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"Is it morning?" Felicia asks, basking in the afterglow of their lovemaking.
"Is it?" Simon asks, checking his watch. "No, it's... afternoon."
Simon smiles for what seems like the first time in weeks, running his fingers through Felicia's dirty blonde hair. Something he resisted for so long... felt so guilty over... and now that it has finally happened, he feels no remorse. All he feels is that he has finally found someone warm, someone caring, someone that hasn't been lying to him and deceiving him for years.
Felicia sits up, wrapping herself in the blanket. "Dammit... I'm going to be late."
"Late for what?"
"The bachelorette luncheon," Felicia says, glancing around the couch for her clothing. "Rebecca didn't want some party at night, she just wanted to gather some of her close friends for lunch at the Emerald Plaza dining room."
Simon grimaces. "She has close friends?"
"Well, I do," Felicia says. "And they will in turn be her close friends for the afternoon. Though, I'm not sure you can say how close Leslie Moore and I are at the moment."
"You two have been friends for over twenty years," Simon says. "You will both get through this rough patch."
"Like you and Valerie will get through yours?"
Simon is stung by Felicia's words. But by glancing at her face, he can see she didn't mean them maliciously. Or perhaps she did. Even after last night, she's still incredibly hard to read.
"I don't think that will ever happen," Simon says. "But we'll obviously still be connected through Matt. I'm not expecting her to completely take me out of his life. It's not as if she's going to move home and shack up with his real father. Especially since he's her...brother."
"I can't imagine how hard that's going to be on her," Felicia says. "And on Matthew."
As Felicia and Simon take this in, they hear keys clanking together outside the front door. They scramble to reach for their clothes, horrified at the thought of Matt finding them on the couch. But before they're able to completely dress themselves, their unexpected guest steps into the living room with a nonchalant look painted across her face.
"Quite the welcome home," Valerie Holden says, tossing her purse onto the living room chair. "But next time? I think I'd go with streamers."
"As ready as I'll ever be," Farrah says, clutching her quarter-length trenchcoat and walking toward the window. "I just wish I didn't know half the people attending Aaron's bachelor party."
"Those are the breaks," Eric mutters.
He checks his watch, then looks at his cell phone. Not a single call, not a single guest has arrived yet. What's the point in throwing a bachelor party, chock full of guests who can't stand each other, if none of them bother to show up?
"When's this shindig supposed to start?" Farrah asks.
"Soon enough," Eric says, slamming down the clipboard. "I'll be right back."
As he goes out the door, Farrah unties her coat and sets it across the back of a chair. She takes a quick look at herself in the full-length mirror on the wall, adjusting her corset and smoothing out her tights.
"Here goes nothing, Farrah," she tells herself. "Just one more degrading thing you can add to your list."
She outstretches her left hand, smiling at the sight of her index finger. It is bare at the moment, but she knows that soon enough there will be a beautiful ring on her finger. A ring symbolizing her marriage to Alec Bale. She can't wear an engagement ring at the moment, because there'd be too many questions that would lead back to the presumed dead Alec being very much alive in her apartment.
Farrah's moment is interrupted as the door flies open. She expects to find Eric, but she instead finds Kane Li.
"Hey baby," Kane says, grinning widely. "You're a little overdressed for porn, don't you think?"
Farrah shoves Kane away from her. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"Aaron's about to become my step-dad. Why wouldn't I be at his bachelor party? Especially when I heard about the entertainment."
"Then I'm going to tell Eric this is off," Farrah snaps. "I'm not taking anything off in front of you."
"Let's not act like I haven't seen it all," Kane says, running his fingers along her arm. "Me and thousands of other online viewers."
Farrah shakes her head adamantly. "Never...never again."
They are interrupted as Eric pushes open the door again, returning with a perplexed look on his face. "Hey guys...what's going on?"
"Here for the party," Kane says, greeting Eric and leaving a distressed Farrah behind him.
EMERALD PLAZA HOTEL
KYLE MADDOCK'S SUITE
Kyle Maddock turns his head at the sight of Matt Holden stirring on the couch. He's been asleep peacefully since the last night, when he came to Kyle's restaurant and begged his father to let him stay with him. Though he hates seeing his son in such turmoil, Kyle sees it as a blessing in disguise. His return to Marquette Cove had been less than well-received, and he hadn't been welcomed into his family as quickly as he'd hoped.
He'd had no interaction with the Hanleys, despite being related to them through Michael and Valerie's mother. And for the most part, Simon seemed to resent the fact that Matt's real father was back in town and Aaron merely wanted Kyle out of the way so he could continue his machinations. But now with Matt estranged from his family and staying in Kyle's suite, albeit temporarily, things finally seem to be moving into place.
