Episode 29 - "The Very Next Day You Gave My Heart Away" (Printable Version)

Guest Written by Kelly Zollo (Creator of West Lake)

Scene 1- Downtown San Diego

Sharon knows that her sister's relationship has been strained with her husband, William but that doesn't stop her form having Felicia's back in a time of dire need and distress. Her sister is spiraling out of control with drinking, she knows that Felicia has dug her own mess with William by sleeping with Demetrius, but that doesn't stop her from wanting to fix it. Siblings stuck by each other, siblings helped each other out no matter what and now it was her time to fix it. She only hoped that she could, for her sister's sake, to help her stop drinking to let her know that someone cared about her, that someone still loved her. 

She hoped that William would hear her out, that he would listen to her pleas about her sister, that he would realize that Felicia needed the support of her family and that included him. She found him quick enough behind his desk going over paperwork, more than likely for his latest case. She tapped lightly on the door for a bit waiting to be invited in offering him a smile as he looked up her, slightly confused as to why she was there.

"Sharon, this is a pleasant surprise,' William offered. 

William had left the party shortly after the fireworks had went off, unable to stay there and see Felicia make a fool of herself. In reality, Felicia was no longer any of his concern she had seen to that all on her own with cheating on him. Some would call him harsh for brushing her out of his life other’s would call him callous both were fitting words. She had taken their marriage and threw it away the moment that she cheated on him, something that he couldn’t forgive her. 

Instead he greeted with Felicia's sister who's staring him up and down from the doorway, inspecting him. Offering her a semi casual greeting before she strides into his office to take a seat across from him. He glances up from his paperwork, moving it to the side so that he can focus on Sharon being in his office. No doubt, here about Felicia and her latest antics. 

“I was hoping that we could talk about Felicia. She is in a horrible place William." Sharon states reaching out to him in the only way that she knows how. 

William takes a deep breath bracing himself for Sharon’s reaction, “Felica, is no longer my concern Sharon, she made sure of that and we both know how she did that!”

Scene 2-The Sterling Building

Melanie Sterling has been furious since the party with Demetrius and his latest whore of the month Sidora Duncan. More than anything, she is tired of being publicly humiliated by him over and over again. If it isn’t Sidora, it is some other woman on his arm that he has wanted to flaunt in her face, such as Joshlynne. Walking through the hallways, she has come to the office to talk to him about his antics, brushing past his secretary. 

Her surprise has caught him off guard, as she storms into his office and he looks up from the phone call that he is on. She waits a few moments before walking to the seat across from him tossing her purse on the floor in the process. Looking around the room, as he finishes the call and then looks back at her. A small smile spreads on her lips at the thought, serves him right for pissing her off. 

“I thought we should talk about your recent stunt at the party. You and Sidora to be exact,’ Melanie says, sitting back in the chair and folding her hands in her lap. 

Demetrius hadn’t been expecting his wife to storm into the office while he was the middle of a phone call with the advertising agency, but she is there. The news isn’t good, stock is till down buyers still not returning to the line due to the scandal from his affair. Melanie’s sharp tongue does nothing to brighten his mood, as she tells him that they need to talk about Sidora. Something that he is certain that he doesn’t want to discuss with his wife in the first place, none the less it is going to happen. 

“I brought a guest to a party, Melanie. Why does it matter so much? Last time I checked you were the one that decided you were done with us,’ Demetrius states, hoping that will be the end of it. 

Melanie’s lips twist up in a bitter smile, “No, you brought your latest whore to the party in order to humiliate me. You were the one that caught in photographs.” 

Her audacity jars him, he has never seen this side of her in all the years they have been together, he has never thought of her to have a cruel bone. However, now that he is sitting back and looking at her he sees how completely over him and their marriage that she is, how tired she is. What is supposed to be relief at the thought of moving on with his life, is now filled with dread, closing a chapter on his previous marriage.

Scene 3- The Sterling Mansion

Jeffery holds up the paper one more time in order to have it positioned right, so he can read the business section. See where the stocks are and see where he needs to go from there with everything that he needs to do. He pauses for a moment in order to lift his coffee mug to his lips and take a sip. A smile on his face at the warmness of starting his day out right with a proper cup of coffee and the business section.

