A/N: I never can really say it enough, but thank you to everyone for reading and reviewing! It means a lot and keeps me inspired. It seems there are some strong opinions of Carmen out there. LOL! Well, all I'm going to say is that I don't think anyone's view of her is going to improve in this chapter. This one picks up right where the last one left off. Hope you enjoy this update!

/

Sam went back into Bianca's office to drop some papers off. When she did, she noticed something was missing. Son of a … She poked her head out the door and called to the assistant. "Jan, she took Bianca's planner."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm positive. Bianca left it on her desk like she always does when she's going to meet a client. It's not there now, and I know I saw it when that woman was in here."

"That's not good at all. I need to let Bianca know right away."

"Let me know what?" Bianca asked as she joined the two.

"We should probably talk in your office."

"Alright." Bianca nodded and walked into her office with her assistant and Sam following her inside. She set her purse down on her desk and immediately noticed that something was off. The picture frame that AJ had made containing the photo of her and Marissa from the zoo was face down on her desk. She picked it up and smiled at the memory it evoked like she did every time she looked at it before placing it right-side up. "Who was in here?"

Jan looked at her boss, not at all surprised that she had gotten straight to the point. "It seems that Carmen Diaz stopped by when I was away from my desk. She told Pam that you had asked her to meet you here so Pam went to find me after telling her to wait in the waiting area."

Sam picked up the story from there. "I was dropping off some papers for you and found her in here behind your desk. She said that Pam told her to wait in here for you, but I knew that was wrong. I told her that she couldn't stay in here but that she could wait outside in the waiting area. After a few minutes, she said she was going to be late for another meeting and would catch up with you later." The girl shook her head disappointed in herself. "She must have done it when I turned my back to lead her out of here."

"She must have done what?"

"Took your planner. I'm sorry."

Bianca realized that it was missing. "Are you sure it was her?"

"I'm positive. It was there when I came in and found her here. I came back in after she left, and it was gone."

Bianca took a deep breath. The woman had been pushing and pushing for the last week, but now, she'd gone too far. "It's alright, Sam. You didn't do anything wrong. In fact, you did everything right. Thank you. Jan, I need you to get me the editor in chief of Pine Valley Now as well as Jesse Hubbard. And could you also get me Bill in Security?"

"You've got it. Come on, Sam. You can help me those calls." Jan and the girl headed back to the assistant's desk.

/

"Why are we calling Chief Hubbard? I can understand why we're calling Bill since he's the head of security here. I'm guessing Bianca's going to put her on the list of those barred from entering."

"Yes, I'm pretty sure she's going to do that." Jan picked up the phone and began dialing the Pine Valley Police Department. "My guess is that she's going to file a police report. Not only did the reporter trespass by entering her office without permission but she stole at least one thing that we know of from the office. Granted, it's most likely a misdemeanor, but it needs to be reported." Jan held up a finger to indicate to Sam that she needed to put their conversation on pause momentarily. "Yes, my name is Jan Carlyle with the Miranda Center. I'm calling on behalf of Bianca Montgomery, and she'd like to speak with Chief Hubbard please. Of course I'll hold."

The assistant turned back to Sam. "Bianca's going to do this for a couple of reasons. First, what the woman did was completely wrong. Not only does she need to know that, she also needs to realize there are consequences for her actions. Plus, whatever she's got planned isn't going to work. Bianca does not bow down to pressure. Another reason, and probably the most important one if I'm being honest, is Marissa. When she finds out what happened, I honestly don't what she'll do. Nobody messes with Bianca. That is something Marissa will simply not allow. Bianca knows that and will do whatever she can to make sure that Marissa doesn't do anything she'll regret. By pressing charges, she'll be able to do that a little bit. If you haven't noticed, everything they do is with the other in mind."

"Yeah, I caught that. They're really perfect for each other. I want to find somebody that will be that way with me and that I can be that way with."

"So do I, Sam. So does everybody. Do me a favor and call Bill. Tell him that Bianca needs to see him right away."

