On Concrete Shelves | Welcome back to Stone Creek |

Scene One

Sage Gardens; Thurlow Cottage

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The September sun burned a darker shade of orange as it began to rise.

 

James Thurlow sits at the kitchen table overlooking the garden in the front yard. It had yet to occur to him that his morning coffee would be accompanied by a heavy weight of guilt, but he expected the shift to change at some point. The entire company was expecting him to come up with a solution for the recession. Although, as he saw it, the majority of the high risk was behind them now. It had been months since an antidote had been created for the global pandemic and life had returned to normal. 

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Someone clears their throat in his vicinity. This pulls James from his thoughts as he notes his old friend finding a seat at the kitchen table in front of him. 

 

“You look like you’ve been miles away,” Chief Gideon Wilkinson greets his friend, “I hope you don’t mind, Caitlyn let me in.”

 

James eyes the graying man before him. He recalls the numerous times they have shared coffee over a conversation. Both men had been friends since they were children, the wrinkles at the sides of Gideon’s eyes told the tales of how long ago that was. 

 

“I was just trying to figure out a plan,” James sighs, he offers Gideon a cup of coffee, which is gladly accepted. “I don’t suppose you’ve been spared the talks of financial strain at the station?”

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When they were younger; there were Summer’s spent at the Lakeside Inn taking in the sights and the babes. James remembered the deep tan he would get soaking up the sun. A life so distant as of late. He remembered the embarkation of responsibility and how it began to weigh-in on him after his father’s ailing health. James never wanted to take over the family business at such a young age, but he did. 

 

His baby blue eyes turn up for Gideon’s response. “Luckily for us, we have the ability to resource our finances. I have been working alongside the mayor in order to keep the station active. After the strain of what happened last year, he dutifully obliques.”

 

James chuckles, “I may have to pay him a visit in order to see that in action. I have never known Damien Crenshaw to oblique with anyone’s needs other than his own.”

 

“For once they aligned with our own.” Gideon suggests. 

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“When we were younger, I never thought that I would take the responsibility of taking care of not only my family, but the families of everyone I employ at the Lumbermill — and the office, for that matter.”

 

He furrows his brow. “I’m not saying that I don’t feel up to the task. There’s so much pride in knowing that we made it through the pandemic of last year and the recession of the last few months as a whole. Having everyone in my corner did certainly help — Shannon was right there alongside me re-working safety protocols and Emmet worked alongside Reichen to ensure everybody kept their jobs and their livelihood. This company became a much tighter family than I had ever thought.”

 

A long pause falls between the two friends. James could feel Gideon’s brown eyes on him as they both ponder what to say next, what direction the conversation would take. How would he partake. 

 

“You know, old friend,” Gideon starts, he clears his throat once again, “we have spent our entire lives taking care of our loved ones, and their loved ones — to see the beautiful union of people with the same goal.”

 

“I know what you’re going to say—“

 

Gideon laughs a great boastful laugh. “Then let me say it!” They both fall silent before Gideon continues. “To see how hard that every single person on your team worked through this pandemic, it’s eye-opening. This is what living in a city like Stone Creek is all about. There’s something beautiful about a group of people working together for a United outcome.”

 

The adoration of his best friend began to eat at James as he began to let his guilt eat at him. “Can I tell you something completely honest?”

 

“Shoot away.” Gideon says. 

 

James gulps. “I feel like this is an entirely new chapter now… at least spearheading into the pandemic was a collective unknown. What comes next after everything that happened.. they will all be asking me the same thing and I don’t know if I have the answer. Nor do I know if we will all make it through this next phase of the company”

 

“Well,” Gideon speaks, “you’ll be doing a whole lot better than Sutton Enterprises, that’s for sure.”

 

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Scene Two

Now Town; Sutton Enterprises

 

Gillian Sutton Crenshaw wasn’t someone so easily discarded, so it puts a bad taste in her mouth as she makes her way through the third floor and towards the elevator. She has already received word that her target was on the tenth floor and getting ready to enter a conference room. The morning has already been one with a heavy forecast and she knows that if she doesn’t make it easier for herself she will never be able to leave the office on time. 

