Chapter 11
'Roger That'
Simone and Ethan had made their way downstairs to the Pine Valley Hotel restaurant doors without incident but when they got stuck in the lobby, as the guard went into the restaurant to check for unwanted reporters, they couldn't help but notice all of the photographers that were just outside the Hotel's glass doors.
"Oh!" Simone whispered as she tried to keep the edge of her annoyance out of her voice, "I was hoping that they would have left to follow a real story by now. I mean, Come On! It isn't like this is real news. What do they think we're going to do anyway? Go at it in the lobby?"
"Just don't pay any attention to them." Ethan tried to reassure her. "As you so brilliantly pointed out this isn't real news. As long as we act normally the media will soon grow bored of us and move on to the next poor guy."
It was only a moment before the guard nodded to them that they were all clear to go into the restaurant but it felt like an hour as Simone tried hard not to look at the cameramen outside. She was sensitive to the fact that the room was strangely quiet as they entered but Ethan was distracted as soon as he spotted Zach and Kendall. Turning to Simone Ethan whispered, "Do you think you could get some time off from Fusion?"
"Well yes, I'm sure I can…" Simone whispered as she tried not to draw more attention to them. "How much time are you talking about?"
"Why don't you go and talk it over with Kendall?" Ethan asked. He was trying to calm Simone and without thinking about it his hand crept beneath her shirt as he softly caressed her back. Suddenly conscious of what he was doing he removed his hand but judging by the number of raised eyebrows, some of the patrons had noticed as well. Annoyed that they were being watched so closely he tried to get them to look away by returning their stares with a cold and level gaze but they simply continued to stare at them openly. Exhaling in mild frustration Ethan grimaced and turned his attention back to Simone. "Want me to walk you to her table?" Simone shook her head so he lightly kissed her brow before letting her go.
Ethan smiled as he watched her straighten her back and lift up her chin as she tried to look totally at ease as she strode to Kendall's table. Ethan knew she was nervous but she hid it well and he smiled as he admired her determination. Making eye contact with Zach Ethan inclined his head toward the corner as he moved to the end of the bar just as Simone made her way towards Kendall's table.
"Zach, where do you think you are going?" Kendall asked as Zach stood to leave the table.
"I have to speak with Ethan." Zach replied tossing his napkin onto the table.
"Oh why don't you just leave him alone?" Kendall caught his sleeve and tried to stop him.
"Ethan asked me for my help with something." Zach's face revealed nothing and that only piqued Kendall's irritation.
"He…" Kendall was incredulous as she unsuccessfully tried to suppress a snort. "He asked you? Zach, you aren't going anywhere until you tell me what this is all about."
"Later." Zach said pulling his arm loose so he could walk away, leaving Kendall glaring after him. As Kendall's gaze followed Zach she caught sight of Simone coming toward her. Kendall noticed that as Zach and Simone passed each other they barely nodded as a greeting. Kendall sighed as she pulled up a chair so Simone could sit next to her and Simone beamed at her.
"Hey Kendall." Simone whispered as she took her seat.
"Hey girl." There was a time that Kendall knew what it was like to be in a relationship that made her look that happy she reflected bitterly. Kendall had noticed the way that Ethan's gaze followed Simone as she walked over to her table. And while Kendall didn't begrudge Ethan and Simone their own chance at happiness watching them together only reminded her of what she could have had if she wasn't so self-destructive. Zach was right about that, they certainly had that in common. "You look…" Kendall greeted her and smiled uncomfortably, "you look…ummm… happy."
"Do I?" Simone brought her hand to her cheek and remembering the slight burn, Simone blushed. Simone read the expression on Kendall's face and politely changed the subject by asking. "So, do you know what Zach and Ethan talking about?"
"I don't have the slightest idea." Kendall tried to act disinterested but was failing miserably and she sighed, "I was hoping you could tell me. Zach said that Ethan asked him for help with something."
