Power and Deception

Elliott and Russo Building: San Francisco

It is morning and sunshine showers San Francisco as Julia steps off the elevator on the 22nd floor. Cynthia is at her desk and smiles hoping to engage in conversation. However Julia ignores her and walks straight past into David’s office. He is sitting at his desk making a phonecall. When Julia bursts in, he quickly ends the conversation.

“Well, Julia, what are you doing here?”

“I’ve come to make you an offer you can’t refuse.”

“No doubt about the Wheeler Corporation.”

Julia smiles, “You’re so astute David. Yes about the Wheeler Corporation. You know how determined I am to get it back. My name is Julia WHEELER hence I think I should be running the WHEELER corporation. Michael is an incompetent fool and Lauren abandoned the family a long time ago.”

“Wasn’t that around the time you moved into the mansion?”

“Don’t be smart David but it’s not a secret there is no love lost between me and my seemingly illustrious sister-in-law. I want the company and you better make damn sure I get it.”

David rises from his chair a little uneasy, “I don’t see a way to do that. Someone is already on to us. They switched the wills over remember…”

“We need a way to make Lauren embarrass herself in front of the board of directors. She has to seem unable to perform well in her position. The way I was thinking of doing that…was planting a spy.”

“A spy? Very cloak and dagger.”

Julia sighs, “We plant someone in the corporation who can work for us. Pick up on any mistakes Lauren makes or…if she doesn’t make any, they can make some for her.”

“Hmm I like it. So how are you going to persuade me to help you?”

“Well I have my ways.” Julia begins to unbutton her blouse and tosses her blonde hair back. Grinning, David closes the drapes and slams the door shut.

Wheeler Estate: Napa Valley

Lauren sits alone by the side of the pool. Dressed in a stylish beige suit she looks every bit the assertive businesswoman…a role she has been thrown into very quickly. As she drinks her coffee and skims through the morning paper, Michael walks through the french doors and pulls up a seat. Pilar, the maid, follows him.

“Good morning Mr Wheeler. What would you like?”

“Nothing thankyou Pilar. I’d like to talk to my sister if that’s okay.”

Pilar hurries away into the house as Lauren firmly places her coffee cup on the table.

“So what would you like to talk about?”

“I need to talk about the company. With Julia out for the morning and Jake already at the office it was my only opportunity.”

“What about the company? Is there something wrong? What is Julia up to now?”

“Nothing yet. You remember how upset she was at the will reading…”

“Yes she was downright rude. But that is Julia for you. What about it?”

“She was upset because that was not the will she expected to be read. Douglas’ original will was the same one that got read. However Julia somehow managed to plant a fake will which left the company to her and the children.”

“WHAT??” Lauren is becoming confused and angry.

“I changed them back again using a spare copy Douglas had left in my possession. But now I realise that if Julia was desperate enough to switch the wills, she will do just about anything to hold onto the Wheeler Corporation. You do realise that without the capital and profits from the company, she is left with nothing. All of the shared holdings were in Douglas’s name and they now belong to us. She literally doesn’t have a penny of her own.”

“I realise that which is why I am letting her live in this house. I would never even suggest that she leave but I am not letting her have a single share of the company. She’s already proven she can’t be trusted.”

“I agree with you but I’m warning you Lauren. Watch your back…”

Inside the house, unbeknownst to Michael and Lauren, Cassie has heard every word of their conversation…

Elliott and Russo Building: San Francisco

David and Julia sit in the office patiently awaiting their arrival. After a knock on the door, Cynthia brings in a tall, handsome man of about 25 years of age.

“Thankyou Cynthia.” David is beginning to tire of her admiration for him and is thankful when she leaves. Julia stands waiting to be introduced and David obliges. “Julia, meet Nick Remick. He is an old associate of mine who I think is more than capable of handling our task.”

“Pleased to meet you Mr Remick.” Julia graciously shakes Nick’s hand.

“Likewise.” He replies. Considering he is an “associate” of David’s he certainly has class and poise Julia thinks to herself.

Nick sits down opposite his two new employers as they prepare to brief him about the job. David begins by passing Nick a black and white photo of Lauren. He is struck by her beauty immediately.

Julia speaks, “This is Lauren Erikson, my sister-in-law. She is the joint CEO of the Wheeler Corporation and the only thing you really need to know is that we want her out.”

“And how would you like me to go about doing that Mrs Wheeler?”

David intervenes. “Simple. She is inexperienced in business and that fact has been brought to the attention of the board several times but until now she hasn’t made a single mistake. We want to do something about that. Your job, is to work closely with her. See if she makes any mistakes. If she does, get proof but if not…then we need to be creative. I want you to sabotage as many of her current accounts as you possibly can. Make her look completely incompetent and then hopefully she will be forced to resign.”

Nick smiles, already excited by his new agenda. “Sounds good. And payment?”

“If you complete this successfully and Julia is reinstated in the Wheeler Corporation, then she will pay you $1 million in cash.”

“Great. When do I start?”

“Today.”

