Episode 26 - "Ingenious Discoveries" (Printable Version)

The Sterling Building

A light morning fog crept through San Diego as the sun began to rise and serve as a wake up call for anyone who hadn’t got out of bed by now. Demetrius stared out the window watching the sunrise, he was in the middle of an extremely morning meeting with Jeffery Spellman and Joshlynne Ramiez, and his mind was drifting off.  

It chilled him to know that it has been about two months since his affair with Felicia had been aired on national television and his family still wanted nothing to do with him. 

“I don’t know Demetrius this sounds like a very promising deal.” Jeffery uttered going through a couple of documents pertaining a proposal for a new line of men’s suits. 

“Yes I would have to agree. I think it will bring back the "Corporate American" look.” Joshlynne added sitting at the round table, as she flipped through the designs in the folder, impressed.

Joshlynne and Jeffery looked at each other puzzled waiting for Demetrius to respond, it wasn’t like him to be distant during an business meeting. He was always on top of everything.

“Demetrius?” Joshlynne called out camly, sensing something was wrong.

Demetrius quickly turned around caught off guard, “Yes Joshlynne?” 

“You didn’t hear what we said?” 

Demetrius shook his head and frowned, he realized all of these problems were beginning to take a toll on him.  

“No, I didn’t I apologize.” 

Jeffery sighed becoming annoyed with his father in law's poor alertness, it just proved what Tiffany was saying all of along. Demetrius was not cut off for the job anymore. 

“Look I’m having breakfast with my brothers. I say we should reconvene until Demetrius can catch up with us!” 

Demetrius nodded his head, “That’ll be fine.”

Jeffery grabbed his folder and jacket as he hurried out of the room, Joshlynne followed Jeffery then closed the door and faced Demetrius. 

“Can I do anything to help you feel better?”  

Demetrius looked at Joshlynne and exhaled sadly, “Make all of this go away!”

Scene 2

Jeffery made his way through the hall flashing a few smiles at some of his fellow co-workers. He stopped dead in his tracks and smiled devilishly as Tiffany approached him. 

"Just the man I needed to see." Tiffany grinned clasping her hands together. "I met with our accountant and everything is going accordingly. There's only two major share holder in Sterling Clothing Inc." 

Jeffery beamed, their plan was going shake things up at Sterling Clothing, he only hoped his plan to take Veritas from his brother would work just as well. 

"We'll Gloria is in, we just have to get Melanie on board and I don't think that'll be a problem." 

Tiffany frowned, "I hate it has to come down to this but I can't let my father's company run into the ground!" 

“Anything for the company, right?” 

The elevator opened and Leona rushed out in a frenzy and headed over to Tiffany and Jeffery, "Sorry to interrupt but..."

"no need to finish, I have somewhere to be. Please carry on." Jeffery offered cutting Leona off, as he made his way to elevator, before it closed. 

"Tiffany, I need you to do something for me?" Leona asked. 

"What wrong?" 

"I need you to fire Paige!"

Scene 3-KIOU News Station

Eva hung up the phone angry as ever, the lead she had for another amazing story had fallen through. She huffed like a bull becoming enraged, this was fourth amazing story that turned into a flop since her story that exposed Felicia and Demetrius’ affair. No one trusted Eva anymore with any kind of information fearing that she would turn it into a scandalous story. She sat back in her chair and growled, she needed to do something quick before she ended up losing her job. Her thoughts were cut short by a couple of hard knocks at the door. 

“Go Away! I’m busy!” she yelled, she really didn’t want to be bothered by anyone. She looked up and scoffed as the door opened. 

“I thought I said…Shouldn’t you be at the hospital?” Eva asked confused but excited to see her ex high school sweetheart at the door. 

Travis grinned and adjusted his red tye as he closed the door, “I was released last week.” He answered politely. 

Eva stood up, even though it had been years since they we’re together she was always loved him. She always used that as an excuse to make her part Marsha’s plan valid. A tiny part of her wanted him away from Lisa and with her. 

“I’m glad you’re better!” she replied. 

“If you knew why I was here I don’t think you would be so excited about this visit.”  