"Ethan asked Zach?" Simone asked eyes wide.
"Well that's what Zach said." Kendall shrugged. "And it looks like Zach was telling the truth for a change." Both girls paused to look at Ethan and Zach at the bar. Neither man was looking at the other as they spoke. They didn't seem angry but their conversation seemed intense with Ethan nodding as Zach spoke. Turning away and changing the subject Kendall sighed, "So how are you doing really?"
Simone laughed shakily not wanting to talk about Greenlee and Dani's phone calls or how happy Ethan has made her. Simone once again tried to change the subject and taking a good look at her friend she cocked an eyebrow and asked, "Kendall, dinner with Zach?"
Kendall shrugged but her face gave away nothing. "Its just dinner."
"Well what about Ryan?" Simone whispered. "What is he doing?"
"I imagine he's having dinner somewhere else, maybe even with someone else." Kendall shrugged.
"And you're fine with that?" Simone asked as she tried to read Kendall's blank expression.
"Well Ryan has to eat too." Kendall was trying hard to act disinterested but she was failing badly.
"Ok…fine…" Simone was a bit annoyed by Kendall's attitude but Simone couldn't force Kendall to share, she never could. "Kendall…what are you going to do?"
"I don't plan on doing anything. Ryan and I are friends. Zach and I are friends. Nothing could be simpler."
"Kendall I've never known your life to be simple." Simone didn't know what else to say. Sighing she placed a hand on Kendall's arm, "I know that we've had our arguments and we haven't always gotten along but after everything that has happened I'd like to think that we're friends again."
"Of course. But I'm fine. I couldn't be better." Kendall answered blankly. She watched the men for a few moments before turning back to Simone, "But right now I think you're the one having problems."
Unsure Simone grimaced, "I hate to do this right now but I need sometime off. I know this is last minute but if you cover for me now and I'll pick up the slack later when you need me."
"How much time do you need?"
"How much time can you guys do without me?"
"Truth is I couldn't stop you from taking as much time as you want but we're really going to need you. A week, a week and a half maybe? I'd say two but you know how it is with the Holiday push. None of us are going to be able to get away soon. Everything looks good now until we hit a snag. But you spend more time at the office than I do so you know better than anyone." Kendall spoke distractedly while watching Zach and Ethan talking, "A week and a half…where are you going anyway?"
"I don't know anything yet. I'll let you know when I find out." Simone sighed looking over her shoulder at Zach and Ethan, "What the hell could they be talking about?" Kendall and Simone looked at each other open mouthed and gasped as Zach gave Ethan one of those odd shoulder squeezes. "Oh my God! What was that?"
"You saw it too? That weird man hug thing?" Kendall asked unsure of what she saw.
"Yep…that's what I saw. Hmm…" Simone whispered stunned that Ethan didn't flinch or pull away. After the moment it took to wrap her mind around the image Simone jumped from her seat, "Kendall it looks like they are done. I'll touch base with you later."
"You better. I want details." Kendall said to Simone before she rushed from the table to talk to Ethan.
Simone reached Ethan just as the waitress came up beside them to show them to their table. Pretending to be looking in the menu Simone asked, "Would you care to tell me what that was all about?"
"I asked Zach to look into Lauren Clark."
"Well why didn't you just ask me? I would have been happy to tell you why Lauren Clark has it in for me." Simone was irritated that they would dig into her past.
"You can tell me if you want to, but it isn't really relevant to what I'm asking Zach for help with." Noticing her annoyance Ethan paused and shook his head and added softly, "Look at me Simone." Ethan tried to catch her eye. "I'm not asking Zach to pry into your personal life. That isn't what I wanted Zach to look into." Ethan reached across the table and took Simone by the hand.
