Episode 40

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Episode 40

Scene 1:

"Well, this looks familiar," Stephen remarked, closing the door behind him. "Only, it wasn't Luke Conlan sitting behind the desk when you were half dressed. Christ, Hallie, get a new routine." Luke stood quickly to shield Hallie from Stephen's eyes and barbs.

"What do you want Roth?" He snapped. Between Hallie arriving half naked and Stephen Roth arriving at all, his day was bordering on being a waste.

"I came for the Heaven Resort file. Morrison said you had it," Stephen replied picking up Hallie's coat. "Hallie, I believe this is yours?"

"I'm still working on it, what do you want it for?" Luke asked. He extended his hand for Hallie's coat but Stephen held onto it for a moment, a smirk plastered across his face. "Give me the coat," Luke said coldly, feeling Hallie's fingers grip into his back. Luke snatched the coat from Steve's fingertips and turned to help Hallie into it.

"I need the file to brief Phillip Ashby on the last piece of land left to purchase," Stephen answered. Luke turned back to him and caught the look of amusement on his face.  He'd had enough of that smirking face to last a lifetime.

"You could have knocked!" Hallie snapped belting the coat around her waist and stepping out from behind him. He'd had enough of Hallie for a while too. He dug through a pile of folders on his desk until he came to the one Stephen needed.

"Take it and get out. I'll send Chase after it later."

"Thanks...oh and Luke, if she tries this again, you really should remember to lock the door."

"Get out," Luke told him, ignoring his comment. Stephen shrugged and winked at Hallie before exiting the way he had come. Hallie followed and slammed the door behind him.

"That man is infuriating!" She exclaimed. Turning back to Luke, she offered him a seductive smile and played with the belt on the coat. "But he's gone now..."

"Hallie, you need to leave too. I don't have time for this game that apparently you've already played with Stephen Roth many times before." He sat in his chair, leaning back momentarily as he surveyed her reaction of disbelief.

"You're kicking me out? That's not funny Luke."

"I'm not joking. I have work to do. We'll have dinner tonight at The Fountains to celebrate Morgan Birch coming to the Glen but for now you have to leave," he told her calmly. She narrowed her eyes at him and grabbed for her purse.

"You'll be eating alone, Luke Conlan! I have no intention of doing anything with you ever again!" She stormed. Luke nodded and turned to his screen.

"Okay, Hallie. I'll be at The Fountains at eight. If you get over your outrage, I'll see you there," he called as she marched out of his office. Hallie was a smart woman but sometimes she forgot that the earth did not revolve around her.

Scene 2:

Dinah took the ice cream cone Noah handed to her, catching a trickle of melting vanilla with her tongue. Giggling, she accepted the napkin he offered and wrapped it around the cone.

"Thanks for the ice cream and the movie," she said as they began the short walk back to Connie's where they had left their cars. "I had a really good time."

"Good...me too," Noah replied, smiling. "I wasn't sure about this but I'm glad it worked out like it has."

"What weren't you sure about?" Dinah asked pausing in front of Tia Rosa's Dress Shop. "Me?"

"No, not you. Us. I mean, we're good friends but I didn't know what we would be like as a couple," he explained blushing.

"Are we a couple?" Dinah countered quickly. She knew what she wanted his answer to be, if only he would really say it.

"Maybe not quite yet," he replied back pedaling just a tad. Dinah shrugged and smiled lightly. It wasn't the answer she had dreamed of but it was far better than she had ever hoped.

"Being a couple is overrated anyhow," she joked. "All the great romances were only interesting in the beginning of the romance...you know when everything is in limbo. Will they or won't they? It's after they get together that they get boring."

"Oh really? So you think it's better to flirt with someone than have a meaningful relationship?"

"I never said that. All I'm saying is that the beginnings of love are the most exciting times. Haven't you ever been in love before Noah?" Noah studied his ice cream before tossing it into a trash can, refusing to look up into her eyes. She had been in love before and she knew how it felt. It made you want to wake up in the morning and be with the person you loved every waking minute. And it made you not want to go to sleep either until you knew that your love was asleep. It was how she felt right now about Noah. "Well?"

"Yes," he answered at last. "I've been in love before."

"So you know what I'm talking about. When you first fall in love, your knees are weak and your stomach gets fluttery when you see the person," Dinah said softly, her eyes meeting his in a lingering gaze. Noah's eyes were the most amazing brown, she thought as he raised a hand and touched her cheek lightly. "My stomach is all fluttery," she whispered.

"And my knees are kind of weak," Noah responded raising her chin and kissing her gently. Dinah felt her heart pounding wildly in her chest as she lost herself in his kiss. This was what she had waited for and she enjoyed every precious second of it completely oblivious to Piper's appearance and the look of shock on her face.

