Previously…
Benji met Sierra during her last visit, immediately becoming smitten with her. After Renee filled her in on his laundry list of crimes, she canceled a lunch date with him. Heather blasted Jordan for keeping the accident and the operation a secret from her. Benji lied to Alex, claiming that Jordan had abused him as a young boy, then revealed that Jordan was the one who attacked Frank weeks earlier. When Alex confronted Frank at the wrap party for Angel Assassin 2, he confirmed everything, claiming that he’d seen Jordan bury a body on the grounds behind his house. Jordan broke into Frank’s house and found a secret room where he’d built a shrine to Suzanne. Miranda agreed to be Kelly’s maid of honor. Sierra returned for the wedding and informed Renee that she’d brought Malcolm, her new love interest, with her. Ethan surprised Brooke with a new house he’d purchased for them in Costa Rica. Jordan went to see Dr. Anderson to ask him to stop treating Heather. When he arrived, a man was leaving the building and dropped a playbill for Don Juan. David assured James that he wouldn’t let Jackie take anything from him. Jackie taunted Brooke over the fact that she was her husband’s illegitimate daughter.
James Blackthorne had better things to do on the day of his son’s wedding than rush over to Jackie Lamont’s hotel suite for an impromptu meeting. He realized that the detour would put him in a time crunch, so he dressed in his tuxedo and headed to Moonshadows. Afterwards, he’d proceed to Hotel Terranova and meet up with the rest of the family.
Jackie occupied the penthouse at Moonshadows, David’s luxury resort nestled on the coast between Santa Monica and Long Beach. When James arrived, he knocked firmly, inspecting his ebony cuff-links while he waited. After what seemed like an eternity, the door swung open and Jackie appeared in the doorway, cloaked in a flowing see-through negligee. He had to admit she looked phenomenal for a woman of sixty.
“Thank goodness,” she said, her chestnut hair pinned up off of her milky white shoulders. “I’m sorry to have to drag you away on the day of Stormy’s wedding, but it’s an emergency.”
“What’s the problem?” James made his way into the extravagant hotel suite. He glanced around, impressed. The room boasted the most opulent furnishings and artwork, the most luxurious fabrics, and the most incredible view of the Pacific he’d ever seen. No wonder David could afford to bail him out of his loan. The room probably sold for ten thousand dollars a night.
Jackie floated over to the bar and pulled a bottle of champagne from an ice bucket. “Would you open this for me?”
He took the bottle from her and peeled the foil from the cork. “I don’t have a lot of patience, Jackie. I’m supposed to be across town at Hotel Terranova in an hour. This had better be important.”
“It is important,” she said with a playful pout on her lips. “The room service attendant brought this champagne and didn’t even bother to open it. I just had a manicure in the spa downstairs, and—”
James popped the cork into his hand and turned to her with a scowl. “Tell me you did not call me over here just to open this bottle of champagne.”
Dangling a silver slipper from her foot, she shrugged and smiled coquettishly. “Was that bad?”
Rolling his eyes, he slammed the bottle on the bar and marched back to the door. He didn’t know what kind of game she was playing, but he wasn’t about to go along with it.
“James, wait,” Jackie called after him. “I’m sorry. I did call you over here for a reason. I think we got off on the wrong foot the other day.”
“You mean when you threatened to take everything from me?” James asked. “My studio, my house…”
“I thought it should belong to me,” Jackie cut him off. “I always have. They were my father’s. Everything he’d worked for his entire life. He built that house himself.”
“You were provided for quite well in Jonas’s will,” James indicated to her. “He was worth millions. It doesn’t seem like you’ve done that badly for yourself.”
“There’s nothing personal about money,” Jackie said firmly. “I was seduced by the prospect of taking something that belonged to my father. I want you to know that I’m sorry. I’m sorry that I put you through all of that.”
James skeptically raised an eyebrow, unsure if she was on the level.
“So like I said, can’t we start over?” Jackie asked and approached him. She placed a hand on his chest and looked into his eyes. “We have a lot in common, you and I.”
“How’s that?” he asked, unable to keep himself from becoming aroused by the close proximity of their bodies, or her intoxicating scent.
“We’re both successful, attractive people. We both have children that we’d do anything for. We’ve both been scorned by people we loved.” She leaned in closely, her hands moving slowly down to his stomach.
“Jackie, no,” he said and grabbed her by the wrist.
She quickly turned and traipsed across the room where she poured them each a glass of champagne. “You don’t find me attractive, James?”
“You’re very attractive. I just don’t think that this is a good idea.”
“But I told you that I was wrong to try to take your studio away,” Jackie insisted and handed him the glass.
“I’m sorry,” James replied and handed the champagne back to her. “I really should get going.”
Before Jackie could react, he turned and left the room. She took a sip of champagne and stared at the door, quite sure that she’d almost gotten him where she wanted him.
Alex rushed inside the front door, tearing up the stairs and down the hall to her bedroom. She opened the closet door where her dress for the wedding was hanging, freshly tailored by the boutique on Rodeo Drive where she’d bought it. As she began to undress, the door opened and Jordan entered, already dressed in his tuxedo.
“Where the hell have you been?” he asked crossly.
She froze, her back to him. “I’ve been with Miranda. I didn’t realize how late it was getting. I thought you’d already have left for the hotel.”
“I was waiting for you,” Jordan replied and eyed her suspiciously. “What’s going on, Alex? You haven’t slept in our room for two nights, you get up at the crack of dawn and are gone from the house all day. Are you avoiding me?”
She swallowed hard, fully aware that he was on to her. Yes, she was avoiding him. Since Frank Dunning told her about what he saw the night Suzanne disappeared, not to mention the fact that Benji filled her in on the abuse that he sustained growing up as a child. Jordan wasn’t the man she thought he was. The man she married wouldn’t have done these things.
“I really need to get ready,” she finally said, grabbing her dress and darting for the bathroom.
Jordan lurched forward and pulled her back, spinning her toward him. “Damnit, stop running away from me! What is the matter with you?”
“What is the matter with you?” she cried, cowering away from him. “What kind of monster are you, anyway?”
“I beg your pardon?” he replied, startled by her reaction.
“You can stop playing innocent!” Alex exclaimed. “I know everything, Jordan. I know about the body that you buried on the grounds. Suzanne’s body. I know you killed her.”
He studied her face and took a few tentative steps closer. “Have you lost your mind?”
“No, I am perfectly sane, which is more I can say for you.”
“You think I killed Suzanne?” Jordan deadpanned. “What on earth would make you think that?” Before she could answer, realization suddenly dawned. “Of course. Dunning. He’s been filling your head with lies.”
“So he did see you, didn’t he?” Alex demanded. “He saw you that night. And you were the one who attacked him in the garage at Sunset Studios. You beat him up and left him for dead because he knew the truth.”
Jordan pinched the bridge of his nose and groaned with frustration. “No!” he exclaimed. “I mean, yes, I attacked Frank Dunning. But I did it because he won’t let go of the past. He’s obsessed, Alex. He was stalking Suzanne. He has an entire wall of photographs. He has things that belonged to her. Personal things. You don’t know who this man is.”
“I know who he is,” Alex replied and shook her head with disgust. “It’s you that I don’t know.”
