Disclaimer: see chapter 1

The three of them spent the next two days getting everything worked out. Zach felt awful about keeping Kendall out of the loop, but he knew that Ryan was watching her and he couldn't risk this being blown open before they had a chance to bring him down. He hated avoiding her calls and not answering his cell, especially after the amazing night they had spent together, talking through everything that had happened.

Because of the sheer interest in this meeting, Zach had convinced Ryan to have the meeting at the casino in their large conference room. Ryan, being the egomaniac that Zach knew he was, immediately agreed when Zach said that the media would be present. Thinking that he would get to humiliate Zach one more time in front of most of the world made Ryan giddy.

Ryan strolled in and stopped halfway into the room, allowing the photographers to take his picture while he stared down Zach, who was standing up in front of the shareholders, getting things organized. Zach glanced up at him and did his best to fight back the smirk that was dying to break out on his face. Ryan walked up and stood next to Zach.

"Ladies and Gentlemen…" Zach said as the crowd quieted. Most everyone had been shocked that Zach had finally given into to Ryan Lavery's demands, including most of the board, who were far from being Lavery fans. "If we could get started… Ryan, if you would like to make your pitch first…" Ryan nodded at the crowd as he paused in front of the podium.

Zach just sat back and listened as Ryan went on and on about Alexander's wishes for him to run Cambias Industries and how Ethan had hand picked him to be his second in command.

"Zach Slater has too much going on to give Cambias Industries its proper attention. The only thing I can see to do is for Zach to either give up control willing or for the shareholders to oust him from power and reinstate me immediately."

Ryan stepped back and sneered at Zach, thinking he had won. Zach sighed and pushed himself out of his chair. He leaned into the podium and looked over at Ryan. "He is right about one thing – I am stretched thin, but I'll be damned if I am going to willing hand over Cambias Industries to a criminal." The crowd started to murmur as Elizabeth made her way through the crowd with a box in her hands. She passed out copies of the same file to all of the shareholders and board members. She quickly made her way to the stage, pulling one last file out of the box, handing it to Ryan and smiling the entire time. Ryan flipped through the file and saw that he was sunk. He looked over the shareholders, seeing that they were finally realizing what he had been up to for the last few months.

Zach tore his eyes away from Ryan and turned his attention to the crowd. "For those of you who didn't receive a copy of the file, what it basically boils down to is that Ryan Lavery has been embezzling money for the moment he returned to power. He did it the last time he was in charge, right after my father died and he immediately started up again after my son named him as president of Cambias Industries. In all, I would say that Ryan Lavery managed to embezzle at least 3 million dollars during his time at Cambias."

The crowd erupted – reporters were shouting questions at Zach and Ryan, shareholders were demanding answers from the board members, while the board members yelled for someone to call the police immediately.

Ryan stormed up to Zach. "Where the hell did you get this information from?" he screamed, forgetting about the open microphone.

"From me" Ryan heard from behind Zach. The room quieted as Zach stepped back and Ryan came face to face with Leo DuPres. Kendall had been watching all of this from the back of the room and had to grab onto Babe and Simone when Leo entered the room.

"Oh my god…" Ryan said, shocked at seeing the man who was standing in front of him. Leo walked up the microphone and introduced himself. He launched into his story, the same story that he had told Zach a few days before.

"… and I just thought you all should know who the real Ryan Lavery is. He is nothing but a con-artist who will run Cambias Industries into the ground and walk with all the money before anyone realized what happened." Leo turned and walked over to Ryan, standing toe to toe with him. Ryan couldn't believe what was happening.

"But, Leo, why would you…"

Leo shoved Ryan, causing him to stumble back. "You don't get to screw with lives and get away with it. You don't get to play God and not have to pay for your crimes. You don't get to screw over the love of my life and live happily ever after." Leo could only grin as Derek Frye walked up behind Ryan and arrested him. The crowd quieted as Ryan was escorted through the room.

"He was right about one thing" one of the shareholders yelled from the front row. "Mr. Slater, you are too busy to give Cambias the attention it deserves. What are your plans now?"

Zach looked over at Leo and Elizabeth, who both nodded. "I don't want Cambias, not the day to day stuff. I never did. I've decided that I need someone I trust to run the company my father founded, the company that my son loved. I feel that Leo DuPres is that man – he'll be my proxy and is to immediately take over the day to day operations as President of Cambias Industries." The room erupted as light bulbs flashed and people screamed questions. Leo made his way back to the podium and started to answer questions as Zach slipped out the door, Kendall watching his every move.

Zach threw open the door to his office, let out a long breath. Saying those words, giving up the day to day operations of Cambias – it felt like the weight of the world had been lifted off his shoulders.

