Episode Ten: Blue Review

Previously

The police were no further into catching Jessica's rapist. As Julia seemed preoccupied with her scheme to win back the Wheeler Corporation, Lauren accompanied Jessica to a support group meeting. Julia received a call from her police connection who informed her they had pulled in the rapist. However he killed himself in his cell. Jessica felt guilty at her relief. Michael commended Lauren on helping Jessica but the conversation turned sour when he mentioned Isabelle. Jake was contacted by the Delta Group who demanded three million dollars. Whilst hiding Tommy's Christmas present, David found Stephanie's diary which revealed that she had been adopted.

Hillman Park: San Francisco

Jake sits anxiously on a bench amidst the leafless trees. He has been waiting for half an hour and it is damn cold.

Looking up, he notices a black figure coming towards him. There aren’t many other people around except for a few housewives walking their dogs. This must be him. Jake stands as the man extends a hand and they shake.

"Good afternoon Mr Wheeler." He says, the voice slightly muffled by a black scarf tied tightly around his face. He pulls the scarf away and sits down next to Jake on the bench. "We received the money. Although my boss didn’t appreciate waiting."

"Who is your boss?" Jake blurts out without thinking. An icy glare and hovering silence gives him the answer. Don’t ask.

"What did you want to meet with me for." The representative continues.

"You said you were able to dig up information for my father. I was hoping that maybe you could do the same for me."

"At a price."

"Name it."

"Another three million dollars. Our services don’t come cheap."

Jake is about to voice his opposition towards the extortionate amount of money but he spots a black limousine waiting outside of the park entrance. After what happened to Lauren in New York he does not want to take any chances. "Fine. Three million it is."

"So what do you need information on Mr Wheeler?"

"A man I know. I want you to find out anything you can about his past."

"The name?"

"Guy Richardson."

Elliott House: San Francisco

David hurls himself down the stairs hearing the sound of his wife’s car pulling up in the driveway. He sees her through the glass of the front door putting her key in the lock and watches as bags and luggage come piling into the hallway.

"Can I help?" he asks.

"Yes." Stephanie replies breathlessly. "There’s more in the car."

David walks out to the back of the car and frowns as he surveys the inordinate amount of luggage that his parents-in-law have brought with them for their "short" trip. Robert and Leslie Grainger step out of the car and greet David. Both in their mid sixties, they are every inch the epitome of Boston high style. It’s just a shame they never threw any of their money his way.

"Robert! Leslie! So great to see you."

"Quite." Leslie pulls off her gloves and pats her light gray hair into place. After shaking Robert’s hand, David pulls Leslie into a hug despite her stiffness.

"Let me help you." Robert shouts as David turns to begin dragging in the luggage. He is slightly more human than his wife.

"Thanks." David pulls out a suitcase and follows his haughty mother-in-law indoors. She won’t be so superior for much longer, he thinks to himself.

Wheeler Corporation: San Francisco

Lauren ignores the bustling noise of the foyer and storms into Jake’s office, slamming the door behind her. She is so angry she could explode. Whilst waiting for her nephew, she takes the opportunity to peruse some of his files on Austin Morell but unfortunately there is little to look at.

A few minutes later, a wind-swept Jake finally comes into the office. "What are you doing here?" he barks in a non-welcoming tone as he hangs his coat up on a stand.

"Waiting for you to finally come back here." She taps a pencil on the desk.

"Why?"

"Because I saw what you did in the park earlier."

Jake stands still. "What are you talking about?"

"Your little meeting? With a representative from the Delta Group? My God Jake you must think I am so stupid! Or maybe you just are!"

"Hold on a second. How do you know I was in the park?"

"Because I was watching you. On Michael’s advice actually, after the little stunt you pulled with Austin Morell."

"I didn’t pull any stunt." Jake pushes past Lauren and sits down in his chair. "So what if I was in the park anyway? How could you have seen me? I didn’t see you."

