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Episode 74


Scene 1:

Candlelight. A delicious dinner in a little, French restaurant that only the best ate at. A bouquet of roses beforehand. Piper hated roses, they were so cliché. If it was Noah, he would get her 
something like lilies or wildflowers. Stop! 

"What was that, Chase?" Piper asked sweetly, neatly folding her small hands under her chin, leaning forward as if interested.

"Nothing, Piper, just business. I know it doesn't really interest you," he said, but surprisingly in a good-natured tone.

"I'm sorry. It really doesn't, but it's nice to know it's going okay," she assured him. She didn't even care that much. She was B-O-R-E-D. It was always like that with Chase. Boring. Most girls would be charmed by the expensive gifts, the nice car, the fancy restaurants. Piper couldn't care less. This was more Dinah's style. Ugh! Stop, Piper, don't think about them, she told herself. She shook her head, forcing a smile for Chase.

"What are you thinking about?" he asked with a genuine smile. That you deserve better than this and that I'm as much as a back-stabbing bitch as Dinah.

"Oh, just school," she answered instead.

"Are you enjoying the cuisine?" he asked.

"Oh, it's great," she replied with her now infamous fake smile. Yeah right, she would much rather be wearing rancid bowling shoes, a goofy bowling shirt, eating oversized fries at the bowling alley dipped in gobs of ketchup, and kicking Noah's butt at it in the process. She missed it all terribly. Even Dinah liked to go. 

"Did I ever tell you I'm one heck of a bowler?" she asked abruptly.

Chase looked up at her odd question, "Can't say you have."

"I am, we should go sometime. I'll leave you in the dust," she assured with a real smile.

"Piper," Chase began gently, "don't you think bowling is...trashy?" 

"No, the Strike Zone is immaculate," she responded dryly, crossing her arms over her chest.

"You know I meant-"

"Yes I did, but I wholly disagree. Just because something costs an arm and a leg, doesn't mean it's the best thing in the world," she objected.

"Piper, what's wrong? You've been acting unusual all night," Chase said, setting down his fork, and eyeing her warily.

"Oh really, I'm surprised you noticed. You never want to do, what I want to do," she complained, refusing to look at him. Though it appeared to many that Chase looked at Piper as though she were the sun, moon, and stars, they could never be so wrong. Chase didn't gaze with love at Piper. He gazed at her as his possession, his property, as if she came with papers to sign like his BMW.

"Piper, is this a cry for attention? Do you think I'm spending too much time at work?." At the extremely cold and vexing look Piper sent him, he asked with a sigh of frustration, "well, what is it, you want to do?"

"I want to leave," she replied defiantly, turning her chin up, but still refusing to look at him. If she looked at him and he gave her that look, she would slink back down into her chair, all defiance gone, then proceed to eat in silence as Chase chattered on about ME Enterprises. 

"We aren't leaving till we are finished eating," he said, his voice low, but she recognized the threat.

Piper pushed her plate forward, "I'm finished."

"I'm not."

"Well, I guess we are at odds then, as always." Piper chunked her napkin on her plate, pushed the chair back, and stormed out of the restaurant.

"Miss, do you need me to get your car?" the valet driver asked upon Piper's exit.

"Oh, no, I'll just call a cab," she said, digging through her purse for her cell phone. 

"Piper." His voice was so low and calm, but it shot a tremor of terror through her. She knew that tone. Chase never caused a scene in front of people, especially those who had more money than him. Recoiling from his tone as though it were a snake lunging for her, she hurried on, heels clicking on the pavement in a frenzied fashion. She heard Chase speed up to catch up with her. Damn, these heels! Piper turned around swiftly on him, like a deer caught in the headlights.

"What the hell are you doing?" he demanded, reaching for her.

Piper quickly dodged his grasp, "calling a cab, I wanna go home!"

"Piper, act your age-"

"I am acting my fucking age and I want to go home!"

"Fine, I will take you home."

