Episode 18, "There's A Penalty for Disobedience" (Printable Version)

Scene 1--The Sterling Building

The friction from the loud thunder and wind cause the windows of the Sterling Building the vibrate softly, as the wind launched an attack on the building by aim the rain in it's directions. The light flashed causing the lights to flicker a bit. Confused and enraged Melanie slowly approached Demetrius after walking on the horrifying accusation by William. "You and Felicia were sleeping together!" Melanie knew it was true but she needed to here it from her husband's mouth.

"Gentlemen there's no need to stop on my account." Melanie whispered, "Please continue."

"Neither one of you will come into my office and make demands!" Demetrius uttered sternly.

"So is it true?" Melanie asked bringing her trembling fingers to her chest, "did you throw away almost thirty years of our life together for a couple of months of lust?"

Demetrius looked at his wife and exhaled, "We never meant to hurt anyone."

William laughed to himself, "Out of all the responses, that's the best you can do."

"You shut the hell up!" Demetrius exclaimed growing tired of William.

"You don't have any room to tell me what to do, I could kill you!"

"You wouldn't hurt a fly Jones...NOW GET OUT OF MY OFFICE, YOU'VE DONE ENOUGH!"

"FUCK YOU!!!!" William shout back, pushing Demetrius.

Melanie jumped in between the two, "William, you don't mind can you give us a minute."

William nodded, then reached in back pocket and pulled out his wallet, then gave Melanie his business card. "I'll gladly handle your divorce case." He glared at Demetrius, then walked out the office slamming the door shut.

"Melanie listen..."

Melanie screamed and back handed Demetrius causing him to stumble back, she shook her head disappointed as tears crept out of the corners of her eyes.

"What have you done to us?"

Scene 2--2300 Proximity Lane

Anthony walked into the kitchen and turned on the light switch, he smiled relieved that the lights hadn't gone out here yet. The lighten flashed through the window as he reached into the refrigerator for a cold beer, he took a swig then sat it on the counter.

A soft moan echoed rang down from upstairs into the kitchen causing Anthony to become alarm, "Paige?"

Anthony took out his gun and crept up the stairs and pulled out his gun in fear that Paige could be in trouble as the moans grew louder.

Anthony quickly opened the door and pointed the gun at the bed as Paige came up from the covers. "HEY!"

"Oh my god...Anthony!" Paige yelled in fear as she pushed Maurice off of her.

Maurice quickly hopped out of bed and fell down trying to put on his boxers, "uh...umm!! Anthony?!? Oh shit!! umm!!"

Anthony stood at the door motionless, it was bad enough that Paige was cheating on him but with of his best friends.

"What the hell is this?"

"Anthony...man listen." Maurice stood up, and ducked as Anthony pointed the gun at him.

"Anthony, please put that away!" Paige screamed hiding behind the bed sheets.

Anthony pointed the gun at Paige as tear began to stream down his eyes, "To death do us part right?" he reminded her cocked the gun once again.

Scene 3--The Sterling Mansion

Bonita and Jasmine walked around the living room lighting candles, as Randy came downstairs with bag of batteries and flash lights.

"Ok this should keep us going until the lights are back on." Randy laid the bag on the couch he looked up as Gloria and Marie entered the living room from the kitchen.

"Oh Great!" Lisa exclaimed grabbed a flashlight and turning it on, she playfully shined it on Jackie.

"Mom, stop it!" Jackie giggled causing Bonita's skin to crawl witnessing Jackie and Lisa getting along. "I really need to get Lisa out of the picture!" Bonita thought to herself.

"How long have the lights been out?" Gloria asked grabbing a flashlight then inserting a pair of batteries inside.

"For quite a while now?" Bonita answered shaking out her match as she approached the couch.

"And who are you?" Gloria rudely inquired.

"Excuse her Bonita." Jasmine smiled embarrassed by her sister actions, "This is my sister, Gloria."

"Gloria, Bonita is the new maid." Randy stated also annoyed by Gloria's rudeness, checking a flash light to see if the batteries worked.

"Oh right!" Bonita dryly answered, narrowing her eyes at Gloria. If she kept this behavior up she would make sure something happened to Gloria also.

Gloria placed her hands on her hip and scanned Bonita, then turned to Randy, "Is Travis back yet?"

Randy closed her cell phone and stuffed it in his pocket, "I just tried calling him and he didn't pick up. He's been gone long enough to be back by now."

"You don't think anything has happened to him do you?" Lisa asked becoming concerned.

"No, he's probably stuck at the airport." Gloria answered looking out the window, becoming alarmed herself. Hopefully Felicia hadn't gotten her brother into any trouble.

Scene 4--277 Indigo Street

The candle lit room put Shaugnessy and Scott in a romantic mood as the storm raged on. The two cuddled on the couch and listened to the wind howl and the rain beat against the roof...too bad they decided to stay with their niece and nephew until the storm was over, it was a perfect time to work on that baby they've planned for.