"You did actually. You looked right at me. Remember a limousine waiting outside the park gates? That was me."

"So what is your problem? I met with a Delta Group rep. Big deal."

"Yes it is a big deal! They’re dangerous. You know they tried to kill me in New York and Michael still thinks they had something to do with Nick Remick’s murder. I won’t even mention your father. What makes you so desperate that you have to communicate with them? I thought we were going to try and avoid any further dealings with them."

"You were. I never agreed. They’re useful Lauren. Maybe not to you but they are to me."

"Well when you end up with your legs broken, don’t come crying to me."

"That isn’t going to happen."

Lauren laughs, "Really? Look, I don’t want to see you injured or…dead. Be careful Jake. You don’t want to mess with these people." She leaves the room solemnly and Jake rolls his eyes. He knows a way to really give her something to get annoyed about.

Picking up the phone, he calls a number from his notepad.

Tuscedero Apartments: Napa Valley

Turning off her television, Morgan jumps up to answer the phone. "Hello, Morgan Janssen speaking."

"Morgan, hi it’s Jake Wheeler. I have a proposition for you."

A proposition from a Wheeler? What is she letting herself in for? She hasn't even finished the last job yet… "Okay what is it."

"I want to hire you. As my personal assistant."

Morgan is taken aback. "Why me? I’m an editor, not a PA."

"I know damn well what you are Morgan. My mother does tell me things you know. So how do you feel about it?"

It’s not as if Morgan doesn’t need the money. She desperately does. "Why not? When do you want me?" She looks at her watch.

"Come to my office tomorrow morning at 9 so I can get you up to speed."

"Sure. Bye Jake."

Wheeler Estate: Napa Valley

Julia puts the phone down after a call from Jake. So he hired Morgan? Perfect.

Outside, Cassie is splashing around in the pool so Julia goes out to see her. She tosses Cassie a towel. "Cassie dear? I hate to alarm you but it is winter you know. It won’t do you any good to be in the pool at this time of year."

Cassie doesn’t reply but turns when Julia continues, "And what do you do all day anyway? You’re living off your husband’s generosity. Couldn’t you just get a job or something?"

"Like you, you mean?" Cassie retorts sarcastically, pulling on her clothes.

"I worked at the Wheeler Corporation for years when Jake and Jessica were both at school. You don’t have children so I don’t know why you can’t do the same."

"And how many job openings are there for someone at the esteemed Wheeler Corporation, Julia?"

"I really don’t know. But Morgan managed to get a job there. Remember her?" Julia smiles.

"Yes. What do you mean she got a job there. As what?"

"Didn’t Jake tell you? He hired her as his new personal assistant. Good choice. You know she did wonders for Mark’s book."

"I can imagine. What has this got to do with me?"

"Well why don’t you get a job? Have some independence. Then again, maybe Morgan is just…more able than you."

Cassie chooses to ignore Julia’s vitriolic ramblings and heads upstairs to Morgan’s former bedroom. Some of her possessions are still there and she is sending for them after Christmas. More able my ass.

She goes to the closet and after looking around for any sign of disturbance, ‘accidentally’ rips the arm off one of Morgan’s dresses.

"Hmm." She smiles happily and picks up a bottle of perfume from the dresser. It smashes on the ground as Guy enters.

"What the hell are you doing?" he asks amused.

"Just…looking around."

"Uh huh. Anything interesting in here?"

"Nope. It’s quite boring actually."

Guy decides to join the hunt through Morgan’s belongings and heads towards the open closet. Feeling around inside he spots the glass lens of a video camera and pulls it out.

"Kinky." Cassie comments raising an eyebrow. But Guy is more concerned about that it can do for him.

"Perfect." He whispers before leaving the room.

Cassie follows him down the hallway. "What are you going to do with it?" she inquires.

They both enter Julia’s bedroom and Guy looks out of her window. Julia is outside still. He goes towards her closet and places the camera inside. Then, with precision, he leaves the door slightly ajar.