He was taking the day off, something that his secretary had to ask if he had felt ill or not when he called in. He hadn’t taken a personal day in a few years, but with the shake up at work with Veritas he wanted a day to clear his head. He puts his cup back down as he hears the set of high heels coming down the stairs and his wife’s brisk voice calling out the the staff. 

The last thing that Gloria expects to see on a work day is her husband in the kitchen, at the table reading the paper. Stepping into the kitchen she takes a look at the clock to make sure that she isn’t dreaming, it is early morning. Jeff should be in the office, however he is home enjoying his coffee and reading the paper. She makes her way to the coffee pot, pouring herself a cup before joining Jeff at the table. 

Adding a spoonful of sugar and creamer to her coffee as she picks up the front page of the paper, seeing what the headlines are. She waits for him to say something about why he is home, wondering what has kept him home in the first place. Instead, she is greeted with the quietness of a morning cup of coffee with her husband, something they haven’t done in ages. She isn’t one to complain they both work, so moments of quiet intimacy are few and far in between. 

“I don’t want Jonathan to run Veritas into the ground.” 

The statement brings Gloria out of her thoughts about him, instead all of her focus shifting to Jonathan and Jeffery’s statement. 

“I know that Jonathan is going to go public with the stock, when he does I want to buy it out from him. I don’t think he is ready, I don’t want him to destroy it,” Jeffery states, folding the paper and then looking at her for an answer.

Scene 4- KIOU News Station

Marsha has thought about recent events all to often since the night of the party, how well everything played into her favor, how elated she is at her plans unfolding. Locking Carmella's car door, she makes her way up the pavement to the television station to pay Eva a visit. It has been far to long since they have talked about their arrangement, she wants to make sure that Eva knows that she needs to keep up her end of the deal. The photos being leaked are of course just a start to the bigger picture, to her bigger plans. 

The station is busy and part of her is glad for it, no one will suspect anything with everyone running around to record and getting ready to film. Someone walking down the hallway will just look like another PA running an errand that needs to be done. Turning the corner, she waves to a few other PA’s as she makes her way to Eva’s office, hoping she is there. She is beyond thrilled once she arrives, seeing Eva behind her desk, walking into her office with a smile on her face. 

“Hello Eva.” 

Eva has been busy most of the day running around the set with production and getting ready to go for tape, finally settling in her office for a bit. Going over some of the reports and thinking back on her deal with Marsha, on exposing Demetrius' affair, deciding if it was ethical or not. Being a journalist has always been her dream, one that she strived for over the last few years. There is always a thin line on how you get your information and what you do with it, now she feels a though she has crossed it. 

She has single handedly ruined Melanie’s marriage with Demetrius, their family is in shambles over the affair. Sharon blames her for exposing the pictures, the strain of their relationship getting harder to deal with. She put the pictures on the television to get syndicated, to achieve her own personal goals and didn’t care about anything else. She wanted the top prize of the news world and she got it, but at what expense is her only thought in her head, looking up when Marsha appears in her doorway. 

“What are you doing here?” Eva asks, quickly looking around to see if she can flag down security to escort Marsha out.

Scene 5- The Morrowian Bistro

Anthony, has missed spending time with his friends Travis and Alex, ever since the murder of Maurice he has been in and out with things.. He currently has nothing to fall back on and knows charges are going to be brought against him. He has no job, he and Paige are on the outs, he is certain that even with a good lawyer he is facing jail time. Lunch with his friends is really the only thing keeping him sane at the moment, the fact that he still has friends. He sees Travis and Alex enter and he raises his hand so that they can see him at the table.

Travis, has been looking forward to the lunch with his two best friends all week he has so much on his plate at the moment. Lisa and the baby, his father’s affair coming out to the public and the rumors that Marsha has returned. The idea however to open up a new business venture has been on his mind for a few weeks, something he is hoping to get feedback on at lunch. He and Alex eagerly take their seats, as he takes a drink of water from the table and waits for someone to speak first. 

