"Dad and Uncle Gary pulled their mineral rights."
Christopher tossed the file folder down on the table, smirking at his cousin. Bobby spoke up. "Until we get back creative control, not one drop of oil will be pumped off of Southfork." John Ross and Taylor both sent a death glare at them. "Let's sell your methane patent, then. So we don't go bankrupt!" John Ross sent the file folder flapping to the floor, losing his cool. Sue Ellen stood up, placing a hand on her son's shoulder and leading the way out of the conference room with Taylor close behind. Once the three were safely locked in his office, John Ross dropped into his office chair, rubbing his temples. "I'm so sick of them pulling these cards out of nowhere and screwing our plans up. There's gotta be a way to ironlock this deal." Taylor sat on the edge of the desk, crossing her legs as she twirled her ring. "John Ross, there's always a way for us to win. You know that, I know that, your mother knows that. In the end, we'll be the ones on top." She took his hand in hers. "Now where's my smirk?" He slowly let a smirk creep over his face, powerless to resist her. The redhead smirked back, turning to Sue Ellen. "I think he's better now. Now it's time to start planning our revenge." She slid off the desk, walking over to the window and looking out over the city landscape. "This city is going to realize that we're in control, just like your uncle and cousin are. There's nothing to stop us." She seemed to have endless confidence, which rubbed off on her fiance and his mother. "Taylor's right, John Ross. It's time for the rest of this family to find out what we can do once provoked." Sue Ellen shared a smirk with her future daughter-in-law, John Ross laughing.
"I've got two fiery women smirking at each other while scheming to get back at my uncle. Lord help Bobby and Christopher." Taylor looked over her shoulder. "You got that right. They won't know what hit them." Sue Ellen excused herself, Taylor turning back to John Ross. He propped himself up in the office chair, looking at her with a faint smirk. "What do you think Ross'll think of us when he grows up?" His question caught her off guard, but Taylor crossed her arms, smirking as she strutted across the room. "He'll think that his parents and his grandparents were the best thing to ever hit this town. And he'll think even more of us when control of this company gets passed to him and he can gloat over Christopher's brats." Walking around the desk, she sat down on the edge, her haughty attitude never fading.
"Our son will be the most powerful man in Dallas, maybe even all of Texas."
John Ross and Taylor stood at the side of the racetrack, watching the race carefully at a distance and away from the rest of the Ewings. Taylor cradled Ross in her arms, the baby wrapped in blankets to keep him warm. She knew that no matter how happy the family had been at his birth, they would never really accept Ross. He was John Ross's son, J.R.'s grandson, and her son as well. He came from a line of schemers, cheaters, and dirty dealers. And that was the way she liked it. Her son would be the next king of Dallas, the next big oilman. He would have money, power, and he would have it all. Pulling him closer to her chest, she let her eyes return to the race, praying that something would malfunction and Ricky would lose. She couldn't stand the thought of Christopher and Elena flaunting anything else in her and John Ross's faces. Ross had changed things. Now Elena looked at Taylor with jealousy, wishing she could be a mother like Taylor was. Sure, Christopher was about to be a father, but she wasn't the one having the baby. It was unfair.
Across the track, these were the very thoughts in Elena's mind. Her eyes kept drifting to the redhead, holding the baby in her arms. It was unfair. John Ross and Taylor were manipulative, cheating, play-dirty liars. They deserved each other, but not a baby. Ross would grow up just like his father, and become another John Ross, another J.R. Hell, he even had the same name. That was about a curse if she ever heard one. Rebecca was having Chris's babies instead of her. Trying to get her mind back on the race, she took a deep breath, watching the race again. She cheered on Ricky, pushing him to win this and prove John Ross wrong. The entire clan was here, and it would be a huge embarassment if the methane fuel didn't work out.
The cars went a final lap, and the checkered flag dropped.
Christopher had won the race.
John Ross and Taylor returned to the office, sitting in the dark, Taylor soothingly rubbing John Ross's shoulders as he drank. They stared in silence out the penthouse window, only broken by John Ross's phone ringing. It was J.R.. John Ross's voice was void of emotion as he spoke. "Christopher won the damn race. Don't bother the lecture. You can't tell me anything I haven't already told myself. There's a meeting tomorrow with the DCT. We're gonna fix this." J.R. spoke solemnly. "Just remember, I'm proud of you, you're my son. Don't worry, I've got a plan. This is going to be my masterpiece. You shouldn't have to pay for my sins." John Ross was speechless, tears building in his eyes as Taylor silently started to cry. "Thank you, Daddy. That means a lot coming from you." There was a brief pause, then the sound of two gunshots. John Ross jumped out of the chair he was in, his voice helpless as he called for his dad through the phone.
"J.R.?! DAD?! DADDY!"
There was no answer.
He dropped the phone, turning to Taylor, who stood frozen with tears streaming down her face. "John Ross..." He didn't reply, just walking over and nearly collapsing into her arms. She sank slowly to the floor, John Ross limp and sobbing in her embrace. Taylor hugged him as tight as she could, her own tears falling. Sitting against the wall, she just saw and hugged John Ross to her, praying to God that this was just a mess up, that J.R. was fine.
But the sinking feeling in her stomach told her the truth.
It was all over.
Hell was about to break loose in Dallas.