On Concrete Shelves | Welcome back to Stone Creek |

Scene One

Sage Gardens; Crenshaw Manor

 

Her morning jog was the one thing that completely woke Gillian Sutton Crenshaw, it was something of a routine and way better than coffee, in her opinion. A six am run through the old rickety path past the old troll bridge in the woods. Damien once caught her, and gave her his two cents, but he also knew it wouldn’t work. A quick shower, then tugging on an old t-shirt, she makes her way down the staircase and into the foyer.

 

Gillian looks at the present she wrapped yesterday for Marina’s baby shower and then peers out into the hallway. “Where are my little rascals?” She calls out, a squeal is heard in the distance and immediately she knows it belongs to Charlotte Danielle, her rather rambunctious tike.

 

Two identical blond, blue-eyed toddlers sit in the living room, a clutter of toys surrounding them. Some days feel 8like years since she gave birth to the twins, other days seem like it was just yesterday. Either way, she knew her life hadn’t been complete until they were born.

 

“Oh!” Aleena, their nanny clammers.“They were just playing hide-and-seek, I was hoping to have them ready before you came down stairs, I apologize Mrs. Gillian.”

 

Gillian rustles Charlotte’s long locks of thick hair. “No. No. Don’t you worry ‘bout a thing, I took a day away from the office. I can get these two ready for their day, Aleena.”

 

“Mrs. Gillian, I insist—“

 

She waves a hand. “I appreciate everything you do for these two, I really do. However,” Gillian picks up her baby boy, Phoenix Kieran, “sometimes a mother needs some bonding time with her little twin tornados! If you would like to see if there’s anything we can put together for lunch later, that would be splendid!”

 

“Of course.” Aleena says, moving past the twins and towards the kitchen.

 

Gillian grasps Charlotte’s hand and hoists Phoenix higher onto her hip. “Now, I wonder where that father of yours has run off to? I for sure thought he was going to be spending the day with us?”

 

She gives the thought some pondering time before maneuvering her children towards their room. “I think we need an elevator.” Gillian says, to which Charlotte murmurs her own approval.

 

Scene Two

New Town; Mayor’s Office

 

He folds his hands in a way that his fingers are entwined with one another and sits upon his thick mahogany desk. “I have to admit, James, I never thought I would be having this conversation with you, of all people.”

 

Leonard Pierce, his assistant, stands to his right looking useless as usual.

 

It was Leonard who had arranged this meeting, somehow overlooking the request to have today blocked off. So it was not only a shock that Damien had to rush in so early in the morning, but also that it was a meeting with James Thurlow.

 

“Business matters of this degree don’t come across my desk this often.” Damien says, almost excitedly.

 

He tries not to make eye-contact with Leonard as he chuckles silently.

 

“Oh, cut the crap, Crenshaw.” James says, he sits before Damien in a grey suit, a crisp white shirt and an emerald green tie — perfect attire for a Thurlow, especially since his son, Emmet, sat next to him in almost the exact outfit. “We have a duty to the residents of Stone Creek to keep this agonizing feud between the Sutton’s from affecting their livelihood.”

 

Torn, Damien does everything in his power to simply nod his head and not let James know how much he agrees with his former enemy. 

 

“It’s a hostile takeover!” Emmet Thurlow adds, with enthusiasm.

 

Damien smirks. “I’d say it’s already been taken. Besides, I’ve already been propositioned by Peter months ago. Whereas, I agree that he is a smug little asshole, he does have the balls to carry out a business plan for Sutton Enterprises, so, unless you have a counter offer?”

 

“There are a lot of people who work for Sutton Enterprises who will potentially be out of work if anything else happens.” James says, there is a concern in his voice, Damien notes. “I’m thinking about the people who will be coming to you when this is all over.”

 

“A lot of families will be torn apart.” Emmet adds.

 

Damien scoffs at this, he looks over to Emmet Thurlow who has since risen from his chair like some sort of child king. “Don’t be such a drama queen, kid lawyer. I honestly expect that from Red, but from you? Come on!” He watches as Emmet slowly returns to his seat red faced.

