"I feel so insecure as I take your hand and lead you to the dance floor."- Careless Whisper, George Michaels and Seether
Episode 6: Careless Whisper
Written By: Kelly Zollo
Scene 1: West Lake Country Club
The lights inside the West Lake Country Club is dimly lit, preferred for the current occasion and the rehearsal dinner. It is also the choice as venue for the actual wedding reception in a few weeks. Poinsettia's on the tables with gold ribbon, white taffeta trim around the vases, candles on the table reflecting winter in New York. Outside there is at least six inches of snow, Christmas lights along the windows and of course the clubs band is humming away in the background. Glasses are clinking as the various members of Austin and Elizabeth's wedding party toast the happy couple and mingle with each other.
At one of the tables in the back Cade Harvell is sitting alone after excusing himself with Callie and Vanessa, Kate is off talking to Elizabeth about a few last minute details. He has been nursing his scotch on the rocks for at least twenty minutes, ever since the phone call from his father things have been strained. His mother doesn't speak to him, the betrayal of him going behind her back too much. Callie will not return his calls and even his twin looks at him as if he has lost his own mind. Perhaps he has or maybe he had the night Hannah died and everything went to hell in their family in the first place. He and Kate have barely spoken since she found out.
Jessica Robins has sulked for most of the evening having been ignored by Jacob for most of the evening, not that she expected things to be better after her antics a few weeks before but they were worse now. He arrived with her, put a smile on Liz's face at the event and has spent most of the evening with Austin, groomsmen or his parents, sending her a few brief glances when she looks over at him. She has been watching him like a hawk ever since Vanessa and her siblings arrived at the church and then followed them to the club. She scoffs at the thought that Vanessa is even there in the first place, as she takes a sip from the glass before spotting Cade. Kate is not attached to his hip a change that she thinks she would welcome at the moment, grabbing her glass of her table and making her way to the table.
Her eyes are still looking over the room making sure that Vanessa and Jacob have not spoke or really seen each other yet, more so wanting to stake a claim that she is certain that she doesn't have. She should have the claim, standing by his side for the last few years and playing her part, keeping him occupied only to be out beaten by the ghost or really the memory of the woman who was behind the wheel that killed his sister. Instead she focuses on Cade, one of many men that she has been with over the last few years one that she knows is easy to lure or trap. Especially when he is feeling down on himself or his family, pressured by Kate or in general looking for a good time, again she knows she won't measure up to Kate or to Hannah, but still for the night he would do.
"Hello Cade," Jessica greets, sliding into the seat next to him.
"Jess," Cade replies, his tone even not sure what she is wanting.
"I would have expected Kate to be attached to your hip. I see she is over there fussing of course,' Jessica says, finger pointing at Kate with Vanessa and Liz across the room. 'Quite a shame if you ask me."
"Jess, what do you want? Jake not treating you right? Are you bored?" Cade asks, agitated by the events of the evening and more so her coming over and sitting with him.
"No need to be rude Cade. Just thought that with thing being so on the rocks at the moment with both of us that we could perhaps benefit. For old times sake," Jessica purrs, slipping off her heel underneath the table to run her foot up his calf.
Cade's hand freezes mind stance at her implication of a rendezvous possibly here at the club or elsewhere something that they have engaged in before, he can feel himself sweat as her foot travels up his leg. He and Kate haven't been intimate in weeks, he hasn't been with anyone in weeks, nothing more really that he can say to the matter other than that. He is still considering her offer when Kate glances over her shoulder and offers him a faint smile, then his sister looks at him as well. He moves his leg out of Jessica's reach and composes himself it would be wrong.
"Of course the loyalty comes back into play you and your sister, or is it you and Kate? I don't seem to remember to you objecting in the past," Jessica scoffs, anger surging through her at his reaction.
