"You see, I just can't stop thinking about you."
Caroline laughed as she sat at her vanity, chatting with Thomas on the phone.
"Thomas, I already told you, it's my day off. I'm not coming in."
"Come on," Thomas complained, "I have to see your beautiful face."
"You'll just have to wait," Caroline explained, "Love you!"
"Love you too, beautiful."
Caroline hung up. A few seconds later, the doorbell rang. She nearly jumped out of her seat. Who would come to her place first thing in the morning?
She opened the door and a familiar voice greeted her.
"Hey Spence,"
Caroline was stunned. "Austin, what are you doing here?"
He shrugged, "I'm in town for the racing convention."
She couldn't have dreamed that Austin, her ex-boyfriend from New York, would ever find her in Los Angeles.
"You wanna hang? My gig doesn't start 'til one," his eyes gleamed and he smirked, Caroline was a for sure goner.
"Yeah, I mean, yes, I'd love to."
/\/\/\/\/\
"I'm here for Eye on Fashion featuring my line."
Liam let out a sigh of frustration. "Hey Steffy, remember that one time when we, I don't know, were MARRIED! I know when you're lying."
"Fine, what do you want me to say?" Steffy fought back.
"I want you to tell me the truth."
"Ah, the truth." Steffy brushed past Liam and spun into the big man's chair. "Funny thing, the truth isn't always what you want to hear."
Liam laughed angrily. He thought they were still friends. "Maybe you wouldn't have to fess up now if you wouldn't keep secrets!"
"Keep secrets?" Steffy's voice literally raised an octave. "You lost the right to know about anything going on with me when you divorced me! Hey Liam, remember that one time when you, I don't know. DIVORCED me for something I didn't even do? Your dad constructed that one all on his own."
"Yet you still ran back to him," Liam said quieter, the truth not being what he wanted it to be.
/\/\/\/\/\
As Caroline rode in Austin's Porsche, she felt her phone vibrate. It was Thomas.
"Meet for lunch at Dayzee's?"
She texted back: "Shopping with mom, I can't today."
He texted back almost immediately, "Okay, love you 3"
Caroline didn't text back.
/\/\/\/\/\
"What do you mean within 2 weeks?" Bill exclaimed.
"If I'm pregnant very much longer , I'll risk a heart attack. It really is best." Katie told him.
"Get ready, you're gonna be a mommy," Bill faked a smile. "I have to get to work. Don't overexert yourself today, I mean it."
/\/\/\/\/\
"Brooke! Calm down!" Ridge frantically tried to control Brooke's raging outbursts about the injustice of it all.
"You're putting my daughter's line on the back burner because you daughter threw a hissy fit?" Brooke wouldn't cool off about it.
"Steffy deserves the line! Hope's line is a mess just like her life! Consumers aren't going to buy from someone who is as unstable as she is now!"
"Once again, Taylor's kids over Brooke's kids!" Brooke stormed out of the CEO's office.
/\/\/\/\/\
The silence was deafening. Steffy finally felt remorse for how quickly she had rebounded. Liam was guilty, knowing he shouldn't have lashed out at Steffy like that.
Steffy broke the peace. "I was here to see Bill."
Even though Liam knew it was coming, it still felt like a dagger in the chest.
"Liam, you know I didn't do this for revenge. Hey," Steffy laughed half-heartedly, "I couldn't keep my hands off him even when you and I were married. And you got married last night. Maybe it's for the best."
"Steffy, you don't get it. You don't see how wrong this all is." Liam said.
"What, so it's okay for you and Hope to elope but I can't sleep with Bill?" Steffy asked, "I haven't slept with him." She added as an after note.
Things were now sufficiently awkward. Then Steffy burst out crying. She couldn't hold it back anymore. Things were so messed up. Liam walked behind the desk and kneeled down to Steffy's eye level.
"It'll be okay," he told her soothingly. He ran his fingers through her silky hair as she cried into his shoulder.
/\/\/\/\/\
Deacon strutted into Taylor's office.
"Doc, I think I'll take a different approach today," Deacon walked closer to Taylor.
"And that would be?" Taylor inquired. She could smell his cologne, he was so close.
"I think you're sexy as hell. And you may be just as disturbed as me."
Deacon lunged at Taylor as he kissed her. She couldn't help herself, she kissed him back.
/\/\/\/\/\
Austin parked the car. They were in the middle of nowhere.
"Grab the lock box," he ordered.
Caroline did as she was told. She pulled the radio dial off, revealing the secret compartment where the key was hidden. She carefully unlocked the box and could hardly contain herself when she saw the contents.
/\/\/\/\/\
She only let Liam hold her for a few minutes. Didn't want to get too attached. Steffy wiped her eyes.
"You know where your dad is?" She knew it was the wrong thing to say, but she didn't care. She had to tell Bill about the picture.
Liam dropped his head slightly and stood up.
"He's running late. He should be here soon." Liam started to walk out. As he opened the door, he said, without turning around, "I'm sure he'll be glad to see you."
/\/\/\/\/\
"I thought I should stock up since I'd be smoking with you, Spence." Austin grabbed the straws and took a small part from the lock box. "You ready to fly?"
/\/\/\/\/\
As soon as Liam left his father's office, Steffy got in her car and drove to Forrester. She couldn't face Bill after what had just happened with Liam. How did she get so tangled up?
/\/\/\/\/\
Deacon straightened his hair in the mirror.
"Never knew you were so good," he said as he gave his alluring smile and walked out the door.
Taylor couldn't believe she just had sex with Deacon Sharpe. She slowly picked up everything they had knocked off her desk as she thought of what her family would think.
/\/\/\/\/\
"Steffy!" Thorne yelled as he saw his niece walk down the hall.
Steffy spun around with a panicked look on her face, then relief when she was it was Thorne. He was carrying a small roll of fabric.
"Just the girl I was looking for!" He unrolled the small scrap. "Is this the fabric you wanted for the design you sent to production?"
"Yes!" Steffy falsely enthused. "Is there any way that the dress could be ready by, say, five tonight?"
"Just the one dress? Thorne asked
"Yes, my size," Steffy answered. She may just have plans for tonight.
/\/\/\/\/\
She was flying. And she didn't intend on landing anytime soon. She was alive again. Caroline had moved to California to get away from drugs, but they just might be better in Cali. She hadn't been buzzed in over a year. It couldn't feel more wrong. It couldn't feel any better.
/\/\/\/\/\
"This is Steffy Forrester; you've reached the marketing department. How may I help you?"
"I'll be at your apartment to pick you up at seven."
"And who may this be?" Steffy teased.
"Doesn't matter. Tonight is the night."
And the line went dead.