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Chapter 8
"No no no no no this is not at all possible. You can't be alive. You're dead I know you're dead" stammers Ethan. Michael walks around and sits on the edge of the desk and says "No dear nephew I am standing here before you breathing air, Cambias blood pumping through my veins, alive and well ready to wreck havoc and chaos in Pine Valley." "No I know that you are not standing here," Ethan says as he backs away from what he believes is a ghost, "I've lost my mind you're just an illusion. Yes that's what it is you don't exist you're in my head. It's because of the liquor you're not really here. You can't even exist." Ethan slides down wall and covers his face with his hands. Michael walks over and crouches down removing Ethan's hands from his face. Michael's cold and calculating eyes meets Ethan's frightened ones. "Do you feel that Ethan? That is my warm hand touching your arm," Michael grabs Ethan's hand and places it over his mouth, "That's my warm breath. I'm not a hallucination. I am flesh and blood." Michael stands him up sits him down on the couch. Michael picks up a piece of the mirror and pushes the mirror in Ethan's face and says "You see that in the mirror Ethan it is a Cambias strong, proud, and ready to take down anyone who stands in their way. Damn it you of all people should understand that we never go down without a back up plan. Look at my dear brother and your father Alex Jr. alive and kicking. Cambias don't accept death Ethan we fight it, manipulate it, and make it ours." Michael grips the mirror tighter cutting his hand and pushes it closer to Ethan's face. "Do you see that Ethan? That's blood dripping on the floor from your very much alive dear Uncle Michael. Now since I have missed countless birthdays, Christmases, graduations I will give you a gift to make up for all of that. The gift of exacting revenge on all your enemies leaving destruction, mayhem, pain, anguish, and all the fun things you don't learn at Oxford." Ethan looks up with surprise. "Yes I have been keeping a very close eye on you. Good choices until you decided to come to this hick town and shack up with Kendall Hart. What the hell were you thinking?"
Ethan says "I loved her and I made one mistake and she marries Zach." Michael smirks and says "Ahh… my dear old brother. Here I thought I was rid of him but no he truly is a Cambias not willing to go into that gentle night quietly and my beautiful fiery Kendall so strong that none of the Cambias boys can hold on to her except for Zach that is. Do you know that I think under different circumstances my father, your grandfather, would have probably approved of Kendall? But of course things change and I am here to make that bitch pay for messing with me." Ethan sits on the couch trying to process all that is laid in front of him and says "Aren't we skipping a step here how were you able to survive? I mean Bianca shot you. You died. Hell they even exhumed your body and buried you at the dump." Michael wickedly laughs and says "Let me tell you a fairy tale Ethan. Once upon a time there was a royal family by the name of Cambias. This family had power and all the wealth of the land but people believed that there was a curse that followed them. Everyone believed that the curse was their power and wealth and that it would corrupt all that it touched. The king disregarded this abomination and molded his sons in his image. When it came time to decide who would rule once his reign of terror was up the King decided his oldest son would be the one next to grace his coveted throne. The youngest decided that he would rid himself of the oldest so he could assume power. So the youngest son went to his weak mother and convinced her that the only way to save them was to fake their deaths and only then will they be free of the Cambias curse. He persuaded her that was the only way to free her sons of this alleged curse so she went to her oldest son and told him of her plans. Being the weakling that he was he readily agreed and came into the bedroom of the youngest son and told him of his plans to get them both out. The youngest son agreed with his brother said that he would leave with him. On that ill fated night the oldest son waited for his youngest brother but to his utter dismay he never showed up his mother persuaded him to go ahead and that she would make alternate plans for her youngest. Once the King found about the death of his beloved son he chose the youngest to take his place at his side. The Queen realized that she was too late she couldn't save her youngest so she took her life."
Ethan looks at Michael and says "What the hell is that supposed to do with anything I knew all that already." Michael stands up towering over Ethan and says "Did I sound like I was finished. Really and I thought the English had impeccable manners. The youngest prince moved to Pine Valley to further is empire and met lovely princess named Kendall. He fell in lust with her immediately and used her to get all that his black heart desired. Unfortunately the prince didn't count on this one having spirit. She had a fire burning so hot that he wasn't prepared for the heat. Before he could break her she was the one who broke him taking all that was his. So he took something from her that she could never get back. Bianca. That night Bianca shot me I was wearing a bullet proof vest that had packets of blood sewn into the vest so when the bullet made impact it burst the packet and viola. Michael Cambias ceased to exist." Ethan tries to take this all in and asks "But Kendall put you in that freezer; they buried you, exhumed you, and then reburied you at the dump who was that?" "That," Michael states, "was my evil twin brother. Come on Ethan think. That was just some John Doe that I picked up at the morgue. You will be surprised what a couple of million could buy you. Although my little Kendall did surprise me pretending we were married and pregnant so she could get her hands on my millions. I have to hand it to her she was always very clever. But the time has come for Kendall Hart to feel vengeance dealt by the hand of a Cambias."
