Chapter 5: Viva Los Angeles
Their air conditioned master bedroom was a warm mixture of lavender, gold, and soft blue. Larger than king sized, their handcrafted bed with long cherry wood posts and frame, coordinating with tall gold knob drawers and half moon shaped mirror, held a firm, feathery mattress covered in gold pillows and cool lavender sheets. Walls were painted soft blue highlighting beautiful gold curtains and lavender overlay. Hilary's shoe closet was painted a demure rosy pink while Devon's closet of tailored shirts and suit jackets was that soft blue shade.
"You should have told me sooner," Devon sighed, in this intimate space, watching Hilary tuck clothes inside a small teal suitcase decorated with curled green vines and art noveau styled red roses.
"I was going to tell you last night," she said.
Hilary had hoped morning would never come, that nightmares of Lyd hadn't destroyed what she had worked so hard on forgetting. Now it all came roaring back. Thanks to her estranged father's reappearance. She still had no idea how he found her or what he was doing in Genoa City. She knew he would make an eventual return and demand things as he had done back home, back in London. He rarely sought her out in fatherly concern, which of course deepened the scars he burned in her heart.
Yet, she found a man's love regardless- Devon's. Countless secrets ached to be told and not kept. He cherished and respected her. Went above and beyond for her. He deserved full truth and honesty. She was sure they would get married someday, create a real, stable life for their growing family. The past, which happened in a chain of unfortunate misery, couldn't be imprisoned for the sake of sparing him.
She paused in holding a folded indigo tank top, taking a moment to stroke her swelling rounded abdomen.
"Speaking of which, what happened?" Devon broke into her thoughts, asking tough questions. "Why were you so upset?"
"My hormones are just jumping up and down as if on a trampoline," she fibbed.
"That's it?"
"Yes, Devon. I am okay."
She zipped up the suitcase and touched Devon's face and bald head, looking straight into his eyes of roasted cacao beans. They gingerly reflected all the love and trust garnered for her, no sprinkled peppers of doubt to be seen.
The clock's thick red numbers behind him read 7:01 AM. The drive to work from the cottage was almost half an hour.
"We do not have time," Devon murmured, smiling, already undoing two buttons of navy blue polo.
"We will make time," she said. "Take off your clothes. Now."
Hilary arrived at Jabot in the nick of eight. In the bathroom, she found herself humming happy tunes while still blotting sweat sheen. She felt no amount of shame over their quick erotic session, after all it would be three days away from home in a hotel bed- alone. They had never tested being apart so long before.
"Well well well," Mason said, coming off the elevator, face to face with Hilary emerging out of the ladies room.
"What are you doing here?" She asked in haughtiest of huffs, pulling him into an abandoned corner.
"Thought I could ask Jack a favor," Mason replied, all snide and arrogant.
"You left Jabot on unfriendly terms."
"I received an anonymous tip that they were looking for a new associate."
"And you thought you, a convicted felon, could fit the description?"
"Yes. And I am no longer on record as a convicted felon. Clean as a whistle."
"I doubt it."
"Come now. I thought you would be proud."
"You thought wrong."
He smirked.
"You wasted no time ratting me out. Was that your plan? Get me out of the picture so you could work your wiles on the billionaire? Because that one million dollar offering wasn't enough huh? You wanted to worm your way into his bed to get an even bigger payday-"
Hilary's palm backhanded him so hard he almost collapsed on his feet.
"How dare you insinuate what my relationship is! You have no idea."
"I know plenty. I know how you operate. I remember London very well. Did you tell him about it yet? About your blackmailing murderer of a daddy? That trait must run in the family."
He whispered the last question rather nastily, igniting the annoying rise in her.
She was sick and tired of the past catching up to bite. Her happiness would not be sacrificed.
"No," she replied through gritted teeth.
"Should I?" He asked, too amused for her liking.
"No. I will tell him when I am ready."
"When will that be? When you're all settled in as his wifey and ready to walk out with half his assets?"
"It's not like that. What we have- Devon and I- it's real."
"Not like us."
"We had good times together, Mason. I will not deny that."
"Oh what's this? A little hallway soiree?" Gwen interrupted.
"No.. this... this is nothing," Hilary said, wondering how she didn't hear Gwen's pink pumps approach.
She looked to Mason and Gwen, sensing a noticeable spark between her ex and the bubbly accountant.
"Nothing huh?" Mason slit his eyes, scuffed, and walked off in the direction of Jack's closed office.
"What was that all about?" Gwen asked, put off by brisk exit. She held light green and bright orange file folders to crisp powder blue Ann Taylor blazer that matched A-line pencil skirt.