 

Damien then looks at James. “Look, I don’t want to be behind a blazing fire holding the matches, trust me, that’s far beyond my goal. But you can’t guarantee that what Peter Sutton is doing is going to plunge Stone Creek into a financial crisis... can you?”

 

“Your wife is in the middle of that power struggle, do you really want to put all your cards in one pissing match, is all I’m asking, Damien?”

 

This caused Damien to pause, and, against his better judgement he began to heat up at the thought of Gillian even being mentioned by James.

 

“I would have figured that you’ve been around long enough to have seen what a half-cocked Sutton could do. The destruction. They don’t care about anything other than money and power. All I am asking is that you put the people in this city first, for once.”

 

Damien gulps. “Even if I wanted to help you, my hands are tied. There’s not much the mayor can do in Stone Creek without S.E.’s approval.”

 

James stands up. “You have a lot more scrap in you than you think. I wouldn’t be coming to you if I didn’t think you could handle it.”

 

“So what do you want, my endorsement?”

 

“I want your promise to keep jobs here in Stone Creek, for the families.”

 

Scene Three

Now Town; Stone Creek Memorial Hospital

 

The doctors move around the hospital like a bunch of busy ants with plans and ideas and processes they need to execute. Dr. David Schmidt pushes through the sea of white coats with a woman hot on his heels. “I’m just glad that you decided to come to Stone Creek for your internship, Jane.”

 

“I’m just happy I was accepted.” The young intern admits. She maneuvers past a couple doctors and a wheelchair and stumbles into place behind her mentor. “Honestly, I hope that I am able to prove my worth here in Stone Creek.”

 

He turns to face her. “You’re a legacy intern. I just need you to know that it’s not going to be easy for you and most of the doctors will make it harder. We haven’t seen any full-blooded Wilkinson’s in the hospital for quite some time. To tell the truth, I didn’t think one wanted to practice medicine any longer.”

 

Jane smiles warmly. “It’s been a passion of mine since I was a little girl. I know that I have an uphill battle here. It’s one of the things I took into consideration when I applied for the internship. I know that not everyone gets into the program as well… I’m not going to disappoint you here.”

 

There’s an eagerness in her voice, but David also senses a nervousness in her tone. This is exactly what he needs from her; he decides. He needs Jane to be on her toes the entire time she’s practicing here. She needs to focus on the task in front of her, the task of surviving the sometimes challenging environment that the hospital staff endure. 

 

“Good,” he pats her shoulder, “I’ve paired you with two of the best doctors we have on-staff. I was going to train you myself but I felt that may be viewed as favoritism.”

 

“I understand.”

 

He hands her an envelope with a doctor’s name scribbled on it. “You can meet with Dr. Roberts in pediatrics on the third floor…” 

 

Noting her frown he stops mid-sentence. “Is something wrong?”

 

“It’s nothing, I just… you know I studied to be a neurologist. Right? I just assumed —“

 

“Like I said,” he interrupts, “I can’t show favoritism to you here as an Intern, there are only a handful of students that get spots with the neurologists and unfortunately you didn’t make the cut this time. Pediatrics isn’t the worst profession I could’ve placed you in and it’s most important in this hospital as well.”

 

Jane nods her head. “I understand.”

 

Scene Four

Now Town; Shenanigans Nightclub

 

“So,” Cassie Lakhani Briggs starts, “if you would like me to go over the list of maintenance companies again I could do so. The fire department conducts annual safety checks, and, if you’d like me to get you in-touch with the chief he can give you a heads-up.”

 

The raven-haired latina walks the new owner of Shenanigans Nightclub through the safety proceedings before handing over the keys. 

 

Dylan Tyree shakes her head refusing the repetition of the boring conversation. Instead she eagerly grabs the keys from Cassie and gleams. 

 

“This has got to be the best decision I ever made!” Dylan hands back the clipboard of emergency contacts and rush’s to the center of the room. 

 

“I do have to warn you, though, this business does come with some interesting features.” Cassie calls from the other side of the room. She holds onto the clipboard with both hands. 

