Previously...

James flew into a rage after learning that Brooke was still legally married to Philip.  Believing her relationship with James to be over, Brooke ran to Ethan and they made love.  The next morning, Brooke flew to the Dominican Republic to get a divorce, and Ethan followed.  Once there, Brooke told a devastated Ethan that their night together was a mistake and that she was going to reconcile with James.  A jealous Winter told James that Ethan and Brooke were together.  Jordan found Alex in bed with Philip Whitacre.  Will pressured Alex to give him an answer to his proposal.  Kenny Dewitt told James he couldn't loan him the money to save Sunset Studios. Miranda and Heather grew envious of their husband's involvement with Lauren Spencer.  

Episode 10

"Violence"

When Stormy got home from the studio it was late.  Heather was waiting up for him in the living room, watching a movie with the lights turned down low.   She heard the door and shot up in a hurry, turning the overhead light on.

“Hey, what are you still doing up?” he asked, tossing his keys onto the table inside the door.  “I thought you would have been in bed by now.”

“Maybe that’s what you were hoping for,” she spat, folding her arms and tossing back her long brown hair. 

“What?” Stormy asked, confused.  He wasn’t in the mood for another argument.  Not this late at night and after a long day.

“You’ve been at the studio all day with her, haven’t you?” Heather asked.

He shrugged.  “Yeah.  So?  It’s my job, Heather.”

“Do I have to remind you that I’ve been asking you…no, begging you for months to help me with my career?” Heather ranted.  “You’ve done everything you could to put me off, and the minute this Lauren Spencer girl shows up you go out of your way to give her everything.  I suppose you’ve already signed her to Good Times Records, haven’t you?”

“I’m not in the mood, Heather,” Stormy said, rubbing his tired face.  “Can we please talk about this tomorrow?”

“Answer me, Stormy,” Heather demanded.  “Did you give her a recording contract?”

He waited a beat and then nodded, realizing that putting it off wouldn’t do any good.  Heather would find out eventually.  Either way it would all hit the fan.   “Yes, I gave her a contract.”

“Oh that’s just great!” Heather yelled, brushing past him and rushing up the stairs.

“Heather! “ Stormy called up after her.  “She’s an amazing singer.  You’ve got to hear her to believe it.  She’s going to make us a lot of money.”

A few seconds later Heather came down the stairs and threw a pillow and blanket at him.  “Here.  You can sleep on the couch tonight, because I don’t want to see you!”

“Heather!” Stormy yelled angrily.  He wanted to at least try to explain to her.  He didn’t think that Lauren would have this kind of an effect on his wife.   He raced up the stairs after her, followed her down the hallway and prepared to enter their bedroom.  She slammed the door behind her, just inches from his face.

“Go away!” Heather yelled through the door.

Realizing it was useless, Stormy turned and went back downstairs.  He would have to give her a while to cool off.  Maybe then she’d realize that giving Lauren a contract wasn’t a personal attack against her.    It was just business.

He stripped down to his boxers and flopped down onto the sofa, staring at the ceiling while thinking about Lauren.    If it was just business, then why couldn’t he get her off his mind?

Ethan walked down the beach in Santo Domingo, staring up at the starry night sky, then turning his gaze to the dark Atlantic.   He wished things had gone differently with Brooke earlier that day.   Things hadn’t played out the way he imagined on the plane ride from Los Angeles.   He'd hoped she would see him and fall into his arms.  Telling him that she was still in love with James was the last thing he expected to hear.  Especially after the way he’d been treating her.

Gazing ahead down the beach, his eyes flashed open in surprise when he saw Brooke sitting on the sand several feet from the shore.   His mind began racing in a million directions.  She’d decided to stay after all.   He prayed she would tell him what he wanted to hear.

“You look beautiful,” he said as he closed in on her.

