Scene 1:

"Nice to see you here before me for a change," Ian snapped throwing his suit coat across the chair nearest the lounge door. Georgia looked up at him from the sofa with a tear stained face, wiping at them with the back of her hand. "What's the matter with you?" Ian asked. Sure, he had gotten his revenge last night even if it did mean sleeping with Ellen Mason, something he swore he would never do, but he hadn't expected this kind of response.

"Dr. Stafford is dead," she replied in a trembling voice. "He was killed last night after the ball..." She trailed off and dropped her head, burying her face in her hands as she sobbed. Ian stared at her for a brief moment not really believing what he had just heard. Stafford was dead? That couldn't be. He moved to Georgia, dropping to the sofa next to her and wrapping a protective arm around her.

"Come on now, I'm sure that can't be true," he said in a soothing voice.

"It is though! Dr. Gennaro told me when I came in and he also said that he's been asked to be acting Chief of Staff until Mr. Mason finds a replacement. Oh god, Ian...this is just awful," she sobbed on his shoulder.

Dead? Well, Gennaro never lied, the little bastard, so it must be true. Dammit! If he had been a little earlier, he might have been the one to step in and take charge, not Gennaro. Ellen wouldn't let him leave though... Ellen. She might be helpful in all of this after all. He would have to rethink his decision to never see her again. Perhaps, she might be convinced to speak to Jamie on his behalf...

"I wish that we weren't here right now," Georgia sobbed on his shoulder jerking him back to the present. "I wish we were somewhere...anywhere else!"

"Me too, Georgia," he murmured kissing her forehead. "Look, why don't you go home? You won't be any good here today. I'd be surprised if anyone was actually."

"I don't want to be alone. I'll stay." She straightened and pulled away from him. "You'll need me today anyway."

Ian smiled at her and reached for a Kleenex, wiping her face gently. "You're very brave, Georgia Corelli. And smart and beautiful."

"And mean too, don't forget that. I did lock you in a closet last night," she reminded him, taking the time to blush a deep scarlet. He hadn't forgotten of course, but he could forgive her. After all, he'd been a bit of an ass last night. Especially after he was let out. "You aren't too mad are you?"

"No. I was," he answered honestly. "Furious as a matter of fact. But I deserved it. I wasn't very nice to you either. Do you forgive me?"

"For bringing your sister-in-law as a date?" Georgia smiled. "Yes. For leaving with Ellen Mason? Not sure about that one." She paused for a moment and gave him a hard look. "Did you sleep with her?"

"With Ellen Mason?" Ian repeated, feigning surprise. "Why would you think that? Ellen Mason is a nutcase. She seems to think I'm interested in her."

"Are you?" Georgia persisted.

"Absolutely not. Why would I be when I have the most beautiful woman in the world sitting right next to me?" Georgia rolled her eyes but smiled at his teasing anyway. Ian grinned back, relieved that she wasn't pressing the issue. "I know you're still upset over Dr. Stafford, so if you want to go home, I understand."

"I don't, really."

"All right," Ian said, his mind jumping ahead and making plans quickly to accommodate everything he needed and wanted to accomplish. "If you stay, I'll be forced to whisk you away from here the minute our shifts are over. I know the perfect place to go too. How does a weekend in the mountains sound to you? Just the two of us and some trees." Georgia fairly glowed at the prospect, nodding in agreement. For the first time, Ian could see himself getting everything he wanted, including Georgia, though she had never figured into his future before now.


Scene 2:

Dane looked up from his breakfast just in time to see his sister storming towards him through the breakfast crowd at Connie's. From her stride, he could see her anger with him seeping out at the edges. Hallie, when she was angry, looked exactly like cat with it's fur up and ready to fight. He sighed and pushed his plate away, losing his appetite completely. She was going to rake him over the coals for his performance last night and there would be no way out of it.

"So you hate me right?" She asked standing over him imperiously. Dane rolled his eyes but motioned to the seat across from his. He could stand a lecture from her but not when she insisted on speaking down to him, literally. She took the seat, grudgingly, glaring at him the entire time.

"I do not hate you, Hallie," he replied at last.

"No? Then what was that scene with Liza Gennaro all about? You know she stole my husband from me!"

"Oh my God, Hallie. You are not going to play the wounded wife routine are you? Come on. It might work with Stephen and Luke even, but not me. I've known you all my life...all of yours," he pointed out. "And I've even helped you in a few of your schemes. But this is a little much."

"What exactly is a little much? Please tell me Dane, because I am dying to know how I am in the wrong here. Liza took my job..."

"A job you threw aside for a better one."

"She took my husband...and don't you even say I tossed him aside. I did no such thing. He was cheating on me long before I turned to Stephen Roth!"

"Do you even hear yourself? What do you want Hallie?" He asked. He wasn't in the mood to play games with her this morning. Especially when she was ready to fight.

"I don't want you to see her again."