"Nothing," Hilary bemoaned, eyeing Jack's office with mild worry. "Just the biggest mistake of my life."
"Are we still on for lunch before you fly out tonight?"
"Yes. Sure."
"Great! And by the way that mistake of yours is hot. What's his name?"
"Mason Wilder, former model and forever con artist."
"I'm sure he isn't the worst thing that ever happened in your life, Hilary."
/
At GCAC, after long hours at the posh office he didn't need to be in, Devon twirled the ice in his evening mojito, a drink Hilary introduced prior to pregnancy. He remembered with a clear mind early morning's glittery intent in Hilary's beautiful doe eyes. She had been demanding few times in the past, her libido matching his tit for tat, but this time seemed so different, so intent. She would be gone three days, but she acted like those three days equaled a lifetime.
He rubbed his chin, where a goatee was slowly growing in, reveling in timed quick thrusts and wet tongue joined kisses, frantic hands beginning and ending on pliant naked skin, wishing never to break free from such a strong obsessive hold. It wasn't a crazy, deranged obsessiveness. It was love at its purest entity, mesmerizing beauty that took over his thoughts as though belonging forever. He and Hilary were destined for each other forever, for infinity. Each day and night spent in their sweet little home cemented the fact that he could see himself with no one else but her. His one and only true love.
"I got this for you," he said. "Just something to remember me by on your trip."
"Devon," she gasped, frantically putting on clothes. "You know how I feel about you spending money on me."
"I wanted to."
He stepped up to her, shirtless, clad in black boxers, taking the long box from a eggplant bag. The engagement ring box left inside gazed at him, begged him to ask the question there in the moment perfumed with a mild afterglow they had no time for. He held back and concentrated on just the necklace.
"Open it," he told her.
She flushed, all golden and resplendent glow of a loving, expectant mother, renewing an ardor that never took rest.
"Devon," she breathed, seeing a thin golden chain with a fine crafted pendant laying on soft velvet. "It's so beautiful."
"You like it?"
"I love it!" She hugged him close and he wanted to give back fully, but the clock read 7:34.
"Let me put it on you," he said, regrettably breaking free.
She turned around for him and exposed her nape, her illuminating fragrance and skin torturing him. Oh how he hated Jack Abbot every morning. He touched her with one finger and she let out a small sigh. He could already imagine her eyes falling closed, wanting more than a necklace around her throat. It was all he could give her, taking a moment to clasp and smell her all at once.
However, it would take a while for the pain of excited high heels crunched against his bare spine to heal...
"What has you so glum?" Lily asked suddenly, catching him off guard.
"I'm not glum," Devon denied, recovering from jumping out of his skin.
"You seem glum to me," Lily said. She set shiny yellow clutch, matching her knee length sun dress, on the fine white linen tablecloth and took seat beside him. "Cane is meeting me here. I think we should join you."
"I don't need a pity party."
He didn't mind his brother-in-law's company. Perhaps the Aussie could aide him in the right direction.
"We're going to provide you cheer anyway," Lily exclaimed, smiling and patting his back. "Now fess up."
Devon hid a wince and realized there was no point arguing with his insistent sister. Sister and co-worker.
He had bought the Genoa City Athletic Club on a whim due to her joking insistence that he buy the place.
And that wasn't all he planned to invest his inheritance in.
"My girlfriend left me," Devon sighed, struck by the thought of coming home to an emptiness. He was thinking perhaps he could use his private suite residence all weekend. The thought of smelling and feeling Hilary at their cottage without having her nearby hit vulnerable chords he hadn't realized possible.
"You guys broke up?" Lily asked, arching a brow, sipping iced water from the glass a waitress just sent her. "I thought that this was the real deal."
"No," Devon burst her joyous bubble. "We didn't break up. She left me for the weekend. Work related."
"Are you sure it was work related?" Manicured lilac fingernails mimicked quotation marks on "work related."
"Of course it was about work. She wouldn't cheat on me."
"How well do you even know her? It's been five months right?"
At that moment Cane entered the establishment and Lily waved him over.
"It's complicated, but I trust her," Devon stated firmly, giving Cane a greeting nod. "Completely."
"Hello Sweetheart."Cane kissed Lily's cheek. "Devon."
"What's up man?" Devon asked.
"The numbers are improving."
"Good. Good."
"His whittle girlfriend left him," Lily said with mock sadness, fingers at her eyes where no tears came down.
"Did she?" Cane looked surprised, sitting down and taking an awaiting maroon and black menu- a new addition Lily herself had someone personally design to make GCAC look less "old boy's club."
"It's not in the way that you think," Devon groaned, slitting eyes at his playful sister. "She is on a business trip. That's all."