"I like moments like this." Scott whispered softly with a smile stroking his wife's cheek.

Shaugnessy giggled as the thunder rumbled loudly, "and why is that?"

"Give me a reason to be close to you."

Shaugnessy exploded with laughter, "Is my Scotty-poo scared?" she teased kissing his neck softly.

"Not any more." Scott chortled wrapping his arms tighter around his wife.

William flew in enraged from the prior conversation he had with Demetrius, he glared at his sister and Scott. "Glad your marriage is lasting because mine just ended."

Shaugnessy sat up and looked at William, "What are you talking about?"

"You were right Shaun...you can say I told you so. Felicia was sleeping with Demetrius?"

"Wow...uh...How do you know?" Scott asked scratching his head shocked and confused by what he just heard.

"The big man himself admitted to it...after his wife walked in on us arguing about it!"

Shaugnessy gasped putting her hands to her mouth, "Melanie knows? What does this mean?"

William shrugged plopping down between them on the couch, "I don't know anymore." 

Scene 5--The Platinum Haven

Regina and Joshlynne giggling as sat in lobby on sofas in Indian style holding flashlights to their faces while they told ghost stories to past time while the storm raged on.

Joshlynne laid her head back on the end and sighed, "So you're telling this cop guy nearly killed the that girl?"

"Yeah, he made her put the gun to her head so it'll look like a suicide." Regina quietly answered, this story she just told sent chills down her spine. The story about the police who abused the business woman was based on a true story...it was Regina's story and it was something she never wanted to experience again.

"Hold it!!!" Jonas shouted at a hysterical Regina in the old apartment back in North Carolina.

"You've cause me enough trouble for one lifetime. It'll be convenient my wife putting herself out of her misery." Jonas cackled. "too perfect."

Regina hesitantly picked up the gun then quickly pointed it at Jonas and pulled the trigger three times putting three bullets in his chest.

Jonas fell slowly to the ground motionless with his eyes closed, Regina picked up the phone and called 911.

"These been a shooting at Officer Wilson's apartment 1213 Durham Street." Regina hung up the phone and walked over to the closet, she continued to cry as she reached on the top shelf and grabbed a bag.

She walked over to Jonas, "You'll never control me or anyone else you again." she stepped over him and exited the apartment.

Joshlynne noticed how upset Regina became and grabbed her hands with a smiled, "You're safe now!"

Scene 6--277 Indigo Street

Scott walked into the pitch black kitchen with a flashlight, he shined the light on William who sat at the kitchen table playing with his thumbs, with a Budweiser at the corner of the table. Scott joined him at the table and pointed the flashlight up to ceiling to somewhat light up the room. William looked at his brother in law and frowned.

"Want a beer? They're still cold!" William offered with a faint smiled.

"No I'm fine thanks." Scott exhaled as he sat back in his chair, "Crazy night eh?"

"Crazy is not the adjective to describe this situation." William laughed to him taking a swig from his beer, "How does a California's Number One lawyer let something like this slip past him."

"Scott, I've defended many people who've divorced their spouses for things like this...I know the signs...at least I thought I did." William frowned taking another gulp from his beer, then he chuckled remembering what he told Melanie.

"I told Melanie that I'd handle her divorce case against Demetrius."

"Now that's funny...no pun intended."

William sat back in his chair, "Shaugnessy tried to warn me about Felicia...when I first met her, before I married her, and about three months ago."

"Felicia and I may not have a future but my son and daughter still do. I'm going to concentrate on them from now on." William stated finishing his bottle, he didn't want his brother in law and sister to witness the pain he really felt. He was too proud for that and by him being the older brother he didn't want Shaugnessy to stop looking up to him.

Scott smiled weakly, "We're here if you need us, guy."

Scene 7--The Sterling Mansion

Jeffery hurried in through the front door and threw his shredded umbrella down as the thunder roared loudly and the lighten flashed as if it were taking numerous pictures of the mansion, Gloria rushed over to her husband with a towel and wrapped it around him then kissed him, "We need to talk."

"You are absolutely right!" Jeffery added kissing his wife back leading her through the den into the kitchen where Bonita was lighting candles. Bonita looked at Jeffery and Gloria as if nothing was there and continued to light the candles.

"Bonita do you mind?" Gloria blurted rudely, glaring at her.

Bonita looked at Gloria and huffed as she walked out, "Bitch, you don't know me!" she muttered under breath as she headed back into the living room with the other.

Gloria rolled her eyes at dumb maid, she didn't know why her mother hired her. Gloria focused her attention back on Jeffery, placing a hand on his chest. "What's going on?"

"Your mother found a way to get you back in?"

"How?"

Jeffery grinned, "By putting our stocks together...me, you, Melanie, Randy and Tiffany."

