Episode 27

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Episode 27

Scene 1:

"I guess I'm interrupting something," Luke commented sliding past Hallie into his office. He glanced between Hallie and Steve eyeing them both suspiciously. "Perhaps you'd like me to leave so you can continue your conversation?"

"Absolutely not!" Hallie steamed. She folded her arms across her chest and stared back at Steve. "He was just leaving."

"I was actually. When you get a moment away from your fiancée, Conlan, we need to talk about the Fairlawn Resort Project." Steve paused in front of Hallie, giving her a slow grin before leaving the office. Hallie slammed the door behind him and spun back around to a glaring Luke.

"What? he was in here when I got here!" She snapped. "He wouldn't leave!"

"Is that why you were in his arms? You were asking him to go?" Luke sneered. Trust was always something he and Hallie had issues with. "Nice try Hallie. Why don't you try telling me the truth for a change?"

"That is the truth! He came onto me. Stephen Roth is the one you should be screaming at. Instead you're practically accusing me of cheating on you in your office."

"So I'm jumping to conclusions? Is that it?" He pulled his chair out and sat down, leaning back in it. "Why are you here Hallie?"

Hallie dropped her sulky mood at his question and offered him a sweet smile. "Luke, I have wonderful news." She edged closer to him and sat on the corner of his desk, crossing her legs provocatively just in front of him. "Would you like to hear my news?" She purred.

"What? Now you're trying to seduce me?"

"There's no trying involved here," she smiled.

"What's your news?" He asked watching as her hand reached out to him and stroked his cheek lightly.

"Oh...what's the one thing that would drive my aunt and my cousins insane?"

"Being subjected to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week?"

Hallie shook her head disapprovingly. "Don't be mad at me, Luke. Nothing happened with Stephen. I promise. Besides, he's nothing compared to you." She slid off the desk and onto his lap. "Now, my wonderful news...Ellen is coming to the engagement party."

"Really? That's great Hallie. Now tell me again why that's so wonderful?" Luke replied sarcastically.

"Because Gwen is terrified of her own daughter. And I am going to use whatever it is that Ellen knows about Gwen's perfect little life to get exactly what I want."

Scene 2:

Jamie laid Lily back into the bassinet and turned to his mother. "She's not going, Mother. That is my final word."

"But Jamie, how will that look!?" Gwen asked, trying to keep her voice hushed so as not to wake the baby.

"It'll look like my wife just had a baby. Now I mean it, case closed." He motioned for her to leave the room while he turned the baby monitor on and followed closely behind her. "Michaela is far too tired to be meeting your friends at Hallie's engagement party."

"This is the first time most of my friends will be meeting your family! It simply will not do if Michaela and Lily are not there!" Gwen pouted. Jamie pulled her into the alcove at the top of the staircase away from the nursery and from the master bedroom where Michaela dozed.

"It'll have to do. I will not have them paraded around Four Winds for the world to view and judge!" Jamie's face blazed with anger as he struggled to keep his voice low. "Why are you so adamant that they attend? I'm sure Hallie doesn't care!"

"You may be right about Hallie, but I have an image to protect." She held up a hand and silenced his outrage. "And before you say anything, no it isn't my image. It's the families. You of all people should know that."

"Don't ask me to choose between my family and yours."

"Jamie! We have the same family. Just because our priorities are a little different doesn't mean that I would be so cold as to ignore the fact that Michaela had a difficult labor. Can't we compromise on this?"

"Compromise? The only compromise I can offer you, Mother, is my presence and the boys for the barbeque."

"That is unacceptable, Jamie," Gwen replied, her expression turning to stone. "If Michaela won't attend at all, then you must bring Lily for an hour at the least. Make the rounds with her and I'll hire a nanny to watch her until you are ready to go."

"I'll have to discuss that with my wife," Jamie replied. He felt as if he were making a business transaction rather than talking to his mother. Gwen seemed almost another person. Though he had always known she could be hard and stubborn, he had no idea she could be so cold and callous.

"That's all I ask," she replied turning to walk down the stairs. Jamie watched her go, wondering what Michaela would say to this turn of events. Neither of them had ever thought Gwen would factor into their personal lives so forcefully.

Scene 3:

Jillie brushed her hair back from her face as she entered Rick's office, nodding at his greeting as she settled down in the chair across from him. "I've been well," she replied casually, crossing her long legs, the hem of her pale blue skirt causing the barest hint of a whisper as it rose steadily over the smooth expanse of her silk stocking clad thighs. It went unheeded, however, as she cocked her head to the side, assessing her boss. "Just settling into the pace of things around here. How have you been?"