Dane raised an amused eyebrow. "Too late. I'm meeting her for lunch." He waited while she let herself grow outraged about it before he continued. "I like her, Hal. She's smart and funny and she's got guts. You liked her too once upon a time. She's not going to see Luke anymore, she told me as much last night. Why don't you leave her alone? Leave me alone and let me have this one nice thing. Okay?" He stood and pushed his chair back dropping some money on the table. "Will you do that for me? I like this woman and I can see this one going somewhere. I've never said that about anyone before so maybe, just maybe, in that twisted little head of yours you'll feel some pity for me and let me have this one."



Scene 3:

Jude scanned the thinning breakfast crowd at Connie's in search of Stephen. Business meetings here had become a lot less stressful now that most of the issues between himself and Maura had been settled. Well, almost all of them, he thought grimly catching sight of Rick Upton finishing a late breakfast. Jude moved toward him without hesitating, wanting to clear up any remaining issues for them before it was too late.

"Upton," he said flatly. "We have to talk."

Rick glanced up, surprise quickly replaced by anger. He dropped his fork on his plate with a loud clatter and shoved his chair back. "I don't think we have anything to say to one another, Fontaine. Why don't you just crawl back under your rock and leave me alone."

"I don't think so," Jude replied taking a seat opposite him. "I think you're just about the sleaziest man I have ever met..."

"I'm touched you think so highly of me," Rick interrupted. "Is there a reason you're here extolling my virtues?"

"If you'll shut up, I'll tell you. As I said before, I don't like you. But Maura has a soft spot for you. Probably because you're the father of her child. Personally, I don't think you deserve her feelings for you."

"And you do?"

"Perhaps. At least, I would never treat her like you have the last year. If you're not manipulating her emotions somehow, you're treating her like property and I won't allow it any more. As of today, you are not to go near her, do you understand?"

"And how," Rick asked, "do you intend to see to it that I don't? She doesn't belong to you any more than she belongs to me. In fact, if she knew you were threatening me like this and believe me, you are threatening me, she'd never have anything to do with you again."

Jude snorted in derision. "Then you don't know Maura. She and I have an understanding, you see. As of today, we are together. You aren't in the picture anymore and I doubt she will ever think about you again if she doesn't have to. Now, trust me when I say this, you make any trouble for her, and I will make you regret it." He stood suddenly, shoving the chair back violently as he did so. "You understand?"

"Sure," Rick smirked. "No trouble for Maura. I get it, Fontaine. Are you finished?"

"For now. Enjoy your breakfast." He stalked away from Upton's table and back to the bar area where Stephen sat watching him with an amused expression. "What?" He asked sitting next to Stephen.

"What was that about?" Stephen asked with a wry smile. "Or should I guess? Let's see...what do you and Rick Upton have in common....oh yeah." He snapped his fingers and shook a finger at him. "Maura Conlan. What's going on, Jude?"

"Nothing. Just making sure that jerk doesn't hurt Maura again. That's all. Now that everything is back on track between us, I don't need him giving her trouble," Jude replied waving a waitress over. "Cup of coffee. Speaking of trouble...I saw Hallie in there, sitting by herself."

"Really?" Stephen asked raising an eyebrow. "Well, I guess it's my turn to make you wait. I've got my own issue to clear up with your cousin. I don't like being ditched halfway through a party after all."


Scene 4:

"Well it is a shame," Gwen murmured in sympathy with Eleanor Fairchild. "John Stafford was a close friend of James'. I'll have to stop by and give Barbara my best. Take care, Eleanor." Gwen replaced the phone on her desk and leaned back in the oversized chair. It was a shame about John. He'd always been so kind and genial. She heard a door close quietly and rose from her seat. "Is that you Maggie?" She called, hoping for a change that the girl was on time.

The door opened and Ellen poked her head inside. "No, it's just me, Mother," she said quickly, ducking her head back. Gwen frowned and went after her, noticing first and foremost that she was still in the boring brown dress she had worn the evening before.

"Are you just getting home, Ellen?" She asked, not trying at all to hide her suspicions. There had been an uncomfortable peace at Four Winds since the disaster of Hallie's wedding and Jude's departure. Yet since Ian McCormick's sudden reappearance in Conlan's Glen, the peace had turned to an uneasy silence.

Ellen paused on the stairs and glanced back at Gwen, a carefully arranged smile on her lips. "Yes, Mother."

"Where have you been?" She pressed.

Ellen sighed and turned to face her. "I was with someone if you must know. I had a lovely time last night too, thank you for asking."

"Who were you with, Ellen? Jory Conlan? No...that wouldn't be possible," Gwen mused more to herself than to Ellen.

"Why not? What's wrong with Jory?" Ellen demanded. "He's a good man, attractive, intelligent. What on Earth could you possibly think was wrong with him?"

"Dear...he is all of those things," Gwen returned cautiously. "But I'm afraid he isn't your type. He isn't any woman's type."

"Oh...wait. So you think he's gay is that it?" Gwen shrugged noncommittally. She wasn't a judge of that, but that was the gossip around town. "You are really archaic, you do know that right? Don't you think it might be possible that he might like women, even just a little bit? Or are you just relying on what your Country Club friends tell you?"

"I don't think any of that matters. Were you with Jory or not?" Gwen said dismissing Ellen's lecture. "Or was it someone else?"

