Before Sunset
by SeniaChapter 11
Olivia leaned back in AJ's arms as they watched the stars. Dinner had turned into a walk on the park and then, neither of them particularly wanting the night to end, a time of sitting quietly, sometimes talking, and generally enjoying each other' company. "Do you know how long I've dreamed of holding you like this?" AJ asked finally. Olivia only smiled and rested her head against his chest. "I feel guilty about...""Shhh..." She didn't want him bringing Elaine into this now. Elaine would get over AJ soon enough. He was just a man, after all. And Elaine had Paula and the Waffle Shop to worry about. Olivia didn't want to feel guilty, or hear how badly AJ felt for her. Couldn't they just be happy to be together?
AJ kissed the top of her head softly. He had wanted all night to kiss her, to feel her lips on his, but he didn't want to seem as if he was only interested in her physically. She knew he'd gone away for the weekend and certainly understood what it implied. He's being here with her now was enough of a testemant to what a jerk he was without trying to seduce her, the very day he had returned. It never dawned on him that Olivia was making just as much a conceous descision to betray Elaine's feelings by being with him. To AJ, Olivia was a perfect, sweet, angel.
Meanwhile, across town in a small apartment, Elaine rocked her sleeping child in her arms and silently weeped. How could she have been so foolish? The weekend had been a dream, but there was no fairy godmother, no white horses, and no happily ever after. The dream may have lasted beyond midnight, but in the end the horses were still mice and she was left with no hope that a glass slipper would lead her back into the prince's arms.
The next morning Olivia was back at work, but this time with a new resolve not to let it interfere with her future plans. She had come far too close to losing her chance with AJ. It would not happen again. "Ms. Blake, we will need you to help in the emergency room today." Olivia glanced up from the baby she was about to change, only to have it taken from her. The emergency rom? There were injured, bleeding, sick people in the emergency room! "But I haven't been trained...""You will get all the training you need. They're expecting you." The head nurse walked off before she could protest further.
Gregory had just finished closing arguments for his first case. Inside he did feel a little sorry for the plaintiffs. Their son had been injured and nearly died when the safety seat he was riding in broke loose from it's brackets as their car was hit by a reckless driver. But he had found evidence that the seat was improperly installed and argued that was the cause, not poor design, that had caused the seat to come apart. Besides, shouldn't they have been suing the reckless driver? If the idiot hadn't been speeding down a mountain road the accident would never have occured. Despite his own argument, Gregory still felt bad for them, and that made him angry. He was sure to win, his case was much better prepared than their lawyers had been. Gregory knew him vaguly.. He'd barely passed the bar four years earlier and had made a career out of handling cases like this, sticking up for the poor and injured. Unfortunatly the poor and injured didn't pay well, certainly not enough to hire a research team like the one Gregory's firm had backing him.Everyone rose to their feet as the judge prepared to hand down his descision. As expected, it was in Gregory's favor. Not expected, however, was the speed in which the infuriated father lunged at the young lawyer. Gregory hit the ground and felt a sharp sting in his left shoulder as the bailiff pulled the man off of him. He looked and saw a small spot of blood rising on his shirt. He looked back, stunned, in time to see the bailiff wrestle a letter opener from the man's hand.
Olivia decided emergency wasn't so bad, at least not in the morning. It was rather quiet, only a small boy with a high fever had been brought in. All she'd had to do was wash his face with cool water and try to keep him calm. She was certain it was worse in the evenings, but for day work she thought she could handle it."Ms. Blake, get an ace bandage and sutures from the cabinet!"
She heard the order and looked up to see what she was missing. They were just bringing someone in, but he was walking and didn't seem terribly hurt. she went to do as she was told while they got him situated in a room. She was just starting to bring the nurse the items she'd asked for when they were taken from her and she was ordered to help with another patient that was just coming in. So much for peace and quiet...
Gregory wasn't hurt badly, but he did require three stitches. "War Wound," teased his coworkers when he returned to the office. Gregory smiled. He wondered what would happen to the man. Of course he couldn't be let to attack people when he didn't get his way, but Gregory still felt bad for him. He'd nearly lost his son and was trying desperately for a way to cover the hospital costs. Gregory didn't have much time to dwell on it. He was immediately rushed into a celebration party. He had won his first real case and earned the firm a great deal of money. In the revelry, he soon forgot his sorrow for the young father.