Gloria leaned on the counter and thought for a minute, then grinned "That would give us the deciding vote and I would love to put Ruby lips out on her ass!"

"Do you think Travis would go along?"

Jeffery shrugged drying his hair with the towel, "I'm not sure...is he back yet?"

"No and everyone is starting to become worried...I don't know where my brother is?"

Scene 8--Interstate 5

The heavy rain fell on Travis washing a away the blood which reveal the deep gashes from where broken glass slashed around his right cheek nose and forehead. He'd lost a lot of blood and needed medical attention fast.

Not even the sound of the horn blaring could wake Travis which was a few yards away from him, the demolished Sterling company car was embedded into the tree, that it ended up crashing into after Felicia lost control of the car.

Felicia opened her eyes slowly and moaned from the extreme pain she was suffering after hitting her head on the steering wheel. She attempted to lift her head off the steering wheel but fell comatose unable to take the pain.

Scene 9--The Sterling Building

Demetrius glared at Melanie and rubbed the spot to the ease from Melanie's slap, "I deserved that." he whispered.

"Don't give me permission to hit you and don't tell me what you deserve...because you deserve a lot more than that.  A WHOLE LOT MORE!" Melanie began to breath heavily being overcome with anger. The man she gave her life to for over thirty year betrayed her and even worse he put Felicia in front of their children. Melanie wiped the tears from her eyes but they continued to fall.

"That's why you promoted her, isn't?"

"Melanie, Felicia worked just as hard as anyone here."

"I guess she did if you count making the CEO feel good...and then Gloria."

"How could you do that to her, all she and the children ever wanted was to make you proud. Taking that..."

Melanie stopped talking realizing it was pointless to continue to argue with Demetrius, she laughed through her sadness amazed at everything Demetrius has done as the tears continued to fall.

"It's pointless."

She walked up to Demetrius and wrapped her arms around him and kissed him passionately just like she did the first time she ever kissed him. Demetrius wrapped his arms around her not wanting to let her go he let himself melt into the kiss. He smiled inside ecstatic nothing could ever come between him and Melanie.

Melanie stepped back and wiped the tear from her eyes, "That's the last time you'll kiss these lips. I hope Felicia or whoever can do more for you than I did."

Demetrius eyes filled with tears realizing it was over or at least at the moment it appeared to be over, he didn't account for this part.

Melanie walked over to Demetrius' desk and picture up the picture of herself and Demetrius, she stared at it with anger then threw it across the room. She then pulled out William's business card and read over it, "I better make use of this." she stuffed it in her purse then stormed out of the office.

Demetrius walked over to the broken picture and picked it up a tear stream down his face becoming remorseful, "Don't leave me."

Scene 10--2300 Proximity Lane

"Anthony, you have to calm down man." Maurice pleaded holding hands up, "We're friends can't we talk about this?"

Anthony shot an icy glare at Maurice still pointing the gun at Paige, "You were one of the people I confided in about my relationship with Paige. I told you that someone was getting in the way! The whole time it was you!"

Anthony wiped this face and exhaled realizing his father knew the all along that it was Maurice.

Maurice sighed unsure of what to do next he looked at Paige who was his only concern, "Anthony, I'm sorry things ended up this way. But you abandoned her."

"I WAS OUT MAKE A BETTER LIFE FOR US. DON'T YOU DARE TELL ME WHAT I DID WRONG."

"ANTHONY I LOVE HER!" Maurice shouted back, "I love her man and I don't know what else to tell you."

Anthony looked at Paige with hurt in is eyes, "Do you love him?"

Paige lip quivered with fear as tears began to stream down her eyes as the thunder rumbled outside. She wasn't sure how to answer this question, since the answer could decide if her life ends or continues.

"ANSWER THE QUESTION!"

"yes...yes!!!' Paige whispered through her sobs, she braced herself expecting Anthony to shoot her.

"So what about us? Our hopes our dreams...all gone?"

"Don't do this to me?" Paige sobbed, "Anthony everything happened so fast...I never meant for it to get past that kiss."

Suddenly the room began to spin around Anthony who grew light headed, this was a bit too much for him. He attempted to focus his attention one spot the voices in head from flashback of Leona warning him, to the time he told Maurice and Scott about his troubles with Paige, to Paul telling the truth, to Eva and Paige's argument in the bistro, to finally Paige tell him to worry about a thing. "Forever and Always." But for Anthony, forever came today when he saw his wife and best friend making love in his bed and this was something he couldn't forgive or forget.

The lights flickered off and the gun went off three times, followed by Paige's scream and loud thud. The light flickered on and Anthony was no where to be found. Paige laid motionless on the bed with blood spattered on her robe and sheets as well as Maurice who squirmed on the floor struggling to gasp for breath from two gun wounds to his chest.

Next Time on Forever & A Day

The storm passed taking a life with it!

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