Casey straightened his tie in the mirror, on the third try he liked what he saw enough to leave it. He finished his coffee and left his cup in the sink.

"If I did know better, I'd be jealous." Heather teased as she threw her wetsuit over her shoulder and headed for the door. "You've never gone to that much trouble for me."

Jogging to catch up to her, Casey grinned. "Just because the only suit you've ever asked me to put on is one of these-" He grabbed the sleeve of her suit and used it as a puppet.

"I don't need a tie. I'm the best kind of suit there is because you don't need to look professional or worry about what Casey's mother thinks when he puts it on." The wetsuit explained in a high-pitched voice.

Heather played along, taking the other sleeve and giving it a gruff voice. "Casey's mother would be proud of him no matter what he wore. I think he's concerned about blending in with the country-club set."

Addressing the wetsuit, Casey nodded with a nervous smile. "It's my first real job. One where I get to wear a shirt, let alone a jacket and tie."

Laughing, Heather kissed him lightly before heading down the steps of Surf Central. "I'm sure you'll be great."

She headed down the beach to the boat from the Oceanographic Institute that was waiting for her. "See you at dinner."

"See you."

The Liberty security guard met him at the front desk. "Mr. Richards has a few details I need to go over with you sir, if you'll come with me."

Feeling rather like a secret agent, Casey followed him downstairs to the security headquarters. First he was finger-printed, photographed and voice-identified. He wrote his name five times for the signature recognition software. Then he copied the FBI's handwriting analysis paragraph twice. The guard fed his information into the fax machine, and waited for the ID badge and keyguard to print out.

"This is your identification card, you'll need it to get in and out of the building before and after business hours." Holding up it, he showed Casey the picture he had just taken on the front. "The strip on the back will get you into the fifth floor offices, the board room and records room. You have access to the company cars, private lot and limosuine service. Mr. Richards has requested that you be given a personal car immediately, I'll need to copy your driver's license."

Casey opened his wallet and handed it over. "What kind of car do I get?"

The guard, whose nametag read Peter Halloran, smiled easily. "Mr. Richards must be fond of you. You can choose between the standard Mercedes C-class or the Jaguar he drove until last year."

Casey whistled as pictures and keys for both cars emerged from the folder at his fingertips. "I don't make that much in a year."

Halloran handed back his driver's license with a wink. "You're just beneath board-level employee. You do now." He turned the pictures of the cars back towards him. "Personally, I'd go for the Jaguar. Mr. Richards is nothing but particular when it comes to his things. It'll probably run like a dream."

Car keys in one pocket, and his new ID in the other, Casey headed up to the elevator. He couldn't help feeling like an imposter in his business suit. Online law school was a far cry from working for the handful of people who owned Sunset Beach. He knocked on the door and waited, expecting Olivia to buzz him in.

She surprised him when she opened the door herself and ushered him in. "Good morning. Did you survive Gregory's security?"

"Are we doing some work for the NSA or something I don't know about?" He asked as he held up the ink on his fingertips. "You're going to tell me you're a double agent for MI-6 and your entire life is a deep-cover set up."

Olivia looked at him thoughtfully as she circled back behind her desk. "I must be talented to stay undercover for twenty years." She raised an eyebrow. "MI-6?"

Humming the James Bond theme jogged her memory and Casey watched her lips curl into a smile. "I'll bet it's a deep cover assignment to protect Gregory- he's some lost heir and your marriage is a facade to keep him out of danger." He adjusted his tie again taking the offered chair by the corner of her desk.

"You are your mother's son aren't you?" Olivia teased as she reached into the drawer of her desk. "You make my life sound so much more exciting then it is."

"Considering I had to go through the third degree just to be your assistant, I'd say your life is pretty exciting Mrs. Richards." Casey folded his hands in his lap, trying to look comfortable.

Her smile faded suddenly and Olivia looked away for a moment before forcing it back. "Gregory just increased security this week. It's been a little hectic for everyone."

"Why the upgrades?" He looked so honest as he studied her face. There was so much of Alex's good nature in his eyes.

Olivia swallowed, feeling slightly nauseous thinking about why Gregory was suddenly more overprotective then usual. "Someone broke into our house, on Saturday. He came into my room while I was sleeping."

Casey sat up quickly at attention. "Are you all right?"

She sighed, her shoulders slumping in exhaustion. "Yes- yes, I'm fine. Gregory and the police are just a little concerned."

"Was he looking for something in particular?"

"We don't know." Her half-smile wasn't at all convincing. "Gregory just likes to know I'm safe."

Casey watched Olivia retrieve her briefcase from the floor by her desk. As always, his mother was dead on in her character appraisals. Mrs. Richards was sweet, gentle but independent in a deceptive sort of way.

"Did Halloran give you a car?" She tucked her hands around the handle of her briefcase.

He nodded and pulled the keys from his pocket. "Yeah, but I haven't looked at it yet."

She reached for the keys, looking over brass keychain. "Gregory's old car. He was fond of it until he decided he wanted the convertible." Olivia took a conspiratorial tone as she handed back the keys. "Mid-life crisis."

Trying to picture Gregory Richards' mid-life crisis, Casey followed her to the elevator. "Where are we going?"

"KJSR." She tapped her fingers on the handle of her briefcase as the elevator started to move. "I have to do a call-in spot about the hospital project."

"Sounds like fun." Casey offered cheerfully. "I've always wanted to go behind the scenes at the radio station."