"No! I am calling a cab to take me home," she cried, averting her gaze towards the front of the building, then she realized what she had done. She had given Chase the opportunity. They were out of earshot and eyesight of almost everyone and the parking lot was empty. Piper shrieked when Chase's large hand clamped tightly on to her small bicep. His hand slammed down over her mouth and Piper felt a fear she had never felt before.

"Piper!" Chase cried, struggling slightly with her. "What the hell is wrong with you?!" He demanded. He pulled his hand away from her mouth, "You're going to start a scene if you scream like that."

She bit her lip, eyes still wide as a doe's. Was she just overreacting? "You're hurting me," she finally choked out.

Chase sighed and released her with a slight shove. She took a couple steps back, colliding with a car. "I'm going to take you home."

Piper nodded, watching him as he moved closer to her. She cringed, but all Chase did was unlock the door of the car. Piper glanced down realizing it was his. He then walked around the other side of the car and opened her door. She just stood there. Chase sighed.

"Piper, get in the damn car," he said coldly.

She nodded and obediently scurried over. Dropping down into the low car, she hung her head in shame and embarrassment. Chase slammed the door startling Piper. He walked around and climbed in his side. Starting the engine, he said, "I really don't get you anymore Piper...ever since you met Jewel and started the play thing, you're different. You acted like I was going to attack you out there," he said, some hurt slipping into his voice at the last sentence.

"You startled me, grabbing me like that Chase. It was instinctive," she insisted, sinking lower into her seat, appearing an ashamed child being reprimanded by her parent.

Chase merely sighed, "I'll be out of town on a business venture next week, just thought you should know."

Piper nodded, looking out the window at the frost. She shivered even though Chase turned on the heater. It didn't help.


Scene 2:

"So what you want me to do is keep Jude Fontaine from taking over Mason Enterprises?" Ryan asked, with more than a hint of surprise. "Jamie, I thought the man was your brother. And you two were pretty close before all this went down. What changed?" He watched Jamie pace the room like a caged animal. Something set Jamie Mason on edge and it likely wasn't Jude. Ryan had gotten to know both men pretty well and they were as devoted to each other as two brothers could be. Something or someone, he added to himself, got in the way. "Wait a minute, it was Kerri, wasn't it?"

"She threatened me, yes," Jamie admitted stopping at his desk. Ryan looked beyond him, out the window. Jamie's boys played a game of leap frog in the backyard, blissfully ignorant of everything going on around them. "She has a point, Ryan."

"But keeping your brother out of the family business isn't going to go over well with a judge either, Jamie," Ryan pointed out. "Besides, you're still Jamie Mason. That holds a lot of weight in this town still."

"So you won't help? Is that what you're saying?" Jamie asked giving him a cold stare. Ryan shrugged his shoulders, giving Jamie a curious look in return.

"It's not my specialty. But I am your lawyer after all. If what you want is to keep your brother out of ME, I can help." He stood and picked up his coat, draping it across his arm. Jamie smiled.

"Thank you. This means a lot to me Ryan. I won't forget it." Jamie opened the door to his study, walking with Ryan to the front door. He offered his hand. "You'll let me know?" He asked as Ryan shook his hand. The doorbell rang before Ryan could answer. Jamie held up a hand, motioning for him to wait as he opened it. An exotic brunette greeted Jamie with a hug, saying nothing, but eyeing Ryan with curiosity. "Ryan this is my sister, Ellen," Jamie said as way of introduction.

"Pleasure to meet you," Ryan said formally. "I was just leaving."

"Don't leave on my account," Ellen returned, smiling at him. "Finish your conversation. I can wait."

"We were done, I promise. We were just discussing a little business. I'm sure you and your brother have a bit more to discuss than we did," Ryan said nodding his head. "Jamie, I'll let you know what I find out. Miss Mason, it was nice to meet you." He left quickly, avoiding the searching look Ellen Mason had given him and hurrying to his car.

Jamie's new situation was interesting to say the least, but he worried for nothing. Kerri had no more chance now than she did before. Ryan could beat Cynthia Mitchell in a court any day. But Jamie's family situation intrigued him more than he let on. Jamie was no longer the eldest Mason child and even though technically Jude was now the eldest Mason, a case could be made that he deserved his place at ME and his rightful inheritance. The dynamic of the family had totally changed. Never one to ignore an opportunity, Ryan wondered how he might take advantage of the situation.