They had to halt their conversation briefly to give the waitress their order before Ethan could continue, "Zach told me that there were three very large cash deposits made to an off shore bank account in Lauren Clark's name. The first was made shortly after the incident in the park and before the pictures hit the net and the news. The second was just after the scene in my office and the third was made this morning. So you see you shouldn't think this wasn't your fault. It's obvious that someone has been paying Clark to go after me through you and for that I'm very sorry. And Simone you should know that she isn't going to get away with this."
"Oh! I know! Greenlee and I have a plan." Simone smiled.
"I overheard." Ethan laughed, "But I'd rather you leave this to me if you don't mind. I hate to spoil your fun but I promise you I'll make her sorry. My way and neither of us end up in jail. And after all it is my fault that this has happened."
"Well this wasn't your fault either." Simone sighed, "So I guess Lauren's raging hatred for me was just a bonus." Simone frowned. "I tell you what. I'm buying six-dozen eggs tomorrow. They'll take at least a month in the right temp to rot. If you don't get Lauren before then, Greenlee and I won't…. Ok, maybe we'll get her anyway."
"Simone…" Ethan began his voice wary.
"I'm just joking." Simone grinned and while trying not to catch Ethan's eye she whispered softly, "I think."
"I think you're looking forward to getting arrested again." Ethan remarked accusingly.
"Who me?" Simone said innocently and trying to change the subject she went on to quickly add, "So! Tell me what else Zach had to say."
Ethan looked at Simone well aware she was trying to change the subject but he allowed the matter to drop. He had a month to take care of things and hopefully he could make Lauren pay enough to satisfy Simone. "Well, he suspects that there's something more to come. Which leads me to my next question." Still holding her hand Ethan asked, "Are you going to be able to get away from Fusion?"
"For week, a week and a half maybe. Why? What do you have in mind?"
"I want to get away from everything until Zach and Harold can flush out whoever is behind all this. We can go anywhere you like, but how do you feel about taking the Cambias yacht out?"
"Well, it's pointless to keep this up if someone is behind Lauren's attempts to go after me…you…us." Keenly aware that there were people staring at them Simone wrinkled her nose and whispered to Ethan, "I know that I complained about hiding out earlier but this is a bit awkward. I wanted to stay and fight but if someone is paying Lauren to stir up trouble maybe taking some time off wouldn't be such a bad idea. Besides, I can't say that I would really mind running away with you." Simone grinned, "OK. Lets do it." Ethan grinned back and gave her hand a soft squeeze before he released her hand. Simone couldn't help but wonder, "Does Zach have any idea who is paying Lauren?"
"He has a couple of ideas but nothing concrete yet. That's what I'm hoping Zach or Harold can come up with while we're away. I'm sorry I can't tell you more." Ethan reached over to softly cradle her face. Tracing his fingers over the marks on her neck and the slight burn on her cheeks Ethan sighed, "And I'm a bit sorry about that."
"Only a bit?" Simone asked.
"Well yes. Only a bit, but you bit me too." Laughing softly Ethan released her face and reached to touch her knee, Simone grasped his hand in hers and held it there. Gathering his thoughts Ethan continued, "I'm going to have to go into the office tomorrow. I have a lot to do before we can get away. But I don't care what it takes I want to leave no later than the day after tomorrow so you'll have about a day and a half to…."
Ethan paused mid-sentence as they watched an older woman going up to their waitress. The entire restaurant couldn't help but overhear the woman as she turned to point at them and angrily complain that if they were going to continue to grope each other they should have to leave the restaurant. Ethan took a deep breath and held it for a moment before releasing it slowly. Then he sat back and closed his eyes as the waitress timidly approached them.
"I'm sorry Mis…" She began her voice soft and apologetic.
"Oh bloody hell! I was only holding her hand! Please just tell that woman that I am not going to bloody roger her on the restaurant table!" Ethan hollered throwing down his napkin as he struggled to stand.
"I'm sorry Miss but we're out of swordfish." The waitress continued in a rush glancing at Ethan in fear and confusion, "The chef would like to substitute the Mahi-Tuna if that would be acceptable."
Chapter 12