With that, she turned and locked herself in the bathroom. Jordan ran to the door and pounded against it with his fist.
“Damnit, Alex! Don’t do this! Open the damn door or I swear to god I’ll break it down!”
After a few moments of silence, he turned and stormed across the room, raking his fingers through his hair. He could kill Frank Dunning for what he was doing.
Outside in the hall, Benji listened with a devious grin.
Miranda made her way across the lobby at Hotel Terranova, attracting attention from everyone she passed. Her purple dress was couture and very short. It was also not the one Kelly had picked out for her, a fact that was sure to infuriate the bride. Naturally, Miranda relished being in the role of the rebellious bridesmaid.
Just as she reached the ballroom, Eddie appeared, dressed handsomely in a black tuxedo and a very worried look on his face.
“Are you okay?” Miranda asked as they stood at the entrance. “You look like you’re about to toss your cookies.”
“I feel like it,” Eddie said, his forehead sweating profusely.
“What’s wrong?”
“Miranda, what if I screw up?” he asked. “I’m the best man. Stormy’s counting on me. This day is important to him.”
“You didn’t mess up at Stormy’s last wedding, so I’m sure you’re not going to mess up at this one. And probably not the next one either.”
Eddie wiped his forehead with the back of his hand and glanced around the empty ballroom. “Do you know what I did this morning?” he asked. “I almost lost the rings. I had them in my hands when I was drinking my protein shake, and I thought I put them in my jacket pocket but twenty minutes later they were gone. I tore my condo apart looking for them. Finally I found them in the sink. I’d dropped them when I rinsed out my glass. I can’t even drink a protein shake without screwing up!”
“Well look at me,” Miranda said and threw her hands up in resignation. “I’m bridesmaid to a woman I can’t stand. At least your job is a little more bearable.”
“I can’t help it. Everything I touch turns to crap. Look what happened between me and you.”
“What do you mean?”
“That night we spent together after meeting up at the Viper Room?” Eddie reminded her with one eyebrow arched to oblivion. “I should have left well enough alone but I couldn’t help myself. I kept pushing and pushing until you snapped that night in the pool house after Stormy and Kelly’s engagement party.”
“I was wrong to snap at you,” Miranda said with a sigh. “You’re not a bad guy, Eddie. I mean, you’re kind of a dork, but you’re sweet, and you’re not a screwup.”
Eddie couldn’t help but smile, still approaching the situation with caution. This was usually the part where she turned all Mrs. Hyde and threw things or threatened his genitals. But this time she didn’t. Instead, they moved closer until they were nearly pressed against each other.
“Miss Miranda!” screamed a voice from across the lobby. “Come quickly! It’s Kelly! She needs you!”
Miranda sighed with irritation, the mood spoiled. She turned just as Leilani came rushing toward her, her arms flailing in the air.
“What is it, Leilani?”
“We can’t find her veil!” she shrieked in her thick Polynesian accent. “I look everywhere!”
“Relax,” Miranda replied. “It’s got to be here somewhere. Did you check in the car?”
“You have the keys!”
Miranda rolled her eyes and exchanged harried glances with Eddie. “I’ll go get it,” she said. “Just go tell her to calm down and take some deep breaths. Jesus, it’s only a veil.”
Leilani raced back in the direction she’d came and left Miranda and Eddie where they were before the interruption.
“I’d better go tend to Bridezilla,” she joked.
“Yeah, I’ll see you in there,” Eddie replied.
Grudgingly, Miranda turned and started to the doors. She glanced back on her way and saw Eddie staring with a goofball grin on his face. She felt different inside, still unsure what the hold was that he had on her.
Upstairs, Stormy, Ethan and Kenny gathered in a suite for drinks before the ceremony. Each in a black tuxedo, they stood in the living room talking over snifters of brandy when James entered, notably frazzled.
“Dad, I was wondering when you were going to get here,” Stormy said, regarding his father carefully. “Are you okay?”
James nodded, still flustered over the close call with Jackie at Moonshadows. She was a dangerously attractive woman, and that was only the beginning of the problem. He was sure she had an agenda, and whether her trying to seduce him was just a ploy or not, he decided to be as guarded as possible
“Just had to run an errand,” James said, pulling Stormy into an embrace. “How are you? Nervous?”
Stormy grinned while shaking his head. “Nah, just excited.”
“Marriage number two,” Kenny jibed. “This one better stick.”
“Amen to that,” Ethan agreed and poured his uncle a drink.
“I’m proud of you, son,” James said and took the glass from him. “You’ve really matured into a fine man over the past couple of years. You’re no longer the reckless playboy you once were. You took charge of Angel Assassin 2 and got it done on schedule and on budget, and now you’re settling down again with a family of your own.”
“You’re following in your father’s footsteps,” Kenny said with a smile.
James beamed proudly. Kenny’s comment was right on the mark. Stormy was a talented producer and about to marry an aspiring actress, much like he had twenty-six years earlier with Alex. The similarities in their paths were striking.
“I think this calls for a toast,” Ethan said and raised his glass. “To Stormy and Kelly.”
“To Stormy and Kelly,” Kenny said.
James lifted his glass in agreement. “I’d also like to propose a toast to Ethan, who’s been like another son to me over the past ten years. He’s finally found what makes his life complete. Brooke is a lucky woman. And despite what’s happened over the years, the best man has won her. I’ll miss you both very much.”
Ethan half-expected a but to follow James’s last statement, followed by a promise of getting Brooke for himself once and for all. He knew that his uncle had never really gotten over her. He could offer his blessings until he was blue in the face, but he still saw the hurt that resonated in his eyes.
“I have one more to add,” Kenny said. “To James for retaining control of Sunset Studios. May the next twenty-five years be as successful as the last.”
“Hear, hear,” Stormy said and swallowed his drink. “And thank you all for being here and standing up for me. It means a lot.”
James looked at his watch and set his glass down. “Speaking of, we need to get downstairs. We have a wedding to get to.”
They started to the door, opening it quickly and finding Alex on the other side. She peered past James and Ethan and made eye contact with Stormy.
“May I have a word?” she asked timidly.
Stormy set his jaw, refusing to let his mother ruin his wedding day with more jabs against Kelly. A nod from his father cued him to stay put and hear her out. He reluctantly nodded and gestured for her to come inside.
“We’ll see you downstairs,” James said before leading Kenny and Ethan out into the hall.
“Well, you look handsome as ever.” Alex stepped through the room in her powder blue dress and matching pillbox hat. “People are starting to arrive downstairs. It looks like there’ll be quite the turnout.”
“What are you doing here, mom?” Stormy cut her off rigidly.
“What do you mean?” she asked. “I wanted to have a private moment with you before the ceremony.”
“But why?” He dug his hands into his pockets and shrugged. “You’ve made no secrets about your feelings for Kelly, or our relationship. If you’re just here to cause more trouble then I wish you’d just leave.”
She traced her finger along the credenza against the wall. “I’m not here to make trouble, Stormy. I came up here to apologize for the way I’ve acted. I realize that you have feelings for this woman…Kelly…and I respect that.”
“You tried to buy her off,” Stormy said with a frown. “You told me I was making the biggest mistake of my life. Now you’re suddenly okay with everything?”
