Nolan's Matte Red Buggati left New York City airport VIP parkway. Every day when he makes his way through the city traffic to reach LeMarshall office, it feels irritating. But with Amanda by his side, today this ride felt different. And the fact that his plan was to spend a fun day with her, he already felt rejuvenated. All the frustration and tiredness of day to day life was gone – for both of them. His cell phone kept buzzing. But he did not answer. Honestly, he did not care. It was his day. He wanted to make the most of it. Rather than worrying about deals, company shares, and magazine covers, he wanted to care about some real things. Things like making Amanda feel good. A wicked part of his mind already started saying 'make her feel so great about the day that she never feel like leaving Hamptons and you.' His logical mind shut the thought up. His phone still kept buzzing.

'Take it. Maybe it's important' said Emily.

'I don't care' said Nolan indifferently. Part of his mind still fighting the other.

'Nolan, it is just a phone call.'

Nolan finally put his quarreling mind to rest and looked at his phone. He closed his eyes in irritation and received it. 'Brenda, I made it clear that no meeting, no phone today.'

He put the phone on the loudspeaker as he was driving. A voice came from another side, 'I'm sorry Sir. But Mr. Yang is here and he wants to talk to you.'

'What? Okay, connect him.' Irritation prominent on his face.

They heard a beep sound. The Korean investor's voice came next. 'Good morning Mr. Ross.'

'Good morning Mr. Yang. I'm really sorry for the inconvenience. But I'm struck in this urgent thing. So I can't meet you today.'

'I'm sorry Mr. Ross but my time has value. If you can't have this meeting today, then, unfortunately, I'll have to pull back my investment.'

Nolan gasped with disbelief and disgust. 'Mr. Yang….' Nolan was about to say something, but Amanda cut him short.'

'Mr. Yang, Mr. Ross will be there in half an hour. I'm sorry for the inconvenience. Thank you.'

She disconnected the call.

'What was that?' Nolan screamed.

'How long will it take?' Amanda asked ignoring Nolan's question.

'Take what?'

'The meeting.'

'2 hours and more. Why did you say I'm coming?'

'Because you are. I'll wait in the office till your meeting is over.'

'Ams!' Nolan said in a hopeless tone.

'Nolan!' she said with bossy tone and eyes.

'Fine' He replied.

He parked his car in the LeMarshall office garage 30 minutes later. He got out of it and walked towards the elevator. Amanda followed him. But suddenly he stopped and turned around to face her.

'Are you sure you want to come in?' said Nolan.

'Yes.'

'Sad. I thought you'll utilize this time to do those things that Amanda Clark doesn't get the chance to do.'

'What do you mean? If you mean visiting Charolette at New York State University then I can't. She's having her exams.'

'Well, I did not mean that.'

She looked at him with curious eyes. He took her left hand into his and opened it with his right one. Amanda looked at him with surprise. He took out a key from his pocket and placed it on her hand. He looked at her and smiled.

'Keys? To what?' she asked curiously.

'Emily Thorne would have found that out.' He pointed towards his car parked in a little distance. 'My cars and jets are always in your service.' He winked and left.

Amanda stood there, clueless about the keys. But one thing she knew for sure. It will unlock something good, something beautiful for her.

Escorted by the jail officer, Margaux entered the prison visitors room. Her hands locked up. She turned back to see if the officer has left the room or not. 'If you're going to tell me about the GiniTech take over by LeMarshall, guess what the news has already reached me', she spoke without even looking at the visitor. There was a broad smile in her face. But it disappeared as soon as she turned to the visitor and found no Nolan standing there. It was 'Emily?' Surprise and disgust, both took her over immediately.

'Hi! It's me.' Amanda said in a soft tone. The tone was so different from the cocky Amanda she has met previously during their revenge days.

'What are you doing here?' From her tone, she clearly hated Amanda as much as before.

'I was in the city. Nolan got stuck in some meeting….' Amanda said with a little nervousness, which is unusual, very much unusual for her.

'Margaux cut her short with obvious assumptions. 'So he sent you because he thought I don't want to be alone today.' She, of course, disapprove this gesture. Her expression made that clear.

'No, he did not. But I thought that..' she continued after a pause, 'That you don't want to be alone today.'

'Oh!' Margaux said in a mocking tone, 'so remember the day?' Her face already getting red with anger.

'Of course, I do.' Amanda's expression insisted even more.

'And still you're here?' tears almost hit her. She choked a little. 'Don't you think you are the last person I would want to see on this day?'

'Yes, maybe.' Amanda sighed. 'Margaux. I'm sorry.' Her voice choked.

