Power and Deception

Wheeler Estate: Napa Valley

Lauren sneaks quietly down the stairs. Her head is throbbing and she knows that Julia is going to confront her about firing Jake. As she tried to avoid any noise, Jake’s voice bellows from behind her.

“She’s not here.”

“What do you mean? Where is she?”

“In Los Angeles. She flew out last night.”

“Why would Julia want to go to LA? Oh I see. She’s trying to dig something up on me?”

“I have no idea Lauren. Possibly. Why? You got something to hide?”

“Of course not. But I am fed up with her constant scheming. Why can’t she just let it go? She doesn’t own the company any more.”

Jake smiles “You never know…”

Beverly Hills Hotel: Los Angeles

As David showers, Julia begins making preparations for the day. But last night is playing on her mind. She was sure she spotted Guy coming out of Cassie’s room but did not want to seem paranoid. She would have to deal with her daughter-in-law to be later.

David comes out of the bathroom in a white flannel robe, rubbing his hair dry.

“So. What have you got planned for today then?”

“Something you’re gonna love. I’ve decided there is a better way of getting to Lauren than finding out about her past.”

“Oh yeah? How?”

“Mark Fielding. His publisher is in LA right? Well let’s see what we can do…”

Wheeler Corporation: San Francisco

Lauren is now sitting in her office going through files to make sure that Julia’s spy Nick Remick did not do too much damage. Luckily she seems to have fired him just in time. Placing the manila files back into her filing cabinet, Lauren is caught off guard by a knock at the door and drops them on the floor.

“Damn. Come in.” she says as she falls to the ground picking them up. It is her secretary Flo.

“Good morning Mrs Erikson. There is a Stephanie Elliott here to see you.”

Lauren searches her mind to think who it could be. Elliott…the only Elliott she knows is Douglas’ lawyer David. Maybe she is some relation of his.

“Send her in.” she mutters closing the filing cabinet door. An attractive middle aged woman enters rather nervously and Lauren beckons her to sit down.

“Thankyou.”

“I don’t seem to sound rude…but can I ask who you are exactly?”

“Stephanie Elliott. David Elliott’s wife. I came to you because…well I really don’t know what else to do.” A tear falls down her left cheek and Lauren is stunned.

“Well I really don’t know your husband very well Mrs Elliott. I don’t know how I could help you.”

“Is he sleeping with her?”

“What?? Sleeping with who? Mrs Elliott you’re not making much sense.”

“That bitch Julia. Your sister-in-law. He’s sleeping with her isn’t he.” Lauren’s mind rushed to think of what she should say when her eyes fall to her desk and Stephanie’s hand toying with her letter opener.

“I don’t know. Julia has just been widowed…”

“You think that makes a difference? You think she cares that her husband is dead? That woman doesn’t care about anybody. She has no integrity, no morals. She is like poison and I won’t let her ruin my family.” Stephanie’s eyes flash with anger.

“Don’t do anything stupid. You don’t know for certain that Julia is sleeping with your husband. You need proof before you can start throwing accusations like this around…”

Stephanie stands and grabs the letter opener pointing it at Lauren. “I have all the evidence I need. And I’m gonna make her pay.” Lauren flinches as she slams the knife down into her desk and walks out of the office. Pondering whether to call security, Lauren decides to call David since Julia is in LA.

“Hello can I speak to David Elliott please?”

“May I ask who’s calling?”

“It’s Lauren Erikson from the Wheeler Corporation.”

“Oh sorry Mrs Erikson. Mr Elliott isn’t here at the moment. He’s in Los Angeles.”

Lauren gasps when she hears this and drops the phone onto the hook. Julia is having an affair with David.

Capital Publishing: Los Angeles

Julia strolls directly into the office of Mark’s publisher Keith Cannell. He closes the door.

“Mrs Wheeler. Do you have the money?”

“Yes I do.”

“So what do you want me to do to get it.”

“It’s simple. I want you to fire Mark Fielding’s editor.”

“What?? You’re crazy. They’ve been working together since he started writing…”

“That’s not my problem. It’s yours. I have a replacement so there’s no problem there.”

“Mrs Wheeler this is highly unorthodox…”

“As am I.” Julia leans forward displaying her assets in a last ditch bid to persuade him. “So I want Mark Fielding’s editor fired by 12 o’ clock today.”

Wheeler Corporation: San Francisco

Lauren relaxes in her seat after taking aspirin for a headache. Her mind is racing after the revelation that David and Julia are sleeping together. She has realised that David must have been involved in the will switching with Julia when Mark enters the office.

“Hi honey.”

“Mark! What are you doing here?”

“I came to see my beautiful fiancée.”

“That’s sweet.” Lauren watches as Mark’s eyes are diverted to the slash in her desk.

“You piss someone off?” he asks incredulously.

“Oh God Mark I have no idea. David Elliott’s wife came in here this morning ranting and raving about him having an affair with Julia.”

“And she did this?”

“Yep. It’s her handiwork. I thought she was going to use it on me but luckily she left. She is one unstable woman Mark. I just hope she doesn’t come back again.”

“So do I.” Mark walks behind Lauren’s desk and plants a kiss on her lips.

“What was that for?” she giggles.

“Let me think. I was bored.”

