"We were all set to start depositions, but there's been a change in counsel and Ethan has been granted a continuance. It will be at least a month's delay," Livia Frye-Cudahy informed Zach and Kendall. They were seated in her book-lined office discussing Zach's petition to have his father's will overturned.
"A change in counsel?" Zach asked quietly. "Does this mean that Jackson Montgomery has withdrawn as attorney of record?"
"Mmm… not exactly," Livia answered. "He has withdrawn as Ethan's counsel and I've heard he also resigned as Vice President and General Counsel to Cambias Industries. A perceived conflict of interest caused the board to ask for his resignation... at least that's how the story is being told."
"And who is doing the telling?" Zach asked dryly with an arch look at Kendall.
Livia smiled and answered, "Then I suppose you've already heard Ethan's other stories. At this point the only thing I know for a fact is that Ethan is a liar."
Zach nodded and leaned back in his chair mulling over the new information for a few moments and Kendall interjected quickly, "What does that mean for Zach's case? In English, please, Livia…"
"We-ll… I haven't spoken with Jackson directly about this, so any answer I give you would be speculation… but I believe that Bianca and Ethan may have had a difference of opinion in how to defend against Zach's petition," she answered quietly. "Since he will be continuing to represent Miranda's interests… that's the only thing that makes sense to me."
Kendall nodded her head and looked at Zach with a smile on her face. He raised an eyebrow at her expression but remained silent. Kendall wasn't even perturbed by this as she had gotten used to the fact that Zach rarely wasted words in idle conversation. When he was ready, he would say what was on his mind. In the meantime, though, Kendall felt no such reticence and replied to Livia's comments, "That has to mean that I got through to her."
"You spoke with Bianca about the case? Kendall… I'm sure Zach advised you not to discuss it with her," Livia answered sternly.
Kendall was too pleased at Bianca's possible actions to even notice Livia's tone of voice. She answered quickly, "My sister and I were discussing my marriage… and she wanted to know why I married Zach instead of Ethan. I told her the truth, that's all. Anything she decided about the suit based on that can't be considered as interference… can it?"
Before Livia could reply, Zach answered, "You and Bianca can discuss anything you like as far as I'm concerned. The last thing I want to do is interfere in your relationship… the suit be damned."
"Since you're paying me handsomely for my opinion… do you mind if I tell you what it is?" Livia said sharply to them both.
"Go right ahead, counselor," Zach answered with a slight smile.
"Kendall… Zach is right that you can discuss family and relationships with your sister to your heart's content, but at least fill me in on any conversation that remotely goes near this case so that I can be prepared. Fair enough?" Livia said. After Kendall nodded in reply she continued, "Now, what exactly did you discuss?"
"I just explained to her how easy it was to fall in love with Zach once I got to know him and that he cared very much about her and Miranda. I was trying to convince her that she had misjudged him… and that she had misjudged Ethan as well. Since she didn't commit to do anything except think about it, I was pretty sure that she didn't believe me," Kendall answered.
Zach looked affectionately at Kendall as Livia answered, "Well, it sounds like she may have listened after all. And considering Jackson's resignation as Ethan's attorney, she is at least considering severing herself from Ethan in this case. Right now the best thing we can do is sit tight and wait to hear from Jackson directly and from Ethan's new legal counsel. In the meantime, are you still going ahead with the casino re-opening? I saw something in the paper about the one in Las Vegas… that must have been quite a party!"
"Yes it was… Kendall was magnificent. And the re-opening is set for next week. You will be there?" Zach answered her comments.
"I wouldn't miss it," Livia answered.
"Would you and Tom like to stay over? I can arrange for a room, and we'd love to have you as our guest," Kendall commented. Zach gave her another fond look and Livia sat watching them with interest for another moment. She might not have admitted it to anyone but her husband, but Zach and Kendall were definitely two of her favorite people… both mavericks and sadly misunderstood by nearly everyone. She considered herself an excellent judge of people – her livelihood depended on it – and she found herself believing in their genuine affection. Kendall's words could have been discounted, but the intimacy of their touch, the knowing glances and the gentle manner Zach showed toward his wife did not add up to a business arrangement. Anyway, she already had ample evidence that Ethan was a liar… so any stories he may have been circulating were automatically suspect.
"That sounds like great fun! I'll check with Tom and let you know," she replied. She stood up and walked around the desk to accompany Kendall and Zach to the door of her office, saying, "Congratulations again on your marriage. I had heard this was just a business arrangement… I'm so glad for you both that it's not."
Zach shook her hand briefly before answering softly, "Me too."
After leaving Livia's offices, Kendall laughed in the lobby as they walked, "Speaking of magnificent… you were pretty magnificent in there yourself. It's getting easier with each person, isn't it?"
"We've only handled the easy ones so far… the people in Vegas, Stuart Chandler, Simone, Livia… it will get harder the better they know you. And you really don't think Ethan believed us last night, do you?" Zach said trying to keep Kendall from becoming overconfident. The die had been cast, and they would play their roles to the hilt… if she wanted him to act like a man in love he would do it convincingly… and he already had evidence that Kendall could be convincing. The sincerity of her words in Livia's office had impressed him – if he hadn't already known better he might have believed them himself.
