EMERALD PALACE

Vincent Moore entered the Emerald Palace, with Jessica Reyes holding onto his arm. Both were dressed in their best casual wear as they prepared to have dinner. Though it had only been a couple of weeks since Jessica broke up with her boyfriend, Alec Bale, Vince was attempting to help her forget the fact that she used to date his best friend.

"Thank you, Vince," Jessica said. "This is just what I need…to forget about Alec."

"No problem," Vince said. "You know I'm always here for you. Especially after you helped me deal with my uncle's death."

"It was the least I could do," Jessica insisted. "You're so forgiving. I was horrible to you while I was dating Alec. I don't know how I let all of his negative vibes influence me."

They both stopped when they were greeted by the Emerald Palace's new owner, Christine Snow. Christine smiled at them and welcomed the couple to the new version of the Emerald Palace, which had been remodeled since Vince was last there.

Vince and Julia were both standing in the entrance of the restaurant, trying to spot Akilah and Matt. As they searched, a Maitre d' came up to them.

"May I help you?" He asked.

"No, we're fine," Julia replied.

"Do you two have reservations?"

"No, we don't," Vince said, craning his head. "Would you mind moving out of the way?"

Appalled, the Maitre d' marched over to the door and opened it, motioning for the two teenagers to leave.

"Please leave," He said.

"Excuse me?" Vince demanded.

"You do not have reservations, so leave," He said.

"But, we were just…"

"Do not make me have you escorted out."

"That bastard," Vince muttered.

"What?" Jessica asked.

"Nothing," Vince said quickly. "We have reservations under the name Moore."

"Thank you," Christine said, glancing at the reservation list. "I can lead you both to your table."

Christine started toward Vince's reserved table, with Jessica following close behind. Vince took a moment to admire Jessica as she walked away. He smiled, still in shock that Jessica was warming up to him again. That she had finally left Alec and returned to him.

Vince grinned. "Looks like I win, Alec."

Once he started to follow them, Vince was shocked as a potted plant directly to his left began to float in the air. Wondering if he was responsible, Vince tried to stop the plant with his mind. It worked for a few moments, until the plant went flying out of the restaurant and onto the sidewalk.

"Shit," Vince muttered, sighing. "Can't anything ever go right for me?"

"What the hell are they doing here?" Alec Bale demanded, peering at Jessica and Vince from outside the Emerald Palace. He was walking home from a late production meeting at school for Marquette Cove High School's fall presentation of Les Liaisons Dangereuses.

Initially, Alec couldn't believe that Vince was already moving in on Jessica, until he remembered the past few months and everything Vince had done to break them up, from being a false witness in Alec's trial for Damon Johnson's murder to stalking Jessica.

"I can't believe she's doing this," Alec said. "She's just trying to make me jealous."

Alec reached into his pocket and pulled out a cell phone. He began to dial Akilah's cell phone number, putting his own plan into motion. Once she answered, Alec started to talk smoothly. "Hey Akilah."

"Alec…what's up?" Akilah asked.

"How soon can you get dressed to meet me at the Emerald Palace?" Alec asked.

Akilah Moore arrived at the Emerald Palace, dressed in a simple black outfit. She found Alec standing in front of the restaurant, checking his watch. She stopped next to Alec and gave him a quick hug.

"Hey Alec," Akilah said. "What's going on?"

"I just wanted to treat you to dinner, that's all," Alec lied, neglecting to tell Akilah that Vince and Jessica were inside so he could feign surprise when they inevitably ran into one another. Not that Alec liked lying to Akilah, but things would work out much better if she didn't give him away.

Once Jessica realized that Alec wasn't busy moping over their breakup, she'd be interested in him again, Alec was sure of it. He hadn't wanted to break things off, he just wanted to know why she was so interested in spending time with Vince.

Vince had to be manipulating her. There was no other explanation.

"But I didn't help you with your parents," Akilah insisted. "Your mom found out that your dad got Melissa Maddock pregnant and she told him to file for divorce."

Alec frowned. "True…but I'm still working on that. My parents will get back together."

"Look, I sort of know what it's —"

"No, you don't," Alec snapped. "Your dad is dead, Akilah. My parents are just going through a tough time, and it's all Michael Hanley and Melissa Maddock's fault."

"I'm sorry," Akilah said. "I didn't mean to make you angry."

"No…it's fine. I'm sorry," Alec said. "Let's go inside."

"Vince, what are you doing?" Jessica demanded, returning from the bathroom to find Vince peering under their table. She sat down and frowned at Vince, motioning for him to look presentable.

"I dropped a fork," Vince said quickly, sitting up in the chair.

He was actually concerned with the fact that the silverware from their table was floating moments earlier, and Vince couldn't figure out why. Something seemed to be going wrong with his new psychokinetic powers, and for once, it appeared Antonio wasn't lurking around and keeping an eye on him.

"Oh, well ask the waiter for another one," Jessica said. "That's what they're here for…right? You paid a lot for these reservations."

"Technically, Michael paid a lot for these reservations, but yes," Vince said. "The credit card is in my name."

Jessica sighed. "God, I wish I had a credit card. I wish I was living in that mansion. You're so lucky, Vince. Michael has been great to you in your time of need."

"So have you," Vince said, reaching out to touch Jessica's hand. As he did, Vince heard was sounded like glass breaking in the kitchen. Vince jerked his hand away from Jessica.