Sam nodded and placed her to Security call while Jan put Jesse through to Bianca.

/

Jan could see that Bianca was off the phone with Jesse and ducked her head into her boss's office. "Bill's here."

"Good. Send him in please." Bianca welcomed the head of security and asked him to sit. "I'm sure Jan informed you of what happened today."

"Yes, she did. Bianca, if I had any idea of what that woman was up to, I would've stopped her and held her for the police."

"I know. I guess I underestimated her and the lengths she's willing to go to for an interview. I'm done playing games with her though. I've spoken with Chief Hubbard, and he's going to send someone over to take statements and file a report. I need you to pull the security footage from today. Find anything that she's on and turn it over to the police when they get here. Sam knows what Ms. Diaz looks like so she will be able to identify her for you. I also want you to add her to the list of those individuals barred from the premises."

"You've got it. Anything else?"

"I went through everything here, and the only thing missing is my planner. My laptop was locked and still in the docking station. Could you have Nick check it out just in case for me?"

Bill nodded. "Of course. I'll take it to him right now if you want."

"That would be great. Thank you." Bianca unlocked the docking station, removed the laptop and handed it to her head of security.

He took the laptop and stood. "I'll have it back to you as soon as possible. After I get this to Nick, I'll go through the security footage with Sam."

Bianca smiled. "Thanks, I appreciate it."

Jan ducked her head back into the office when Bill left. "I've got the editor in chief of Pine Valley Now on the line for you. Her name is Marilyn Lowe."

"Thanks, Jan."

Bianca took a deep breath and picked up the phone. "Ms. Lowe, hello. This is Bianca Montgomery. Thank you for taking my call."

"It's my pleasure, Ms. Montgomery. How can I help you?"

/

Marissa was finishing up a call when Kendall knocked on her office door. The redhead waved her in and gestured for her to sit down.

"Thanks, Sara. I appreciate anything you can get for me. I'll be waiting for your call."

Kendall smiled when Marissa hung up the phone. "I'm not interrupting anything, am I?"

"Not at the moment. I have to wait for one of our investigators to get back with me on something. Until they do, I'll just be twiddling my thumbs since I won't be able to concentrate. You will be able to keep me from that. What brings you by here?"

"I come bearing information for you."

"Information for?"

"That clinic in New York that I'd mention to you and Bianca."

"Oh, that clinic!"

Kendall laughed. "Yeah, that clinic. So, you and Bianca are really going to do this, huh? You're going to have a baby."

Marissa grinned. "Yep, we are! Or at least we're going to try our best. Hopefully, everything checks out, and I'll be able to get pregnant."

"Something tells me that you will. I just know it, and that baby is going to be the luckiest kid on earth to have you and my sister as parents along with AJ, Miranda and Gabby as their brother and sisters."

"Thanks, Kendall. That really means a lot to me. If you ask me, I think this baby will have the world's best aunt too."

Kendall grinned. "Well, I didn't want to say anything, but I'm not going to argue with you on that."

Marissa laughed. "Of course not! Why would you?"

"Exactly! Seriously, whatever you need, I'm here for you. I also want to assure you that I've kept my promise to you and Bianca, and I haven't told anyone else about your plans. That includes Zach, my Mom and Greenlee."

"Thank you." Marissa's eyes glistened as she continued. "You know, I see you as more than Bianca's sister and much more than just a friend to me. I've come to see you as kind of like the sister I never had. I know that technically I had a sister, but I never knew her. I always wanted one though, and you're what I always imagined she'd be like."

Kendall wiped tears from her eyes. "Damn you, Red. Do you have any tissues?"

Marissa nodded and retrieved a box of tissues. She took one before handing it to Kendall. "I'm sorry."

The curly-haired woman took a few tissues and patted her eyes. "Don't be sorry. I feel the same way about you, Marissa. You're more than a friend and my sister's partner. You're family whether it's official or not. Although, I'm hoping one day it's official. I'd really like to have you as my sister-in-law. I'd be proud to call you that."