She looked up, startled by his presence.   “Ethan-“

“Wait, just let me talk,” he interrupted.  “I know that you feel some kind of responsibility toward James.  You feel guilty about what happened.  Not just between us, but because of your marriage to Philip.   But don’t you see what’s going on?   What happened between us isn’t finished.  If it was then you would have left this afternoon when you said you were going to.”

She stood up and looked at him apologetically.  “The reason I didn’t go was because they stopped all planes from leaving the island,” she explained.  “They said it’s too dangerous because of the liberal rebellion.  The U.S. government is supposed to intervene in the next couple of days.  We’re stuck here until then."

Ethan felt like an idiot for thinking she stayed because of him.   The cold look in her eyes told him that she wouldn’t be there if she didn’t have to be.  That’s the part that hurt the most.

He watched as she turned and started up the beach toward the hotel.  Shaking his head hopelessly, he turned back to the ocean

The next morning, Alex went to Jordan’s house in Beverly Hills to try to do some damage control about the night before.  She had been utterly humiliated when he walked into her bedroom and found her in bed with Philip Whitacre.  Before she could even get dressed and explain to him, he had tore off in a state.   Not that she had a valid explanation for him anyway.  The simple truth was that she had the hots for Philip since she’d laid eyes on him back in Phoenix.  And since she’d decided that she was going to make the most of being single again, she decided to take no prisoners.  She could have any one she wanted.

She didn’t think those were the words she should use when she got to Jordan’s, but that’s exactly what she wound up saying.   Before she could stop herself, a self-proclamation of independence came flowing out of her mouth.

Jordan just looked at her in amazement.  “So you’re saying you’re going to sleep with anyone you choose,” he clarified.   “I see.   I believe there’s a word for women like you, Alex.”

She slapped him across the face.  “You’re a bastard,” she hissed.

“You’re a tramp.”   He grabbed her and pulled her into a deep, passionate kiss.  She struggled to get away at first, but eventually gave in.   “Is that what you like?” he asked between hurried kisses.  “Do you like it rough, Alex?   Is that what turned you on to that young buck last night?  Was he rough and hard?”

She followed his lead, growing aroused by his offensive words.   He pulled her into another kiss and bit down hard on her lip.    The playful biting turned a little too rough and she tried to pull away but Jordan held her with brute force.  She managed to get an arm free and slapped him again.

Jordan let go and backed up a step, instinctively placing a hand on his stinging cheek. 

“I don’t know what kind of woman you think I am,” she said, panting.  “But I can assure you you’ve got the wrong idea.”

“Is that so?” he asked, staring at her with seductive eyes.

She twisted the engagement ring off of her finger and threw it at him before racing out of the room and to the front door.   As she fled outside, she passed Heather coming up the walkway.

Frowning, Heather saw the distressed look in Alex’s eyes and proceeded into the house, determined to find out what was going on.

“Daddy!” she called from the entryway. 

Jordan came out of the living room and approached his daughter with a vague smile.  “Hello Sunshine,” he said, kissing her cheek as if nothing had happened.

“I just saw Alex Reynolds running out of here like a bat out of hell,” she said, pointing to the door.  “She looked upset.  What just happened?”

He sighed and shook his head.  “She gave me back my engagement ring.”

“Engagement ring?” Heather exclaimed.  “You asked her to marry you?  Daddy, she’s my mother-in law!”

He nodded and led her into the living room where they both sat down on the plush velvet sofa.   “I realize that,” he said.  “I don’t think it will be a problem.”

“Well I guess not if she gave you back the ring.”

Jordan shrugged, distantly examining the crease in his pants.  “I wouldn’t count us out just yet, Sweetheart.  Alex Reynolds and I have a lot in common.  There are many things we can do for each other.” 

He folded his hands under his chin and thought about the press that would crucify James Blackthorne when they learned that he and Alex were married.    After that it would only be a matter of time before he would convince her to do his next movie.   James would be the laughing stock of Hollywood.