"I hate my job!" Complained Olivia as she sat angrily on the couch.Bette listened patiently to her tell of the horrible day in the emergency room. When she was finished she smiled.
"What are you smiling about?" Snapped Olivia.
"Just go upstairs and change." Ordered Bette, which got her a rather hateful look from her friend. "AJ is coming to pick you up in an hour. He wished to apologize for asking so late, but he only just found out he would be attending himself."
"Attend what?" Asked Olivia, already on her way up the stairs, Bette right behind her.
"Only the biggest party in Sunset Beach. For a social climber you are terribly uninformed..."
Olivia had never looked better. She certainly better not have anyway. The dress had cost about 2 weeks salary. It turned out the biggest party in Sunset Beach was a fund raiser thrown by AJ's father. AJ had not intended to attend, having planned a quiet business dinner with some visiting collegues. The older Deschanel, however, had come down with the flu and was unable to attend. AJ had been appointed host in his absence. Olivia would be by his side, as hostess. She felt physically ill.This was exactly what she had dreamed of, planned for, but she was suddenly as nervous as she had ever been in her life. Painfully aware of her background and the fact these people would not have bothered to glance in her direction had they bumped into her on the street, Olivia was certain she was about to make a complete fool of herself. The only thing that made it at all bearable was the fact AJ had moved mountains to get both Bette and Del invited. Bette and Olivia had both pooled their savings accounts to get Bette a dress suitable for the occasion and the intern had rented a tux. Del hadn't bothered to look for a date, determined to woo one of the young heiresses at the party. He was much more confident than Olivia....
With Gregory's victory being the talk of the legal community it was determined he should attend the party. A senior partner, not big on social functions anyway, gladly gave up his invitation to the younger man. "I hear old man Deschanel is ill this evening. It's only fitting that a new, younger member of our firm attend. You will relate much better with the son than I would." Gregory didn't bother to tell him he would just as soon push Junior out a window as relate to him...
"I wish Elaine could be here." Bette said absently, admiring the crowd."She could have been if it weren't for you two meddling." Laughed Del. If looks could kill, both Olivia and Bette would have been in jail for his murder.......
"Sorry it took so long. Barkley Andrews is a windbag." Said AJ, walking up and lightly putting his arm around Olivia's waist. He noticed the looks between the others. "Did I miss something?"
"Not at all." Olivia smiled. "We were just saying how charming everything was."
"Not as charming as you." AJ answered, meeting her eyes. "You are going to be the perfect hostess to brighten what would other wise be the dullest gathering in town." He led her to the center of the room, to meet their guests...
Chapter 12
Bette smiled proudly as she watched Olivia and AJ greet the guests as they arrived. Somehow she felt partially responsable for Olivia's success. Even Del seemed to be having a good night. He had been chatting for the last half hour with a Madeleine Mahaffey, a woman Bette would never have placed him with. They did seem to be gettnig along rather well though... She smiled and turned her attention back to her host and hostess just in time to see a dark look come over AJ's face. she followed his gaze and saw the reason for it. Gregory Richards and Felicity Ascot. Bette didn't know Gregory, but she knew AJ despised him, and Felicity was enough to make her skin crawl. No wonder AJ seemed suddenly unhappy. Olivia hadn't seemed to notice yet. She was being admired by a group of AJ's friends and seemed to be carrying herself pretty well.Del glanced up in time to see Gregory walk in. He had already heard of the court case earlier and should have figured Richards would show up here. Not that AJ would be very happy about it. Well, if Del had to chose sides he would have chosen Gregory's, despite his business arrangement with the elder Deschenel. Gregory had a drive that AJ lacked, and Del respected that. AJ may be the crown prince of Sunset Beach, but Gregory was the man most likely to dethrone him. And Del was determined to be on the right side when the coup occured. He excused himself from Madeleine's side and made his way across the room.