"I grew up Jessica. You should try it sometime it might suit you. Then again I don't think anything would really suit you other than trying to trap Jake into some happily ever after,' Cade says, looking at her shocked reaction to his announcement. 'Don't looks so shocked sweetheart pale is bad color on you. Everyone knows it they're just stuck on some sense of coddling you to tell you. Enjoy your evening."
Leaving his statement as just that he gets up from the table scotch in hand, taking a moment to shake his head at her and her attempt before making his way to Shane in the crowd. Jessica leans back in her chair flute to her lips as she mulls over his words, even if they are true it hurts her to hear them to know that people look at her like that. She raises the glass to her lips and take a long drink, lowering it back to the table as she spots Jacob and Vanessa finally face to face. Anger surges at the looks they pass between them and she then sees Brian across the room, looking like someone killed his puppy. Taking it as leverage, she picks up her glass from the table before making her way through the crowd.
Scene 2: West Lake Country Club
The wedding rehearsal and the reception have been everything that Kate Porter would have imagined it would be like for a bride, friends and family around you on your special day, a man who loves and adores you; yet doesn't know about the line of coke in your handbag. She has debated about telling Austin for weeks now, or even really anyone since the scene in the bathroom where she discovered Liz's secret. Even now in the glow of the reception hall you can't tell if she is using or really if she is just beyond happy that things have gone smoothly. For Kate the weeks have gone by with research on cocaine use, looking for the signs, finding the best rehabilitation programs she can find, making calls to associates to find out anything she can; hoping to help her friend face her problem and get help.
She has made small talk with the rest of the wedding party ignored Jessica's glares not sure really why she is getting them in the first place other than she is best friends with Vanessa and she cannot stand the other woman. She has smiled for the various photos and for the past twenty minutes she has smiled while Liz and Vanessa have caught up on the last few weeks, offering a light opinion here and there when needed. Deep down hoping that someone will whisk her best friend away for a moment so that she can speak to Liz alone about the drugs and find out what is really going on. Her wish is granted when Jacob comes over and makes the first awkward move of the evening since staring straight ahead with Vanessa draped on his arm at the rehearsal. Her mouth hangs open for a bit as her friend and Jacob seem to disappear in the crowd of people before turning back to Liz.
"Austin is till holding out hope for those two even with what happened to Hannah," Liz states, taking a sip from her glass, as she offers up her opinion.
Kate isn't sure what to say to the statement so much as changed over the last few years between her friend and Jacob and she isn't sure that it can be erased.
"I was hoping we could talk about what happened at the club a few weeks ago," Kate offers, her tone sincere.
Elizabeth Jones has been so focused on her wedding for the last few weeks she barely remembers seeing yet alone running into Kate Porter in the bathroom at the club a few weeks ago, the statement however brings her back to it. She concentrates on her half full glass of champagne, swirling it for a bit and contemplating Kate's statement in her head, it is just a pick me up something to get her through. For a bride to be she is still stressed wondering when the wedding is just going to fall apart, glad to see that Jacob and Vanessa are at least being civil for her and Austin on their day. The wedding party however, is awkward a little off beat and uncertain how to react around one another given Hannah and the accident.
She has never really liked that Kate likes to intrude on her business or that her once close friend has a past with her soon to be husband, a past that she is all but aware of when Kate and her are in the same room. The look that Kate gives her or the awkward glance Austin gives the both of them, having her in the wedding party as a bridesmaid is something she is now thinking was a bad idea. Twirling the glass in her hands for a bit with the bubbly liquid, she takes another small sip as it lingers on her tongue and she contemplates an answer. She doesn't want to talk about it, not with Kate and not with anyone; all of her other friends grew up happy and secure while she did not.
"It's not a big deal Kate. A lot of people we know do it," Liz replies, her tone clipped.
"It's dangerous Liz drug abuse is serious I am worried for you, concerned. We're not kids anymore and I don't think Austin...," Kate begins, only to be cut off seconds later by Liz.