 

Annoyed, Dylan turns to Cassie. “Do you think I don’t know about your husband’s nefarious drug dealings?”

 

Cassie bits her lip.

 

“Please,” Dylan rolls her eyes, “I guest starred on a very riveting arc of Empire, Cassie, I know everything I need to know about drug-dealers.”

 

Dylan doesn’t wait for Cassie to respond, although she thought she heard a mumble come from the woman’s lips. Instead Dylan returns to her vision for the future of her latest business venture. 

 

Model—turned singer—turned actress… and now she can call herself a business woman. Dylan Tyree is carving out a better and brighter name for herself. Something she wanted to do ever since her aunt, Helen, put a damper on the family name and practically exiled her from the best secluded parties. Dylan scowls at the thought of missing Gwen Stefani's latest birthday party. 

 

Scene Five

Now Town; Sysphean’s

 

Patrick Sutton hands the menu back to the waiter and insists on a bottle of wine be sent to their table along with the appetizers. Although his sister protests, he shoots her a knowing look which counters any more fuss. 

 

She eyes him with alarm when the waiter leaves. “You know, I spoke with Helen the other day.”

 

“Yes. Helen told me about that conversation.” A conversation that amuses him to no end. “So, now that we have the menu taken care of, what exactly have you been trying to track me down about?”

 

Patsy Sutton-Clarke looks up at her brother. “Honestly, I was just checking in with you. I haven’t heard from you in awhile and I was beginning to miss our talks.”

 

He sighs, takes a drink of his water and then wrings his napkin. This morning Patrick had a glass of brandy with his breakfast and somehow was able to avoid any scolding from Helen. Then he was able to go about his day somewhat smoothly before he made reservations for this meal. Every single hair on his neck told him something was up.

 

So, he begins his interrogation. “Experience has told me that when Patsy Sutton-Clarke has any sort of interaction with Helen, there’s something urgent that needs to be done. So please, don’t act like I’m a child, sister, what do you need from me?”

 

This gets a chuckle from Patsy. “You’re so paranoid. But, you do have good reason to be, so I’ll let accusations slide. I really did want to check-in with you to see how you’ve been. I know having Gillian at S.E. working alongside Peter hasn’t been the easiest thing.”

 

It was true. Sometimes he wanted nothing more than to distance Gillian from his great-grandfather’s company, but he knew that wouldn’t matter. His daughter was stubborn just like her father. “Kimberly wouldn’t let anything happen to Gillian, she will be just fine. Besides, if I can’t have anything to do with S.E. then I am glad to have my daughter there. Maybe she will be able to leak some information.”

 

Patsy winces at the thought. “I don’t know about that. I still have eyes in the building and what I have been told is Gillian has basically been delegated to head pencil pusher.”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“Peter has my niece going over invoices and personal checks. I mean, it’s not like he’s overwhelming her with useless nonsense but it’s not exactly the highest caliber position for a Sutton legacy.” Patsy leans in. “Don’t worry, I still have control over the majority of properties in the city and if things go south for Gillian she will always have a part of our family waiting for her.”

 

Having a property in Stone Creek to look after doesn’t seem any more important than invoices, but he was thankful to have Patsy on his side. “Thank you, Patsy.”

 

“Patrick,” her voice draws a stern tone, one that Patrick Sutton is well aware of. He knows exactly what is going to come next and waits patiently for his sister to continue. “I may have someone who can help our situation.”

 

He furrows his brow, this wasn’t the direction he thought the conversation was going. “What are you talking about.”

 

“I may have a contact that can help us get rid of Peter once and for all.” 

 

“No, thanks.” Patrick downs his wine and waives for their waiter. It would be great to have Peter pushed out of the company, but he needs something more. There’s a reason that low hanging fruit have come after his throne. “I have a plan.”

 

Her eyes light up. “What is that? How can I help?”

 

“As arrogantly as it sounds, I have all the help I can use. Besides, if I make you choose a side then that could jeopardize your standings with the family inheritance. So, with all do respect, thank you. But no.”