Alex sighed and shook her head in despair. “There’ve been recent developments in my own life that led me to realize I have no room to judge.” She paused and thought about Jordan and the secrets he was keeping from her. The half-truths about Suzanne and the incident with Frank in the parking garage, and all along she was blind to all of it.
“What recent developments?”
“It’s not important,” she answered solemnly. “The point is I have no right to tell you how to run your life. You’re a grown man who can make his own decisions. I’m sorry if my actions hurt you.”
Stormy was overwhelmed with surprise over her change in attitude. She almost sounded sincere. Only time would tell, he decided. He moved forward and pulled her into an embrace. “Thank you,” he said.
“I love you so much,” Alex said, her eyes closed tightly. “I just want you to be happy.”
“I am,” he said, pulling away and looking into her eyes. “I promise.”
Alex sucked in a few tears and compulsively straightened his bowtie. “Now you better get downstairs. I can’t have my son being late for his own wedding.”
Stormy smiled and walked her to the door. “Are you sure you’re all right?” he asked. “Is everything okay with you and Jordan?”
She turned and managed a convincing smile. “Yes,” she said. “Don’t worry about me. This is your day.”
Stormy still wasn’t convinced, but then again his mother didn’t always let her emotions show. Particularly when it was something worthy of concern. He decided to ask her again later.
They left the suite and started down the hall to the elevator.
The chairs were lined up in rows, each adorned with a delicate silver ribbon and a white orchid surrounded by a spray of berries. At the front was an intricate archway, luminous white lights woven through the latticework. Flowers filled the space, emanating the perfume scent of orchids and violets.
Stormy stood beneath the archway, his hands folded neatly in front of him. To his right was Eddie, palming the rings obsessively. When the harpist began playing the wedding march, all eyes turned back to the entrance where Miranda made her way down the aisle. Her eyes flickered past Eddie’s and she took her spot to the side.
When Kelly appeared with her arm latched through James’s, the guests stood and turned. Her dress was vintage Yves Saint Laurent with delicate embroidery and a diamond encrusted bodice. Every eye was fixed on her as she made their way down the aisle.
Kelly was floored by the number of guests in attendance. There were of course Stormy’s friends and family, dozens of actors and models, talent agents and musicians. She’d never realized just how influential a family she was marrying into until at that very moment.
When they reached the archway, James gave Kelly a kiss on the cheek and handed her off to Stormy who gazed in awe at how gorgeous she looked in her dress. Leilani and Alex sat in the front row, Alex with a taut expression and Leilani a ball of sobbing emotion.
The guests sat down and the room grew quiet, prompting the minister to begin the ceremony.
“Friends, we are gathered here today to celebrate the love of Kelly Maluhia Kahoano and Ryan James Blackthorne, as they make their pledges of marriage before god and before this company…”
Twenty minutes later, the reception was in full swing. Five hundred guests elegantly clad in designer attire filled the ballroom just off the hotel lobby. The band was called Oxford, a hot new act just signed on to Titan Records whom Stormy was in negotiations with to secure music rights for the Angel Assassin 2 soundtrack.
A seven-foot-tall ice statue in the shape of a B stood in the center of the room, elegant tables with ornate centerpieces surrounding it. The band ended their set and the lead singer garnered the crowd’s attention when Stormy and Kelly entered the room with loads of fanfare.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to present Mr. and Mrs. Blackthorne.”
The throng of guests applauded wildly as they made their way onto the dance floor and started swaying to a slow waltz number. They stared into each other’s eyes, ignoring everything and everyone around them.
“I like the sound of that,” Stormy said. “Mrs. Blackthorne.”
Kelly grinned uncontrollably. “It has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?”
“It certainly does. See, I told you everything was going to be okay. You had someone to walk you down the aisle, you had a maid of honor, and you look positively beautiful.”
“Yes, you can say I told you so just this once,” Kelly replied with a roll of her eyes. “Just don’t expect it to be a regular thing. I plan on always being the voice of reason in our marriage.”
“Oh yeah?” he joked as they moved gracefully around the dance floor. “What if I told you I was also right about my family accepting you?”
“They have?” Kelly asked, one eyebrow arched.
Stormy nodded. “Yeah. Miranda came around, didn’t she? And my mother actually apologized to me for her behavior. They’ll be calling you family in no time at all.”
“I doubt that,” Kelly murmured under her breath. “But I’m willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.”
“That’s all I’m asking.”
Kelly placed a hand on his cheek and kissed him warmly. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” he replied, then couldn’t resist adding for effect, “Mrs. Blackthorne.”
***
Miranda was standing at the side of the room with a martini in one hand and her purse clutched in the other. She watched her brother enviously, admittedly a little jealous that he had found someone after his disaster of a marriage to Heather. She’d only met with losers since her flawed marriage to Brett. And the whole mess with David Jennings had only recently begun to lose its sting.
Before she could feel thoroughly sorry for herself, Eddie appeared beside her. He appeared to be just what she needed.
“I was wondering if you were through with your matronly duties?” he asked.
She regarded him carefully. “That depends on why you’re asking.”
“I was going to see if you wanted to dance.”
“Let’s go,” she said without missing a beat. She grabbed him by the arm, handed her drink to a passing waiter, and pulled him onto the dance floor.
***
James watched from a nearby table, turning his attention to Alex when she flopped into the chair beside him and lit a cigarette.
“You can’t smoke in here, Alex,” he said. “This is a public space.”
“I don’t care,” she replied, blowing a thin stream of smoke into the air. “Let them throw me in jail. Anything’s better than here.”
“What is your problem?” James demanded. “Our son just got married. I thought you would have accepted this by now. I’m telling you, Alex, if you continue to oppose this marriage, you’re going to lose him.”
“It’s not the marriage,” she replied and stubbed her cigarette out in a tray of hors d’oeurves when she got a steely look from a passing waiter.
“Then what is it?” James asked. “And why aren’t you with Jordan? You didn’t even sit together at the ceremony.”
“Just forget it,” she said and lit another cigarette.
“Are you having problems?”
“Define problems.”
“Is your marriage in trouble?” James clarified.
She placed a hand on her forehead, careful so as not to singe her hat with the smoldering cigarette. She paused for a moment before grabbing a drink from a passing cocktail waiter.
“Let me ask you something,” she whispered. “Do you know what happened to Suzanne Rogers?”
James furrowed his brow, more than surprised by her question. “She left years ago,” he said. “Before she started working on that film. Monaco.”
“I know, but what happened to her?” Alex demanded, downing her drink in two gulps.
“What do you mean what happened to her? She left. I always assumed she and Jordan were having problems so she took off with Troy.”
“Troy?”
“Jordan’s half-brother. Lola’s other son. They were always together.”
“Is that what you really think?” Alex asked. She spotted Frank Dunning across the room and drifted off into a daze.
“Alex?” James asked, trying to garner her attention. “What is it?”
She got up and started across the room, stopping only when she saw Jordan standing by the bar, watching her with a penetrating stare. She wasn’t ready to talk to him again. And with Frank in the same room, she half-expected drama of earthquake proportions.
***
Coming from the bar, Brooke and Ethan mingled through the crowd with their eyes fixed on James seated at their table. They looked at each other briefly and stopped amidst the crowed of wedding guests.
