Kendall sat in the relative seclusion of her office at The Seasons and contemplated their options after the reading of Ethan's will. They had unanimously agreed that Zach would not withdraw his petition to take over Cambias Industries until midnight on the tenth day even if that was determined to be the best course of action. Kendall, however, could imagine no scenario where surrendering without a fight was preferable tobattling Ethan and JR. Ethan had certainly found the perfect revenge in giving JR power over Bianca and Miranda – and she was afraid that Bianca had voiced it best in saying that they were screwed no matter what choices they made.
She and Zach had driven back to the condo so that he could start going through the boxes of Ethan's things that were stored at her condo while she drove to the casino to take care of some work. Although Kendall had wanted to remain with Zach to deal with Ethan's things, he insisted that this was something he preferred to do on his own and made her promise to go into the casino. What remained unsaid between them was that she was protected from unwanted visitors at The Seasons by the security and trusted personnel that Zach had in place… no one was going to accost her unawares and make her deal with more than she wanted to as long as she was in the casino offices, and Zach trusted them to protect her while he was dealing with the fallout from Ethan.
She picked at the salad that Edie had provided her for lunch – while she had been driving to the casino Zach had called and left instructions with Edie to make sure that Kendall ate. Obviously he was still concerned about her health, and after her meltdown in Livia's office he wasn't going to take any chances. He's probably expecting Edie to call him with details on how much I ate, she thought to herself rebelliously. She was tempted to call Maria for results of the tests just so that she could shove a clean bill of health into all their faces, but when she picked up the phone she couldn't bring herself to actually dial the number. Not knowing anything was better than finding out that there was a problem, and they had enough troubles to deal with already.
She was startled out of her thoughts by raised voices in the outer office, and she rose and immediately walked over to the door to investigate the disturbance. If a customer got out of hand, Edie and she both had silent alarms for security but she was interested in the distraction if nothing else. Ruminating on the events of the will reading that morning was just giving her another headache.
As she opened the door, she saw Ryan Lavery loudly insisting to Edie that he needed to speak with Kendall immediately. She stood and watched for a moment longer before rescuing the other woman, "It's alright, Edie. I'll see him… he's family."
Ryan turned to Kendall with an angry expression and answered, "It's about time. Let's go."
She didn't like his dictatorial tone, but wasn't going to argue with him in front of Edie so she merely turned and followed him into her office, closing the door behind her. She seated herself behind the desk and pushed her salad to the side, but made it very clear by her demeanor that she was in control and he was just a visitor to her place of business. She said with a forced smile, "What can I do for you, Ryan? Do you need some credit?"
"Kendall… you know damn well that I'm not here to play games!" he answered in the same angry tone.
"Why Ryan… playing games is what you and Greenlee do best! You might as well try to make some money at it," Kendall answered sarcastically. "Get to the point, Ryan, because I'm in no mood."
"Well, you better get in the mood because I'm not leaving here until you've fixed the latest nightmare courtesy of Zach Slater," he answered.
"Oh… I guess you heard about Ethan's will," she said quietly.
"How could I not when JR Chandler couldn't wait to visit Fusion and rub it in my wife's face that she was now working for him! Do you have any idea how upset Greenlee is? When this is over you are going to sell us your shares of Fusion and Greenlee will own the company outright… no Kendall, no Cambias, no JR… do you understand me?" he ranted on.
"Now hold it right there! Fusion is as much mine as Greenlee's and I'm not giving up that company we worked so hard for… you will not dictate terms to me, Ryan Lavery, or the only person I'll sell my shares to is JR Chandler!" Kendall retorted hotly. "You do not have any say in my life… and I am not little Kendall Hart who wants to please the great and powerful Ryan any more! It's time you treated me with some respect!"
"And the mouse roars… I'm quaking in my boots. One of these days Zach Slater's going to fake his death and disappear leaving you broke and alone… and your friends are going to remember how you walked all over them for him. I suggest you remember just what it's like to be without a friend in the world," he answered in kind.
Kendall sat back in her chair, breathed deeply and smiled sweetly, "Once upon a time, I would have fallen in line at such a decree… but no more, Ryan. I see you for the control freak that you are. We didn't break up over trust issues – we broke up because I wouldn't let you control me. Well, I've got news for you… needy Kendall is gone for good, and I'm not scared of you or anyone else. Either you will listen to me or you will leave…are we clear?"
"This ought to be good," Ryan answered in disbelief. "I doubt you have anything to say that will fix this mess you and your husband created. You're like a bulldozer, Kendall, running over the people who love and care about you…"
Kendall held up her hand, "Enough! Ryan, in two seconds I'm going to activate a silent alarm and several big burly men are going to physically remove you from my office and have you arrested for trespassing. Now… you have two choices. You can sit and quietly listen to me – or you can be escorted out in the most uncomfortable way imaginable. The choice is yours."