"Ugh. You’re not going to record her." Cassie crinkles her face.

Guy laughs, "You remember a couple of months ago when David Elliott’s wife attacked Julia in the house?"

"Yes. I found it quite amusing actually."

"Well, what do you think she would do, if she received a video…of Julia having sex with her beloved husband."

Cassie is stunned, "She’d kill her."

"Exactly."

"Guy, you’re not really going to…"

"Yes I am. I told you I’d get rid of Julia sooner or later."

Elliott House: San Francisco

"Dinner’s early." Leslie comments snootily as Stephanie places the food on the table.

"Please start." She sits down opposite David who seems unusually silent. Tommy is talking busily with Robert so Stephanie turns to Leslie. "Mother I thought maybe David and I would take you into the city after we’ve eaten. There are some wonderful shows you might be interested in seeing. Or perhaps just the sites. San Francisco really is beautiful at night."

"Really?" Leslie doesn’t seem remotely interested but nudges Robert’s elbow. "What do you think Robert dear?"

"What?"

"Stephanie said that she and David would take us into San Francisco after we’ve eaten. Does that sound good to you?"

"Why not."

David looks up from his meal and announces, "Sorry. I have an errand to run. I’m afraid I won’t be able to come with you." He ignores Leslie’s disapproving reaction.

However Stephanie speaks up, an angry glint in her eye, "David, surely you can postpone this errand until tomorrow."

"Tomorrow is Christmas Eve."

"What do you have to do Dad? Maybe I can help." Tommy offers.

"No. I have to go to the office and update some paperwork. Cynthia is expecting me."

"Fine." Stephanie slams her wine glass down onto the table and the family continue their meal in silence.

Wheeler Estate: Napa Valley

At eight o’clock, Guy watches from the darkened stables as David walks up the driveway and approaches the house after parking his car inconspicuously in a ditch nearby. As David reaches the front door, Guy looks at an upstairs window and nods at Cassie who is standing there. She knows what to do…

Elliott House: San Francisco

The house is completely empty as Tommy pulls himself slowly down the stairs to get his morning coffee fix. Perhaps he should call Jessica and see if she wants to do something. Realising that it is Christmas Eve, he considers doing some last minute shopping.

Next to the front door, a blank manila envelope lies unopened. Tommy picks it up. No name or address. He feels something bulky inside and opens it to find a videotape. He puts it into the machine and presses play before going to the kitchen to get a cup of coffee.

Two minutes later he returns and drops the coffee cup on the rug. The dimly lit video is all too clear. It shows his father having sex…with Julia Wheeler.

Wheeler Corporation: San Francisco

An amused Jake had watched Lauren’s face in her office across the building when she saw Morgan enter. He always knew Lauren was jealous of her. Now Lauren sits at her desk ignoring the obvious ruse to cause annoyance.

"So do you think you’ve got everything?" Jake asks Morgan gently.

"Yes. Absolutely. If you want to go and see Austin Morell, I can wait here and field any phonecalls."

"Thankyou." Jake smiles and grabs his coat. I’ll be back around midday."

"Great." Morgan closes the door behind him and heads towards his chair at the other side of the desk. But she can’t move…

A black veil of darkness comes over her face as she holds onto the desk for support. It is no use. What is wrong? Maybe I'm just tired.

As she pulls herself to the chair, fighting back a feeling of sickness in her stomach, her legs collapse beneath her and hitting her head on the sharp corner of the desk, she falls to the floor in darkness.

Elliott and Russo Building: San Francisco

David stares worriedly as a hapless Cynthia attempts to stop Tommy from barging into his office.

"It’s okay Cynthia." David intervenes, waving her away with his hand. She leaves and Tommy slams the door.

"You bastard." He spits.

"Don’t talk to me like that! I am your father! What has gotten into you?"