“Marry me,” he said.
“What?” Brooke exclaimed with a start.
“Marry me. Let’s make this official.”
Brooke smiled, unsure of how to react to his sudden question. “Are you serious?”
“Yes, I’m serious. We’re moving away together. You, me and our son. There’s nothing stopping us now. I want to make you my wife. I want to be with you forever.”
Overwhelmed, she put her arms around him and pulled him close. “Yes, of course I’ll marry you.”
“Now?”
Laughing, Brooke pulled a lock of blond hair from her eyes . “What, now? You want to get married now?”
“Why not?”
She looked around and shrugged. “It’s just kind of last minute. I need time to prepare. Time to—”
“What have we ever gotten from waiting?” he stopped her, now growing more serious. “Missed opportunities. We’ve spent the last four years waiting until the time was right and look where it got us.”
“We’re leaving tomorrow, Ethan,” she said. “The townhouse is empty, our suitcases are packed, and Michael is at home waiting for us. Nothing is going to stop us this time.”
“I don’t want to wait to make you my wife.”
“You want to do it here?” Brooke asked with a raised eyebrow. “With James and David and Miranda all watching? I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to risk giving someone the chance to stand in our way. Why not wait until we’re in Costa Rica tomorrow? We’ll find a minister and get married on the beach with our son with us.”
Ethan slowly came around to her way of thinking. “I just love you so much.”
“I love you too,” she said and fell into his arms. “Please just don’t worry. By this time tomorrow we’ll be married and starting a new life together.”
Ethan closed his eyes and held her close. When his cell phone rang he fished it from his pocket and glanced at the display.
“Who is it?”
“Rachel,” Ethan replied. “I hope Michael’s okay.”
Brooke watched intently, hoping that nothing was wrong. Their nanny rarely called them for anything unless it was an emergency. She listened to the brief call, and when he hung up she didn’t feel much better.
“Michael won’t stop crying,” he announced. “She’s tried everything she can think of but she can’t get him to quiet down.”
“We should go,” Brooke said immediately and started off in the other direction.
“Wait,” he said adamantly and pulled her back. “I can go. You stay here and say your goodbyes.”
“I don’t want to stay if you’re not.”
“I’ll come right back. He’s probably just scared because the house is so empty. I’ll get him to sleep and everything will be fine.”
Brooke shook her head. “Home is half an hour away,” she said. “Let’s just both go.”
Ethan kissed her softly. “I’ll be back before you know it.”
She reluctantly agreed, managing a faint smile and kissing him on the lips. “Give him my love.”
“I will,” he said, squeezing her hand in his while he slowly backed up.
Brooke watched him weave his way through the crowd, her heart soaring with elation. She couldn’t remember the last time she felt so at ease and so complete. It seemed that her life was finally going in the direction she’d always hoped it would.
From the hors d’ourves table, Sierra watched Ethan closely. They were related, sort of, but rarely spoke. Particularly since he got drunk behind the wheel and mowed her down under the porte-cochere of the hotel. To her, the Blackthornes were nothing but acquaintances. The only one she really knew was her father, and he turned out to be a monster.
Her thoughts continued to trail off as her mother carried on about something.
Renee, dressed in a magnificent Gucci skirt and matching jacket, nibbled on a shrimp cocktail and sipped champagne while regarding her daughter curiously.
“Malcolm seems nice enough,” she said, her eyes traveling to the bar where the young African American man was ordering a round of drinks for them. “But you still haven’t told me anything about him. All I know is that he’s an aspiring music producer.”
“What more do you want to know?” Sierra asked and finally returned her attention to Renee.
“Well, what does his family do?”
Sierra sighed and spotted Benji Rydell across the room. She hadn’t expected him to be there but was strangely curious after their meeting the last time she was in town.
“Malcolm doesn’t like to talk about his family,” she replied. “They’re very successful and he’s trying to make it on his own without their help. He doesn’t want to be a trust fund brat.”
“Perish the thought,” Renee said with a good-natured smirk.
They turned just as Malcolm approached with drinks for him and Sierra. Sierra accepted it graciously and smiled when he slipped his arm around her waist.
“So Malcolm,” Renee began, eyeing him up and down, “Sierra tells me that your family is successful. Would I know your mother and father?”
“It’s possible,” replied Malcolm Harris. He was twenty-three years old, tall, strapping and incredibly good looking. “They divorced when I was very young. I spent a few years traveling Europe with my mother, then I enrolled in NYU and decided to stay in New York and start my own record company. My father splits his time between there and L.A. He’s actually here tonight.”
“And how is it that you came to be dating my daughter?” Renee continued her interrogation. She wanted to be happy for Sierra, but at the same time couldn’t help but feel extremely protective of her after her rocky history.
“We met at a concert,” Sierra replied for him. “In the auditorium at Sarah Lawrence. Malcolm assisted the music department in putting it on. He’s very respected at the school. He donates his time to several universities in New York. He’s a philanthropist.”
“I’ll bet,” Renee said.
Sierra scrunched up her face and placed a hand firmly on her hip. “Mother, do you think you can hold back on the persecution until you actually get to know Malcolm?” she asked irately. “Not every man is a user.”
“No, it’s okay, Sierra,” Malcolm chimed in. “Your mother is just being cautious, and I can’t blame her for that. You’re a beautiful young woman and she wants to make sure you’re not getting into anything you can’t handle.”
Renee raised an eyebrow, impressed by the way the young man came to her defense. His reaction definitely scored points in his favor.
“Malcolm, I’m happy that you were able to accompany Sierra,” she said with a certain amount of resignation. “I’m looking forward to getting to know you better.”
“Thank you, Mrs. DeWitt.”
Sierra scowled at her mother, fully aware that she was trying to show her up.
***
James spotted Ethan leaving the ballroom and dashed over to catch up with him in the hotel lobby.
“Ethan, wait up,” he said. “Are you going home already?”
He turned to his uncle and gestured to the door. “I’m on toddler duty,” he said with a smile. “I think he’s confused about the move. I just want to go check on him and then I’ll be back.”
“Good,” James replied. “I wanted to spend some time with you before you leave tomorrow.”
“I’ll look for you when I get back,” he said, slowly turning and starting back to the door.
James dug his hands into his pockets, realizing there was one thing he wanted to tell him that couldn’t wait. “Ethan?”
“Yeah?” He turned back again and took a few tentative steps forward.
“I just wanted you to know that I meant what I said upstairs. You have been like a son to me. I love you so much.”
Ethan responded only with a gracious smile. He turned and continued through the doors to the porte-cochere.
When James re-entered the ballroom, he made his way to his table, pausing when Stormy called after him as he approached.
“Dad, there you are,” he said and patted him on the back. “There’s someone I’d like you to meet. This is T.T. Levitt. He’s the owner of Titan Records.”
James offered a firm handshake and a cordial smile. “Mr. Levitt, it’s a pleasure. Your reputation precedes you.”
“Likewise,” he replied, smiling. “But please call me T.T.”
“All right,” James said. “Stormy tells me he’s been working with you to secure the rights to music for Angel Assassin 2. I’m looking forward to working with you and Titan Records.”
“I feel the same way,” he replied.