“Oh that’s a good reason.” Both laughing they embrace.

Wheeler Estate: Napa Valley

A storm is brewing in the distance as Julia returns to the estate after her trip to LA. The house is empty as she arranged, ready for her meeting with her newest employee. The power has been cut and candles are sparsely situated around the mansion. A young, attractive woman is seated on a chaise longue in the drawing room. Morgan Janssen is a former prostitute whom Julia and David found in Los Angeles.

Julia sits down. “Good evening Morgan.” She lights up a cigarette.

“Julia. I don’t quite understand what you want me to do. I know it has something to do with your sister-in-law Lauren. That is all David told me on the plane.”

“Yes it is.” Julia inhales, “My troublesome sister-in-law has a fiancé, Mark Fielding. He is a writer. I doubt you’ve heard of him.”

“No.”

“Didn’t think so. Neither had I until he arrived on my doorstep with her. Anyway, it appears from research that David carried out in LA that Mark has quite an eye for the ladies. So we fired his previous editor, and want to replace her with you.”

“Me? I don’t know the first thing about…”

“Yes Morgan I know. That is why I have hired someone who will do all the important work for you. Your job…is to seduce Mark Fielding for $300 000. Is that enough?”

“Definitely. But I’m not sure about this. What about his fiancée?”

“She is incidental. Don’t get struck by sentiment. Just take the money and do the job.”

Morgan uncomfortable replies, “Fine. I’ll do it. When do I start?”

Guy's Apartment: Napa City

It is an undesirable apartment in an unsavoury area of the city but Cassie accepts it to get closer to Guy. They are lying in bed after the sunset waiting for the impending storm.

Guy is the first to speak, “Do you love Jake?”

“What?”

“Do you love him?”

“Well, I…”

“Love his money.”

She looks at him and laughs, “Oh you’re getting to know me so well.”

“Well who wouldn’t? He’s got to be worth millions right? I mean you’d be crazy to pass up that much money.”

“Sometimes I think I am crazy anyway getting involved with that family. If it weren’t for the money I would not be involved with Jake at all. What with his bitch mother and blubbering sister, I sometimes just want to leave.”

Guy pulls himself out of bed and walks to the drinks cabinet situated opposite the bed. He pours two glasses of scotch and gives one to Cassie before lighting up a cigarette.

“Is there a prenuptial agreement?”

Cassie sits up and smiles, “No. Jake realises the so-called depths of my love for him. Prenuptial agreements would take the romance away.” The pair laugh and she continues. “I wouldn’t marry him if he had one. There would be no point. Mind you Julia is pushing him into it…”

“What?”

“Julia wants him to get a prenuptial agreement.”

“And will he go along with it?”

“I don’t know. He usually does what she tells him.”

“Then marry him.”

“What??”

“Marry him. Marry him now before he can draw one up. Before Julia poisons his mind against you.”

“Now? But we need to plan so much…”

“Take him to Vegas. It’s the only way Cassie.”

* * *

Jake parks outside the shabby apartment building in Napa City with Guy’s paycheque in hand which Julia told him to deliver. He looks around suspiciously expecting someone to steal the car but leaves anyway and climbs the stairs to Guy’s apartment. As sirens wail in the distance, he walks down the dimly lit hallway filled with oil lamps because of the power failure. The sound of thunder begins to roll as Jake notices that the door to Guy’s apartment is open. Envelope in hand he gently pushes it further and as a lightning bolt strikes outside and clap of thunder rocks the building, he sees them. Guy lying in bed naked with Cassie. His fiancée. His true love. Sickened he jumps back before they can see him and runs down the corridor.

Dan's Tavern: Napa City

Another anonymous face in the bar. He sits in the corner with glasses spread around him lamenting the dreams that are now lost forever. Jake Wheeler grabs his bottle of scotch and pours the burning amber liquid down his throat in an attempt to dull his senses…and make him forget. As the noise continues around him, Jake collapses to the floor in darkness.

Wheeler Estate: Napa Valley

Julia watches as her chauffeur drives Morgan out of the estate and the limousine speeds away into the distance. The rain is beating heavily and constant thunder robs her of any peace.

Suddenly there is a SMASH. Stunned, Julia runs towards the noise. In the dining room, glass is shattered on the ground and rain pours through the broken window. She looks around her, senses alert hoping to hear anything. But as lightning strikes a figure clad in black runs past her outside heading towards the kitchen. Julia realises that the kitchen door is unlocked and hurtles through the house to keep the assailant out. She stops dead in her tracks and gasps in horror. The door is open, flinging on its hinges, creaking.

She looks around to see if anyone is in the room with her and races to the open door, slamming it shut. Darkness fills the room and the crash of thunder hits Julia’s ears. Then she hears a voice,

“Hello Julia.”

She spins round as lighting crashes illuminating the face of her intruder. It is Stephanie.

“I think it’s time we had a talk. Don’t you?”

Next on Power and Deception

Stephanie terrorises Julia and a game of cat and mouse begins...

Cassie and Guy put their plan into action...

Jake’s drinking takes a dangerous turn...

Stephanie is determined to prove her husband’s infidelity...

Morgan puts Julia’s plan in motion...

Lauren makes a disturbing discovery...

Episode 4