 

The elevator isn’t too much of an obstacle at this time of day, the majority of the pencil pushers have already made their way to their offices for the day. So as she waits for it to deliver her to the tenth floor, she fiddles with the buttons of her satin blouse. A single white thread begins to unravel slightly and she makes a note to never buy this style of blouse again. 

 

“Mrs. Crenshaw,” a voice starts as the doors to the elevator open up.

 

Gillian holds her hands up. “Leave me a note in my office Hanz, I have something important to get to.” She says, half apologetically as she knows the heavyset man only raises necessary concerns. 

 

She moves past him where her eyes are locked with her target. Like she predicted, a crowd forms around the well manicured man as he makes his way to the conference room on the other side of the hall. If she doesn’t get to him now, he will have his team push her off for the remainder of the day. 

 

So Gillian wills her black Louboutin heels to move her faster through the crowd and towards her cousin, Peter Sutton, JR. 

 

“Ah, Gillian.” he greets with no warranty to focus his eyes on her. His southern accent gives way to a certain charm that simply annoys her to no end. 

 

“Don’t.” Gillian snips. “I need you to locate some invoices for me.”

 

The group continues its trek through the halls and she gets pushed aside by a tall, thin, loose morale of a man before pushing him back into place. “Don’t tell me to ask one of your people for them, either, because I have already done that.”

 

“Then maybe you shouldn’t be worrying yourself with invoices dear cousin, maybe you should start busying yourself with something else.” Peter’s snide demeanor takes over and she all but finds herself wanting to sock him in the face. But that’s no way to respond to her boss, so her balled up fists stay by her side. 

 

Gillian pulls ahead of the group right before they enter the conference room. “I don’t care what kind of business you’re running here. But if you want it to continue to run smoothly, then you should let me do my job!”

 

He tilts his head. “You’re lucky you still have a job. If it wasn’t for Kimberly I would have shoved you out that door as quickly as you were able to push your own father out.”

 

“You have no right to give me shit for that.” Gillian grits her teeth. 

 

She knew that getting into business with her aunt Kimberly was going to come back to bite her in the ass. But her father was only running Sutton Enterprises into the ground and the only way to gain control was to seek the help of Kimberly Sutton. There was no way she could have known that Kimberly was working with Peter to pull a Dynasty flip and takeover the family business. This decision had once guilted Gillian, but no longer was she just going to lay down in front of the wolves. 

 

Peter pushes past her. “I think we’ve had enough business tak for today, little cousin. How about you go back to signing checks so the grownups can continue holding control of the entire west coast.”

 

“You enjoy this, don’t you?” Gillian snipped, she watches as he allows her to continue. “What? Did your daddy not let you tend to the prize horse down in Texas? Where you shunned from that family business as well? Tell me Peter, what has made you so cold and hateful?”

 

It wasn’t her best moment, but ever since she snapped out of her guilt and began to take real ownership of her duties at Sutton Enterprises, there was something fishy and sneaky about her cousin. This, she figured, was why she was here in the first place. To figure it all out and restore ownership to her father. 

 

“I’ll look into it.” Esperanza Mendez speaks from Peter’s side. It only takes seconds for the resolution to be resolved before Peter pushes past Gillian once again and prepares himself to enter the conference room. 

 

Espi moves Gillian out of the way of the herd before she speaks. “Hey, don’t worry so much, okay? I’m sure there’s a perfect explanation for the invoices, I’ll figure them out and get them sent to finances.”

 

Gillian let’s her shoulders fall. “Thank you.”

 

“Hey, if you need anything,” Espi speaks, “you know that you can come to me, right?”

 

As much as Gillian wants to hate the tall, gorgeous, model-like Hispanic woman in front of her, there wasn’t much weight to the idea. There wasn’t much trust in the office but Espi has always executed her job to a T and knew that at least she would help solve the issue. There was just something about the woman’s calming manner next to her cousin’s scolding soul that put Gillian off. 

 

She nodded her head. “He just pisses me off, sometimes.”

 

“How about all the time.” Espi smirks before turning away and entering the conference room. 

 

The brazen blond is left in the hall to contemplate the rest of her day. At least with Espi taking over the invoices she can take that off her list of things to do today and focus on her actual job. She pulled out her phone as she retraced her steps and headed towards the elevator. 