Gregory had hardly made it in the door. Every step he took meant a new hand to shake, more congratulations to accept, more inquiries as to the extent of his injury. He stopped being embarressed over the incident and realized it was actually making him seem somehow heroic to a lot of the people around him. Public sympothy had been high on the side of the father, but his attack on Gregory, at least with this crowd, had greatly diminished that.
Felicity clung proudly to Gregory. Of course Preston had tried to talk her out of accepting. He had claimed accepting the last minute invitation made her look too available. But she would have been a fool to let the opportunity to attend this evening's party pass her by. The talk was boring her as Gregory was quized by one person after another about the case and the attack on him. She glanced around the room, noting who she knew that was there. She spotted AJ and an attractive young woman. She must be the one Prescott was drooling over after the celebration party. He hadn't been able to stop talking about her for weeks... Well, she was certainly a beauty. Felicity wondered if there was a brain in her head. Not that it mattered in this crowd. Most of these men were looking for trophy's to hang on their arms. If that's what AJ wanted, then he had definatly found one. And she seemed to be carrying herself well. Felicity wondered what her story was. Her background was a mystery, other than that she was currently staying with Bette Lakin and her her Del Douglas. She spotted Bette now, with Mario an intern at Cedar Oaks. From the looks of things, Bette had already found her fourth husband. Felicity turned away in disgust. she had been working on a conection with Charles Lakin before he hooked up with Bette. If it hadn't been for the cheap red head, she would have been out of this town, married to a successful attorney... And Bette had blown it. In less than two years she had let him get away. Well, Felicity wasn't concerned with her anymore. She had her hooks in Gregory now. And she would do whatever it took to keep them there. AJ slipped his arm around Olivia's waist. Gregory was getting closer to the center of the room and, like it or not, it was AJ's responsability to greet him. He eyed Felicity with distaste. The two of them deserved each other, he thought. He didn't like Felicity anymore than he did Gregory. He forced a smile as Gregory approached and held out his hand, "Congratulations on your victory." He said, keeping his hatred out of his voice.
"Thank you, but it was no more than I expected." Gregory answered coldly.
"Victory in what?" Olivia asked, trying to be polite. In answer she saw AJ's jaw twitch. Obviously he didn't care to prolong this discussion. She wondered why... The man seemed pleasant enough. Then it dawned on her. He was the man from the hospital! Thank God she had been called away before having to treat him. She would have died if it came out here that she was a lowly nursing assistant at the hospital!
Gregory turned to the voice, noticing the woman for the first time. AJ had certainly outdone himself. He smiled and started to answer, but Felicity, suddenly interested in the conversation, spoke before he could.
"Gregory won the biggest court case of the year today. He was brilliant. Don't be modest, Darling. Everyone knows it..." She cood. She had a terrible feeling about this. Gregory was being no more polite to the Brit than he had been to anyone else, but there was something in his eyes... Her brother's reaction and his description of the others' reactions to the woman came rushing back to her. This woman could be dangerous. Of course, she was with AJ... Perhaps it was nothing. But she couldn't be too careful. She tried to pull Gregory away. "Darling, there's Prestcott. We have to go over and say hello. He'll think we are shunning him and you know how sensative he is..."
Gregory tried not to look annoyed. He really couldn't stand Felicity. "Of course. We can't have Pres feeling shunned." He said and nodded his dismissal to AJ. He caught the eye of the young woman with AJ and she seemed to be barely supressing a grin. A slightly raised eyebrow as he turned away was confirmation of the fact she was laughing at him. He could have killed Felicity...
"I despise that man." AJ muttered as they walked off.
Olivia quickly turned away from the lawyer. "Who was he?" She asked innocently.
"Gregory Richards. An ambitious, ruthless, and very annoying upstart attorney. No one you should be concerned with." AJ assured her.
Olivia smiled at him. What did she care about a lawyer? She had AJ, the most eligible bachelor in Sunset Beach and the host of the grandest party. Still she glanced over her shoulder. As she did her eyes met his across the room. Felicity glared, a look that sent chills down Olivia's spine.
AJ didn't see the exchange, but two others in the room did. Del smiled knowingly. Perhaps there was hope for Olivia yet... Bette felt a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. She sensed danger on the horizon and prayed Olivia would come out of it unscathed....