"You didn't tell me." Zach turned quickly to see Kendall standing in his door, staring at him with wide eyes.

"I didn't tell anyone, Kendall. I couldn't risk Lavery finding out what we had planned. Hell, today is the first time Leo has been out of his room since he came to town."

Kendall looked down at her shoes, trying to keep her emotions in check, but knowing it was futile as she looked back up at him. "So, is this how it's going to be – you cutting me out of your life."

Zach smiled at her, smiling brightly for the first time since before the Mardi Gras ball. "Not if you still want me, cause I swear to you Kendall, the Cambias curse and all the crap that comes with it stops here and now." Kendall smiled brightly at him and he was lost to her.

He dragged her out of the doorway, slamming it and pushing her against it, crushing his mouth to hers. He had missed kissing her and he had time to make up for. He plundered her mouth with his tongue, running his hands up and down her sides as she moaned and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. He ripped his lips off hers and trailed hot kisses down her neck, running his tongue along her shoulder, pushing the strap of her dress off her shoulder.

Kendall didn't know it was possible to miss a man as much as she had missed Zach over the last few weeks. She had been so mad about the blackout, but she loved him too much to let him go. She knew they had a lot to work through, but for now, she just needed him. She pushed his suit jacket off his shoulders and he pulled his arms back, letting the jacket hit the floor. He pulled her flush against his body, pulling her off the ground as he ran his tongue up and down her neck. She wrapped her legs around his waist and ground herself into him, causing him to moan loudly.

He walked them over to the couch, landing with a thud as she straddled him. He ran his hands up and down her legs as she made quick work of his tie and dress shirt. As she ran his hands over his bare chest, he remembered what Dr. Madden had told him.

He pulled his hands off of her legs and cradled her face, forcing her to look him. "Kendall, what about the baby?"

Kendall just leered at him, running her tongue over her lips, causing his pulse to race. "I'm fine, he's fine, everything is fine. I just had an appointment. Now, shut up!" He laughed loudly as she slid off his lap and pulled her dress over her head. Zach could barely breath as she stood there in her heels, bra, and underwear, barely showing. "You are beautiful" he said as she sat down next to him. He slammed his eyes shut as she ran her hands along the waist of his pants, skillfully undoing the belt and zipper. He tried to keep his breathing under control as she slid her hands into his pants, resting them on his hips. "Help me out here" she whispered into his ear. He lifted himself up slightly, allowing her to pull the pants and boxers off of him in one single motion. She slid back on to his lap, rotating her lips against him. The feel of her silk panties about drove him over the edge.

He opened his eyes to stare into her desired filled face. He slid one hand into her hair and made quick work of her bra with the other, throwing it across the room. She pulled his face up to his, but he stopped short of kissing her again. "Our first time shouldn't be on the sofa in my office. I should take my time. I should kiss every inch of your body and…" Kendall silenced him with a kiss. She pulled back quickly, panting. "You can take your time later tonight, but I need you… right… now" she said seductively.

He was unable to resist her any longer. He assaulted her breasts, lavishing one with kisses then moving on to the other, leaving her breathless and on the brink. He pulled back and she pushed herself up on her knees, cocking her eyebrows at him. He wrapped one arm around her waist and bunched up her panties in his other hand, ripping them off her body. She quickly slid down onto him, moaning loudly as he entered her.

They barely moved in those first few moments, taking the time to look at each other. "I love you" Zach said, running his fingers through her hair. "I love you so much" Kendall said, slowly moving her hips around. Soon, they were lost to each other, pushing each other closer and closer to the edge.

"I can't believe he just took off like that" Elizabeth said, walking off the elevator. Leo just smiled. "Give him a break Elizabeth." They rounded the corner to his office. "I'm assuming he came up here to get away from the craziness" she said, raising her hand to knock on the door when they heard Kendall screaming Zach's name over and over again. Elizabeth pulled her hand down, looking over at Leo. They heard Zach moan loudly and couldn't help but to start laughing. Leo threw his arm over Elizabeth's shoulder, guiding her back to the elevator. "Guess we'll have that drink with him later." By the time the elevator arrived, they had to wipe the tears off their faces because of how hard they were laughing.

Zach pulled the cover off the back of the couch, laying them out on the couch, covering their bodies. He could barely breath, feeling like his heart could explode. He opened his eyes and looked at her. She had her eyes closed, smiling, trying to regain her senses.

"Are you alright?" he asked, pulling her closer. She opened her eyes and looked at him. "I want to get married" she said, quietly, searching his face for his reaction. "Never have more beautiful words been spoken" he said, pulling her in for a soul-searing kiss.

TBC... (in the epilogue)