"Nothing, honey. Just campaign stuff. What-wait, what happened to your phone interview?"
"Oh, it was postponed due to some breaking news or something like that. Anyway, I told carol's assistant that I would email her my availability for a follow-up."
"Oh. Okay."
"May I?" EJ asked pointing to the papers around her.
"Oh, no, I'll take care of it for you."
"No, it's fine. You're busy. You've got a lot to do. Here, it'll only take a minute, sweetheart."
"Uh-huh. Yeah. I was thinking about that, and, um…."
"Uh-huh. Were you, now?"
"I really don't want to talk anymore." She said with her sexiest look.
"Really?"
"Mm-mm."
"Wait, I thought that you had a lot of work to do. Are you sure? 'Cause this won't take any time at all."
"Well, that's why we hired an intern, right?"
"That is why we hired an intern, yes."
"Mm-hmm."
"Come here."
They kissed passionately and started necking like teenagers.
"Whoa! Oh, my….."
"Well, that was a very pleasant surprise."
"Wasn't it?"
"Well, I think since you've been such a dirty girl today, I'm going to take you upstairs and put you in the shower. How's that sound? That is, of course, assuming that you have time."
"Um, well, it'll have to be a quickie."
"Ugh." EJ complained.
"Why don't, um, why don't you head up there, and I will meet you in five minutes?"
"Hello?" Will asked not recognizing the number on his phone.
"Will, hey. Uh, it's Nicole. Do you have time to meet with me later this afternoon?"
"Why would you want to meet with me?" He and Nicole have never really gotten along they barely tolerated each other in the past for his father's sake. Will made it abundantly clear to Nicole at her sham of a wedding to EJ that he would stay out of her way if she did the same. But now that he was working on the campaign that meant she was his boss and he didn't know how he would put with his bitch of a stepmother.
"To discuss the campaign, of course." She said to him like he was child.
EJ was wrapping up his phone conference when the doorbell rang and since Mary and the other staff were busy so he got the door himself. "You can direct that project to my son William. He's our new intern, and if he has any problems, then he can talk to me about it. Okay? Marlena. This is a surprise. Come in."
"Thank you. We have to talk, EJ."
"We do? About what?" He asked feigning confusing.
"How dare you?"
"May I offer you some tea?"
"No."
"Now, Marlena, even Sydney knows how to say no, thank you."
"The only thing I want from you, EJ, are some answers. What are you doing with Will?"
"Um... helping him realize his full potential."
"You will not corrupt him, you know."
"No, I won't. Look, Marlena, I'm-I'm a new man. And what I'm doing is trying to make my children proud of who I am. Especially William who has had to suffer through his parents many mistakes time and again."
"Oh save it EJ you've never cared what other people think of you. And the only reason why you want Will working with you is because of his name."
"I suppose it doesn't really hurt to have a Horton on the campaign, but…"
Marlena: No, of course it doesn't. But there's something bigger going on here. I'd like to know what it is. And I'd like to know now.
"Why does there always have to be an ulterior motive? Is it so hard to believe that my son would want to spend with me."
"Yes because you're a DiMera. That's the only kind of motive you have. So why don't you tell me what you're thinking to do with Will? And then I'll leave. And if you don't, I'll just stay."
"Probably still think I have some secret agenda to destroy you and your husband, no?"
"Well, not so secret, would you…"
"Please."
"Would you say? Must've really irked you when John was found to be innocent. I know you and Stefano worked so very hard to frame him. So there went your class action suit, and there also went your bid for mayor. He really made a fool of you. So now you're paying him back by going after Will."
"Why do you think this is all about you, hmm? I mean, I can assure you, my father hasn't given any thought to you or your husband in years."
"You made it about me when you went after Will. So if you want to target somebody in my family, target me. Stay the hell away from Will."
"Marlena, look. Where is all of this hostility coming from, hmm? Do you have problems at home? Is John not satisfying your needs?"
"You never disappoint, do you, EJ?"
Laughing EJ said. "Look. You came here to get me to talk, and frankly-but I'm sitting here, Marlena. I'm concerned about you, you know? You seem very confused. You're angry. And you know, that's not good for your health, my dear."
"Well, if you keep going after Will, the concern will be for your health."
"But there's not really anything I can do about that. You see, he works for my campaign. Now, if you have an issue with that, I suggest you take it up with him."
"Well, I did that, in fact. But it seems you've cracked the code on trying to keep a teenager loyal."
" It's called good parenting Marlena maybe if you had tried some with Sami instead of screwing with John she wouldn't have turned into a complete psychopath."
" How dare you."