 

Patsy eyes him suspiciously.

 

Scene Six

Now Town; HEAT Headquarters

 

Natalie Marlowe grabs her coffee and the canister for the team and then hands the barista a couple dollars for a tip. Leasing out the space on the first floor to a local coffee house was the smartest decision that Helen ever made, after hiring Natalie, of course.

 

She was already late for the cover shoot so Natalie made her way to the private elevator to avoid the pedestrian traffic. A smile comes to her face as she remembers when she couldn’t get access to anything. Now, Natalie has her own keycard and she loves every minute of it.

 

“You were supposed to be here thirty minutes ago.” Lonnie, the photo assistant says as she opens the studio door for Natalie and grabs the canister of coffee hungrily.

 

Natalie rolls her eyes and gives a slight snort/chuckle before turning to everyone else and raises her hands. “Coffee is here!”

 

“Thank, fucking god!” Cree Summers, a tall, redhead with shoulder length hair snaps, she pushes past the group and grabs hers first. “I can’t stand another minute of this morning any longer.”

 

Natalie folds her arms in annoyance, she has known Cree to have two emotions; impatience and irritation, but having both at once makes Natalie thankful to have had her specialty coffee in the elevator on the way up.

 

“You’re welcome.” Natalie says.

 

Lonnie leans in. “Don’t engage.”

 

Natalie doesn’t know if Cree overheard them or not, but she twirls around on her stems and looks over in their direction. “Where’s the non-dairy creamer? Are you trying to kill me?”

 

“Relax, Cree,” A raspy soft voice says, it belongs to a tall, thin girl with piercing green eyes that only enhanced her gorgeous cocoa hued skin. “You’re not even lactose, take it down a notch, will you?”

 

“Oh, shut up Lark.” Cree says.

 

A short, pixie haired raven moves over to Natalie’s side and gives her a hug before moving towards the canister. “Thank you, Nat, I haven’t had caffeine in, like, hours! They say ``third cups the charm!”

 

The rest of the crew begins to shuffle in as Natalie makes her way towards her photographer to look at the negatives. She has to bring the best photos to Helen for approval in a couple days but knows her work is cut-out for her. Lately, things have been… harder to get approved through Helen then usual.

 

Natalie looks through the negatives with her own mental notes and knows that it’s going to be a very long day ahead of her.

 

Scene Seven

Now Town; Shenanigans Nightclub

 

“Look at you.” Jacks Hannigan steps through the doors of the nightclub and onto the dance floor. He sees Dylan Tyree behind the bar pouring herself a drink as they catch each other’s eye.

 

She holds up a finger. “I can make you one.”

 

Dylan has always been one helluva woman. Jacks met Dylan years ago when her car had a flat tire on the outskirts of Stone Creek just as she was coming to town to stir-up some trouble. He lets her start him a drink and moves over to the bar.

 

“So, now that you have this space does that means you’re going to be staying here longer?” He asks.

 

“I am,” Dylan says, “I hope that doesn’t make you feel uncomfortable. I hope that I can still stay with you in the loft.”

 

There’s a tinge of guilt that comes upon Jacks, but he quickly pushes that away because he’s technically not with Dylan and he’s still able to have a wandering eye. What attracts Jacks to Dylan is her ability to not rush into a label.

 

“You already know, my loft is your loft.”

 

“Great.” Dylan smiles.

 

Jacks moves about uncomfortably hoping to refocus the attention on the reason he had come to see Dylan in the first place. He takes the mixed drink and immediately notices the heavy pour.

 

“Too strong?”

 

“Way too strong,” he replies, “Listen, I think that it is great that you want to stay in Stone Creek for a longer time frame. But we need to get a few things straight about this venue.”

 

He counters Dylan’s eye roll immediately.

 

“I know that you’re going to think that this is crazy, but you don’t know how to run a nightclub, Dylan. This isn’t the type of business that you’re used to and I just want to make sure that you know that you have me in your corner.”

 

He needs Dylan to take the bait on this in order for the next couple of conversations to run smoothly. 