The question slipped in carelessly, as if it was merely a polite return of conversation. But her blue eyes narrowed slightly, curiosity snapping to life in their depths. It had been days since the Mason Foundation dinner and the missing pieces surrounding Maura and Rick's past relationship were driving her crazy. It wasn't that she was some sort of gossip monger,
thirsting for the next morsel of scandal to feed upon. In most cases, she wouldn't give a whit about anything happening in Maura's life. But this was different. This fairly reeked with secrecy. Not to mention, there was that ever-present attraction Jillie felt whenever Rick was in the room. It was unsettling, especially in the face of his past with her "arch nemesis".

"I saw you speaking with Maura the other night," Jillie commented smoothly. "Dare I hope there's been a reconciliation between the two of you?"

"A reconciliation?" Risk replied with an easy smile. "Now why would you think that, Jillie? Did your sister and I give off some vibe I'm not aware of? Because between you and me, your sister has issues."

"That's putting it lightly, don't you think?"

"I suppose," he answered. "She's dating Jude Fontaine now, I believe. I can take a hint. So, settling into the pace of things eh? Tell me, why is that you've been here for two months now and this is the first time you've come to my office willingly? I thought you would have been a regular visitor."

"Did you?" Jillie asked with a slow smile. "If that's a not-so-subtle hint that I need to spend more time learning the ropes, I'm sure it can be arranged. On the other hand, I prefer my social visits to be just that. Social."

"And this is a social visit? I think I'm flattered." Rick tapped his fingers on the desk in front of him. "I don't have many social visits. The only other person who's been to my office today was Phoebe and all she did was complain. So thank you for coming."

Jillie shook her head good naturedly, eyeing him with feigned resignation. "If this is your idea of social, I've got my work cut out for me."

"I don't get out a whole lot," Rick admitted with a smile. "The only restaurant I've eaten at is yours and the only buildings I know are my house and this one. I could use a guide around this town."

"If you want a guide, you can get a pamphlet of the walking tour for free at the Library. But if what you want is to have a little fun, well, I might possibly be able to swing that. As unlikely as it may seem on the surface, there's more to this town than Connie's and the Mason Foundation."

"Really? That seems to be all I ever hear about. And I don't want a map of the town. I prefer a beautiful woman at my side."

"Most men do," Jillie smiled. "So, how does this weekend sound to you? I do have a...small...previous engagement...party...to attend, but after that...I should completely free. That is, unless my boss calls me in on an emergency."

"Oh yes, your brother's engagement party. That must be very exciting. At the Mason estate, I believe? I met his fiancée at the dinner. She's...quite charming," he said not knowing exactly how to describe Hallie Lennox.

She laughed, a wry smile gracing her lips briefly. "Charming isn't exactly the word I'd use for Hallie. But...she knows what she wants and she goes after it." The amused glimmer in her gaze sobered. "I can respect that."

"As can I. I'm sure she'll make a wonderful addition to your family," he added with a hint of sarcasm. "Maybe after you're done schmoozing with your new in-laws you might like to let your hair down...so to speak...and join me for a late drink?"

"They're not in-laws yet," Jillie murmured thoughtfully before returning her attention to Rick. "Late drink, hmmm? Sounds fairly painless. It's a start."

"At the very least it's an excuse to leave the party early," Rick replied.

She smiled again, her blue eyes regarding the man in front of her -- her boss -- enigmatically. Yes, she really did need to keep in mind that she could be playing with fire. He was her boss, her employer. But first and foremost, her mind told her, he was a man. And quite an interesting one at that.

"Don't you know I'm not the sort of woman to need an excuse?" Jillie asked, standing slowly. "Though at least it's a good one." One that would not sit very well with Maura, she was sure. "Why don't I call you, let you know where to meet me? Unless, of course, you like to choose your poison. And if you're not waiting breathlessly by your phone, don't worry about it. I'm not above making house calls."

Rick grinned and scribbled his cell phone number on a piece of paper. "You can reach me at this number any time of the day," he said standing. "Or night. Once you're done playing the proper sister...call me and we'll see what trouble we can cause together."

Folding the paper, Jillie returned his grin with a playful one of her own. "You better watch what you say. Trouble...is something I'm very good at."