Chapter 13
"Del.... Why does AJ hate Gregory Richards so badly?" The two were dancing and Olivia thought he was the person most likely to be able to answer that question without questioning her reasons for asking it."Probably because Gregory can't stand him and makes a point of showing it." "But why... Gregory just dislikes him for no reason?"
"No... I don't know what reasons Gregory would give, but I have my own theories, if you would like to hear them." Her look of complete interest told him she did. "I think it's because AJ has everything that Gregory is working to obtain. And not only has it, but was born with it. Everything AJ has was handed to him whereas Gregory has had to work for everything he's accomplished. I think it bothers him to see someone else get credit for something he hasn't worked for when he has to prove himself at every turn."
"Then it's just simple jealousy?"
"Jealousy? Yes. Simple? I don't think there's anything simple about it...."
Bette laughed easily. she had no idea how she wound up dancing with the 'enemy', but here she was, on the dance floor with her hand in Gregory's and his arm around her waist. And, despite her unwavering loyalty to AJ, she found him to be a fun, interesting, and humourous dance partner. He'd been telling her about a prank he had used in school when arguing a mock case. He had gotten caught and disciplined severly for it, but his ability to laugh about it made him seem somehow endearing.Gregory laughed to, at ease with Bette. He'd taken his time aproaching her, not wanting to infuriate Felicity or make it seem as if he was purposefully seeking her out. But that is exactly what he had done. Aside from AJ, she was the person who had spent the most time with the young woman he now knew was called Olivia. He hadn't found an opportunity to speak with her directly yet. He doubted AJ would let him get close enough to have any sort of a meaningful conversation with her, but he was finding out a good deal from her friend. He had learned her name, that she had only been in Sunset Beach a short time, and that she lived with Del and Bette. For now, that's all he needed to know.
"May I cut in?" AJ smiled as Del stepped out of the way and delivered Olivia into his waiting arms."I was wondering how long it would take you to come rescue me."
"You seemed to be enjoying yourself."
"With Del? I'd much rather be with you."
"Then I won't let anyone take you away from me again." He assured her and sealed it with a light kiss on her lips.
"Hello, Del Darling...." Felicity said in a syrupy sweet voice."I hope you aren't here to complain to me about the amount of time my sister is spending with your date." He answered.
"Not at all... I adore your sister and I have absolutely no reason to believe that my date won't be coming back to me soon enough. I merely wanted to take the opportunity of spending some time with you..."
They both knew what she wanted.. She wanted the scoop on Olivia and exactly how close she and AJ were. Del told her exactly what she wanted to hear. After all, why warn the competition? Felicity went away content with the knowledge that Olivia would not be a problem, that she was adored by AJ and his family, and that the two had been involved for sometime, the relationship finally coming to a point where he had flown her to Sunset Beach to be near him. Olivia was merely staying with Del as a favor, until they felt the time was right to announce their engagement. Del grinned as she walked off. It was always easier when the opponent was unaware they were in a war...
By the end of the evening Felicity had managed to corner Gregory, Del was again charming Madeline Mahaffey, Bette was settled securly in the arms of Mario the intern, and Olivia seemed content to dance every dance held lovingly in AJ's arms. Appearences can be deceiving...Gregory's head was already dancing with ideas on how to approach Olivia, Del was bored to tears with his heiress, and Olivia's mind kept drifting to other things. Not that she was bored. Not that she would ever admit. But she also would have been hard pressed to explain the feeling that swept over her when, entirely by chance, her eyes met Gregory's across the room. In response she turned her full attnention on AJ, smiling sweetly, and allowing him to hold her closer as the moved with the music. Watching the two of them together, Felicity had all the proof she needed that Olivia Blake was not a threat to her plans.
Chapter 14
"Thank you for coming... Drive safely... Yes, we absolutely must get together soon..." Olivia was exhausted by the time the last guest left. She had been terribly bored for the last two hours, ever since Bette had left claiming she was about to make a scandal by falling asleep at the buffet table. Olivia had only wished she could have gone with her. Being the hostess was not so much fun as she had expected it to be. Now she leaned on AJ, certain he was the only thing keeping her on her feet. And she had to work the next morning... She glanced at the clock on the wall and moaned as she realized just how soon her shift would be starting."My poor angel... You did wonderful this evening. Everyone adored you." AJ wrapped his arms around her. "Did you enjoy yourself?"