 

Now, hopefully, she can leave the office early so that she could spend some time with her twins before they’re bedtime. Where the fuck was her father to deal with Peter and his bullshit? Gillian was starting to tire of the uphill battle. 

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Scene Three

Sage Gardens; Holly Oak Manor

 

If Helen Tyree Sutton was a little bit younger, maybe a few Botox injections younger, as well, she would have flared up at the staff as they shifted around and avoided eye-contact. But she was wiser to the secrets they were hiding. After her morning routine and her conference call with her editor, Natalie, at HEAT magazine she was ready to investigate the silence in the manor. 

 

So Helen threw on her most expensive red blazer and heels and paced through the halls. A couple pictures thrown on the walls of the family through the years, she spotted a younger maid dusting one of Patrick’s father, Claude Sutton, down the hall. But she moved out of the way and into another room as Helen made her way past. 

 

She purses her lips, her dewy red lips itching for retaliation. Helen stomps down a flight of stairs, makes three rights and then leans against the doorway of the foyer where she finds her target. 

 

“There you are.” Helen states, she eyes the man with little interest. “I was wondering how far down the bottle you’d be today, but once I noticed the tension in the manor I knew I’d find you here.”

 

Patrick Sutton was a thick man. He was the type of man that garnered all the attention when he entered a room. Standing at 6’3 inches tall, blond, broad shoulders, light brown eyes and a dashing smile he was for sure a ladies man. That was what had attracted Helen to him so many years ago. 

 

He wasn’t that man anymore. 

 

It was the perfect combination of finally getting your cake days after it’s expiration date and she hated it. Her arms sat snuggly to her chest as she pictured where her life had been. Many, many years ago she was married to James Thurlow while she was lusting after Patrick. Then there was the time when she left James for Dr. David Schmidt… while she was still, lusting after Patrick. 

 

She looks at her husband, shirtless and in sweats with a bottle of brandy in his right hand as he leans against the arm of his favorite chair. Helen sure knew when to pick a man, that was for sure. 

 

“There was once a time that was so jealous of Charlene for being able to live in this gigantic house, you know?”

 

“Don’t start this again.” Patrick mumbles. 

 

Helen adjusts her blazer. “I guess she was smarter than I, leaving you when she did. I thought I was going to be marrying into the powerful Sutton family after I got rid of that broad… now look at you. Chasing breakfast with a bottle of brandy.”

 

“It’s not like I have anything else to do.”

 

“Oh, please, don’t try inviting me to one of your pity parties,” Helen sulted through the foyer. “I thought I made it clear, I don’t have an outfit for the occasion.”

 

“That’s a first.” Patrick scoffs. 

 

If Helen was ready to leave Patrick, heaven only knew her hesitation. It was, as if, after all these years of declining invitations the devil finally didn’t have a place for her at his table. She side-steps the decline of conversation and on the tip of her heels starts to make her way out of the room. 

 

“Your sister was asking for you,” Helen studies Patrick, hoping to get a rise out of him, “she said something about a meeting tomorrow?”

 

“Tell her I’m busy.”

 

Helen turns and grabs the bottle from Patrick’s hand. “How about you tell her yourself? Do you know how irritable Patsy makes me feel? I can’t get one syllable in when talking with her.”

 

“That makes two of us.”

 

“I think she wants to talk about something important.” Helen explains. She thinks back to the conversation she had with Patsy over the phone. It was one thing to have to deal with a drunken Patrick every day, but trying to hang up on Patsy Sutton-Clarke was another thing entirely. Her pageant years couldn’t have prepared her for this train wreck of a family, even if she slept with the consultants and judges. 

 

Not that she had done that, allegedly. 

 

“Besides, maybe she can help figure something out. Maybe Patsy can help you take back your father's company from that stud of a nephew—“

 

This gets a rise out of Patrick as he shoots up and grabs the brandy back from her grasps. “Trying to get your claws into my nephew now?”

 

Helen shrugs, “I mean, the older generation is becoming hypocritical and melodramatic. Maybe I want myself a fresh and productive model?”