"What's wrong now?"

"Um…nothing," Vince said. "I was just — Alec!"

"What about him?"

"He's here," Vince said, turning to the front entrance. "And he's…he's with my sister!"

Jessica sighed. "How desperate can he be?"

Vince ignored Jessica's comment and rose to his feet, storming over to Alec and Akilah as they were seated at their table. Jessica angrily sat in her chair, fuming over Vince ignoring her to argue with Alec.

"Hello, Mr. Moore," Christine said, greeting Vince as she handed Alec and Akilah their menus. "What can I do for you?"

"I need a moment alone with your lovely guests," Vince said.

"No he doesn't," Alec snapped.

"Yes, I do," Vince insisted.

"Do you…or don't you?" Christine asked.

"Don't," Akilah said. "Vince, what are you doing here?"

"I'm on a date," Vince said.

"With my girlfriend," Alec interjected.

"Ex!" Vince corrected.

"No one mentioned this at the restaurant manager's conference," Christine muttered. "What am I supposed to do?"

Vince rolled his eyes. "Go into the kitchen?"

"Of course," Christine nodded, leaving the table. Once she was gone, Vince took the opportunity to lay into his sister for being at the Emerald Palace with Alec.

"He dumped Jessica," Vince said. "No sister of mine is going to be Alec Bale's leftovers."

"Excuse me?" Alec demanded.

"You're just like your father," Vince said. "He's got his own whore on the side, and now you're trying to make my sister yours."

Akilah rose to her feet and slapped Vince across the face. "I can't believe you just called me a whore, Vince!"

"That's not what I meant," Vince insisted. "Akilah, Alec is just using you."

"Oh, that's nice," Alec said. "Way to help your sister's self-esteem."

"My sister doesn't have self-esteem issues," Vince said. "She has an Alec issue."

"How about Jessica?" Akilah demanded. "You don't think that she's using you? Making you her whore? Or actually, since you're the one spending money on her, maybe she's the whore and you're the pimp."

"Akilah, that's not —"

"In fact, what am I doing standing around here?" Akilah asked. "I'm a whore, I should be whoring it up! I need to find some guy to sleep with. For money!"

Akilah brushed past her brother and found a guy sitting alone at a table. She sat down across from him and smiled.

"What is she doing?" Alec demanded.

"This is all your fault," Vince snapped. "Stay away from my sister."

"Stay away from my ex-girlfriend," Alec countered.

Vince laughed. "Boy, that's rich. Is the irony in that statement apparent to you, or do I need to spell it out for you?"

As Alec and Vince continued to argue, they failed to notice the guy that Akilah was talking to was now placing handcuffs on her. Their attention only returned to Akilah once she began crying out.

"Let me go!" Akilah cried. "You're making a mistake!"

"What the hell?" Vince demanded, spinning around.

Alec pushed Vince out of the way and walked over to Akilah. "What's going on here?"

"He's arresting me for prostitution!" Akilah cried.

"Let her go," Alec snapped. "She's here with me."

"You paying for her dinner?" The police officer asked.

"Of course I am," Alec insisted.

"So she's your escort for the night?"

"No, of course not!" Alec said.

"So then you're her pimp?"

"What?!"

"You can explain it down at the station. You're both under arrest."

Jessica finished the last drop of her drink and rolled her eyes as she waited for Vince to return to the table. She had finally tried getting out of the house and forgetting about Alec, but now here he was, ruining her evening once again.

Not that part of it wasn't Akilah's fault. She had been after Alec for as long as Jessica could remember, and everyone knew it. Alec had been oblivious to it, but now he was taking advantage of that in a half-assed attempt to make her jealous.

But the fact that Jessica would be jealous of Akilah was laughable. As was the fact that Akilah was letting Alec use her like that.

"I am going to put an end to this," Jessica decided, rising to her feet.

She stormed over to Alec's table, but found that neither Alec, Vince, or Akilah were there. She turned around and found that they were all standing outside arguing about something, so Jessica followed.

"You can arrest the pimp, but not the hooker," Vince said.

"Vince, I am not a hooker!" Akilah cried.

"Akilah, you're not helping," Vince whispered.

"Shut up, Vince," Alec said, as the police officer filed him into the backseat of his car. Akilah climbed into the backseat as well, complaining about how her date was being ruined. As the officer closed the car door and told Vince to go back inside, Jessica emerged from the restaurant.

"Vince, what is going on?" Jessica demanded.

"Alec was arrested for being a pimp," Vince said.

"Alec's a pimp? Since when?"

Vince shrugged. "Since now, apparently."

"Officer, arrest those two," Christine said, following Jessica out of the restaurant. "They're skipping out on their bill! And I'm sure they mentioned that being bad at the restaurant manager's meeting."

"Get bent, woman," Jessica snapped. "Vince is going to pay for the bill."

"Of course I am," Vince said.

While Vince reached into his pocket for his credit card, another police officer pulled up. It was the officer from the restaurant's partner. They exchanged information about Vince and Jessica, and the officer from the restaurant climbed into his car to take Akilah and Alec down to the station.

"I can't find the credit card," Vince said.

Jessica sighed. "This night can't get any worse."

"How are we going to pay for bail?" Alec demanded. "My dad is out of town on working on a case."

"Don't worry about it," Akilah whispered. "I stole Vince's credit card."

Alec smirked. "I knew there was a reason I liked you."