'Sorry for what?'

'Two years ago, on this day, it should have been me dying there.' Tears hit her too.

'Yes, it should have been you. And nothing of these should have happened.' She looked around to point to her imprisoned life. Her voice reached its top pitch. 'I should have had a family with Daniel and gave birth to his child.' She stopped. And choked. Amanda's teary eyes brought her karmic senses back. Anger turned to regret. Her breathings started getting longer. 'I guess that's Karma. Right?'

Amanda questioned with her eyes.

'If I would have come clean on that wedding night, told the police that Daniel was also missing from the family pictures at the time of shooting, let him be questioned, this consequences wouldn't have ever followed.' Her condemnation hurt Amanda.

'Margaux, don't do that to yourself. We all cover up for the people we care. I covered up for him too.' Margaux looked at her earnest eyes. Condemn slowly started leaving her face. 'Margaux, I have always believed you're a good person who got caught in this crossfire. And you're that', continued Amanda. Amanda's words came as a relief to her. She settled herself.

Margaux sat in the chair. Amanda followed the gesture. Both the ladies sat facing each other. Rather facing the consequences of their past actions.

'So Nolan sent you here to tell me all these?' a little smile appeared on the corner of her lips.

Amanda smiled in return. 'Sounds so much like Nolan. But, the truth is it was me. I needed someone who can exactly understand how I feel. I started all these to make all of them live in agony for rest of their life. But see what happened. Death freed both the demons and I'm the one living in agony. Regretting all those lives I couldn't save. And guess what, I cannot do anything about that. I thought helping people get justice would help me, but my hands are tied. You know what I think, I am the one who should have been here.' She pointed to Margaux's handcuffs. 'Victoria's plan should have succeeded. Nolan should have let the world see my televised…..' Margaux put her hands on Amanda's to make her stop immediately. She pointed towards the CCTV camera reminding her that they were being recorded. Margaux knew the perils of the statement if she would have made it. She knew what exactly Amanda was going to say. She was talking about how Nolan cut those signals of her televised assassination off with his expertise. That's how she was saved from those attempt of murder charges. If David wouldn't have given himself into the police while Nolan and Amanda were in the hospital, Nolan would have saved him too. But David went to police without even notifying him. Margaux rubbed her hands on Amanda's in a consoling gesture.

'Don't regret. Nothing went as planned' Margaux continued after a brief pause, 'for all of us.' They both looked at each other, sighed. They held each other's hand tighter.

'Your time is over' the officer came in.

Margaux got up and turned to leave.

'Margaux, I want to go through Daniel's things once' Margaux turned to her again. 'If you don't mind.'

Margaux thought for a little and sighed. 'It's in my city penthouse. Nolan has the keys.' She smiled and left with the officer.

Does Nolan have the keys? She took out the keys that Nolan gave her this morning. It occurred to her right then. 'So you gave me the keys to Daniel's belongings?' She smiled to herself.

How could he know her more than she knows herself! How could he all along know what Amanda Clark would want to do on her one free day in the city?

After so many days, the familiar pool looked refreshing. Jack smiled to himself. He walked by the poolside to reach the gate. God! He almost knew exactly how many steps it is going to take for that. 'Missed you my friend.' He murmured. He advanced and took a left. He found the gate open. 'Thank god you're home Nolan.' He murmured again.

'Nolan!' he called out loud as he came in. 'Nolan?' He looked around but did not find him.

Louise came out from one of the rooms. 'Jack!' She was surprised to see him after so many days. A broad smile appeared on her face.

'Louise!' Jack smiled back.

'What a surprise! How are you doing?'

'Me? Fine.' Jack said. 'You?'

'I'm fine too. Are You looking for Nolan? Doesn't look like he's home. I came looking for him too.'

'Ah, You…' Jack pointed to the open door with surprise, 'You have his keys?'

'Yes, I do.' She replied casually. This made Jack smile to himself. He thought of Nolan's past with her for a moment. 'Certain things you can never get out of. No matter what.' He murmured.

'Ah, you said something?' asked Louise.

'Ah, no. Nothing.' He continued to blush. 'Any idea when he'll come back?'

'Nopes. I remember he talked about some meeting today. I think he's gone to the city. Why did not you call him before coming down all over from Alabama?'

'I was in a m….' Mess, he wanted to say. But Louise wasn't exactly the person he wants to discuss all these. Or given to her crazy rapport, he shouldn't discuss it. So he quickly corrected himself. 'I wanted to surprise him.'