 

“I’ll meet with her tomorrow.” Patrick murmurs

 

“Fine.” Helen snips, she folded her arms as he slumped back into his seat. Patrick Sutton was nowhere near the man she first laid eyes on more than twenty years ago. “I will be at my office if you need anything.”

 

“Oh,” Helen spoke, she leaned against the doorframe leading into the hallway, “It really is a shame that your nephew is now running Sutton Enterprises with that pitiful half-sister of yours. I mean, since you’re here and sulking, there’s really nobody to force that cow of a woman into another marriage like the good old days.”

 

“Helen.” Patrick says.

 

She shakes a hand at her husband. “I’m leaving now… to a real office. I hope you enjoy your brandy, I’ll have the driver bring you another case later today.”

 

 

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Scene Four

Boulstridge Mountains; Sutton Cabin

 

The sounds of the stairs echoed through the hall as Kirsten Thurlow Sutton made her way down the old wooden staircase. She finished gathering her long thin strawberry blond hair into her hands and then spun it into a bun on top of her head. While she was thankful that the cooling unit made it through the night, the morning heat wasn’t being so forgiving and she could feel the sweat begin to form at the top of her lip. Still, she had to maintain her cool as best she could and get the kids prepared for their day. 

 

She makes her way through a portrait-lined hallway and stops short of the kitchen where she leans against the door frame. Kirsten folds her pale sweaty arms one over the other and watches her oldest child maneuvering around the kitchen. 

 

The younger blond poured milk into a bowl of cereal and proceeded to move it over to the kitchen table. She had shoulder length thick hair, blue piercing eyes and a fuller pale face with thin lips. Megan Sutton took more from her father’s side of the family, a near replica of her grandmother Charlene, as opposed to Kirsten’s taller and thinner frame. 

 

“There you are!” Megan announces, she places the bowl in front of a high chair and then puts her hands on her hips. “I was wondering when you would make your way downstairs this morning, I have things to do today.”

 

Kirsten furrowed her brow, “You’ve been back in Stone Creek a few days and already you have a busier schedule than I do.”

 

“Well, between looking for a job and trying to see the few friends I have left here,” Megan grabs a bowl from a cupboard and hands it to her mother. “I never really knew what to expect coming back home so soon.”

 

This gets a shrug from Kirsten as she opens a box of special K and prepares her breakfast. Honestly, Kirsten wasn’t upset that Megan decided to come back home from college. They had sent Megan to a boarding school in Paris during her last two years in High School and didn’t get much time with her before she flew to Seattle for college. So, if being frank, having Megan back has helped bring a sense of normalcy back to the cottage. 

 

Especially since things have gone cold between herself and Charlie, lately. 

 

“I’m just glad that you’re back.” Kirsten admits, she finds her place at the kitchen table. “You know, Megan, you don’t have to find a job so soon. Even if you decided you wanted to go back to school… you can apply to SCC.”

 

A tense pause begins to fill the room. “I’ll think about that.”

 

“Think long and hard about that.” Kirsten presses on. “I will support whatever you decide you want to do. But you also have to remember that your father is going to be another story entirely.”

 

“Which is why I wanted to find a job as soon as possible.” Megan admits. “I figure, if I’m able to get myself a full-time job then he really has nothing to say.”

 

With her daughter's plan for the day already drawn out, Kirsten turns her attention to the four year old to her right. “Well then mister, I think that means it’s just the two of us today.”

 

“You can always go visit dad.”

 

Kirsten turns to face her daughter. She tries to keep her composure so that she doesn’t bring worry to Megan’s mindset. But between the heat creeping into the house and seeing her grown child in front of her, a few years begin to form in her eyes. While it was true that Kirsten and Charlie had been at odds lately, the children remained oblivious to the animosity. It was easier while Megan was in Seattle as Kirsten didn’t have to see her everyday. Eric was way too young to take any notice. 

 

“Mom.”

 

Kirsten turns to look at the teenager. 

 

“I need to ask you something,” she could tell there was hesitation in her voice, so Kirsten braces herself. “I just want to make sure everything is okay. I know with me back in the house things can get a little complicated.”

 

Kirsten reaches a hand out to her daughter. “Oh, Meg, don’t worry so much about that. We love having you here.”