"It wasn't Jory as a matter of fact. But it's none of your business who I was with," Ellen smiled sweetly. "Now, if you don't mind..."

"It was Ian McCormick," Gwen interrupted, spitting the name out. Ellen's face drained of color. Gwen sighed dramatically and folded her arms over her chest. "Really, Ellen. I thought you had more sense than that. Ian McCormick is a cad. Don't you remember what he did to you the last time you were with him? Or do I need to remind you?"

"No, you don't," Ellen whispered, her eyes dropping.

"Then why would you let him do something like that to you again? I thought you were smarter than that. Ian is dangerous and not to be trusted."

Ellen's eyes snapped back up, glaring at her. "What would you really know about Ian? He's not the same man he was three years ago. And don't you dare stand there and ask me how I know. I just know. Besides, I'm not the same woman I was three years ago. I've grown up and learned a lot of things. I hate it when you treat me as if I'm still nothing more than a teenager."

"Ellen," Gwen began again, trying to sound more patient than she actually felt. "Ian McCormick is bad news. He's a user and you have far too much potential to let it be wasted on a self-centered egomaniac like him."

"I'm tired of your lecture, Mother. Why don't you go pester Jamie for a while?" Ellen snapped, flouncing up the stairs. Gwen watched her go with a sinking feeling in her stomach. Whatever Ellen was playing at would come to no good. She would just have to make certain that Ian knew the rules this time around. She wasn't about to watch Ellen suffer like she did before...no matter how her daughter felt about her right now. They might not be as close as they could be but Ellen was family and Gwen took care of her family.



Scene 5:

He took his time getting to her, sorting out the things he had wanted to say last night but had been denied. She hadn't come home after the ball and didn't answer her phone. It was obvious to Stephen that she didn't want to talk to him last night. But perhaps today she might be more open to explain herself.

"So, is this where you've been hiding?" He asked taking a seat next to her. Hallie looked at him with a cross expression, shaking her head. "Not hiding...then what?"

"Trying to come up with a plan," Hallie returned. She drummed her fingers on the table keeping her eyes averted from his. Stephen sighed audibly forcing Hallie's eyes up to his. "What?"

"Plan for what, Hal? I thought you had everything you wanted," he replied. "Or aren't you satisfied with Mason Enterprises, me and the town at your feet?"

"As a matter of fact," Hallie said sourly. "It isn't enough. Not yet anyway."

"So what is it that will make your life perfect?"

Hallie's lips curved into a vicious smile that Stephen had seen many times before. It was usually followed by a diatribe against her current enemy. "I want Liza Gennaro to suffer." Her tone was as sweet as could be but there was a venom there that Stephen had heard before. "She's got her claws in my brother now and I refuse to let him be used by that woman."

"Hallie...Dane is a big boy. Don't you think you should let him make his own decisions about who he dates?" Stephen asked mildly.

"I knew you wouldn't understand." She shook her head at him. "Liza has done nothing but take what was mine since the day she arrived in the Glen. I simply will not let her take my brother. She's so....smug about it too!"

He reached across the table and stilled her tapping fingers, wrapping his hand around hers affectionately. "She didn't get me, you know."

"Yet! Who's to say she won't try?"

"Are you implying that Liza Gennaro could sway my feelings of affection for you, Hallie?" He asked dryly, even though her lack of faith in his loyalty to her bothered him more than he wanted to let on. "Because I assure you, you're the only woman for me."

"Don't be an ass. Just because you won't fall victim to her doesn't mean she won't try. In the meantime, she's moved away from my husband and on to my brother!"

"Your husband," Stephen repeated slowly. It shouldn't bother him. After all, technically Luke Conlan was still her husband. But the way she said it, possessive almost, didn't sit well with him. "I keep forgetting, you're still married."

"Not for much longer," Hallie said, letting a softer smile cross her face. "And as soon as I am free from him, you and I can be together. In the meantime, I'm just having my revenge on dear sweet Liza for ruining my business deal. That's all. You don't mind that so much do you?"

As a matter of fact, he wanted to say, he did mind. It bothered him that she still referred to Conlan as her husband and that she still wanted revenge for the end of her sham marriage. If he didn't know better, he would think she actually had feelings for Conlan. That couldn't be though, he reminded himself. She had admitted as much to him. He appraised her silently for a minute, wondering if he could be wrong about that. He'd been wrong about her feelings before.

"You really don't mind do you, Stephen?"

He raised an eyebrow at her question forcing his doubts away. "If it means you'll be finished with this fake marriage of yours, then, no I don't mind. But Hallie, if this becomes an issue between us, I will mind a great deal. I'm not quite prepared to lose you yet again because of your mischief or my blind loyalty to you," he added getting to his feet. "I have a business meeting now. Will I see you tonight?"

Hallie rose from her chair and leaned towards him, kissing his cheek. "Of course you will, darling. I'll make up for last night too," she whispered. He watched her weave her way through Connie's, wondering what exactly she would do to Liza Gennaro.
 

On the next Episode of Secret Horizons...