Eva placed her hands on her hips and smirked as she walked over to her counter to pour herself a glass of water, “and why is that?” she asked before taking a sip. 

“My sister filled me in on everything that occurred during my coma and I know about those pictures you released on national television. Care to explain?” 

Eva turned away from Travis as her jaw dropped in shocked, her bottom lip quivered as she tried to find a way out of this situation. As she remembered Marsha laying the photos on her desk, she turned back and looked at Travis with fear. She knew he would probably have to tell him about Marsha which was a very bad idea. She opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. 

“Cat got your tongue?”

Scene 4-The Sterling Mansion

Marsha sat in a chair rocking back and forth in Carmella’s old room, struggling to contain herself. It was been a week since Travis returned home from the hospital and all she wanted was to feel the softness of his lips, the solidness of his body and his fingers running down her spine once again. She glared because it was only one person who stopped her dreams from happening.  

Lisa, Travis’ wife and the child they were excepting together, made it impossible for Marsha and Travis to reunite. Marsha even went to great lengths and posed as a maid for the Sterling family in order to get closer to Travis and to get to know the daughter that she never got a chance to, but only thing she accomplished was killing the real maid which was a mistake. 

The only hope she had of getting Lisa out of picture crumbled when Joshlynne turned her back on her. She smiled thinking about how Joshlynne would soon get hers.

Marsha stood up and walked over to a black notebook and opened it, “I need to get Lisa out of the picture!” she whispered writing Lisa's name under Joshlynne's.

Marsha clenched the pen in her hands remembering how Lisa threw her engagement to Travis in her face, which drove her into holding Travis and Lisa at gun point during their wedding. 

“Marsha, there is something you need to understand!” Lisa explained softly pointing to her engagement ring. “Travis and I are going to get married tomorrow!” 

“I think it’s best if you just stopped with these little tricks to get Travis back!” 

Tears stream down Marsha’s face as she began to realized the truth, it was all over and tomorrow Lisa would be Mrs. Travis Sterling. 

“Lisa, how can you be so cruel. Travis was mine and you took him!” 

“No Marsha you left him and I made him whole again!” 

Marsha blinked wiping the tears away from her eyes, “Somethings never change...Lisa is still in the picture! ” She whispered.

"That's going to change soon! Especially with that I have in store."

Scene 5-The Morrowian Bistro

Jonathan sat waiting patiently at a table by the window, this was the first breakfast he and all of his brother had together since Jeffery started working at Sterling Clothing, with the news he had for his brothers this breakfast meeting probably would be the last. He looked up and grinned as his youngest brother Bradley took a seat across from him. 

Brad raised an eyebrow noticing the third seat, “We have a guest?” he asked, trying to figure out what his scheming brother was up to. 

“You always were a smart one!” Jonathan noted with a cheesy grin. 

“Johnny what are you up to now?” Brad whined not in the mood for any of his brother’s antics, but then again when was he every in the mood. 

Johnny sat back in his chair pretending to be hurt by Brad’s assumptions, “Bradley this time I’m not up to anything. What’s wrong with me wanting to spend time with my brothers!” 

Bradley choked realizing that Jeffery would be joining them also, “Brothers? You know you put that in plural form right?” 

“Another intelligent statement.” Jonathan chuckled, he really didn’t want to be in the same room with his older brother Jeffery, but he couldn’t make a decision about Veritas without running by all three of his brothers. 

“I’ll fill you and the goof ball in on everything once he’s here!” 

Brad closed the menu and looked up at his brother, “I can’t wait to see this one. You and Jeffery at the same table together. Something is bound to happen.” 

“Not if Johnny Boy can contain himself.” Jeffery said joining his brothers at the table, “So Jonathan tell us why we’re here…you finally made that decision to step down from Veritas!” 

Jonathan glared at Jeffery, “Not at all! I’ve found a way to save Veritas.” 

“And that is?” Bradley and Jeffery both asked in unison. 

“Take out stocks public.” Jonathan announced with a confident grin. 

Jeffery glared at his brother, “What?!”

Scene 6-The Sterling Building

Leona stormed into Tiffany's office shaking her head in disgust, she dropped her purse on the floor. "Tiffany that woman is a menace! I need here away from me and my family!"