"Of course it always comes back to Austin for you Kate. In case you have forgotten I am marrying him, he asked me to marry him not you. You like to look down your nose at everyone for their behavior or something you think is wrong. Did you forget all the drugs that you dabbled in before Hannah died? All the partying or did that fancy degree just erase that."
Kate stares at her mouth open unsure of what to say or do in the situation before speaking, "I just think that you should tell him or I will."
"I think you should mind your own business and worry about your own life Kate and stop trying to fix everyone around you. Quit trying to pretend that you are so perfect and innocent, just quit in general. I love Austin and he loves me, you were the one who decided to just walk away after Hannah died due to some insane loyalty to Vanessa. A loyalty that the only reason she is even in this wedding is because it is something that I know Hannah would have wanted,' Liz retorts, pausing for a bit to set her glass down on the table. 'Let's just get through these next few weeks after the wedding we don't have to speak anymore."
Leaving the statement as that Liz picks up her glass again before walking away, glancing over her shoulder one final time at Kate as she does so. Kate stands there looking around the room and offers Austin a small smile as he looks over at her, not sure if she should spill the secret or not anymore. Not sure if it is even her place in the scheme of things in the long run, not sure if she and Liz are even friends. She picks up a glass from the tray as one of the waiters come by and downs the liquid, Liz did have a point she experimented back in the day and maybe Liz just needed her turn now.
Scene 3: West Lake Country Club
Shane has spent the evening with Austin and Jacob, discussing the wedding giving Austin the support that he needs as his groomsmen, he however has been looking at Paige for a good part of the evening. She has avoided him, even at the church when he went to take her hand she simply moved away, saying that now was not the time or the place not wanting to ruin her brother's day. He personally still doesn't get the big deal, he and Austin have been friends for a long time even after his sister and his friend parted ways, Austin has always been like an older brother to him. When he and Paige began seeing each other her first excuse was work, she wanted to keep it fun. Now there is a slew of new excuses left and right, she doesn't want to upset her brother, she doesn't want her parents to know, she doesn't want it to hurt Kate or anyone else and he is just confused.
When Austin makes a break from the chatter to do visit his parents and Liz, he excuses himself from Jacob and crosses the room to Paige placing a hand on her back as he greets a few of the out of town guest that Liz has invited. The guests politely excuse themselves and Paige offers them a warm wave before turning back to him cautiously taking a step backwards. Shane in turn pauses at the gesture for a bit as he lifts his glass of champagne to his lips and he takes a drink, trying to not cause a scene at the reception. It is Austin and Liz's day but her behavior has gotten so sporadic over the last few weeks he is tempted to just let it all hang out even if it is in public.
"You've been ignoring me all night," Shane states, hoping for something, anything from her.
Paige has spent the evening in between her parents, her brother and the wedding party; especially the awkward bridal party that she has found herself a part of where bridesmaids simply are silent at an event. Could be that Vanessa and Jessica hate each other, Liz has been a blushing bride and Kate is sulking, and really having Vanessa there is just awkward in general. The threats have stopped and she hasn't heard from the blackmailer in weeks, Austin has been supportive going over the pictures with her for weeks trying to figure out how to track him down. To just make it stop, make her life in West Lake go back to normal and not drag up the past, the accident, her behavior in the past or anything like that; she wants normal again.
Ever since she has come back she has tried to better herself from the girl that ran away from the accident and about what happened that night, ran away from having to remind herself that there was a bigger picture other than Vanessa. She feels guilty that she is still carrying so many secrets in her past, things she is sure that she cannot tell Shane, he would know and it would be over. She has distanced herself from him and her past to do just that, keep him safe, keep his dignity in tact with who he sees and why, she also doesn't want it to be awkward. Austin and him are close, her brother has always treated him like family even after he and Kate broke up- Austin is always there to help guide and be a friend to Shane.
