Disclaimer: see chapter 1
They were all frozen, unable to move. Erica stared at Michael through her hands which were covering her face. Michael took a step toward her, holding out his hand. "Now, Erica is that any way to say…"
Zach shot out of his chair and quickly stepped between Erica and Michael. They stared at each other for a moment before Zach grabbed his arm, pulling him roughly through the house, away from his family.
"Kendall…" Jackson whispered across the table. She looked up at him, stunned and pale, unable to comprehend what just happened. They looked over at Erica, who still had her face covered with her hands, shaking. Kendall took a deep breath and pushed herself away from the table. "Mother" she said gently, grabbing Erica's arms, pulling her hands away from her face. Erica seemed to be staring straight through her, just shaking her head, whispering "it's not possible" over and over again.
"Mother, please" Kendall choked out, tears forming in her eyes. Erica seemed to snap out of it in that moment. She grabbed Kendall and pulled her in for a fierce hug. "Kendall, what is going on? How is it possible that… that man is…" Kendall pulled back and smiled sadly at her mother.
"That's why we insisted you two come over for dinner tonight. We wanted to tell you before… well, before something like that happened. Let's sit back down and I'll tell you two everything."
Kendall led Erica back to the table. As she sat down, Erica whispered Bianca's name. "Mother, I called her before you two got here. Just let me explain what's going on and then we'll call her back, alright?" Erica looked at her eldest daughter, struggling to keep it together. She nodded and Kendall collapsed back into her chair, taking a deep breath before launching into the story.
Zach shoved Michael out the door, causing him to lose his footing and fall down on the porch. Michael glared at his brother before pushing himself off the ground, dusting himself off. Zach pulled the door closed behind him and leaned against it, providing a barrier between Kendall and his brother.
"What the hell do you think you are doing here?" Zach demanded.
Michael just shrugged, leaning back against the porch rail. "What? I heard there was a dinner party and I just thought…"
"Cut the BS, Michael. You just had to rattle Erica's cage, didn't you. You just couldn't leave well enough alone, could you?"
"Oh, spare me brother. All of a sudden you and Erica are best friends, looking out for each other."
"Not even close, Michael, but she is my mother-in-law, she is family and Kendall loves her very much, which means that…"
Michael groaned, rolling his eyes at Zach. "Blah, blah, blah… I'm the hero… blah, blah… for the love of family… blah, blah, blah" he said, waving his hands around, pacing back and forth in front of Zach. "Spare me the holier than thou crap, brother. I'm the one who invented it, remember?"
"What are you doing here, Michael?"
Michael just smirked at Zach, shrugging his shoulders. "Well, I thought I would eat a little chicken, drink a little wine, partake in some stimulating conversation…" Michael just shook his head at his brother, who was glaring at him. "Good lord, Alex, our little swamp girl sure has sucked the fun right out of you."
"Just tell me what the hell you want, Michael" Zach roared, pushing himself away from the door, standing toe to toe with his younger brother.
"You mean you don't know?"
"Jesus, Michael, if I knew, I swear, I wouldn't be asking, so just spit it out!"
"Fine" he said, resuming his original position against the rail "I want things the way they should be."
Zach just shook his head. "I have no idea what that means."
"Oh, c'mon Alex, I can be quite predictable at times."
Zach closed his eyes and sighed. "You want Cambias back" he said in a resigned manner. Zach opened his eyes to see Michael smiling at him, nodding.
"Yes. I want Cambias back in the family. One of us should be running it, Alex, not some sorry ass half-breed. And since I'm assuming you still aren't interested, then I guess the power… I'm sorry, I mean the responsibility… falls to me."
Zach leaned back against the door, letting out the breath he didn't know he had been holding. "Fine. Fine, I'll talk to Ethan first thing in the morning and get something worked out if you just stay the hell away from my family."
"But, Alex, it's my family too!" Michael said sarcastically. "And speaking of family, I want to see Miranda."
Zach immediately stiffened, thinking back to Bianca on the phone a few hours ago, scared for her daughter. "No way in hell, Michael. It's not going to happen. I will do what you want, I'll get you Cambias back, but you can't go near any member of this family, including Bianca and Miranda. That's the deal."
Michael shrugged. "Fine, for now. Just talk to that British wannabe and get it done." He dropped a business card in front of Zach's feet and turned on his heel. Zach watched Michael walk down the steps and drive away. Zach finally moved when he heard Michael make the turn away from the house. He picked up the card and slipped it into his pocket. He then slid back in the door and rested his forehead against the wood.
"Zach?" He turned to find Kendall staring at him, fear in her eyes. "He's gone, for now" he whispered, holding his arms out to her. She ran over to him and launched herself into his arms, holding on to him tightly.
"What does he want?" she whispered in his ear.
"Cambias" he replied, kissing her lightly on the cheek. "I need to talk to Ethan."
"What are you going to do?"
"I'm not sure yet – that's why I need to talk to Ethan. Is Erica alright?"
Kendall pulled back and nodded. "She's talking to Bianca right now. That seems to have calmed her down a bit."
Zach nodded and kissed her lightly on the lips before threading his fingers through hers, pulling her back into the kitchen.
It was barely dawn as Zach entered the Cambias offices. Ethan was already waiting on him, reading over a file. Zach sat down across from Ethan, who handed him a copy of what he was reading. As Zach scanned the document, he started to smile. He looked up at Ethan, who was also grinning.
"Seems Michael wasn't as careful as he thought he was."
Zach just nodded. "No, but then anonymity was never Michael's strong suit."
Ethan leaned forward, resting his arms on the desk. "Now what?" Zach looked at the file one more time before closing it. "Well, here's what I'm thinking."
Three hours later, Zach and Ethan set the plan in motion. Zach picked up Ethan's phone, dialing the number that Michael had left for him. He picked up immediately.
"Zach?"
"Yeah, Michael, it's me. It's done. You're back, but only as President. The only way Ethan would let this happen now as if he stayed on as CEO, but he works for you now. He's setting up a press conference for tomorrow, at about 10. Be here by 9 so that you and Ethan can get everything worked out."
Michael didn't respond, he just hung up the phone. Zach smirked at the receiver, hanging it back up. Ethan looked at him. "So, he doesn't know that…"
"The good thing about Michael is that he's got an ego the size of Texas. He thinks he's smarter than everyone and that no one would dare cross him." Ethan just nodded. "OK, then. Well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow." Zach just nodded and headed out, hoping that Michael would keep a low profile until the next day.
Kendall was walking out of Lacy's after a meeting, talking to Simone on her phone about the latest promotions. She quickly finished the call and dropped her phone into her purse, walking toward her car.
"So, how's your day?" Kendall spun around and saw Michael leaning against a car, smirking at her.
"Zach said you had to stay the hell away from me, from us, if you wanted Cambias back."
"Yeah, my brother, always playing up this anti-hero shtick. He always thought he had a way with the ladies. He's a little sappy, for my taste."
Kendall glared at him, crossing her arms over her chest. "Yeah, you're more of a force and lies kind of guy, aren't you?"
"Now, now, Kendall. After all we've been through… well, you really should treat family better than that."
"GO TO HELL MICHAEL" she roared.
"Well, not quite yet, but I would imagine eventually… see you soon, Mrs. Cambias" he said, smirking as he pushed himself off the car. She could only stare as he walked away from her, whistling the whole time, walking like he didn't have a care in the world.
TBC….