"Uh-hmm, it was perfect.. Like being Cinderella." It wasn't a lie.. she had felt like a princess. Only now she was back to being the one who had to go home and scrub floors, or in her case to the hospital and change baby diapers.
"Do you think you will be up to dinner at my parent's house this weekend?"
Olivia felt the room spin and then any sign of tiredness was swept away in a rush of adrenaline. Dinner? With his parents? "Yes.. Absolutely. It sounds wonderful and I can't wait to meet your parents." She smiled.
"Good... I know you will love each other."
Right.. What aristocratic, wealthy, founding father of his own town didn't want his only son to be involved with a nurse's assistant from the wrong side of London? They'd adore her. Olivia smiled brightly, "I'm certain of it."
"Maybe I can call and tell them I'm sick...""Olivia Blake, you are the biggest coward I have ever met in my life."
"And...? Is that supposed to make me feel better?" Bette rolled her eyes, "Just sit still, I'm almost done with your hair."
"I should have bought a new dress..."
"This dress is new. What does it matter? They wouldn't know if you'd never worn it or had it on yesterday. The only thing they know about you is what AJ has told them and what they read in the social page after the benefit. All good things..."
"I think I am sick..."
"I think you are pathetic. Now hold still."
"What do we know about this girl, Armando?" "Not very much. I have people looking into it, but right now all I can tell you is what Franklin Reynolds said. She's attractive, charming, and the perfect hostess.. She mixed with the crowd, but was suitably attentive to AJ. showing some obvious affection, but not making a public specticle. I think we can give her the benefit of the doubt.""You give her the benefit; I'll make sure she isn't some trashy little social climber." Of course that was what Julianna Deschanel thought. She would never have actually said it. What she actually said was, "Yes, I'm sure she is a perfectly lovely girl. We'll have to do what we can to make her feel comfortable. It must be difficult for her to be so far from her home and family."
AJ rang the doorbell and it was opened almost immediately by Del, "You might as well come in and sit down. Can I get you something to drink? Bette and Olivia have been locked away in the bathroom for the last hour and a half.""What are they doing in there?" AJ asked, accepting the glass Del offered.
"Who knows what women do when they get alone in there?" AJ nodded and frowned. He hoped Olivia wouldn't be too long. His parents were expecting them...
"Bette! You are burned my ear!""Well, if you would be still and stop wiggling."
"I'm nervous..."
"Olivia.. Sweety.. I've been married three times.. That means I have met the parents of at least three different men. You will live..."
"He didn't say anything about getting married..."
Bette threatened her with the curling iron.
"I understand you are doing some business with my father?""Nothing big. I've just agreed to do some research for him on other business deals while he looks over a proposal I made to him."
"Well if there is anything I can do to help him with that decision..." "Thank you, AJ... I'll keep that in mind... Ah... Looks like they're finally ready."
AJ turned to see Bette and Olivia coming down the stairs. The two made a dramatic contrast... Bette's hair was pulled back in a ponytail and she wore sweats and an oversized t-shirt. Olivia... Olivia was stunning. Her dress was modest, yet elegant and the pearls around her neck added a sophisicated touch. her hair had grown out some and curled softly around her face. He smiled and held out his hand.
As they approached the door Olivia was convinced she would pass out as soon as Armando Deschanel spoke to her. She had heard he was a descent man, fairly easy to get alog with, but she was convinced that was for everyone except the girl who was dating his son.
AJ patted Olivia's hand before opening the door. He was sure he'd have a bruise on his arm tomorrow where she was clutching him and he wished she would just relax. He adored her and he knew his parents would see that...
"Oh, Bette, it was horrible!" Olivia threw herself across the bed and buried her face in the pillow. "His mother would have slit my throat and buried me in the back yard if she didn't think it would ruin her manicure..."Bette laughed, "I'm sure it wasn't that bad."
"Not that bad? Not that bad! Bette, they HATED me... I'm certain they knew the dress wasn't new and that the pearls were borrowed.. He probably has a file of my life history hidden in his desk to threaten me with should I ever show any sign of getting seriously involved with his precious son..."