"I've been a little preoccupied at the moment running around helping out. Sort of is a bridesmaid's duty to make sure the bride is happy. I think it is a requirement of the job," Paige offers, giving him a smile in the process.
"You haven't returned any of my calls in the last few days Paige. You never come over, if there is something going on we can fix it. You have acted like I don't exist in your world, not that I have been center anyways. I've been patient," Shane offers, looking at her and seeing the slight pain in her eyes.
"It's not that simple Shane. Why can't it just be what it is? Two adults having fun with each other, why do you have to solidify it? I don't want to make things awkward for you with my brother," Paige offers, knowing the excuses are weak if anything.
"Because I want more, because I deserve more and I can't do this anymore, your push and pull. Your back and forth, you sneaking around not telling me anything. This has nothing to do with Austin and you know it. This has to do with you and your insecurities and running away for whatever reason, that you feel that you can't tell me," Shane replies, he pauses for a second realizing his tone has raised.
This was not how he had envisioned spending his evening arguing with her about something that she clearly doesn't care about at his friend's rehearsal dinner. If anything he had expected them to have moved past this point in their relationship with her not telling him what was going on or the sneaking around. Clearly he is wrong as she just stares back at him, running a hand over his face for a moment, he throws his hand up in a wave to her before walking off. She can take it however she wants at this point in his mind, he is just tired of it all.
Paige looks around the room for a few seconds as Shane storms off, a few patrons giving them strange looks and she instantly feels awkward, setting her now empty glass down on the table. Austin is already making his way through the crowd back to her and she can do nothing but bite her lip from realizing her lies are catching up with her, by the time her brother has reached her she is preparing to leave. Holding up a hand in protest at him as he moves to comfort her or offer her his support, she has already caused a scene on his day and doesn't want another one. Grabbing her wool black coat from the back of the chair she puts it on, leaning over to manage a congratulations into Austin's ear before she is headed out of the country club.
Scene 4: West Lake Country Club
Vanessa has spent most of the evening with Kate or with Brian at their table, ignoring the constant questions about their relationship and what they are or are not. She doesn't have an answer to them, she and Brian aren't even really sure what is going on between them more so she doesn't know. They see each other a lot even with the book being over he comes by the house to visit her, she has been over for dinner with him when he calls. He kisses her and she frequently accepts and halfway through the act they stop, for a reason that she isn't sure about and she asked him to be her date for the evening. A date that she is quickly realizing she doesn't know why she agreed to be a bridesmaid in the first place, the entire thing is awkward.
The church was the worst as the wedding planner went through the march, she had arrived late and was greeted with Jake thrusting his arm out to her and staring straight ahead so they could get it over with. She hadn't seen him until now had kept her distance from Hannah's family until now, minus Tyler who has been working the accident with Callie and is a frequent visitor over at the house. She didn't realize how much it would hurt to see him again, until they walked down the isle and stared at each other, her looking at the ground at the rehearsal him staring straight ahead. None of what they used to have matters anymore she knows that, years between people change people, killing someones sister changed people worse spending time in prison changed people.
"Can I steal her away for a bit?"
The question comes out of nowhere as she turns her head to stare at Jake from head to toe as she glances back at Kate and Liz. She barely has time to tell him no before he is gently placing a hand on her back to lead her away. She doesn't want to be with him, be near him, have him yell at her or whatever else he is going to do at the moment and she is already looking for an out. Before she can protest he is already pinning her to him on the dance floor, the only place he feels that he can talk to her without losing it and without causing a scene.
Jacob has been part of Austin and Liz's nuptials for months even before the proposal Austin had taken him to help pick out the ring and he was in on the proposal set up. Then word came up about Vanessa's parole and his friend informed him that Liz wanted her part of the wedding if she did in fact get out, that it was something that his sister would have wanted. He had objected and in the end his objection won out to the bride and since her release he has avoided the woman that he at one point in his life loved, avoiding her name in conversation and refusing to talk about it with anyone. He is focusing back on work, tried to end things with Jessica telling himself it was about his sister knowing deep down it was more than that, it was all about her and her needing to forgive him.