Ryan fixed Kendall with a stare that used to unnerve her, but received no reaction. Instead she sat quietly waiting for his reply. Finally, when the stare did not have the desired affect he leaned back in his chair and said quietly, "Go on."
"Thank you. Bianca, Zach and I have already met with Jackson and Livia and we are pursuing every option possible to break Ethan's will. There is a strong possibility that it can be done. JR's only strutting around and shooting off his mouth, trying scare tactics to get a reaction and obviously it's working on you and Greenlee. However, we are not so easily frightened by him or by poor dead Ethan," she said calmly. "The bottom line is that JR wants Chandler back… he has no interest in Fusion except as a bargaining chip to get Miranda's share of Chandler. However, Greenlee made his little visit to Fusion successful. Because what he really wants is for you and Greenlee to pressure Bianca into trading Miranda's Chandler shares for his Fusion shares instead of contesting Ethan's will. The only way he can get Chandler back is if Ethan's will stands."
"Words, Kendall… nothing but words…. And in the meantime my wife is terrified that she's losing the company that she poured her heart and soul into," Ryan answered sharply.
"Our hearts and our souls, Ryan… you will not spout revisionist history in my office," Kendall answered. She paused a moment and then continued, "Tell me, Ryan… do you trust Livia and Jackson?"
"Jackson is Greenlee's father and Livia…" Ryan began.
Kendall interrupted before he could finish his sentence, "Then let them do what is best for all of us. I know that you don't trust me or Zach… and that's your problem. But Bianca trusts us and we'll do what's right… for Miranda, for Fusion, for Cambias … and for us. Now get out of my office and leave me alone."
"What? You don't get to tell me that I have to trust a bunch of people that I don't trust and kick me out of the office," Ryan blustered.
"Yes, I do, Ryan," Kendall said with a sweet smile. "As I have to keep reminding you – it's my office… and I say who stays and who goes. And don't think about interfering in this or I'll ask Bianca to give all her Fusion shares to me just to spite you and Greenlee. Are we clear?"
"Bianca wouldn't do that to us… besides, she's still mad at you for marrying Slater. No way would she listen to anything you asked her to do," Ryan said.
"You want to bet, Ryan?" Bianca said from the doorway. "Hey, Kendall… sorry to barge in but Edie said it would be okay… she said it was just family and Miranda here wanted to see her Auntie Kendall."
"Binx!" Kendall exclaimed with a smile as she stood and strode to the doorway. She took Miranda out of Bianca's arms and cuddled the little girl who was happily chortling as she grabbed one of Kendall's chandelier earrings. "You my sweet little niece are going to have to quit pulling on my ears like that."
"Miranda, now be nice to Auntie Kendall," Bianca said to her daughter as she tried to take her back into her arms. After Kendall had removed the earring from Miranda's grasp, the women turned back to face Ryan who had joined them near the doorway. Bianca said to her friend, "Ryan… you know I love you, but don't ask me to choose between you and Kendall – you'll lose."
"I'd never do that, Bianca… I only said that because…" Ryan stammered.
"Because you wanted to control me again," Kendall finished for him. "I told you before… I'm out from under the delusion that Saint Ryan knows all. Get used to it… or go home to Greenlee. She still seems to fall for that omniscient act."
"Bianca, I'm sorry… I never meant to…" Ryan began but paused and said instead, "Can I hold Miranda?"
"Sure you can," Bianca answered with a smile. "Go to Uncle Ryan, sweetheart."
Ryan picked up the baby who looked at him and started to wail. Ryan's face fell as he quickly handed her back to Bianca, "She must need a change or a nap or something. Maybe we'll visit another time when she's in a better mood."
"That's funny… she usually doesn't do that," said Bianca in surprise. "She had a nap on the way over and we had lunch before that. Oh well, probably too much excitement."
Kendall leaned over and tickled the little girl under the chin, "Oh, she probably just misses Uncle Zach… he's got the best chest for snuggling… don't you think so too, you little cutie?"
"When did she… when did you visit with… um…" Ryan said, crestfallen.
"Oh, Bianca brought Miranda by last night… they had the best time playing together. Then she took a nice long nap on Zach while we visited," Kendall said with a bright smile.
"Kendall!" Bianca said sharply, but with a smile.
"Well… it's the truth isn't it?" Kendall retorted.
Bianca nodded agreement, "Yeah… she loved snuggling her Uncle Zach… but Ryan… I'm sure she…"
"Yeah… right… whatever," Ryan said, the hurt evident on his face.
"Ryan…" Bianca started to say.
Kendall interrupted, "Say Binx, why don't you go sit down on the sofa and I'll be right back. I just need to walk Ryan out."
Bianca looked sadly from Ryan to Kendall and then nodded while Kendall held the door for Ryan and followed him from the room. She said to him softly, "I mean it Ryan… stay out of this or you'll be very sorry. The days of you and Greenlee pushing me around are over. Now be a dear and go quietly… or Edie will have to call my burly friends." With that final comment she turned and re-entered her office, closing the door sharply behind her.