Tiffany closed the door to her office as she walked in slowly, she was concerned for Leona she never seen her friend in such a frenzy. "Leona what's going on?"

"She attacked me in courtroom last week during Anthony's bail hearing."

Tiffany crossed her arms sighing, becoming concern that this situation was getting out of hand, "Why?"

"Well for one, she had no business there, then we have a few share of choice words and next thing I know we're going on the rolling around. If William wasn't there she probably would've killed me!" Leona complained, hoping that her close friend would agree to her request.

Tiffany laughed walked over to her desk, "Listen Leona, what you're asking is a little too much. You want me to fire someone who hasn't done anything wrong!"

"Adultery and attempted murder isn't?" Leona snapped back, becoming frustrated, "What about if you moved her to the office in New York? Tiffany, I need Paige out of my family's lives!"

"Leona, what are you doing to do if Anthony and Paige reunite?"

Leona shot a cold glare at Tiffany, "There not going to reunite, Tiffany! I'll make sure of that!"

"Leona, that sounds dangerous."

Leona walked over to the windows and sighed wiping the tears away from her eyes, "Paige has ruined my son's life and I promise that it won't happen to anyone else. So forgive me if I sound "dangerous" but I can't help what I feel! Something has to be done!"

"And if you're not going to help, I'll just have to do it myself!"

Scene 7-The Morrowian Bistro

Jeffery glared coldly at Jonathan, he found it hard to believe that Jonathan would allow Veritas stocks to be bought by anyone that meant anyone could have controlling interest in their company. He looked at Brad who also didn't seem pleased by their brother's decision.

"Jonathan you can't be serious?" Brad asked crossing his arms. "You want the public to run our mother's company? Have you..."

"...Don't finish that sentence because we already knew he lost his mind!" Jeffery blurted out.

Jonathan sat up growing angry, "Do you all realize that we have to potential to lose our company and if that happens the damn public will have our company one way or the other we might as well let them in now!"

"There has to be another way!" Brad stated looking at Jeffery for support.

"Like what Bradley?" Jonathan growled

"Put me back in charge, I promise this company will be back to it's normal state in no time!" Jeffery offered with a sly grin.

"Jeffery, the day I step down for you, will be the day that hell freezes over....so cancel that one!"

Brad and Jeffery shared a glance, as Jonathan stood up, "I should've known it would have come to this topic again but it's too late because I already made the decision. Veritas Inc is now a public corporation. Now digest that one!"

Jeffery stood up and approached his brother, "You stupid son of a bitch!" he whispered coldly, before striking his brother in the face.

Jonathan stumbled back a bit, and held his jaw glaring at his brother, "You'll never get the company back!"

"Alright that's enough!" Brad shouted jumping between the two.

"Enjoy your breakfast Bradley!" Jeffery said to his baby brother before storming out.

Scene 8-The Sterling Building

Joshlynne walked over to Demetrius and placed her hands on his shoulders, "Want to tell me what's going on?"

Demetrius smiled back at Joshlynne then frown thinking about all of pain he was dealing with, "Joshlynne, I messed up big time."

"Demetrius, it's time to get passed that." Joshlynne whispered caressing his back, "Your family will come around in some point in time."

"I guess you're right."

"Joshlynne I never meant for anything of this to get out of hand. The hype from sneaking around with Felicia was amazing, but I didn't want anything else out of it. No a new marriage nothing. I was only in it for the pleasure."

Joshlynne frowned, she hated to hear the man she loved talk about other women in a such a way. She wished she make everything go away and bring that smile she loved so much back to Demetrius' face.

"Sometimes it's best to move on Demetrius. Staying in this bubble will only make it worst on you and I like seeing you like this. So what you messed up, who hasn't? No one is perfect."

Demetrius turned around and faced Joshlynne with a smile on his face, her words of wisdom made him feel a whole lot better, maybe it's time for him to move.

"Maybe you're right!"

"I am right." Joshlynne replied playfully, looking into Demetrius' eyes. She saw something that made her want him even more, a sudden urge to kiss him came over Joshlynne and she reached up and softly pressed her lips against Demetrius'.