"Oh pooh!" Lily said, swatting Devon's shoulder. "I was only kidding. It's just a shame though."
"What is?" Devon wondered.
"No, no, Lily," Cane interrupted shaking his head at her.
"What?" Devon's eyes shifted to and fro between them.
"It's just I think Gwen, the accountant at Jabot is perfect for you," Lily revealed.
"What?!" Devon almost choked on his mojito.
"I talk to her a lot. She's beautiful. Smart. Not a model."
"You think I'm dating a model?"
"No. I'm just saying..."
"Look Lily, I know you and Dad mean well, but my personal life is my personal life. I don't need anyone to justify who I'm dating right now."
"At least with Gwen you wouldn't have to hide."
"Lily!" Cane and Devon screeched simultaneously.
"Devon, c'mon. Just tell us who your girlfriend is already."
"It's just that-" Devon started, struggling to find words with Lily and Cane concentrating hard on him.
Lily's cell phone rang. She opened up her purse and dug for it.
"Excuse me guys," she said, rising up from her seat. "I have to take this."
"Who is it Sweetheart?" Cane asked.
"The babysitter."
"If Charlie and Maddie are causing trouble..."
"Don't worry, it'll be Mommy to the rescue."
She kissed Cane's cheek.
Devon watched, bitter sting of envy erupted, much unwanted.
Right now Hilary was already in the skies with Dr. Gillian and his father.
He wanted her here with him, out in the open. The agony constantly followed him around, baiting him to spring into action, to tell the whole town, show the whole world that he loved Hilary Curtis and planned to spend eternity loving her. How could he go on having met his soulmate and wanting to celebrate with those he loved most? It was high time to set nightmarish thoughts to rest and face whatever consequences existed for them.
"You cannot keep this in," Cane said, reading Devon's mind. "I can see it eating away at you."
"I know," Devon sighed. "I almost told Neil last night."
"What stopped you?"
"Hilary. I promised her we would do it together."
"She's pregnant."
"What?"
"Five months along."
"You two cannot keep this up."
"I know. I'm ready to tell the whole world."
"But Hilary's not?"
"That's just it. I'm not sure what she wants us to do."
/
Claws dug into muscled brown flesh.
She gasped.
He grunted and collapsed into champagne hotel sheets.
"That was... whew!" Mason wiped his moist brow and gazed at the ceiling.
"Awesome," Gwen exclaimed. "Mmmmmhmmmm," she sighed, stroking his chest, bating golden eyes at him. "You are a great distraction."
"I try." He stood up and pulled pants back on. "Now the weekend is all yours. I'm sure you can do something to get her out of Devon's system while she's away."
"I can come up with a few scenarios. Each one more naked than the last. The coy girl routine is not working."
"A long time ago it would have. You have to step it up. Devon believes himself to be in love."
"With that skank? Ugh!"
"Tell me about it."
"You still care about her don't you?"
"Hilary is not like other girls."
"Pssssh," she snorted, soured and rolling eyes. "It was her fault that trigger happy of a father of hers killed my fiance. I could care less about any man feeling sympathy for that."
"If I do recall," he turned to look at her while buttoning up short-sleeved denim Calvin Klein shirt, "your fiance was a cheater."
"You have no idea who Bryan was or what he was even doing there that night. So let's not go there."
His brow rose. He quickly got out of bed and glanced at his fat Rolex.
"Well, I have to get going."
"What does your anonymous boss want you to do now?"
"Get rid of the baby."
"Serves her right."
Gwen's eyes lit up like a gleeful Medusa ready to stone a man's face.
It should have bothered him. His consciousness warned him about signing contracts with the devil, the moral compass slowly becoming a choking albatross each time Neil coerced him into sinister tasks. This alternative beat the prison system. Easily, manipulative devil side won the battle. He couldn't resist the glorious opportunity, the alluring victorious promise. His jealousy fueled championing the lucrative idea of breaking up Hilary and Devon by any means necessary.
He retrieved a vial from the polished nightstand, a tiny special vial filled to the top with a dark purple almost black liquid. Hilary would drink this poison comprised of crushed street market morning after pills and other baby killer toxins.
"She and money bags are getting exactly what's coming to them!" Mason exclaimed, pocketing the vial and reveling in Gwen's smile that seemed to toast to a future of twisted revenge.
"Oh yes!" Gwen squealed. "Justice at last!"
/
"You have it?" Neil asked, looking through his office door to make sure coast was clear. No one was around. Packed black leather suitcase sat on his desk, ready for the flight to Los Angeles, first stage of an elaborate hope to win Hilary over.
"Yes," Mason said, showing off the vial.
"Good." Neil emerged close to his young accomplice, tucking first class plane tickets into Mason's shirt, smiling all the while.