He stared at the house for a moment, wondering just how Dane Lennox and Ellen Mason fit into this new complex family created by Hallie Lennox and Gwen Mason. He wasn't totally blind to the machinations going on behind the scenes. Jamie had warned him that there was trouble brewing. But chances are, he left Ellen and Dane in the dark. From what he knew about Dane Lennox, though, that was a pretty good idea. Ellen though... He made a mental note to run into her again in the near future. Couldn't hurt to see what she thought of all this nonsense going on in her family. For now though, Ryan had a will to read and people to talk to at ME about the possibility of Jude challenging Jamie for leadership.


Scene 3:

"Dinah!" Mia threw herself at Dinah's neck, wrapping her arms around her. "Where've you been?" She asked, pulling away after hugging her fiercely. Dinah laughed at her pouting expression.

"Silly, I've been at my house!" She squeezed her again, picking her up and carrying her to the kitchen where Liza was feeding Matty his dinner. "Hey Liza."  

"Hi Dinah, what brings you by?" Liza asked, picking up Matty's bowl from the floor where the terrible two year old had thrown it.  

"Nothing...just bored I guess," Dinah replied, sitting at the table with Mia on her lap. 

"Where's Noah tonight?"  

Dinah rolled her eyes. "Studying. All he ever does is study," she added snagging a french fry off Mia's plate. "It's getting annoying."

"I see. So, with all this studying, I guess that means he has less time for you, right?"

"Right. But you know what? You know Luke's wedding? He was supposed to meet me there right? Well, it turns out he left with Piper before it even started," Dinah told her. Joanie had taken much pleasure in disclosing that little fact to Dinah. It was the end of Dinah's shift for the day and Noah had left earlier with a promise of calling her but nothing else when Joanie sprang the news on her. Quite unfair, it seemed too.  

"That doesn't sound so bad, Dinah. Unless something else happened?" Liza asked. She went to the sink and wet a towel to clean Matty's face which was covered with spaghetti. "Did something else happen?"

"Not that I know of," Dinah answered glumly. "I just found out from Joanie anyway. He didn't even have the decency to tell me himself."

"Well, Piper was at the reception with her boyfriend so I'm sure nothing happened," Liza reassured her.  

"That's because Piper's creepy boyfriend locked him in the Conlan pantry." Liza's jaw dropped.

"What? How do you know that?"

"Joanie heard Jory telling Kevin about it. I feel like an idiot, Liza," Dinah sighed.

"Why? Because you care about a boy? You're not the first girl in history to read too much into things, Dinah. You won't be the last. If it's bothering you that much, ask him about it."

"And get told that I should grow up? No thanks. He's really touchy lately. I'll just leave him alone. But if he would rather be with Piper, I wish he would just say so."  

Liza pulled Matty out of the high chair, wiping his hands clean as she did so. "Dinah, don't get all worked up over this. They're friends. You've said so on numerous occasions. Besides, you're young still. You have your whole life ahead of you and you shouldn't tie yourself to this one boy unless you think he's the one for you. Do you?"

"I don't know. Was Danny the only one for you?" Dinah shot back.

"Mia, go wash your hands and face," Liza told her young niece. "And change into your pajamas too. I'll let you watch TV when you're all done, okay?"

"Will you still be here?" Mia asked Dinah, climbing off her lap.

"Sure, kiddo...I'll stay and tuck you into bed, how does that sound?"

"Yay!" Mia danced off towards the bathroom, singing a song from Mary Poppins.

"Look, Danny was not the only love in my life, Dinah," Liza said after Mia was out of earshot. "Nor will he be the last man I fall for. My point is if Noah treats you like this now, watch out for when it gets really serious. That's all I'm saying."

"It's not like you're seeing anyone Liza," Dinah pointed out. "In fact, aren't you here to get away from Danny's family and Danny?"