Kyle finishes snorting the coke lined up on the kitchen counter, then wipes his nose to conceal his secret before joining Matt in the living room. "How did you sleep?"
"I slept fine," Matt says, still somewhat groggy. "I should probably take a shower or something. I didn't bring any clothes, though."
"I went out and bought you some things," Kyle says, pointing to the shopping bags in the corner. "So there's no need for you to go home if you want to."
"Oh, thanks."
Matt stands and goes to the shopping bags — from Abercrombie & Fitch and Hollister — not exactly his style, but it'll do for now. As he rummages through the bags, Kyle notices a pair of handcuffs sticking out from under the couch.
Damn, I thought I hid those... He quickly bends over and snatches them up, shoving them into his pocket.
"Kyle..."
Busted.
"Yes, Matthew?"
"These receipts are from like, two months ago," Matt says, referring to the new clothes.
"Oh, right," Kyle says, nodding. "Some of them I bought as a gift, but your father...I mean, Simon, he didn't think it was appropriate to give you any gifts while you weren't following his house rules."
"Yeah, he's kind of a douche like that," Matt mutters. "I'm gonna shower. Thanks for the clothes."
Kyle nods as Matt goes out the living room. He breathes a sigh of relief and sinks to the couch, removing the handcuffs from his pocket. He can't let Matt find these or the chains that he has set up in his bedroom.
Because then he'd figure out what Kyle is planning, and he'd run out of the hotel suite faster than if he'd just seen a bucket of fire ants.
EMERALD PLAZA HOTEL
DENISE PRICE'S SUITE
Dressed casually in a t-shirt and jeans, Denise Price opens the door to her hotel suite in order to silence whoever is incessantly banging on it. She clutches her pregnant stomach with surprise, finding a pissed-off Rebecca Li made up beyond all human recognition.
"Rebecca," Denise says, breathing heavily from the walk to the door. "How can I help you?"
Rebecca barges into the hotel suite. "Leslie goddamn Moore is how you can help me!"
"I don't appreciate people sashaying into my hotel suite unannounced," Denise snaps. "And what's this about Leslie?"
"Today is supposed to be my bachelorette luncheon! I'm getting married tomorrow and she's gone missing," Rebecca says, taking a seat on the couch.
Denise frowns. "Missing?"
"Apparently she skipped town with Sean to revisit their stupid honeymoon they had twenty years ago," Rebecca answers. "Which is all well and fine, but she couldn't wait until after my wedding?"
The news of Sean's hasty departure with Leslie causes Denise more upset than she wants to admit. She has been trying for months to get over Sean, and it was only made easier knowing that Leslie seemed to be over him as well. But maybe she'd only befriended Denise in order to sink her claws back into Sean.
"I don't know anything about Leslie leaving," Denise insists.
"Boy, that's some baby daddy you got hooked up with then," Rebecca laughs. "You need to fix this."
"Excuse me?"
"I need you to fix this," Rebecca says. "You were helping Leslie, right?"
"Yes, but..."
"Then get dressed!" Rebecca snaps. "We've got a ladies luncheon to get to, and I need all the people pretending to be my friends I can get."
HOLDEN HOME
"I didn't mean to interrupt your post-coital bliss," Valerie says, taking a seat in the chair directly across from the couch. "Don't let me interrupt you. I can stay here until you're finished."
Felicia scrambles for her bra, putting it on as she tries to pull back her hair and make herself somewhat presentable. Simon slides on his boxers and stands, shooting Valerie the most disparaging look he can muster.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Simon demands.
"This is my house," Valerie reminds him. "But I am so very glad that you and my sister decided to christen it for me."
"Valerie, I'm sorry," Felicia says, covering herself in the blanket and approaching her sister. "I had no idea you..."
"Requested a second parole hearing?" Valerie asks. "Of course not. No one bothered to attend my first one."
She snatches the blanket from around Felicia, tossing it to the floor and exposing her sister's lower regions. Bemused, Valerie folds her arms and waits as Felicia grabs her skirt and blouse from the hardwood floor. Simon, now fully dressed, points an accusatory finger at Valerie.
"Don't you start in on her," Simon says. "You have no right."
"I have no right? I have every right," Valerie snaps.
"You have a right to be angry, yes," Felicia says, buttoning her blouse. "But I won't... I won't be made to feel guilty. Not after everything you've done to try and ruin my life."
"Quid pro quo, right?" Valerie says, heading toward the bar in the corner of the room. She pours herself a glass of vodka. "This is your revenge."