Bay Cafe: San Francisco

Jessica Wheeler is sitting in a corner booth with David’s son Tommy. Since her father’s funeral, the two have become good friends.

“I understand what you’re going through. Sounds like a cliché I know but I really do.”

“Well I wish I understood Tommy. Everything has suddenly changed over night. My father is dead, Lauren and her fiancé have moved into the mansion and my mother seems to be doing everything she can to make an uncomfortable atmosphere.”

“She’s probably just not coping well with your father’s death and the fact that the police still haven’t caught who did it.”

“And that they probably never will.”

“Don’t say that Jessica. Of course they will. They have to.” Tommy reaches over and touches Jessica’s hand making her feel a little uneasy and he pulls away again.

“It was a professional hit. The likelihood they’re going to fine the hitman let alone make him confess who hired him is pretty slim. But I can’t dwell on it. I have to move on and try and cope as best I can.”

“Well you know you’ve got your friends around you.”

“Yes I know. And I’m grateful really I am.”

“Good. Now you can do me a favour and come to the movies with me. I won’t go on my own.”

Jessica smiles, “Okay I’ll come.” She grabs her coat and after leaving a generous tip, follows Tommy out of the café.

Wheeler Estate: Napa Valley

Hot from his morning’s work, Guy enters the house and calls out. There is no answer. Lauren and Michael left for the office and Julia was already gone. He was pleased about that. The last thing he needed was for her to attack him. She was in a very unpleasant mood.

Pilar has also left to have lunch in her quarters so Guy decides to take a dip in the pool. Stripping to his underwear he walks through to the back of the house. However he gets an unexpected surprise. Cassie is swimming in the pool nude. She stops after spotting him and clearly pleased at his arrival turns round.

“Back again Guy? Why don’t you jump in? No one’s home and I won’t tell anyone.”

He decides to call her bluff and dives in making a splash of water at the side of the pool.

“You’re quite a good swimmer aren’t you?”

He approaches her. “Yes I am. So are you. Even if you do prefer swimming…more naturally.”

“Only when there’s nobody home. I’m not an exhibitionist or anything. But when the sun is as hot as this what’s the harm?”

“Oh none. None at all.”

“Exactly.” Cassie knows that Guy is attracted to her. Most men are. She moves even closer to him and his breathing becomes quicker.

“You do this to everyone?”

“No only men I’m attracted to. Are you attracted to me Guy?”

He smiles and she rests her hands on his shoulders. “I’ll take that as a yes.” The two begin kissing passionately ready to make love.

Wheeler Corporation: San Francisco

Jake is in Michael’s office going over one of the latest reports when Lauren enters. A man follows in behind her.

Michael stands up “Lauren. Hello.”

“Hi Michael. I’d like to introduce you to someone. This is my newest employee, Nick Remick.”

Jake grins. His mother filled him in completely on her plan. He and Nick pass a knowing glance and then shake hands.

“Welcome aboard Nick. I’m sure you’ll enjoy working here.”

“So am I.”

Wheeler Estate: Napa Valley

As the sky begins to turn orange and turn to evening, Julia parks her car near the stables and enters the house.

Meanwhile Cassie is in the bedroom she shares with Jake. She and Guy are dressed but hear Julia approaching from the bottom of the staircase.

“Oh my God. Get out quickly. She’ll find you.”

But Guy has his own reasons for leaving. He is already having an affair with Julia. The pair panic as Julia’s footsteps get closer…

Wheeler Corporation: San Francisco

The floor is mostly full of cleaning staff as Nick sneaks into Lauren’s office. Taking the copy of a key Julia gave him he gently opens the filing cabinet and pulls out a batch of files. Methodically he goes through them altering information as suggested by David.

"What the hell are you doing?”

The voice stuns Nick. He drops the key and the files slowly turning around. Michael and Lauren stand in the doorway waiting for an answer.

“Well?” Lauren demands.

“I was getting to grips with the accounts I will be dealing with.”

“By sabotaging the information Nick? You can come up with a better excuse than that. Who hired you?”

“No one hired me.” Michael remains in the doorway as Lauren approaches Nick.

“I don’t really need you to answer it anyway. It was Julia Wheeler. Well I don’t know what she paid you and I don’t care. Get the hell out of my building before I call the police.”

Hearing the shouting Jake enters. “What is going on in here?”

Lauren turns angrily. “Your mother, that’s what’s going on. Getting up to her old tricks. And don’t pretend you have no idea what I’m talking about. I know she tells you everything.”

“I really don’t know…”

“Shut up. Nick is leaving and you can go with him Jake. You’re fired.”

“WHAT??”

“Maybe it will teach you and your slutty mother a lesson. Clear up your things. I want you gone.”

As Jake and Nick rush out of the office Michael looks on in disbelief. “You know Julia is going to have something to say about this.”

“I don’t care. She can sue me if she wants to because if she wants a war, that’s exactly what she’s going to get.”

Next on Power and Deception

Julia goes on a mission arousing Lauren’s suspicions...

Mark welcomes a new arrival...

Stephanie’s suspicions grow...

As Cassie and Guy scheme, Jake is hit by a revelation...

Episode 3