"You tried to make it look like mom was lying. You made her look stupid!"

"Sit down."

Tommy angrily pushes the chair aside and slams the videotape on David’s desk.

"Do you know what this is?" he asks.

David looks bewildered. "No. Tell me."

"It’s a tape of you having sex with Julia Wheeler."

"What?" David begins to sweat, being confronted with this. "That’s ridiculous."

"Really? Well you can watch it. I had the misfortune to."

David gives up. If he is on the videotape there is no point in lying. "Okay. It happened one time."

"Yeah sure." Tommy snorts.

"It’s true! You know your mother and I have been having problems recently. What with her jealousy and everything. Then Julia threatened to get Jake to fire me from an important account as the company attorney. I’m ashamed to say this…but the only reason I slept with her…was for business." Was that convincing?

"Oh don’t talk crap." Tommy fixes his eyes on his father.

"I’m not! Listen, the Wheelers are our biggest client. If they fired me, it could ruin me financially."

"Lauren Erikson is in charge of the company now, not Jake. How could he have the power to fire you?"

"Because weeks ago, he was placed in charge of an important account. Austin Morell, you may have heard of him. That was the most recent account which I was working on."

Tommy looks away. "Even if that was the only reason you slept with her, it was still wrong. You still cheated on mom."

"I know."

Tommy leans over to his father and picks up the tape. "I want you to break it off with Julia. If you do that, I won’t tell mom."

"What about the tape?" David asks, pleased that Tommy bought his story.

"What about the tape?" Tommy responds. And with that he drops it the floor and brings his foot down on it hard, smashing it to pieces.

Outside of the office, Cassie has been listening. She came in when Cynthia left for her morning break. If Stephanie didn’t get the tape, she’d have to warn Guy.

Elliott House: San Francisco

David has returned home for lunch. Stephanie’s car is not in the driveway but he can see her ‘parents’ through the window. Walking inside he calls out to them and goes into the den where Robert is watching television. Leslie is sat reading a book.

"David. I didn’t expect you to come home." Leslie eyes him coldly.

"It’s lunch." He snaps before sitting down. Now is his chance. They stick to Stephanie like glue. If he’s going to find out about her adoption he has to do it now.

"What hospital was Stephanie born in?" David flops down onto a chair as he surveys Leslie lose her composure slightly.

"Why?" she flicks off the television bringing Robert’s attention to the fact that they are being questioned.

"Tommy’s doing a school project, that’s all."

"I don’t see why that is important."

"You don’t know do you?" David laughs. "I know she’s adopted Leslie. But how many other people do. Wouldn’t that cause a shock in your circle of friends? If they found out that your beautiful daughter…isn’t your daughter and that you are barren." David watches as Robert interrupts.

"Look here David. I don’t know how you found this out, but we don’t want anyone else to know. Stephanie agreed never to tell anyone."

"Well I know now don’t I. How easy it would be just to…let it slip next time I was in Boston."

"Why would you do that?" Leslie pleads. It is so satisfying for David to be able to see her like this for once.

"What do you want? Money?" Robert asks disgusted.

"No I don’t want money. What was the story behind her real parents?"

Leslie jumps in, "They were a young couple. Just married. They didn’t have the money to raise a child."

"So Stephanie was sent from one extreme to another." David replies, noting the irony. Money was something the Graingers had never been short of. "What were their names?"

Robert and Leslie remain silent and eye each other so David propositions them. "That is all I want to know. I won’t tell Boston’s high priestesses of society about Stephanie…if you give me the names of her real parents."

Leslie concedes. "They had another son years later but they were killed in a car crash."

"And they were called?" David demands impatiently.

Robert tells him. "Leo and Maureen Fielding."

Next time on Power and Deception

David confides in Julia about Stephanie's parents...

Morgan receives stunning news...

Jake has a nasty surprise in store for Lauren...

Stephanie's Christmas is ruined...

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Episode 11 

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