"No, that isn't true. Besides, just because I'm not actively seeing anyone doesn't mean I haven't seen some interest." Dinah's eyes lit up and she forgot her troubles for the moment. This sounded interesting.

"Really? Who expressed interest? Let me guess...that doctor friend of Galen's?"

"No. It doesn't matter who it is. The point is..."

"You don't want to talk about it. That must mean it's someone you either don't like or is unavailable....Jory Conlan?" Dinah laughed. Liza raised her eyebrows at her.  

"No...it's Luke. It seems he has a little crush on me," Liza admitted.

"Luke Conlan?!" Dinah gasped. She was about to add more when the sound of squealing tires followed by a crash interrupted them. They ran outside together, shocked by the sight of a motorcycle twisted around the tree in front of Galen's house. Without thinking, Dinah ran towards the man who had been on the bike. He lay a few feet from it, thrown at impact. She knelt over him, looking for a sign of consciousness.  

"Oh my God," she heard Liza whisper behind her.  

"Liza call 911," Dinah said over her shoulder. The man wasn't breathing, she saw. She pulled at his helmet, yanking it off. For all the times in health class she thought learning CPR was pointless, she now regretted them and thanked her lucky stars she knew it. Bending over him, she prayed it would work.


Scene 4:

"What are you doing?" Phoebe jumped out of her skin practically at the sudden appearance of Dane Lennox at her elbow. She shot him a withering glare and hoped he would take a hint. But knowing him now as she did, that prospect was highly unlikely.  

"I'm working, Dane," she replied as coldly as she could muster. Despite all her efforts, he was an endearing sort of pest.

"I can see that. What are you working on?" He sat on the edge of her desk, watching her.

"A project for Rick."  

"Can I help?" She rolled her eyes and shoved the picture at him.  

"Do you know who this little girl is?" She asked, raising her eyebrows and blinking innocently. He took it from her and looked at it for a second, dropping it back down on the desk after a few seconds.

"Yes," he replied without hesitation.

"What? How do you know who she is?" Phoebe snapped, grabbing the picture back. "Who is she then if you're so smart?"  

Dane grinned. "You don't know who she is, do you? Doesn't it suck that I do?"  

"Don't be an ass. Who is it?" Phoebe snapped, barely containing her excitement.  

"What do I get if I tell you?" Dane ventured. "After all, I don't have to tell you anything. And this is Rick's project? I don't have to tell him anything either. But if you...oh I don't know...agree to come with me to this nice bed and breakfast in North Carolina that I know. It's very romantic. Lots of things to do. Well?"

"That's blackmail, Dane," she said quickly, her eyes narrowing. A getaway would be nice. But not with Dane. Well, there were worse people to go somewhere with. No. She wasn't interested in Dane that way. Even if he was interested in her that way and she was dying to know who the girl was because after a week, she was at a dead end.  

"I know. But I've tried everything else short of blackmail. It's all I have left," he replied. "I'll get you a separate room. Just spend some time with me. What do you say?"

"Separate rooms? You promise?"

"Cross my heart. Do you want to know who she is?"    

Against her better judgment, Phoebe nodded. "Rick seems to think this little girl is someone he should know. Does he?"

"I doubt it very much. That is Tristen Ford. Her parents are Bruce and Katrina Ford," Dane replied, picking up the phone.

"Wait a minute, Katrina Ford? Isn't she someone famous?" Phoebe asked, putting her hand over his.

"She's an actress, yes. Broadway, I think."

"How do you know this girl is their daughter?"

"Bruce Ford was a friend of my father's," Dane said with a smile. "Don't believe me? I can call him."

"Dane," Phoebe said, breaking into a smile. "I believe you. I really do."

 

On the next Episode of Secret Horizons...

"Last I heard, there were several owners. You, Jamie, Dane, Jude, Hallie...a few others that aren't family. I don't believe it is your company, Gwen." He stood, stretching a bit as he did so. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have more important things to do." Gwen swept by him and if looks could in fact kill, he would have been dead on the spot. "Thanks for stopping by Gwen. Give my best to your family."

Episode 75