"How dare I? You're the one who came into my home and started accusing me of having some twisted reason for wanting to spend time with my son. Did it ever occur to you that maybe just maybe he wants to be around a stable, successful parent, who can help him be his best self."
"So why the new car?"
"Oh, yes. Well, did you see the car he was driving around in? I mean, please. He represents me, you know. He represents the campaign. Can't really have him driving around in Samantha's old bloody mini-van."
"I don't understand why you're trying to buy him off."
"I did not initiate this. William came to me."
"You could've turned him down. Why the hell didn't you? I thought you didn't want him involved in your less than reputable activities."
"Marlena, I'm telling you the truth. This is not some conspiracy theory. And I would never involve him in anything illegal."
"Hmm. And I'm wondering why I should believe you about that. You see, Will could've worked for almost any company in town. Yet he chose to work for somebody who is so corrupt, somebody he just intensely dislikes. Why would he do that?"
"I'm going to ignore all of those little insults and just say that I don't know. Marlena, when he turned up at my door, I was just as surprised as you are."
"I'm sure."
"But then I realized the truth of the matter."
"Oh, please. Enlighten me."
"I would've thought it would be obvious, Marlena. We're connected because we are family."
"Excuse me?"
"Johnny and Sydney are his siblings, okay? His grandmother is my stepmother. And whether you like to admit it or not William is and always will be my son. Now, you can deny it all you wish, but we are very connected. We always have been."
"Please don't pretend you care about Will."
"Now you're the one out of line I love William and I always will and no matter what you or anyone else do you can's change the fact that I am Father.. Now, he may not have DiMera blood in him, but he has been and always will be a part of this family."
"Last time I checked EJ Lucas was Wills father and one he could be proud of."
"Lucas Horton you can't be serious. Lucas is a hapless drunk who can't find way out of the end of a bottle. Just because he's not drowning in alcohol at the moment doesn't mean he won't some time very soon. And when that happens and Lucas disappoints Will again I will always be right here."
"Have you completely lost your mind? Will is not a member of your family. Never has been, never will be. No matter what some piece of paper says."
"He obviously feels very connected to us, though, doesn't he? Otherwise, he wouldn't be here."
"Will is working for you because you found a way to use his emotions, the emotions of a very young, confused man. Don't flatter yourself to think that he's working for you by choice. He's working for you because you want him to."
"Whatever you have to tell yourself, Marlena. But I know the real reason that he's here. It's because I give him something that the Brady's and the Horton's cannot. I treat him like a man. And I treat him with respect."
"You treat him like a toy. Like a puppet. Using him for your own amusement. But I will not let you destroy his life. And I will see you and your father dead... before I let that happen."
" I think it's time you left Marlena. For William's sake Ill forget that last comment of yours."
"Oh how generous. It must be an off day for you."
"Goodbye." EJ screamed and slammed the door in Marlena's face.
"Will. Wow. Look at that timing. Hi. Uh, thanks for meeting me."
"Oh, yeah. Um, you said you needed my help?"
"Yes, yeah. But, I mean, first, as EJ's campaign publicist, I want to officially welcome you to the team."
"I appreciate that." He didn't actually he was just trying to be civil and get whatever this was over with.
"Yeah."
"I'm-I'm excited to get started."
"Get started?" She asked.
"Mm-hmm."
"Are you kidding? I've heard you've been a tremendous help to the team."
"I just do what I'm told."
Nicole laughs. "Yeah. Well, as you know, we are a wonderful campaign group. Each and every one of us is fully dedicated to winning this election. We will do whatever it takes. I trust you feel the same."
"I want what's best for Salem."
"Yeah, don't we all? So, uh, let's get down to it, shall we? First, I'd like to start with a few very important things. So, Will... I want to talk to you about your mother."
"My mother?"
"Yeah. I mean, Sami and I have a very complicated history, and, uh, well, you know. We don't really get along."
"You mean you want to claw each other's eyes out. On a good day. Yeah, everybody knows that."
"Okay, okay. But listen, you work for EJ now, which means you work for me. So I just want to get a few things clear here, okay? So when you're with us, you keep your family business at home. Don't carry it to the office. Understood?"
"Of course." Didn't she realize this job was just another complicated family drama.
"And what happens behind closed doors stays behind closed doors.
"Nicole, I get it. I did grow up a DiMera."
"Good. Then we're not going to have any problems."
"Is that it? Can I-can I go now? I have some stuff to do."
"Mmm, mmm, mmm. Actually, there- there is one more thing."
"What is it? What do you- what do you want? What else is there to talk about?"
"Uh, I don't really want to talk. Actually, there's something I need you to do for me."
Next chapter I promise there will be plenty of Wilson I love them too.