Scene 3:

Hallie hurried out of Luke's office muttering to herself. "If Luke Conlan thinks I will have dinner with him tonight, he's crazy! The last place I want to go is out to dinner with that man." She punched the button for the elevator, fuming the entire time. How dare he treat her like that? She was doing all of this for them after all. He could at least have the decency to be excited about it. The elevator doors slid open and she stomped inside, turning on her heel and jabbing at the Lobby button. If she weren't so mad, what she wouldn't tell him!

As the doors began to close, an arm popped in and stopped the doors from closing completely. The doors reopened, revealing a smiling Stephen Roth. Hallie narrowed her eyes at him, daring him to get on the elevator. Surprisingly enough, he did just that! Once inside, he waited for the doors to close before turning to her.

"Hello, Hallie," he said leaning against the wall of the elevator. "So, Lover Boy didn't want you today? That's a shame."

"Stephen," she started through gritted teeth. "I really don't want to hear this. Would you mind getting off at the next floor?" He cocked his head, contemplating her suggestion, before shaking it slowly. He reached in front of her and hit the Emergency Stop button. The elevator shook slightly, throwing her against him momentarily, before she regained her balance. "What are you doing? She cried staring at him. "Start this elevator now!"

"I don't think so, Hallie," Stephen replied stepping in front of the control panel. "Don't you think it's high time we quit playing this little charade?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," she answered, the words catching in her throat as he leaned closer to her. The smell of him sent shivers down her back, its aroma reminding her of the many nights they had spent together. She closed her eyes to regain her composure. "Please start this elevator."

"No. Hallie, you know what I'm talking about. Last week I told you I still loved you. I do more than I ever have. And I think you feel the same way." Her eyes flew open at his words.

"I don't!" She exclaimed.

"But you don't love that tattooed buffoon upstairs. I know you don't. I've seen the way you look at him...like he was some sort of dog you give scraps to. That's not love, Hallie." He took a step toward her crushing her against the wall. "But the way you're looking at me now..."

"That's not love, it's indigestion," she remarked wriggling under his grip. "I don't love you Stephen, just accept it."

"No. I won't. Say you love me Hallie," he said wrapping his fingers in her hair, playing with the tendrils. "I love you. It isn't hard."

"I won't say it. Let me go," she protested weakly. She'd forgotten what it was like to have him so near. She'd forgotten how his nearness made her head spin. He gazed at her for a moment longer before shrugging his shoulders gently.

"You don't have to say it then. I can get my answer another way," he added , dropping his hand to the belt of her coat and deftly untying it. He pushed the coat off her shoulders, letting it fall to the floor. Hallie's breath was caught in her throat as she waited for him to continue. She wanted him to continue, she realized as his gaze swept over her. He leaned closer to her staying just inches from her. Closing her eyes, she waited for the kiss she knew would come.


Scene 4:

Jamie passed a loitering employee in the hallway not giving him a second glance. On any other day, he would pause and inquire as to whether the person had anything better to do. But today, he had promised Chris and Jesse an afternoon in the pool at Four Winds. Hurrying home, he kissed Michaela and Lily, before herding the boys into the car and off to his mother's house. Gwen was no where in sight as he parked the car in the drive and let himself and the boys into the house. Maggie appeared from the office at the sound of Chris and Jesse's loud yells through the house.

"Mr. Mason, I'm really glad you're here," she said after the boys had thrown themselves into the water.

"Why is that Maggie? Where's my mother by the way? I was hoping she would be here," Jamie replied.

"She went to the airport to pick up Mr. Birch."

"Morgan Birch?" Jamie asked, frowning. "What's he doing here?" Maggie shrugged and followed Jamie to the library.

"Something about Hallie," Maggie replied. "Mr. Mason, there was something I wanted to tell you."

"What's that Maggie?" He picked up the newspaper and turned to the sports section. Maggie glanced over her shoulder nervously before answering.

"Mrs. Mason has a visitor...only I don't think she should see this woman. She seems rather...unstable." Jamie raised his eyebrows and looked over the top of the newspaper at his mother's secretary. Maggie was high strung and if she thought someone was odd, they usually were.

"Who is it? Someone Mother knows?"

"No, but I think you know her."

"I do?" Jamie said, gazing at her thoughtfully. "Maggie, who is this visitor?"

"I think you'd better come see for yourself," Maggie replied leading him to Gwen's office. She paused at the door, motioning for Jamie to go inside. The visitor's back was to him as he entered the room.

"I'm sorry that my mother has kept you waiting but perhaps there is something I can help you with," Jamie said to the woman. Her shoulders stiffened at his words, puzzling him. Who was this person, he wondered. "Miss?" He said hoping that she would turn and reveal herself.

The woman sighed and turned to face him. Jamie's mouth fell open in disbelief as he stared into the familiar brown eyes. The hair was different, but everything else about her remained the same. It had been a year since he had seen her, but there could be no mistaking Chris' mother.

"Hello Jamie," she said trying to gauge his reaction. "I was expecting your mother, but talking to you is even better."