Later that afternoon as Hope is taken home by Brooke, Antonio arrives at Bills office, surprised at the visit Bill tells his secretary to let him in.
"Antonio," he says as he comes around his desk to shake his hand. "It's good to finally see you, were you looking at a meeting now?"
Antonio shakes his head, "This is a personal visit," he says with narrowed eyes.
Bill immediately see's the dangerous glint in the man's eyes and frowns, "Personal? What's going on?"
Antonio studies him for a moment, "you honestly don't know?"
A now thoroughly confused Bill shakes his head, "I've got no idea."
Antonio then launches in an explanation of Beths true paternity and how his daughter, Caterina, is her real mother, and that Hope Logan, and Bills son Liam, have been raising her illegally.
Bill is gobsmacked, he goes over and pours a couple of drinks, giving one to Antonio as he returns.
"I knew about Beth of course, Liam is living with me now, and trust me when I say, he had no idea, and was as shocked as the rest of us. After he found out from Steffy he headed straight over to Brooke and Hopes to find out what the hell was going on. The police were already there and had found out that it was Brooke who hadn't bothered to get the DNA test done and had just told everyone she did. Neither Hope nor Liam knew anything about it, Hope collapsed and ended up in hospital for the night, and Liam brought Beth back to my place. I knew that she was Marius' sister, but I had no idea he is your son?"
Antonio snorted, "He has used his mother's maiden name since he first enrolled in design school, instead of business school as I wanted, and since then he's basically kept me as far away from his life as possible, as a punishment for not supporting him with his career. I doubt many people realise the truth unless he tells them, and Caterina has been in America for the last five years, and it's not exactly like our name is uncommon."
Bill grunted, "Kids, they have no idea."
Antonio nodded and finished his whiskey. "Marius has an idea for introducing Caterina to her daughter, he wants a psychologist to be there to help, he is recommended by Steffy Forrester as he is helping her brother and his son."
Bill nodded, "Dr Harris? He's good, and if he can help that loon Thomas get his head on straight than that pretty much proves his credentials. As to Douglas, well, that's another of Hope and Brooke Logans victims, I'm just glad that Thomas is getting that kid some help too, he must have come a long way."
Antonio's eyes narrowed, "so, these Logan women have made a habit of stealing other people's children?" he asked quietly.
Bill grimaced, "there's a bit more to it than that, trust me. Thomas wasn't exactly the pin-up boy for good mental health back in those days, not that I blame him, given who he was raised by. But they did use every trick in their arsenal to get the kid, and Thomas did get really whacko there for a while, still, it looks like it's all getting resolved now."
"And this Steffy Forrester? She says she is sorry for her inadvertent part in all of this, can we believe her?" Asked Antonio
Bills face relaxed into a smile, "Steffy, Steffy is an amazing woman, beautiful, talented, brave, resourceful, driven, and a loving mother. If she says she is sorry, then believe her. What you see is what you get with her."
Antonio raised his eyebrows, "you seem . . . quite taken with the woman."
Bill smiled ironically, "Antonio, there isn't many men with a working pulse that aren't. Unfortunately, she has no interest in me, or my son Liam – her ex-husband - that I can see. I do think that she and your son Marius confide in each other though, they seem to be becoming . . . closer," he added with a frown.
Bill poured them each another drink as Antonio muttered, "Thank you, that is a good to know. I'll admit, Caterina was very relieved when Steffy told her of her love for her daughter, Bella, and of the home she'd made for her. It seemed to relieve a fear she had been keeping buried within her, but knowing her daughter has been loved all her life has relaxed something, a tension that I don't think even she knew was inside of her. Which reminds me, if Caterina is to have her daughter back, then I think I might have to buy a property here, so that we all have a decent house to live in for when her daughter Bella is returned to her. She will need her family with her, at least for a time, and Marius' little rental certainly isn't big enough for all of us."
Bill handed him his re-filled glass, "I may be able to help you there. My ex-wife Katie has just put her house up for sale, it's right next door to the Forrester place, it's also fully furnished, so it's move in ready for you, and if you get a short-term or immediate settlement you can basically be in there tomorrow. Hold on, I've got the details here."
He went over to his phone and pulled up some information for Antonio before sending it directly to his phone. Antonio nodded, frowning slightly as he flicked through the real estate information with interest.
"Thank you, it looks quite suitable for my purposes, and not having to furnish it will be an added bonus. I shall get onto this immediately."
He paused a moment, looking at Bill speculatively before he added,
"I also have another idea, although this one may seem a little strange, and I will have to run it by Cat and the psychologist she's hiring first."
He told Bill his idea, Bill frowned thoughtfully. "Actually, that sounds good, just tell me when you decide what to do, and if it's a go I'll set it in motion. I think Liam will be grateful."
Antonio set his now empty glass down and extended his hand, "Thank you Bill, this has gone much easier than I expected. I appreciate it."
Bill, shrugged and smiled as he took the other man's hand. "If our kids only knew what we go through for them!"