Michael walks over to Ethan and pulls him to his feet. Michael helps Ethan put his jacket on and fixes his tie. "Now Ethan I want you to follow my instructions to the letter do you hear me. Go home, sober up, clean yourself up and I want you to sign that contract giving Zach power over Cambias Inc." Ethan is about to protest but Michael tightens his tie so he is choking and continues "They are celebrating what they think is your demise so they will be caught off guard. I want you to go over there apologetic as hell and hand the contract to Kendall you heard that I want you to hand it to Kendall and Kendall only." Michael pulls his cell phone out and says "Bring the car up front I want you to take Ethan Cambias home." Ethan turns to his uncle and says "Well what are you going to do.?" Michael closes his eyes and a very vindictive smile emerges on his face he turns to Ethan and says "I'm going to go see my ex-wife."
Zach and Kendall are still in each other's arms enjoying the sunset when Zach turns her around and says "I have an idea. You stand here. Don't move." Zach walks out of the courtyard waits a few seconds then walks over to Kendall. He stretches his hand out and says "I'm sorry miss but I don't think we've met. My name is Zach Slater and I think I am your new neighbor and you are?" Kendall looks at him like he has lost his mind she raises her eyebrows at him and says "What the hell do you think you are doing Zach?" Zach takes her hand into his and says "Listen I want us to start fresh with nothing dark looming over us. No Ethan. No Maria. Only us and no one else. I don't want this to start like some Greek tragedy where you fall in love with your ex-lover's father. I want us to start from the beginning as if the past has never happened." Kendall smiles at him and stretches her hand out and says "I'm sorry I didn't mean to be so rude new neighbors always throw me off. My name is Kendall Hart and yes it appears that I am your new neighbor." Zach grins at her and asks "Well Ms. Hart I was wondering if you were free tonight because there is a celebration of sorts at my casino and I would like the pleasure of your company." Kendall coyly turns to him and says "Well Mr. Slater I had no idea you owned a casino I have to admit that is a very big turn on for me. Yes I would love to join you please pick me up here at 8pm." With that she pivots on her heel and opens the door to her condo and closes it behind her before Zach could say another word. Zach stares at her closed door and laughs to himself before going into his condo.
Kendall decides to take a long warm bubble bath to help relax her stressed out muscles and her weary mind. She drifts to sleep quickly and sees herself standing in a dark room. Kendall walks around and sees Ethan standing with his back to her. She walks over to him and says "Ethan I never meant to hurt you. I loved you but you betrayed me." She tries to walk around to face him but once again she is faced with only his back. She screams "Why won't you talk to me!" Ethan's voice sounds as if it is coming from afar "My dear Kendall you always say that don't you? I never meant to hurt you but yet you do don't you? You hurt every man that has ever said they loved you. Del, Ryan, me and so forth now you say you love Zach! What makes him different from the rest of us?" Kendall exclaims "Zach is different. I know now that love doesn't always have to be hard and end in pain. He makes me feel like a real woman and I know that I could trust him. You swore on our love but Zach doesn't have to do that I trust him completely." Ethan laughs "Really Kendall this time it's different you say. It's always different but you need to watch out with us Cambias boys because once we have Kendall Kane Hart we can never go back." Kendall grabs his arm and spins Ethan around but he turns to Michael. She screams and wakes up in the tub. Kendall looks around and realizes that it was just a dream. She reaches for her robe and tries to collect herself. Sitting on the edge to the bathtub Kendall tells herself over and over again it was just a dream.
She walks over to the living room and pulls the curtain back looking at Zach's condo wishing he was there holding here keeping her safe like he said that he always would. "Great Kendall it hasn't been an hour before you left him and now you want to be near him all the time that doesn't sound desperate" she wonders out loud. Why now of all times is she having nightmares about Michael? She shakes it out and laughs to herself "Don't go losing it now girl you need to wow this guy so get it together and make yourself look fabulous." Kendall walks over to her closet and chooses a sexy red Versace number that Zach picked out himself. She smiles to herself remembering the day he brought it over.
