Previously...

After stealing the rights to The Murderess from Will and giving it to Brett, Heather cautioned Brett not to go back on their deal.  Brett promised that he would give Heather the starring role in the film.  Stormy was shocked to learn that Brett was running Sunset Studios.  James and Brooke announced their plans to remarry. Alex and Marilee made plans for their new venture into the natural gas industry. Heather made plans to break things off with Will, but he presented her with a diamond necklace before she could follow through.  Ethan accused Heather of being the mole who stole the script from Jaguar Studios.  Brooke saw a mysterious person following her.  Will vowed revenge against James for stealing The Murderess from him.  At Brett's request, Gwen continued giving James the pills that would keep him immobile.  Stormy and Heather made peace with their impending divorce.  

Episode 27

"Wedding 2"

Two days later the house was busy with preparations for James and Brooke’s wedding.  Against James’s insistence, Brooke had arranged for a much simpler ceremony than their first almost a year earlier.  Only family was invited for the exchange of vows in the library.  After some coaxing by Brooke, James agreed that an elaborate wedding wasn’t necessary.  They were going to be married and that was the most important thing.

Brooke was in the bedroom getting dressed when Miranda entered in a simple wine colored dress, her black hair pinned up in an elegant style.  She looked at Brooke and was immediately reminded of the last time her father married the former make-up girl.  She hadn’t been present during the ceremony because she’d been off in Vegas marrying Brett.  The car accident, the heated exchange with her father, and the disappointment that he was marrying someone else had brought her emotions to a boiling point.  As much as she hated the idea that they were getting re-married, she didn’t wish to have a repeat performance.  One thing she couldn’t do, however, was bite her tongue about her true feelings.

“The minister just arrived,” Miranda announced as she strode into the room carrying a small bouquet of white roses.  “Are you almost ready?”

“Almost,” Brooke said and turned toward the young woman.  “Miranda, I’m glad you’re here because I want to talk to you.”

“I want to talk to you too,” Miranda said with a flourish.  “Brooke, I know we’ve had our differences, and I’m not going to pretend I’m happy about this marriage, but I want you to know that if you’re what my father wants, then I’m not going to try to spoil it for him.”

“That’s good,” Brooke replied evenly.  “Because I won’t let you.  Miranda, I love your father.  We’re going to have a baby.  Even if you wanted to, there’s nothing you could do to stop that.  You could even run me over with your car like last time and we’d still be getting married today.  I just want you to know that.”

Miranda set her jaw and stepped forward.  “Just as long as you know that I won’t let you hurt him again,” she said.  “So if there are any more secret husbands or affairs that you’re trying to hide-“

“There aren’t,” Brooke cut her off.  “James is very lucky to have you looking out for him.  I’m sure he appreciates it.  But I guarantee I’m not going to do anything to hurt him.”

“I hope not.  For your sake.”

After Miranda left the room, Brooke turned back to the mirror and examined her reflection.  Somehow she felt a little more at ease now that she and Miranda had it out.  It wasn’t going to be easy, but at least they understood each other.

Downstairs, James was in the library seated in his wheelchair by the fireplace.  He heard someone enter and looked up as Stormy approached him timidly, dressed handsomely in a dapper black tuxedo.

“Dad, I need to talk to you,” Stormy began.  “I know this is a busy day for you but things can’t go on the way they have been.  I need to explain to you why I didn’t come back when I heard about your operation.”

James turned away in an effort to avoid eye contact with his son.  “I don’t think this is the best time, Stormy,” he said dismissively.

“It has to be,” Stormy replied as he walked toward him.  “I don’t want this tension to continue between us.  Especially today.  It's your wedding day.”

James took in a deep breath and nodded his head reluctantly.  “You’re right, Son,” he began.   “This is a special day for all of us.  There’s no room for petty arguments.  I know you were only doing what you had to do.  You’re a grown man and you have a life of your own.  I shouldn’t expect you to run back at the first sign of trouble.”

“It isn’t that I don’t care,” Stormy announced.  “You know that, don’t you?  I love you, Dad.  I always have.”