"I'm not trying to get revenge."
"Why not? That's how our family works," Valerie continues. "I screw you over. You screw me over. I run you over with a car..."
Felicia raises an eyebrow. "Is that a threat?"
"Take it however you want," Valerie says. "Thanks for the warm homecoming. I truly enjoyed it. But I think I'm going to take a nap now, so...if you'll excuse me."
She sips from her glass as Simon and Felicia awkwardly fumble with one another. Before long, they've located Simon's keys and head toward the front door. Upon hearing the sound of the door slamming shut, Valerie angrily throws her glass of vodka at one of Simon's moving boxes.
That's the last time they'll be making a fool of her.
She didn't rot in prison for the past two years to end up like this. She didn't have her last pack of cigarettes confiscated and shoved into the bottom of her purse, nearly crushed beyond use, for no reason whatsoever. Valerie crosses back to her chair and picks up her purse. Removing the pack of cigarettes, she quickly lights one with the spare lighter in the purse and takes a quick drag.
Still good after two years.
But she can't enjoy it. Not when just standing in the room makes her think of her husband, her ex-husband, and her sister making nasty use of her upholstery. She rips the cigarette from her lips and tosses it at the vodka-soaked box, causing it to ignite in flames.
Quelled by the majestic fire, Valerie sinks back into the chair and gives it a blank, glassy stare. Much like the box, Simon and Felicia's lives will also go up in flames when Valerie is done with them. That much she knows.
EMERALD PLAZA HOTEL
THE EVENT SUITE
"Let me guess...you're here for a little afternoon delight with whatever new tart you're screwing."
Michael Hanley recognizes Robert Bale's voice immediately as the voice calling out to him in the hallway at the Emerald Plaza Hotel. He turns to find that his vocal recognition is spot on as Robert strides toward him, a wide grin on his face.
"Always a pleasure, Robert," Michael says. "Have you taken to following me, now?"
"No, I'm here for a meeting," Robert responds.
"I'm surprised you managed to leave my ex-wife's side long enough to tie your shoes, let alone get out of the house."
"You might be interested to know that Leslie is in France," Robert says. "She left with Sean yesterday."
Michael's face falls. "That's a lie."
"Sorry to disappoint you," Robert says. "Confirmed it with the airport."
"Well then, I'm surprised you're not more heartbroken," Michael says, switching gears. "You and Leslie were getting awfully close, am I correct?"
"As friends," Robert says. "Nothing more. I'm just glad they've been able to reconnect, despite all of the lies you told in order to keep them apart."
"In this case I'm sure you're well aware it takes more than one person to tango," Michael interjects. "Now, if you'll excuse me."
As he reaches for the door, he's surprised as Robert grabs his arm. "What's going on...my meeting is in here."
"No, my meeting is in here," Michael snaps, snatching back his arm. "I'm meeting with a new client for a theatrical promotion at Hanley Enterprises."
Robert shakes his head. "But I'm meeting with someone who's supposed to help Leslie counteract your lawsuit."
"That's weird," a new voice pipes up.
They turn around, finding Blake Thomas standing a few feet behind them.
"Blake?" Robert asks. "What are you doing here?"
"I was supposed to be meeting with a lawyer about the trust fund my parents left me," Blake answers. "But you two have a meeting in here?"
"I'm not quite sure what is going on, but I don't like it," Michael says, pushing open the door to the suite and barging inside.
As the three men file in, they are stunned to find the suite set up for a party. There are balloons and liquor set up around the room, and several people they recognize already in the room... Kyle Maddock, Matt Holden, Kane Li... and Eric Hanley with a veritable canary-devouring smile on his face.
"You all made it," Eric beams.
"Made it for what, Eric?" Michael demands, eyeing his son suspiciously. "What's the meaning of all this?"
"You arrived just in time for Aaron's bachelor party," Eric says.
"Aaron's..." Robert's voice trails off as he processes Eric's words. "What in the hell is going on?"
Eric shrugs. "Well, it's not like any of you would have shown up if I didn't lie to get you here. But the liquor is on Aaron's tab, so go ahead and drink up. I got a stripper!"
As Eric wanders off, everyone exchanges awkward glances. Those that were legitimately invited to the party even find themselves surprised to see a guest like Robert, who they know is far from Aaron's biggest fan. But none of them are as surprised as the guest of honor, who at that very moment, opens the door to the suite.
"Eric, I've told you for the last time that I'm not sleep..." Aaron Maddock stops dead in his tracks, confronted with a gallery of his friends and enemies all in one room. "Sweet Jesus..."