"It seems to me that we'll have an excellent test in about an hour," Kendall answered, refusing to allow Zach to dampen her enthusiasm. "I figure that Edie knows you pretty well… and she knows Maria… if we can pass her inspection… then maybe I'm right. Besides, I told you before… I don't care what Ethan thinks."
Zach laughed, "You say that too often… if you didn't care you wouldn't mention him at all. Anyway… you're wrong about Edie."
"Don't try to tell me that your trusted associate… the person you send trouble-shooting all over the world – doesn't know you well enough to tell the difference between a business arrangement and true love," Kendall answered defensively.
"Although my relationship with Edie has been strictly business, I think that you're probably right about how well she knows me… but she doesn't know Maria. She joined my organization after Maureen left… other than meeting her in my office a few times, she really has no one to compare you to," Zach answered her. He smirked before finishing, "But she thinks very highly of me, and I'm just not sure you'll live up to her standards."
Kendall drew in a breath, ready to do battle before she saw the twinkle in Zach's eyes and the smile playing about his mouth. Instead of protesting, she grabbed his arm and pulled him around before rising on her toes to kiss him full on the mouth. Without pause Zach cupped one hand at the base of her head and wrapped an arm around her waist as he pulled her into a close embrace. They stood kissing for a moment before being interrupted by a woman clearing her throat.
Kendall pulled out of the kiss and Zach reluctantly loosened his embrace as they both looked in the direction of the sound. Standing before them with her hands on her hips was none other than Greenlee Lavery, and from the expression on her face she was very unhappy.
"Greenlee! What are you doing here?" Kendall said with forced cheerfulness.
"Looking for you! Why else would I leave Fusion in the middle of the morning?" Greenlee answered crossly. "Don't tell me… let me guess… I suppose that there's been an unexplained telephone outage in Nevada and it was impossible to call and tell your friends and family where you were?"
Rather than reply to the accusation, Kendall made one of her own, "And just how did you know where to look for us?"
"Simone told me that you'd returned from Vegas and since my father is no longer Ethan's attorney, I assumed that you'd be meeting with Livia sometime today. It was a simple phone call," Greenlee answered. She held her hand near her face, thumb and pinkie extended as if it was a telephone receiver, and said, "Hello… this is Kendall Slater and I can't remember what time our appointment with Livia is scheduled… Oh, ten o'clock… thanks so much." Zach stood looking at Greenlee with amusement, but said nothing as the woman continued, "So I raced over here to catch you. When were you planning to call me? For that matter, when did you plan to come into the office? Fusion doesn't just run itself, you know!"
"I know, Greenlee and I'm sorry… but Zach and I decided to get married and… well, we've been a little busy," Kendall tried to mollify her friend.
"Yeah… and now you're going to try to hand me that crazy story you sold Simone last night about being in love. Well, you can just forget it," Greenlee said sharply. "I know better than that."
Before Kendall could reply, Zach commented, "Stuart Chandler seemed to be satisfied when he attended the wedding."
"That's the best you've got in declaring your undying love for Kendall? I'm sure you can do better than that, Zach," Greenlee answered sharply.
He looked at her with a stern expression, ignoring Kendall's tug on his arm as he baited the woman, "But I don't have to, Greenlee. It's really none of your… affair." His use of the word was a deliberate reference to what Greenlee probably overheard from Zach and Kendall's room at the Valley Inn… and he was hoping for a reaction.
"Not good enough, I want to know exactly what you've been doing since you left the Valley Inn," Greenlee answered.
"Well… you know what we've been doing Greenlee," Kendall said with a laugh. "Do you really need us to paint you a picture?"
"I know all about your libido, Kendall… but I'm more interested in hearing your husband's explanation for this latest mess you've made of your life. What lies are you planning to tell us now, Zach?" Greenlee said, her voice rising in frustration.
"We could try the truth… but I'm not sure you're ready to hear it," Zach answered amiably. "Besides… I haven't had much luck getting people in this town to believe the truth when I say it."
"Greenlee… this is between you and me… leave Zach out of this. I didn't call because I didn't want to talk to you or anyone else. I'm tired of hearing everyone badmouth Zach," Kendall replied just as sharply to her sometimes friend.
"Shut-up Kendall! I think I want to hear Zach's truth," Greenlee said in her inimitable taunting manner. "Go ahead, Zach… dazzle me."
Zach looked at Greenlee with amused tolerance before taking Kendall's hand and walking out of the building. With his refusal to reply, the woman moved quickly to follow them to their vehicle and try to regain their attention. Zach walked around the car, unlocked the doors and helped Kendall into the passenger seat while Greenlee huffed at their continued silence.
"I don't get it… you offer the truth, then you don't say anything," Greenlee finally said in frustration.
"We've got an appointment and really don't have time to talk," Kendall answered, smiling sweetly before Zach closed the door.
"And that is the truth," Zach said as he climbed behind the wheel and pulled the door shut before starting the ignition. As Greenlee stood gaping, he lowered the window and said, "Why don't you and your husband come by our place for drinks tonight? Around seven?" Before Greenlee could respond he pulled out of the parking lot and turned in the direction of the casino.