Flashback
Zach hands Kendall a box and says "I thought this suited you. It'll make you look like liquid fire. No man will be able to resist."
She puts the dress on the colors enhancing her bright complexion and she understands now why Zach bought it for her she feels completely sexy wearing this dress that shimmers with her every movement. Kendall adorns her smooth neck with diamonds that were given by Erica at her wedding and grabs her strappy Manolo's and puts them on her feet. Zach knocks on her door at exactly 8pm. She opens the door and says "Right on time Mr. Slater and I would not expect less since you live so close." Zach is taken aback by Kendall's beauty. He just stares at her not speaking. "Well are you just going to stand there or are you going to say something." Zach steps forward and pulls Kendall into a long demanding kiss taking her breath away. He puts his forehead on hers and says "Something." Kendall laughs and pulls him into her arms kissing him once again making him wish they didn't have to go anywhere and just spend the night in each other's arms. Zach pulls away and tells her "No Ms. Hart this is our first date and I do expect that you would practice some restraint." Kendall playfully hits him and says "Really Mr. Slater then perhaps you should follow your own advice." Zach grabs her by the waist and draws her close and laughs "We better get going before I can't control myself anymore."
Zach and Kendall arrive at party that is almost in full swing. Everyone is there already and it looks like they were the last to arrive. Zach and Kendall enter the room laughing and in constant contact with each other as if they need to feel each other in order to breathe. "My goodness" exclaims Myrtle "aren't you two fashionably late why even Erica got here half an hour ago!" Kendall walks over to Myrtle and gives her a warm hug and kiss on the cheek. She steps back and takes the woman's hand into hers and says "Why Myrtle aren't you looking very lovely tonight." The woman pats Kendall's hand and retorts "I was going to say the same about you my dear. That dress is breathtaking." Zach comes around and says "It's my turn. How are you Myrtle?" Myrtle kisses him on the cheek and tells him "I'm fine you handsome devil I heard about your victory in court. Take a breather son because I believe the worst might be behind us now." Zach takes her hand and places on his arm and escorts her into the party. Myrtle notices the way Zach is looking at Kendall and says "My doesn't that dress makes Kendall look like fire on water. Lovely girl, my Kendall is, always troubled but that's part of her charm wouldn't you say so Mr. Slater? Her passion and that fire that burns in her is what draws strong men to their knees begging for the chance to bask in her presence." Zach responds "Yes Myrtle Kendall is like no other woman I have ever met in my life and probably my next 100 lives. She definitely keeps you on your toes always expecting the unexpected and that's what I love about her." Myrtle smiles and pats his cheek "I just wanted to hear you say it just once Zach" and walks over to say hello to Opal and Palmer.
Zach catches up with Kendall as they make the rounds around the room saying hello to everyone. The whole party is in great spirits and enjoying the food and music entranced by the host and hostess whose passion for each other was apparent. Bianca noticed it the moment they entered the room she has never seen Kendall so happy and Zach so content and relaxed. She pulled her sister aside while Zach was discussing the events with Greenlee and Ryan. Bianca pulls her to the bathroom and locks the door turns to her sister and says "Spill I want to know what is going on with you and Zach Slater." Kendall just smiles. "See that is what I am talking about Kendall. Every time someone says his name, you see him, or even when he just touches you lightly you blush like some school girl in love. Oh my God! You are in love with him aren't you?" Kendall takes her sister's hand into hers and says "Yes Bianca I am. This whole time I told myself that I was married to Zach because I needed him to protect me from love so I would never have my heart ripped out and torn to shreds but as the months have gone by its just……I can't even describe it. He makes me feel like I belong to him and him only and vice versa. He doesn't have to ask me to trust him I just do. Am I making any sense?" Bianca squeezes her hand "You are making perfect sense you're taking like a woman in love Kendall. I'm happy for you. Now mother on the other hand." Kendall stands up and starts to pace the floor "I know she will be our biggest obstacle but I think her and Jackson are starting to warm up to him. I mean they wouldn't be here or even be talking to him unless they were starting to understand him." Bianca stands up and hugs her sister "Even if they don't Kendall you, Miranda, and I will make them understand just what a wonderful man Zach Slater really is." Kendall hugs her sister closer to her and says "I knew that you would understand Binx you always did understand me. I'm glad that you are here." They unlock the bathroom and come face to face with some angry women waiting for the bathroom. They both look at each other and start to laugh. They go back to the party where Kendall looks around the room for her husband but then feels someone tapping her on her shoulder. She turns around and faces Ethan.