Antonio smiled, pleased with the outcome of his and Bills little talk. "Arrivederci Bill, I'll get back to you as soon as I see Dr Harris this afternoon."
After he left Bill sat back down thinking, perhaps this all might turn out alright in the end. After all, now that he and Antonio were making some decision for their wayward kids then things were now looking decidedly brighter! Onwards and upwards. He thought s he dragged the next business file towards him.
Meanwhile Hope has arrived back home with Brooke . . . .
As Hope is sitting on the couch debating whether to call Liam and demand Beth return immediately there is a knock at the door, and Deacon enters.
"Hope? I just heard the news! Why didn't someone tell me, I should have been there for you, yet I had to learn what happened from Taylor! Why the hell didn't Brooke ring me?" he said as he walked over to her quickly.
Hope stood and started to cry again, "Dad," she sobbed, as was enfolded in her fathers arms, just as Brooke returned with a tray of tea.
"Deacon?" said Brooke in surprise, "what are you doing here?"
"I've come to support my daughter! Why didn't you tell me what had happened!" He snapped. "Why did I have to find out from Taylor?"
He held Hope away from him slightly. "Are you okay honey?" he asked gently.
Hope nodded and looked at her mother, "there was so much going on dad, we just didn't think, and then after everything that happened at the hospital . . . " she trailed off.
Deacon looked totally bewildered so he turned to Brooke who quickly informed him of everything that had occurred, from Hope finding out she was pregnant, and then of the results of both paternity tests and of Liams reaction.
Deacon sat on the settee with a bit of a thud. "Sweet mother of God. This is too much." He murmured softly.
"We need money Deacon, and a lot of it, but just until Hopes money that she'll win from Steffy comes through." Said Brooke plaintively. "I've hired some great lawyers for Hopes case against both Steffy and for her to retain custody of Beth, but they're very expensive and we're both overextended as it is, and this custody fight will cost a literal fortune if this girl doesn't see some sense and give up her claim to Beth."
"No!" said Deacon abruptly.
"What?" said Brooke in annoyance.
"You can't fight this case, because you can't win. For gods sake, do you even know who Beths biological mother is?"
Brooke and Hope both nodded, looks of distaste on their faces.
"Cat, Marius' sister." Snarled an outraged Hope.
"And do you know who Cat and Marius' god-damned father is?" asked Deacon.
Hopes face went blank for a moment before she finally remembered her long ago conversation with Marius, her mouth formed a moue of surprise as recollection finally hit.
"Who?" demanded Brooke.
Deacon quickly filled her in on everything he knew about Antonio before adding, "Brooke, you and Hope will be lucky if all he does is get Beth back for his daughter. If he thinks you might have done this on purpose, and he decides to seek retribution, then there will be nothing anyone can do to protect either one of you. I will beg him for Hopes sake of course, but if you decide to fight him." He turned and grabbed Hopes hand as she had sat beside him earlier, "honey, he will not only win, because he has deep pockets and more influence than you could possibly hope to imagine, but you will only be provoking him. And trust me, he is not a man you want to provoke, especially if his family is involved - ever!"
Brooke scoffed, "Deacon, you must be exaggerating, if I go and talk to him, I'm sure we could come to some arrangement!"
Deacon glared up at her. "For gods sake Brooke, this isn't someone you can seduce into getting what you want! This isn't Ridge, bloody, Forrester! You go to him, or you try to fight him, then all you'll be doing is endangering my daughter's life, as well as that as my unborn granddaughter, and I won't let you do that!"
He turned back to Hope, "Hope honey, I know I haven't always been the best father to you, but trust me, this may be the one time in all my life that I actually know what I'm talking about. Please, I beg of you, don't let Brooke endanger you, and if that doesn't sway you than think of the child you have growing inside you! Don't let Brooke endanger your daughter, because trust me, you go through with this foolishness, that's exactly what you'll be doing."
"You think I'd endanger my daughter?" yelled Brooke, now thoroughly incensed.
"SHUT. UP! The pair of you. Screamed Hope as she grasped the sides of her head. "I need time to think, I need time to try to sort all of this through, so both of you, please, just leave me alone!"
With that Hope stood and walked out the patio entrance leaving Brooke and Deacon alone together.
Deacon stood and walked to the door before he turned back to Brooke.
"I know you're angry Brooke, and I know you want to get Beth back for Hope, but if you try, you'll lose, and not only will you lose, but you will endanger Hope and her unborn child. I know you don't want to believe me, mainly because you've always been able to turn on the charm and manipulate your way out of problems, especially if a man is involved, but not this time Brooke. Antonio Veron is a whole new kettle of fish, and he right out of your league."
He paused a moment as he opened the door. "I'm not afraid of much, you know that Brooke, but Antonio Veron . . . he scares the bejeebers out of me."
With that he walked out, leaving Brooke staring at the now closed door. She picked up her phone and called Katie, hoping that maybe Carter had some information on Antonio Veron so she could judge if Deacon had been telling her the truth or not. Fifteen minutes later she hung up the phone, her face drawn as she finally began to realise what she and Hope were up against.
To put it mildly, they were screwed.