 

“You can’t scare me out of this Jacks.” She holds her ground. “You’re not going to make me change my mind... So you can do one of two things for me.”

 

“What are the options?”

 

“You either leave me alone and let me make this decision on my own. Or you can help me make this the best damned nightclub Stone Creek has ever seen.”

 

Jacks smirks. “Is that an offer. Because I have to tell you Dylan, this is a huge thing and I don’t think you realize the repercussions that are behind this.”

 

“Repercussions, that’s a big word for you.” She snaps. He notes her change in demeanor and braces for what comes next. “What’s your motive here Jacks, I thought me coming back to Stone Creek would be a good thing.”

 

Dylan takes a beat, before continuing. “I know that we had something before I left last time and I really want something to come about this. If we can work together here… we can work together at the loft.”

 

He gulps at the slipping slope he has somehow got himself into. Jacks looks at his watch and notes the ticking of the second hand. “Then let’s stick a deal.”

 

Dylan raises her glass. But to keep from having to drink the poor mixture, Jacks moves behind the bar and pours them the top shelf tequila. This causes Dylan to react with bright warm eyes. 

 

“To the beginning of the rest of our lives.” Dylan says, much to Jacks’ dismay.

 

“Oh!” Dylan pipes in eagerly. She waves a hand and a glass around in the air. “Let’s get rid of this stupid name… I want something fresh, and alive!”

 

Scene Eight

Now Town; Stone Creek Memorial Hospital

 

Jane Wilkinson sends a quick text to her mother in between charts and then makes her way to the nurses station up on the pediatrics floor. After her conversation with Dr. Schmidt this morning she feels more off her game than usual so she quickly tries to regain her nerves as she makes small talk with one of the nurses.

 

Having spent time with Dr. Roberts and being moved to shadow one of her attendants for a few hours Jane quickly bonded with a few interns and patients alike. She knows why Dr. Schmidt made the decision to assign her to pediatrics and she’s not entirely upset about it, but also, this just isn’t her specialty and as calm and level headed she feels about it. There’s this underlying feeling that keeps nagging at her.

 

“You okay?” Dr. Roberts asks from the hallway, she was checking in with a patient in the room adjacent from them when Jane moved over to the nurses station. 

 

The intern smiles as best she can without garnering too much attention.

 

Dr. Roberts chuckles. “That bad, huh?”

 

Jane folds, she moves away from the station and over to Dr. Roberts. “You must think I’m the worst intern you’ve ever had.”

 

“Actually,” she says, “I’ve spoken with a couple of nurses and I know this isn’t the place you wanted to be. But I have to tell you Jane, you have a knack for this. I haven’t seen an intern so patient or disarming in quite some time.”

 

“Disarming?”

 

Dr. Roberts grins. “I think that it is mighty brave to want to tackle something like Neurology.”

 

“I wanted to be a doctor my entire life. Growing up outside of Stone Creek was one thing, then coming here for the Summer’s was something entirely different. Seeing the hospital with my aunt made it that much more of a reality. High School was a breeze and then college came and I started getting into Neurology...”

 

“Just like that?” Dr. Roberts says in awe. “I understand, Jane, I completely get it. All that I am saying is right now you are here. You can be filled with angst and take nothing from this experience or you can take something from this and move forward. There are a lot of interns in Neurology and the majority of them won’t make it.”

 

Jane feels the hostility in her words. “I would make it.”

 

“I’m not saying you won’t.” 

 

“I’m sorry, I just, it’s been a long day.”

 

“I understand. What I’m trying to tell you if you read between the lines is this: you want to be a neurologist and this is the easiest route to get there. Trust me.” Dr. Roberts purses her lips. “Someone is going to quit within a week, or five and if you stick with me I can get you transferred there. But I need you, Jane; absorb everything you can while working alongside me and promise I get your 100 percent attention in this department.”

 

Jane takes a deep breath. But nods in agreement. 