"Well, damn you, Curly. Give me those tissues back."

The women laughed and tried to collect themselves.

"I'd be proud to be a member of your crazy family and have you as my sister-in-law."

"Hey, you have don't have any room to talk!"

Marissa chuckled. "Trust me, I know! And I can't tell you how glad I am that you're not holding them against me."

"Well, you don't hold ours against us, and it's clear to see that you're not them." Kendall was suddenly struck by what Marissa had said. "Wait a minute! Are you thinking of proposing to Bianca?"

The smile on the redhead's face more than answered that question. "It's definitely crossed my mind."

"Okay, I need details! Spill it, Tasker! I promise I won't tell anyone. You're secret is safe with me."

Marissa was interrupted by the ringing of her office phone. "I need to get this."

Kendall nodded and smiled. She already knew Bianca had plans of some sort to propose to Marissa. Now that she knew the redhead had plans of her own, Kendall couldn't have been happier for both women. It was yet another example of the couple being on the same page. Marissa mentioning a particular name pulled Kendall from her thoughts.

"And you're positive Carmen Diaz is in fact Carmen Navarro?" Marissa listened while she continued to jot down some notes. "And this is being sent to Chief Hubbard?" The redhead smiled. "Oh, I think he's going to find this very interesting. I think there are some at the magazine that might be interested in this information as well. Is there anything else I should know? Okay. Thanks, Sara. I appreciate this more than you know."

Kendall looked at Marissa anxiously. "Come on. Don't hold out on me, Red. What was that all about? We're family, remember?"

Marissa chuckled. "I remember. Grab your purse. I'll tell you everything on the way."

"Where are we going?"

"We're going to go see your sister. I have a few things to tell her about Ms. Diaz."

/

"Thank you for taking the time to speak with me, Ms. Lowe."

"No, thank you, Ms. Montgomery. Please believe me when I tell you that I had no idea about what Carmen was doing. It crosses so many ethical and journalistic lines. On behalf of the magazine and myself personally, I apologize for any pain or inconvenience that you and Ms. Tasker have suffered as a result of her actions."

"Thank you. Apology accepted. I had an idea that was the case. I'm well aware of the magazine's reputation. So, you'll meet me there, and you're good with the plan?"

"I'm more than happy to meet you and help out. I'll see you in a little while."

Bianca disconnected the call, gathered her purse and phone and left her office. She stopped by her assistant's desk on her way out. "Jan, I need to go out for a little while. I'll be meeting with Ms. Lowe. We're going to deal with the Ms. Diaz situation once and for all. If anyone calls, tell them I'll get back with them as soon as I can."

"What about if Marissa calls?"

The brunette paused. "Tell her not to worry and that I have everything under control. I'll fill her in on everything tonight."

"Good luck and give that woman hell."

"That's exactly what I intend to do."

Jan smiled as she watched her boss head out. She could tell by both Bianca's posture and the tone of her voice that the reporter was about to meet the inner Kane within Bianca and was going to regret ever crossing her. It couldn't happen to a nicer person.

/

"So you're telling me this bitch has used blackmail to get a story?" To say Kendall was fighting mad would be an understatement.

"I'm afraid so, and she almost destroyed someone's marriage in the process. The Examiner fired her as a result." Marissa shook her head as she drove to the Miranda Center. "I wish I would've put this all together sooner. I never met her though, and she was using a different name."

"Her real name is Navarro then?"

"Yes, it is. From what our investigator was able to find out, she changed her name to Diaz to get the position at Pine Valley Now. She knew she wouldn't get a job anywhere else under her real name given the circumstances for her departure from the paper, at least not at any of the reputable publications. I can't really say the same for any of the tabloids although she'd be a definite liability for them as well."

"She had to have lied on her application and in her interview then along with falsifying her records for the magazine to have hired her."