He had been at the church early to help with the prep work and by the time that she arrived he put on a scowl at the realization that she was there and held out his arm, seeing Brian enter after her and his blood began to boil. The thought of her simply just moving on is to much for him to wrap his head around in his rationalization, especially with that snake of an author. He doesn't want her to just move on, he doesn't even know if he still loves her but he doesn't want her to be with him- the man that came back into town and began asking the questions and dragging back up the hurt of Hannah. He had expected her to fight him or worse yell at him as he led her away, instead she is quiet her minor struggle subsiding as she puts a good three inches between them on the dance floor. They move in silence to the music both unsure of what to say at the moment.
"I saw you brought him as your date," Jake finally says.
"We're friends."
"He's bringing up a lot of feelings for my family. He's hurting people I care about all over again, if you could just talk to him about it...," Jake begins,he doesn't have time to finish as she cuts him off.
"Is this really the only reason you drug me away from Liz and Kate? So that you could gloat or badger me into something? To try and make me feel more guilty than I already do?" Vanessa retorts, her back instantly stiffens and she raises her head to look at him anger clear.
"I just thought that you would understand, that you would have some sense of caring for my family. That with our history that somewhere deep down you would care that he is hurting everyone. I thought with you and him being close...," Jake replies, tone low as to not get any looks on the floor.
"Grow up Jake he's an author the story interested him, he's a good person and maybe he wants to try and shed some light on it for Hannah. My sense of caring for you and your feelings, left the moment you decided to just leave me alone in a prison cell. You didn't even come to see me, you couldn't even look at me and from what I hear Jessica was more than happy to accommodate your needs," Vanessa replies, her tone angry and she stops herself from saying more.
He doesn't really understand the hurt he has placed on her until then when he looks at her sad eyes, the hurt behind them mixed in with the guilt of the accident and the consequences. He thought not seeing her would be easier for everyone involved, he thought if he just forgot about it all and about her it would get easier. He moves to say something else and she quickly cuts him off.
"We had a history Jake that ended the moment I was locked away in a cell without so much as a phone call or a visit from you. I can't bring Hannah back and I can't change what happened if I could I would, if I could I would trade places with her but I can't. You want him to not publish the book tell him so, I am not your go between on it and I am not your property, so my personal life is none of your business." Vanessa finishes, instantly ending the contact as she spins on her heel and leaves him standing there.
He takes a few moments to place his hands on his hips in order to not scream at her or cause a scene as she walks away and into Brian's waiting arm. He sees Jessica staring at him from a table glass of champagne raised in some sort of victory over at him, a sly and endearing smile on her face. Rubbing a hand over his face in frustration knowing that continuing the charade is not helping himself, he spots Austin in the crowd and makes his way over to his friend.
Scene 5: West Lake Country Club
Brian McAllister has spent the last few weeks looking over his shoulder at every move he is making in West Lake, waiting for Ryan to jump out and spill the beans about things or worse tell Vanessa the truth. His efforts to sway her to actually sit down and go over the night the car went over the railing and into the lake, keeps failing either she isn't ready or nothing is triggering her memory. Not surprising given that she did have to have brain surgery to alleviate the swelling from being thrown from the car, but he had initially had hope in the matter, that she would remember something. He has invited her over to the house for dinner a few times, making the drive to pick her up at her house and then drive her over; dinner leads to kissing and kissing leads to promptly stopping.
He doesn't even know why he really even agreed to be her date but he did, if only to get closer to her see how she interacted with her old group of friends for the first time in years. He has been getting glares from Jacob Donovan throughout the evening something he is trying to not let get under his skin, ever since the man came and clocked him a good one square in the jaw he has been a wary. It is clearly obvious now as watches Jacob lead Vanessa across the dance floor that the reasons for the hit are clear, it all ties back to her the girl behind the wheel and not the girl six feet under. He glances up from his place at the table as he sees Jessica Robins approach and slide into the chair next to him, champagne glass in hand and he has to wonder if Ryan has told her who he is.