 

“I know, you tell me that everyday.” Megan smiles, “I hope I’m not overstepping but I’ve noticed the way you and dad talk. Is something wrong between the two of you?”

 

The heat has never felt as consuming and dehydrating as it does in the seconds between Megan’s words. Growing up, Kirsten has always had to keep her composure. She was, after all, the oldest of her siblings and star athlete in every sport she joined. So having to meet her daughter's eyes without tears in her own, it was beginning to feel so heavy. 

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Scene Five

Boulstridge Mountain; Lakeside Inn

 

The lakeside inn was bustling with guests and employees moving around. Charlie Sutton has spent the majority of the morning going through files and books in his office. He already sent for coffee twice and was beginning to feel the jitters taking over. He sends a quick text to his cousin before deciding to visit his mother two floors down at her restaurant. 

 

It was convenient having her around. Although with the extent of the electric fire that happened weeks ago, her soft reopening has been a major headache. Especially where his step-father, Reichen, is concerned. Lately, there was something off about him and Charlie just couldn't seem to figure out what. 

 

“Charlie,” his mother bounces up when she sees him enter the restaurant. 

 

He gives her a hug and kisses her cheek. “I was starting to get tired of the voice in my head. So I decided to come see how things are going down here.”

 

Charlene Nelson wasn’t a very sturdy woman and she wasn’t very good at hiding her emotions. This was mostly due to the fact that she had been married to Patrick Sutton for so many years. She developed a need for everyone to know just how she was feeling. How she wasn’t cold after being married to his father, Charlie didn’t know. He was grateful, however, to have her so close after having a very cold childhood at a boarding school. 

 

She frowns and places her hands on her hips. “I’m afraid it’s not going that well. There are no safety hazards now. Which is the good news,” she lets the words linger, takes her son by the hand and pulls him over to a sitting area. “It’s going to be fine. I just don’t understand why Reichen chose to go with private contractors.”

 

“Didn’t he say he knew the guy from Wolfs Creek?” Charlie asks, he furrows his brow. 

 

“That’s what he told me.” Charlene replies. 

 

“I guess when he mentioned that they were old friends I should have known the guy wouldn’t be up to par. But now we are so far behind and I don’t have that great a budget to hire someone else-“

 

“Let me hire someone.” Charlie says. 

 

Charlene puts a hand to her son's chest. “No. No. It’s quite alright. We will get this entire thing sorted through. I just know Reichen will get upset if we switch contractors so late in the renovation.”

 

“I’m sure he will understand.” Charlie knew the kind of man Reichen was. How he had a checkered past filled with addiction and deceit. But he has since turned a leaf and Charlene trusts him. Although, as much as Charlie loves his mother he had to remember that at one point Charlene also invested a lot of trust in Charlie’s father, Patrick Sutton. 

 

“Everything is going to work out the way it’s supposed to work out.” Charlene replies. 

 

Charlie nods his head. “Well, if there is anything I can do you’ll let me know, I hope.” 

 

“Of course.”

 

“Hey! Boss man!” A voice calls from behind the two. 

 

The mother and son turn to see Taylor Kern moving towards them. He pats one of the construction workers on the back before coming to a stop near the two.

 

“I’ve been looking for you everywhere.” The blue-eyed blond says. “Amanda said she saw you headed this way.” Taylor turns to Charlene and gives her a hug before continuing. “I have a few things for you to go over. I guess one of our cargo trucks had a delay.”

 

Charlie furrows his brow. “By how long?”

 

“They’re not going to make it here before dawn. They were carrying our supply of wine and we were counting on it for tonight.” 

 

It was true, Amanda had run the count by him earlier and it didn’t look like they were going to survive the weekend without this truck load. Charlie places his hands on his hips and tries to think of a solution. They were coming into one of the biggest weekends of the year. This was the farthest thing from his mind.

 

Charlene folds her arms. “I have a few on hand.”

 

“Mom, it’s okay.” Charlie started.

 

She places a hand on his arm. “Charlie, really, It’s not like I will be utilizing them anytime soon with the construction. Take the bottles to hold you over for the evening and when the truck comes in you can repay me.”