Plans were going to work out well in Neil's favor. Lord knew he spent quite enough cash to reach this desperate point. Hilary was blind. On their trip, she would see so clear without Devon's constant interference, away from that imprisoning cottage his greedy, selfish son trapped her in. Neil would make Hilary feel like a freed bird, flying high in the suspended glee of hot sun, palm trees, and a Forester/Jabot cosmetics modeling contract.
"Your plane leaves soon," Neil reminded Mason. "Don't screw this up, Son. I'm counting on you."
"Oh I won't!" Mason was too pleased, too excited- much needed traits. "Thanks Neil."
"Just do your part and everything will work out well."
Mason scurried out with likely visions Don Perigon and Cristol bottles and caviar on his mind. Neil only hoped the reckless splurging criminal kept focus on tasks at hand. Things couldn't become messy if his lackey were a drunken foolish idiot.
"Well?" Douglas Turner entered, seeming to wait until his daughter's ex left. "That means killing my grandchild is still right on schedule?"
Neil came around him to shut the door.
"Listen Douglas when Hilary and I are eventually together and married, I vow to you that there will be plenty more."
"I hate this plan."
"I thought you wanted to avenge what she has done to you."
"This rewards you more than it does me, Mr. Winters."
"Can you come up with a better scheme?" Neil picked up his packed suitcase and looked at his watch.
"Maybe."
"If it involves taking that crazy woman out of the mental hospital, then you will have a lot more fish to fry where your daughter is concerned."
"How did you know about-"
"I do my homework, Doug." Neil grinned, touching the older man's shoulder. "Now if you think to step on my turf and ruin my plans, there will be hell to pay. Now I consider myself a nice man. So don't get on my dark side."
"I have a dark side too if you recall."
"Oh yes, murder." Neil chuckled. "I'm not scared of you."
"You think paying me will keep me quiet huh? I need more than money and more than threats to assure loyalty."
"Doug. Look. You have my guarantee on everything that we will get everything we want. I will not tell Hilary what you're doing and you will do the same for me."
At the airport, Hilary stared at him, accusing him before speaking.
"Where is Gillian?" She snapped.
"Oh, she won't be flying with us," Neil replied, signaling for the pilot to take off. "She will meet us tomorrow."
"I will call Jack. No way am I staying here with you. Alone."
He touched her hand, steeling her with his eyes.
The private plane lifted into the air.
"Why are you so afraid to be alone with me, Hilary? I don't bite."
"I need to be at home. Safe and away from the likes of you."
"What have I ever done to make you feel that way? I got you this job, remember?"
Hilary pursed matte red lips and furrowed perfectly penciled brows.
Neil thought it a hot riot when she let anger show. She ignited his desires even more.
"I was waiting for you to put my employment above my head. I knew it! You sure tried to pull the wool over my eyes, testing your time to strike. What do you want? To blackmail me?"
"No Hilary. I just think we could be affable towards one another, be employees that enjoy working together. I don't see why that should be challenging. No one is trying to blackmail you, Sweetheart."
"Fine."
"Don't sound so harsh."
Much later, after rousing Hilary awake, Neil and Hilary stepped off the private jet and took a shuttle to the hotel. Neil continued watching her when she wasn't paying attention, his body stiffened and aching since watching her sleep for hours, beguiled by alluring dewy collarbone and rise of full, moist breasts threatening to escape confines of emerald green blouse. Fullness of motherhood astounded him, birthing daydreams of their children. His growing need, quiet and pulsing, lessened just a bit when her lips called Devon's name out, singing his moniker like a lovebird's serenade. Neil hoped that would be the last time her "secret boyfriend" would be mentioned.
In the shuttle, she was still exhausted, but kept her eyes focused on the window, touching some necklace on her throat.
"Just one more thing to get rid of," Neil thought nastily, watching gold polished fingernails hovering to jewel and belly.
At the Westin, the sweet front desk clerk told him the magical words.
"There is only one room?" Hilary screamed, not feeling under the spell yet.
"Well, I see no problem with that," Neil said.
She looked at him with the devil blazing in her eyes.
"What?" He said, chuckling. "The room has a couch too. I will sleep on that."
As they walked up to the elevators, the front desk clerk winked at him and he grinned in return.
"You get some sleep okay," Neil told her, letting her in the elevator with the luggage cart. "You need some sleep."
"Yes, you're right," Hilary sighed, yawning, definitely in no mood to argue anymore.
"And trust me, sleep is important, especially in your case."
"What case?"
"I already know."
"Know what?"
"That you're pregnant, Hilary."
The elevator doors shut on her shocked expression.
He grinned, walking away to give the front desk clerk exactly what she wanted.