"Yep, it seems Carmen has been a very bad girl. Now that everything is hitting the fan, she's in for a world of hurt. When my client heard what she was starting to pull again, he and his wife decided it was time to step forward and press charges. They were willing to let it slide when they were the only ones involved, but when Bianca became a target, they knew they needed to do something."

"I can't tell you how glad I am to hear that."

"That makes two of us." Marissa parked the car and the pair headed inside.

/

Jan looked up from Bianca's desk when she heard a rap on the frame of the office door. She was leaving the latest budget report for her boss to check. "Hi, Marissa, Kendall."

"Hi, Jan. Is Bianca here?" The redhead glanced around.

"No, she stepped out for a meeting with Marilyn Lowe."

Kendall arched an eyebrow. "I know that name. She's the editor in chief at Pine Valley Now. What's my sister up to?"

"Bianca said they were going to deal with Ms. Diaz once and for all." Jan looked at Marissa and directed her next comments to her. "She also wanted me to tell you if you called not to worry and that she had everything under control. She also said she would fill you in on everything tonight."

Marissa shook her head. She knew why Bianca was handling this on her own. It was to protect her. "How did she sound?"

"Honestly? She sounded really ticked off but completely under control. She had that look she gets sometimes when she's not going to take crap from anybody."

"She had that Kane look, huh?" Marissa smirked

Jan laughed. "Yeah, she did."

"Do you know what pushed her over the edge? Something had to have. Binx doesn't tap her inner Kane woman for no reason." Kendall added knowingly.

"Yeah, I do. Carmen was here at the Center this morning while Bianca was out. She snuck in here, went through some of her things, had the picture of the two of you face down and took Bianca's planner."

Kendall shook her head. Bianca would take that as an assault against her family. "Well, that would definitely do it."

Marissa took a deep breath to try and collect herself. Hearing what the reporter had done set her immediately on edge, and she knew Bianca would feel exactly the same way. "Do you know where she went?"

"She has a note here about the Pine Valley Inn."

Kendall saw the glint in Marissa's eyes. "We're going to the Inn." There was no question involved. It was merely a statement of fact.

"Yep, we sure are. I'm done with that woman."

"Want me to hold Carmen for you?" Kendall smirked.

Marissa smiled. "We'll see how it goes, but I'm pretty sure I can handle her all on my own." The redhead saw the look in Kendall's eyes. "Go ahead and call Greenlee. I know you want to."

"Red, you know me too well! Oh, I have no doubt at all that you can handle her."

Marissa rolled her eyes. She knew Kendall was trying to calm her down some so she wouldn't do anything she would regret. "Thanks, Jan. See ya later."

Jan watched as the pair left. The reporter would now be dealing with not only Bianca but Marissa and Kendall. The woman really didn't stand a chance.

/

The reporter opened her hotel room door to find Bianca Montgomery on the other side. "Bianca, what a pleasant surprise! Please come in. I have to admit I'm extremely flattered you took the time and effort to find me. I haven't had the chance to move into my new place yet what with relocating. The magazine has graciously agreed to set me up here until it's ready and I can get settled permanently. Please have a seat."

Bianca merely continued to stare at the woman. "No thank you. I won't be here that long. You really shouldn't be surprised to see me."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"I believe you have something that belongs to me."

"I still don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh please, save it, Ms. Diaz, because I'm not buying it. I have neither the time nor the inclination to deal with you or your games. You were in my office today uninvited and took by planner."

"Seriously? You're accusing me of being a petty thief. Why would I do something like that?"

"Honestly, I don't know, and I don't care so just save it. I know you have it, and I'd like it back now."

The reporter was smart enough to know she needed to back down on this particular point. She still had one more card to play anyway. She feigned surprise when she checked her bag. "Oh, it looks like I do have it after all. I must have picked it up by mistake. Sorry about that."

Bianca glared at Carmen and took the planner back.

"Now that I've got you here, how about we do that interview?"

"I've already told you a number of times that I'm not going to do an interview with you."