 

Charlie and Taylor exchange a glance before they agree. 

 

“I can have a couple guys come over to collect them in an hour?” Taylor suggests.

 

“That’s plenty of time to go over inventory.” 

 

As they agree on the transaction Charlie gives his mother a hug. It was in this moment he was the most thankful to have her around. Even after spending most of his teenage years seperated from her and estranged from his father.

 

“Yes.” Charlie confirms. 

 

He breaks from his thoughts and pats Taylor on the shoulder. “Let’s make sure we get everything accounted for and pay my mother back for what she has lent out to us, okay?”

 

The taller man nods his head. “Of course, boss man.”

 

 

 

Scene Six

Sage Gardens; Thurlow Cottage

 

“Listen, Gideon, you know I respect you a lot,” James says. It hadn’t dawned on him how late in the morning it now was. He had a meeting with his sister and the marketing team in a couple of hours. So he needed to bring the conversation to a close soon. He looked at his Rolex and then back at Gideon. “I have a meeting to get to soon in Now Town.”

 

Gideon lifts himself up from his chair. “Of course, I should be headed down to the station as well. I had an extended breakfast with Greta and the grandkids earlier this morning.”

 

“How is she doing?” James says. He doesn’t mean to extend the conversation but he had seen her commercial the other day. It had been meaning to give her a call to congratulate her on the new venture. “The consultant business seems to be doing good for her.”

 

“It has. Greta loves being her own boss more than ever now that she has the children. She gets to spend more time with them now.”

 

Gideon moves towards the door. “I’ll check-in with you later today and maybe we can get everyone together now that Megan is back in town?”

 

“I’d like that a lot.” James replies. 

 

Caitlyn Thurlow appears in the room as the two men say their goodbyes. James watches as his sturdy wife gives Gideon a kiss on the cheek and sends him off with a bag of cookies. If everyone he knew could be like Caitlyn, life would be a lot easier. He watches as she turns to him and falls into his arms. 

 

“I hope I wasn’t interrupting, I thought I would come in and remind you of your meeting with Shannon and then by the time I got in the two of you were already saying your goodbyes.” She speaks effortlessly. “It was nice of Gideon to stop by, I haven’t seen him around here lately.”

 

James leans in and kisses his wife. “He was telling me about an on-going case they had, something about a drug bust.”

 

“That’s awful.” Caitlyn says, her face distorted as she pulls away slightly. “I hope nobody was hurt.”

 

“I’m sure everything is fine. Gideon and his team are really good at what they do. Besides, if something terrible happened I’m sure Seth would have posted it online by now.” James smiles. “I have to get down to the office.”

 

Caitlyn nods her head and begins to walk away before she turns on her heel. “Oh, I almost forgot. Your mother called earlier saying she wanted to put together a dinner for Megan now that she’s back in Stone Creek.”

 

“Why didn’t she call me?” James asks, he can’t help but sound a mix of confusion and heat. 

 

“Because, for some odd reason,” Caitlyn tiptoed around the fragility of the moment. “Anita Thurlow thinks you’re avoiding her.”

 

He did send her to voicemail on a couple occasions and had his secretary fake a contract meeting in order to push off his mother’s insistence. It wasn’t that he was avoiding her. It was just that ever since the pandemic Anita had become somewhat apprehensive when it came to talk about the family business. One less voice raising their concern had helped James concentrate on keeping the Lumber Mill afloat. 

 

James moans at the thought. 

 

“I can let her know we will be in attendance if you’d like? Also, you may want to do some damage control. She’s not exactly thrilled that Megan has decided to drop out of college.”

 

“That’s my granddaughter, I can deal with her.” James says trying not to sound too harsh. 

 

Caitlyn folds her arms in the way she does when she wants to stand her ground. “Like you’re dealing with your mother?”

 

He chuckles. “I’ll give my mother a call on the way to the office.”

 

“I love you.” Caitlyn says softly, he gives her a peck on the cheek before he heads for the door. 

 

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Scene Seven

Boulstridge Mountain; Sutton Cottage

 

When she was younger she made it a habit to study her parents’ simple gestures. By the time she was in middle school, Megan Sutton, knew exactly when to ask for things she wanted. The girl moves around the kitchen as she studies her mother after asking about her father.