Alex had run into Travis just as he was parking and the smile has not left his face since they entered the restaurant for lunch. He and Nathan have been having problems for a while and now it has all come to a head. He needs advice, he needs some clarity on the situation in order to salvage what is left. Advice that he knows he can count on from Anthony and Travis, advice that he knows will be sound. 

“I am so glad that you both were able to come. I almost was worried there for a second. Listen I know that things have been a bit crazy as of late. I am sorry for how things happened...with Maurice and everything.” Anthony states, getting sympathetic looks form him his friends. 

His mind is eased with their understanding hoping that everything will be alright with them and their friendship given the circumstances.

Travis is the first to jump in with sound advice, “Stick to your guns Alex this has to be taking on you at the moment. Hopefully the advice will lead Nathan to the right path, keep to your rules about him staying with you.” 

“I agree with Travis, Alex. Stick to your plan and your arrangement you have with Nathan, he needs to know that the rules are still there. He’ll come around Alex, just give it some more time,” Anthony says, putting the menu down on the table. 

The table is filled with silence for a bit as the waiter approaches to take their orders. Leaving a few minutes later and Travis, finally speaks.

“I’ve been thinking about a new business venture over the last few weeks, a way to break out from the clothing industry. I was thinking about opening up a restaurant. I’ve looked at the number the economy is good, I could take out some money from savings for start up costs. I was wondering if you two might be interested in it,” Travis says, looking at his friends and their eager expressions to hear more. 

Anthony is easily gripped by the idea he has nothing else going on in his life, he has nothing else to look forward to. “Count me in.” 

Alex’s mind is already wandering to the possibility of helping Travis out, finding a way to deal with Nathan the idea easily helping to distract him. It would be a good investment and he has some money stashed away in savings. Of course he will have to run it by his wife but he doesn’t see the harm in helping out. 

“I would have to talk to Jasmine but it shouldn’t be a problem. In fact I think it is a brilliant idea.” Alex says. 

Travis grins from ear to ear, turning to the waiter to add a bottle of champagne to the bill eager to see his dream come to life. Once the glasses have been poured, he lifts his glass of the bubbly liquid to his friends. Alex and Anthony follow in suit, thankful for the bond that they share and are able to still share. 

“To our friendship and to the restaurant, may it be something that bonds us together and only strengthens our friendship.” Travis states. 

The other two echo his sentiment, clinking their glasses to his own. 

Scene 6- The Sterling Mansion

Gloria knows how hard Jeffery's mother worked on the company and how much of a struggle it has been for Jeffery to watch Jonathan handle the line. It is a smart business move for him to want to take the stock once it goes to public sale, it will also give him power to take back the company without legal downfalls. It will also put Sterling into the company and have Jonathan and the rest of Veritas scratching her head about what they were in for. All in all it will be a good move, something that she can use to her advantage at Sterling and something they can gain control over. 

“I think it would give Jonathan a run for his money if you were to buy the stock. I would support your decision no matter what it is.”

Jeffery is pleased with her answer as he finishes off the last of his coffee, getting up from the table to place his cup in the sink. Deciding that he is going to stay home for the rest of the day, get things in order for the buy out. Now that he has Gloria’s permission and encouragement he is ready to move forward with stripping the company from his brother. He can make most of his calls from his home office, if there is a major problem at Sterling he can be called into the office. 

“I think my father is planning something,’ Gloria states, picking up the business section. 

“How so?” 

“He brought Sidora with him to the party, Joshlynne is no where to be found with him. I just feel that something is off with him, that he is planning something,’ Gloria states, looking at Jeff for advice. 

“You could be right, we’ll keep an eye on him. For now don’t worry about it. I will be in the home office if you need anything,’ Jeff sates, leaning down to give her a quick kiss on the lips before leaving the kitchen. 

Cup in hand Gloria leans back in her chair considering her thoughts on her father in her head. Taking her husband’s words into consideration even though her first thought is to go to the office and dig up something to help her case. For now she is content to let it rest for a bit to see if anything else comes of her suspicions.

Scene 7- Downtown San Diego

Sharon is partially stunned at the statement, she had expected something from William.

Anything other than the frank remarks that he is now giving her in reference to Felicia. Instead she ties another angle in order to help her sister and get William involved with her recovery.                                                                                                             

“She is out of control William, you saw that. If you would only talk to her, maybe have the kids come and see her anything it would help,’ Sharon pleads. 