James walked into the restaurant at the beach club with Miranda and Brett.  They stopped at the hostess stand and she led them to a table outside on the patio overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

“This is so nice, Daddy,” Miranda said, opening her menu.  “I’m so glad the three of us could go out for lunch together.  I feel like we haven’t had a chance to sit down together since Brett and I got married.”

He tried forcing a smile on his solemn face.  He only agreed to lunch because Miranda had been relentless about it.  The fact was he had so many other things on his mind right now.  He couldn’t even muster the time or energy to worry about his daughter and the tragic mistake she’d made by marrying someone like Brett Armstrong, a complete stranger and self-proclaimed drifter.

“It’s my pleasure,” James said, taking a sip of water.  He glanced across the room and spotted Jack Fallmont enter the restaurant with his wife, Adrienne.  Suddenly his foul mood got worse. 

“What are you going to have, Daddy?” Miranda asked.

He didn’t hear her.  He was watching Jack closely, waiting for the shoe to drop and for his old friend to come over and ask about his money.   Rather than risk a scene like that in front of Miranda and Brett, he decided he should be the one to broach the subject.

“Would you excuse me for a minute?” he said, getting up and walked over to their table.

After he left, Brett looked at Miranda and shrugged.  “I don’t know why he hates me so much,” he said.  “What can I do to prove to your father that I’m not the louse he thinks I am.”

Miranda put her head on his shoulder and smiled.  “He’s just protective of his little girl, that’s all,” she said, then looked across the room at her father.  “Which is a nice change of pace since I’m usually the one protecting him.  I can’t believe that bitch Brooke was married to someone else when she married my father.    If he ever lays eyes on her again it’ll be a tragedy.”

“Hey,” Brett said, looking around the room. “I bet this place gets packed for dinner.”

Miranda frowned, wondering what he was talking about.  “Yeah?  So?”

“So?” he replied.  “This would be perfect exposure for Lauren.  I wonder who I could talk to to see about her performing here at night.”

“What?” she asked in irritation.

He shrugged.  “It’s better than the Fern Bar.  You have to admit that.”

Across the room, James approached Jack and Adrienne and smiled politely.  “Isn’t this a coincidence?” he asked.  “I see you two had the same idea as we did.”

Jack smiled.  “Why yes, James.  Adrienne and I couldn’t wait to check out the club now that Renee DeWitt will be buying it and taking over operations.”

“It’s very exciting,” Adrienne commented, then smiled up at James.  “How nice to see you again, James.”

He could tell Jack had briefed his wife on the situation.  She was always rather indignant but today in particular she had a certain smug attitude about her.    “Jack, do you mind if I have a word with you in private?”

“Certainly not,” Jack replied, standing up and kissing his wife before he left.  “Darling, I’ll be back in a flash.”

They walked up to the bar in the sunny, open-aired dining room and each ordered a drink.  James swallowed hard, wishing he didn’t feel so awkward around his good friend.

“I need a little more time, Jack,” he said.

“How much more time?”

“A few days,” he replied.  “I’m working on getting you your money.”

“In a few days I’ll be in Denver.  My daughter Colleen is getting married.”

“You’ll have it by then,” James promised, finishing his drink in two gulps.

“I better,” Jack replied while tipping his glass to his lips.  He slammed it down on the counter and wiped his mouth.  “I’d hate to have our friendship strained by something like this, James ol’ boy.”

He started back to his wife and left James alone at the bar.   Letting out a deep breath, he handed the bartender a twenty.   God knows he needed to find a way to come up with that money.  There had to be a way to get his hands on it without costing him his livelihood.

In Santo Domingo, Ethan stepped outside onto the terrace that jutted out from his hotel room on the beach.  He yawned and stretched, feeling the blazing hot sun on his bare skin.   It felt wonderful being away from Los Angeles.  The air in the Caribbean was so fresh and clean.  Even if things hadn’t worked out the way he wanted with Brooke, it was a relief just being able to get away for a while.

Turning away from the ocean, his eyes traveled to the terrace next to his.  Standing on the terrace was Brooke, watching him with lusty eyes.    He caught her glimpse and smiled but she quickly turned and ran back into her room.