James looked at him and felt his eyes tearing up.  He nodded with a smile and extended his hand to him.  “I love you too, Son,” he said as they shook hands.  “And I’m glad you’re here today to stand up for me.  I’d like you to be my best man in the ceremony if that’s okay.”

Stormy grinned happily and nodded with acceptance.  “I’d be happy to,” he said, then paused hesitantly.  “What about Brett?  I know the two of you have gotten close these past few months.  Are you sure you don’t want him to stand up for you?”

James shook his head.  “You’re my son.  Brett has proven himself to be a valuable member of this family, but he can’t take the place of my only son.”

Relieved to hear the words from his father, Stormy gave an elated nod.  He decided this was a good time to bring up his suspicions about his brother-in-law.  “You know, Dad, I have some concerns about Brett.  I’m not so sure he’s as valuable as you think he is.”

Frowning, James wheeled closer to him.  “How do you mean?”

Stormy didn’t want to get into the whole mess with Lauren and the way Brett had cheated on Miranda, because by now it was water under the bridge and nobody would take him seriously.   “You know his history, Dad.  He spent his whole life conning people just to get by.  Now he’s the head of Sunset Studios.  I’m just concerned that he might do something to risk everything you’ve worked for.”

“A profitable business means taking risks.”

“But doesn’t it concern you that a con man is running your company?  Don’t you wonder how he managed to get those movie deals from Will Thomerson?”

James paused and shrugged indifferently.  “All’s fair in business, especially when it comes to Will Thomerson.  You know how he tried stealing the studio from me.   As far as I’m concerned all bets are off.”

Neither of them noticed Brett as he started to enter the room.  He paused in the doorway after hearing their conversation, ducking back into the hallway safely out of view so he could listen to every word.

“I don’t know,” Stormy said, shaking his head.  “I just have a feeling that he’s up to something no good.”

“This wouldn’t have anything to do with the way you two left things before you left town last summer would it?”

Stormy sighed and dug his hands into his pockets.  “No, I’m talking about now.  I don’t trust him.  This isn’t personal, Dad, it’s-“

“Not personal?” James asked doubtfully.  “Stormy, it’s understandable that you feel threatened by your sister’s husband.  I think you’re just letting your imagination get the better of you.  I trust Brett to run things the way he sees fit.”

In the hallway, Brett smiled with satisfaction.  He knew that James would be on his side.  Stormy was still an outsider in his own house.  No one would give a second thought to his delusional concerns.

Frustrated that he wasn’t getting through to his father, Stormy ran his fingers through his tousled hair and began to pace the room.   “The other day you asked me what I planned on doing now that I was back,” he began.  “Well I think I’ve decided.  I want to get involved with the studio.  I want to make you proud of me, Dad.”

James didn’t hide his surprise.  “I thought you weren’t interested in the movie business,” he began.  “Your passion has always been music.  You remember how upset I was when you said you didn’t want to take part in Sunset Studios.”

“Yes, but things are different now.  I lost my recording studio and I’ve changed my mind.  I want to help as much as I can until you’re up and on your feet.”

James smiled and folded his hands in his lap.  “And I suppose you want me to send Brett packing, right?”

Stormy shrugged as if to say that’s exactly what I want.

“I don’t know, Son.  Brett has done a great job running things.  I don’t think I can just ask him to step down.”

“But I’m your son,” Stormy argued.  “If you’re not running the show shouldn’t it be me?  Your own flesh and blood?”

James shook his head and pondered the idea.  He wanted to be fair to his son, but he couldn’t let Brett go just yet.  He was doing good things at Sunset Studios.  He needed him there, especially since he’d managed to one-up Will Thomerson. 

“Dad-“

“Listen, we’ll talk about this later, okay?” James said.  “I don’t want to keep my bride waiting.”

Stormy sighed with aggravation and decided to shelf the topic for the time being.  He would approach his father again later.  There was no way he was going to back down and let Brett ruin everything.

Outside in the hallway, Brett smiled gleefully.  He knew James wouldn’t hand over his studio to someone as unreliable as Stormy.   He was safe as a kitten.  And now that he had taken steps to ensure James would never walk again, he’d be running Sunset Studios forever.  Stormy would be left with nothing.

