Hi there, it's me, your friendly local FanFic author 😊 So, a couple of questions I've been asked.

First, I've no firm idea's yet of what I'm going to do with Felicia, and her son Dom, as I said earlier, I mostly just make this up as I go along. As to Marius and Cats father and brother, (Antonio Snr and Jnr), yes, I have a vague idea floating around in my head about them and why they'd arrive, but that's yet to fully "materialize" in my brain, and it also depends on whether or not I am still interested in continuing the story, and more importantly, whether or not people are still interested in reading it.

Some may be wondering why I have gotten rid of characters and pretty much kept the same sets Bell has. Truthfully I wanted to create – my version – of B&B with-in the same parameters that his writers are working under, pretty much to see if I could do any better with-in the budgetary restraints he obviously has. Personally, I wanted some drama brought back in, fashion shows brought back to the fore, and I really, REALLY, wanted to be driving that erratic Karma train when it arrived for some characters I've grown bored to death with -lmao.

So – I hear the train a comin

It's rollin round the bend

I ain't had no Karma since

I don't know when.

Now, on with our story . . .

She ran! She had no idea where she was going, she just had a bone deep need to escape, to hide. Tears fell as her mind went back to Liam, the realisation of what she'd done, quickly followed by the shock and pain etched across his face as he'd stared up at her

For just a moment she'd forgotten where she was and she'd tried to explain, she tried to make him see it wasn't like he thought, it wasn't her fault, but the sudden glare of flashing light bulbs from photographers finally cut through her own shock and horror, and she realised that by her stumbling and desperate pleading, she'd just, rather effectively, confirmed to the world that everything Steffy had just accused her of was true. So, she'd done the only thing left open to her, she'd turned and ran, desperate to escape the pain and scalding humiliation that was being forced upon her.

She pushed past people backstage, uncaring of anyone in her way, her eyes so filled with tears she barely saw them. She continued running for what seemed like forever, until finally she found herself in a long corridor just near what she vaguely recognised as the kitchen area of the hotel. It was then she finally saw what she was looking for, a red exit sign. By the time she burst through the exit into a wide alley she was panting heavily. To the left she could see people walking along the main street, to the right the alley continued on until it reached another seemingly quieter street. With no idea of where she was heading, just a determination to become "lost", she joined them, this time slowing to a quick walk.

At peoples looks she swiped her eyes and kept her head down, she just needed to get away, and that was going to prove difficult because she had no money, she ducked into a small alcove beside a department store to try to think.

She'd left her phone with Liam, she had no money or cards on her, she was alone with no idea of what to do. Everything felt as if it were closing in on her, she was barely able to keep the blind panic she felt clawing at her mind at bay. She looked up, noticing a hospital in the distance. Finn, she could see Finn and get him to call her a cab, perhaps pay for it, he owed her that much, and so much more after what he'd done.

"He betrayed me!" she muttered in a low breath, "But why? How long has Steffy known?"

Obviously, she'd known long enough to plan this little surprise for her, to raise her hopes to their highest level, to make her truly believe she was finally going to become just as respected and loved as Steffy herself was, all before pulling the rug out from under her life, her world.

"God, I hate her." She spat, noticing a woman and child veering away from her as she spoke.

She looked back at the hospital, she had questions, and at the moment Finn was the only one that could give her some answers. Once she had them, she could begin to formulate a plan to get Liam back, to make him understand that she'd been drunk, that it was a mistake, a momentary madness that would never be repeated. One thing at a time, she looked back up at the distant hospital and started to walk.

Two hours later she was sitting in Finn's office glaring at him. Her walk had proved to be much longer than she had anticipated, and her feet hurt with what she knew would be a mountain of freshly burst blisters. The stiletto shoes she'd worn were not meant for walking, she wondered idly if this was why Steffy had insisted that she, Hope, had dressed for height, saying she wanted people to think of elegance and class when they thought of Hopes new line. Hope's eyes narrowed in rage, she now realised that Steffy had more likely wanted her to stand out, to be the centre of attention so she could be more easily photographed, her cruelty and viciousness was staggering!

"Why did you tell her Finn? You promised me, we had a deal that no one would ever know! Did you know what she'd do, what she was planning?"

Finn looked at Hope for a long moment, "Honestly? I told her because Liam deserves to feel every bit of the pain that he's put me through. Him and his precious holier than thou attitude! As to Steffy, I had no idea she'd pull something like this."

An ironic smile flitted across his face as he continued. "I've already had to have the switchboard hold all nonessential calls for me." He raises his eyebrows as he looks at her. "I can just picture what they're going to do to you once they get you in their sites, let alone what will happen when you turn up to after this. It won't be a pretty site I imagine."

Hope shuddered, she hadn't even thought of that, she reaches across and grabs Finns phone as he looks at her in surprise. Without even thinking she quickly dials her secretary's number, once she answers Hope is brief and to the point.

She tells her to go to her desk where she knows she still has her letter of resignation already signed and ready to go from several weeks ago, before Marius had talked her out of her plans. She informs the woman to take it straight to Felicias office and give it to her personally, with the message that she will make them pay for what they've done to her. After she hangs up, she stares back at Finn.

"Thanks, at least that's one problem solved, now, how the hell do I get out of this? Finn, can you speak to Liam for me? You can tell him we were both drunk and didn't know what we were doing? Please Finn, I can't lose my line, and my husband all on the same day!"

Finn shrugs, "No! Hope, whether you believe it or not you're much better off with-out him. You know it's true! Take your daughter and leave him, get out while you can!"

Tears began to fall down her cheeks again, "Oh, and I bet that that's exactly what Steffy wants! She wants to break me so I just go away quietly, all so she can move back in on my husband!" She shakes her head as the tears continue to fall. "I won't have it Finn, I won't let her take everything from me!"

Finn shrugs, "Then I guess there's nothing left to say, but don't tell me I didn't warn you Hope. Liam Spencer isn't worth it, not to you, not to any woman!"

Hope stands then quickly explains her other predicament, Finn shoves a fifty dollar note across the desk for her. "I'll call you a cab so it's waiting for you when you get to the front entrance.

Hope nods in appreciation "Thanks, I'll pay it back tomorrow." And with that she turns and leaves.

As she's walking to the front entrance, she see's the cab arrive and hurries forward, keen to get home, but as the doors to the hospital slide open an odious little reporter jumps towards her, she recognises him as the same one that accosted her in the carpark at Forresters, the same one that set this whole nightmare in motion.

"Mizz Logan, Mizz Logan," he screams as he runs forward.

This time Hope doesn't hesitate, panicking she runs for the cab as the horrible little man runs after her shouting vile questions, asking if her mother advised her on her actions, does she feel like she's a cheap whore, given her actions, asking how her husband feels about what she did, and how often has she done this, then worse, does she plan to tell her child.

Wrenching the cabs door open, she screams at him to get away from her and leave her alone as she jumps into the back seat. Shaking uncontrollably, she quickly gives the driver Donna's address, instinctively knowing there might be more reporters waiting for her the house, she'll be safe from them with her Aunt Donna, Beth was there, and Cat! Cat, yet another who was going to be answering some questions.

Closing her eyes against the unrelenting pain she's feeling, she huddles down in the back seat crying and hugging herself for comfort, until they arrive at her destination. Throwing the money at the driver she quickly climbs out and staggers to the front door.

She was finally safe.