believing that."
"Believe it, Fox, because that's exactly what happened."
Gwen turned on her heels and had made it to the door when Fox spoke. "I'm on to your little games, Gwen, and I won't stop until I found out everything you've ever done to hurt Teresa."
"Oh, I'm so scared." Gwen mocked him.
"You should be." Fox said seriously.
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The young maid stepped into Julian's study.
"Here's your mail, sir." She handed him a stack of envelopes.
Julian nodded at her, "Thank you." The maid smiled and quitely walked out.
Julian sat the stack of papers down on his desk and opened the drawer to pull out his letter opener. As he did, he noticed the first envelope on top was handwritten simply with the name 'Father'.
'Interesting', Julian thought to himself. He picked up the envelope and opened it, pulling out a small piece of stationary. It read:
Father,
Meet me outside at the gazebo. I have something that I must discuss with you.
Fox
Julian folded up the piece of paper and stuffed it back in the envelope. 'What could Fox possibly want with him?' Julian placed the envelope into his drawer where no one would be able to see it. 'Oh well, might as well meet with Fox.' It wasn't like he had anything better to do.
Julian made his way down to the gazebo where he saw Fox pacing back and forth impatiently. "May I ask why you brought me out here, Fox?"
Fox stopped his pacing when he heard his fathers voice. "Father, I didn't see you? Look, we need to talk."
"That would be a first, Fox." Julian said coolly.
"I don't have time for your little remarks, Father. I have something important I need to talk to you about."
"Fine, but why bring me out here?"
"Do you have to ask why? You know as well as I do that every square inch of that house is covered with cameras. Grandfather knows everything that goes on inside that house." Fox said.
Julian nodded. "Point taken. Go on."
"I need your help with something, Father."
"I take it you've run up some gambling debts. Don't worry, I've always baled you out before. Why would you think I wouldn't this time? How much are we talking here?"
"This has nothing to do with gambling debts."
Julian looked slightly amused, "Then just what did you bring me out here for then, Fox?"
"I need your help to bring down Gwen Hotchkiss."
Julian laughed, "You're mad, Fox. Gwen Hotchkiss is a good girl. Unlike her mother, of course, Gwen doesn't have an evil bone in her entire body."
Fox looked at his Father for a moment. This was going to be harder that he thought. "Look, I'm sure you know that Teresa is in the hospital as we speak fighting for her life." Julian nodded. "I was with Teresa right after she overdosed. She muttered something about Gwen and the baby and about loosing Little Ethan."
"Come on, Fox, she was probably delirious." Julian shrugged off Fox's allegations.
"Something happened there tonight at the cottage, I know it. I came back to the cottage to see if I could find anything and I found one of Gwen's bracelets on the floor."
"Did you confront her with this?" Julian asked.
"Yes, and she admitted that she was at the cottage today."
"That doesn't prove she did anything to physically hurt Teresa."
Fox wasn't getting anywhere, but he wasn't worried he had something up his sleeve. He smiled, "Look, Father, what would you say if I knew away that you could rid yourself of Rebecca. We both know that Eve and T.C. are on the brink of divorce. That would free you and her up to be together if that did happen."
Fox had Julian's full attention now. "Care to explain this to me Fox?"
"If you help me prove that Gwen has been out to hurt Teresa, then Rebecca will no longer be able to blackmail you. You'll have something just as strong to hold over her head. You drop Rebecca a nice little chunk of money and her and Gwen leave Harmony for good. Freeing you for Dr. Russell. If Rebecca won't back down so easily then we'll expose her and Gwen to everyone here in Harmony. They'll be forced to leave then. It's as simple as that." Fox laid out his plan to Julian.
Julian smiled, "You my dear, Fox, have a deal." Julian held out his hand.
Fox took it and shook his father's hand. "Deal."
"Seems you've discovered my weakness for Eve, Fox. What's yours?" Julian asked.
"No different that yours father." Fox said.
"And what would that be?"
"The love of a good woman."
"Teresa?"
Fox nodded, "She's nothing like what all of you have made her out to be, Father."
Julian had to agree, "I guess you're right, Fox. I must be on my way. I'll see what I can dig up. I'll let you know if I find anything."
Julian turned to walk away. "Father?"
Julian looked over his shoulder, "Yes, Fox."
"Thanks." Fox said quitely.
Julian smiled and nodded, "No problem," He paused, "son."