He turned just as Heather and Miranda approached, leading the minister into the library.   “Are we all set?” he asked, kissing Miranda on the cheek.

“Yep,” Miranda replied with a smile.  They started into the library when Heather grabbed Brett’s arm and pulled him back.   They quietly ducked around the corner out of view as everyone gathered for the ceremony.

“I need to talk to you,” Heather said in a whisper.

“Now?” Brett asked with irritation.  “The wedding’s about to start-“

“This will only take a minute,” Heather replied with wide eyes.  “I haven’t seen the contract I asked for.  You remember, the one promising me the lead in The Murderess.”

A devilish grin spread across Brett’s face as he leaned against the wall.  “About that, I don’t think that you’re right for this role.  I have a few other actresses in mind.”

Heather glared at him menacingly, blocking him from walking past her.  “You promised me that role in exchange for getting you the script from Will Thomerson,” she lamented.  “I had to sleep with him, Brett.  I had to let him put his hands all over me just so I could make my way into his life and steal for you.  You owe me big.  If I don’t get that part, I swear to God I’ll-“

“You’ll what?” Brett challenged her.  “If you tell Thomerson that you took the script and gave it to me, he’ll destroy you.”

“I’ll tell James.”

Brett laughed wickedly.  “He won’t care.  The rules don’t apply when it comes to his vendetta against Will Thomerson.  You should know that.  Heather, you don’t have anything to hold against me.  I’m in the clear.  Why don’t you go to your father and ask him to give you a role in one of his movies?  You just don’t have what it takes to star in a Sunset Studios film.”

Heather cowered away in anger, feeling her eyes stinging with tears.  She’d made a horrible mistake.  If she hadn’t stolen the movie deal from Will, he would have put her in the film.  But instead she supplied Brett with what he needed and was still going to end up with nothing.  It was a bitter irony that left her feeling cold and empty.

Everyone began taking their places inside the library.  The minister stood in front of the fireplace with James and Stormy at his side.  Brett approached and took his place, followed by a reluctant Heather who stood next to Miranda.

Moments later, Brooke entered the room in her satin wedding gown, smiling from ear to ear as she walked up and stood next to James.  They looked at each other for a long time, the joy building with every second.

The minister stood before them and began the ceremony.

Ethan entered Will’s study at the Thomerson estate and found him seated behind his desk with a thoroughly infuriated look on his face.  He took a deep breath and approached with a tentatively uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach.

“Did you go see James?” he asked.

“A lot of good it did me,” Will replied.  “My new neighbor up the street claims he knows nothing about what’s going on with his studio.  But I don’t believe it for a second.  There’s no way he would pass up an opportunity to try to bring me down.  He even had the nerve to accuse you of betraying me.”

“Me?” Ethan asked in disbelief.  He knew his uncle was furious with him, but to accuse him of something so devious was too much.    He hesitated briefly, trying to determine whether telling Will about Heather’s deception was a good idea or not.  It was clear that he had no clue that she’d been spying.  Telling him would break him, he was sure of it.  Somehow Will had grown attached to Heather and in his own way maybe even loved her.  Maybe by simply telling her he was on to her would put an end to it and he could leave it alone for the time being.

“It seems that your uncle and Brooke Taylor are remarrying today,” Will said as he flipped through the society pages in the Times.  “If you ask me it’s for the best.  They deserve each other.  I know you were upset when she chose him over you, but honestly I think you’re better off, Ethan.”

He barely acknowledged the remark.  Even the thought of Brooke and James together again was enough to drive him insane.  How she could have gone back to him after everything they’d shared together was beyond him.  They were the ones in love.  Or at least they used to be.   For a while, when he thought the baby she was carrying was his, he assumed they would get back together.  But after her announcement claiming that James was indeed the father, he’d lost all hope.

“What Brooke and I had is in the past,” Ethan said, as if trying to make himself believe the words as he spoke them.  “I’ve moved on.”