Bette just shook her head. It was pointless to argue with Olivia when she was like this. The only thing to do was to get her mind off of it. "Come on.. Let's go..."
"Where are we going? I don't want to go anywhere.. I want to stay here and die..."
"Get over it, Toots..." Bette pulled her off the bed and pushed her out the door.
Gregory just stopped to get a cup of coffee before going home, but the idea that Felicity would show up almost as soon as he got home convinced him to stay a little longer. He didn't pay any attention when the door opened until he heard some guys making wise cracks and an unmistakable voice cracking right back. Bette... It couldn't be anyone else. He smiled as he turned to speak to her but the words stuck in his throat. "Greggy!" Bette exclaimed, seeing him as soon as he turned around. "How's it going over in the land of convictions and plea bargains?" Gregory regained composure quickly, "Excellent. Although I don't practice criminal law... May I buy you ladies a drink?""Alright, but you have to promise to get lost if anyone cuter comes in." Bette flirted.
Olivia only smiled, that same feeling she'd gotten at the benefit party intensified by the closeness of the bar.
An hour later the three were still sitting, talking about everything from Gregory's last case to the color of Bette's shoes. Olivia had relaxed and was enjoying herself, although she had to constantly fight the feeling she was being disloyal to AJ."So what are you doing with a creep like that anyway?" Gregory's voice broke into her thoughts just as she was telling herself there was nothing wrong with having drinks with Gregory.
"Excuse me? I don't think you have the right..."
"Okay! Neutral corners... Gregory.. That was uncalled for. AJ is a very dear friend of mine and regardless of your differences I will not sit here and have you insult him, all right?"
Gregory watched Olivia closely. His comment hadn't been meant to insult AJ or to upset Bette. It had been to gage a reaction... And Olivia's eyes told him all he needed to know. AJ Deschanel was history.. If it was the last thing he did, he would see to that. "Of course... My apologies. To you both..." He smiled.
"Right.. Good. As long as we all understand each other...."
Olivia glared at Gregory. Her loyalty was to AJ. Wasn't it?
Chapter 15
"Can you believe how incredibly rude that man was!""Olivia, he.."
"How dare he! Who does he think he is anyway? I can't believe you just sat there and chatted with him. We should have asked him to leave immediatly. We should never haev let him sit down. What if AJ had come in and seen us with him?"
"Olivia, shut up..."
"Excuse me?"
"Sorry... Look, Gregory and AJ don't get along. I accept that. But I do not let AJ Deschanel determine who my friends are and are not. I happen to think that Gregory is charming, fun to be around, and amusing once he lets his guard down. That does not mean I am any less AJ's friend than I was yesterday or two weeks ago."
"You like him don't you? You like Gregory Richards..."
"I do not. I am seeing Mario and you know it."
"For now..." Olivia laughed as she went upstairs to her room.
Bette shook her head, "No, Toots.. But I'm afraid you do..." She said to herself before going to her own room.
The next morning the doorbell rang while Olivia and Bette were arguing over the last bagel. "Who could that be?""Could be anyone. Best way to find out is to answer the door." Bette let Olivia have the bagel as she went to see who their early guest was. "Greggy..."
"Good morning, Bette... I hope I'm not too early. I was on my way back from an early morning appointment and I passed a bakery. The smell of these was just too much to pass up.. And, since I couldn't possibly eat them by myself..." Gregory held up a bag of hot, freshly backed muffins.
Bette couldn't help but smile. What timing. She hoped Olivia was choking on that boring old bagel.
"You must really like muffins..." Gregory was a bit confused by the look on Bette's face.
"Oh.. What? Yes, yes I do.. Come on in. I'll share my margerine..." She winked at him and led him into the kitchen. "I'm afraid Olivia has already had her breakfast. You wouldn't want to join us. Would you, Liv?"
Olivia looked at the bagle in her hand and then at the muffins Gregory had bought. "Bette, sometimes I despise you." She said and walked out. Bette just laughed.