Her statement seems to fall on deaf ears, as he shakes his head no at the suggestion before leaning back in his chair to look at her. She has a lot of nerves, he will give Sharon that much, but to use his own children against him is even a stretch for her.

No doubt Felicia has set her sister up to talk to him about her problems, problems that she has created in the first place. As a lawyer, he knows one thing his answer is not going to be something that Sharon is going to like. 

“She created her own mess Sharon. I need to meet with someone if you don’t mind,’ William says, getting up from his seat to hold the door open for her. 

Instead she hold her head up high, as she leaves the office, she will have to  help Felicia in some other way. She casts one final glance at William, as she walks down the hall watching as Sidora enters his office and greets him with a kiss.

KIOU News Station

The statement about the syndication alone makes the guilt creep into Eva’s skin, as she looks at Marsha from behind her desk. If anything the situation has taught her that nothing is more important than sticking to your guns and your morals, that journalism has lines. Lines that she is not going to ever try and cross again for personal gain, she will look at the bigger picture. 

“The pictures destroyed lives Marsha, no good came of them being splashed on television. I can’t do this right now,’ Eva states, pausing to shuffle papers for a moment. ‘I think you should go.” 

Marsha lets a laugh escape her lips for a moment before speaking, “I hardly think that this is done Eva. You still owe me.” 

“It’s too late Marsha I want out.” 

The statement makes Marsha angry closing Eva’s door and quietly locking the lock. Eva watches carefully, moving for the door as Marsha turns the blinds in the office closed in the process. 

“What are you doing?” Eva begins, as she makes her way to the door. 

She is quickly cut off as Marsha’s hands have flown to her neck, the impact shoving her backwards and into the bookcase behind her desk. Eyes wide she studies Marsha’s eyes as her hands apply pressure to her neck. Her hands instantly fly to her throat in an attempt to get Marsha’s hands off her neck. 

“You forget Eva, that I know everything. That no one crosses me. That no one sticks a knife in my back. Are we understood?” 

Eva is helpless as she nods her head, feeling the hands flee from her neck and she is able to gasp for air. She is still in shock at the violence that Marsha just showed, as she hears the door click shut. Fearing for her life, she agrees to not call security and to tell no one about the incident.

The Sterling Building

“I brought Sidora to the party Melanie, she is close to the business. Nothing more, not that it is really any of your business to begin with,’ Demetrius offers. 

“Keep her, keep your damn company and keep your affairs. I thought we would have been able to work something out, instead you don’t want to come clean about Sidora or any of the other women in your life,’ Melanie offers, pausing for a moment. ‘I want a divorce. I just want this to be over with!” 

He hadn’t been expecting that, in fact the words divorce are the last thing that he has expected to hear out of Melanie’s mouth, Now that he has heard them though he is at a loss for words processing her anger and finality of their lives. It is over, he can feel it even if he were to beg her back or promise reform it probably wouldn’t work on her, he knows that. It simply is over and done with, both of them will be free to move on their separate ways and now he is reluctant to agree. 

“If that is what you want.” 

He doesn’t even know what to do or really how the words seem to have filtered out of his mouth, as he watches her nod to his statement. Watches her face fall at the finality of it all, pausing for a moment to close her eyes and takes it in. He doesn’t even know really what to say as she gathers her purse up to leave the room, finally rising from his desk to look at her and help her with the door. 

“I can have the lawyers fax over the paperwork, so we can take care of this quietly.” 

Melanie is too stunned to really say anything at his statement other than nod her head at him, nod her head at the end of their marriage. She had expected more furry from him, more of a fight to save their marriage opposed to just letting it go. Instead she is met with the heaviness that part of her now is carrying about how things ended. 

“I’m sorry that it came to this,’ Demetrius offers, holding open the door. 

Melanie looks at him for a moment with tears in her eyes, “Me too.” 

Closing the door behind her on her way out the door, not wanting him to see the fresh batch of tears at the realization sets in with her about their divorce.

..Forever Never Seems That Long...

Next Time on Forever & A Day

A showdown takes place at the Bistro.

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