Frowning, Ethan could swear that Brooke had been eyeing him the whole time he’d been outside on the terrace.   The way she looked at him was unmistakably seductive.   He wondered if she could be regretting her decision to walk away from him and their feelings for each other.  And the fact remained that they were stuck on the island for at least another day.   There had been reports of bombings near the airfield and the military was claiming it was too dangerous for planes to leave the island.    The U.S. military would be arriving shortly and intervening.   In the meantime, he was enjoying the fact that he was stranded in paradise. 

That night, Brett met Stormy at his house in the Valley.  He went inside and waited for him.

“Heather, have you seen my car keys?” Stormy called up the stairs, searching from room to room.

Heather came down the stairs and stopped on the landing, glaring silently at him.

Stormy realized she wasn’t going to be any help.  She didn’t want him leaving in the first place.  All because of her jealousy over Lauren.   He went into the kitchen and found his keys on the counter, snatching them up quickly.  “Never mind,” he said, heading back to the door where Brett was waiting.  “I’ll be back in a while.”

Heather pouted and folded her arms across her chest, watching as they left the house. 

Outside, Brett looked at him and frowned.  “What’s with your wife?”

He shook his head.  “Don’t ask,” he said, walking to his Cobra in the driveway.

“Okay, well wait till you see this beach club,” he said.  “I think it would the perfect place for Lauren to get some exposure while we work on her album.”

“The beach club, huh?” Stormy asked, starting the engine and peeling out of the driveway.  “My dad is pretty tight with the DeWitt’s.  I hear they’re taking over the place soon.  Maybe I can get him to talk to them for us.”

“Solid,” Brett remarked as they started down the road toward the beach.

Lauren raced out of her bedroom, pushing a pair of earrings through her ears as she scrambled to get ready.   She dropped a pair of stilettos to the floor and shoved her feet into them one at a time. 

“Winter, I’m going out for a while!” she called from the living room.

When she didn’t hear a response, she went to her roommate’s door and knocked before slowly pushing it open.  She peered inside, spotting Winter laying on her bed in despair.  “Hey, are you okay?”

Winter nodded, staring at the ceiling.

“I’m going to the beach club with Stormy and Brett.  You wanna go?”

Shaking her head, Winter rolled over and stared at the opposite wall.   “No thanks,” she replied.  She was in no mood to go out for the night.  Not while Ethan was off somewhere with Brooke Taylor.    God only knows what they were doing together.  Having sex was a good possibility.   How could she compete when she was in L.A. and they were who knows where?

“Okay, well I’ll see you later,” Lauren said, realizing she was upset and deciding to leave her be.   She ducked back out of the room and waited for Stormy and Brett to show up.

Alex finished taking a bath and wrapped herself in a towel.   She emerged from the steamy bathroom and strode through her bedroom, feeling the cool ocean breeze blowing in through the open windows.   It felt refreshing on her hot skin.

She sat down at her vanity and began combing through her long auburn hair.  She looked into the mirror and cried out in surprise when she caught the reflection of someone standing behind her.

Jumping to her feet and spinning around, she came face to face with Philip Whitacre standing before her.    Her heart pounding inside her chest, she looked around with alarm. 

“How did you get in here?”

Philip smiled, stepped closer and pawing at the towel that draped loosely around her body.  “The back door was unlocked,” he said.  “You should really check that from now on.  This is the second time in two days someone’s invited themselves up into your bedroom.”

Alex nodded, wary of his being there.  “I’ll keep that in mind,” she said, walking to the bedroom door and opening it.  “Please leave, Philip.”

He continued smiling, digging his hands in his pockets and eyeing her soft, moist skin.  “Already?” he asked coyly.  “I thought we could have a repeat of last night.”

Alex shook her head.  “I don’t think so,” she replied.  “That was a one time thing for me.”

Philip came up and closed the door, grabbing her by the arms and pushing her toward the bed.