Jessica sat at the table for a few minutes after Cade left, mulling over the statement about her need to just snag Jacob and prove to her and him that they belonged together, past with Vanessa be damned. They're dancing for a bit clearly not even speaking to each other and she can't help but feel like all her hard work is falling apart again, them going to the wedding was supposed to bring them closer. Instead she is sitting alone at a table while he happily dances with his ex girlfriend and the girl who murdered his sister, she scoffs at the idea finishing off her glass. Standing from table as she snakes across the room to her next destination, ready to plant even more doubts on the situation in Brian's head, she needs him to sweep Vanessa of her feet and just be done with it.
Taking a seat next to him, she sits in silence for a bit watching his eyes linger on Vanessa and Jacob on the dance floor trying to read his expression somewhere between perplexed and mad jealousy. Inwardly she is screaming with joy at the reaction, it is something that she can use to her advantage, the jealousy and the rage, something that she can lie about and manipulate to get her way. The closer that Vanessa and Brian go the closer she would be to her goal, the more that Brian got under Vanessa's skin the more of a wedge that would create in between Jacob and his conflict. She still doesn't see what Jacob reuniting with her would resolve other than maybe fueling his mother into overdrive of rage, or to piss off his family, really it wouldn't solve anything.
"Quite a sight isn't it? Them dancing the night away as if nothing has really happened between them. Dancing as if there is something left to dwell on or cherish in the aftermath of Hannah," Jessica asks, finally breaking her silence.
Brian doesn't even know why she has come over to him, let alone is speaking to him about it, "Sure, if that is what you want to call it.."
"They look comfortable a bit of a shock given the circumstances. I figured that they would be having a yelling match," Jessica replies, trying to digging a bit further.
"She has no reason to yell at him at the moment. There is anything between them anymore, she knows that and he knows that," Brian offers, not even sure why he is explaining things to her or trying to reason it out in his head still.
They both glance over at the raised voices on the dance floor and instantly his back is up as Vanessa tenses in Jacob's arms, something is wrong he can tell she is unhappy no doubt the conversation being unpleasant. He watches carefully for a bit at the body language, they way they look at each other, the way Jacob's arm rests on her lower back and Vanessa's hesitation about closing the space or widening it. He is ready in an instant to just get up from the table and whisk her away, before he can however Jessica is clearing her throat next to him, regaining his full attention. He still doesn't even know why Ryan felt the need to partner with her, partner with a girl that Ryan had met in juvenile hall back in high school, someone who was deeply troubled.
"You know that you will never be him don't you? You're never going to be Hannah's charming older brother, first love and whatever other crap that she hasn't told you," Jessica states, her tone icy and bitter.<.br>
"It's not about that," Brian reiterates.
He doesn't like the implications, the daunting truth that seems to be lingering in the back of his head ever since she was released from prison, he looks for an out when he sees Vanessa march away and he rises from his chair. Meeting her halfway towards their table and offering her a comforting arm to escort her out of the country club, not bothering to acknowledge Jessica on his way out. Jessica watches him leave the table, clearly fumed over her statement the doubt seeping into his brain at the implications that he simply is not good enough, she meets Jacob's stare from across the room. Smiling in victory at him a sly smile crosses her face as she raised the glass and takes a long drink, her eyes never leaving his hopefully the damage will do it's work.