Will studied his expression and gave a nod of his head.  “Listen, why don’t you go home.  It’s Saturday and I’m sure you’re not into work mode right now.  I’ll see you on Monday.”

Ethan pursed his lips together and nodded before leaving the study and returning to his car outside in the driveway.  Will leaned back in his rich leather chair and picked up the newspaper with the picture of James on the front.

“Sooner or later I’ll bring you down, James Blackthorne,” he said to himself, lifting a glass of bourbon to his lips.  “I’ll take everything from you.  Your nephew, your studio, your sanity.  And then I’ll take Alex Reynolds down with you.  Then Jordan Rydell and his daughter.  They’re just as bad as you are.”  He opened a drawer and removed a copy of the paper announcing Alex and Jordan’s wedding several months before.  The picture of them on the society page was enough to make him see red.

“I’ll get you all.  And Heather Blackthorne may be the one thing I need to do it.”  He set the paper down next to the picture of James and looked at his three enemies as if they were in the room with him.  “You sent a spy to my house to ruin my company and I’ll pay you back in spades.  I promise you that.”

With an evil grin, he swirled the dark liquid around in his glass and swallowed it down with one gulp.

A short while later, Ethan sat at the bar in the lounge at Hotel Terranova, drowning his sorrows in shot after shot of whiskey.   He looked around the crowded room, noting the elegant woman clad in lavish gowns dancing with men in suits and tuxedos.  He felt a little out of place in his wrinkled suit and loosened tie hung shoddily around his neck.  It certainly wasn’t his best night, or year for that matter.  Brooke, the woman he’d loved, and possibly still did, was now married once again to his uncle, who had subsequently exiled him from his life.   The baby he’d hoped he would have the opportunity to raise wasn’t his after all, and he was stuck working a lackluster job for a man he didn’t particularly like. 

After ordering another drink from the bartender, he turned on his stool just as a ravishing raven-haired woman with flawless skin and dazzling dark eyes sat down next to him.   He couldn’t help but look twice.  Something about her was mesmerizing.

“I’ll have a dry vodka martini,” said Janet Harper to the bartender with a wave of a twenty-dollar bill.

“I’ll get that,” Ethan said with a sheepish grin as he paid for his own drink.

Janet turned to him and smiled appreciatively.  “Well thank you,” she said.  “But I have to caution you, if this is a pick-up I’ve really had a day from hell and I don’t know that I’m in the mood.”

Ethan laughed at her candor and shook his head.  “No, I just thought you looked like you could use a friend,” he said.  “And I guess I was right.  Neither of us have had a very good day I’m assuming.”

“You too?” she asked with a laugh and accepted the drink from the bartender.  “Are you a guest in the hotel?”

He shook his head.  “No, just here drowning my sorrows.”

“I see that.”  She extended her hand to him.   “I’m Janet Harper.”

“Ethan Blackthorne,” he replied.

Janet tossed her long black hair over her shoulder and set her drink down.  “Hmmm,” she said ominously.

“Hmmm what?”

“I seem to keep running into Blackthornes lately,” she said.  “So who are you?  Another son of James the movie mogul?”

“His nephew,” Ethan corrected her.  “How do you know the Blackthornes?”

Janet idly turned her drink in circles on the napkin and stared in a daze at the shimmering liquid.  “I’m a reporter for the Denver Tribune.  I was following a lead on a story in Phoenix last week and spotted Brooke Taylor.  I’d heard that James Blackthorne had been trying to locate her for quite some time, so-“

“Ahh, you’re the reporter who brought them back together,” Ethan said.  “I’m assuming he owes you a big debt of gratitude.  They got married today, you know.”

She raised an eyebrow and studied his expression. “You don’t seem too happy about that,” she said.  “Do I detect a hint of jealousy?”

Ethan smiled.  “You are a reporter, aren’t you?” he asked.  “That’s the only explanation for your perceptive nature.”   He sipped his drink and turned to face her directly.  “So what are you doing in L.A.?  Did my uncle promise you a reward and you’re still waiting around for the payoff?”

“No, I’m working on another story here,” she said.  “I’m staying at