T.T. Levitt was a tall, charismatic African American man of fifty-five. He wore a classic black Versace suit and had multiple gold and diamond rings on several of his fingers. Everything about him exuded money and style. James had heard about him over the years but as yet had not met him face to face. He was everything he’d heard he would be.
“T.T. and I have a meeting next week,” Stormy indicated. “I’m hoping to nail down some music tracks by then. Their catalog of artists is enormous. We should have a lot to choose from.”
A booming laugh escaped T.T.’s throat and he gave Stormy a good natured slap on the back. “I keep telling this guy to relax and enjoy his wedding. There’s plenty of time for business talk. Go enjoy yourself, young man.”
“He’s truly his father’s son,” James joked with a shake of his head. “Business never takes a holiday.”
“I learned from the best,” Stormy said, turning to T.T. and shaking his hand. “See you next week.”
“Or possibly sooner,” T.T. replied. “Maybe tomorrow night at the Filmmaker Awards.”
“Excellent,” Stormy said, nodding to his father before darting off to find where Kelly had disappeared to.
Benji hated dressing in a suit. It reminded him of his uniform at Beau Solei. By the time dinner was finished he’d tossed his tie onto the table and unfastened three buttons on his shirt.
He’d successfully avoided his father all night, still angry over their confrontation at home a few days prior. Luckily his manipulation of Alex seemed to be doing the trick because their marriage appeared to be strained beyond recognition. It was the first step in making his father regret everything he’d done to him and Heather.
With that ball rolling, he stood back and waited for the fireworks. Luckily he had something to distract him in the meantime, namely Sierra, who had made a welcome surprise visit for the wedding. Seeing her beautiful face was exactly what he needed right now. Something about her took the edge off of everything else that was going on in his life.
He waited until she was alone and cornered her at the punch table, slyly sidling up next to her and flashing a grin in her direction.
“Miss me?” he said with as much charm as he could muster.
Sierra tried not to smile, going as far as to avoid looking directly at him. “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean.”
“Come on, I saw you checking me out from across the room,” Benji said with a cocksure grin. “Admit it. You missed me. You wished you’d have gone to lunch with me that day before you went back to New York last summer.”
“You’re delusional,” Sierra said, finally meeting his gaze. She had to admit his eyes had a way of drawing her in. They were the deepest brown and somehow they comforted her. Still, she had heeded her mother’s warning and decided to steer clear of him. Comforting or not, she could tell he was trouble.
“So, who’s the dude you’re with?” Benji asked and followed her away from the table. “That music business guy you said you were all into last time you were in town?”
“Yes. His name is Malcolm.” She stared out at the dance floor to avoid looking at him. She didn’t want him to misread anything and think she was interested in him.
“I see,” Benji said and came up from behind. “Well, I don’t see a ring on your finger yet. Does that mean you’re still free to—”
“I don’t think so,” Sierra cut him off, her eyes flashing. She moved away again, hoping he would get the hint and leave her alone.
“You’re not still all weirded out about that stuff your mom told you, are you?” Benji asked and continued to follow her around the room. “Because I told you it wasn’t as bad as all that. I’m not some kind of thug or anything. I’m just a normal guy.”
“Who lied and told me you were working for your father,” Seirra said with a laugh. She had to give him credit for trying. He was certainly persistent. “Look, I told you last time that I didn’t even know if we could be friends. No offense, but you’re not the kind of person I usually associate with.”
“What’s wrong? Afraid of a little excitement?”
Before Sierra could reply, Malcolm rejoined her. “Sorry about that. Who’s this?”
“Benji Rydell,” he said and extended his hand.
“Malcolm Harris. Nice to meet you, kid.”
Sierra decided to put an immediate stop to the small talk. “Malcolm, I’d love to dance,” she said.
“Then you shall dance,” he replied, taking her hand and leading her off. On their way, he patted Benji on the back and offered a nod of his head. “Take it easy, champ.”
Benji gritted his teeth and clenched his fists. “Kid? Champ?” he whispered under his breath. He’d only just met the guy and he already hated him. The condescending tone in his voice made him want to beat him to a pulp.
Standing to the side, he watched them dancing closely, their bodies pressed against one another in slow, rhythmic movements. Frustrated and insulted, he turned and started off through the crowd.
Alex made her way through the lobby toward the restrooms. As she began to enter, she saw Scott Kelly coming out of the men’s room. He smiled and approached her warily.
“You’re looking hot as ever, Alex,” he said, kissing her on the cheek. “Enjoying your evening?”
She rolled her eyes and pushed a stray strand of hair into her hat. “Cut the act, Scott. There are no reporters around right now. Our affair, as it were, is for public consumption only, remember?”
“Well, I figured we hadn’t been in the news for a few days. It might be time to re-introduce ourselves to the media.”
Alex regarded him suspiciously. “You’re awfully keen on this charade of ours,” she said. “The film is complete. We’ve gotten all the press we’re going to get until its release. Why are you still pushing for all this attention?”
He shrugged, his eyes darting around nervously. “I just have the film’s interest at heart,” he replied. “I know how important its success is to James.”
She knew full well there was more to it than that. There was something else in it for him. “Well, I’m not going along with this anymore. My life is complicated enough.”
“Alex, wait,” he protested, but it was too late. She was tearing off in the other direction. With a sigh, he turned and started back to the ballroom. With any luck, any question on his sexual orientation had been put to rest. Shailene was still angry, but more so about his alleged affair with Alex. Maybe he was in the clear. But just to be safe, he vowed to refrain from his extracurricular activities for a while.
When he entered the ballroom, he spotted Benji downing a tumbler of vodka. He looked up and they made eye contact. Benji approached casually, his eyes flickering past Scott’s and gesturing to the door with a nod of his head. With that, Scott realized his vow was going to have to wait until tomorrow.
Minutes later, they were naked in a room upstairs rented under the name Scott used when he was trying to go incognito. Benji positioned himself on the bed on all fours, clutching the headboard tightly as Scott entered him from behind, sweat dripping from his face and neck. He reached around and pinched his nipples, relishing the way Benji’s face twisted into a painful grimace with each thrust.
When Scott rolled him over and Benji raised his legs up onto his shoulders, he increased his speed, closing his eyes and groaning with pleasure. Instinctively, he leaned down and brushed his lips against Benji’s.
“What’s wrong?” Scott asked as Benji turned his head away.
“I don’t kiss guys on the mouth,” was his simple reply.
By the time they’d finished, Scott was exhausted. He lay on the bed, panting and trying to catch his breath from the physical exertion. Without uttering a word, Benji got dressed and left the room.
Kelly came out of her suite on the same floor after safely stashing a gift from her mother. A necklace with a heart and a Hawaiian Goddess etched into the center. She realized it had probably cost her half a year’s salary, so she took care so as not to risk losing it.
She spotted Benji coming out of the room down the hall, ducked around a corner and waited until he was on the elevator. Once the coast was clear, she crept down the hallway and stopped outside the room he’d came from. She tried the lock, pushing the door slowly open and feeling her jaw drop when she saw Scott Kelly climbing off the bed, nary a trace of clothing on his finely toned body.