Scene 6: Club 90, Paige Alexander's Office
After leaving the rehearsal dinner Paige returned home for a bit, changed out of her dress and into a business skirt and blouse, leaving about and hour later to head into the club, work would ease her mind about what had happened. Work would get her mind off the pit in her stomach at Shane's reaction, about Shane not saying more about the new empty feeling she has about it all. As the car speeds past the lake she thinks about stopping to visit Hannah again and shakes her head no, she is moving forward once she and Austin figure out where he is. Until then she needs to be patient and not let it crawl under her skin at every turn, once he is out of her life with the photos and her secrets she can move forward with Shane and tell him everything.
Maybe not everything but enough for him to trust her again, enough to come clean with her parents about her time away from home, tell them that it really wasn't all Vanessa's part about what happened. Putting the car into park at the club she locks the doors, the parking lot is full a good sign as she makes her way up the stairs and offers her doorman a warm smile as he tells her hello. She loves the club, loves her employees and knows that on nights like now when it is busy it will distract her from everything she is going through, being able to look at her successful numbers at closing.
She doesn't even know why she checks her phone to see if Shane has called her, texted her or anything like that and she tried to hide her disappointment as she waves to the bartender. The club is packed, people are laughing and having a good time a much better picture than the uncomfortable rehearsal dinner that she was just at, she shakes her head for a bit as a regular thanks her. She smiles warmly, informing the bartender to make a round for the patron and his party on the house as she climbs the metal stairway up to her office, giving back is something she feels the need to do, to atone. She pauses at the doorway pulling out her keys to swing the door open, immediately sensing that something is wrong as the leather chair is faced backwards to her.
Ryan has been snooping around the club since his arrival in town, in between working on the ambulance and medical staff, getting closer to Shane in the process, making sure that things are going as he planned. Her office is a bit stuffy for his tastes a god awful painting on the wall of some sort of collection of shapes in bright colors, neat and tidy desk leather furniture, hell there is even a spare closet with her clothes. Getting in had been easy, pass into the club as a regular patron looking to have a good time and then going upstairs, breaking into the lock on the door. He had thought about going to the dinner party and realized he probably couldn't stomach it, all the fake smiles that they would put on all the gushing over the pending wedding vows.
He has spent the last hour in the office going through her desk wondering what in the world she sees in the good doctor anyway who is so clueless as to her past and more so her present with him that he wants to laugh. There are photos of her family scattered on the desk and even looking at that nearly makes him ill, a picture can tell a thousand words, clearly her parents pose and put on a fake smile, her brother looks like he wants out and she stares blankly ahead. For a slight moment he feels sorry for her and then he finds the photos he has been sending her and it all comes back, the rage, the hurt and the anger. She is once again transformed into another object for him, something he can play with and toy with to get what he wants, the truth about what happened the night of the accident.
He hears the footsteps on the stairs and leans back in the chair looking out the window his back to the door, the street lights casting a faint glow in the room reflecting off the snow on the ground. She will no doubt be angry at him for being in the office, yet alone being right under her nose in West Lake, though he is interested what she is going to tell everyone including her brother and Shane. She can't very well tell them the truth that they used to do drugs in the city, that she used to whore herself out for him when it was needed, or even more how she was sleeping with his father long before she moved on to him. He turns around in his chair as the door swings open and gives her a lopsided grin, arms folded as he looks at her, sees the anger on her face.
"What are you doing here?"
"I thought I would pay you a visit, I see that you have been getting my presents?" Ryan answers, rising from the seat to look at her.
Paige doesn't know why but her body is shaking as she looks at him, "Get out of my office, better get out of town."
"Sorry don't think so, I'm here on business. Try again later,' Ryan says, making a few advances towards her. 'Besides is that anyway to properly greet me?"
She is still staring at him up and down as he moves in on her and before she can react to his repulsiveness his arm is wrapped around her waist pulling her to him. Her brain is still reeling that he is in town, ready to pounce and expose everything as he leans down and kisses her, at first she struggles and soon it is all to familiar to her and she is kissing him back. Neither one break from the contact to see Shane standing in the doorway, crestfallen as he watches her wondering if he has been played for the past few months of their relationship.