"Do your homework on the university and I'll let you do the next one." Her offer was genuine and Olivia found the surprise on his face amusing. "Radio's easy, you just put on the headphones and talk into the microphone. Trust me, you'll be brilliant in no time."

She led the way through the Liberty parking garage beneath the building, remembering exactly where Gregory kept the cars he liked. She didn't have the heart to tell Casey about the memories associated with the green Jaguar. He didn't need to know.

Gregory was waiting for them, leaning against the side of the car with a patient expression. "I see you remembered where to find it."

Her face lit up when she saw him. "Darling- I thought you were still on the phone."

Not even noticing Casey was there, Gregory wrapped his arms around her back. Resting his head on her shoulder, he breathed in the scent of her hair. "I decided to call them back."

Olivia nearly dropped her briefcase when he started kissing her. "Gregory-" She protested weakly as she pulled way. "You're being rude to my new assistant."

Without letting her go, he turned to Casey with an apologetic smile. "I didn't mean to be rude. I'm just having a little trouble saying goodbye to my wife. If you'd give us a moment-"

Casey covered his amusement very professionally. "You know, now that I think about it Mrs. Richards, I forgot my- uh- pen- in the security office. I'll just run in and get it."

"All right." Her briefcase hit the pavement with a soft thump as she wrapped her arms around Gregory's neck. "I'll just wait here..."

Running a finger over the collar of her shirt, Gregory made her breath catch in her throat. His touch was always electric. "Do you like him?"

Olivia nodded, closing her eyes as he ran his hands over her jacket, his thumbs catching just above her hips. "He's definitely Alex's son." Giggling softly as he slipped one hand beneath her jacket and stroked the skin of her back through her blouse. "Remind me to tell you about my life as a secret agent."

"Secret agent?" Gregory found the spot on her neck that sent chills racing up her spine with his lips. "Sounds exciting."

Leaning against him, she shuddered. "I don't know if I want anything else exciting."

"When Roger and the boys get home tonight, we'll have a nice quiet dinner and go to bed." Running his hand through her hair made his jaw clench when he thought about the missing curl. "A nice dull evening at home."

"Really dull?"

"Terribly dull." He agreed as he worried about the darkness in the circles beneath her eyes. "Even boring. So uneventful you won't even remember it."

He'd become so transparent with concern that she could read it in his face. "I'll see you for lunch darling."

"I know." Gregory replied and anticipated her next thought. "And I know you'll be all right until then."

"But- you haven't let me out of your sight since Sunday." She pointed out coyly. "At some point I have to spend some time on my own."

"I'm not sure if I'm ready for that."

Olivia stood on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. "I'll be back in two hours. Casey will keep an eye on me."

"You just take care of yourself." He ordered as he fidgeted with her jacket. "You look tired."

"Well that's a lovely thing to say." She teased him, annoyed that he had noticed. "You look wonderful today too darling."

Casey tucked his pen into suit jacket and cleared his throat. "Sorry about that Mrs. Richards. I don't know how I could be so careless."

"It's perfectly all right Casey." Olivia assured him as Gregory bent down to pick up her briefcase. "Gregory was just going upstairs to call the construction company back. Now that he's done being over-protective."

Gregory gave her a patronizing look. "I'll see you for lunch." He brushed her cheek gently. "Have a good day."

"I'll try."

Olivia watched as Gregory paused to address Casey. "The green car was a excellent choice. She was good to me."

"Thanks." Casey answered sheepishly as Gregory continued walking away.

Walking the radio station with Olivia Richards was like walking down main street with the Mayor. People looked at her and respectfully looked away before continuing to watch her when they thought she had already passed them by. "Different when you're with the boss isn't it?" She whispered as they entered the studio.

Casey nodded, pretty excited to be meeting the hosts he listened to on the news every morning. Olivia looked up at the clock, "I'm going to be on for an hour. You can stay and watch, or get a tour of the station, whatever you like."

"I think I'd like to stay. If that's all right with the producer."

The producer nodded as she handed Olivia the headphones for the booth. "Sure, call-ins usually do pretty well this time of day. Should be fun." Casey pulled up a stool and watched as the board came online. The countdown next to on air sign lit up.

The producer pulled on her own set of headphones and counted down on her fingers for Olivia. "We're live on 'Talk of the Beach' with Olivia Richards, the new public face of the Liberty Corporation. We'll be taking your calls all hour if you have anything to ask-"

In his hotel room in Monte Carlo, Cole picked up the phone. He checked his watch and did the calculations for California time. 10:45am in Sunset Beach. The last quarter of Olivia's hour on-air. He waited for his call to bounce all the way to Sunset Beach.

The switchboard put him through-

"And we have time for one last caller. You're on KJSR with Olivia Richards-" The producer announced.

Cole smiled and pictured Olivia as he had last seen her. Her eyes bright with terror as his hands tightened on her throat. "Hello Olivia."

"You just made it. What's your question?" That same unfailing politeness that had made her dance with him at the charity ball was clear over the phone.

"I don't have a question." Cole paused, enjoying the tension in the silence. "I have a message for your husband."

The producer held up her hand to cut him off as a crank, but Olivia shook her head. She knew this voice from somewhere. She had to hear what he was going to say. "What's the message?"

"He's been taking too long to make his descision. He recieved a letter this morning. If the Deschanel jewels aren't where it asks by sunset tomorrow- You'll be dead."

"And he'll have no one to blame but himself."