Quietly, she closed the door again and tried to wrap her head around what she’d just seen. Suddenly, the all-too hard to believe affair between Scott and Alex made much more sense. They weren’t sleeping together at all. Scott was gay and trying to cover it up. She wondered if Stormy knew this bit of information.
Picking up her train, she dashed down the hall and pushed the button for the elevator.
Brooke sat at her table looking at her watch, then glancing back at the door to the ballroom in search of Ethan. When her cell phone rang and she pulled it from her purse, she smiled when she saw that it was him calling.
“Where are you?” she asked.
“I just left the townhouse,” Ethan replied from his car. “It took a while to get Michael to sleep. I can see why Rachel called. He was fit to be tied.”
“Should I just come home and meet you there?” Brooke asked, her voice full of concern.
“No, I still owe you a dance,” Ethan replied with a smile. “I should be there in half an hour.”
“Ethan,” she said, hoping to catch him before he hung up. “Let’s do it.”
“Do what?’ he asked.
“Get married. Tonight. Let’s find a minister and just do it. I don’t want to wait another day.”
Ethan changed his phone to the other ear and steered his car away from their house in Glendale. “Do you mean it?” he asked. “You’re not just pulling my leg, are you?”
“No, I mean it. I want to do it.”
Ethan shouted happily, dropping his phone into his lap and reaching down to pick it up. As he did, the car swerved into the other lane, nearly colliding with an oncoming car. He quickly maneuvered it back ion course and let out a sigh of relief.
“You’ve made me the happiest man in the world,” he said once he’d finally gotten resituated. “I’ll see you in half an hour.”
“Hurry!” Brooke exclaimed and snapped her phone closed again.
She stared off in a dreamlike state, thrilled that she and Ethan were finally going to make it official. After the years of waiting and the constant roadblocks, it was finally going to happen for them.
“Don’t you look like the cat who swallowed the canary?” asked a voice from above.
Brooke looked up and felt her smile fade when she realized it was Miranda. “Something like that,” she said, more than anything wanting to avoid another argument with the young woman.
“So this is it, huh?” Miranda asked and sat down next to her. “You’re really leaving town?”
“I’m really leaving town,” Brooke replied, tracing her finger along the table. “So go ahead and give it your best shot. I know you want to. Tell me what a mess I’ve made of your family and how many people I railroaded since I came into your lives.”
Miranda looked at her blankly and shook her head. “I wasn’t going to say that.”
Brooke looked at her curiously, wondering what she was thinking. It was unlike Miranda to not have a single hateful thing to say to her. “Then tell me how I made you lose your baby or how I stole David from you.”
Miranda stared down at the table. “I was going to tell you that I hope you’ll be happy with Ethan. I always thought the two of you should be together.”
“You mean as long as I wasn’t with James,” Brooke corrected her.
“No, I didn’t think you were right for my father,” Miranda agreed matter-of-factly. “I never did. But you and Ethan have always had this special connection. You share a son. You should be together.”
“We’re going to be together,” Brooke said. “We’re getting married. Tonight.”
“Tonight?” Miranda asked in surprise. “That’s kind of rushing things, don’t you think?”
Brooke leveled a look at her as if to say you’ve got to be kidding.
“Right,” Miranda said with a laugh. “I guess this has been a long time coming.”
“Look, Miranda,” Brooke began tentatively. “I want you to know that I did love your father. Things just got in the way and we couldn’t be together anymore.”
Miranda grew into a daze, recalling their stormy history together. “Things meaning me, right?” she asked.
“Not only you.”
Miranda laughed. “Yeah, but I was a big part of it.”
“And Nathan, and your mother.”
“Well, for what it’s worth, I always thought Daddy was wrong to take Nathan’s side over yours. I know how badly that hurt you. As a woman, I can understand what you were going through. No one should have to go through that.”
Brooke saw a side of Miranda that she’d rarely, if ever, seen before. When the young woman reached over and placed her hand on hers, she practically jumped back with a start.
“Make Ethan take care of you and that son of yours,” Miranda said, leaning forward and giving her a quick squeeze before jumping up and dashing off in the other direction.
Jordan spent the evening watching Alex from a distance. She avoided him expertly, and he knew that she would cause a scene if he tried to go near her. He had to talk to her and to make her understand what really happened. He wasn’t a murderer. Yes, he’d attacked Frank Dunning but only because he was trying to protect his family.
As if on cue, Frank appeared and made his way to the lounge across the lobby. Jordan followed him, cornering him in an isolated booth against the wall and offering a look of warning.
“What do you want?” Frank asked. “I’m not in the mood for your threats tonight, Jordan.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. You must be under the impression that I give a damn about what you want. You’ve been filling my wife’s head with lies, not to mention what you’ve said to my son. I’m telling you right now, Dunning, that it had better stop.”
“Or what?” Frank asked, his eyes challenging him. “You’ll kill me this time? Just like you did Suzanne?”
“I told you I did not kill Suzanne,” Jordan said. “Whatever you think you saw, you’re wrong.”
“I saw you bury a body in your backyard,” Frank insisted. “And the next day, Suzanne was gone. Your own son said he saw the blood and the tire iron that you used to finish her off.”
Jordan ignored his remarks, deciding to go about things a different way. “You were in love with her,” he said. “You had been for years.”
“You’re insane,” Frank said with a laugh.
“I was at your house,” Jordan explained. “I saw the shrine you had built for her. The photographs, the tapes, the articles of clothing. Tell me, how do I know it wasn’t you who killed her?”
“I wouldn’t have hurt her. I loved her!” As soon as he’d blurted it out, he regretted it. Sinking back into the booth, he placed a hand on his forehead and took a few deep breaths. “You were the one who trashed my house. I should have known.”
“So what happened, Frank?” Jordan asked. “Suzanne didn’t return your feelings so you killed her? Is that it?”
“No!” he yelled at the top of his lungs.
Jordan offered a devious smile and leaned in closer. “You’re a loser, Dunning,” he said. “You always have been. Chasing after a married woman who didn’t even want you. Taking pictures of her when she didn’t know you were even there. You’re sick.”
“Shut up!” Frank screamed, sweating profusely. “Shut up! She loved me! She just never got around to admitting it! She turned to me when you cheated on her! I was there for her! Not you, not Troy, not Dr. Wainwright!”
“She pitied you,” Jordan taunted him. “She made fun of you when you weren’t around. She said you were the eccentric director that nobody would hire.”
“No, she came to me for guidance,” Frank said, growing increasingly distraught. “She wanted my help with auditions and with readings. We were friends and we would have been lovers if—”
“She would never have touched you,” Jordan said. “And you spent years chasing after a woman that you didn’t even know. You knew nothing about Suzanne. I was her husband. I knew her.”
“Shut up,” Frank said through gritted teeth, his face red. Instinctively, he grabbed the glass vase centerpiece from the table and smashed it against Jordan’s head. Shards of glass exploded onto the floor and he quickly glanced around to make sure no one had seen him.
Jordan, unconscious with a trickle of blood dripping down his face, slumped over onto the booth as Frank shot to his feet in a panic.
James looked at the room key in his hand as he stepped off of the elevator. A hotel employee had handed it to him down in the ballroom and said that someone was waiting for him upstairs. More than a little interested, he immediately went to the room and knocked.
“It’s open,” called a voice from inside.