 

They had lived in the cottage her entire life. 

 

Megan knew very little of living outside of the better parts of Stone Creek… other than being able to spend time at the Lakeside Inn during the summer she really never got to meet the townies — something that her family never let needed explaining. So when she was able to study abroad in Paris and then run away to Seattle for college, she began to feel the overwhelming feeling that many sheltered children experience. 

 

“Please, tell me if I shouldn’t continue,” Megan speaks in a hushed tone, careful not to advert Eric’s attention from his meal, “but if you’re having issues… romantically with dad, you know, you can tell me.”

 

She watches her mother turn her nose up. Which would mean that Kirsten Thurlow Sutton was on the verge of tears. 

 

However, Kirsten turns to lock eyes with Megan. “I don’t want to talk about this topic in front of Eric, but please, Megan, don’t ever think that you can’t come to me about anything. Things between your father and I aren’t exactly on solid ground right now. But, this isn’t something that is going to separate us, nor is it something you need to worry about.”

 

Megan feels her mother reach out and rub her hands in reassurance like she has done so many times before. 

 

“Megan, honey, I want you to understand that I’m not upset by this conversation.”

 

“I would hope you wouldn’t be.” She replies. “I guess I just felt like it was a tough conversation to bring up. I don’t want to get into your business but also, I just saw some signs and I wanted to be sure.”

 

“Thank you, for looking out for us.” Kirsten says.

 

This lifts the temporary weight off of her as she tries to move the conversation away from the topic of her father. Megan didn’t expect coming home and having to have such an awkward and tough conversation with her mother, so getting away from the house was starting to feel like the better alternative. So she takes this moment to make her announcement. 

 

“I’m going to head out.” She says, lifting herself up off the chair and turning to her baby brother to say goodbye. “I’ll be home for dinner.”

 

She looks back at her mother who now looks more like an emotional wreck than when they started the conversation. A part of her wants to sit back down and let her mother open up the floodgates, but also, she knows it won’t do anyone any good to talk about something that is apparently going to blow over in a week.

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Scene Eight

Cuttlebone Mountain; the Lakeside Inn

 

The elevator doors swing open, the vivacious brunette pushes past the group waiting and finds her stride down the hall. As she fixes her tight leather jacket and with a careful foot maneuvers past a maid and her cleaning cart. 

 

“If you’re looking for Taylor,” a voice calls from behind her. 

 

She twirled around annoyingly. 

 

“He’s upstairs with Amanda going over the wine count.” Her cousin’s husband smirks as she sighs. “You seem like you’ve been doing a lot of walking today, Dylan.”

 

“If there’s a compliment in there somewhere, then thank you, Charlie.” She tries to match his tone as daringly as possible. 

 

This was a man she never quite understood. He was extremely attractive from the arch in his nose all the way down to his… well, she shakes the thought away and locks eyes with the gorgeous blue-eyed All-American beauty.

 

“How long do you think he will be?”

 

Charlie shrugs. “I couldn’t tell you if I knew. What is this visit about anyways? Is there anything that I can help you with today?”

 

No. Dylan thinks. “I just have some news I wanted to share with my best friend, is all.”

 

She thought she’d let him dangle in suspense. It was sort of Dylan’s specialty when she was toying with men. And the man standing in-front of her was one she didn’t mind dangling in suspense. It was a shame that she knew her cousin’s biggest secret. One that could destroy her relationship with Charlie. 

 

“Is this news you could share with the entire room, or is this just for Taylor’s ears?”

 

Dylan clicks her tongue. “Twist my arm why don’t you? Fine. I just wanted to ask Taylor to help me out with the grand opening.”

 

Charlie chuckles. “So it is true.”

 

“You’re looking at your newest competitor.” Dylan stands proudly. 

 

“Well, seeing as I’m the owner of a resort and not banking on the nightclub life of Now Town. Consider this a landslide in your favor, Dylan.” 

 

She tenses up with rage. 

 

“But either way, congratulations on the newest venture. I do hope this one works out for you.”

 

Dylan stands there as Charlie walks off. 

 

“Your wife is cheating on you!” 