'Aww Jack, that's so sweet of you. Too bad that he isn't here for that.' Jack smiled to that. Sometimes she can be really sweet and innocent like a kid. Maybe that's the reason Nolan like to keep her around, he thought to himself. 'Anyway, I got to go. Got something urgent.' Louise said and walked towards the door.

'Yeah, I should be going too.' Jack followed her.

'So what will you do in town?' Louise asked curiously.

'Call on some old friends may be.'

Louise's phone beeped. She checked it quickly. 'If old friend means Margaux, looks like she got her visitor of the day. Though I wonder if Nolan is in the meeting and I'm here, who could be visiting her.'

'I did not mean Margaux but thanks anyway.' Jack smiled and left.

Amanda entered the penthouse. She looked around. It was so well kept. Anyone can tell from its situation that it is maintained regularly. 'Oh, Nolan!' She murmured. Of course, he's the one who sees to it. There cannot be anyone else since Margaux has not got any friends left after the conviction. She looked around again and found the door to the bedroom. She went in. As soon as she switched on the light her mind went blank. A life-size photo of Daniel was lying on the wall just in front of her. She sighed. Tears rose in her cheek. She walked towards it. He looked handsome in the picture, his eyes kind. She ran her fingers on it. Her memories traveled to the day she first met him in Hamptons. A small smile appeared on the corner of her lips when she thought of how she spilled her drink on his jacket. She looked at the photo again. Tears rolled down her cheek.

She looked around. The room was full of Daniel's picture. Daniel with Margaux mostly. Others were from his college days. There was one particular photo where Daniel was writing. It caught her interest. She walked towards the shelf on which it was kept. She took it her hands and observed. 'You should have been a writer. You should have been away from all these.' She murmured. She put it back to its place. She opened the topmost drawer of the shelf out of curiosity. There was album lying in there. She took it out and opened it. Oh God! It was all their pictures. Her and Daniel's. She started crying. It had pictures of all the parties they attended together, picnics they went to. Even some of those simple moments they spent together were captured and kept here. They looked such a happy couple in all these. Holding hands, stare fixed on each other. She shut the album abruptly. She can't do it anymore. Her sobbing continued. When Daniel died, no one let her remain present in his funeral, pay her respect, go through his things. Finally after two years, she got the chance. A sobbing Amanda closed the door behind her and left.

Charolette was on her way to the dorm when she found Jack standing there. 'Jack?' She exclaimed with happiness.

'Hey! How are you?'

'Better than ever. What are you doing here?'

'Came to meet you.' Jack gave an affectionate hug.

'That's so sweet of you Jack.' Charolette smiled. 'Is she here?' Her face doomed.

'You mean your sister?'

'Yes.' Her face doomed even more.

'You still angry with her?'

'It's not anger Jack. It's… what can I say? It's complicated.'

'C'mon Charolette. It's been ages. You know everything. Her reasons…'

'I know Jack. And I did everything I should do for the last living member of my family. I went to the wedding. But if you want me to be that sister to be talking about nail polish, shoes and men, I'm sorry Jack. That's not possible.'

'That's because you don't try.' Jack insisted.

'I don't want to. I'm good here in this university Jack. I've made a life for myself. I have made friends. I have dreams… it's so good here. I don't need anyone else.'

'We all need family.' Life has taught him that very well.

'Family? Unfortunately, for me, that looks like a place where your mother sets your innocent father up and your father kill your mother to save your half-sister. So forgive me Jack if I don't exactly feel the need of one anymore.' Her eyes got moist.

Jack had no answer to this. He placed his hand on her cheek in a caring gesture. 'Take care.' Jack said and left.

Charolette looked around, found her friends standing in a little distance joking and laughing among themselves. One among them looked at her and gestured to join them. She smiled and wiped her tear. She went to join them.

Amanda was sitting idly on her beach sofa flipping through a magazine in which she was not interested. But she didn't found anything else to do.

'This look like good old days!' Nolan said pointing to the view of Amanda sitting in her beach house. She was wearing skin tight jeans and a light pink tank top. The color was little unusual for her, though.
'Nolan!' she was startled a little by seeing Nolan on her door out of nowhere. 'What? You're tracking me?' Earlier in the day, she left the city without informing him.

'Do I need to?' Of course, he didn't. He knew her too well. He could guess very well where she can be at this time of the day. He came in and sat on a chair facing her.

Amanda smiled. 'No, you don't.' Their bond made her emotional. Both of them sitting facing each other, smiling at each other… Oh, she can spend her life like this! A sudden unknown urge hit her. An urge to bury herself into Nolan. She did not know what was happening to her. She wanted to bury her face in his flat chest and cry, she wanted his long fingers to caresses her hair in order to console her. But she did nothing. She sat still, stared at him thoughtfully. Life seemed so full at this moment. Something she never felt in this past year.