Carmen was beyond frustrated with the brunette. "I don't know why."

"You don't know why? I've told you repeatedly that I disagree with the angle of the article and you've repeatedly disregarded my feelings on the subject and keep pushing me on it. You've invaded my privacy, and most importantly of all, you've insulted my partner and our family. Why in the hell would I ever agree to help you?"

"You're a public figure. You don't have any privacy."

"That's where you're wrong. I did not forfeit my privacy, and you don't have the right to take my personal property."

"You shouldn't have left your planner lying around for anyone to see."

In that moment, Bianca was extremely grateful to Marissa. Her legal expertise really did rub off on her. "I didn't leave it lying around. It was on my desk in my office. This was the office you were told explicitly not to go into not once but twice so you were trespassing. Given all of that, I have an expectation of privacy, no matter what you may think."

"It doesn't really matter what you say. You're going to do the interview." Carmen smirked.

"Excuse me? Why in the hell would you think that?"

The reporter withdrew a large manila envelope from her desk drawer. "Because you don't want your pretty little redhead to get a look at these."

Bianca opened the envelope and found a handful of incriminating photos of the reporter and herself. While she knew they were photo-shopped, she had to admit they were pretty good forgeries. "These aren't real, and you know it because this never happened. More importantly, Marissa will know it."

"Are you sure you want to take that chance? I mean, her ex-husband did cheat on her. She could very well believe that it could happen again to her. All you have to do is give me my interview, and you can guarantee that she'll never see these."

"I don't get it. Why do you want to interview me so badly that you'll resort to blackmail?"

"Getting an interview with you is a coup. Everyone knows that you don't give them. So by landing one with you, it will be the break I need and get me the hell out of Pine Valley."

"So you'll lie, create these fake pictures and threaten me with destroying my relationship to get it?"

The reporter shrugged. "A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do."

"I'm not going to be blackmailed especially over something I didn't do."

Carmen smiled sweetly. "Oh, I wouldn't call it blackmail."

"And what would you call it?"

"I call it creative thinking or thinking outside the box. Besides, I think you'll go along with it. You don't want something like this to go public. Think of the damage to your image and reputation."

"You're bluffing."

"I don't bluff. I've done it before, and as long as I get what I want, I'll do it again if I need to. I tell you what. I'll give you some time to think about it. You stay here. I've got a call to make." The reporter strode out of the room confident that she had Bianca on the ropes, leaving the door ajar as she left.

/

While Marissa stayed in the lobby to wait for the desk clerk to free up in hopes of convincing her to give her Carmen's room number, Kendall wandered around hoping she would happen upon either her sister or the reporter. She wound her way past the Inn's conference rooms and fitness area. When she came to the indoor pool, she did a double take. She saw the reporter exit a room and walk over to a table by the pool. Kendall, careful not to draw attention to herself, slipped past the reporter. As she neared the room the woman had just left, she heard her sister talking with someone.

"Did you get all of that? Good! I'll see you in a few minutes. The sooner I'm done with her, the better."

"The sooner you're done with who, Binx?"

Bianca was startled to see her sister. "I've got to go. See you in a few." With the call disconnected, her attention was directed to her sister. "Kendall, what are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing. We came looking for you. We've got some information about Ms. Diaz."

"We? Who is we?" Bianca had a sinking suspicion of who was with her sister.

"Marissa and me. I stopped by her office earlier, and she'd found something out about that woman. We headed over to your office to tell you but found out you were here instead."

"Where's Marissa now?"

"She was in the lobby trying to find out which room this woman was in. I just sent her a text to let her know which one."

"Carmen's outside and is going to be back any second."

"Yeah, I know. I saw her outside and slipped by her."

The sisters turned towards the door when they heard angry words being exchanged outside followed by a loud splash. They exchanged a quick glance before rushing out of the room.

/

A/N: Oh, that darn evil side of me got out again and made me end this chapter where I did. Does it help any if I tell you I started on the next one? See you soon!