Gregory found many reasons to stop by Bette's house over the next few weeks. Sometimes it was to bring Bette a small gift, others to talk over a business opportunity with Del. Olivia even came to stop being openly hostile even if she wasn't overly friendly. Occasionally AJ would be there when Gregory showed up and the air would be filled with tension and unspoken hatred. Bette always seemed to be able to keep it together. She knew just when to cut Gregory off or to distract AJ with some trivia from the days news. Olivia always drew closer to AJ at those times, as if she needed to show him that she was on his side should any difficulties arise.
Gregory across the table from his former classmate, Kyle Bowers. Kyle had gone into corporate law and was one of the few people Gregory had respected and kept in touch with since the bar exam. Now he listened to him discuss his latest investigation over lunch. And Gregory was listening intently..."We know there had to be someone on the inside. Someone feeding information... There's no way a two-bit crook like Rodgers could pull off an embezzlement scheme like this on his own."
Someone was stealing from the Deschanels... Gregory looked over the papers again. "And Armando Deschanel, Jr. was in charge of this department?" "Yes. That's why it's so shocking. Literally right under their noses."
"Have you considered that he might have been involved himself? Pulling a little scam on the old man?"
"It's a possibility.. But you don't think...?"
Gregory spent the next two hours going over the facts and interpretting evidence. He knew AJ and he knew he would never do what he was suggesting. But the evidence was there... Gregory wasn't setting him up exactly.. He hadn't fabricated anything... He just used his powers of persuasion.. By the time they payed for dinner Kyle was no longer looking for an inside man in the scandal. He was looking for a way to protect the boss's son and keep this information out of the press. As he walked off Gregory smiled, "That was almost too easy..."
"You know I didn't do it!""Of course we do, Son, but if this information gets picked up by the newspapers... We can't afford this type of scandal right now. Too many of our associations are weak as it is..."
"What do you want me to do?" "Just take a break. Get out of Sunset Beach for awhile. Run one of the European divisions."
"I'll need to talk to Olivia..."
"Son, your plane leaves in an hour. She'll understand..."
And so AJ Deschanel left Sunset Beach...
"Bette, did AJ call?""No.. I'm sorry, Livie.. No one's called. Why don't you call his house?"
"I can't do that..."
"Would you like me to?"
"Could you?"
Bette dialed the number and waited. Julianna Deschanel herself answered. "Hello, Mrs. Deschanel. This is Bette Lakin. I'm a friend of AJ's... Yes, well could you.. I understand.. Yes, Ma'am..." She hung up the phone and turned to Olivia. "He's out of town. Indefinitely... He's taken over one of the European offices..."
"But... Why didn't he tell me?"
Elaine felt fine when she woke up. She stretched and yawned and was amazed that Paula hadn;t woken her up yet. She walked down the hall and found her daughter quietly playing with her dolls. "Want some breakfast, Paula?" The little girl followed her down the hall. "How about some bacon and eggs? Sound good?" She helped Paula into her booster seat and threw some bacon in the frying pan. Normally the smell was one of her favorites. But not today... Today the smell made her stomach do a flip flop and sent her running to the restroom to loose what little bit of last nights dinner remained undigested. She trembled as she walked back to the kitchen and assured Paula that she was okay.
"Livie, can you get the door?""I can't.. My nails are wet..."
"Oh for Pete's sake, I'll get it." Del threw the paper on the table. Sometimes living with those two was enough to drive him crazy. He swung the door open and found Elaine standing there. "They're upstairs." He told her and walked off.
Elaine made her way upstairs. How could she tell them. How could she tell Olivia? She hadn't even spoken to Olivia in almost two weeks, since she first began to suspect... The first one of her friends she found was Bette and the relief was too much. She burst into tears.
"Honey.. What is it? What's wrong?"
"Bette... I.. I'm pregnant..."
Olivia stepped out of her room just in time. Her mouth dropped open and for a moment she couldn't breath. Elaine pulled away from Bette and started to dry her eyes when she saw Olivia standing there. "Olivia... I... I'm sorry..."
Olivia shook her head.. She was sorry? She was carrying AJ's child and she was sorry? "No.. No, no, no.. Elaine.. I'm.. I..." Elaine hugged Olivia and the two cried silently, not needing to say anything else. Bete just stood there, feeling as if everything had just started to fall apart and the fairy tale was spinning out of control.
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