 

Scene Nine

Sage Gardens; Crenshaw Manor

 

As day wanes into a pleasantly cool evening, Gillian Crenshaw is tempted to keep the windows open in the Manor. However, after setting the toddlers down for the night she thinks against it. 

 

She takes a deep sigh and looks around the large kitchen before taking a seat on a cherry oak bar stool and takes an apple into her hands. When she was younger, Gillian remembered her nanny dancing around the halls of the Holly Oak Manor and stopping in the kitchen to find a wide-eyed Gillian trying to reach the gorgeous milk white platter with apples. For as long as she remembered they were her comfort food. 

 

‘Oh, there you are my dear,’ Gillian can hear her say with a deep honey accent. ‘I was thinking you ran off on me!’

 

Gillian would giggle. ‘Where would I go?’

 

‘A beautiful girl like you? Anywhere in the world. Just close your eyes my lady and let the wind carry those golden curls.’

 

‘Would you go with me?’ She remembers asking once.

 

Her nanny chuckled. ‘You wouldn’t want an old lady like me to follow you around everywhere. What would all the cute boys say?’

 

Gillian would shrug. ‘When I get married, one day, will you come with me?’

 

‘Wherever those curls go, I’ll go too.’ She spoke, it wasn’t until now that Gillian heard the infliction in her nanny’s voice. The pain of knowing the truth. 

 

Gillian Sutton Crenshaw places the apple back on the platter and takes everything in. Nowadays she hardly calls upon a nanny unless she has to return to work. Which is becoming more and more common these days. 

 

When her cousin Peter took over Sutton Enterprises she knew it was her aunt Kimberly that asked that Gillian be kept on. Gillian wasn’t angry, because as long as a true Sutton still was inside the building then the family could still take the company back. 

 

“Gillian,” her husband calls from the front door. 

 

Damien appears in the entryway to the kitchen with a smile on his face. “There you are.”

 

She smiles so warmly. “I was beginning to worry about you.”

 

“No need to,” Damien speaks as he places his coat over a stool and makes his way over to her. She can smell his cologne, or what is left, lingering around. “I will always come back home to you and the kids. Don’t you ever fret about that.”

 

“How was your day?” She asks as he pulls her into a hug. 

 

There was a time when she didn’t know where their marriage was going. When she was traveling the world and before she met him running away from herself.. There was a time when her nanny’s worlds rang in her ear for weeks and months at a time. Gillian ran across the country, across the borders for years before she met Damien. It wasn’t until they arrived in Stone Creek did she learn who he really was...

 

“Today was a little rough.” He starts, she can feel his heartbeat as she leaned against his chest. “I actually had a very interesting meeting today with someone that I never thought would step into my office.”

 

Gillian perks her head up. “Who?”

 

“James Thurlow wants the mayor to extend a helping hand to his company in hopes to secure jobs for the residents of Stone Creek.” 

 

This isn’t really news to Gillian. For as long as she knew him, James Thurlow was an honest man. Which always left Gillian on the wrong end of her father’s feud with the family. One of the many reasons she had decided to move away in the first place.

 

“What do you think you should do?” She asks out of curiosity. 

 

Damien holds his hand at the back of her head and smiles. “Honestly, I don’t know if I can make a decision so clean. If I chose to help James then my cards are on the table with Peter…”

 

Gillian bites her lip. “What do you think is the best interest of you keeping your spot as mayor?”

 

He shrugs and turns away from Gillian for a moment before turning back to her with a devilish smile on his face. She eyes him curiously. 

 

“Let’s dance on it.” Damien extends his arms out. 

 

“I’m being serious, Damien.”

 

He pulls Gillian in close and starts to lead the slow dance. “There’s a part of me that wants to side with Peter because I know how powerful he is. He led a corporate takeover of Sutton Enterprises and pushed every person out other than you.”

 

“I led one as well, right before Peter blindsided me. To think, I thought he was trying to flirt with me at one point.” Gillian shutters are the thought. “Besides, aunt Kimberly is there also.”

 

“I know that,” Damien says, he turns Gillian as they slowly move towards the dining room. “No offense, but you’re the only person I worry about inside that company right now. I need to make sure that you’re safe while you’re there.”