Frowning, James pushed the door open and stepped into the hotel suite. He peered through the dimly lit room, candles burning in every corner and soft music playing from the sound system. A bottle of champagne was chilling on the counter and the entire room smelled of vanilla and roses.
“Hello?” he called into the room.
“I thought we could try this again,” Jackie Lamont said as she emerged from the bathroom in a short silk robe, long toned legs approaching in a pair of stilettos. “Now that you’re less stressed about the wedding.”
James looked at her in disbelief. “Jackie, I don’t know what kind of game you’re playing, but I’m not a sucker. If this is a ploy to sink your claws into my house and my studio, then you’ll have to try to come up with something a little more inventive.”
“It’s no ploy,” she said and approached him, tearing at his bowtie and unbuttoning his shirt. She pressed her lips hard against his and ran her hands through his hair. “I can’t help it, James. Since I came to the house that day and we argued, I haven’t been able to think of anything else.”
“What are you doing?” James demanded, pulling away even though he was becoming increasingly aroused by her touch. He’d never been with a woman who could instill such a reaction in him with so little effort.
“Make love to me,” she said, her hands scrambling to the belt on his tuxedo pants.
“No,” he said, closing his eyes and willing himself to remain obstinate. It had been months since he’d been with a woman, but sleeping with Jackie would be a mistake. A mistake because he knew why she was doing it.
“Don’t deny that you want me,” she said, her hand running down his chest while she drowned him in passionate kisses. She led him to the bed and laid down, pulling his sturdy frame on top of her.
James finally gave in, kissing her hard on the lips and then letting his tongue work its way down to her breasts. He stood up, flustered, and peeled off his jacket, gazing down at her with desire.
Downstairs, Renee made her way through the ballroom, offering cordial smiles and casual greetings to acquaintances as she passed them. She found Miranda by the bar and garnered her attention.
“Have you seen Jordan?”
Miranda shook her head. “Not for a while. Why?”
“Nothing. I just wanted to catch up is all.” Renee placed a delicate hand on her arm before turning and continuing her search. She came to an abrupt halt when from across the room she came across a face that she hadn’t seen in years. She nearly turned and went the other direction, but he’d already seen her and was approaching quickly.
“Renee Merteuil?” exclaimed T.T. Levitt with a disbelieving smile. “My god, it’s been a long time.”
Renee attempted to maintain her composure. “It certainly has,” she said with a meager smile. “How are you, T.T.?”
“I’m well,” he said and gave her a kiss on the cheek, both hands on her shoulders. “You look amazing. You haven’t aged a day in twenty-three years.”
“You’re a charmer,” she said dismissively. “You always were. What are you doing here?”
“Stormy invited me,” he answered. “My record company is doing some work with him and Sunset Studios. And what about you? What are you doing nowadays? Certainly not lounging on cruise ships like when we first met, I’m assuming.”
“No, I have a daughter now. And a business.”
“Yes, I heard about your father’s passing. I was so sorry to hear that. Charles was a good man.”
“Thank you,” Renee replied, glancing away uncomfortably. It was still a sore subject even after all this time.
“So…married?” T.T. asked.
She shook her head. “Divorced. And you? Did you ever marry Julia?”
“I did, but we divorced as well. And we have a son. He’s twenty-three and he’s my pride and joy. A real self-made man.”
Realization hit quickly, prompting Renee to break into laughter. She had a feeling she’d already met his son. It wasn’t hard to put two and two together. T.T. was the successful father that he didn’t want to accept charity from.
“What’s so funny?”
“Your son wouldn’t be Malcolm Harris, would he?” she asked.
T.T. frowned with a nod. “Yes. Have you met him?”
“In a manner of speaking. My daughter met him in New York. She brought him back as her guest.”
“You’re kidding?” T.T. asked in amazement. He laughed as well, finding the situation to be very hard to believe. What were the odds that his son and her daughter would have met and began dating? “Small world.”
“Yes, it is,” Renee replied. “I should have realized earlier. Both of you are in the music business, plus he took Julia’s name I’m guessing.”
“Yes, not only did he not want my money or my help, but he didn’t want my name either.”
Renee looked at him closely, sensing that he was hurt by the prospect of his son’s radical independence. “He seems like a very upstanding young man.”
T.T. nodded, staring at her contently. “I’d love to see you again, Renee.”
“You are seeing me, T.T.”
“I mean after tonight. Away from this crowd. We have a lot to catch up on. After all, we were nearly married once.”
When Benji got back downstairs, he was angry at himself for sleeping with Scott Kelly when all he could think about was Sierra. But Malcolm’s patronizing glances and pats on the back had infuriated him so much that sex was the only thing that could ease his frustration. It had been that way for as long as he could remember being interested in sex.
On his way back to the reception, he saw Sierra enter the ladies room. Maybe this was the perfect opportunity to be alone with her, he decided, so he followed her inside and watched her standing at the mirror.
“You’re beautiful,” he said.
His presence startled her and she spun around, a hand on her chest. “Benji, what are you doing in here? This is the ladies room.”
“Is anyone else in here?” he asked, glancing under the stalls as he made his way toward her.
“No,” Sierra replied distantly. “But still—”
“I just wanted to talk to you without being interrupted.”
Sierra tried to skirt past him, heading for the door as quickly as she could. “I have to go. Malcolm is waiting for me.”
“What does he have that I don’t?” Benji asked and gently pulled her back. He waited for a response, and when she didn’t attempt to answer him, he leaned in and brushed his lips against hers.
“Stop,” Sierra said and pulled away. “Malcolm is a decent man. He’s upstanding and self-sufficient and he doesn’t rely on his father or his money. You could learn a lot from someone like him.”
Laughing, he dug his hands into his pockets. “I doubt that. Do you think Malcolm’s gotten where he is on his own? Please. I guarantee that he’s had help from his father in one way or another. He and I aren’t that much different, Sierra.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about. You don’t even know him. You don’t even know me.”
“So why not give me the chance? I promise you’ll never regret it.”
Sierra folded her arms and looked at him in disapproval. Everything about Benji Rydell screamed disaster. Still, she couldn’t help it that he excited her. She’d spent her entire life playing it safe, never taking a chance on anything. Benji brought out another side of her.
Before she knew it, he was leaning in and kissing her on the lips again. She took a few steps back until she was standing against the bathroom wall.
Brooke didn’t have enough time to turn the other direction when David spotted her and began approaching. She took a deep breath, realizing she’d have to endure another awkward conversation with him. At least this one would be the last.
“Hi,” he said with a smile. “How are you?”
“I’m fine. I’m just waiting for Ethan.”
David could tell she was uncomfortable, which only made it harder for him to look her in the eyes. Their relationship was tainted, but yet he still found it necessary to try once more to reach her.
“I’m glad I got the chance to see you before you left,” he began. “Mainly just so I could tell you that I wish you all the best. You truly deserve it.”
She couldn’t help but smile at his kind nature. “Thank you, David.”
“Look, I know that you don’t want a relationship with me. I know that too much has happened. But I couldn’t let you leave without telling you that I hope you’ll call me if you ever need anything.”