 

This stops Charlie in his tracks, the way he turns on his heel and pulls Dylan into the nearest conference room was unlike the man she had come to know. He was always so gentle with the way he moved. Today, Dylan could feel the grip he had on her arm as she was tossed inside. 

 

“Damn, you should have tried out for the football team.” she spits. “I would have rooted for yo—“

 

“Cut the shit.” Charlie shouts. It takes him a moment to regain his composure, which gives her some time to shuffle away from him. “Look, I don’t like you Dylan. Honestly, I don’t know anybody who does.”

 

Dylan opens her mouth to speak. 

 

Charlie stops her. “Other than Taylor. Which he seems a little smarter than to be hanging around with the likes of you. But that doesn’t matter right now. What I’m going to tell you — and I’m only going to tell you once.”

 

The brunette lingers at a distance from him, nursing her arm. 

 

“Kirsten and I are over. In the next couple of months we will probably be divorcing soon but nobody needs to know this information. Do you think I’m an idiot? That I didn’t know about the affair she had with Adrian Stone? We’ve already squashed this conversation. So nice try to get your grimy little hands on some Tuesday morning gossip.”

 

“Now, is there anything else you want to talk about?”

 

Dylan frowns. “Today’s not Tuesday…”

 

Charlie grunts,  then moves past her to leave the room. Slamming the door behind him. 

 

Alone in the conference room Dylan slumps. He really didn't have to be so rude to her but she also felt where he was coming from. Somehow, on some level, Dylan felt bad for Charlie.

​

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Scene Nine

Now Town; Sutton Enterprises

 

He maneuvers his hands through his thick, sleek hair. The room begins to empty and after the heated discussion he is eager to get away from the stench of failure. Nothing has made his blood boil more than excuses, so hearing so much of them today only fills the pit of his stomach. It wasn’t that he needed to hear a well executed plan from everyone… what Peter Sutton, Jr. wanted to hear was some sort of solution. Even the slightest bit of one. That’s just not what he was getting from this group of idiots which only makes his job ten times worse.

 

Luckily for him, the elevator is empty as he rides it up to his office. Although, if he were being truthful, he was sure no one dared to ride along with him. If his facial features gave anything away during that meeting it was that he wanted to be left alone.

 

It did give him some satisfaction to see everyone look so fearful when he raised his voice towards the end of the meeting. If he had to be completely honest, the tension in the room gave him a rise.

 

Peter slips out of the elevator and towards his office, there were very few offices on this floor which he often found quite odd. But after this meeting, he seemed to understand why. His uncle Patrick probably wanted to be alone as much as Peter had at this moment.

 

“Sir,” A voice calls from behind him.

 

He already knows who it belongs to, so he ignores it for the most part. A headache was starting to ease into his daily routine. Peter turns back to see a woman making her way towards him.

 

“I didn’t think anyone had the balls to approach me after that meeting.” Peter says, knowing full out that she had left the meeting early to attend to a few things around the office for him.

 

She moves past him with files in her hands. 

 

Peter smirks. “I guess crass isn’t your style, little lady.”

 

They both keep in pace towards his office, Peter following in her footsteps. He watches as she sways in her pencil skirt and loose blouse. She definitely gets a rise out of him and the headache that was attempting a takeover seems to subside for the most part. When they make their way to his office he closes the door behind them and moves closer to her as she leans against his office.

 

“Ya know, I’ve been waiting for some time alone with you all day.” Peter says, honestly. He bites his lip as he looks her over. How he had overlooked her in the first couple months as he took over Sutton Enterprises is lost on him.

 

Her gorgeous brown eyes, devious smile and thin frame was everything he could ask for. Peter loved having power in his hands, it was something he tasted as a teenager and craved ever since. He wraps a hand around her waist and pulls her closer to him and leans in for a kiss.

 

She giggles, placing a thin hand on his chest. Then she says, in the honey soaked way that she speaks. “Mr. Sutton, what will everyone think?”

 

“To hell with them all.” Peter shouts manically. “You’re the only thing I want right now, Espi, you’re the only thing I can think about.”

 

He zips her out of her pencil skirt, then lifts her onto his desk before getting down onto his knees and leans in to kiss her thighs.