Nolan looked around. Found the key he gave to her on the side table. He smiled at that. 'So how was your day?' He already knew in his heart that she has made the use of it.

She came to her senses. She had something important to tell Nolan. And this was the time. 'Can't we free Margaux? Why are you letting her spend days in that orange suit? We both know it won't take much of a trouble to release her.'

'You met Margaux?' Nolan was shocked. He knew she would find out about the keys. But he never thought her path would be through Margaux.

'I did Nolan. And I saw how much she regret everything.' Amanda insisted.

'Do you think I'm letting her be there on my will? She doesn't want to come out. I have tried to talk her into this so many times. But she's stubborn. And I can't do anything without her consent.' Said Nolan. Anyone can say from his face that how much he wants it.

Amanda sighed. There was nothing more to talk about this topic. She looked away from Nolan. Her mind traveled to her time today at Margaux's apartment, among Daniel's things. Nolan looked at her. She was such a pretty sight to look at. But the glimpse of danger in her was gone. The danger that lured Nolan. The danger that used to make him fall for her and afraid of her at the same time. Nolan kept staring at her. There was so much confusion, the dilemma at her face now. Nolan suddenly wanted to hold her face. He wanted to run his fingers through her face. Tell her that be with me and everything will be fine. But he did nothing. He kept himself still and sighed.

'I remember you once asked me where my heart lies in between Jack and Daniel. Why did you always wanted me to be with Jack?'

He knew where this is coming from. 'Because at the given scenario that was the most uncomplicated thing you could have had. You loved him. And he loved you too.'

'Is it?' her voice soft, eyes full of question.

Nolan's expression changed. He knew what she meant. 'Look I understand what you're going through. But honestly, it is the housewife thing that's getting you. Come out Ems. Do what you're best at. Help people get justice.'

'I cannot Nolan. Jack has made it clear that the day I embark on this path again, our relation is over. He's worried about Carl's safety. And he's not wrong. We all know the perils revenge bring in.' She said, helplessness clear on her face.' I feel so struck Nolan. It's like I'm spending my life in a box.' She started to sob.

Nolan was about to say something, but his phone buzzed. He looked at the number and took it hurriedly. 'Yes. What? Wait I'm coming…' he said and put the phone down. 'Sorry babe. I've to go. Revenge calls. Got to hurry. ' His face looked tense. He got up. 'Come with me on this hunch.'

She looked at him with surprise. 'I cannot Nolan.' Her eyes moist. Anyone can tell from her face that how much she wanted to.

Nolan was disappointed. But he said nothing and turned to leave. After taking a few small steps, he suddenly turned. In a blink of an eye, he came back to bend over Amanda. He threw both of his hand to gain support for his body by placing his palms on the back of the sofa. And in a flash of a moment, there they were, Amanda in the middle of his both hand, facing Nolan who is bending over her. Their face so close. It seemed to her that he was about to kiss her. To her own surprise, she did not move, neither turn away. She sat there, her eyes fixed at Nolan's, her breaths long, heart pounding fast. Tension rose in her body. But Nolan's intentions were pious. He wasn't going to kiss her. He just wanted to make sure that their eyes are locked so that she can't escape the words coming next. 'Ever wondered how the feeling of coming out of the box and being that super awesome yourself again is like?' He said and stood up. He winked at her and left.

Emily was still trying to realize what had just happened. Nolan was just trying to intimidate her to emphasize his words. But she anticipated a kiss? How could she even think that Nolan was going to kiss her? Moreover, why did she sat still waiting for it? Nolan is a friend and she is married. This is so wrong. Her heart beat did not show any sign of slowing down. She looked at the door and saw Nolan leaving the house. And with that something but she wasn't so sure what. She closed her eyes and shook her head. She can't let Nolan go. Not now, at this moment.

Nolan got into the car. He was about to start the car when suddenly Amanda opened the passenger side door to get in. She got in, kept her eye straight on the road, too scared and confused to look at Nolan now. Nolan looked at her and said nothing for a moment. He chuckled after a while. She pulled herself together and looked at him. 'So what's on Revengenda tonight?' She said with a faint smile. Nolan started the car.

'-Authors note: *** I took the idea of Charollete studying in NYSU from one of Sunil Nayar's interview***
Now how are you liking it? Please read and review. And stay with me. Things are going to change forever in Hamptons soon.

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