 

Gillian mulls it over in her head as Damien spins her around. “I understand that, I love you for that. But what if I wasn’t working there, what if you didn’t have to worry about me… what would you do?”

 

“I hurt James and his family on a personal level when we came to Stone Creek all those years ago. My actions… I’ll never forgive myself for how angry I was towards Caitlyn.”

 

“That’s not fair to yourself.”

 

He stares into her eyes and she swears she can see them twinkle. Gillian can tell that he has held himself on trial for his mistakes so long ago. 

 

“If I decide to help James and extend the help of the city in doing this… I think it would be in the cities best interests at the end of the day. If I do this…”

 

“I think you already made your decision.” She smiles. 

 

He nods. “Let’s finish this dance.”

 

Scene Ten

Now Town; HEAT Headquarters

 

“I didn’t expect you to be here so late.” Helen Tyree spoke, she drummed her nails along the door to her events coordinators door. 

 

The brunette looks up from her desk. “I’ve been dealing with models all day, ‘I need the weekend off for this… does ginger ale have calories in it?... do my hips look fat in a one-piece.’” She mimics and then sinks into her chair. “I just don’t remember being so vapid when I was modeling here so long ago.”

 

Helen scoffs. She folds her arms and walks the rest of the way into the room. “I remember a very eager and determined young woman strutting around these halls once upon a time.”

 

“Now look at me,” Natalie says, there are papers sprawled upon the desk, a laptop to one corner and a trash can filled to the brim of empty seltzer water bottles and coffee cups. “I guess when I came back from New York I didn’t think my life would change so much. I mean, I should have guessed that things wouldn’t be the same as they were before. We get older and have to move on from who we were.”

 

“You went through a lot in New York.”

 

The brunette agrees. “I was kidnapped alongside your daughter, Helen.”

 

“It changes people.” Helen replies, her lips pursed. “You know what, Natalie, I think it’s time that you called it a day and headed home. Or even, invite a few girlfriends out for some drinks. I can tell that you need to unwind from everything that’s going on.”

 

Natalie Marlowe lifts herself up from her chair, after years of being away from Stone Creek she was still a sturdy woman. The mauve colored blouse and tight white jeans didn’t change the way her body looked and at the end of the day she still could turn heads. Even with the fragments of the scar across her face. 

 

“I’m sorry,” she apologizes. “You’re my boss and I’m here for a job. I shouldn’t be complaining about it to you. I should be working on getting things done for tomorrow.”

 

Helen turns to the hall and closes the door. Although there really wasn’t much need to since everyone else had cleared out hours ago. “Listen, don’t be telling anyone this, but I see a lot of myself in you Natalie and you need to hear me out when I tell you this. Don’t you ever apologize for anything.”

 

“How do you do it?” Natalie asks. 

 

“Do what?”

 

The younger woman holds her hands up. “You’ve gone through far more than I ever have and you’re still here. You’re still making all of this work for yourself. I got kidnapped by Mathias Jurado thinking that I could handle myself and I feel like everyone looks at me like this dumb bimbo —“

 

“Stop right there.” Helen orders. “You got tricked into doing his bidding and when he found out about your connections to my family he took advantage of you. You’re stronger than you think you are. I mean, after all look at where you are now.”

 

Natalie nods her head. She takes a moment to let it all sink in. “Do you think… I mean, I know that they said he was dead. But… do you think that someone is still out there… you, know. Waiting?”

 

This time the two of them sit in silence for a minute not knowing what to say. To see Natalie in a position that Helen once was in a long, long time ago definitely spooks the redhead. She sighs. “I guess the honest truth is that we will never know until we know.”

 

The brunette takes the words. “I know a few of the girls have been itching for a night out. I hear there’s a new club opening soon. Would you like to join?”

 

Helen scoffs. “I only do charity events and royal weddings these days…” she turns to go, but then stops herself, “get us on the VIP list and I’ll think about showing up?”

 

“I’ll see what I can do.” Natalie smiles.