Caught off guard, Demetrius tried to figure out what was going on, as Joshlynne kissed began to take hold on him and before he realized he was kissing her back. For a brief moment, the two were in paradise, all of the pain Demetrius felt was gone and Joshlynne was finally getting what she wanted.

"Oh my god!" Joshlynne cried out as she returned to reality, she stepped back from Demetrius "I forgot to check Travis' messages for him."

Demetrius nodded his head, "You should go check those. He might be expecting a message he's not coming back to work for a while."

Joshlynne grabbed her folder and hurried out of the room with a smile, the kiss still had a lingering affect on her, Demetrius on the other hand wasn't sure what that kiss or anything else meant.

Scene 9-KIOU News Station

Travis crossed his arms and sighed as he stared coldly at Eva, five minutes had passed and Eva still hadn’t uttered a single sighed. He saw the fear in her eyes so he knew she was guilty of releasing those pictures. He wanted to know why she did it, and where she got the pictures from. He cleared his throat and took a few steps toward Eva.

“I’m not leaving here until I get some answers?” he scolded. “Where did you get those pictures from?

Eva turned around and wiped the tears from her eyes, “I can’t tell you that!” she answered fearfully.

“Why not? Are you hiding something?”

“Travis I got them from an unknown source!” Eva explained walking past Travis in the direction of her desk.

“Eva I know you long enough that’s a lie!” Travis snapped back followed Eva to her desk. “Tell me why you did it and where you got those pictures from.

“Travis, just drop it please!” Eva demanded, realizing she was damned whatever decision she made. She if Travis found out that Marsha had return that all hell would break lose.

Travis rushed over to Eva and pinned her to the walled, “Travis, let me go!” Eva exclaimed trying to break free of his grasp.

“Tell me right now, Eva!”

“I got them from Marsha!”

Travis let go of Eva and took a few steps back unable to process Eva’s answers, if she was telling the truth about Marsha that means she’s escaped from the mental health facility and probably headed after his family.

“You’re lying!” he whispered becoming horrified, as a glimpse of Marsha holding the gun to his face flashed in his mind.

Eva shook her head as she caressed her wrist to soothe the pain from Travis’ grasp, “Travis I wish I was but it’s the truth, she knew it would hurt you if your parents divorced.” She explained through her sobs becoming worried of what could happened next.

“If you’re lying to me, Eva. I swear to god things won’t be pretty for you!” Travis threatened, heading towards the door.  He had many decisions to make like should he tell Lisa about Marsha’s appearance.

Scene 10-The Platinum Haven

The door to Room 3023 opened slowly, a woman figure crept in and quickly closed the door behind her. Marsha removed her hood and opened her bag sliding on a pair of white latex gloves. She walked over to the dresser and look at a picture of Joshlynne nephew, which reminded her of how Joshlynne left her out to dry.

"I...I...I don't understand?" Marsha questioned becoming upset, if Joshlynne was planning on backstabbing her it was going to be the biggest mistake she ever did. "You told me if I ruined Demetrius and Melanie's marriage you would help me get Travis back!"

Joshlynne stood up and smiled sympathetically, "I'm sorry if you miss understood our agreement, but this partnership is over.

Marsha bend down and opened the top drawer of the dresser and reached in her bag. She pulled out the gun she used to shoot Carmella and placed it in her drawer. Then she reached back in the black bag and grabbed a couple of Carmella's rings and threw them all over the room.

"No one double-crosses me!" Marsha growled.

She frowned a bit a little sad to see their friendship go to waste, Joshlynne was the one who continued to intercept phone calls from the mental institute so Travis or anyone else would know she'd escape.

Marsha took out her list and crossed Joshlynne's name off, then took out a cell phone and dialed the police station's number.

"San Diego Police Department." Jonas answered.

"Um, yes! I would like to report a dead body off the corner of 5th and West Avenue."

"Alright...we'll look into it!' Jonas stated.

Marsha closed the phone with a smile remembering how she planted some a few strand of Joshlynne's hair on Carmella after she hid the body behind the dumpster.

"Now to deal with my real problem."

...Forever Never Seems That Long...

Next Time on Forever & A Day

Anthony and Paige come face to face with each other.

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