She closed her eyes for a brief second and took a deep breath. “I appreciate that.” She turned and started off in the other direction. Something inside screamed at her to stop and turn back around, and as much a she resisted, she listened. “I know you’re not to blame for what happened between us. I don’t mean to take things out on you. It’s just easier this way. I know that sounds terrible, but—”
“No, it doesn’t sound terrible,” David assured her.
“Still, you’re a good man, David. We just happen to share a lousy father.”
He smiled and dug his hands into his pockets. “Take care, Brooke.”
“Goodbye,” she said, watching as he turned to walk away.
Eddie found Miranda in her office, staring out the window in a dreamlike state. He knocked lightly on the door before entering and clearing his throat to announce his presence.
“What are you doing in here?” he asked from the doorway.
“Just thinking,” she replied with a sigh.
“About what?” He took her response as an invitation to proceed inside.
“About life,” she said breathlessly and sat down on the edge of her desk. “I don’t know. I guess I’m just feeling a little blue.”
“You? Blue?” Eddie moved forward and looked at her in disbelief. “You’re the most upbeat person I know. Even when you’re not happy you’re at least yelling or screaming. You’ve always got some kind of emotion to show.”
She shrugged. “Not always. It gets tiring always having to be the outspoken one. Sometimes I just want to shut down, you know? Just block everything out and let myself refuel.”
“Do you want me to leave?”
She glanced up and shook her head. “No. Just don’t expect fireworks. I feel like everything’s changing. Stormy’s married, Kelly’s his wife, Brooke and Ethan and Michael are leaving, Heather and Brett have their own problems. I just don’t know where I fit into any of it.”
Eddie stood before her, lifted her chin to him and offered a reassuring smile. “You’re more important to them than you realize,” he said.
His sweet words moved her to her feet. She closed her eyes and pulled him into a kiss. When she broke away, she stifled a laugh and looked away nervously.
“I think there were fireworks,” Eddie said.
“You think so?” she said with a smile.
“Yes,” he said and kissed her in return. When the room started shaking, his eyes grew wide. “Big fireworks. Did you feel that?”
“Yeah,” Miranda said and looked around nervously.
“That must mean we have chemistry,” Eddie said and went in for another kiss.
Miranda pushed him away, feeling the room shake again. Within seconds, the desk started moving and the walls began rattling. “That wasn’t chemistry, Eddie,” she said in a panic. “This is an earthquake.”
Not wasting a second, Eddie pulled her beneath the desk, narrowly missing a spray of glass when the windows shattered inward. Paintings and books flew off the walls. A support beam fell from the ceiling and crashed onto the desk.
Out in the ballroom, pandemonium had erupted. Swarms of wedding guests raced about in desperate search of shelter. The music had come to an eerie halt, the only sounds coming from the frantic screams of five hundred people trapped in the ballroom.
Sparks flew into the air from the band’s equipment. Pieces of the ceiling fell at breakneck speed, demolishing tables and falling on hapless victims, killing some instantly.
“Brooke!’ David yelled and grabbed her hand as he pulled her toward the doorway. “Come on!” He knew that they had to get under a door frame or something sturdy if they were going to have any chance. He’d been through enough earthquakes to know that much.
“Ethan’s not back yet!” she screamed and reached for her cell phone. The floor was cracking and splintering beneath them so much so that it was impossible for her to retain her footing. “I have to call him! Michael’s at home!”
“You’ve got to get somewhere safe!” he yelled over the roar of the chaos. But deep down he knew that there really was nowhere safe to hide. This rang true when a gas line in the floor erupted upwards and exploded between them. Brooke went flying through the air along with a dozen other nearby wedding guests. A ball of smoke and fire billowed upwards, catching table linens and flowers on fire instantaneously.
David climbed to his feet and searched the area for Brooke, screaming her name until he found her unconscious on the floor of the smoke-filled ballroom.
***
Cracks started at the floor and made their way up the walls to the ceiling. A spray of dust from drywall and crushed cement filled the room as the tremor continued. T.T. took Renee by the hand and pulled her to safety just as the gigantic ice sculpture toppled to the ground and exploded into a thousand pieces.
***
Alex, racing frantically to the ballroom entrance, searched for Jordan with urgency. She called out his name, bumping into frantic wedding guests and nearly losing her balance. She saw Kelly racing for the coat room and flew after after.
“Where’s Jordan?” she demanded.
“I don’t know!” Kelly replied and fought to get to the safety of the interior room. Alex followed. Just as they ducked inside, a marble column fell to the floor and wedged itself over the doorway, trapping them inside.
Alex turned just in time to see the outward wall give way and buckle under the weight of the ceiling. Kelly fell beneath the rubble, her head hitting a piece of marble and knocking her unconscious. Alex brought her hands to her mouth and screamed, backing up to doorway where smoke was slowly billowing inside.
In the lounge across the lobby, Frank braced himself and attempted to dodge the falling debris. Rows of bar glasses and bottles of liquor shattered into tiny fragments. The force of the earthquake had unearthed the water lines beneath the bar and sent water shooting upwards like a fire hydrant.
He looked up and saw that the ceiling in the lounge was collapsing little by little. Directly beneath the weakening structure was the booth were Jordan lay unconscious. In a matter of seconds it could collapse directly on top of him, surely killing him with the sheer force.
Frank backed up, too paralyzed with fear to register what was happening. In that instant, Jordan regained consciousness, shaking his groggy head and pausing long enough to realize he was in danger. He saw Frank staring at the ceiling with wide, penetrating eyes. Quickly, he slid away and dove for safety at the precise moment the ceiling collapsed, toppling over Frank and crushing him with the sickening sounding crunch of bones breaking.
Upstairs, James flew off of the bed at lightening speed. He looked around at the walls and ceiling of their room and immediatley knew they were in trouble.
“What’s happening?” Jackie screamed and followed him across the room.
“Get under the doorway!” James bellowed, pulling her across the room and opening the bathroom door so they could take cover under the sturdy door frame.
He could smell smoke, unaware that just outside in the hallway, a transformer had blown and was sending sparks shooting from the ceiling.
The windows in the room shattered and sent a spray of glass toward them. In the hallway, fire broke out when a fountain of sparks landed on a potted palm tree and ignited it instantly. The fire spread to the carpet and in minutes the hallway was engulfed in flames.
Ethan struggled to keep the car on the road, swerving among toppling telephone poles and power lines. He was a mile from Hotel Terranova and had no idea if Brooke or the rest of his family were safe. Was it better to be inside or outside during an earthquake? He couldn’t remember. All he could think about right now was avoiding colliding into obstacles in his path.
Peering into the rearview mirror, he spotted an object traveling toward him from behind. He squinted, trying to get a closer look. By the time he realized what was happening, it was too late.
The ground had opened up, forming a gap in the road that got wider the farther it traveled. Before he could maneuver to safety, his car sunk into the crevasse. He screamed for help, pounding on the car windows and trying to get them to open, but realizing all too quickly that he was trapped, slowly becoming buried underground.
Refusing to give up, Ethan struggled with the car door, desperate to get it open enough to crawl through and climb back to the surface. He could smell gasoline leaking from the tank which only instilled further panic.
“Help me!” he screamed, pounding on the roof of the car as the engine caught fire and the interior filled with smoke.
Next time….
Lives hang in the balance after the devastation from the earthquake is revealed.
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